Whats better... Power or endurance?

It depends if you want to build thick muscle, or lean muscle.

Reply 2

glance

It depends if you want to build thick muscle, or lean muscle.

Hmmm, I don't want be harsh or anything, but that really was a laughable comment :tongue:

Using a low cadence bigger gear, whats happening is your using a relatively high% of your 1RM during the movement, after doing it for a while your quads will actually become fatigued, in the way they do after lifting a particular weight for x amount of times.

High cadence lower gear you're not fatiguing your leg muscles, only your CV system is becoming fatigued, which is why its generally better.

It has to be said that if you were to do 1 all out effort it is more efficient to use a low cadence bigger gear, but for example in things like the tour de france, you're riding hundreds of km everyday so you don't want to fatigue your leg muscles. Similar with stuff like triathlons, you don't want to fatigue your leg muscles before you go on the run section of the competition.

Hope this helps.

Reply 3

glance

imasillynarb

Hmmm, I don't want be harsh or anything, but that really was a laughable comment :tongue:

Cycling builds leg muscle. If it's anything like weights, then there was some truth in my comment.

POWER definately.

Endurance.

glance

Cycling builds leg muscle. If it's anything like weights, then there was some truth in my comment.

Lean muscle? Muscle is lean, there is no fat in muscle, what exactly is lean muscle?

Thick muscle? To build a bigger muscle you do indeed make it thicker.

So what you've actually just said is, it depends whether you want to build muscle, or muscle.

Reply 7

And just to add, power and endurance are not mutually exclusive, you should infact be trying to maximise both of these attributes if you are to become a better cyclist.

Reply 8

OP

Yes that's a big help "imasillynarb".
It's the first time I've tried using high cadence lower gear, as I've only had my pro road bike for a year now.
Ive been riding with a group for this time, and always noticed them riding in this aformentioned style but they all peel off very quickly up hills. The high gear up hills of less than 10% gives me a lot more power n I just pass them easily.
Admittedly on the decent, they're better. :s-smilie:

In the tour, you can (could, awww I miss Lance) see this contrasted style between Armstrong and Ullrich.

Reply 9

OP

imasillynarb

And just to add, power and endurance are not mutually exclusive, you should infact be trying to maximise both of these attributes if you are to become a better cyclist.

Eg Armstrong: Mr Power and Mr Endurance!wow

Reply 10

Bape

glance

It depends if you want to build thick muscle, or lean muscle.

Muscle size either stays the same, increases or decreases. Im not sure what you are talking about?

Reply 11

Goldenratio

Eg Armstrong: Mr Power and Mr Endurance!wow

Precisely, armstrong can generate a peak of 1100watts and has a threshold of 500watts.

Reply 12

OP

OMG! A THRESHHOLD of 500?!!!! Don't you just envy this god?:P

What's his training regime?

Reply 13

Gexko

Ahem, innuendo.

Oh yes, I love it...

As a former rower (aka nutter) i can say that both power and endurance are important and you should train yourself until you vomit in order to acheive your maximum in both.

I sold my soul to rowing and all i got was a lousy t shirt (and a fine set of muscles and some great memories).

Gexko loves you all. :p:

Reply 14

OP

Wow that's dedication for your love.
Personally i'm not looking to kill myself, please God. But just looking to train correctly.

Reply 15

I don't know what his training regime is, nobody except for him, his coach and maybe a few of his team-mates do, thats the whole point.

I know he cycles for 6 hours a day on average though, so, on yer bike

Hahah, see what I did there?

Reply 16

OP

Yes! I'm off now!
6 hours! not bad going LOOOL But that's his entire life... other people who work in an office may not be able to do 6. I guess I'll have to content myself with 4..... *sniff*
In fact i'm on my bike in a bit... Cycling alone today...

Reply 17

OP