Did a 10 mile local TT last night in the new position. I didn’t feel in the mood to race and was still tired from the trip.
Nonetheless I destroyed my course PB, slashed 45 secs off 2 weeks ago, the nearest guy was 25 back who normally does me and I wasn’t trying anywhere near hard enough.
My muscle recruitment has changed a fair bit though. I couldn’t ride at a cadence BELOW 100 rpm particulary easily. For a big guy like me thats pretty darn weird. My position felt comfortable but I’ll need a few weeks of adapation. I’m doing an Oly race next week so we’ll see how it goes there…
I know I took some criticism for my frame choice and it bothers me it’s not ideal but at least you can’t argue with the tweaked result. Thanks Tom D !
I still want to know if you Julian unloaded that frame on you. Also, I though, from “Jim’s” post, that you had swapped out for a new frame. I guess I misread.
Steady, Monky! I am 5’ 8" and Bryce is 6’3" that would be a bad swap. The answer is no, although we ordered at the same time his large arrived in July and my small in October, totally different bikes.
Well, if I had a dollar for every mistake I’ve made in gear choices, I could quit my day job and train full time! Look at it this way…it provided a HUGE learning opportunity for you (and the rest of us vicariously). How boring would it have been for you to show up with a bike and have Tom say “well, that’s pretty much perfect…Nothing to fix here”?
Thanks for the results update. As a F.I.S.T. graduate, I was wondering what in particular “makes” you pedal at a higher cadence? I know that a steeper position is best done at a higher cadence, but interested in knowing how the new position feels with respect to the old. Also, can you tell us any differences in cockpit length, hip and knee angle, and seat to aerobar drop?
Great race; I’m sure as you gain muscle adaptation in the new position you will absolute rock the competition!
No I had the first one in the UK and to be fair I love it. Julians is smaller. I’d been riding in the old position for 6 months and that had been evolved from a previous one equally aggressive. The straight aerobars made it worse. My biggest mistake was after when I won an international TT in France last year I lowered the front and cut the steerer down. I should have left it where it was…
The odd thing about the cadence is that before I had a choice which cadence to ride to keep a good pedal stroke. By pulling my body forward now I don’t have much of a choice. Going by the result, in about 6 weeks time this won’t be a problem.
Can I confirm for Toms sake that the Jim swap was a gag ! If you saw his aerobar set up I may have struggled although he has done a great job of his rear disc cover.
I am a long term slowtwitch fit guinea pig and I’ll keep everyone informed as the months go on…