Wiggins now going for rowing Olympic medal?
Discussion
Robbo66 said:
I did the indoor circuit on the erg, and hardest thing Ive ever been a part of.
6.07 is a good pull above 50.
Agreed - I did a bit of "social" rowing a few years ago (which still involved 5 training sessions a week!). Doing a 2k under 7 minutes was a massive achievement for me, let alone getting close to 6 mins. I have huge respect to anyone who could do that, they certainly are superhuman to me. 6.07 is a good pull above 50.
I used to hate the monthly ergo tests (and in fact the racing too) as it was the most nauseating and brutal way to expend energy in the name of "sport". We had a particularly nasty 45 minute test where we had to sit at a pace of 1:45 per 500m which was pretty mind bending.
I was fit beyond belief through, even though I was competing at the equivalent level of Sunday League football with a just couple of novice points. Early mornings on the Thames in an eight when you were all on form, nicely balanced and getting the "clunk" all at the same time were pretty cool though.
Edited by prand on Monday 20th November 13:46
Wiggins has no chance of making a team GB Olympic boat crew.
I've rowed at the indoor champs, came 7th in my class and although I don't know Wiggins times (if indeed he has one for 2k) I think he would struggle to hit 6min 30 seconds.
It's a gruelling event and yes i know cycling is too but I just can't see it.
I've rowed at the indoor champs, came 7th in my class and although I don't know Wiggins times (if indeed he has one for 2k) I think he would struggle to hit 6min 30 seconds.
It's a gruelling event and yes i know cycling is too but I just can't see it.
Thankyou4calling said:
Wiggins has no chance of making a team GB Olympic boat crew.
I've rowed at the indoor champs, came 7th in my class and although I don't know Wiggins times (if indeed he has one for 2k) I think he would struggle to hit 6min 30 seconds.
It's a gruelling event and yes i know cycling is too but I just can't see it.
Hmm, I fully expect him to be under 6:30.I've rowed at the indoor champs, came 7th in my class and although I don't know Wiggins times (if indeed he has one for 2k) I think he would struggle to hit 6min 30 seconds.
It's a gruelling event and yes i know cycling is too but I just can't see it.
I saw some chat on twitter suggesting 5:50-6:00 was his target; no idea what evidence that was based on mind.
However, to put things in context, we had a new guy at the club this season, super fit but had never rowed before, his first 2k test he did 6:15!
Thankyou4calling said:
Wiggins has no chance of making a team GB Olympic boat crew.
I've rowed at the indoor champs, came 7th in my class and although I don't know Wiggins times (if indeed he has one for 2k) I think he would struggle to hit 6min 30 seconds.
It's a gruelling event and yes i know cycling is too but I just can't see it.
I hit 6.30 at 42 and he is way way stronger and more physically gifted than I ever was. He will break 6 mins or he wouldn't even turn up.I've rowed at the indoor champs, came 7th in my class and although I don't know Wiggins times (if indeed he has one for 2k) I think he would struggle to hit 6min 30 seconds.
It's a gruelling event and yes i know cycling is too but I just can't see it.
Thankyou4calling said:
Not a chance
.
He may not be able to translate his Erg times on to water due to technique but his history of power output is perfect for sitting on an Erg..
Do you know how may Watts is required for him to break 5 mins. Sitting on his limit from 4 mins to an hour is his speciality so 2k is right up his alley.
johnxjsc1985 said:
He may not be able to translate his Erg times on to water due to technique but his history of power output is perfect for sitting on an Erg.
Do you know how may Watts is required for him to break 5 mins. Sitting on his limit from 4 mins to an hour is his speciality so 2k is right up his alley.
The Concept 2 website says a pace of 1:30 (to hit a 6:00 2k) requires 480 watts continuous output. Do you know how may Watts is required for him to break 5 mins. Sitting on his limit from 4 mins to an hour is his speciality so 2k is right up his alley.
That's not a million miles off Wiggins' reported average wattage during time trials and hour timed events on a bike - between 440-475 watts.
To hit 5 minutes, he'd have to be pretty superhuman though
Nobody is close to that at the moment! The Concept 2 website it says he'd need to maintain roughly 830 watts, which I guess is starting to get into track sprinting territory, but they only need to maintain that power for 30 seconds or so and they may even peak at 1200-1500 watt outputs for a very few seconds.So I guess if you look at Wiggins' potential power on a bike, it's not unreasonable to think that he's got enough power in the engine to hold out for for a competitive 6 minute or under 2k distance on an ergo, seeing as he could already maintain a slightly lower level output for up to an hour on a bike.
That's also if the two types of machine and gauges record and behave in similar ways, plus also the different technique required for power to be applied in the most effective way on a rowing machine. 30% of the power will need to come from his arms and back, which seems to be the area he's been working on, though the majority of the rowing stroke still comes from the legs.
But looking at it like this, I reckon he's figured he can go for the heavyweight boys, will be a interesting challenge to see.
Edited by prand on Monday 20th November 21:25
Thankyou4calling said:
Not a chance
.
Agreed. Remember rowing I the same heats as Benton and Fleming, they would pull sub 6, but were complete Nutters. Circa 5:50 if I remember. Obsessed to the point of insanity. I was happy to pull sub 7..
Massive difference to knock even 5 seconds off at sub 7. Never been fitter, but always run down as training so intense. Can’t see wiggins getting in to heavyweight either unless he really bulks. Taller guys also have massive advantages, he isn’t.
Robbo66 said:
Agreed. Remember rowing I the same heats as Benton and Fleming, they would pull sub 6, but were complete Nutters. Circa 5:50 if I remember. Obsessed to the point of insanity. I was happy to pull sub 7.
Massive difference to knock even 5 seconds off at sub 7. Never been fitter, but always run down as training so intense. Can’t see wiggins getting in to heavyweight either unless he really bulks. Taller guys also have massive advantages, he isn’t.
I love indoor rowing particularly when I discovered that being tall was a massive advantage.Massive difference to knock even 5 seconds off at sub 7. Never been fitter, but always run down as training so intense. Can’t see wiggins getting in to heavyweight either unless he really bulks. Taller guys also have massive advantages, he isn’t.
No matter your fitness level your height is fixed.
Wiki says Bradley is 6ft 3 and if correct I'd say he just scrapes in as "Tall enough"
Now of course there will be exceptions but most sub six minute men will be 6ft 5 and 110kg or more. Even with that you need to be powerful and channel that power.
My best was 6.45.8 and as you say saving time at sub 7 is not easy.
I'd find after three minutes I really and I mean REALLY had to dig in.
Good luck to him but I still think 6.30 would be some going.
Thankyou4calling said:
I love indoor rowing particularly when I discovered that being tall was a massive advantage.
No matter your fitness level your height is fixed.
Wiki says Bradley is 6ft 3 and if correct I'd say he just scrapes in as "Tall enough"
Now of course there will be exceptions but most sub six minute men will be 6ft 5 and 110kg or more. Even with that you need to be powerful and channel that power.
My best was 6.45.8 and as you say saving time at sub 7 is not easy.
I'd find after three minutes I really and I mean REALLY had to dig in.
Good luck to him but I still think 6.30 would be some going.
If I can do 6.30(mid 30's actually) as a 42 year old from a cycling background on a scale of 1 to 10 where Wiggins would be 10 I would be a 6.No matter your fitness level your height is fixed.
Wiki says Bradley is 6ft 3 and if correct I'd say he just scrapes in as "Tall enough"
Now of course there will be exceptions but most sub six minute men will be 6ft 5 and 110kg or more. Even with that you need to be powerful and channel that power.
My best was 6.45.8 and as you say saving time at sub 7 is not easy.
I'd find after three minutes I really and I mean REALLY had to dig in.
Good luck to him but I still think 6.30 would be some going.
His Cardio Vascular system is perfect for a 6 min effort and he has put on about 20kg of muscle specifically for this event.
I doubt he will get near an Olympic seat but on an Erg where technique is not as important he will do extremely well.
If you think Cracknell is going to spend time with someone to do a 6.30 think again.
Doubt he'd be entertaining the idea of training to that degree (and with Cracknell) to achieve 'just' a 6.30 - the guy has the winning mentality. At 69kgs (iirc) he stuck out 456W for 55 minutes at the 2011 world champs, utterly supreme effort. While I know he's a little older now, I'm sure he's got some power up his sleeve(s) for a 6 min effort ;-)
Nobby Diesel said:
Too true. You might push big ergs, but that doesn't mean that you can move a boat.
In my very uneducated view, he doesn't have a chance.
It’s not a sport where technique is that hard to master, though. It’s not like tennis, or skiing, where you need real skill.In my very uneducated view, he doesn't have a chance.
The difference in technique between a competent club rower and world champion is not vast, nothing like in most other sports.
tertius said:
Results are in, he did 6:22.5, finished 19th.
Must say I expected better than that, my guess was 6:00 - 6:15
As I said, doing well to get under 6.30.Must say I expected better than that, my guess was 6:00 - 6:15
Certainly won't be making any Olympic boat.
Back on the bike Bradley, you are a legend there.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/amp/rowing/42294271
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