Good uphills but not great on flats ?

[davidphilips]

Started going out with another cycling club for the past few weeks and have a problem.

Strange problem that i just can not get to grips with or understand, twice a week theres this run where the club cycle at a moderate pace most of the way then stop for coffee then on the last bit have a race up a long hill for a few miles, well i do well enough up the hill then everyone waits on the last up the hill then theres another sprint along a straight for a few miles .

This is where i can not keep up with some of the members that i can pass going uphill?

I know that wind resistance is the big thing in going fast but no matter how low/aero i get still can not keep up with a quite a few that i pass on the hill, I am not tired after the hill and the members that pass me or drop me dont even seem to get low?

Anyone else have fun like this or better still have advice other than train more on flat roads?

 

[Sharky]

Could be that the others know whats going to happen and are saving themselves for the final sprint. Try holding back on the hills and make sure you are recovered for the sprint.

 

[simonali]

You want one of these for the flat bit...

 

[Milkfloat]

Power to weight ratio - my guess is you are lighter than them.

 

[Cycleops]

A box of thumb tacks surreptitiously dropped at the top of the hill should even things out a bit.

 

[betty swollocks]

Maybe you're just a climbing whippet......

 

[si_c]

You need to understand the relationship between power-to-weight and power-to-drag. As your body weight increases, your drag increases, but by a much much smaller amount, and given that power required to overcome air resistance is a function of the drag you and the bike produce and the speed you are riding at, a large increase in muscle mass results in a relatively small increase in drag.

The power required to overcome gravity on the hill is a linear function of the gradient and your weight, so as your weight increases so does the amount of power needed to maintain a given speed.

For example, say you weigh 65kg and can produce a steady 200W of power, and I weight 90kg but can produce 250W power, on a hill of 10%, I can travel at 8.2kph, whereas you would be travelling at 8.8kph. However on the flat I can do 34kph to your 32kph, even if I could only produce 200W I'd only travel a fraction slower at 31.5kph.

Light = fast on the climbs, heavy = fast on the flats (assuming greater weight = greater power).

 

[davidphilips]

A box of thumb tacks surreptitiously dropped at the top of the hill should even things out a bit.

LOL, Now that is perhaps a quick way to solve the problem, just dont know if it would work to often?

Really can not work this out, same thing this morning, I even used an old heavy bike with slow tyres on it , got up the hill (not first but came 4th ) not in the slightest bit tired as i was taking it easy and dropped on the straight.

Expected to be dropped today because of my bike but the hill was ok, not so the flat, just can not work this out? Even tried a few different bikes with different wheel and tyre sets not a bit of difference? Some of the cyclists that pass me on the flats are really out of breath at the top of the hill but still can pass me on the flat?

simonila, Yes though about gearing and cadence but other than buying an electric motor or new legs think i will have to just have to get used to playing catch up.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

then on the last bit have a race up a long hill for a few miles, well i do well enough up the hill then everyone waits on the last up the hill then theres another sprint along a straight for a few miles.

You do know it's illegal to race on the roads and we wonder why we get such a bad press, group of cyclists all over the road thinking they are Chris Froome, then they mouth off at people in cars who think they are Lewis Hamilton.

 

[simonali]

What does Chris Froome race on then?

 

[Deleted member 26715]

What does Chris Froome race on then?

Closed roads.

 

[Hacienda71]

It is not illegal to race on open public roads if the course complies with guidelines and the local authority and police are made aware. Most of the UK tt'ing and racing scene would die if races had to be on closed roads. Just saying like.....

 

[davidphilips]

Wish i had not used the word race and used sprint instead, but think i will compromise and if any one passes me when cycling they are racing and its a no no, if i pass any one then i am sprinting and thats great.

si-c You may have nailed it, looks like perhaps my power outputs not as good as it could be, any way long as everyone enjoys cycling and has fun, ttfn and have a great weekend everyone.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Mod note:
a few posts are going to be deleted forthwith.
Some rude, some OT, some quoting the deleted posts.
Please be nice, if you can't be nice be silent

 

[cyberknight]

Maybe you're just a climbing whippet......

Indeed
Ride mate flies up hills but sits on my wheel on the flat , i can drop him on short sharp stuff but if its a long climb he just leaves me .He is the same height but weighs about 4 kg less.