BikeArkansas

Last evening I was on my normal Monday evening ride with guys I ride with quite often. When we turned to ride up a hill that we include every Monday evening I fell in behind a friend that normally rides the hill well. After a couple of switchbacks I felt good and decided to "kick it in" for a while. I passed him so he stayed on my wheel most of the way up. With about 1/3 of a mile to go he fell off. When we gathered at the top he told me it had to be a record time for our group (old guys). I agreed, but had no idea why.

So, what happens that causes a person to feel much better than normal once in a great while? Usually I am riding at 11 of 12 MPH in an easy section of this hill, but last evening I was holding 14 MPH without struggling at all. I gave this instance for comparison. Can a person determine what creates this? At 60 years old I would love to have that power more than once is a great while. I do not know of anything I ate different yesterday. Then how does it happen?

10 Wheels

No sex.

ntime60

Good hydration? What did you eat that day? When did you eat before the ride?

What seems to make a difference for me is eating about 2 hours before I ride and eat a decent meal. Getting hydrated well seems to be the largest benefit I've experienced so far.

Ofcouse could be lack of sex...

Retro Grouch 

Gee, I was thinking the opposite. At least it's worth a try.

Allegheny Jet

Could be due to not riding as much or as hard over the few days prior to your hill ride. In my training every 4th week is a recovery week. During the week following a recovery week I usually have an extra gear or "where did that come from speed" when needed.

NOS88

Perhaps the stars were correctly aligned and you ride fell in the perfect portion of your circadian cycle?

I've had days like this too. They are uplifting and quite satisfying. I guess if they came all the time, they would be the norm and not feel special at all. Glad you had your recent one.

BikeArkansas

As the OP of this thread I would like to add that I reviewed my day before writing. I could not pick anything out that was different. A meal at noon, rode at 5:30. Had a salad.

It would be nice to capture why this happens so it could re recreated at will.

I remember a basketball game back in college that was like this ride. The coach asked me after the game what the story was. As he said, I played the game above the rim. Every jump for a rebound or a shot was exceptional. No idea why. Just wish I could capture it, maybe in a bottle, and save it for later use.

stapfam

The energy has just kicked in from Last Saturdays PIE ride.

Artkansas 

Some days God smiles on yah.

cyclinfool

Probably a bunch of things which all came together at once - a sunami of energy. Too bad you can't bottle it - although lots of sports nutrition companies claim they have.

NoRacer

Tailwind

ntime60

Aren't those moments defined as moments of clarity? A moment in time where everything is right with the world, when we can pretty much excel at whatever we are doing for that moment.

The engineer inside tells me this is just an undocumented process, there is a reason for it, we just haven't the data to prove it.

Tom Bombadil

A can of spinach can do this for you.

Or so I was led to believe as a child.

bcoppola

That happened to me once when I confused the (illicit powdered central nervous system stimulant that begins with "C" censored by the BB) bowl for the sugar bowl while making a cup of coffee.

(I kid.)

Mojo Slim

(weight/power+nutrition)642 X pie - taxes + (1/2 natural wind - "other" wind) + &^%$(*&^% + sex - sex = speed on hill. I think.

lhbernhardt

Racers know that it's possible to induce "peak performances" by following a prescribed training regimen leading up to the event they wish to peak for. Usually this consists of training according to a "fibonacci sequence" of hard days and rest days. (Humanoids respond well to fibonacci sequences, trust me.)

You obviously hit a random peak. Because a fibonacci sequence doesn't at first appear to exhibit a pattern, you wouldn't think anything was out of the ordinary.

Fibonacci sequence = 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34...

Luis

BluesDawg

Don't ask why. Just smile and enjoy the moment.

MinnMan

Can I come have coffee at your house?

arkansasgal

I love it!!

Mojo Slim

Ooops. I made on slight mistake in the above equation. Instead of &^%$(*&^%, it should have been &^%$(*#^%.

martianone

manopause power surge ?

crtreedude 

In sports, there is a term called being in the zone, or there was when I was younger. I do believe it is what you are describing. I find by really watching what I eat I can achieve this pretty frequently. It also is a sign you are getting in pretty good shape.

I don't know if the diet is still out there, but I used to follow it very closely as a way to keep my weight down, it is called "The Zone" and his point is to instead of eating whatever we want, you eat food almost like a prescription, therefore making it easier on your body to maintain sugar levels, etc. It is the best way I have find to feel very good.

Exercise helps in that it helps regulate you as well, once you get through the inertia of starting.

just my dos colones (worth about 1/3 of a penny now...)

Road Fan

I had this happen first several years ago, and a few times this year, on hills. Several years back I took my go fast bike on a 35 mile group ride, one of my first. Mrs RF and I were riding with some friends on a 'bent tandem, and Mrs RF and Mrs Friend traded places so she could sample the stoker life. She's stronger and lighter than Mrs. Friend, so they hauled. So I could talk and hear her reaction, I chased the tandem. 20 minutes of 53/13 and near gears, spinning around 110 most of the time, I stayed mostly abreast and learned a lot. I was amazed!

I started this year with a lot of hill riding, as aggressive as I could manage, after a decent base period. I've had some rabbit-like experiences on some of my local hills (nothing to do with the purported role of sex!). They seem to be more frequent the stronger I get.

I think there is a very real component of Not Knowing What Our Capabilities Are.

Jim from Boston

I follow the Zone diet and find it does put me in the "Zone." The prescription aspect, as I understand and follow it, is to eat carbohydrates and proteins together in a specific proportion, approximately a plateful of carbs with a portion of protein about the size of a deck of playing cards.

There have been plenty of threads about motivation, but I find what helps get me through the inertia of starting is to know that usually after the first few miles, I'll be glad I'm rolling along.

BikeArkansas

I tend to think the "accidental peak performance" is one of the best possabilities. I know a lady that worked very hard to achieve peak performance for a ride. She worked closely with a coach for several weeks to be ready for that one ride. Peak performance can happen, and possbily happened to me by accident.
Just a guess.