Pro cyclist taught as many ways to build, maintain and boost our cycling performance. We can admire and imitating their discipline, race strategy or the way of their life, from nothing to something. But, there's certain parts of their job we should think twice before imitating.
1. Extreme Technique
Crouching low on
the top-tube, and pedalling it looked
extreme. Whether it was, as Froome claimed, a
“spur of the moment thing” or an act of extreme
calculation conceived aboard Team Sky’s ‘Death
Star’ coach, it was something that even he
suggested should be left to the pros. “Please don’t
try this at home #safetyfirst,” Froome tweeted,
though he swiftly undermined that by retweeting
a video of a six-year-old doing just that…
Transferring your weight
to the front of the bike destabilises you
and heightens the risks of falling should
you hit a pothole or stone. Descending
off mountains has enough inherent
risks without adding more to the pot. Never be afraid to have fun
on your bike but be aware of the
variables that professional riders are
able to control. They have the whole
road to play with, a high level of
confidence that motor vehicles won’t
get in the way and they
may well have extensively recced the
stretch of road they attempt the risky
maneuver on.
2. Being A Weight Weenie
Saving grams anywhere
they can is an obsession for
some riders: see the way
Alberto Contador has changed
his bike before the final climb
of a stage for a bike with tyres so
fine and light that they’ll only be
used once. Do the pros take it too
far? Perhaps, but why they go to
such lengths is because they’ve
nothing to spare from their
bodies. Ben Wilson, a coach for
personalbestcycling.co.uk says:
“People often go for the easy buy
rather than take the time to learn
the skills that will make their
hobby more fun or safer. It’s a
shortcut to lose weight from the
bike by spending money, rather
than lose it from yourself.”
3. Tubs
3. Tubs
‘Tubs’ are the tyre of choice for the
pros; they’re a lighter overall package have a reduced chance of puncturing
and they allow cyclists to continue if they do
flat. Tricky to fit, even trickier
to repair, tubs also depend heavily on
the skills of the mechanic fitting them.
A bad glue job can lead to a tyre rolling
off the rim, with predictably
catastrophic results. With the cons heavily
outweighing the benefits, tubulars are
totally impractical for everyday use.
Even pros will train on clinchers and, in
time trials at least, some are now using
them in competition.
4. Riding Through Injury
4. Riding Through Injury
In the crazy world of pro
racing, where contracts are
short and careers forever
on a knife-edge, riding through
injury is an occupational hazard.
It can almost be excused if the
injury happens during a big stage
race. But if
the rider is going through a
season from race to race, with
persistent injury, it’s a recipe for
disaster. As amateurs, we should
give ourselves much more slack
than professionals get. We cycle
for enjoyment and if an injury is
impeding that, we need to rest
up and come back when we’re fit
and healthy. If we’re injured or
come down with illness during
or just prior to our big season
goal, it’s worth testing the water
to see if you can continue. If you
can’t, fine – you can stop
without regret.
5. Full Carbon Wheels
5. Full Carbon Wheels
All pros run these, no
matter the conditions or
terrain, but we should think
twice. Carbon wheels, depth for
depth, are lighter than alloy rims
but their braking ability in the wet
plummets – and while pros are
skilful enough to overcome this,
we might not be.
“In events in the mountains,
a solid, reliable set of wheels is
better than a lightweight set that
might not last the duration of
your trip,” says Ben Wilson.
Full carbon wheels can also be
tricky to maintain, particularly
when spokes break, and although
the technology has come on in
recent years, the heat build-up in
the rims from braking can deform
the wheel. However, this is only
a problem when you use rim
brakes – disc brakes are hugely
improved performers in the wet.
They’ll prolong the life of your
wheel, and perhaps do the same
for you too.
6. Training for hours and hours
Pros train all day everyday because they race ridiculously long distances that we will never race and only a few will ever ride. Us amateurs don’t have all day to train, as family, jobs, university or school all get in the way. Mostly we can only race in the evening or at weekends, and then only if it doesn’t clash with so and so’s wedding, or birthday party, or the kids shopping session. Do yourself a favour: forget high mileage and get a turbo trainer; use it all year round to supplement your real riding. Concentrate on quality not quantity as cycle races are not won by those who can cycle the furthest, but those who can cycle a set distance the fastest. Train for the amount of time that matches your races. If your races last 2 hours, train to ride fast for 2 hours, not steady for 4 hours.
Not every parts suit your needs and not every technique safe for yourself.
Remember, we (I) cycling for health and happiness, not for living.
Source:
Cycling Plus, November 2016
http://britishcyclesport.com/2013/training/stop-trying-to-ride-like-a-pro/
http://britishcyclesport.com/2013/training/stop-trying-to-ride-like-a-pro/
Ride On!
