Comments for Cycle Krazy - Cycling Tips

Comment on Throw Away Ks by Krazy

Krazy — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:12:23 +0000

Hello James,
Yes i agree that base training is important. but 18kmph rides in a group for 4 hours wont build base fitness

Comment on Throw Away Ks by James Moffat

James Moffat — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:03:29 +0000

I have to disagree with you. While riding at 18km/h is maybe a little to slow doing a base building ride is critical for the upcoming summer. If you instead do a high intensity session it means stretching out you peak period. The idea of base building is so in the Summer after high intensity training to kick you into gear after the long winter you are ready to go because of your base fitness which short high intensity training doesn’t help.

Comment on Climbing Techniques – Become a Better Climber by Krazy

Krazy — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 09:32:31 +0000

Hi Frank,
glad the tips were of some assistance to you. Great to hear that you had a good days out.
Hills can be loads of fun when you know how to climb them effectively.

stay safe,
cheers

Comment on Climbing Techniques – Become a Better Climber by frank kennedy

frank kennedy — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 08:12:48 +0000

I have used the techniques set our in point form for the first time today.
Rode up Mt Granya Vic Australia Gradient 5.5% for about 6km’s.
Must admit it was my first real attempt at hills so to speak as I am not a confident hill climber and a recent devotee to cycling.
So I used the pointers and survived and finished all up 140km’s including this “hill”.
I have abbreviated them to suit me. For instance the notion of staying seated became SS. And to ride over the top becomes ROTP etc…..
Thank you very much for your advice. It was a great help
Frank

Comment on The Fixed Gear Training Myth by Tweets that mention The Fixed Gear Training Myth - Cycle Krazy – Cycling Tips -- Topsy.com

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:06:26 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Cycle Krazy, Cycle Krazy, Cristin Van Driel, Jimmy George, Travis Wenkalman and others. Travis Wenkalman said: RT @cyclekrazy: #cycling New Topic: The Fixed Gear Training Myth – http://tinyurl.com/ydwm5nh [...]

Comment on The Fixed Gear Training Myth by Murat

Murat — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:52:34 +0000

Saris developed a freewheeling version of their indoor training bike because it replicates road riding much more accurately than a traditional fixed gear spinning bike with a 43 pound flywheel. I think it’s true that the flywheel does a lot of the work, and I think that to a lesser extent, a fixed gear bike does the same- it requires you to pedal non-stop, even when you are not exerting any force. In theory, this equates to being able to do shorter training sessions for the same benefit as longer ones, but I beg to differ. My Powertap data indicates that the amount of freewheeling I do on a 4-5 hour endurance ride is small enough. I do own a fixie commuter (Redline 9.2.5) but the real reason I bought it is because it had fenders pre-installed and it was cheap.

Comment on The Fixed Gear Training Myth by Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:37:56 +0000

I’d be interested to know your thoughts on training with a single speed (not fixed) on a reasonably small gear – under 80″.

I have heard from experienced riders in our club that they used to do a lot of training on single speed bikes to work on spinning, high cadence, out of the saddle climbing etc.

They too have the same view as you regarding the fixie “helping” the rider to complete the pedal stroke.

Comment on The Fixed Gear Training Myth by Krazy

Krazy — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:05:49 +0000

Thanks russell thanks John. Always good to see comments

first up yes sorry not all fixie riders are hipsters. That was more a tongue in cheek comment at the general stigma that surrounds fixed gear bikes and the riders thereof

semi agree on the balance idea and gains, but you can get the same gains by riding a high cadence on a road bike. Ultimately it comes down to technique. Better your technique betteryour riding. Technique in turning high revs on a road bike differ to those required to do the same rpm on a fixed gear bike

if you want true gains for road cycling but want the simplicity of a fixedgear bike then get a single speed with a freehub

Comment on The Fixed Gear Training Myth by John grey

John grey — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:57:07 +0000

Yes I agree with Russell. The fixed gear bike will help with balance on a road bike. Butthsts about where the ‘help’ ends

i ride both fixed gear track bikes and road bikes. I find that when I have been riding the track bike for a few weeks then jump on tbd road bike the legs feel really heavy and lazy. Your legs seem to get used to the motion required to turn over the pedals on the track bike over. The laziness over the top and round the back translates into a messy stroke on the road bike

I have actually read a similar topic on velonews or the likes and they too said the benefit of track bikes for road training purposes are none

Comment on The Fixed Gear Training Myth by Russell

Russell — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:17:34 +0000

I disagree.

Interspersed with my own training on my road and time trial bikes, I commute over 100K a week on a fixed gear running around 69 gear inches, a relatively “spinny” gear.

Before I started commuting fixed, I struggled to maintain a high cadence on my freewheel bikes. Now? I can quite happily maintain a high cadence without the slightest hint of bob on my saddle.

Whilst this may not be the empirical evidence needed to disprove your comments, riding fixed has added strength and technique to my cycling that I didn’t have before.

You could write this off to change in training, poor technique to begin with, cycling position or whatever. The point is, the most noticeable difference to my pedalling came after I started lugging my steel warrior to work everyday.

Not everybody that rides a fixie is a hipster and not every hipster rides a fixie. There are some of us that enjoy the simplicity of the bike, the way it feels, looks, its appeal as a pimpable item and the sheer bombproof nature of the beast as a commuting machine.