Just to depress you...
Discussion
Slip streaming or not, its still amazing how quick these guys are. I can barely maintain 21-22 mph on the flat, to have an average of 25mph with 10,000 ft of climbing is just unbelievable. I know Strava's power output reading are an estimate at best, but the best I can manage over 20-30 miles and 1000 ft of climbing is about 180watts, these guys are nearly at 400 watts for 7 hrs of riding over 170 miles!!!
Edited by gangzoom on Wednesday 31st July 10:06
Edited by gangzoom on Wednesday 31st July 10:07
Is he really super Human ? ..... OR is he just someone that does it for a job ? Gets paid to be fast , Gets the best medical and coaching team , Gets the best equipment , Gets to rest when ever he wants , Gets someone to pace / train him a scooter .... Its all relative , you have to think to yourself how much better you would be if you had the opportunity to train / race how he does.
Superhuman, no. Genetically gifted and supremely trained, yes. Beyond the reach of 'mere mortals' - sure.
I'm fairly fit by 'normal' standards, I could train every day, engage Dr Ferrari etc., and still not keep up with those guys, scooter or no.
Also remember that effort does not scale linearly with speed - for me 15mph is all day, no worries, barely trying pace. 20mph is a pretty decent distance average. Recently got passed by a chaingang doing 25-26mph, jumped in last wheel and hung on for a massive 2 miles before I blew. That was flat too.
I'm fairly fit by 'normal' standards, I could train every day, engage Dr Ferrari etc., and still not keep up with those guys, scooter or no.
Also remember that effort does not scale linearly with speed - for me 15mph is all day, no worries, barely trying pace. 20mph is a pretty decent distance average. Recently got passed by a chaingang doing 25-26mph, jumped in last wheel and hung on for a massive 2 miles before I blew. That was flat too.
Doesn't depress me (why would it depress anyone? 
); it does impress me though. It shows what you can do with structured training, recovery, diet and in a group.
Just like Mo Farah's running performances impress me rather than depress me, as I know just how much dedication and effort it takes to get to national level never mind international and world-beating levels. If you find it depressing you've got issues.
); it does impress me though. It shows what you can do with structured training, recovery, diet and in a group.Just like Mo Farah's running performances impress me rather than depress me, as I know just how much dedication and effort it takes to get to national level never mind international and world-beating levels. If you find it depressing you've got issues.
Of course he is one of the best riders in the world, but as always never underestimate just how much of a HUGE difference drafting something like a scooter (which is designed to replicate race pace in a peloton) can make.
For example there were a few guys in the Etape that were faster up the climb than he was, yes those riders were lower level pro, but certainly when he goes out and does solo training rides the speeds are much more expected, though he is obviously doing 500-750 miles a week which would break nearly anyone.
For example there were a few guys in the Etape that were faster up the climb than he was, yes those riders were lower level pro, but certainly when he goes out and does solo training rides the speeds are much more expected, though he is obviously doing 500-750 miles a week which would break nearly anyone.
ewenm said:
Doesn't depress me (why would it depress anyone? ); it does impress me though. It shows what you can do with structured training, recovery, diet and in a group.
Just like Mo Farah's running performances impress me rather than depress me, as I know just how much dedication and effort it takes to get to national level never mind international and world-beating levels. If you find it depressing you've got issues.
I agree!! Why would it depress anyone, its like comparing yourself driving to work to Lewis Hamilton getting the lap record on Silverstone !!); it does impress me though. It shows what you can do with structured training, recovery, diet and in a group.Just like Mo Farah's running performances impress me rather than depress me, as I know just how much dedication and effort it takes to get to national level never mind international and world-beating levels. If you find it depressing you've got issues.
Good on the chap I say, inspirational rather than depressing!!!
Seriously..stop crying over Strava and stats, get out on your bike and ENJOY IT
Interestingly Alex Dowsett flags his own rides when motorpaced so as not to deprive the orignal KOM holders due to unfair advantage
http://app.strava.com/activities/68435303
http://app.strava.com/activities/68435303
Good on him for flagging it too.I love seeing what the pro's do in terms of miles ... can't give them enough respect as some of the people with the highest level of fitness on the planet.
As a relatively fit (not by professional standards of course) late 30's MAMIL, it just motivates and spurs me on to train harder whilst enjoying myself.
As a relatively fit (not by professional standards of course) late 30's MAMIL, it just motivates and spurs me on to train harder whilst enjoying myself.
@ you lot claiming motor paced doesn't count..
Take a good club run, on flat over that distance. How many people do you know that could simply sit in the wheels and keep on at that pace?
Now, add hills. 10,000 foot of hills. Most of the work is beating gravity, not the wind. Could you still imagine 25mph average?
If you can, you should send a note to dave brailsford, it would appear you have a deal to do...
Take a good club run, on flat over that distance. How many people do you know that could simply sit in the wheels and keep on at that pace?
Now, add hills. 10,000 foot of hills. Most of the work is beating gravity, not the wind. Could you still imagine 25mph average?
If you can, you should send a note to dave brailsford, it would appear you have a deal to do...
10,000 ft of hills over 170 miles is actually probably quite rolling vs hilly, I did a race that only really had 1 hill in it, which took only a couple of minutes, yet over 92 miles it was nearly 7000ft of ascent, averaging over 24mph. You'd expect the best in the world to be able to go for longer and quicker LOL! but until you have been in a fast bunch or in the slip of a scooter (which I have tried once) it's hard to know just what a huge difference it makes.
If we could see his power meter we would know how hard it really was. Some of the tour stages there are guys averaging less than 200w for 26-28mph stages, crazy.
If we could see his power meter we would know how hard it really was. Some of the tour stages there are guys averaging less than 200w for 26-28mph stages, crazy.
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