The good legs made it out on my ride yesterday. Better than I knew I had actually, so I did the responsible thing and burned ’em. Today, they feel like used legs. On my ride this afternoon I’ll make every effort to duplicate yesterday’s success, and I’ll probably not be successful.

This guy had Good Leggs more than his fair share. What a stud. I fucking love this guy. http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/06/news/voigt-will-let-the-cobwebs-grow-on-his-bike-after-retirement_226360

He funny boy. Man it must be fun to be on his team and hang out mit Jensy.

That’s the road.

I have seen mention of the Dirty Dozen. I’m going to print the route off and ride it. Looks like a challenge! Compact territory!!

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/06/news/voigt-will-let-the-cobwebs-grow-on-his-bike-after-retirement_226360

@Mikael Liddy

Swamp Rd, just off Greenhill Rd before Balhannah.

Yup, think I know it. That rise before you drop down in to Balhannah?

You heard about this delightful serve of V & VV coming up on the 1st of September?

http://www.adelaidecyclists.com/group/adelaide-dirty-dozen

@ErikdR

Let me just say there is not a lot of red meat being eaten in this happy home. Yeah, my VMH is some sort of vegetarian, but fish and dairy are consumed with vigor! I’m always curious about my diet and performance and frankly I don’t think it matters much. Even if one was a strict vegan, no dairy, no eggs I think you could be an ass kicking cyclists. It’s a topic we haven’t really addressed here. The New York Times did have a good article addressing that recently, I’ll see if I can find the link. Here.

It’s quite possible to combine vegetarian diets with athletic performance. My entire family is vegetarian, and none of us are having problems. After 15 years of vegetarianism (out of 21 total years on this planet), all my blood-tests show balanced levels in all metrics, and it doesn’t stop me from 40km TTs around the 1’05 mark, or 10km runs at sub-40min pace. Not elite, by any means, but quite satisfactory for someone who’s only gotten off the couch last June.

Swamp Rd, just off Greenhill Rd before Balhannah.

Open racing for you then with the other youngsters.

Ah. I see, but perhaps not quite, the ankle is covered. My wife bought the socks so I am obliged to wear them.

When are you coming out racing with us old farts? 35 and you qualify!

Actually.. guys.. I hate to bring it up but rules not observed..

#8, #14, #17, #28, #29, and therefore #1.

Come on.. you can do better than that ..

I guess I have right of reply..

Rule #8 – Ok not bang on but I believe the set up is finely thought out and works asthetically.

Red highlights on frame to suit bar tape, Tyre highlight colour, SL’s with red hub and blade, shoes with red highlights.

Black frame and seat post goes with black saddle. Red or white saddle would look a bit off.

White lettering goes with cables and shoes.

Rule #14 – My LBS team kit and I am a functioning member of said team.

Rule #28 – Can’t see where I am going wrong there.

Rule #29 – Guilty as charged. I hate having shit in my pocket. I’m likely to ride out the door and forget a tube or somesuch. Interesting to front up to a race where not many know you with a Rule #29 violation. The more pro tend to  take you as a noob, until you hit them with a bit of Rule V on the first climb.

Hard to spot the Rule #9 in that photo but it rained a fair bit and wet, technical decents meant I also had to Decend like a Pro to widen my advantage.

 

 

@scaler911 I’m pretty sure this is a photochop – wasn’t it 2015 in the movie?

You’re right. Again. Fuck Al Gore and his inter webs………

For those of you scratching your heads, this is the dashboard from Dr. Brown’s DeLorean in Back to the Future part 1. Today is the day in the future he went to.

Let me just say there is not a lot of red meat being eaten in this happy home. Yeah, my VMH is some sort of vegetarian, but fish and dairy are consumed with vigor! I’m always curious about my diet and performance and frankly I don’t think it matters much. Even if one was a strict vegan, no dairy, no eggs I think you could be an ass kicking cyclists. It’s a topic we haven’t really addressed here. The New York Times did have a good article addressing that recently, I’ll see if I can find the link. Here.

@versio

@Richard Hale

Actually.. guys.. I hate to bring it up but rules not observed..

#8, #14, #17, #28, #29, and therefore #1.

Come on.. you can do better than that ..

More specifically… when? where?

My eyesight doesn’t confirm or deny anything on #8; #14 – well @Daccordi Rider is wearing club/team kit and we need a ruling – but I think you have to wear the team kit (I mean not all Astana riders really want to look like that); #17 I’m not Australian but they look like club kits to me and therefore must be OK as long as they’re being worn by club members; there may be a #27 breach on the second rider who appears to be straying in to female tennis player territory but I don’t see a #28 violation. You have however got @Daccordi Rider bang to rights with a Rule #29 EPMS violation – but as he was laying down The V at the moment the picture was taken and went on to win he probably gets a bye on that.

So, in my opinion, close to perfect Rule #1 compliance.

Did not really scrutinize the photo other than one rider truly has slammed his stem setup.

@Richard Hale

Actually.. guys.. I hate to bring it up but rules not observed..

#8, #14, #17, #28, #29, and therefore #1.

Come on.. you can do better than that ..

More specifically… when? where?

My eyesight doesn’t confirm or deny anything on #8; #14 – well @Daccordi Rider is wearing club/team kit and we need a ruling – but I think you have to wear the team kit (I mean not all Astana riders really want to look like that); #17 I’m not Australian but they look like club kits to me and therefore must be OK as long as they’re being worn by club members; there may be a #27 breach on the second rider who appears to be straying in to female tennis player territory but I don’t see a #28 violation. You have however got @Daccordi Rider bang to rights with a Rule #29 EPMS violation – but as he was laying down The V at the moment the picture was taken and went on to win he probably gets a bye on that.

So, in my opinion, close to perfect Rule #1 compliance.

@Gianni

@ErikdR

 

 Maybe I should try steak tonight, my wife is away, she will never read this.

Is your VMH a strict vegetarian, by any chance? Or is she just opposed to you imbibing the forbidden fruit of Clenbuterol? On another note: I can imagine a nice discussion being held about the pro’s and cons of a largely vegetarian diet, as opposed to an animal-protein-based one – and whether eating veg can be combined at all with cycling. But that would have to be another post at some poiint, I reckon.

@versio well just referrring to the picture on the post (posted by Dacordi Rider) :)

Ohh… now I see. Yes. Hmm…

Actually.. guys.. I hate to bring it up but rules not observed..

#8, #14, #17, #28, #29, and therefore #1.

Come on.. you can do better than that ..

More specifically… when? where?

Legs are not my problem.  Gut and grams are my problem.  Specifically, 27,215 grams.  After that, then I’ll think about the legs.  In the meantime, they are just getting an extra work out as I seemingly carry a 1st grader around my middle when I ride.

I refer to the “extra” as a stack of wet newspapers under my jersey. I understand. Thank goodness for the legs.

#8, #14, #17, #28, #29, and therefore #1.

Come on.. you can do better than that ..

I had missed a couple of sessions this week (sick kids) and stole an hour today for a quick Zone 1.

As I left home I thought “At last. And great! – fresh legs…”

I rode hard. I did my work. But I can confirm: Fresh legs are not necessarily good legs.

I suffered. That is all.

Your legs may have been good but the rule adherence leaves a little to be desired…have you not read Rule #29?

@Gianni You’re too kind to my skinny guns. Ah the helmet covers, look pretty cool huh. This was a road race with multiple grades so set colours are worn for each grade so the refs can spot anyone tacking into the wrong group. Vets racing, no young un’s allowed!

I’ve seen the times you post up the hills around here, this young un wouldn’t be any danger even if he was allowed…

@Deakus

“One correction, I believe that Jacques Anquetils “good legs” were so prevalent not from drinking but more likely the fact that he was sleeping with someone else’s wife and ultimately having children with her daughter!!!”

You may be onto something. It seemed to work for Tiger Woods: dominating a sport and much extramarital sex. I don’t have that much testosterone to spare. I need all I have just to power my compact crank, as it were.

I’ll let Mrs Engine know that this is the way to sporting success…

nice one. I hope we see Gilbert running his 2011 game in the TDF this year…

Incidentally I had pretty bad legs yesterday on a ride w ~1700m climbing. Then I got home and saw this, and wept: http://app.strava.com/rides/11611893

my post included just one hill climb from that epic ride tot illustrate the point. but yeah…

@Deakus

“One correction, I believe that Jacques Anquetils “good legs” were so prevalent not from drinking but more likely the fact that he was sleeping with someone else’s wife and ultimately having children with her daughter!!!”

You may be onto something. It seemed to work for Tiger Woods: dominating a sport and much extramarital sex. I don’t have that much testosterone to spare. I need all I have just to power my compact crank, as it were.

That’s one of them thar dubble ontondree’s, ain’t it?

Very nice write-up, Gianni. I guess the mystery of the Good Legs makes cycling all the more fascinating (as if it wasn’t awesome enough to begin with… ) – and memories of ‘Good Leg Days’ can certainly linger for a very long time.

During one of the long summer hoidays that I used to spend riding with the same friends, most members of our little group were tall, lanky diesels like myself, but there was also one short, sinewy little pocket rocket who was a real ‘grimpeur’. Whenever the road started pointing seriously upward, he would simply leave all of us mere mortals behind and streak up the hill by himself. Always. Until one magical day in the Alps, where I could actually go with him. I asked him afterwards if he was having ‘Bad Legs’ that particular day, but he insisted that he had felt perfectly OK – but that he had been very surprised to see me alongside.

Never happened before; never happened since (well, not quite in the same ‘dramatic’ way, anyway…). And I still haven’t a clue what the hell had gotten into me that day. (On second thought, it is possible that I was the only one in our group who had ordered steak for dinner the night before – Of the miraculous Spanish variety, perhaps?) Naahh, just kidding. It remains an utter mystery to me, and I actually like it that way…

Yep, that’s what I was trying to express too. Once in a while the legs are mint and then, poof, gone. For reasons we don’t understand. I’m glad this mystery adds to your enjoyment of cycling. Maybe I should try steak tonight, my wife is away, she will never read this.

“One correction, I believe that Jacques Anquetils “good legs” were so prevalent not from drinking but more likely the fact that he was sleeping with someone else’s wife and ultimately having children with her daughter!!!”

You may be onto something. It seemed to work for Tiger Woods: dominating a sport and much extramarital sex. I don’t have that much testosterone to spare. I need all I have just to power my compact crank, as it were.

also…nice use of the word abstemious.

Excellent Article…I was lucky enough to get my “good legs” only 3 weeks ago….unfortunately it was on a training ride with a friend who barely breaks sweat when riding with me and therefore took this “half wheeling” personally and proceeded to rip my “good legs” off….I have not seen them since!

One correction, I believe that Jacques Anquetils “good legs” were so prevalent not from drinking but more likely the fact that he was sleeping with someone else’s wife and ultimately having children with her daughter!!!

Now that’s real training :)

The Anquetil method wouldn’t work with the state of my back

One correction, I believe that Jacques Anquetils “good legs” were so prevalent not from drinking but more likely the fact that he was sleeping with someone else’s wife and ultimately having children with her daughter!!!

Now that’s real training :)

Reckon that’s where the pair I lost two years ago went, too…

several. They’re all shoved down inside these ones in the photo. Can’t you tell?

During one of the long summer hoidays that I used to spend riding with the same friends, most members of our little group were tall, lanky diesels like myself, but there was also one short, sinewy little pocket rocket who was a real ‘grimpeur’. Whenever the road started pointing seriously upward, he would simply leave all of us mere mortals behind and streak up the hill by himself. Always. Until one magical day in the Alps, where I could actually go with him. I asked him afterwards if he was having ‘Bad Legs’ that particular day, but he insisted that he had felt perfectly OK – but that he had been very surprised to see me alongside.

Never happened before; never happened since (well, not quite in the same ‘dramatic’ way, anyway…). And I still haven’t a clue what the hell had gotten into me that day. (On second thought, it is possible that I was the only one in our group who had ordered steak for dinner the night before – Of the miraculous Spanish variety, perhaps?) Naahh, just kidding. It remains an utter mystery to me, and I actually like it that way…

nice one. I hope we see Gilbert running his 2011 game in the TDF this year…

Incidentally I had pretty bad legs yesterday on a ride w ~1700m climbing. Then I got home and saw this, and wept: http://app.strava.com/rides/11611893

@gaswepass

nice write-up Gianni. It is funny, the self-resolve to “do all the right things” leading into a big ride day and still be issued ones same phyiological limitaitons. Because that +1% still doesn’t add up to this:(ted king strava segment climbing in italy)

San Pellegrino in Alpe
 
7.5mi
3,558ft
7.9mi/h
–
1155
–
00:56:20

for the majority of us anyhow. I say blame the parents.

Yes, def blame the parents, how can we compare born to regular mortals?

Cry if you must, but i heard his legs were carved out of much larger more powerful ones.

@Duende That’s the way to do it. And you will be rewarded for it. Good legs.

@doubleR

“Colours.”

Ah…so that explains why everyone is riding on the wrong side of the road…..

“The word colour is spelled as color in American English.It is spelled without ‘u’ in America only.”

From Yahoo answers. Why must you Americans be fucking different, is the” u” such a difficult letter?

Ah…so that explains why everyone is riding on the wrong side of the road…..

At least you had the good legs on an important day. The photo shows the guns almost vibrating with power. And your acceleration was so fast you somehow aged the riders behind you. Are they all wearing 1990’s Giro helmets with lycra coverings?

“Riding longer, and resting longer.  So i did, and now i have a new pair of legs hanging in the garage, next to the old tired worn out pair.”

That’s maybe the most sage advise for any cyclists over forty. If that doesn’t solve the equation it will come damn close.

@il ciclista medio
” Doesn’t appear to be affected by lack of sleep, diet, alcohol, pre-race coitus, No. of children under 5, 100 or 400k training weeks either. I can’t quite pinpoint the cause/effect of why this happens?”

Exactly my point too, what the hell does make the magic happen? I wish someone would whisper it to me, in a Jens Voight sort of voice. Or Yoda’s, I’ll believe either one.

[IMG]http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l496/DaccordiRider/cycling.jpg[/IMG]

I felt that I had good legs this past weekend when I rode in my first group ride. It was 80kms in length, through surrounding regions of Ottawa that I had never ridden before. There were about 30 of us riding two abreast and rotating so that everyone took turns pulling at the front.

At one point about 40kms in, I found myself toward the back of the group. All of a sudden, I realised that the guys two rows ahead of me had allowed a big gap to open between them and the next riders. Very quickly, the gap was up to about 50 or 60 yards. And I could see that the group ahead was really hammering as they approached a shortish climb. Now, by this point in the ride, I had absolutely no idea where we were. And I was quite sure that if we got dropped here, we would never see the other riders again. As nobody else in our group looked like they were going to make a move, I decided to jump out and try to close the gap myself. Riding straight into a strong headwind, I hammered as hard as I could. But, after 30 seconds or so I seemed to be making little progress. What surprised me, was that I had the legs to maintain the effort, and even up the pace from where I was. And, shortly thereafter, I started to close the gap. 
 
I don’t really know how long it took me to catch the rider in front of me. It felt like an eternity. But, it was probably only 120 or 180 seconds. Still, it took a huge effort. And, as I got back on his wheel, I felt a huge sense of accomplishment and settled in to catch my breath and get back on the rhythm of the peloton. Not 10 seconds later, the guy leading the ride called out for a water break. We all pulled off o the side of the road and took a five minute break. Fuck! Good legs. Crappy timing!
 

For me (and possibly everybody else?) I too have good legs, fair legs and legs feel like shit days. Haven’t quite worked out the formula either gianni? Doesn’t appear to be affected by lack of sleep, diet, alcohol, pre-race coitus, No. of children under 5, 100 or 400k training weeks either. I can’t quite pinpoint the cause/effect of why this happens?

I can have legs feeling like shit at first and an hour later the interchange has run on to the field; bad out, good in and I’m feeling on fire for the rest of the ride. Or the complete opposite happens, feel great pulling for the first half and then end up with legs feeling like they belong to someone else, not listening to the instructions from my brain. When it all comes together though, oh what a glorious feeling. I like Hincapie’s remark – pedalling with no chain – sums it up perfectly I think!

my £0.02’s worth is that a large part of having good legs is psychological.

I recently did 3000km* of riding in 10 days and on day 3 I would start the day already tired, but just applying the V for a period of time helped alleviate the issue, granted each day it may have taken longer to solve but liberal applications of V in the morning and it all felt good.

having said that, by day 6 the legs felt good every morning so it was easier to hammer it out on a daily basis!

good rest, good food, and sunshine, its all you need!

*obviously all rides are described in altitude not distance travelled but saying I rode 30,100metres wouldnt give you much to work with ;-)

On behalf of everyone riding Vermont, thanks for the kind words. Your piece is both insightful and timely. For the past few weeks, I’ve been convinced that I’ve done all I can to prepare for this ride, and that it’s now up to the fates. And it now boils down to precisely that question: how are the legs today?

Steamy, I thought of you crazy kids yesterday. I was was finishing a beautiful but hard hot route, 100km, 1.5km climbing, I was totally baked at the end. The large red cooked turkey indicator was protruding under my white V jersey and I thought, “Do that same ride two more times then a little more and it’s a 200 on 100 ride.”  No f’ing way.

All Velominati will be thinking of you all on Thursday. As Rob has said, it might not be pretty but it will be epic. I hope the weather is nice and the dump truck full of awesome doesn’t run anyone over too early in the ride. You bastards are riding the talk, as it were. I hope someone has a pocket sized video camera.

Before I moved I would start every Spring with almost zero fitness. Those first rides, weak as a kitten, wrapped in layers of lycra, depressing, maddening but it always felt better to be finally out riding than not.

Ugh, oy – THIS is the worst feeling ever. I did pretty well this winter keeping up a good base. But the previous year I didn’t, and coming out of “winter hibernation” was awful. Just riding on normal roads and routes without any sort of real climbing shouldn’t make your legs tired and sore, but 4 months of no real riding will certainly do that, and it feels absolutely awful.

The best feeling ever on the other hand is to be just spinning along and have your legs feel like nothing – no fatigue, no soreness – just working while you enjoy the ride. You don’t even realize they are there. Wonderful.

You are wise and well on the path to continual ass-kicking. I agree on all points. Confidence is it and it comes out of all the time spent in Cave. It’s funny the physical and mental both must come along together. Without the confidence in the legs it all falls apart.

@gaswepass

Yeah, I blame my parents, I chose without enough information. Believe me, I’ve been at this for so long I know just how much I don’t have it. I have to choose my cycling friends wisely or not be upset by the continual shellings OTB. Wouldn’t we all like to be Taylor Phinney or at least start with “better than average”. @Rob talked about this regarding Lemond and I felt this way about Andy Schleck, I actually don’t find these cyclists as interesting because they have so much of a leg up on everyone else with their natural talent. They have almost fallen into a career as a pro.

I heard it best by a PRO saying ‘don’t write a check with your mouth that you cannot cash in with your legs’

at the ripe age (or overage) of 42, it seems I just now am appreciating this more and more, finding the good legs.  Last year I found myself hung out to dry on more than one occassion by the fellows on the weekend, and my wife said I need to just give it up, as the younger more energetic than myself riders aspriing to be cat 3’s were just lighter and built more for it than me.  Like an incindiary dog, it just pissed me off, and I would ride harder, and harder, daily til i became nearly depressed, sore and bonking more than riding.

As mentioned, however, giving in, i opted to by the cyclists bible, read it and pulled a few hints to find ‘good legs’, and rest was the missing part of my equation.  Riding longer, and resting longer.  So i did, and now i have a new pair of legs hanging in the garage, next to the old tired worn out pair.

If however, it were not for the tired, worn out and old pair, I would not appreciate this good pair.

“The feeling of love comes when the legs and the body respond to the work in a positive manner.  Now they just protest.  They fight me”

I hear ya brother, the continual deposits into the pain bank with zero percent interest it’s no good but it’s what we do. Us cyclists better enjoy the training even if it is barely enjoyable or the whole game is over and it’s time to start dragging a set of golf clubs around.

Before I moved I would start every Spring with almost zero fitness. Those first rides, weak as a kitten, wrapped in layers of lycra, depressing, maddening but it always felt better to be finally out riding than not.

Incidentally I had pretty bad legs yesterday on a ride w ~1700m climbing. Then I got home and saw this, and wept:

http://app.strava.com/rides/11611893

San Pellegrino in Alpe
 
7.5mi
3,558ft
7.9mi/h
–
1155
–
00:56:20

for the majority of us anyhow. I say blame the parents.

As a cyclists your legs are your tools, your currency.

Is this why the Canadian dollar is so strong compared with the US at the moment?

But great piece and thanks for the reminder. Tomorrow AM, I load up the car and start making my way to Vermont (via a ride with Duende in Ottawa). Will be sure to pack the good legs (such as one can work out which is which…).

What an AWESOME photo of Fast Phil’s guns!

I had good legs on Saturday. Hadn’t ridden much due to gettin’ hitched. Then got roped into a 4 hr 120 km ride, with part of it a fast as group ride. I felt strong so just kept on going & going. Love having those days of good legs when you’re sure you are going to get spit out the back and then finish at the front of the pack.