Hi there,
This is my first post on this forum, I am new to cycling, but would like to improve.
My background is in rowing, which I have now been doing seriously for 2yrs (cross country and weight training before that). My rowing usually comprises 4 water sessions (1.5-2hrs each), 2 weights sessions and 2 erg sessions (usually 1x30'@AT, and 2x20'@UT1) per week. As such I am quite familiar with the rowing forums on the net e.g. concept2, and I *thought* I knew a fair amount about sport physiology, but a quick browse of this forum assures me I have long way to go, at least in the context of cycling!
A few personal details to assist (I dont know which if any will be relevant):
Age: 19
Height: 169cm
Weight: 65kg (approx 6% body fat)
HRmax: 202
RHR: 52
Last summer I purchased a second hand road bike (Trek 1200, 52cm) to use for cross training. I used it 2-3 times per week over summer but have had to return to focusing on water training for rowing since then.
I mostly did 60min rides, on comparatively flat roads. I usually held about an average of 32kmph, though I also did a 90min ride at 30kmph. All my rides were UT1 (av168bpm) which felt fairly comfortable. In context, on a tough erg, 30' @AT, I would tend to average 194bpm, so I imagine there would be a fair amount of scope to go faster, but for cross training purposes that was not my goal when I set those paces. I was probably pedalling at completely the wrong cadence, in the wrong gear etc, though hopefully my position over the handle bars was okay.
In rowing it is fairly unhelpful to be my size, most competitive athletes are 190cm/85kg+, and though my power:weight is comparatively good, fluid dynamics are not in my favour. I am really too light even to be a lightweight rower (usually 72kg)! Are the same problems true of cycling? Is there a commonly accepted optimum profile of a cyclist?
In short, how do those times sound for a beginner, and what should I do to improve my cycling? What can I do to improve my technique?
Any comments or advice much appreciated!
Thanks,
Andy
This is my first post on this forum, I am new to cycling, but would like to improve.
My background is in rowing, which I have now been doing seriously for 2yrs (cross country and weight training before that). My rowing usually comprises 4 water sessions (1.5-2hrs each), 2 weights sessions and 2 erg sessions (usually 1x30'@AT, and 2x20'@UT1) per week. As such I am quite familiar with the rowing forums on the net e.g. concept2, and I *thought* I knew a fair amount about sport physiology, but a quick browse of this forum assures me I have long way to go, at least in the context of cycling!
A few personal details to assist (I dont know which if any will be relevant):
Age: 19
Height: 169cm
Weight: 65kg (approx 6% body fat)
HRmax: 202
RHR: 52
Last summer I purchased a second hand road bike (Trek 1200, 52cm) to use for cross training. I used it 2-3 times per week over summer but have had to return to focusing on water training for rowing since then.
I mostly did 60min rides, on comparatively flat roads. I usually held about an average of 32kmph, though I also did a 90min ride at 30kmph. All my rides were UT1 (av168bpm) which felt fairly comfortable. In context, on a tough erg, 30' @AT, I would tend to average 194bpm, so I imagine there would be a fair amount of scope to go faster, but for cross training purposes that was not my goal when I set those paces. I was probably pedalling at completely the wrong cadence, in the wrong gear etc, though hopefully my position over the handle bars was okay.
In rowing it is fairly unhelpful to be my size, most competitive athletes are 190cm/85kg+, and though my power:weight is comparatively good, fluid dynamics are not in my favour. I am really too light even to be a lightweight rower (usually 72kg)! Are the same problems true of cycling? Is there a commonly accepted optimum profile of a cyclist?
In short, how do those times sound for a beginner, and what should I do to improve my cycling? What can I do to improve my technique?
Any comments or advice much appreciated!
Thanks,
Andy