Brian Baylis wrote: "I think what you are talking about regarding "pulling up" on the pedals is the same thing as what Pergolizzi was calling keeping constant pressure on the pedals."
Jim and Brian, Not exactly; yes, one must learn to keep equal pressure through out the pedaling circle. You should be ticking over like a metronome. "Pulling up", however, is a misnomer. You will have a quite choppy style. Instead, pull back at the bottom of the stroke, as if you were wiping off your shoe. That will carry you through the dead spot. But, what I meant was to be aware of the actual pressure you feel against your feet. If one was to say that 90 rpm (give or take 15 rpm) was the range to be in , then you must adjust your gearing accordingly. If your pressing so hard as to feel a diff. ,then change the gear lower. Just like keeping the tranny of your car in an efficient range. Just aim to be smooth....
Like Johnny Walker Blue John T.Pergolizzi San Diego, Ca.
>>
> -- Cushdelmar@aol.com wrote:
> I've often wondered about this seemingly contradiction. BMX riders who
> are some of the fastest accelerating riders in the world almost all ride
> 175mm cranks. But in the track riders' world, short cranks are the rule.
> Some of us talk about getting on top of a gear but I think it is in our
> minds. When blind folded, riders have no idea about the length of their
> cranks even when they are not the same length. Vic Copeland who holds
> numerous master track records spent part of a season riding with cranks
> that were not the same length. Finally someone spotted it and asked him
> about it. Turned out he didn't know.
>
> I have often ridden fixed gear bikes on the road and they're fun. I doubt
> they help my pedal stroke much. When I'm serious about working on pedal
> stroke, I use my Computrainer and do one legged drills. We all talk about
> pulling up, but no one really exerts any force on the upward part of the
> pedal stroke. The best we can do is get the one leg that is going up out
> of the way of the other leg pushing down.
>
> Jim Cushing-murray
> Del Mar CA