Grant / All:
That's a nifty diagram/chart.
Was it taken on a stationary machine?
Then it wouldn't be accurate as to actual riding simulation.
The upstroke power assist as it were is really only used for more maximal
efforts such as sprinting, out of corner accelerations, jumping, closing
gaps, powering to crest of hill, sarting from standing start and other like
situations.
The word souplesse is really more concept/picture/and technique, etc.
combined.
Like the word is worth a thousand pictures.
All the points on the push /pull pedallling are good and lifting leg up and
out of the "way" are accurate.in respect to the stroke and smoothness.
However, unless you practice and develop your pulling back and up
technique(s) the desired result won't be there for you when next to the guy
who has.
That's when pushing only isn't quite enough to succeed.
All of the body and balance are best mastered so when starting out or when
in motion you can utilize all muscle packages, tendons, ligaments, etc., in
unison so that control over bike and speed is combined and maintained to
achieve the desired result.
Pushing is one thing, but not enough unless combined with uplift and pull up
depending on the riding situation.
Chipollini, Van Looy, Harris, Major Taylor, are examples of the total circle
technique when needed.
What many riders have/ had was a "double" jump.
When wound out ? almost during the effort, then another "kick" for final
acceleration propels you forward. With a road bike you might be able to
shift up a cog and lunge on pedals for this effect, but the simutaneous pull
will really make it work.
On a fixed gear during the effort, a"snap" of the ankles both up and down
will give you that "extra" jump before the line to win.
But it has to be practiced, in the gym and on bike to be effective.
This double kick and snap is only mastered when circular motion pedalling is
trained in first.
Speed and pedal motion are the hardest to get in cycling.
Power is easier.
The trick is to develop speed first and then add and increase power while
trying to maintain as much speed as possible with your pedal motion.
All these guys that "spin out" in 53x12 at 30 mph are totally unskilled.
They would be going 50 - 60 MPH in that ratio.
Their eyes glaze over and they start listing like The Tower of Pisa when I
suggest that to them.
A little smelling salt brings them around and then as we're sitting in a
relaxed atmosphere we start them in the proper drill/direction.
So, none of us is all wrong or right, but we have to see the whole picture
to put the mosaic in place fitting these pieces together.
Ted Ernst
Palos Verdes Estates
CA USA
>
> Here's a nice chart of the muscles recruited for the different phases of
> the stroke.
>
> http://53x11.com/
>
> It's pretty clear where the power comes from. I've always been a
> proponent of the
> "get the other leg out of the way theory" but not so much the "pull up"
> contributing
> any real power. BiciSport magazine published stress gauge maps of most
> of the
> top Italian pro riders a few years back. There wasn't a single rider who
> generated
> a single watt of "upstroke". The best riders started the down pressure
> early in the
> stroke, and swept back closest to bottom. The rest of the stroke was
> negative
> pressure.... as was already stated, "souplesse" is about timing at high
> cadence.
>
> Grant McLean
> Toronto, Canada
>
>
>
>
> From: "ternst" <ternst1(AT)cox.net>
> Subject: Re: [CR]Re: pedaling circles -- myth
> Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 20:49:07 -0700
>
> Hello to all my leg fetish friends!
> I have been enjoying the pedalling posts immensly.
> All the good stuff, not old wive's tales or propellor head knowledge is
> starting to come out, so I won't have to go on an epistle binge.
> For all of you doubtsmyths out three, I'll throw this out that hasn't
> been
> mentioned specifically.
> Put on your clips and straps or off topic silenced click ins.
> If you don't ride with these it won't work, and doesn't make any diff,
> because it's like comparing apples and oranges.
> If you think pedalling circles and up pull has no effect? Guess again.
> Here's the drill to show you how out of reality your reasoning is.
> Get on your bikes, get into pedals, note I said into, not on.
> Find a nice level stretch over say a half mile long.
> Now start pedalling and NO DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON PEDALS WHATSOEVER!
> ONLY PULL UP!!
> After a few blocks of riding in a regular ratio/gear say 72/82" what do
> your
> leg muscles tell you?
> Now you will begin to find out what the riders mean by pedalling round
> and
> from hip circles (bonus tip) and what kind of cycling condition you have
> and
> how complete you are.
> If it's of no interest to you to improve yourslves and get better, then
> please don't comment on the heart of serious cycling techniques that have
> been proven by over a hundred years of riding experience and passed along
> for generations by the best coaches.
> It's great to honor Merckx, Coppi, Herse, Masi, Hinault, etc., but if you
> are restoring their bikes to a gnat's ass, it might be nice to try to
> ride
> them with the same degree of efficiency and expertise even though not as
> fast.
> It's the least we can do to honor their memories.
> It just won't do old chaps, to look like a super pro and ride like a
> dillitant.
> Ted Ernst
> Palos Verdes Estates
> CA USA