There must be something us less talented athletes can learn from the huge improvements Basso has made in his TT performances?
It sounds like he is spending more time (I don’t think he did before) training on a TT bike. I am sure I read some where that Lance spend 1/15 of his training time on his TT bike. I guess for alot of multisport racers the majority of the races we do are on steep angled bikes does this mean would should be spending 14/15 of our time training on out tri bikes? Should I sell my current winter training bike and buy and old steep anlged bike for training on?
Other than spending more time on a TT bike what else can we learn from Basso’s improvement.
My apologies. If you hang around ST enough, indeed, it does seem to be all about the bike.
However, not to brag, but you don’t want to know about the bike that I rode to a 5:00 flat bike split at IMC on in 1992. Also, despite what is talked about here, the sport of traithlon is more about running than anything else, always has been, regardless of format, and remains that way to this day. Run strongly and fast and you will do well!
…that a result is only as good as it compares to the competition on the day. He’s improved but Lance, Ullrich, Landis, et all are about to take the boy back to school in just over 3 weeks…
He has been fit well, wind tunnel tested, and has most likely upped his training time and intensity on the TT bike.
I read once that Lance rides his TT bike one day per week, so 1/7th of his training. Sounds about right to me- grand tours typically have ~20 stages and 2 time trials. Us being triathletes, though, we should spend at least half of our training time on our tri bikes. During the season, I typically ride my bike 4 days per week (3 high quality workouts and an easy warmup spin for my long run). I try to have 2-3 of these rides on the tri bike. During the winter and collegiate road season, I obviously ride my road bike much more.
I see no reason why a triathlete would not spend “all their bike time” on the bike that they plan to use for racing, especially during race season. Why would you ride slack half the time if you race steep 100% of the time (assuming you race steep) ? In any case, regardless of what position (steep or slack), you race in, you may as well ride that bike in 100% of your training. And don’t give me the bullshit about not being able to ride in a pack in your tri bike We ride shoulder to shoulder, wheel to wheel at 15-40 mph that way. It works as long as all the guys and gals can hold a line and don’t do anything sketchy.
Agreed, DP, with only one caveat…I do my short 20mi EASY spins on the road bike…I think its a mental thing with me…but riding the road bike helps me “relax” which is what active recovery is all about…but all my serious training is done on the TT bike for at least 8 months of the year.
I agree with TriBriGuy. For easy riding, my road bike is more comfortable. And the mental thing too. But all my hard rides and brick workouts are done on the tri bike. I can and do ride my tri bike in a pack. My Wednesday group ride has a big pace line screaming along at 30 mph on the flats- about half the riders are triathletes or time trial riders with aerobars/TT bikes.
Brian, when I get other triathletes riding with me, the saying goes like this “Duct tape those elbows to your aerobars”. Most triathletes spend too much time sitting up, because they can’t force themselves to stay aero for 1-6 hours. This is why I say you have to ride bolted to the aero postion. It amazes me when I see guys hittting a headwind or false flat and immediately sit up. It is clear that they have not developed a powerful aero position that they have mentally flogged themselves to adhere to and then they have to “sit up” like they are 20th man back in the peleton as they push more watts riding slower into a headwind.
If you are riding faster than 20 kph (12 mph), better get aero. The only way to do that, is to ride aero all the time. Duct tape those elbows to the aero bars. “The bars are just an extension of your body when racing tri”.
This is also why I chuckle at all the guys on this forum and their position pics. Most of them are way too low and are unlikely to be able to hold those positions for any more than 50% of an actual race. And I say “most”. Some actually can !
We ride shoulder to shoulder, wheel to wheel at 15-40 mph that way. It works as long as all the guys and gals can hold a line and don’t do anything sketchy.