I was reading the recent threads about power-to-weight ratio, overall cycling power, and how one rates as a cyclist given these numbers, and I had a thought: Why is it that we can generalize that a cyclist will be poor/good/great based on these numbers, but can’t seem to do the same for running?
As an example, I am a mediocre cyclist, and this corresponds to the Crucible Fitness chart given my power to weight ratio. However, I am a surprisingly good runner, which I would not expect to be the case given my relatively low power to weight ratio.
Is this apparent contradiction because an individual’s efficiency as a runner makes a much bigger difference than their cycling efficiency?
What am I missing?
You have a mediocre powe to weight ratio as a cyclist, which you can measure using a scale and a power meter. You dont know how much power you are putting out as a runner, it isnt the same as your cycling numbers.
In running efficiency is everything. Weight also matters alot. In cycling weight isn’t as much of a factor as raw power and aerodynamics can also play a hugh part.
Styrrell
Given that I am apparently using my running muscle groups more effectively than my cycling muscle groups(some of which overlap, no?), does this indicate that I should be able to improve my cycling a lot?
One of the reasons this topic interests me is that I am usually in the middle to back third of the pack on the bike(unless the course is really flat) but typically turn in a top 25% run split. It makes me wonder if I am missing something with my bike training. I have been riding for more than ten years(and a lot as a kid, too) but only running for about four, and have no specific background in either.
Some people who are good at one sport never develop in the other, but its a good start. First are you talking “normal” bike racing or TT/Tri. Secondly how good a runner are you (10km time?). Third how much traing do you do in each sport.
For example the best runner im my age group has never beaten me in a tri. He is a 33 minute 10 k runner vs my 38. He generally loses a few minutes in the swim and quite a few in the bike. I could never figure out why until we talked and he probably gets in 20% of the biking I do.
Styrrell
In theory, you should have some cycling up side. You may never be as good a cyclist as you are in running for a number of reasons:
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relative strength of cycling specific vs running specific muscles
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bone geometry
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ability to suffer on the bike as hard as on the run
-
bike training volume
Factors 3 and 4 you might be able to improve through training and adaptation, but you might inherently be limited on factors 1 and 2.
I haven’t been racing too long. Some road races(running) and several tris in the past two years. I haven’t done too many running races since starting tris because usually if I go hard in one kind of race, I’m wasted for the other. In any event, I have done a 3.5 mile race at 6:38, have a couple of Oly run splits right at 7:00, and did a 1/2 marathon at 7:52 when I thought I was in pretty poor shape.
Comparatively, my typical cycling performances are around 18-19 mph for an Oly to 1/2 IM, and at IMLP I avg’d 17.2(then turned in a 3:56 marathon.) I had one Oly race where I really focused on my cycling and went 21.2 mph, and finished pretty high up(top 100 out of 650) but that was on a pretty flat course. Windy, but flat.
My swimming isn’t that great either, but I’ll save that for another thread.
I was thinking about it, and I think you’re onto something with #3. My training volume is high on the bike, about equal to my run and swim time combined. But when I am training and racing, I mostly ride the bike. I don’t push too much because I am usually thinking, “Well, there’s still a long way to go, then I have to run later, so let’s not blow it.” That, plus many years of just riding for the pleasure of it seems to have instilled in me a ‘no big rush’ mentality on the bike.
During the run, I usually go as hard as I can without redlining my pulse(I have done races where my HR was 170+ the whole time), and shred my legs.
This is definitely something for me to work on. (As if I wasn’t suffering enough out there!)
One solution is to do group rides. Most triathletes don’t, but you will never suffer more than when you are tryingto hold onto a wheel.
If you ride by HR your hard (racing) HR is probably about the same as your running HR, maybe 5 beats slower.
Styrrell
I try to do those, but only get in a few a year. I do a couple of centuries every year, and I love doing them, but I usually get blown off the back of the pack when the road gets hilly. My biggest problem with group rides is that most of the ones around here start later and go shorter than I would like.
You’re right, though. I gotta find some folks to abuse me. Er, on the bike.