Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
As for this now ridiculous debate.......... I really do not understand why it is still going on!
Power output rules, if 2 riders are outputting the same power (constant), all other things being equal, they are going the same speed, therefore they will both get to the top at the same time, regardless of technique. In this respect B'n'Y is correct. This is the physics and it holds true.
However, where I disagree and where I believe the technique aspect comes into it is in allowing you to maintain that power output. If you are very tense, hunched up, weak core, wasting energy, then your requirement's for oxygen will be increased through this additional muscular activity, thus you will either cause an increase your HR which will send you towards the red (especially if your chest is closed up affecting your ability to breath, same as sticking your aero bars too close together or using drops that are too narrow) possibly oxygen debt and cause a drop in power output as the climb goes on, or if already at your limit, will thus end up sharing the precious oxygen your legs need with other parts of your body where is is not necessarily needed during this activity. To some degree the technique comes with fitness (agree with B'n'Y here, I have my own experience to go on and this is my experience), for some people though, they do odd things on the bike even as fitness goes up!
The arms folded thing, well if you want to use this example, the problem is that there is a requirement for some bracing of the bike in order to engage the core, to output the power, leave loose of the bars and power will drop. There will be a point of optimum bracing vs excess clenching. If it were somehow possible to sit upright with your arms relaxed hanging by your sides, yet still have the bike braced in order to engage the core, chances are, you probably could go up the hill faster (as long as the aerodynamic effect's do not cancel out the gain), but that's not how a bike works.
Basically, power rules, you can gain power by being fitter (this will give the largest gains, even if you fatigue and power drop's of, you will still likely be at or above the power output at that point of the climb than you had when you were less fit), or you can maximise the use of your current power producing abilities by adjusting your "technique" to reduce the power drop-of and delay fatigue. The smartest rides will do both to the best of their ability.
As for pacing a hill etc. I wouldn't call that technique, I would call it tactics.
If you want to see big gain's (minutes), suffering is the key, if you want to save a few seconds, by all means look at your technique.
Power output rules, if 2 riders are outputting the same power (constant), all other things being equal, they are going the same speed, therefore they will both get to the top at the same time, regardless of technique. In this respect B'n'Y is correct. This is the physics and it holds true.
However, where I disagree and where I believe the technique aspect comes into it is in allowing you to maintain that power output. If you are very tense, hunched up, weak core, wasting energy, then your requirement's for oxygen will be increased through this additional muscular activity, thus you will either cause an increase your HR which will send you towards the red (especially if your chest is closed up affecting your ability to breath, same as sticking your aero bars too close together or using drops that are too narrow) possibly oxygen debt and cause a drop in power output as the climb goes on, or if already at your limit, will thus end up sharing the precious oxygen your legs need with other parts of your body where is is not necessarily needed during this activity. To some degree the technique comes with fitness (agree with B'n'Y here, I have my own experience to go on and this is my experience), for some people though, they do odd things on the bike even as fitness goes up!
The arms folded thing, well if you want to use this example, the problem is that there is a requirement for some bracing of the bike in order to engage the core, to output the power, leave loose of the bars and power will drop. There will be a point of optimum bracing vs excess clenching. If it were somehow possible to sit upright with your arms relaxed hanging by your sides, yet still have the bike braced in order to engage the core, chances are, you probably could go up the hill faster (as long as the aerodynamic effect's do not cancel out the gain), but that's not how a bike works.
Basically, power rules, you can gain power by being fitter (this will give the largest gains, even if you fatigue and power drop's of, you will still likely be at or above the power output at that point of the climb than you had when you were less fit), or you can maximise the use of your current power producing abilities by adjusting your "technique" to reduce the power drop-of and delay fatigue. The smartest rides will do both to the best of their ability.
As for pacing a hill etc. I wouldn't call that technique, I would call it tactics.
If you want to see big gain's (minutes), suffering is the key, if you want to save a few seconds, by all means look at your technique.
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