Comments on: Indoor Bike Training When The Weather Is Bad? http://www.training4cyclists.com/indoor-bike-training-when-the-weather-is-bad/ Cycling Training Tips Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:02:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Jesse Bastide http://www.training4cyclists.com/indoor-bike-training-when-the-weather-is-bad/comment-page-1/#comment-36572 Jesse Bastide Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:46:59 +0000 http://www.training4cyclists.com/?p=429#comment-36572 Indoor training with a powermeter can also be a really focused way to work on specific skills and target desired physiological systems. For instance, short sprints can be used to improve neuromuscular power and, as a result, improve economy at race pace. Intense, slightly longer efforts can specifically target the improvement of cardiac stroke volume (a major factor in determining VO2 max). It all depends on what you are targeting. Indoor training with a powermeter can also be a really focused way to work on specific skills and target desired physiological systems. For instance, short sprints can be used to improve neuromuscular power and, as a result, improve economy at race pace. Intense, slightly longer efforts can specifically target the improvement of cardiac stroke volume (a major factor in determining VO2 max). It all depends on what you are targeting.

]]> By: Joseph http://www.training4cyclists.com/indoor-bike-training-when-the-weather-is-bad/comment-page-1/#comment-36157 Joseph Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:58:33 +0000 http://www.training4cyclists.com/?p=429#comment-36157 The only thing in danger of falling off at my house is me ;-) And at 6 hours per week, when my rollers end up on eBay they sure won't be described as "as new"! Joseph The only thing in danger of falling off at my house is me ;-)

And at 6 hours per week, when my rollers end up on eBay they sure won’t be described as “as new”!

Joseph

]]> By: Mike http://www.training4cyclists.com/indoor-bike-training-when-the-weather-is-bad/comment-page-1/#comment-36107 Mike Wed, 28 Jan 2009 05:14:22 +0000 http://www.training4cyclists.com/?p=429#comment-36107 A popular model bicycle trainer made by Saris was recalled this week. The details and the downside of trying to exercise at home are discussed at http://bicyclespokesman.com/bike-trainer-recall-gives-you-a-good-reason-not-to-exercise/ A popular model bicycle trainer made by Saris was recalled this week. The details and the downside of trying to exercise at home are discussed at http://bicyclespokesman.com/bike-trainer-recall-gives-you-a-good-reason-not-to-exercise/

]]> By: Joseph http://www.training4cyclists.com/indoor-bike-training-when-the-weather-is-bad/comment-page-1/#comment-36073 Joseph Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:23:00 +0000 http://www.training4cyclists.com/?p=429#comment-36073 The temperature here in costal Norway has been fluctuating from -5C to 1C for a while now, making for very icy, changing conditions. This makes training on the road basically impossible. Riding is sometimes possible, but not fast enough to call it training. So I have been riding my rollers in my shed 3-5 times per week for 1.5 hours. Rollers keep it interesting enough, and with music, 2 x 20 minute sub-threshold intervals I get a good base workout. In previous winters I have not ridden when the weather has been like this, often not getting on a bike at all until March or April. I expect that this season's preparation will pay off big time once the season starts (which isn't really until May around here). Ice is what limits me. Wet and grime is fine. Sometimes I go outside with my single speed mountain bike, and among other things do some one-legged pedaling sprints/intervals. Duration varies from 20 seconds to 4 minutes. My theory with those exercises is that I will improve my pedal stroke, increase strength, and work on the VO2max uptake of my muscles without having to breath heavily in cold air, as I would doing similar efforts with both legs simultaneously. For me the important thing was finding a routine that was not too taxing, that would build a solid foundation for when the road is rideable. Jesper, do you think my one-legged VO2max theory is possibly sound? Joseph The temperature here in costal Norway has been fluctuating from -5C to 1C for a while now, making for very icy, changing conditions. This makes training on the road basically impossible. Riding is sometimes possible, but not fast enough to call it training. So I have been riding my rollers in my shed 3-5 times per week for 1.5 hours. Rollers keep it interesting enough, and with music, 2 x 20 minute sub-threshold intervals I get a good base workout.
In previous winters I have not ridden when the weather has been like this, often not getting on a bike at all until March or April. I expect that this season’s preparation will pay off big time once the season starts (which isn’t really until May around here). Ice is what limits me. Wet and grime is fine.

Sometimes I go outside with my single speed mountain bike, and among other things do some one-legged pedaling sprints/intervals. Duration varies from 20 seconds to 4 minutes. My theory with those exercises is that I will improve my pedal stroke, increase strength, and work on the VO2max uptake of my muscles without having to breath heavily in cold air, as I would doing similar efforts with both legs simultaneously.

For me the important thing was finding a routine that was not too taxing, that would build a solid foundation for when the road is rideable.

Jesper, do you think my one-legged VO2max theory is possibly sound?

Joseph

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