Climbing Tips

[charlotte]

I am curious to know about why is it that time trailers seem to lose it in the mountains, and

a good climber often gets beaten in a time trial on the flats?

[The Saint]

Simply put power to weight ratio. It is easier to drag 50Kg's up a mountain than it is 80Kg's but very difficult for a 50kg guy to ride on his own at 65km ph.

[Andyr249]

They are just different types of riders. Sprinters are very fast but can't sustain that high speed over a long time and distance. Time Trialists can sustain a lower high speed for longer and Climbers can climb mountains. If you go into the physiology the sprinters have mostly fast twitch muscle fibre while climbers have mostly slow twitch.

Like in rugby the bigger players are the forwards. Lots of power but not quite the fastest. Backs or not generally as big but are much faster. Just the way the gene draw worked out.

[Regard]

Simply put power to weight ratio. It is easier to drag 50Kg's up a mountain than it is 80Kg's but very difficult for a 50kg guy to ride on his own at 65km ph.

 

All very true, I agree, but what about that bloody Contador dude?

He wins them both!!! FREAK

[Harry Potter]

They are just different types of riders. Sprinters are very fast but can't sustain that high speed over a long time and distance. Time Trialists can sustain a lower high speed for longer and Climbers can climb mountains. If you go into the physiology the sprinters have mostly fast twitch muscle fibre while climbers have mostly slow twitch.

Like in rugby the bigger players are the forwards. Lots of power but not quite the fastest. Backs or not generally as big but are much faster. Just the way the gene draw worked out.

How do you know wat you are, climber/sprinter or flat road rider? I batle with all 3

[Newest]

To a certain extent you can modify your body to function across a bigger spectrum. You might not be the best sprinter/climber, but you can surely  improve your weaker areas. Once again like rugby, a modern loose forward has become like a kind of a hybrid.  Power as well as speed (Pierre Spies). We also acknowledge that it can become difficult of you are on the extreme side, ie pure sprinter/climber. All and all, we can always try.

Sometimes the brain have too many slow twitch fibres also.

[Andyr249]

Well Ocram, I think that the distinction is more apparent the higher towards top level you go. But there must be one that you are better at than the rest and enjoy more than the rest.

I am no Contador but I am more of a climber than a time trialist or sprinter.

Regard, it is possible to work on and improve your time trialling. That explains Contador. Or maybe he is just one of those people who are freaks that were lucky enough at the gene draw!

[JPW#]

Contador is around 65kgs not 50 , big diffrence. LA is at least 10 kgs up on that.