Professional Cycling For the Fans - rest day

So what do they do on rest days? Ride another 100 miles, but over 8-10 hours?

Ride between 1-3 hours. Do lots of interviews, sponsor things, etc. The guys you see getting dropped tomorrow will be the people that stayed in bed all day eating, thinking they are recovering.

Creatre is correct.

GC guys will do 3 hrs for sure, with some hills and/or motorpacing to stay sharp, but not enough to negate finally having some rest.
Nice to stay in the same hotel two nights as well.

Anyone notice Tejay after the rest day last week. First day back he was struggling, but then the following stage, he was floating.
Simply "blocked".
Hope he learned the lesson.

Anyone notice Tejay after the rest day last week. First day back he was struggling, but then the following stage, he was floating.
Simply "blocked".
Hope he learned the lesson.

Yeah I'm hoping this as well. Last year he wasn't fighting for GC so he probably took the rest day off or did a short super easy ride. He probably did that again the first rest day this year and paid for it. Crossing my fingers he's doing something different today.

Anyone notice Tejay after the rest day last week. First day back he was struggling, but then the following stage, he was floating.
Simply "blocked".
Hope he learned the lesson.

Or, more likely, he's just not used to 3 week races (much less standing in the top 10) and will get better in the years ahead.

Give the guy some credit. Do you really think there's ANYTHING you know that he doesn't when it comes to training and riding the TDF?

You think 3 hours is the magical number? At what pace?

Last year he wasn't fighting for GC so he probably took the rest day off or did a short super easy ride. He probably did that again the first rest day this year and paid for it.

You're basing this off what?

Nothing, that's what.

Maybe he did ride 3 hours but needed 4. Or vise versa. Or perhaps his pace was just a tad too fast or slow. We'll never know. Somebody probably knows the answer, but it sure isn't you.

colombo357 - is this the way you always converse?

I'd bet that they also manage to get more massage and this year more medical attention time. And manage to get a bit more refuelled and rehydrated.

When a rest day falls in the pyrennes its a good day for a big spanish steak dinner.

You're basing this off what?

Nothing, that's what.

Maybe he did ride 3 hours but needed 4. Or vise versa. Or perhaps his pace was just a tad too fast or slow. We'll never know. Somebody probably knows the answer, but it sure isn't you.

Dude get the pole out of your arse. I think he has done great, we're not taking the credit away from him, he knows his body best, but he obviously did something wrong the last rest day because he has been great in the tour except that one day. Just some observations. We just want him to do well, so hopefully he figured out what he did wrong, or what caused him to be blocked that day.

Or, more likely, he's just not used to 3 week races (much less standing in the top 10) and will get better in the years ahead.

Give the guy some credit. Do you really think there's ANYTHING you know that he doesn't when it comes to training and riding the TDF?

You think 3 hours is the magical number? At what pace?


You're basing this off what?

Nothing, that's what.

Maybe he did ride 3 hours but needed 4. Or vise versa. Or perhaps his pace was just a tad too fast or slow. We'll never know. Somebody probably knows the answer, but it sure isn't you.


You really ought to chill....

First off, yes there is quite likely a lot that folks on here know (or have) that VanG likely still struggles with. Youthful exuberance can and does cause many talented, intelligent, and well trained riders to make minor mistakes. Learning how to properly rest is something that many competitors only learn with experience and age. Getting the excited body and mind to shutdown is a common struggle for young riders.

Perhaps he is not struggling with this but how is anyone else's "basing" of opinion and theory any less credible than yours? What exactly are you basing YOUR opinion and scolding on?? "Nothing, that's what" right? ;)

When a rest day falls in the pyrennes its a good day for a big spanish steak dinner.

:roflmao2:

You really ought to chill....

First off, yes there is quite likely a lot that folks on here know (or have) that VanG likely still struggles with. Youthful exuberance can and does cause many talented, intelligent, and well trained riders to make minor mistakes. Learning how to properly rest is something that many competitors only learn with experience and age. Getting the excited body and mind to shutdown is a common struggle for young riders.

Perhaps he is not struggling with this but how is anyone else's "basing" of opinion and theory any less credible than yours? What exactly are you basing YOUR opinion and scolding on?? "Nothing, that's what" right? ;)

This is too much... a bunch of club cyclists and possible CAT 4/5 racers critiquing the training and recovery regimen of a top American pro in the TDF.

Please share your expert insight based on the last time you had a rest day following ~1500 miles in 2 weeks at 25mph average.

You must surely realize that in addition to the category of riders you name that other types of riders and coaches post here. Just because a guy has the genes and built the engine doesn't mean he knows how to best use it all the time. Not every guy who pedals a bike on the pro level is a genius, or even listens to his coaches or elders.

Sky did a 2hr ride http://www.teamsky.com/gallery/0,27401,19028_6274344,00.html#photo=9

Bjarne had vegan meals catered for his team!

This is too much... a bunch of club cyclists and possible CAT 4/5 racers critiquing the training and recovery regimen of a top American pro in the TDF.

Please share your expert insight based on the last time you had a rest day following ~1500 miles in 2 weeks at 25mph average.

:rolleyes:

I see that this basic understanding is lost on you and that you are too full of assumptions about OUR knowledge and qualifications to be reasonable. My simple point was and is that the best knowledge and training is no substitute for years of experience. It is not the least bit unusual for young riders to "know better" but still struggle with rest days. Therefore theorizing that this may have played a part is not inappropriate and certainly does not warrant the derision you responded with.

:rolleyes:

I see that this basic understanding is lost on you and that you are too full of assumptions about OUR knowledge and qualifications to be reasonable. My simple point was and is that the best knowledge and training is no substitute for years of experience. It is not the least bit unusual for young riders to "know better" but still struggle with rest days. Therefore theorizing that this may have played a part is not inappropriate and certainly does not warrant the derision you responded with.

Blah blah blah blah....

Tejay has a team. He's not alone doing whatever he wants.

Furthermore, he's ridden 1.5 TDFs at this point in time. That's 1.5 more than you. But hey, I'm sure he can benefit from your DECADES of experience watching the TDF on TV.

:thumb:

You must surely realize that in addition to the category of riders you name that other types of riders and coaches post here. Just because a guy has the genes and built the engine doesn't mean he knows how to best use it all the time. Not every guy who pedals a bike on the pro level is a genius, or even listens to his coaches or elders.

Certainly a valid point, but not the only possible explanation.

My point is that we simply have no idea and need to leave it at that.

My point is that we simply have no idea and need to leave it at that.

If people who had no idea didn't post their opinions anyway then the internet would be empty. Uninformed opionion is what the internet is for.

I understand your point, that people on here don't KNOW what the riders of the TDF are doing or how they should improve, but that shouldn't stop people being able to discuss and give their opinions.

If only people who knew the answer were able to post then this forum would die pretty quickly.

Certainly a valid point, but not the only possible explanation.

My point is that we simply have no idea and need to leave it at that.

Agreed. I have no idea what he did, or what he should do.

If people who had no idea didn't post their opinions anyway then the internet would be empty. Uninformed opionion is what the internet is for.

I understand your point, that people on here don't KNOW what the riders of the TDF are doing or how they should improve, but that shouldn't stop people being able to discuss and give their opinions.

If only people who knew the answer were able to post then this forum would die pretty quickly.

incorrect. have you ever seen how many 'what pedals' threads there are?

Common now. One doesn't have to be an expert with years of experiences and trainings to know, one just needs to sleep at Holiday Inn.

I wonder often if some of you guys are real young or just don't pay attention to how the world actually functions. Folks have been playing monday morning quarterback/barstool DS since long before the interwebs existed. What kind of conversations do you think folks imagine guys are having in bars in Belgium as they watch the races?

I wonder often if some of you guys are real young or just don't pay attention to how the world actually functions. Folks have been playing monday morning quarterback/barstool DS since long before the interwebs existed. What kind of conversations do you think folks imagine guys are having in bars in Belgium as they watch the races?


I don't know but for an outside observer it must be really confusing with 3 different languages being spoken :)

Blah blah blah blah....

Tejay has a team. He's not alone doing whatever he wants.

Furthermore, he's ridden 1.5 TDFs at this point in time. That's 1.5 more than you. But hey, I'm sure he can benefit from your DECADES of experience watching the TDF on TV.

:thumb:

Are you always such an insufferable PITA? So by your logic anyone here who isn't on the team bus or a TDF rider should just STFU and and not converse about anything like this on BF. You do realize that high level performance issues are not isolated to TDF riders and that these ARE common and known issues. So why do you have such a bug up your ass about us chatting about it? Why do you feel the need personally attack others, stifle conversation, and generally be such an ass??

Oh, and FYI just because one has a team and is not "alone doing whatever he wants" does not mean he is immune from the same performance factors that challenge all young riders. So lighten up and you might realize that quite a few of us here have a lot more than just armchair experience to bring to bear.

Are you always such an insufferable PITA? So by your logic anyone here who isn't on the team bus or a TDF rider should just STFU and and not converse about anything like this on BF. You do realize that high level performance issues are not isolated to TDF riders and that these ARE common and known issues. So why do you have such a bug up your ass about us chatting about it? Why do you feel the need personally attack others, stifle conversation, and generally be such an ass??

If you don't like being called out, don't say stupid things, e.g. your being qualified to critique Tejay's training and recovery plan as a result of your "experience" recovering from the occasional century.


So lighten up and you might realize that quite a few of us here have a lot more than just armchair experience to bring to bear.

Doubtful.

If you don't like being called out, don't say stupid things, e.g. your being qualified to critique Tejay's training and recovery plan as a result of your "experience" recovering from the occasional century.

Oh you've got to appreciate the irony of this.

If you don't like being called out, don't say stupid things, e.g. your being qualified to critique Tejay's training and recovery plan as a result of your "experience" recovering from the occasional century.



Doubtful.

I guess I should not be surprised by the forum tough guy responses given your lack of substantive criticism, your simple assumptions, and your generally nasty tenor. Frankly, I have no desire to try and hand hold someone to a basic understanding when from their own posts they quite likely would not know "stupid" if they were staring at it in the mirror.

I will however leave you with a kernel of info to reflect on: one of us works with high level amateur and professional athletes on a regular basis including Olympians. Care to guess? Or, maybe you would rather continue to pretend to know what experience I draw from... ;)

Oh you've got to appreciate the irony of this.

Yup, knee deep in irony and apparently a failure to comprehend that talking about potential causes for performance changes does not constitute "critiquing" a plan. Heaven forbid we discuss performance issues and recovery in a thread about rest days...

Ok so have we determined whose is bigger yet?

Ok so have we determined whose is bigger yet?

Naw, but that wasn't the point either. Hopefully what we have determined is that making assumptions about random people we don't know on an internet forum is generally not a very smart thing to do.

Yup, knee deep in irony and apparently a failure to comprehend that talking about potential causes for performance changes does not constitute "critiquing" a plan. Heaven forbid we discuss performance issues and recovery in a thread about rest days...

Actually, YOU haven't done anything except thump your chest about your "experience". How many of these athletes that you "worked with" were GC contenders in a GT? Yea, zero. That's what I thought.

In any case, tell me you agree with this guy:


The guys you see getting dropped tomorrow will be the people that stayed in bed all day eating, thinking they are recovering.


Last year he wasn't fighting for GC so he probably took the rest day off or did a short super easy ride. He probably did that again the first rest day this year and paid for it.

So... Tejay did poorly after the rest day, not because he's inexperienced and still fine tuning his training and recovery regimen, but because he's an idiot and a slacker?

And Cadel Evans... winner of last year's tour... stayed in bed all day long, EATING, before Stage 16?

Do you guys even read the crap you post?

Actually, YOU haven't done anything except thump your chest about your "experience". How many of these athletes that you "worked with" were GC contenders in a GT? Yea, zero. That's what I thought.


Too lazy to read? Too busy playing forum bully of what is OK to talk about? Too busy making baseless assumptions and generally acting the forum fool? Here, I made it painfully simple for you to see what I ACTUALLY said as opposed to what you INCORRECTLY attributed to me:


You really ought to chill....

First off, yes there is quite likely a lot that folks on here know (or have) that VanG likely still struggles with. Youthful exuberance can and does cause many talented, intelligent, and well trained riders to make minor mistakes. Learning how to properly rest is something that many competitors only learn with experience and age. Getting the excited body and mind to shutdown is a common struggle for young riders.

Perhaps he is not struggling with this but how is anyone else's "basing" of opinion and theory any less credible than yours? What exactly are you basing YOUR opinion and scolding on?? "Nothing, that's what" right? ;)


:rolleyes:

I see that this basic understanding is lost on you and that you are too full of assumptions about OUR knowledge and qualifications to be reasonable. My simple point was and is that the best knowledge and training is no substitute for years of experience. It is not the least bit unusual for young riders to "know better" but still struggle with rest days. Therefore theorizing that this may have played a part is not inappropriate and certainly does not warrant the derision you responded with.


Are you always such an insufferable PITA? So by your logic anyone here who isn't on the team bus or a TDF rider should just STFU and and not converse about anything like this on BF. You do realize that high level performance issues are not isolated to TDF riders and that these ARE common and known issues. So why do you have such a bug up your ass about us chatting about it? Why do you feel the need personally attack others, stifle conversation, and generally be such an ass??

Oh, and FYI just because one has a team and is not "alone doing whatever he wants" does not mean he is immune from the same performance factors that challenge all young riders. So lighten up and you might realize that quite a few of us here have a lot more than just armchair experience to bring to bear.

YOU are the one making a big todo about the "experience" necessary to have a BF discussion of all crazy things. YOU are the one making wild, baseless assumptions about the participants here. YOU are the one bad mouthing others for daring to have a conversation about something as innocuous as rest days. You STILL need to chill and you still are being a complete ass for no apparent reason. All I did was make a case for conversation about rest days without warranting insults from you. Beyond that I provided a taste of my experience and knowledge but only after your MULTIPLE insulting challenges to my credibility. I did no "chest thumping" but I'll happily defend myself from baseless attacks on my character or person. I stand by what I said and as of yet NOT ONCE have you actually addressed my points.....

Yes, I have far better things to do than read the gibberish spewing from your keyboard.

I skimmed your last post. Your quotations/reiterations are pointless, since you never addressed the very important fact that your "experience" differs drastically from those of UCI Protour GT stage racers and their coaches.

Furthermore, I called out Creatre and his woeful posts before you even came into the picture. Despite your massive ego, you don't seem to realize that my initial posts weren't directed at you. However, you decided to play BF police, bragging about your irrelevant credentials. Get over yourself.

Back to the point, anyone with half a brain would understand that it's highly improbable that Tejay sat on his arse during either of the 2 rest days, nor did he go out on an easy joy ride. He just needs to get used to the punishment of 3 week stage races and fine tune his recovery, not only on rest days, but after each stage. I am absolutely dubious that a bunch of internet clowns could even come close to figuring out exactly how his first rest day went wrong.

It's fine to speculate. It's a whole different matter when someone pretty much writes off America's next TDF GC hopeful, and another guy who claims to be an expert supports him.

Yes, I have far better things to do than read the gibberish spewing from your keyboard.

I skimmed your last post. Your quotations/reiterations are pointless, since you never addressed the very important fact that your "experience" differs drastically from those of UCI Protour GT stage racers and their coaches.

Furthermore, I called out Creatre and his woeful posts before you even came into the picture. Despite your massive ego, you don't seem to realize that my initial posts weren't directed at you. However, you decided to play BF police, bragging about your irrelevant credentials. Get over yourself.

Back to the point, anyone with half a brain would understand that it's highly improbable that Tejay sat on his arse during either of the 2 rest days, nor did he go out on an easy joy ride. He just needs to get used to the punishment of 3 week stage races and fine tune his recovery, not only on rest days, but after each stage. I am absolutely dubious that a bunch of internet clowns could even come close to figuring out exactly how his first rest day went wrong.

It's fine to speculate. It's a whole different matter when someone pretty much writes off America's next TDF GC hopeful, and another guy who claims to be an expert supports him.



I honestly don't know how you made the leap all the way over to there.

http://img.timeinc.net/time/daily/2007/0711/evel_knievel_1130.jpg

Yes, I have far better things to do than read the gibberish spewing from your keyboard.

I skimmed your last post. Your quotations/reiterations are pointless, since you never addressed the very important fact that your "experience" differs drastically from those of UCI Protour GT stage racers and their coaches.

Furthermore, I called out Creatre and his woeful posts before you even came into the picture. Despite your massive ego, you don't seem to realize that my initial posts weren't directed at you. However, you decided to play BF police, bragging about your irrelevant credentials. Get over yourself.

Back to the point, anyone with half a brain would understand that it's highly improbable that Tejay sat on his arse during either of the 2 rest days, nor did he go out on an easy joy ride. He just needs to get used to the punishment of 3 week stage races and fine tune his recovery, not only on rest days, but after each stage. I am absolutely dubious that a bunch of internet clowns could even come close to figuring out exactly how his first rest day went wrong.

It's fine to speculate. It's a whole different matter when someone pretty much writes off America's next TDF GC hopeful, and another guy who claims to be an expert supports him.

Meh, at least I:

- actually addressed your posts head on
- did not bully other posters
- did not misrepresent you
- did not rely totally on baseless attacks on character and experience
- did not lie about what was actually said
- did delude myself by thinking only TDF riders (and GC hopefuls specifically) understand matters of top performance in multi day events.

You my combative, insulting BF spinmeister cannot say the same...