Making the work out more enjoyable as you can travel further.Also, it is differnt training. A heavier bike on shorter rides will be a different trainging sessions to a longer ride on a better bike.
Question to people who cycle for fitness
- Thread starter Thursday guy
- Start date
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OP
OP
Thursday guy
Active Member
Fair enough, maybe I should change to 'physical' training, covering anything
OP
OP
Thursday guy
Active Member
haha, noted
In fitness terms only, I would suspect that the aero bike will improve your core significantly more than the commuter. Other than that, it is all down the effort you put in and how long you can last on each bike.
Citius
Guest
There are no 'benefits' to riding a heavier bike. Regardless of the weight of the bike, the rider will pedal it at an optimum rate according to their fitness level.
OP
OP
Thursday guy
Active Member
What's the reason for that do you think?
Citius
Guest
No. I said 'optimum' not 'maximum'. People generally ride at optimum power outputs, not maximum, unless it is absolutely necessary..
Citius
Guest
A drop bar bike will stress different areas of your core than a more upright bike. That's about it.
The position you need to be able to get into and then hold. An aero bike will have you much lower requiring you to either improve your core or take the weight on your hands (not a great idea).
Citius
Guest
If people have differing fitness levels, then they have differing fitness levels. If one rider needs to ride at full CV in order to stay with another rider riding significantly sub threshold, then that is never going to end well. Not sure what you are asking?
Ajax Bay
Guru
- Location
- East Devon
The quote "It never gets easier, you just go faster." (Greg LeMond) could be applied to this (lighter/aero frame versus 'heavier commuter' - but he was referring to being fitter, I think). (To which one could add 'or further'.)
And might I add to @Citius 's one liner above: ". . . according to their fitness level and inclination." I guess you will get some people who enjoy a nice heavy bike and work harder as a result. Also if going out in a group which they think is likely to be on average of lower fitness than they believe themselves to be, a rider might select her/his heavier bike as she/he'll get a good ride (ie plenty of effort) while staying with the group (as opposed to getting cold waiting at the top of each climb).
And might I add to @Citius 's one liner above: ". . . according to their fitness level and inclination." I guess you will get some people who enjoy a nice heavy bike and work harder as a result. Also if going out in a group which they think is likely to be on average of lower fitness than they believe themselves to be, a rider might select her/his heavier bike as she/he'll get a good ride (ie plenty of effort) while staying with the group (as opposed to getting cold waiting at the top of each climb).
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Citius
Guest
Define 'heavier'. Unless the bike is several times the weight of the 'lighter' bike, there will be practically no difference on the flat (thanks to Newton's laws of motion and the conservation of momentum), and only minor, largely undetectable differences when climbing.
Ajax Bay
Guru
- Location
- East Devon
Joining in with your defining spirit, define:
I reckon if I'd had 2% more on the critical climb yesterday morning (club run), I wouldn't have been dropped. (NB I did not 'choose' to ride my heavier bike, btw.)
A bike 2kg heavier would be 2% (ish - please forgive me for not re-examining the formula) harder (power at the same speed) to cycle up a hill.
I reckon if I'd had 2% more on the critical climb yesterday morning (club run), I wouldn't have been dropped. (NB I did not 'choose' to ride my heavier bike, btw.)
Ajax Bay
Guru
- Location
- East Devon
Applaud your bevity @User3094 , but again, what's the question? TT bikes (aero design and aero rider position) are for going as fast as possible on. Full stop.
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
No, not because they're heavier bikes (and I never said it was) but it is good for fitness because even the mighty Vos thinks she'd struggle to keep motivated plugging away with the same bike all year long: "each has different variations of training, different races and different people, so I don’t get bored by doing the same thing. Mixing my disciplines helps me to stay focused the whole year and they help me to become a more complete rider." in a road.cc interview
Except in high winds, you don't enjoy the weight as such, but more that you're not sat on a razor blade exposed to the water, mud and oil due to no mudguards or chainguard and that heavy bikes can have all mod cons like better navigation aids, food and drink set out in front of you, a sound system, hot coffee, heated gloves and overshoes, perpetual lights, a sofa... (and yes, I've seen all those and more... although the sofacycle is getting up there with the pub bike as specialist kit, really).
