Road Cycling Essentials

[George Hincapie]

I still find it a surprise that people don't think there was doping going on.

Everyone during that time was taking drugs, just a question of how many!

Some people are completely deluded I guess.

 

[VeNT]

Some people are completely deluded I guess.

I think that it's mostly people outside of the sport who don't understand that it became such a cultural thing.

 

[George Hincapie]

I think that it's mostly people outside of the sport who don't understand that it became such a cultural thing.

Well I don't want another suspension for attempting to 'educate' the LA fans, so I'll shush

 

[platypus]

The Affidavits relating to the riders involved in the Armstrong doping scandal.

My beloved George is indeed a dirty doper, but I still love him.

The cheating aside, its amazing just how systematically people would put foreign substances into their body.

 

[[Damien]]

I suppose at that level it's no different to the likes of us chugging down caffeine to get through the day.

 

[Thomas. PLease.]

My resting heart rate:

Often goes lower too. Steady rides I'll average 120-130, going for it will average 160ish. 24yr old fit male.

 

[[Damien]]

Damn that's low. I feel like an unfit slob now.

 

[Thomas. PLease.]

Damn that's low. I feel like an unfit slob now.

I don't think it's a particularly good indicator on fitness to be honest, even when I wasn't that fit it was still around 60ish bpm.

 

[Russinating]

That is indeed very low. Like you say it's not necessarily linked to fitness although in your case probably is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradycardia

 

[Shamrock]

Contador gets away with it because he weighs less than a bag of sugar. For *ahem* larger riders, it's far more efficient to stay seated during climbing and allows better power transfer at a lower heart rate.

I still don't think it's fair to call it "bad form". Climbing out of the saddle has it's uses for short er climbs where you want to keep the speed up.

 

[uniQ]

I have pretty much identical resting heart rate to you Thomas. 38/39. 124 avg at a good pace and generally around 165 when pushing for it up hills.

 

[[Damien]]

That's a mental HR. Mine's 57-58ish on waking (60-63ish when just chilling). And between 135-155 when going along at a decent speed. It's spiked up to as high as 172 when really pushing it though.

 

[VeNT]

The cheating aside, its amazing just how systematically people would put foreign substances into their body.

so what was that you where injecting me with?
Vit C
can't I just eat some oranges? or kale?

 

[willems]

The cheating aside, its amazing just how systematically people would put foreign substances into their body.

under doctor supervision and if you dont you have no chance to compete at the top. you can see why they did

 

[Vonhelmet]

The cheating aside, its amazing just how systematically people would put foreign substances into their body.

Aren't most of the doping substances natural anyway? Or analogues of natural substances? In which case they're not exactly foreign.

 

[George Hincapie]

I still don't think it's fair to call it "bad form". Climbing out of the saddle has it's uses for short er climbs where you want to keep the speed up.

I didn't say it was bad form, I just said it's not as efficient which is true. You're right of course, I even get out of the saddle on short climbs. Magnificent sight that it is

 

[Shamrock]

Nah it was the previous poster I quoted who said it. Bad form to me would imply that it's a technique which should be avoided at all costs.

 

[touch]

I even get out of the saddle on short climbs.

I know, I hear the pinging of stressed spokes from here

 

[VeNT]

I used to get out of the saddle on most climbs, now I don't and it seems easier?

 

[[Damien]]

For very short climbs standing works but you tire out way too fast for longer ones. Sitting is far more efficient.