"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Signs of fitness

I can guarantee you this: I'll go to the first training race of the year, and everyone will be lamenting how out of shape they are. They'll give me the typical sandbagging lines:
I haven't been training much.
I was sick for most of the winter.
I didn't start riding until March.
I've been working 80-hour weeks.
Yet, we can look at a Roadie and tell whether they're fit or not.

Here are some examples:
Tan lines on their face. ---> They spent a month in Florida.
They're thin. ---> Like we're not going to notice that?

My all time favorite telltale sign is to look at the skin over their Vastus Medialis muscle. If it's loose and kind of drooping down, then you KNOW they've been riding a lot.

What signs do YOU look for when trying to OUT a sandbagger?

Some guys try to hide the Thin thing w sloppy fitting jerseys. One notable sign of a lot of early season miles in a cold climate is a persistent cough.

i'm not up to speed on muscles. what muscle is that?

The extra knee cap

Signs that person X is going to generally kick your ass:
Shows up wearing only shorts and short sleeves in 30 degree weather.
Dirty bike, clean chain and wheels.
Raccoon tan (hard to see).

My all time favorite telltale sign is to look at the skin over their Vastus Medialis muscle. If it's loose and kind of drooping down, then you KNOW they've been riding a lot.


Why is this the case?

I love the... oh I have not done that many base miles this winter...

Over time, the pedalling motion will stretch the skin over the vastus medialis. It's the muscle that's above the kneecap and slightly inside.
If given time to, the skin will return to its normal position, but someone who rides a lot will flex it a lot and often giving it no time to recover. Therefore, it droops. Not a lot, but enough to notice.

You may not see it in your own legs, but you will in most pro riders.

How many guys are standing in front of a mirror now, checking out their knee caps?

And not liking the result.

Looks at mirror = disapointment... :cry:

Event,

Problem with the whole kneecap thing is I need to be in front of those guys to see them, is there something I can see from the back? ;)

Event,

Problem with the whole kneecap thing is I need to be in front of those guys to see them, is there something I can see from the back? ;)


Actually I think that is a sign it's self. :)

Good point, but ive always been a bit of a wheel sucker, so my perspective is a bit different than most. :D

You're in luck. You can really only see it when they're standing up.

So when they're standing in line at the registration table, you quickly sneak a look and assess your chances of kicking their butt on the bike.

the best way to tell whether they are in shape or not is to see who is finishes on the podium :)

So when they're standing in line at the registration table, you quickly sneak a look and assess your chances of kicking their butt on the bike.
So you don't think it'll look a bit weird, me sitting under the registration table checking knees??? :rolleyes:

the best way to tell whether they are in shape or not is to see who is finishes on the podium :).....................................assuming you're back in time for the presentation.

Over time, the pedalling motion will stretch the skin over the vastus medialis. It's the muscle that's above the kneecap and slightly inside.
If given time to, the skin will return to its normal position, but someone who rides a lot will flex it a lot and often giving it no time to recover. Therefore, it droops. Not a lot, but enough to notice.

You may not see it in your own legs, but you will in most pro riders.

I finally took the time to look at my legs this morning, and I have that the droopy skin there, funny thing is I always thought that was a sign that I wasn't riding enough...

Last year as I was preparing to race my first ever crit, my buddy who talked me into it was giving some pointers at the start line. He pointed to one guy who had ripped calves (http://www.rad.washington.edu/atlas2/soleus.html) and a big butt (http://www.rad.washington.edu/atlas2/gluteusmaximus.html) and said, "I'd try to stay on that guy's wheel." He pointed at another guy who was wearing cutoff cords with long-johns underneath: "I'd stay the hell away from that guy."

Good advice on both counts.




[edited for anatomical accuracy]

by the leg thing, you mean like on this dude in the middle there, on his left leg?

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/photos/races04/flanders/fln04-podiolegs.jpg

My all time favorite telltale sign is to look at the skin over their Vastus Medialis muscle. If it's loose and kind of drooping down, then you KNOW they've been riding a lot.

What signs do YOU look for when trying to OUT a sandbagger?

What's the deal with the VM skin sag? I notice that mine does (I ride a minimum of 5 days a week and sometimes all 7) - why the skin sag?

Skin stretches.
If you take enough time off, it'll return to it's original form.

Don't let that happen. You'll look like normal people. Boring.

I guess I should qualify my position. It may not appear on everyone. I'm sure body type has something to do with it...as evidenced by the picture supplied by Phatman.

by the leg thing, you mean like on this dude in the middle there, on his left leg?

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/photos/races04/flanders/fln04-podiolegs.jpg


Exactley thats what boosts my self asteem when i look down and you can see the outline of my quads sticking out makes me happy :)

Skin stretches.
If you take enough time off, it'll return to it's original form.

Don't let that happen. You'll look like normal people. Boring.

I guess I should qualify my position. It may not appear on everyone. I'm sure body type has something to do with it...as evidenced by the picture supplied by Phatman.

I was curious, because I don't like the look. Didn't know it was from cycling and perhaps years of doing 20 repetiton squats (the most painful exercise I know). Damn sure not going to quit to see if it disappears! :D

What about droopy skin in other places. At 63 I've got plenty of it. Does that mean I should be looking at 'The Tour' this year? :D

Um, I don't see why not. Except that maybe we waited too long. We should have made this discovery in October to give you time to get on a team.