Cycling

a day not to miss...a cultural experience like you have never experiencedunless you have been to a Tour de Fat Beforethe Tour de Fat is like nothing elseTour de Fat in Washington DC on June 1sthttp://gwadzilla.blogspot.com/search?q=new+belgiumhttp://gwadzilla.blogspot.com/search?q=tour+de+fat

Alison Powers' heart rate (red line) spiked to nearly 200 bpm on the final climb (green line) in last Friday's time trial in California. Photo: TrainingPeaksNormally we don’t compare data between men and women because it can be like comparing apples to oranges, but we decided to make an exception this time when two world-class cyclists and time trialers shared their data with us after racing the same course on the same day. Spanish rider Juan Antonio Flecha (Vacansoleil-DCM) shared his Powertap data and American Alison Powers (NOW-Novartis for MS) has shared her SRM data from the 19.75-mile course through San Jose, Calif. It was stage 6 in the men’s Amgen Tour of California. An initial comparison of their data is below. Powers’ TT summary Result: 56:45, 2nd place, 56 seconds behind the winner 309 Average Watts 4.6 w/kg 1047 KJ 93.4 Training Stress Score (TSS) 313 Normalized Power (NP) 185 bpm Average Heart Rate 89 rpm Average Cadence 21 mph Average Speed See Powers’ file in TrainingPeaks. Flecha’s TT summary Result: 51:15, 14th place, 2:23 behind the winner 413 Average Watts 5.4 w/kg 1247 KJ 82 TSS 419 NP 158 bpm Average Heart Rate 81 rpm Average Cadence 23.2 mph Average Speed See Flecha’s file in TrainingPeaks. Other than the obvious differences in that Flecha was putting out more watts and completed the course 5:30 faster, there are definitely some interesting comparisons to make. One could argue that Powers actually did a slightly better job at pacing after comparing the two VI (Variability Index) values. VI examines the ratio of Normalized Power (NP) versus average power for a ride, and the resulting value shows how steady or constant the power output for an effort was. A VI of 1.0 (NP equals average power) indicates a perfectly steady effort, and most skilled time trialers will have a VI figure lower than 1.05. For more context, a VI for a road race full of surges, attacks and varying terrain may be in the range of 1.2 (though this can vary widely depending on circumstances). Powers completed the TT course with a VI of 1.01 while Flecha logged a 1.03 VI. Both demonstrated excellent pacing, but Powers really nailed it with close to a “perfect” 1.0. Flecha opted to ride his time trial bike the entire race, while Powers changed to a road bike for the final climb up Metcalf. After the race, Powers felt that the bike change worked to her advantage because the climb was so steep (900 feet in elevation change over 1.9 miles), and the road bike allowed her to ride in a more comfortable position. For the section prior to the final climb, Powers spun just a little more than Flecha with a higher average cadence of 89 rpm vs. Flecha’s 81 rpm. However, on the final climb, both ground it out at a similar cadence: 63 rpm for Powers vs. 65 rpm for Flecha. Powers’ Metcalf climb 12:42 1.84 miles 321 Average Watts 4.8 w/kg 245 KJ 323 NP 1.01 VI 191 bpm Average Heart Rate 63 rpm Average Cadence 8.7 mph Average Speed Flecha’s Metcalf climb 10:50 1.87 miles 439 Average Watts 5.9 w/kg 286 KJ 445 NP 1.01 VI 163 bpm Average Heart rate 65 rpm Average Cadence 10.3 mph Average Speed Although Flecha had the higher average speed overall (23.2 mph vs. 21 mph), Powers had the higher maximum speed. She hit 44.6 mph on the technical, challenging descent while Flecha topped out at 42.3 mph. Powers comes from a downhill ski racing background and she definitely put those skills to work! Overall, both riders had great time trials while demonstrating excellent pacing, technique, and strength. Editor’s note: Thanks to TrainingPeaks.com, we are looking at two riders’ power data from stage 6 of the Amgen Tour of California. Today, Shawn Heidgen, a USA Cycling certified coach, former professional cyclist, and Education Specialist at TrainingPeaks, recaps the data from the eight-day race. For more, follow Shawn on Twitter.

Short survey asks for your experiences of sharing the road with cars

Rider gives thumbs-up to Avon & Somerset Constabulary as it proves determination to stamp out bike theft read more

Bike To Work, Bike At Work from East Side Compost Pedallers on Vimeo. I really dig this video out of Austin, Texas of the East Side Compost Pedallers. I worked for a similar organization in Indy at my last job, except we delivered organic groceries instead of picking up the scraps…and we did it in gas-guzzling vans instead of carbon-nuetral bikes. Regardless, the program seems to be a success and it’s great to see bikes put to work in such a synergistic manner. And hey, if you’re in the Austin area, they seem to be hiring!

Video highlights world class trails in inaugural event

Photo submitted by Joe Garcia, “This picture was taken at Santiago Oaks Regional Park located in Orange County, Ca.”

Robert Gesink's GC hopes faded in the Giro's mountain stages last weekend, but he's still shooting for a top-10 result. Photo: Gregor Brown | VeloNews.comMORI, Italy (VN) — Robert Gesink (Blanco) is racing to set his Giro d’Italia right after a rocky few days. The tall, blond Dutchman began with hopes of a podium, maybe even a win, just over two weeks ago in Naples. Now his goal is placing in the top 10. “I had a really a bad day on the Jafferau climb [in stage 14] and after losing four minutes, I’d just settle on a top 10,” Gesink told VeloNews Wednesday. “To achieve that in all three grand tours would be something.” Gesink boasts a Tour de France fifth place and two Vuelta a España sixth places in his palmarès. Ahead of today’s mountain time trial from Mori to Polsa above Lake Garda, he sits 10th at 7:24 behind Vincenzo Nibali (Astana). He spoke of a podium finish while sitting with 2012 champion Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp) and Bradley Wiggins (Sky) at the race start in Naples. Hesjedal and Wiggins have since abandoned and Gesink has suffered his own problems. On the stage to Jafferau, Gesink lost time to his competitors and slipped behind by 4:16. Before that, he was within reach of third place with Rigoberto Urán (Sky). Having already raced the Tour and Vuelta several times, Gesink finds the Giro difficult. “The race has had spectacular stages every day. The only day that seemed normal was when Cavendish won [stage 6 in Margherita di Savoia],” Gesink said. “The rest of the days, the organizer always seems to find a climb to put in the final.” Gesink took in the day’s sun, but looked up to see what was rolling in. He said if the weather forces the upcoming mountain stages to be canceled, he will have a hard time winning a stage. A top 10, though, remains on his radar. Kelderman ‘learning a lot’ Blanco swings more of its might toward 22-year-old Wilco Kelderman. Last year, the young Dutchman debuted strongly in the professional ranks. He won the white jersey in the Critérium du Dauphiné and the Amgen Tour of California, placing eighth and seventh overall. “Wilco is good,” Gesink said as Kelderman adjusted his helmet. “He doesn’t have to, but he listens to me. He tries to learn from my mistakes and has a lot of power. He’ll go far.” Added Kelderman: “I’m learning a lot from him in my first grand tour. He’s already had a lot of top 10s in these races.” Kelderman spoke quietly and in short phrases. On the bike, however, he is aggressive. Blanco gave him free reign on stage 15 to Galibier and the following stage, after the rest day. He failed to win both, but he gained experience that will serve him well when he leads a grand tour team. “There’s not a goal to reach a certain placing this year, it’s more to help Robert,” Kelderman said. “As the year goes on, I want to have more top 10s in races like the Tour de Romandie. Just to keep improving every year.” An eye on the sky Gesink looked over Kelderman’s shoulder to the horizon and the Alps. Over the next few days, the race heads upwards for its final test. Not only will Gesink try to secure his top-10 finish — Domenico Pozzovivo (Ag2r-La Mondiale) trails him by just 10 seconds — but he will also aim for a stage win. “A stage win is within reach,” Gesink said. “I just have to hope snow does not force the stages to be canceled.”