Caretaker/Overlook Hotel
So, I've been riding more lately as I nurse the knee and have considered even getting a real (better) bike than I have and riding more long-term. The one thing I've noticed more than anything else is that I can barely get into the 4:40's when I'm riding. Now, I think about the elites who turn that over for 26.2 miles and my jaw just drops!!
Granted, all my 400m tests and best races ever, I've been astonished at what these guys run, but I figured surely I could ride faster than they could run, right?? NOPE!! Maybe on a dead-flat and w/ a few months of training in, but still, just surprising.
Then again, I recall Ryan Hall talking a couple years back about a route Lance Armstrong used to do (somewhere in NorCal) and how disappointed he was that he couldn't ride it even close to Lance's time, yet could run it almost as fast. (like 19 minutes riding & 22 minutes running or something bizarre like that).
Anywho, maybe I'm just slow & should be riding 3 minutes miles, but it certainly caught my attention.
Randy
Hip Redux
Hmmm, pro cyclists easily average 25 mph on the road. I'm pretty sure even Ryan Hall isn't that fast. lol The world record for the half marathon is right around an hour and a 13 mph pace for a road bike is fairly average. Perhaps he was referring to some sort of off road route where the footing is better vs. trying to navigate on a bike?
When I was 16, I'm pretty sure I could do 20 mph on my bike (or was that 20 k? Anyway, almost the same thing, right? ). I have no idea what I could do now and I'm not sure I want to find out. You are injured, why are you feeling pathetic about your speed? Now is not the time for unnecessary pressure on yourself. Wait until you're 100% back on your feet before you complain about not being as fast as an elite runner or elite cyclist. And remember, they are freaks of nature. Do you really want to be a freak?
PRs: Boston Marathon, 3:27, April 15th 2013
Cornwall Half-Marathon, 1:35, April 27th 2013
18 marathons, 18 BQs since 2010
Running and cycling use very different muscles. Runners who are in very good shape are frequently shocked to find out how slow they are on the bike and good cyclists are sometimes shocked to find out they can't run much.
Short term goal: 17:59 5K
Mid term goal: 2:54:59 marathon
Long term goal: To say I've been a runner half my life. (I started running at age 45).
Agreed, I was just surprised to find that I'd turn a 4:43 mile on my bike when I thought I was moving along pretty fast only to think that elites would be running right besides me at that pace they often make look like a Sunday stroll!! (La da daa dee da daa) Not that it's that easy for them, but they sure make it look like it.
One one of Ryan Hall's training runs here....
http://youtube.com/watch?v=QmF5x6ZeuRw
He's talking about how he's gonna have his pacer set his bike for 4:50 pace and just stay on his wheel. Well, shoot, I'd be pushin just to keep that pace w/o having Ryan crash into the back of me.
The circumference of the tire plays a part as well. A 26 inch diameter mountain bike wheel and tire will cover significantly less distance than a 28 inch road bike setup at the same effort by the same person.
I know what you are saying though, you would think you would be ten times faster on a bike.
~~~~~~~
Traci
I know this is a bunch of BS throwing bike threads into a running forum but since we're a small group & own this forum after our RW migration, I'll go ahead & bump this anyway.....we're all family, right? ....
So I guess I could officially change the title to "I can now ride faster than elites run"..... And I could probably go even faster if I went full-on road bike, but after a couple weeks of shopping/researching I picked up one of these yesterday........
As I mentioned I'm using biking as cross training aid pending my doc's decision for my running career which I plan to at least do *some* of unless I'm given a "you better stop now" which I doubt. Nevertheless......the above is a Cannondale Quick 4. It's a hybrid series of bike which is an anathema to some but a God send to folks like me. I did 10-speeds as a kid & I've done mtn bike, but the above is just what the doctor ordered. Super light, carbon fiber forks, full alum frame, light as air wheels/tires, & 32cm wide so just perfectly between Tour de France skinny minnies & a fat mtn bike tire. It's a marvel of engineering to me whose time has come.
Anywho......long story not so short, I've gone from 5 min miles down to 4 min miles on this thing at the same effort. It accelerates like a rocket & I can easily maintain much higher speeds.
I think I could keep Ryan Hall on a 4:55 pace in that Olympic training video now without running out of breath or legs.
Sexy bike there, Red!
Thanks Oski!
Ok, MBC, took her out on an 11 miler tonight before the drunks hit the road. 11.5 to be exact at 15mph average speed. I switched my Garmin over to "biking" and it defaults at mph. Now, I just gotta figure out how to get it to tick off each mile cuz it didn't do that like it does on my run setting.
Had lots of fun finding some new bike lane routes. (Found one that goes thru a nice quiet neighborhood & does some long winding back & forth which feels great on such a nimble bike.
Did i say already, I love this bike??
Funny!
Careful, it's addicting. Next thing you know... you'll be doing tris!!
running is bad for you
Thanks Oski! Ok, MBC, took her out on an 11 miler tonight before the drunks hit the road. 11.5 to be exact at 15mph average speed. I switched my Garmin over to "biking" and it defaults at mph. Now, I just gotta figure out how to get it to tick off each mile cuz it didn't do that like it does on my run setting. Had lots of fun finding some new bike lane routes. (Found one that goes thru a nice quiet neighborhood & does some long winding back & forth which feels great on such a nimble bike. Did i say already, I love this bike??
now you're speaking my language! Oski's first roadie was a Giant - but the same type of road/mtb cross or "urban/recreation." Didn't take long for her to get into it so much so that she got a full on roadie.......your days are numbered too........and then........swimming......***evillaugh***
Swimming? (gasp!) (Actually, as mentioned in the injury thread, I am certainly looking just no friggin indoor pools to be found)
Anywho.....I doubt you're gonna peel me off this Quick 4 anytime soon. It's non-shock, carbon-fiber fork lovely piece! Even though I rode similar (I recall the Fuji Absolute 1.4 which is a nice bike too, but with its 28cm slicks, just didn't absorb the road as well as the Q4) I still found myself drawn to the "perfect for me" geometry of the Quick 4.
Actually, while I might eventually do a road bike (down the road....no pun) one of the things I liked least was the more hunched over position of some of the other brands...(Giant specifically)....and love the 12-degree stem rise on the Cannondales. In fact, when I rode the Q4 I picked up (they had to assemble it) the guy at the LBS had "flipped" the stem cuz he thought I'd like it better. I felt it RIGHT AWAY!! I told him, "Flip that sucker right-side-up before I kick you in your own stem!" He obliged and the bike felt MUCH better.
These 32cm Kenda Kwik Trax are a lovely tire (imho). Again, even if I picked up something more slick, I think I'd still stick with 32cm as I feel it's just a perfect tire size for me. (I don't wanna become a bike junky. At least not just yet)