I have used my race wheels 4 times: 40K (TT), 20K (Tri), 40K (Tri), 30K (Tri). Everytime I use them, I cant help but notice that my glutes are being worked quite a bit. It’s almost instant too that I can feel them being used as soon as I get on the bike. I usually race at a cadence of low - mid 90’s (during tri’s), and I notice that the lower the cadence, the more I feel it (going up hills, or during a flat TT when I usually have a cadence of high 80’s).
I NEVER feel this on my training wheels during training rides, or on the stationary trainers (mag or fluid), but ONLY when I have my 404’s on. Original thought that it might be the increased stiffness of the wheels, but I can only speculate at this point.
My guess is the increased drag feel of the wheels makes you notice the adjustment in muscle patterns. I noticed this the first few times I rode my 404’s as well…they feel different - maybe because of the wind they’re catching, maybe the spokes are different, who know - they felt heavier, stiffer, and my legs felt different. I found that they made my gearing feel different too…I wasn’t riding in the same gears I was used to with training wheels.
I’m referring to the increased drag “feel”…you feel the wind pushing on the rim a whole lot more with a deep wheel than with a trainer, especially sidewinds. Sure, you’re faster, but you can still feel the wind pushing against that surface area…you don;t always “slice” through the wind. It’s just like if you’re windsurfing, when you catch the wind you definitely pick up speed, but you still have to work harder to resist against it to get that effect (sail feels “heavy”)…that’s the drag “feel” I was referring too.
I was curious. I can remember back during the road season, when we would do the occasional TT, we would slap the clips on the road bike and hammer it. Our glutes would be wrecked for two days, from trying to slam down low in the front, still being slack in the seatpost. Are you riding it in the back seat position, or front?
I did the first three races with the seat post clamp facing forward, but the saddle pushed back. I moved the saddle forward 1 cm ~ 6 weeks ago, but no change in feeling w/ race wheels.
It could be because you are racing: ie it may not have anything to do with the wheels - I think it is unlikely that it does.
When you come out of the water are you cold? If so, this numbness may be impairing the ability of your more extreme muscles to work hard, and since your glutes are closest to the core, they might be the warmest thus are functioning a little better than the rest.
I have found this too during races. I suggest maybe pushing it a bit less at the start, giving yourself more time to warm up by spinning a higher cadence and waiting for your legs to feel ok before moving to race pace. For me, this above sensation was related to a tight ligament traversing my hip and coccyx, so maybe a lack of flexibility in your glute region may be a factor too.
