what am i training for?
I've written and re-written posts regarding my training and nutrition and they all seem to get very long. I can't seem to cut things down as I see need to keep as much info as possible. But it does seem strange to keep posting about training and not really touching on why or what I'm doing this for.
are you a smoker, son?
I once took a lung power test in college when I was fairly fit from skating and some riding, and the instuctor asked me that question. I was shocked. Like an ass I smoked in high school 'cuz it was cool, but had quit nearly 4 years before that test! I have no lung capacity, therefore no staying power, therefore no racing. I imagine that I could build up my VO2 after awhile but that is limited by a genetic marker so it will never increase beyond a certain percentage.
But I still love cycling and testing myself to see how I can perform. I want to get better so I work at it. I also have to say that I and nearly every shaved-legged hill junkie have body envy. I see guys racing on TV and in the local crits and want to sculpt my body, or a better term, reduce my body down to their fat-less perfection. I'll stop before this borders on biker porn. You've heard Phil Ligget comment on the "long, lean, bronze legs of" so and so and wonder what that old man gets off on. He's a leg-shaver too! He's got the disease.
i'm not a Jan!!
It seems as though I suffer from the Jan effect; winters aren't kind to my waist, stomach, etc. I have to get it off every spring/summer. Since I'm also German, I inevitably would get the "Hey Jan!" everytime someone would see me in my kit. You get tired of it no matter what you say to yourself; especially if you have control over it. I vow that I won't reach the ematiation of Rasmussen though...
foundation.
I've obviously been doing "base" rides in order to get my entire body in shape. I say entire because you have to build up all the micro-muscles that you use to simply hold yourself up as well as getting your legs, lungs, and heart up to speed. When you do long rides over at least 2 or more continuous hours your body starts to truly build it's endurance on a whole scale. Even your down-tube/soft-tissue area builds up in order to endure the saddle time!
variation.
Once I feel as though I have a good foundation I'll start to vary my rides in intensity and in duration based on what I'm trying accomplish. If you're racing you'll have specific goals or weaknesses that you'll want to work on. I could have been considered pack-meat in my 200lb+ days, but now I want to be more of an all-rounder w/ a touch of climbing. I'm just over 6 feet tall, so that in and of itself limits how much I can "dance on my pedals" as I attack the various Cols of my hometown. Yet I can achieve a sense of liveliness when I do hit the climbs and not the ponderous big-gear approach that the Fat German takes.
There are many sources of training info out there but I had started using the Armstrong book written after the '99 win. It was written by my friend and former customer Peter Nye (not the Science Guy!)! It's simple and straightforward; all you need. I haven't started following it this season yet, but I have added repeated intense efforts througout some of my rides. Thing to remember is if you go out to push yourself focus on just that. If you are out to ride the lactic acid out of your legs from the previous day, don't go chasing after the high-socked hybrideer that just passed you. Old, and still true today, way of thinking is: slow and long, short and fast. You'll end up killing yourself if you go out for 5 hours doing intervals. You can have some hard efforts if you want a good workout, but too much leads to overtraining. Doing a slow and short ride is good for getting coffee or groceries; leave it at that.
As I add different types of rides I'll share them w/ you. I can't wait to do cadence speed training again! I'm a pain junkie!
are you a smoker, son?
I once took a lung power test in college when I was fairly fit from skating and some riding, and the instuctor asked me that question. I was shocked. Like an ass I smoked in high school 'cuz it was cool, but had quit nearly 4 years before that test! I have no lung capacity, therefore no staying power, therefore no racing. I imagine that I could build up my VO2 after awhile but that is limited by a genetic marker so it will never increase beyond a certain percentage.
But I still love cycling and testing myself to see how I can perform. I want to get better so I work at it. I also have to say that I and nearly every shaved-legged hill junkie have body envy. I see guys racing on TV and in the local crits and want to sculpt my body, or a better term, reduce my body down to their fat-less perfection. I'll stop before this borders on biker porn. You've heard Phil Ligget comment on the "long, lean, bronze legs of" so and so and wonder what that old man gets off on. He's a leg-shaver too! He's got the disease.
i'm not a Jan!!
It seems as though I suffer from the Jan effect; winters aren't kind to my waist, stomach, etc. I have to get it off every spring/summer. Since I'm also German, I inevitably would get the "Hey Jan!" everytime someone would see me in my kit. You get tired of it no matter what you say to yourself; especially if you have control over it. I vow that I won't reach the ematiation of Rasmussen though...
foundation.
I've obviously been doing "base" rides in order to get my entire body in shape. I say entire because you have to build up all the micro-muscles that you use to simply hold yourself up as well as getting your legs, lungs, and heart up to speed. When you do long rides over at least 2 or more continuous hours your body starts to truly build it's endurance on a whole scale. Even your down-tube/soft-tissue area builds up in order to endure the saddle time!
variation.
Once I feel as though I have a good foundation I'll start to vary my rides in intensity and in duration based on what I'm trying accomplish. If you're racing you'll have specific goals or weaknesses that you'll want to work on. I could have been considered pack-meat in my 200lb+ days, but now I want to be more of an all-rounder w/ a touch of climbing. I'm just over 6 feet tall, so that in and of itself limits how much I can "dance on my pedals" as I attack the various Cols of my hometown. Yet I can achieve a sense of liveliness when I do hit the climbs and not the ponderous big-gear approach that the Fat German takes.
There are many sources of training info out there but I had started using the Armstrong book written after the '99 win. It was written by my friend and former customer Peter Nye (not the Science Guy!)! It's simple and straightforward; all you need. I haven't started following it this season yet, but I have added repeated intense efforts througout some of my rides. Thing to remember is if you go out to push yourself focus on just that. If you are out to ride the lactic acid out of your legs from the previous day, don't go chasing after the high-socked hybrideer that just passed you. Old, and still true today, way of thinking is: slow and long, short and fast. You'll end up killing yourself if you go out for 5 hours doing intervals. You can have some hard efforts if you want a good workout, but too much leads to overtraining. Doing a slow and short ride is good for getting coffee or groceries; leave it at that.
As I add different types of rides I'll share them w/ you. I can't wait to do cadence speed training again! I'm a pain junkie!
posted by Chris Huller at 5:51 PM
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