A new way to faster cycling
I've found a new way to cycle faster - it's just not very easy to replicate...
This morning I went out for a ride, and had gone about 50 miles - there were 15 miles more before I reached home. My legs were pretty tired because it had been a pretty hilly route but it was a nice sunny morning, not too hot, and things were looking good.
Between where I was and home there are two hills, each about a mile long, not too steep but hard enough to need a sustained effort and I knew my target on the hills was, as always, to maintain a steady 13.5mph for the length of the hills. I've done them slower but never faster, and I always use a reasonably easy gear and spin quite fast.
Just as I was approaching the bottom of the first hill there was an enormous clap of thunder behind me. I turned round and there was an enormous storm closing in on me - black skies, continuous lightning bolts, deafening claps of thunder.
I didn't have much choice except carrying on, and hoping I could out-run the storms, so that's what I did.
The strange thing was, despite being worn out, I easily managed 16.5 mph straight up both hills. Almost effortlessly, in a 'big' gear (and without a tailwind). As most of you will know, three miles an hour faster up hills is something that might be achieved with months of training but almost never just 'happens'.
So what I'm trying to understand is: (1) why can I never do that normally (2) will I be able to go that fast next time? I would swear I always make an effort!
I guess the lesson to learn is that we all have it in us to do much better if we are sufficiently motivated or have a good enough reason, and we should try and find those 'reserves' of strength during everyday cycling. Problem is, assuming we can't summon up storms very easily, to find a good enough reason!
And afterwards? Yes I did out-run the storm (although I stopped for a few minutes to look back at the lightning, just because it was very dramatic), and yes, my legs are unusually feeble this evening...
antonio makes this comment
Friday, 06 August 2010
Admin makes this comment
Friday, 06 August 2010
Martin makes this comment
Sunday, 08 August 2010
Great articles and great site...thanks from the South of France!!
bushbush makes this comment
Sunday, 28 November 2010
Paul H makes this comment
Thursday, 17 May 2012
The difficult thing is harnessing the power of the mind. There is many ways to use sports psychology for increased performance.
One thing that i use personally while running up hills is; I visualise a pyramid that is made of sand, I imagine my hands are little shovels,and every time my hands move the little shovels are taking a piece out of the pyramid and as I am going up the hill I am visualising the pyramid getting smaller.
I have only just started road biking so I have still to find that little bit of magic that gets me up the hills a little bit faster and easier.
One thing mentally that most of the special forces personel that I trained had was that they were never tired until they collapsed, and I literally mean collapsed or blacked out, until that point they would just keep going. ( i don't recommend this on your bike) what I am getting at is that when your legs are burning, your heart feels like its going to pop out of your chest just ask yourself, am I really exhausted or could I push it a little more if my life depended on it? if you answer it honestly you will find you can push it a little more..Good Luck!
Admin makes this comment
Thursday, 17 May 2012