I hear what you're saying don't worry I know it's ambitious, but I'm talking about over the next year that would be my goal. I'm extremely dedicated and I always ride hard (to the point where I'm close to fainting), and my legs are the only muscle I really push hard so I reckon that's where most of the new mass would go. My body fat % is under 8% but I'm going to aim for 4,000 calories a day, and try to convert as much of that into muscle as possible. My main point being that more muscle might not make me better in W/kg but it will improve my endurance and that's what I'm going for, I want to go for a century by the end of April.
Triban 520: Update :)
- Thread starter dude7691
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bikingdad90
Guru
mattobrien
Guru
- Location
- Sunny Suffolk
Just a good reference point for me to see my improvements
As the number is a guess then it isn’t a good measure for your improvements. You’d be better off doing the same 20 mile route once a week and seeing how your time gets better over the next six months.
Being a relatively well trained cyclist I can see that it is very likely your estimates are wrong, so any assumption about development using the wrong starting point is going to be wrong too.
I’m not wanting to dampen your spirits, but there is absolutely no point in talking power unless you are measuring it with a power meter.
Also, I don’t think adding 20 kgs of muscle will help your endurance. Unless you’re a sprinter then the extra weight is just going to slow you down.
Good luck in your endeavours and do keep us posted on progress.
Racing roadkill
Guru
You’d be amazed how far out estimated power can be, using things such as Strava. I’ve just invested in these
The estimates, versus reality are usually hilarious.
The estimates, versus reality are usually hilarious.
I use my trip computer to record my averages over different sections and on the last hill of 13% for 0.7 miles I was able to average 7mph over the section I've linked below, and I've run that through 3 different power calculators just on the internet and they're all showing between 295-305W which works out to approx 5.8W/kg just for that one section, which sounds about right to me considering I see many cyclists on that same hill as me and they're stopped and/or walking because it's just too much to get up with the awful surface (it is in disrepair now vs the google maps images). This is the road I'm on about: (from where I linked keep going up the hill to the junction that goes onto the A40)
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.817...4!1sTbJAjIdRROzEmLVY4s78dg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
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They are lush
Can you let me know how far out your estimates were? Just interested, are the estimates biased too negatively or positively?I agree there is very likely a discrepancy as estimates only go so far yeah, I might go to a gym and try to get some figures there on a trainer.
I know thank you
I just like to get a rough idea even if it's off by a fair bit just gives me a rough figure at least. Fair enough, I don't know a lot about how muscles work and stuff like that I just thought surely having more muscle would allow the lactic acid to be spread out over a larger area or something and thus increase your ability to respire aerobically for a bit longer at least, but not really sure. Might be worth speaking to a personal trainer to figure out what's best to do
mattobrien
Guru
- Location
- Sunny Suffolk
Speak to a cycling coach and not a personal trainer. I can let you have the details of mine if you like.I agree there is very likely a discrepancy as estimates only go so far yeah, I might go to a gym and try to get some figures there on a trainer.
I know thank you
Fair enough, I don't know a lot about how muscles work and stuff like that I just thought surely having more muscle would allow the lactic acid to be spread out over a larger area or something and thus increase your ability to respire aerobically for a bit longer at least, but not really sure. Might be worth speaking to a personal trainer to figure out what's best to do
Racing roadkill
Guru
Strava was 60-75% low.They are lush
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
No power meters just this calculator
https://www.omnicalculator.com/sports/cycling-wattage
The calculator is rubbish I'm afraid. If generating 2.5w/kg, you'd be doing a far quicker ride. 7 plus w/kg is loads.
mattobrien
Guru
- Location
- Sunny Suffolk
Ajax Bay
Guru
- Location
- East Devon
As I said earlier: data error.
The Pembrokeshire climb (which I've ridden en route from Newport to Saundersfoot) rises from 21m to 98m (77m climb) over a distance of 1.6km (one mile) so an average gradient of less than 5%. Pump those data into your chosen 'power calculators' and get a more realistic guesstimate.
As others have said, though, you're getting out there and beasting it. Just keep a note of your best times up that and other local hills (the one above Gelli, for example) and that is the best evidence of the rise in your strength and fitness. If you feel the need to compare yourself with others, I understand there is an app called Strava which enables this.
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Thank you
Yes it is, I don't personally use them though as my routes aren't that muddy and I prefer a backpack for the limited weight I have to carry
What was my power?[/QUOTE]
According to that calculator roughly 160W average? That's really impressive just from looking at it, 19mph is really fast. I think this calculator is very poorly done actually looking at it because 19mph on my bike requires a tonne more effort than around 14mph which is where it feels most sustainable. Is elevation the height above sea level or your total altitude gain?
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