Road Bike Racing - Pinotti's TT power

The sharing is sweet, and this time, with WKO+. At 150 lbs (68kg), we're looking at 5.5W/kg with three weeks of Giro in the legs.

(spoilers within)
http://www.velonews.com/article/76960/marco-pinotti-s-perfect-day-and-the-race-data-to-prove-it


http://www.velonews.com/files/images/Pinottiwatts.jpg (http://www.velonews.com/photo/76962)

Those guys are not human...

This may be neither here nor there, but after reading that article where Pinotti talk's about his pacing strategry and seeing how he was able to keep his cadence in such a narrow band that got me thinking about efficiency on the bike.

I don't know how many people watched the final TT, but we had it on at the shop and I happened to walk by the TV when Ricco was riding. Obviously Ricco isn't a TT-specialist per se, but if he hopes to be GT GC-contender he's going to have to be able to TT better than most. What surprised me the most was how absolutely smooth his pedal stroke was on the bike. He looked absolutely fluid. I was amazed. There was no rocking, no slight deviations of the bikes path due to pedal stroke, no upper body movement whatsoever. You'd think that would somehow translate into a better TT performance?

Anyway. Back to Pinotti; he paced without using his SRM. What j00 think about that DrWJOD, waterrockets? :D

I don't know how many people watched the final TT, but we had it on at the shop and I happened to walk by the TV when Ricco was riding. Obviously Ricco isn't a TT-specialist per se, but if he hopes to be GT GC-contender he's going to have to be able to TT better than most. What surprised me the most was how absolutely smooth his pedal stroke was on the bike. He looked absolutely fluid. I was amazed. There was no rocking, no slight deviations of the bikes path due to pedal stroke, no upper body movement whatsoever. You'd think that would somehow translate into a better TT performance?


I kinda hate to reference this book in this regard, but Armstrong mentions this in It's Not About the Bike. He discusses how he would gauge opponents on the bike and refers to his own TT'ing. I forget the details, but he essentially says that when you're on, when you're not tired, you are just pumping and your upper body should be completely solid...still...strokes fluid and uniform.

It's logical really...i actually notice it myself when i'm having a particularly good day. Pump pump pump pump...bike stays the course...nothing else moving. Now if only i could do that fast...

Anyway. Back to Pinotti; he paced without using his SRM. What j00 think about that DrWJOD, waterrockets? :D

Yeah, I try to get into my rhythm without looking at the display, or if I do glance, it's out of curiosity rather than pacing. Once I'm at my pace, I'll glance at it every couple minutes to ground my RPE.

My coach raced in europe for a while and it is crazy how much of a difference there is between him and the local 1/2's... he is absolutely fluid on the bike, no wasted energy in his upper body etc.

I kinda hate to reference this book in this regard, but Armstrong mentions this in It's Not About the Bike. He discusses how he would gauge opponents on the bike and refers to his own TT'ing. I forget the details, but he essentially says that when you're on, when you're not tired, you are just pumping and your upper body should be completely solid...still...strokes fluid and uniform.

It's logical really...i actually notice it myself when i'm having a particularly good day. Pump pump pump pump...bike stays the course...nothing else moving. Now if only i could do that fast...

Except Ricco had 1:53 taken out of him by Contador in the final TT.

This may be neither here nor there, but after reading that article where Pinotti talk's about his pacing strategry and seeing how he was able to keep his cadence in such a narrow band that got me thinking about efficiency on the bike.

I don't know how many people watched the final TT, but we had it on at the shop and I happened to walk by the TV when Ricco was riding. Obviously Ricco isn't a TT-specialist per se, but if he hopes to be GT GC-contender he's going to have to be able to TT better than most. What surprised me the most was how absolutely smooth his pedal stroke was on the bike. He looked absolutely fluid. I was amazed. There was no rocking, no slight deviations of the bikes path due to pedal stroke, no upper body movement whatsoever. You'd think that would somehow translate into a better TT performance?

Anyway. Back to Pinotti; he paced without using his SRM. What j00 think about that DrWJOD, waterrockets? :D

And notice that his power steadily dropped off over the course of the entire TT. Also note that most of the studies indicate the negative splitting to be faster.

So, my opinion? He could have done better if he HAD looked at the SRM for pacing.

This may be neither here nor there, but after reading that article where Pinotti talk's about his pacing strategry and seeing how he was able to keep his cadence in such a narrow band that got me thinking about efficiency on the bike.

I don't know how many people watched the final TT, but we had it on at the shop and I happened to walk by the TV when Ricco was riding. Obviously Ricco isn't a TT-specialist per se, but if he hopes to be GT GC-contender he's going to have to be able to TT better than most. What surprised me the most was how absolutely smooth his pedal stroke was on the bike. He looked absolutely fluid. I was amazed. There was no rocking, no slight deviations of the bikes path due to pedal stroke, no upper body movement whatsoever. You'd think that would somehow translate into a better TT performance?

Anyway. Back to Pinotti; he paced without using his SRM. What j00 think about that DrWJOD, waterrockets? :D

Funny, when they were showing side-by-sides with Contador, I thought it was Contador who looked smooth and in control.

Except Ricco had 1:53 taken out of him by Contador in the final TT.

Just because i can pedal fluidly doesn't mean i can do it quickly

And notice that his power steadily dropped off over the course of the entire TT. Also note that most of the studies indicate the negative splitting to be faster.

So, my opinion? He could have done better if he HAD looked at the SRM for pacing.

Both you and waterrockets must've missed the ---> :D

I was joking, and on top of that I know absolutely nothing about TT'n as I've only competed in one TT.

Both you and waterrockets must've missed the ---> :D

I was joking, and on top of that I know absolutely nothing about TT'n as I've only competed in one TT.

NO you weren't!! Confess, foul TT heretic!

Actually, what is surprising to me is how many pros COULD do more to be faster but don't (speaking in legal terms). You watch the average ProTour TT and it becomes apparent who is paying attention (to the details), and who is just riding some monster (a TT bike) that bears only the slightest resemblance to a bicycle :eek::eek::bike2:

Both you and waterrockets must've missed the ---> :D

I was joking, and on top of that I know absolutely nothing about TT'n as I've only competed in one TT.

Yeah, I'm with you. No offense taken, but it's still an interesting point. Of course, I've never won a TT, unless you count the "most improved" competition.

It's logical really...i actually notice it myself when i'm having a particularly good day. Pump pump pump pump...bike stays the course...nothing else moving. Now if only i could do that fast...

I know what you mean. The stronger I feel, the smoother I am. I'm not necessarily talking about a time trial, since I have extremely limited experience with them. But if I'm feeling powerful, I feel smoother and quieter, whether I'm cruising in the pack at 20 mph or laying down 400 (or whatever) to grab someone's wheel on a hill. Once I'm tired, my body starts to move around a lot more. It would probably be a good idea for most racing cyclists to work on maintaining some semblance of good form when they're really suffering. Not only will it possibly reduce your efficiency to some extent, rocking and rolling is a HUGE sign of vulnerability. Not a problem in a TT, definitely a problem in a mass-start race.