BikeMax

Pretty impressive nonetheless - I am interested to know how you tested FTP? Does he consistently outperform the others on the team in all but the flatter races ?

Might be possible at 195 (92% of 210 ish) but look a little high.

Thanks Ronelle - its has been fun

Training for cycling is about both specificity and intensity - you can certainly simulate the intensity on a spin bike (if you choose to) and you can get a level of specificity as you are at least on a bike and turning pedals. A good compromise if you make sure you are working as hard as you can at all times for the duration you are riding for.

Thanks for the words of support guys - it has been a really tough decision but ultimately we found that online was both achieving better results, and allowing the guys to spend less time on changing pedals and maintaining bikes (Ian will tell you all about that..) Indoor facilities need volume, and unfortunately that does not go hand in hand with the sort of client care that a cyclist needs. The only real way to set something like this up commercially is to work hand in hand with another operator such as a gym or retail outlet where costs are shared etc. We are looking at a possible deal with a retailer at some point this year that might see us offering a limited indoor training facility, but the future I feel is online - at www.bikemaxpower.com

I have one at www.bikemaxpower.com (so does Bruce)

Very bad news - get well soon guys

If you have a balanced diet then you should be fine day to day - just supplement in a decent recovery drink in the 30 mins after a race (Power Bar or Glco Pro do good ready made drinks)

sh..1t 420 for 6 min that's got to hurt, might as well pack it i then.. Turk - you got to start looking on the bright side Bikemax i'm trying but all this strength just hurts....No seriously just need to get myself back into shape and i'm sure i could push close to those figures and the other percentage i'll get from drafting, don't youi save 30% sitting on someones wheel? So i actually just need around 294w to stay with them as long as i'm glued to their wheels.... Thats more like the Turk we all know and love

sh..1t 420 for 6 min that's got to hurt, might as well pack it i then.. Turk - you got to start looking on the bright side

You are correct here - Boonen is a "good" climber over short durations but would lose 30 mins on Alpe D'Huez due to it's steep gradient and its 30-40 min time frame. He is always going to be limited by his weight - the steeper the climb the more he is at a disadvantage. LA may have been a moderate 70kg but his p/w was approaching 7w/kg for 30mins + due to his superior aerobic capacity. To say you either have it or you don't is a bit black and white - we can all improve our weak areas and become better all round cyclist, but we are all limited to a dgree by our build and genetic make up.

No - less power, but faster acceleration (lower weight, better fast twitch recruitment) but in anything but a pancake flat race (like a tour sprinters stage) Boonen will be there at the end but Robbie won't even be in sight. Look at the spring classics like Flanders - you have to be able to climb and sprint to win those (Boonen can, Robbie can't) But if has a lower weight and faster twitch muscles surely his power to weight is better and he should climb better?, then what makes a good climber? What makes a good climber is a good p/w ratio over the longer durations - Robbie does not have this. Generally a good climber will have more slow twitch muscle fibre and weigh less and will be a poor sprinter.

I'm not sure i agree with the cardio vascular statement, surely you need strength in an endurance sport like cycling? Need that leg strength to get up the hills? If i sat on my trainer all day doing 39x23 spins at 120rpm my cardio would get quite good but my leg strength would be poor and i would fall back on the hills, comments please..... Go and search the forum - just before Christmas there was a fairly in depth thread on this where I posted some of the evidence supporting my claim. It has been proven that the average non cyclist has sufficient strength to compete in endurance cycling - and that increasing leg strength does not improve performance - the ability of the CV system to supply 02 to the working muscles (aerobic capacity) is what it is all about. So - if you sat on your trainer in 39x23 - at the correct intensity, you would climb to the best of your ability.

No - less power, but faster acceleration (lower weight, better fast twitch recruitment) but in anything but a pancake flat race (like a tour sprinters stage) Boonen will be there at the end but Robbie won't even be in sight. Look at the spring classics like Flanders - you have to be able to climb and sprint to win those (Boonen can, Robbie can't)

Hi Backlash Please PM me or mail me at peter@bikemax.co.za and I will chat to you about the various online training options we have available. We can certainly help you with training coaching for the event. Peter

Which is not very often 'cos you've ridden the okes into the ground in the previous 90km Bikemax - what's the best way to train L7 - do we get 101% a personal trainer in the gym - you know' date=' the ones that wear g-string leotards and stroke your leg to get you motivated!! If anything it will up his testosterone levels . Will put in a good word with the sponsors - very justifiable. [/quote'] Yep thats the way - plenty of squats and such - lets see how big we can grow those quads No - sorry but I cannot do it, just mentioning weight training and cycling in the same breath causes me discomfort. Do this instead; standing start 30 sec intervals X 6 at max pace and then get some sprint primes into your team rides and practice leading each other out - one of you sits and builds it up to about 500-600w then the other one comes out of the slip and jumps in the 53x11 to max power for about 150m - lots of fun