@Mikael Liddy

@The Grande Fondue

I’m decent on the short, steep stuff where I go over my threshold and then try to hold on until I collapse.

The lunch time training sessions you keep doing up Kensi probably don’t hurt in this regard!

They fucking do hurt. But that’s kinda the point isn’t it?

assumed that would be the response as soon as I wrote it…and yes it is.

@VeloSix

@The Grande Fondue

I love how everyone says “I’m not a good climber, but…”

It’s true. Unless your name is Quintana there will always be someone faster than you.

@VeloSix

I have been using a power meter now for a little over a month. Wow, what a difference it makes to my climbing. I’m the 72 kg, 183 cm type (almost the same stature as Sagan, minus the guns); so not a pure climber, but decent enough to stay close to the little billy goats. Simply being able to pace properly, has made such a difference to getting over a hill. I have not raced with it yet, and don’t really have a plan for that. However, I think it will have great benefits for TT efforts as well.

My problem is in a road race, the climbers always seem to hammer the bottom of a climb, where I immediately want to go to my rhythm. (Those in the 5 km length and beyond)

I’m not a good climber but… I love putting in hard (hard!) accelerations in the middle of a climb just to see what happens.

I’m 172cm, 71kg. Even though I hate them, I’m decent on the short, steep stuff where I go over my threshold and then try to hold on until I collapse (I used to run 400m/800m at school – basically the same thing).

I like the longer, steady climbs where I can settle in (and throw in a couple of those accelerations).

I just need to be 10 kg lighter, but I can’t imagine how I could do that! 2kg I could lose, but I’m built more like a track sprinter than Chris Froome, and I just can’t see how to change that.

Fair points! To all those I leave behind me on the climbs I’m sure I’m a great climber in their eyes. But to all those who I watch pull away from me in a race, I lack the power to weight for me to use words words of praise to describe myself. I’m very much a tweener…. can do a bit of climbing, and a bit of sprinting, but I’m rarely the best in my race fields at either. So I instead rely on brains, positioning, tactics and patience to make up for my physical short comings.

It’s interesting to see what people’s tactics are in approaching KOM’s in races. I have a pretty good success rate being more of a goat myself. We use Old Willunga and nearby Wickhams hill in these races. They are 10 minute 3km climbs that both have the steepest part at the bottom My tactic tends to be out of the saddle very hard tempo for the first k or so, gets rid of the non climbers. Settle into just under threshold tempo, recover slightly, then attack hard at about the halfway mark for 300 or so metres, hope to get a gap then sit on threshold to the top to keep the gap.

The main thing for me is to try to dictate terms so I work to my strengths not others. On the shorter , 1-3 mins, climbs the high power guys can turn the tables.

I have a lot of trouble judging steady state efforts on climbs. On something like Norton Summit I always push myself too hard at the bottom, and then have to go too easy on the middle part. I did a 15 second PB last weekend simply by following some people up and letting them judge the pace (aka shameless wheelsucking).

Add yes, I know a power meter would help.

@The Grande Fondue

I love how everyone says “I’m not a good climber, but…”

It’s true. Unless your name is Quintana there will always be someone faster than you.

@VeloSix

I have been using a power meter now for a little over a month. Wow, what a difference it makes to my climbing. I’m the 72 kg, 183 cm type (almost the same stature as Sagan, minus the guns); so not a pure climber, but decent enough to stay close to the little billy goats. Simply being able to pace properly, has made such a difference to getting over a hill. I have not raced with it yet, and don’t really have a plan for that. However, I think it will have great benefits for TT efforts as well.

My problem is in a road race, the climbers always seem to hammer the bottom of a climb, where I immediately want to go to my rhythm. (Those in the 5 km length and beyond)

I’m not a good climber but… I love putting in hard (hard!) accelerations in the middle of a climb just to see what happens.

I’m 172cm, 71kg. Even though I hate them, I’m decent on the short, steep stuff where I go over my threshold and then try to hold on until I collapse (I used to run 400m/800m at school – basically the same thing).

I like the longer, steady climbs where I can settle in (and throw in a couple of those accelerations).

I just need to be 10 kg lighter, but I can’t imagine how I could do that! 2kg I could lose, but I’m built more like a track sprinter than Chris Froome, and I just can’t see how to change that.

Fair points! To all those I leave behind me on the climbs I’m sure I’m a great climber in their eyes. But to all those who I watch pull away from me in a race, I lack the power to weight for me to use words words of praise to describe myself. I’m very much a tweener…. can do a bit of climbing, and a bit of sprinting, but I’m rarely the best in my race fields at either. So I instead rely on brains, positioning, tactics and patience to make up for my physical short comings.

It’s interesting to see what people’s tactics are in approaching KOM’s in races. I have a pretty good success rate being more of a goat myself. We use Old Willunga and nearby Wickhams hill in these races. They are 10 minute 3km climbs that both have the steepest part at the bottom My tactic tends to be out of the saddle very hard tempo for the first k or so, gets rid of the non climbers. Settle into just under threshold tempo, recover slightly, then attack hard at about the halfway mark for 300 or so metres, hope to get a gap then sit on threshold to the top to keep the gap.

The main thing for me is to try to dictate terms so I work to my strengths not others. On the shorter , 1-3 mins, climbs the high power guys can turn the tables.

I love how everyone says “I’m not a good climber, but…”

It’s true. Unless your name is Quintana there will always be someone faster than you.

@VeloSix

I have been using a power meter now for a little over a month. Wow, what a difference it makes to my climbing. I’m the 72 kg, 183 cm type (almost the same stature as Sagan, minus the guns); so not a pure climber, but decent enough to stay close to the little billy goats. Simply being able to pace properly, has made such a difference to getting over a hill. I have not raced with it yet, and don’t really have a plan for that. However, I think it will have great benefits for TT efforts as well.

My problem is in a road race, the climbers always seem to hammer the bottom of a climb, where I immediately want to go to my rhythm. (Those in the 5 km length and beyond)

I’m not a good climber but… I love putting in hard (hard!) accelerations in the middle of a climb just to see what happens.

I’m 172cm, 71kg. Even though I hate them, I’m decent on the short, steep stuff where I go over my threshold and then try to hold on until I collapse (I used to run 400m/800m at school – basically the same thing).

I like the longer, steady climbs where I can settle in (and throw in a couple of those accelerations).

I just need to be 10 kg lighter, but I can’t imagine how I could do that! 2kg I could lose, but I’m built more like a track sprinter than Chris Froome, and I just can’t see how to change that.

Fair points!  To all those I leave behind me on the climbs I’m sure I’m a great climber in their eyes.  But to all those who I watch pull away from me in a race, I lack the power to weight for me to use words words of praise to describe myself.  I’m very much a tweener…. can do a bit of climbing, and a bit of sprinting, but I’m rarely the best in my race fields at either.  So I instead rely on brains, positioning, tactics and patience to make up for my physical short comings.

@The Grande Fondue

I’m decent on the short, steep stuff where I go over my threshold and then try to hold on until I collapse.

The lunch time training sessions you keep doing up Kensi probably don’t hurt in this regard!

They fucking do hurt. But that’s kinda the point isn’t it?

Course profile for the Norseman triathlon, bike section is 180k. :-)

I’m decent on the short, steep stuff where I go over my threshold and then try to hold on until I collapse.

The lunch time training sessions you keep doing up Kensi probably don’t hurt in this regard!

@Barracuda

Me, with the bitumen biting hard at the jersey pockets with my cohorts sailing off up the 12% + grade. I’m writing cheques that my body can’t cash!

What hill is that?

Crows Nest Road – Port Elliot South Oz

When I started training, and riding beyond the short commute I weighed 95kg. I am at 68 right now (185cms). My wife is actually concerned I have developed, or developing an eating disorder because I keep saying things like “I just need to loose a couple more kgs”! I reply with the fact that according the BMI scale, I can go as low as 63kg and remain in the “healthy weight range”.

I’m careful what I say now but I do have skin folds left around my waist that I want gone and I don’t want an intervention! And yes, I am worried that I look like a spider doing a light bulb.

It’s true. Unless your name is Quintana there will always be someone faster than you.

@VeloSix

I have been using a power meter now for a little over a month. Wow, what a difference it makes to my climbing. I’m the 72 kg, 183 cm type (almost the same stature as Sagan, minus the guns); so not a pure climber, but decent enough to stay close to the little billy goats. Simply being able to pace properly, has made such a difference to getting over a hill. I have not raced with it yet, and don’t really have a plan for that. However, I think it will have great benefits for TT efforts as well.

My problem is in a road race, the climbers always seem to hammer the bottom of a climb, where I immediately want to go to my rhythm. (Those in the 5 km length and beyond)

I’m not a good climber but… I love putting in hard (hard!) accelerations in the middle of a climb just to see what happens.

I’m 172cm, 71kg. Even though I hate them, I’m decent on the short, steep stuff where I go over my threshold and then try to hold on until I collapse (I used to run 400m/800m at school – basically the same thing).

I like the longer, steady climbs where I can settle in (and throw in a couple of those accelerations).

I just need to be 10 kg lighter, but I can’t imagine how I could do that! 2kg I could lose, but I’m built more like a track sprinter than Chris Froome, and I just can’t see how to change that.

Me, with the bitumen biting hard at the jersey pockets with my cohorts sailing off up the 12% + grade. I’m writing cheques that my body can’t cash!

What hill is that?

@Deakus Amen brother. I am truly in Clydes territory, and after doing the Haydon Hundred a few weeks ago can attest that losing a few kilos wouldn’t hurt me too much…

I cracked the weight thing (not that I was ever much more than a slightly chubby Shetland Pony) but it’s the losing years thing I need to crack………

@Fausto Crapiz

Prefers 6+kms of 15-19% grades, distills his own single malt, lives in a castle in Spain, owns an airline, dates supermodels…

Oh yeah, wore some of my new socks as well. The VMH gave me four pairs of DeFeet socks, in various cool colors for my recent birthday. What a gift! One pair is even in the LOOK color scheme. I can wear them when I ride my…LOOK. Ha, I’ll be the guy at the concert wearing the band’s t-shirt from their last world tour. (which is why I’ll wear them when I ride my Casati or Tommasini)

Prefers 6+kms of 15-19% grades, distills his own single malt, lives in a castle in Spain, owns an airline, dates supermodels…

Climbs? Beginning, middle, end? I know not of what you speak. Here in SE Wisconsin we have lumps. Lots of nasty little lumps that start and finish. Oh what I’d give to climb a real mountain!

ps Barracuda, Looks like gravity’s been at your socks too!

Ya dude, I dream and have nightmares of climbing a real mountain.  Being on the north side of too fat to climb makes me curious about what it would be like.  I started riding on the flat windy plains and now suffer in urban hills, but have never suffered through a long sustained climb like our friend @fausto crapiz seems to have done on a regular basis.

Work, ride, read, sleep. I’m easily appeased!

Atta boy! “Eat, Sleep, Train, Repeat”*… what else is there?

*yes, most need to jamb “work” in there someplace.

Nothing too exciting route-wise for me of late, but darn, I LOVE summertime and being able to let the heat dissipate and ride late into the evening. Work all day, ride late, get home and read some cycling books, then head to bed.

Work, ride, read, sleep. I’m easily appeased!

Photo courtesy of @strathlubnaig, a master of the compact camera on the move. Over the Col de Sarenne and heading up towards the back of Alpe D’Huez. It was a beautiful day, a thought that didn’t really register until we were over the top.

@unversio

@wiscot

@teleguy57

@wiscot

Climbs? Beginning, middle, end? I know not of what you speak. Here in SE Wisconsin we have lumps. Lots of nasty little lumps that start and finish. Oh what I’d give to climb a real mountain!

Makes it a bit interesting to train here for real climbing. I’m headed out to Kent Eriksen’s Tour de Steamboat next month. While I’ve ridden in CO, nothing this long (110 miles) combined with this kind of climbing (7,500 feet) …

My framebuilder tells me his brother, who looks great in rosa, will be there. Free massages at the end, with beer flowing at the post-ride barbeque, so I have lots to which to look forward. But climbing in WI is a bit different.

Sounds like a good time! Yup, here in WI (or at least my part of it) it’s more Amstel or Flanders in terms of short, sharp climbs. Did a nice one last night that was just a real rollercoaster in parts (West Bend – Kewaskum – Campbellsport -Lake Bernice – Town of Ashford – Theresa – Kohlsville – West Bend). 88kms of pure WI landscape at it’s finest – lush green fields, red barns, blue skies, white fluffy clouds, very quiet roads the whole way.

“WI landscape at it’s finest – lush green fields, red barns, blue skies, white fluffy clouds, very quiet roads the whole way.” Perfect for creating a cogal one day “” next year?

Nah, I need to get a cogal set for this year. Maybe a fall one when the colors are turning. Early October. And yep, it’ll go on many of last night’s roads.

Fall would be wonderful — bookend the season with the Cheesehead Roubaix tête de la course and a fall cogal arrière du peloton.

Now as to type of climbing, when one is the same weight as Magnus Bäckstedt (my now favorite commentator by far) but 11ish cm shorter, well, both helligen and grinding alpine slogs are just plain painful.  That’s why my frame sticker reads “Presque Rouleur;” no grimpeur here!

@wiscot

@teleguy57

@wiscot

Climbs? Beginning, middle, end? I know not of what you speak. Here in SE Wisconsin we have lumps. Lots of nasty little lumps that start and finish. Oh what I’d give to climb a real mountain!

Makes it a bit interesting to train here for real climbing. I’m headed out to Kent Eriksen’s Tour de Steamboat next month. While I’ve ridden in CO, nothing this long (110 miles) combined with this kind of climbing (7,500 feet) …

My framebuilder tells me his brother, who looks great in rosa, will be there. Free massages at the end, with beer flowing at the post-ride barbeque, so I have lots to which to look forward. But climbing in WI is a bit different.

Sounds like a good time! Yup, here in WI (or at least my part of it) it’s more Amstel or Flanders in terms of short, sharp climbs. Did a nice one last night that was just a real rollercoaster in parts (West Bend – Kewaskum – Campbellsport -Lake Bernice – Town of Ashford – Theresa – Kohlsville – West Bend). 88kms of pure WI landscape at it’s finest – lush green fields, red barns, blue skies, white fluffy clouds, very quiet roads the whole way.

“WI landscape at it’s finest – lush green fields, red barns, blue skies, white fluffy clouds, very quiet roads the whole way.” Perfect for creating a cogal one day “” next year?

Nah, I need to get a cogal set for this year. Maybe a fall one when the colors are turning. Early October. And yep, it’ll go on many of last night’s roads.

@teleguy57

@wiscot

Climbs? Beginning, middle, end? I know not of what you speak. Here in SE Wisconsin we have lumps. Lots of nasty little lumps that start and finish. Oh what I’d give to climb a real mountain!

Makes it a bit interesting to train here for real climbing. I’m headed out to Kent Eriksen’s Tour de Steamboat next month. While I’ve ridden in CO, nothing this long (110 miles) combined with this kind of climbing (7,500 feet) …

My framebuilder tells me his brother, who looks great in rosa, will be there. Free massages at the end, with beer flowing at the post-ride barbeque, so I have lots to which to look forward. But climbing in WI is a bit different.

Sounds like a good time! Yup, here in WI (or at least my part of it) it’s more Amstel or Flanders in terms of short, sharp climbs. Did a nice one last night that was just a real rollercoaster in parts (West Bend – Kewaskum – Campbellsport -Lake Bernice – Town of Ashford – Theresa – Kohlsville – West Bend). 88kms of pure WI landscape at it’s finest – lush green fields, red barns, blue skies, white fluffy clouds, very quiet roads the whole way.

“WI landscape at it’s finest – lush green fields, red barns, blue skies, white fluffy clouds, very quiet roads the whole way.” Perfect for creating a cogal one day — next year?

@wiscot

Climbs? Beginning, middle, end? I know not of what you speak. Here in SE Wisconsin we have lumps. Lots of nasty little lumps that start and finish. Oh what I’d give to climb a real mountain!

Makes it a bit interesting to train here for real climbing. I’m headed out to Kent Eriksen’s Tour de Steamboat next month. While I’ve ridden in CO, nothing this long (110 miles) combined with this kind of climbing (7,500 feet) …

My framebuilder tells me his brother, who looks great in rosa, will be there. Free massages at the end, with beer flowing at the post-ride barbeque, so I have lots to which to look forward. But climbing in WI is a bit different.

Sounds like a good time! Yup, here in WI (or at least my part of it) it’s more Amstel or Flanders in terms of short, sharp climbs. Did a nice one last night that was just a real rollercoaster in parts (West Bend – Kewaskum – Campbellsport -Lake Bernice – Town of Ashford – Theresa – Kohlsville – West Bend). 88kms of pure WI landscape at it’s finest – lush green fields, red barns, blue skies, white fluffy clouds, very quiet roads the whole way.

@Ccos

@Fausto Crapiz

@Velosix P.S. Just did Cherohala challenge and found myself wanting to play angry birds on the way up, it was that boring.

You do realize that if you don’t go pro and prove your awesomeness on the hills, there likely will be a petition to formally change your name to “Douche.” Better still would be to move to England and get knighted. “Sir Douche” has a nice ring to it.

HAHAHA. .that’s not what I mean. It’s a long, straight, unshaded climb with no breaks. Tough but boring.

You have to work your delivery dude.  Rule #72  Nobody wants to listen to you tell us, or read how you infer, what a manbeast you are.

We are not here to whip out our dicks and measure them in front of each other.   We are here for the love of cycling.  Take the rules and all the hard man shit in the spirit it is intended.  If a climb of 4250′ of gain is beneath you and lulls you to sleep, that’s fine.  But you’re in the wrong place to talk shit about it.

That is certainly a balance I have to work out.  How long can I lay down 400 W along side the little guys spinning like hamsters, and still have a healthy reserve for my rhythm climbing for the long haul when they decide to settle down some, if ever.

If it’s a hilltop finish, I want to blow it out, but timing it right is tough (This is where I hope the power helps).  If the climb is early or mid race, then I want to stay close enough to make up on the descent or after.  Making it over a climb alone in no man’s land, between the climbers and the Clydesdales just sucks.

Climbs? Beginning, middle, end? I know not of what you speak. Here in SE Wisconsin we have lumps. Lots of nasty little lumps that start and finish. Oh what I’d give to climb a real mountain!

Makes it a bit interesting to train  here for real climbing.  I’m headed out to Kent Eriksen’s Tour de Steamboat next month.  While I’ve ridden in CO, nothing this long (110 miles) combined with this kind of climbing (7,500 feet) …

My framebuilder tells me his brother, who looks great in rosa, will be there.  Free massages at the end, with beer flowing at the post-ride barbeque, so I have lots to which to look forward.  But climbing in WI is a bit different.

That is certainly a balance I have to work out.  How long can I lay down 400 W along side the little guys spinning like hamsters, and still have a healthy reserve for my rhythm climbing for the long haul when they settle down.

If it’s a hilltop finish, I want to blow it out, but timing it right is tough (This is where I hope the power helps).  If the climb is early or mid race, then I want to stay close enough to make up on the descent or after.  Making it over a climb alone in no man’s land, between the climbers and the Clydesdales just sucks.

@Fausto Crapiz

@Velosix P.S. Just did Cherohala challenge and found myself wanting to play angry birds on the way up, it was that boring.

You do realize that if you don’t go pro and prove your awesomeness on the hills, there likely will be a petition to formally change your name to “Douche.” Better still would be to move to England and get knighted. “Sir Douche” has a nice ring to it.

HAHAHA. .that’s not what I mean. It’s a long, straight, unshaded climb  with no breaks. Tough but boring.

But it means that if I need to do 400 watts just to keep up at the base of a 45 minute climb then I know I haven’t got long. If it eases back in time then great, if it keeps going then I have to drop off.

There’ve been several races where I’ve done that and ended up reeling in guys who tried to keep up with the mountain goats for too long and ended up blowing.

It’s very rare that anyone catches and passes me on a climb if we all start together. Some will drop me, and some will drop me and I’ll catch them but I almost never blow up.

@Velosix P.S. Just did Cherohala challenge and found myself wanting to play angry birds on the way up, it was that boring.

Boring huh?  Riding a bicycle on the legendary  Tail of the Dragon is boring?  Descending over 100 km/h puts you to sleep?  Might want to rethink doing 5 Ways to Look Rock.  Those steep climbs that keep you interested in life, you’ll also have to descend….. http://app.strava.com/activities/153476035/

@VeloSix

@Fausto Crapiz

For me, I’d rather have 15-19percent for 4 miles, than the mind numbing 4 percent for 20 miles found on some of the local scenic routes.

Is this only me, or does anyone else find this to be truue?

You should get out more….. Try 5 ways to Look Rock. 3 climbs over 10%, but just a measly 5 km. Probably not worth the effort of such a manbeast as yourself…

Oh yeah, and two boring scenic climbs to get you warmed up. (Hence the five in 5 Ways)

Ok. Where is this? Simply googling doesn’t work. (I now know how to Rock Ariat boots while looking like a punk rocker) Do you have some kind of a GPS map for the ride?

Thanks

I assume you know where the Foothills Parkway is?  At the top is Look Rock.  There are 5 climbs to Look Rock.  Climb them all in one ride.  160 km, 3048 m.

That photo reminds me that we miss Roadslave525…

I hate to suck the romance and poetry out of this thread (when I say ‘hate’, I mean ‘secretly like’) but having a power meter and data has made so much difference to my climbing.

I’m of similar dimensions to Frank and while I can’t dance on the pedals for that last 500m like the little guys who are 20 kilos lighter in the last year I’ve done some of my best times up the local climbs of about 10km at 1200-1250 VAM. I’m not far behind the mountain goats and I’m consistently ahead of guys I would never have dreamed of beating. On Box Hill as a reference for those who know it I’m doing under 6 and a half minutes (in fact I’m on the same Strava time as Laurent Jalabert but I assume he wasn’t trying too hard).

Not by going as fast as possible at the beginning, middle and end. To me that’s a recipe for going too hard at the beginning, suffering in the middle and clinging on/wishing for death at the end.

I know my power capacity and I know how long I can stay at certain levels for a given duration, so I can be pretty sure that I have actually climbed the best I can by sitting on or above my threshold power to weight and judging my effort accordingly.

Call me Chris Froome, but it works.

I have been using a power meter now for a little over a month.  Wow, what a difference it makes to my climbing.  I’m the 72 kg, 183 cm type (almost the same stature as Sagan, minus the guns); so not a pure climber, but decent enough to stay close to the little billy goats.  Simply being able to pace properly, has made such a difference to getting over a hill.  I have not raced with it yet, and don’t really have a plan for that.  However, I think it will have great benefits for TT efforts as well.

My problem is in a road race, the climbers always seem to hammer the bottom of a climb, where I immediately want to go to my rhythm.  (Those in the 5 km length and beyond)

As a result, I’m changing the way I train, hitting the bottom of a climb pretty hard (quite a bit over threshold) then getting into a rhythm, and trying to survive at the top.  The steeper 10%+ grades make this hard as hell, and I will actually face this once more in my second to last race of the year.  I have no visions of grabbing the KOM, but maybe it will keep me closer to the front, and higher on the leader board at the end of the day.

If anything, my adjustment to training, I’m hammering the base of a climb harder than has been done in my races, and hopefully for my next race, I’ll at least be less shocked by the pace at the base of a good climb.

ps Barracuda, Looks like gravity’s been at your socks too!

Start at about 80% of whatever measure or feel you choose to use, ramp it up midway through and finish strong.  You’ll soon realise you are passing the foolish who go at it 100% from the bottom.

It may not sound as romantic, but getting over multiple passes and reflecting on success with a post ride recovery beverage makes it so.

@Velosix P.S. Just did Cherohala challenge and found myself wanting to play angry birds on the way up, it was that boring.

You do realize that if you don’t go pro and prove your awesomeness on the hills, there likely will be a petition to formally change your name to “Douche.” Better still would be to move to England and get knighted. “Sir Douche” has a nice ring to it.

@Fausto Crapiz

For me, I’d rather have 15-19percent for 4 miles, than the mind numbing 4 percent for 20 miles found on some of the local scenic routes.

Is this only me, or does anyone else find this to be truue?

You should get out more….. Try 5 ways to Look Rock. 3 climbs over 10%, but just a measly 5 km. Probably not worth the effort of such a manbeast as yourself…

Oh yeah, and two boring scenic climbs to get you warmed up. (Hence the five in 5 Ways)

Ok. Where is this? Simply googling doesn’t work. (I now know how to Rock Ariat boots while looking like a punk rocker) Do you have some kind of a GPS map for the ride?

Thanks

Had you gone past the headline you might have noticed

for the purposes of this article, Sur La Plaque is a state of mind more than it is a chain ring

As for citing a Masters World Hour Record in an article about climbing. I don’t think the banking on a velodrome counts.

That rule should be re-written as ” use the right gear”.   I had a bit of a discussion  about this with a fellow called Alex Simmons recently, an interesting chap, who is a professional trainer, who recently trained one of his clients to a Masters World Hour Record, so he has what you might call a good track record.  I e-mailed Alex while researching this subject and his interpretation of “sur la plaque” was, “bloody silly”, or summat thereabouts.

The formula is Power = Torque x RPM.  Now, I was asking Alex if he had any studies on the torque curve of the human leg, and he gave me some links, but they were all looking at torque at different parts of the pedal rotation, which is obviously least to the top and bottom, and maximises at the 90 degree position.  Throughout the rev range though, it’s reasonable to assume that the torque curve is flat, which means that the only way yo increase power is to increase RPM, which means optimising the gear selection.  It’s interesting to see that the whole pro world ignores the  exhortation to “sur la plaque” and prefers to choose the right gear.  Getting that right is a good start to getting your head right.

I’m sure someone will quote The Disciple at this point, and link to the ascent, but a pro on the juice is another proposition, isn’t it ?

That photo reminds me that we miss Roadslave525…

I know you’re not a fan of instagram, but he’s been posting up a storm lately about the bike tour he’s currently on…seems he’s doing some similar types of rides to the one that produced the lead photo…

On a totally unrelated note, I hate you Europeans!

Yes, its quite a leg sapping surface, I did it in the dark the other night and was much quicker as the brain and body couldnt confuse each other.

Having said that, the Gallardo you drove would eat it up.   How was the sound in the cockpit ?  Awesome I bet.   Loves me some V10 at full noise

 

Me, with the bitumen biting hard at the jersey pockets with my cohorts sailing off up the 12% + grade. I’m writing cheques that my body can’t cash!

Geez! That road surface looks like power sucking deadness!

The drive was around my favourite part of the world, The Mornington Peninsula. After the drive, took the steed and kit out of my car and had a enjoyable time suffering over the rolling hills.

This was one of the road’s our club use to race on/up. And the road surface is dead. Gotta get me some of those “good legs” for tempo.

I hate to suck the romance and poetry out of this thread (when I say ‘hate’, I mean ‘secretly like’) but having a power meter and data has made so much difference to my climbing.

I’m of similar dimensions to Frank and while I can’t dance on the pedals for that last 500m like the little guys who are 20 kilos lighter in the last year I’ve done some of my best times up the local climbs of about 10km at 1200-1250 VAM.  I’m not far behind the mountain goats and I’m consistently ahead of guys I would never have dreamed of beating. On Box Hill as a reference for those who know it I’m doing under 6 and a half minutes (in fact I’m on the same Strava time as Laurent Jalabert but I assume he wasn’t trying too hard).

Not by going as fast as possible at the beginning, middle and end. To me that’s a recipe for going too hard at the beginning, suffering in the middle and clinging on/wishing for death at the end.

I know my power capacity and I know how long I can stay at certain levels for a given duration, so I can be pretty sure that I have actually climbed the best I can by sitting on or above my threshold power to weight and judging my effort accordingly.

Call me Chris Froome, but it works.

For me, I’d rather have 15-19percent for 4 miles, than the mind numbing 4 percent for 20 miles found on some of the local scenic routes.

Is this only me, or does anyone else find this to be truue?

You should get out more…..   Try 5 ways to Look Rock.   3 climbs over 10%, but just a measly 5 km.  Probably not worth the effort of such a manbeast as yourself…

Oh yeah, and two boring scenic climbs to get you warmed up. (Hence the five in 5 Ways)

Yes, this !

My middle jersey pocket is slightly stretched, more so than the left and right, due to the above.

Rapha need to make their middle pockets a bit more sturdy for the likes of me !

Is this only me, or does anyone else find this to be true?

Second is the parallel to the 1600 meter in high school track. The first two laps are fairly easy, and the last lap is all adrenaline. That third lap is where one can win or lose a race based entirely upon mental fortitude.

Frank has me with the bits where it tilting up even further works for him – I can relish the lower gradients, but the double digit percentages inevitably do me in.  More practice required I guess!

I’ve only done one (long!) day of real climbing. I considered throwing my bike into the woods when I got to the Middle. I even stopped and sat on the guard rail. “I don’t get paid enough to do this.” A minute later I was back on the bike. A hard day, but I’m looking forward to doing more long, serious climbing.

Climbing, golf & sex…the only things you don’t have to be good at and can still enjoy. Oh wait…

There wasn’t a chap called Arvy in your group was there?

Also, despite being 80kgs myself I have decided that I am a natural climber. I have always found that 90% is in your head. The other 10% must be what the 50kg 18 year olds have when they sit in for the whole climb then sprint me at the top. They should try it with an extra 30kgs and a bunch of beers from the night before. Nothing sweats out a good hangover like a good good steady climb.

“Hey, that road points up… I wonder how far it goes?”

A while later, while the Man with the hammer whispered in my ear, I found myself tempted by le toute petite plaque and I knew it was time to channel my inner Sagan back down to the stable.

As to taking advice from the Prophet, I always take it with a grain of salt. Kinda akin to getting weight lifting advice from Hercules, which can have limited human applications.

Frank, you have eloquently put the thoughts, emotions and sensations that I felt on all of these climbs but I’m afraid that finding my rhythm meant moving from my compact plaque (I’m 50 for Pete’s sake!) and using the middle range of the block to settle into a steady 75 to 85 rpm unless things went into double digit percentages. In my defence a 25 sprocket was my largest and generally kept in reserve.

The mentally hardest part is indeed the middle when you make the mistake of looking up and seeing where the road still has to go and you get a glint of vehicle. Look back down, focus on the breathing, ride the hairpins efficiently making up 5 to 10 metres in each one and before you know it, the top seems so much closer (save for that hidden hairpin that always seems to double way back on itself!)

Now standing by for Fausto Crappy / Scooby Doo or whatever his handle is to tell me to toughen up, have half a case of Mountain Dew and remove the inside ring and pedal at 100rpm like he does!