AndyWaterman
journeyman
Reged: 30/11/2006
Posts: 74
Loc: Croydon UK
|
|
From now on we're not receiving questions for the Q&A section via email — unfortunately the MBR mainframe collapsed under the weight of the undeleted messages.
So from now on, if you've got a question for the experts, let us know here on the forum. Our gurus are on hand to help, as are the other forum users.
What are you waiting for? Get posting!
|
Martin
stranger
Reged: 17/01/2007
Posts: 12
Loc: South Northants (North Oxfords...
|
|
Hi,
I had a bit of a tumble 6 weeks ago resulting in a broken colarbone and nasty bruised leg. The colarbone is healing very well but my leg is taking longer than I was expecting to heal. I only have minor discomfort if I walk at a fast pace and have started doing gentle spinning without any problems.
My thigh muscle on the injured leg flops around when i walk as if detached in some way.
Is this anything I should be concerned about? Will it improve with the excercise I am now doing?
Many thanks.
Martin H.
|
Sir_Queuesalot
veteran
Reged: 05/12/2007
Posts: 1354
Loc: Cheshire Congleton ain't posh!
|
|
Eeww...
Your thigh muscle flops around!!! 
Get to the doctor pronto.
--------------------
My LBS couldn't fix my brakes so they made my bell louder..... 
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast!!
|
duff
stranger
Reged: 08/05/2008
Posts: 6
Loc: derbyshire
|
|
can you tell me if the world cup is being shown on tv and what channel.
|
tricks
enthusiast
Reged: 17/05/2008
Posts: 263
Loc: Consett
|
|
Yer the world cup will be on the TV in 2010, however the euro 2008 is on itv at about 7.30 most nights.
Im female and I know the answer to a football question, how chuffed am I!! 
--------------------
Caution this b**ch bites!!!!
HIT LIST!! 
*Sir_Queuesalot (Due to spitting his dummy out for not being on the hit list)
*VT1_DOC
*TF90 (weaker sex HA)
*Gorehound
*The bird in off beat bikes (Fort Bill)
|
gtxxx
journeyman
Reged: 11/03/2008
Posts: 87
Loc: Scottish Borders
|
|
HI Andy just read the section about pedalling cadence in the OCT mag. My question is related slightly.I have been climbing in the middle ring low gear to try and increase leg power and stamina.Am I approaching it in the right way or should I be using the granny with slightly higher gear? I don't exercise off the trails and try to ride once a week at least. I have noticed a difference as I'm now going longer without needing to stop to catch my breath. Cheers!
--------------------
It's not the fall that hurts it's the landing!!!!!
|
stevewiz
member
Reged: 20/05/2008
Posts: 190
|
|
You will find that as you ride more your natural cadence - where you feel comfortable - will increase.
I, like you, used to try to over-power hills and ended up gasping. I now ride in an easier gearing ratio up hills at a higher cadence and can start accelerating again from the top of the hill, rather than having to recover.
There is a place for high power low cadence training - in intervals so you get recovery time and then go again. It is a technique used over the winter by people with turbo trainers. You will get increased power from it.
If you look at roadies, and the ultimate roadie, Lance Armstrong, what they say was that he used to turn at a much higher cadence than others, efficiently. Then when someone tried to jump away from him, he could slip it down a gear and respond.
--------------------
--------------------
When you nod your head, I'll hit it!!
|
Peak_ing
stranger
Reged: 17/09/2008
Posts: 6
|
|
Hi Andy,
I got into mountain biking late and have been doing it for 3 years now, either going out on my own or with my son. My avarage speed is around 5.5 mph whether I do 2 hours or 6 hours. This is usually in hilly areas (high peak or pennines).
Next March is my 50th and I want to enter a couple of events during the year and finish a decent level in the results.
I would ideally like to target an average of 10mph but would be happy around 8.
Can you give me some tips for a training plan over the next 6 months?
Cheers Martin
--------------------
I wonder why I am here and not there
|
Sir_Queuesalot
veteran
Reged: 05/12/2007
Posts: 1354
Loc: Cheshire Congleton ain't posh!
|
|
Hi Martin,
I know I'm not Andy but from personal experience I can really reccomend a turbo trainer, I've had one for about a month now and I can really feel the difference. No more excuses of it's chucking down or I haven't got time to go for a ride because in just 1 hour you can have a great workout improving cardio vascular fitness and pedaling technique 
I bought the TACX Sirius and checking out the website there a loads of training programmes to follow http://www.tacx.com/beleef+tacx.php?lang...op=This%20month
the trainer can be bought from anywhere between £100 and £140 so shop around.
Failing this you could go old skool and hit the interval training. Find a nice medium size hill when you are out on your ride and pedal up it as fast as you can, coast down and repeat at least 10 times. Oh, and they also reckon you need to be out on your bike at least 3 times a week to maintain fitness so i reckon you need more if you want to increase it.
I also reckon you target of 10mph average is quite high for mtb'ing, do a speed check and see what you are comfortable pedaling along on a flat road at, I'm around 15-18 mph but out on the trails I'm lucky to hit 12 Kph (my best time for the Marin Trail at 25k is 2 hours 20 including a few photo, chinwag, and mechanical stops) 10mph is about 16kph!! and 12kph is 7.5mph so that's a hell of a jump for trail riding but not that far from where you are at 5.5mph. I'd set my first target at 7.5mph based on physical fitnes then try and make up the remaining 2.5mph by better techinique. I'm sure Andy will have more to say when he comes along.
--------------------
My LBS couldn't fix my brakes so they made my bell louder.....
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast!!
|
stevewiz
member
Reged: 20/05/2008
Posts: 190
|
|
Also, get the most out of your machine, without going too mad and spending a fortune. Do you have a clipless pedal system? You might be able to squeeze some more out with SPD cleats or other system. Then - tyres - what surface are you measuring your speed on and do you have the tyres that are best suited to the surface. I know that when I put slicks on my bike in the summer as soon as I hit the road the bike just felt faster, and it was by about 3 kph average.
Then, as Sir_Q says - interval training and more training. Lots of it!! There is no substitute, but when you do the intervals listen to your knees. If they get sore, back off for a while. This type of training can be hellish on the joints.
--------------------
--------------------
When you nod your head, I'll hit it!!
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
