Bike fit / correct riding position

#doingitwrong.

That's me after completing my Santa obligations this xmas.

Fucking core bollocks. Just ride your bike more.

Andy removed one of his core bollocks to be more like his hero.

Fucking core bollocks. Just ride your bike more.

Yes, but which one?

Did I say core? Sorry, meant " functional trunk strength"

Did I say core? Sorry, meant " functional trunk strength"

Big with elephants, I hear

Fucking core bollocks. Just ride your bike more.

I'm sorry, I thought you were saying...

Dimi regarding intervals...

all 3 videos are mostly in threshold and/or vo2 max zones, which isn't exactly suitable for the winter base training.

Wow, it's like Back to the Future. How is 1983?

Hello hyperbole. Make your mind up.

This evening is bought to you by planks and hamstring stretches.

Ouch.

Cyclist see what pros do and mimic them. It's an age old thing, but their training regimes are very, very different to your average mamil.

The scientific evidence to support additional core strength or functional trunk strength for cyclists is minimal, and most studies suggest that the majority of cyclists get the core strength they need from riding their bikes.

I don't see how that position suggests I need to make my mind up on winter base training, which Dimi was clearly suggesting should be long, steady miles with no threshold work.

^ I'd guess that extra core strength helps people to actually use their lungs to breathe. (i.e. without decent core strength you are likely to slump your back, reducing the effective volume the lungs can expand to)

Also when climbing whilst out of the saddle. Otherwise you just flop up and down without actually adding any more power.

You very likely will. I do when I use my Tokens.

Last summer (maybe the summer before that?) I was playing around with TT bars, I did a test in the park (on what was meant to be a rest day) that saw me holding 20 mph with my heart rate at or below 120 bpm for an hour.

It was surprisingly easy- the only challenge was soft pedalling up the slight incline was maintaining speed.

That said I didn't repeat the experiment with road bars under the same conditions, but I'm pretty sure what the result would have been.

Cyclist see what pros do and mimic them. It's an age old thing, but their training regimes are very, very different to your average mamil.

Yeah, they have better genetics and regimes. x amount of hours to reach goals isn't so different.

The scientific evidence to support additional core strength or functional trunk strength for cyclists is minimal, and most studies suggest that the majority of cyclists get the core strength they need from riding their bikes.

I'd like to see those. There is a widespread belief that 'just riding' can compound problems (hardened muscle, asymmetric movements, stiff bits and weak bits) and there are issues typical to cyclists. Sorting them involves riding less, a program of exercise then getting back on the bike. IME this worked for me.

I don't see how that position suggests I need to make my mind up on winter base training, which Dimi was clearly suggesting should be long, steady miles with no threshold work.

There is a conflict. Ride your bike more, or your turbo more? Mamil or pro, you have x amount of hours remember.

The scientific evidence to support additional core strength or functional trunk strength for cyclists is minimal, and most studies suggest that the majority of cyclists get the core strength they need from riding their bikes.

I reckon your more qualified to comment on this than me. But for the record, and for what its worth, I disagree.

I am a big believer in cross training as a method of maintaining training intensity, while reducing the chance of injury. I include in this, separate core training. It made me a faster runner, and while I cant prove this. It definitely feels like it improves my cycling.

I suspect the gains vary massively from person to person. Looking at Froomes form. I wouldnt be surprised if his spine had been removed to save weight. But you cant argue over his ability to ride a bicycle.

Just the opinion of a grossly underqualified guy behind a keyboard of course.

Last summer (maybe the summer before that?) I was playing around with TT bars, I did a test in the park (on what was meant to be a rest day) that saw me holding 20 mph with my heart rate at or below 120 bpm for an hour.

Now I'm back to wanting clip ons.

Did a 30 kph ride at 130bpm a couple days ago. The main aim being to keep heartrate low and steady, not to go fast.

hmmm.

^^^^^ Do not slouch sitting on the chair in your office is the best training I find.

I regularly get pins and needles/numbness in my left hand when on the hoods for some time.

I know the answer will be "ride in the drops then". But is this likely to be because I'm pitched forward a bit too much and have more weight / too stretched?

http://physiobench.com/articles/25/Cyclists-Hand:-Handlebar-palsy

Bar height. Bingo.

I get that with some bars/hoods- it's due to pressure on the centre of the wrist, it doesn't happen (even with very low bars) if the hood/bar transition is perfectly flat.

I regularly get pins and needles/numbness in my left hand when on the hoods for some time.

I know the answer will be "ride in the drops then". But is this likely to be because I'm pitched forward a bit too much and have more weight / too stretched?

Hmm, do you have any history of damage to that hand? Are the left and right sides of the bar/brifter area set up the same? i.e. bar square to wheel, brifters at the same height and both equally straight-ish? Any other asymmetry in your posture? Start with the basics.

I shall investigate this weekend. I think the pompino transition could be flatter.

As for my asymmetry. Unsure.

As for my asymmetry. Unsure.

True. You are as small and strong as Napoleon.

Pros are weird part 1,000,000

5' 8" Mark Cavendish has decided a 49cm Venge is the very ticket for 2014 season

He just wants to be more like HoKe.

The reach is exactly the same on both the 49cm and 51cm, he probably prefer to have a lower front end.