Dear friend
What are the two biggest limiters to a cyclist?
Not having a 12 grand carbon bike on deep sections?
Not living in a warm country?
Not having an understanding husband/wife?
Nope:
Gravity and air.
This winter is your chance to change all that, without moving to the moon.
Yes ok ok, your position will affect the drag you create as you cut through the air and yes a lighter bike will mean that you plus your bike does indeed weigh less.
But (there’s always a but!)
You can’t get into a more aerodynamic position if you’re not able to turn the pedals while you’re in it and there’s a very good chance that there’s more weight to ‘save’ on you than on any new bike!
Chris Boardman, before creating Boardman Bikes, was a world-class cyclist, in particular in time-trials and the pursuit and he was also the Hour record holder. In my opinion, he was the first rider to really understand and emphasize the advantages of improved aerodynamics. He used to say that a time-trial wasn’t a race against the clock, rather a race against the wind.
Lotus, the car manufacturer, made him a bike to compete in the 4000m Pursuit at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. He asked them to create the most aerodynamic position possible. Upon his first test ride, the position was so unorthodox he couldn’t even turn the pedals!
“You said you wanted aerodynamic, you never said anything about being to pedal the bike!!”
Over the next 3 months, Boardman worked as hard as possible to get into the position suggested by Lotus. They had to reach a compromise in the end but it was still extreme, even for Chris. Incidentally, he won the Gold.
To this day, Chris Boardman advocates ‘training’ to get into a more aerodynamic position. It’s not just for those ‘lucky’ people who are naturally just the right shape or flexibility, it’s for you if you are prepared to commit to a stretching routine this winter, attend some yoga or Pilates classes regularly and practice riding in the position you would like to be more comfortable in. Results come from hard work, shock gasp horror!
So what position are you trying to achieve? What is aero?
I don’t bloody know! In fact, in his book ‘Faster’, Michael Hutchinson, another legendary time-triallist, says that sometimes he would leave the wind tunnel and end up going slower on the road as ‘real—life’ air doesn’t behave as ‘clinical’ as wind tunnel air!
All I know is that you don’t see many Tour de France Pros with 30cm of spacers below their stems and when you go downhill you catch your mates up when you get lower at the front!
Anyway, being more flexible might help you prevent injuries too, you can’t lose, so next time the weather’s too miserable to go out or stay out longer, get stretching!
What about gravity? We’ll cover that next time if you can keep off the cake for long enough 😉
PB
Friends can learn more about how to improve this winter by clicking right here.
Novice Racers’ Coaching Days
Thinking of racing next year? Identify your weaknesses to know what to train this winter
**New Dates: Ardingly Showground
Nov 17th 2019 - Enter here
Jan 12th 2020 - Enter here
(The Surrey Cycle Racing League requires that all 4th Cats (Novices) attend two coaching sessions prior to entering their races)
Drop me a line if you’re looking for races that you can do in the meantime and I’ll go through the BC calendar with you.
Or
Get 12 points and become a 3rd Cat!
Read more here
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