Track Cycling - Anyone Here Train On a Road-Bike

Or can you get away with training/riding streets with your fixed/singlespeed all the time?

Right now I have a dilemma; I want to race track, I want to ride track, but I'm currently obsessed with building a road bike with Dura-Ace 7400 parts I have collected over the years (just got the pedals yesterday!) but I'm having second thoughts. I can't build both bikes...Well actually I can but it would cost a lot of money. :p

So, I was thinking of grabbing a Euro-Asia "Godzilla" frame (their upgraded bareknuckle made in Japan that is better made with better materials). I can still use my Dura-Ace parts (crank, pedal, stem, post and I'll get hubs).

Any opinions?

I'd think that unless one lived next to a velodrome and had unlimited access to the facility, a track racer would need to spend some time training on a road bike.

I sort of have the opposite problem with swimming - I race in open water, and I prefer to swim in open water. But because I don't live in Hawaii, I need to train in a pool 4 days a week.

But then, I'm not exactly sure what your question is. What bike do you have right now?

System Six 4, Sram Rival. The shop said it was the last one off the line for that particular model. The only proof I have is my Cannondale headtube badge is upside down...sort of an homage from the workers or something :p. I've ridden about 30 miles on it and decided I want to ride classic road bikes. Cost me $2,400. I'm in the midst of selling it. I hope to get a bit more of it since it's a 2008 model and the last year they were made before Cannondale replaced it with the bloody "Six".

So I've collected almost all of DA 7400 8 speed and I'm just looking for a frame for it. I desperately want a Bridgestone RB-1, or a Panasonic, since they're Japanese (and so is Shimano...yes I'm one of those people...).

Please don't tell me to keep the Cannondale, I feel like a real ass on it. It's so "fancy" and it's just not me.

I contacted www.yellowjersey.org (http://www.yellowjersey.org) in Madison Wisconsin who has an account with Panasonic and they want $1,800 bucks for a frame!

So I paid a visit to Yojimbo's Garage run by Marcus (great fellow), and he had a Fuji he was dying to get rid of with a 1" threadless stem and a horrible (to me) paintjob. He said he'd give me the frame alone for about $350ish, and with the massive money I saved I could repaint it anyway I want and get a threaded straight fork I wanted.

EDIT: Maybe YellowJersey would consider a trade...

Maybe I'm missing something...whats your question?

ultimately the answer is yes.

You will need a road bike to train on. and no, it doesn't have to be made of unobtanium to be effective for training purposes.

How do you think it will feel to do a 3-5 hour ride on a fixie without the ability to shift for hills and other things, or when you want to do spin work and then mix it up with a little heavy work... you can't do that on a fixie without flipping the wheel during the ride which is a pain in the arse.


Anyway, good luck !

ultimately the answer is yes.

You will need a road bike to train on. and no, it doesn't have to be made of unobtanium to be effective for training purposes.

How do you think it will feel to do a 3-5 hour ride on a fixie without the ability to shift for hills and other things, or when you want to do spin work and then mix it up with a little heavy work... you can't do that on a fixie without flipping the wheel during the ride which is a pain in the arse.


Anyway, good luck !

Sounds good, thanks!

Sounds good, thanks!

my training bike is linked on my signature, a steel frame with shimano 105 / 10 speed =)

Put the miles in on the road bike and use it for hill work. When you get closer to track season, transition to the track bike for intervals in your race-gearing or around it. That's my plan at least.

A road bike is really helpful. On the other hand you could easily get a decent road bike and a raceable track bike if you started caring less about how **** looks and more about how it works. So I guess the question you should be asking yourself is which do you want more, to race well on a track or to have a bike road bike that looks exactly how you want?

ps the 7400 pedals are completely inappropriate for a road bike.

oh **** nevermind you haven't even sold your cdale yet, though I guess you don't ride it anymore? Are you just not riding or do you have a street fixie or something? If you want to race
ditch all your 7400 crap except maybe the pedals,
start actually riding the perfectly fine road bike you have instead buying bike ****,
now that dst is here start going on some group rides,
take your track classes on a rental
buy a reasonably priced track bike and race.

oh **** nevermind you haven't even sold your cdale yet, though I guess you don't ride it anymore? Are you just not riding or do you have a street fixie or something? If you want to race
ditch all your 7400 crap except maybe the pedals,
start actually riding the perfectly fine road bike you have instead buying bike ****,
now that dst is here start going on some group rides,
take your track classes on a rental
buy a reasonably priced track bike and race.

The "crap" has been collected over several years of keeping my eyes open for deals. I enjoy both road/track and I guess my question was, if I wanted to concentrate on track, should I forgo my road bike.

DA 7400 is not crap. I find it immensely easy on the eyes and have been in love with it's aesthetics for a long time; so why do you care that I have them? I'm not allowed to buy pretty things? I mentioned it would be tough building two different bike, but I didn't say it was impossible, just expensive.

Regarding my parfectly good System Six and why I CAN'T ride it, it's because my right knee is broken and I had a seizure in November with leaking spinal fluid after they f'd up the NINE spinal taps they did on me.

I don't want to ride the System Six and risk damaging it and hurting it's resale value; after all I plan to use that money TO BUY A RACEABLE TRACK BIKE. I'm currently getting a really good deal on a 853 Fuji Roubaix Pro frame that I'm going to slap my DA 7400 on.

Seriously Dutret, get a life and stop the running commentary on everyone else's. It's getting old.

DA 7400 is not crap. I find it immensely easy on the eyes and have been in love with it's aesthetics for a long time; so why do you care that I have them? I'm not allowed to buy pretty things? I mentioned it would be tough building two different bike, but I didn't say it was impossible, just expensive.

well if you want to race and are short on money then no you're not allowed to buy pretty things. You should be focusing on riding and what works best(not dt shifters or clip and strap pedals) for the least money(not insisting on tol japanese steel).


Regarding my parfectly good System Six and why I CAN'T ride it, it's because my right knee is broken and I had a seizure in November with leaking spinal fluid after they f'd up the NINE spinal taps they did on me.
I don't want to ride the System Six and risk damaging it and hurting it's resale value; after all I plan to use that money TO BUY A RACEABLE TRACK BIKE. I'm currently getting a really good deal on a 853 Fuji Roubaix Pro frame that I'm going to slap my DA 7400 on.

So which is it? If you're injured that sucks. if you weren't/aren't riding because you were afraid to mess up the pretty new bike you should have just taken it back when you had the chance. Bikes even the elusive '08 system six hardly ever appreciate.

Did it ever occur to you that that the grace period for returning the bike had passed when the injuries happened?

I'm not afraid to "mess up the pretty new bike", I merely only got to ride it less than 50 miles before a friend backed his car into my leg. The bike is very fun to ride, it's fast as hell.

Stop trying to sound like some sort of badass, it's just tacky and useless on the internet. The thing about the internet is you can pretend to be a hardass and get away with it, but it doesn't make you one, k?

Stop belittling people you don't even know; it's uncouth and just plain rude.

Did it ever occur to you that that the grace period for returning the bike had passed when the injuries happened?

except you've been making threads about how you didn't like the way the bike looked, weren't riding it and planning it's replacement since you bought it. Clearly you're the type of person who isn't satisfied with function in a bike(as you've praised the functional qualities of system six and rival) if it's not accompanied with whatever aesthetic you're into this year. God you're ****ing planning on using 7400 pedalsthere aren't many greater example of form over function(except maybe for a track sprinter) currently available to stick on your bike. Are you suffering with cleats on the road or are are you the sneaker on good looking pedal type?

Maybe you'll end up racing but I doubt it, if you really want to and don't want to break the bank get over your late 80s early 90s fetish and ditch the 7400 and the system six frame and use the grand to find a good deal on a al/cf road frame and some intro track bike.

except you've been making threads about how you didn't like the way the bike looked, weren't riding it and planning it's replacement since you bought it. Clearly you're the type of person who isn't satisfied with function in a bike(as you've praised the functional qualities of system six and rival) if it's not accompanied with whatever aesthetic you're into this year. God you're ****ing planning on using 7400 pedalsthere aren't many greater example of form over function(except maybe for a track sprinter) currently available to stick on your bike. Are you suffering with cleats on the road or are are you the sneaker on good looking pedal type?

Maybe you'll end up racing but I doubt it, if you really want to and don't want to break the bank get over your late 80s early 90s fetish and ditch the 7400 and the system six frame and use the grand to find a good deal on a al/cf road frame and some intro track bike.

I haven't been making threads about how I didn't like how the System-Six looked, wtf are you talking about? It's just too much bike for what I want to accomplish with it. The System-Six looks great as far as I'm concerned. Just because I like one look over another doesn't mean I hate the one I don't like.

I'm using the pedals because they come with the 7400 set; just wanted it to be complete, that's all. And I DO care about function; does that forbid me from using parts I find aesthetically pleasing? Need I remind you they're DA parts? Some of the best parts ever made in that era!

I bought the System-Six with the intention of road-racing. I no longer have road-racing ambitions, therefore the high-performance road-bike seems out of place, wouldn't you agree?


Did it ever, at ANY time, to NOT reply to this thread? That maybe it was a waste of time to criticize someone over the internet about their quirks and weird habits?

Dutret, this whole damn website is sick of your crap. Just keep your goddamn mouth shut if you don't have anything constructive to say.

Jesus Christ dutret, take it to a PM.

Back on topic:

You'll probably progress much faster if you have both a road bike and a track bike. Neither has to be great, but they should work well. As already mentioned, it's hard to get enough track time unless you have unlimited access. I get a *lot* of track time, and could get more, but I get a lot out of my road miles, including a lot of riding in mountains.

Nothing wrong with clips and straps on the track-- there are still plenty of people who use them and prefer them. I keep some around because they're really reliable, though I use clipless now.

I'm using the pedals because they come with the 7400 set; just wanted it to be complete, that's all. And I DO care about function; does that forbid me from using parts I find aesthetically pleasing? Need I remind you they're DA parts? Some of the best parts ever made in that era!


Right some of the best parts of the era which are now outdated as ****. The point is that letting "being complete" force you into something that will make the bike significantly less rideable. You didn't answer my question anyway are you using the shimano cleats with the pedals or just sneakers hipster style.

Right some of the best parts of the era which are now outdated as ****. The point is that letting "being complete" force you into something that will make the bike significantly less rideable. You didn't answer my question anyway are you using the shimano cleats with the pedals or just sneakers hipster style.

If the bike's just for training why does it matter whether he uses old Dura-Ace stuff or even a 5 speed freewheel with friction shifters? if he's roadracing you have a point, but he's not, so why not let the guy set up the bike with whatever he wants?

If the bike's just for training why does it matter whether he uses old Dura-Ace stuff or even a 5 speed freewheel with friction shifters? if he's roadracing you have a point, but he's not, so why not let the guy set up the bike with whatever he wants?

because it gets in the way of training. dt shifting sucks on fast group rides or even hard intervals. Unless you can quickly get to a rural area the same goes for tightening and loosening straps and I don't think I even have to explain the problems of 7400s and sneakers. If he had a functioning bike with it it would be a different story but he's selling rival at a loss for some nostalgic ideal. More importantly though it's his general approach to cycling which his posting history clearly shows is more concerned with looks and matching countries than actual riding.

because it gets in the way of training. dt shifting sucks on fast group rides or even hard intervals. Unless you can quickly get to a rural area the same goes for tightening and loosening straps and I don't think I even have to explain the problems of 7400s and sneakers. If he had a functioning bike with it it would be a different story but he's selling rival at a loss for some nostalgic ideal. More importantly though it's his general approach to cycling which his posting history clearly shows is more concerned with looks and matching countries than actual riding.

I am interested in BOTH riding and aesthetics. Imagine that.

Oh, and I'll be riding those clips hipster style until I'm comfortable with them, then use cleats.

The road-biking is purely for pleasure and keeping myself in shape; I'm not doing intervals on this bike I'm making, nor will I be riding with groups (you know people rode in groups with DT shifters before brifters right?). I ride alone at night when cars aren't out to get me and it's quiet.

I'm curious, why have you taken this subject to an almost crusade-like fervor? Does calling people out on the internet actually amuse or please you?

Like I said before, a lot of people are tired of your "You're a loser and I'm better than you for the following reasons..." attitude. It's absolutely unnecessary and you've turned a thread where I was asking for help into a flame-fest, good job.

I can't think of a better example of "if you don't have anything nice to say, STFU".

The road-biking is purely for pleasure and keeping myself in shape; I'm not doing intervals on this bike I'm making, nor will I be riding with groups (you know people rode in groups with DT shifters before brifters right?).

You asked about a road bike to train for the track on. That means a bike for intervals and group rides. Assuming you have no pack riding experience group rides are by far the fastest way to become a safe and effective track racer. Yeah you can do them with dt shifters, even clips and cleats though you'll be getting in peoples way, but they just make everything harder/more dangerous especially for someone who hasn't been using them since before you were born.

Right some of the best parts of the era which are now outdated as ****.

Meh. Track stuff just doesn't change that fast and it's entirely possible to do just fine on 20 year old equipment. It's the motor. Downtube shifters? People used them for thousands of years before STI was invented, and did pack rides on them just fine. Even crits. Is STI nice? Sure. Can you live without it? Absolutely.

And don't knock the hipster kids so much- there's a lot of them (at least around here), they're already into riding track bikes, and it's often easier to nudge them into racing on the track (and staying on the track) than it is to convert experienced roadies. Some of them even get pretty good at it.

And learning to ride at the local track will make him a better pack rider faster than riding group road rides will make him a better track rider. Way more people paying attention and correcting mistakes than on most group rides.

Meh. Track stuff just doesn't change that fast and it's entirely possible to do just fine on 20 year old equipment. It's the motor. Downtube shifters? People used them for thousands of years before STI was invented, and did pack rides on them just fine. Even crits. Is STI nice? Sure. Can you live without it? Absolutely.
Of course people did but hardly any still do. If all he had was old da I'd be telling him to ride the **** out of it. However he already has a perfectly nice rival group that will suit his stated purpose much better. When was the last time you saw someone with slotted cleats off the track? I don't think you could even do most group rides with them without hanging off the back or getting in everyones way.


And don't knock the hipster kids so much- there's a lot of them (at least around here), they're already into riding track bikes, and it's often easier to nudge them into racing on the track (and staying on the track) than it is to convert experienced roadies. Some of them even get pretty good at it.
I'm not knocking all of them just some of the stupid **** they do like pd7400s and sneakers. In general the number of them that actually keep racing beyond the beginner classes seems pretty small and those that do tend not to be so obsessed with how a bike looks to neglect any care for it's function.



And learning to ride at the local track will make him a better pack rider faster than riding group road rides will make him a better track rider. Way more people paying attention and correcting mistakes than on most group rides.

I couldn't disagree more. On the track you're stuck with the other c's or d's who themselves aren't comfortable on the track and won't ride close to each other. Further total time actually riding shoulder to shoulder is limited to at most an hour a week. Group rides are longer and you will be surrounded by more experienced riders.

I couldn't disagree more. On the track you're stuck with the other c's or d's who themselves aren't comfortable on the track and won't ride close to each other. Further total time actually riding shoulder to shoulder is limited to at most an hour a week. Group rides are longer and you will be surrounded by more experienced riders.

you're at the wrong track then...

I see a lot of experienced roadies who are uncomfortable when they get on the track, but people who come out and spend time on the track come back and talk about how much the track improved their road riding.

And I occasionally see people with slotted cleats away from the track, including the odd elite rider. Anybody with a moderate amount of experience on them should be able to use them in a group ride on the road without any trouble.

And the 7400s and sneakers thing? So what. He'll figure it out really quick that he wants real bike shoes if he spends any time out on the track. We get lots of people who show up their first few times in sneakers, and then if they keep coming back they get better shoes and or pedals. If you spend any time over at fixedgearfever, there are quite a few people still using 7400s and other slotted systems.

You really don't need to have such a bad attitude towards new riders.

you're at the wrong track then...

I see a lot of experienced roadies who are uncomfortable when they get on the track, but people who come out and spend time on the track come back and talk about how much the track improved their road riding.


And I occasionally see people with slotted cleats away from the track, including the odd elite rider. Anybody with a moderate amount of experience on them should be able to use them in a group ride on the road without any trouble.

Maybe someone who can hold their line while reaching down and cinching or loosening the strap. In a group of clipless riders someone who has trouble clipping in gets in peoples way do you really think someone lacking both riding and strap ability won't?


And the 7400s and sneakers thing? So what. He'll figure it out really quick that he wants real bike shoes if he spends any time out on the track. We get lots of people who show up their first few times in sneakers, and then if they keep coming back they get better shoes and or pedals. If you spend any time over at fixedgearfever, there are quite a few people still using 7400s and other slotted systems.

Yeah I've seen plenty of people come with sneakers. They weren't people who abandoned clipless cause it didn't fit their aesthetic.


You really don't need to have such a bad attitude towards new riders.

There is a difference between new riders and new tadashis. He came looking for advice because he was worried about spending too much of his parents money. The best advice is that if he wants to race track he should forget the vanity project, sell most of what he has and build a rival bike with a cheap frame and find a moderately priced used track bike.

Maybe someone who can hold their line while reaching down and cinching or loosening the strap. In a group of clipless riders someone who has trouble clipping in gets in peoples way do you really think someone lacking both riding and strap ability won't?


And you don't think he can learn? I see a lot of hipsters with *way* better low speed skills than a lot of experienced road and track racers. A lot of them can't hold a line at speed, but they do tend to learn.



Yeah I've seen plenty of people come with sneakers. They weren't people who abandoned clipless cause it didn't fit their aesthetic.


Again, so what. If its enough to get started and see if he wants to stick with it, then good. If not, he'll get bored and go away. You really don't need to put on the attitude when responding- it perpetuates the track snob perception that isn't doing anything to help grow the sport.




There is a difference between new riders and new tadashis. He came looking for advice because he was worried about spending too much of his parents money. The best advice is that if he wants to race track he should forget the vanity project, sell most of what he has and build a rival bike with a cheap frame and find a moderately priced used track bike.

Again, SFW. He's interested in what it takes to become a better track rider. Maybe he'll do it, maybe he won't, but the responses you gave are likely to turn off other lurkers who might also be interested in becoming track riders. And I see plenty of vanity projects among experienced track racers-- they just cost a whole lot more and don't do a lot to make their owners any faster. We get all kinds of people who come out to learn to ride the track, sometimes with their fancy street fixed projects that might be totally unsuitable for the track. They tend to get a nice explanation of why they're not going to have a good time with the colored tufos and narrow bars, but the idea is to get them a safe riding experience, not drive them off. LA has *two* very active bbs's for kids who ride street fixed, and they're paying more attention to the track lately and starting to come out and take it seriously. There's a U23 national crit champion who started out in that world...

Maybe you ought to change your sig to "Stay offa my lawn!"

I wasn't riding 7400 pedals for the "aesthetic", I want to ride them because it's part of the 7400 SET. If Look Keo's (Which I have on my Cannondale) were part of 7400, I'd have put them on the bike. Has nothing to do with looks of the pedals.

Do you people actually read threads before clicking "reply with quote"?

It has to do with the look of the cranks! They're gorgeous! But seriously, 7400 was like the last hurrah of the DT shifters run in cycling history and in fact it was optioned with brifters. I liked the black brake blades, I liked that it was Dura-Ace but cheap enough now to be accessible to me.

My only real track interest in TT's. Kilo's and Pursuits.

Anyway, you guys can keep fighting, I'm going to hit the Mech forum to see if my dual material System-Six frame can be painted in some other way than powdercoating (oven heat out of the question). I thought of this just last night: paint the frame completely black, go silver everything else, and have that small old school roundish font "cannondale" on the top tube near the headtube and "52" under the downtube on the seattube to make it look old school!

Black frame old school looking, '08 silver Rival parts, silver Thomson post/stem/risers and look Keo's with my Nike vintage cycling shoes I found at a garage sale with "hot yellow" laces (why yes, laces!").

How does that sound dutret?

But zomg, how much weight will automotive paint add! Gah!

And you don't think he can learn? I see a lot of hipsters with *way* better low speed skills than a lot of experienced road and track racers. A lot of them can't hold a line at speed, but they do tend to learn.

Sure he could while getting in everyones way or hanging of the back. What do hipsters riding well at low speed have to do with this anyway? I don't think briareos is a hipster just that he is going to ride with pedals hipster style. Riding with clips and straps if you can't stay out of peoples way is a jackass move if you have clipless. Jackassery should be discouraged.


Again, SFW. He's interested in what it takes to become a better track rider. Maybe he'll do it, maybe he won't, but the responses you gave are likely to turn off other lurkers who might also be interested in becoming track riders. And I see plenty of vanity projects among experienced track racers-- they just cost a whole lot more and don't do a lot to make their owners any faster.

Then why didn't you explain to him what it takes to most efficiently become a better track racer, perhaps more politely then I am inclined to? There are plenty of vanity project bikes and for the most part the track ones aren't that offensive. In this case though we're talking about someone who explicitly mentioned that they were short on money and whose vanity project would not only fail to make them faster but actually make training harder. If he wants to race well and doesn't want to charge up his parents credit cards that much he needs to shift his priorities.


I wasn't riding 7400 pedals for the "aesthetic", I want to ride them because it's part of the 7400 SET. If Look Keo's (Which I have on my Cannondale) were part of 7400, I'd have put them on the bike. Has nothing to do with looks of the pedals.

Aesthetics is more than just looks. Putting something on just because it has the same number is ****ing stupid. Anyway if you really must have all period correct parts try to find some of the 7401 look compatible pedals.

Sure he could while getting in everyones way or hanging of the back. What do hipsters riding well at low speed have to do with this anyway?

Getting into and out of pedals is a low speed skill. As is trackstanding, which eliminates the getting in/out entirely.




Then why didn't you explain to him what it takes to most efficiently become a better track racer, perhaps more politely then I am inclined to? There are plenty of vanity project bikes and for the most part the track ones aren't that offensive. In this case though we're talking about someone who explicitly mentioned that they were short on money and whose vanity project would not only fail to make them faster but actually make training harder.


I answered his question: yes, training on a road bike will help. How he wants to do that is his problem, and he'll figure out for himself what makes sense in his budget (or not).

And I see plenty of outrageously expensive track vanity projects that make no sense at all. I have friends who ride some of them. Road projects, too. SoCal might be the center of vanity in the universe, and it isn't confined to hollywood. But I really don't care what anybody rides or why, as long as they ride straight.

ultimately the answer is yes.

You will need a road bike to train on. and no, it doesn't have to be made of unobtanium to be effective for training purposes.

How do you think it will feel to do a 3-5 hour ride on a fixie without the ability to shift for hills and other things, or when you want to do spin work and then mix it up with a little heavy work... you can't do that on a fixie without flipping the wheel during the ride which is a pain in the arse.


Anyway, good luck !

1. No point in 3-5 hour rides for trackies, unless you're a Madison or Points Racer, even then...
Sprinters especially probably hardly touch a road bike, unless it's for a recovery ride or weight management. Intervals on a turbo or rollers, or intervals on the road where a fixed would do just as well. Start on a 70" (or lower !) in the off season and build to your race gear as the season approaches

2. I'd argue that fixed wheel for hills is better training for trackies. Over-geared on the way up for strength work, then spin like a loon coming down the other side. After all, how many hills are there on a track*? and no, the banking doesn't count as a hill ;)

1. No point in 3-5 hour rides for trackies, unless you're a Madison or Points Racer, even then...
Sprinters especially probably hardly touch a road bike, unless it's for a recovery ride or weight management. Intervals on a turbo or rollers, or intervals on the road where a fixed would do just as well. Start on a 70" (or lower !) in the off season and build to your race gear as the season approaches

2. I'd argue that fixed wheel for hills is better training for trackies. Over-geared on the way up for strength work, then spin like a loon coming down the other side. After all, how many hills are there on a track*? and no, the banking doesn't count as a hill ;)

1. Huh? Sure it does. Go study your physiology more. Base miles and tempo rides still have their place and adaptive purposes even if intervals are king. All the best mass starters I know also race/train on road. Hell, that Australian track coach's article that everyone always mentions basically says for mass starters / "enduro" guys / non-pure sprinters - go race road to get fast on track. Of course, there's a difference between the road racer that climbs well and fears the group finish with the sprint at the end, and the road racer that can't climb but dusts everyone else in the finishing sprint if it's a group finish, but still...

2. Agreed. Plus you get used to sprinting on the fixed gear which has it's little intricacies and differences to road bike sprinting.



Anyways maybe I'm just biased because points races are my favorite event :)

1. Huh? Sure it does. Go study your physiology more. Base miles and tempo rides still have their place and adaptive purposes even if intervals are king. All the best mass starters I know also race/train on road. Hell, that Australian track coach's article that everyone always mentions basically says for mass starters / "enduro" guys / non-pure sprinters - go race road to get fast on track. Of course, there's a difference between the road racer that climbs well and fears the group finish with the sprint at the end, and the road racer that can't climb but dusts everyone else in the finishing sprint if it's a group finish, but still...


We're both agreed that 3-5 hour long rides are at best pointless, and at worst detrimental for sprinters ?

I still don't get the point of it for enduro riders, especially at amateur level. If your longest race is going to be an hour max, what benefit will a 3-5 hour steady endurance ride give you, apart from weight control ?

We're both agreed that 3-5 hour long rides are at best pointless, and at worst detrimental for sprinters ?

I still don't get the point of it for enduro riders, especially at amateur level. If your longest race is going to be an hour max, what benefit will a 3-5 hour steady endurance ride give you, apart from weight control ?

Yeah I agree mostly useless for sprinters though rumor has it Chris Hoy does some endurance work, i.e. 2-3 hour stuff?

The 3-5 hour stuff helps improve capillary density and recruit slow twitch muscles needed for anything over 2 minute efforts. Also works the aerobic system to work more efficiently. Obviously the primary thing you need is a 'jump' and the ability to hold on through the initial burn in a sprint, but this stuff still helps out. Hell, look at Cavendish. He dominates a sprinter's road race and then kills it on the track...




Two charts basically saying the same thing, but...

ATP-Cr is used for the 15 second all out bursts, glycolytic is used for 2 minute hard efforts, and after that your body shifts to to the aerobic, oxidative system for an energy source. See why it's important to condition that aerobic system? Long rides do just that. I think longer intervals help with that too, like 20 minute TT's repeated a couple times with rest in between.

I don't think Chris Hoy does any road work, gym, track and turbo stuff only apart from recovery

Any evidence for the above ? I Would imagine a ride for 1-2 hours would recruit all the slow twitch muscle your average trackie would need

My regular Sunday ride is around 2.5-3.5 hours, I would never contemplate going over that and my longest race is a 50mile road race. If I was only do track, I'd be doing 2 hours max as my longest ride

The UK track team does a lot of road riding. In fact, last year they did a stage race that included some climbs used in the TDF. Yes, even Hoy did this. Must be something good in it!

Any evidence for the above ? I Would imagine a ride for 1-2 hours would recruit all the slow twitch muscle your average trackie would need

As far as studies? I'll try to search in some sports medicine journals if I can...

The UK track team does a lot of road riding. In fact, last year they did a stage race that included some climbs used in the TDF. Yes, even Hoy did this. Must be something good in it!

Not that I've heard ? Got a link about this ?

I know Hoy did L'etape du tour in 2006, but that was for charity rather than for any training benefit

yeah I'm with you mate, long slow rides make you slow.

all the endurance guys have to do really is train on the road.

I think some of the pure sprinters like riding their road bikes though, so it's just more of a enjoyment thing. Have a chat, catch up and what not.

Not that I've heard ? Got a link about this ?

I know Hoy did L'etape du tour in 2006, but that was for charity rather than for any training benefit

-Ah, that could be it. My mistake then, apologies.