BarryJo

I have a pretty good idea of "fat"
Can someone define "fast"?
I'm sure this has been discussed as nauseam in other threads I've passed over, but I always wondered what is "fast"
for a decent Cat 3,
Cat 2,
Pro
I think of fast as Levi's final TT in last years TDF, I think it was like 33mph average.

patentcad

The guy I referenced earlier is an astonishingly good climber too, all things considered.

jaxgtr

Damn that guy legs were always huge and he is a fairly short guy, 5'7 or 5'8

patentcad

I'll be you think that Sandy Koufax fella was a decent pitcher too.

Pablo.

I Google'd "the guy" and found this:

https://www.theguyfromboston.com/

Pharmr

man, I sure hope so.

Wested

Jan Ullrich has extremely strong legs. If you look at his riding style, it's almost the opposite of skinnier guys like Lance, who used their aerobic abilities to pedal at cadences upwards of 120 rpm. You look at Ullrich, he often is in a much more beasty gear, pounding away at lower rpm, but higher torque.

Reynolds 

You can be fat and relatively fast, meaning faster than many skinny guys, but not absolutely fast IMO.

Chuckie

I'm about 30 pounds "fat" overweight right now (5'11", 220), and hopefully I'll be "raining some pain" soon on some skinny guys. Right now, though, I'm just fat.

I think that most fat guys who are fast aren't that way for long, meaning they drop the pounds and get skinny.

patentcad

You're all fat fat fatties.

BarryJo

Man, you really dated yourself with that one. Actually he was before my time, I didn't get into baseball until the mid 70's, Nolan Ryan was one of the best, and if it makes you happy, Tom Seaver (who eventually became a Red Sox I might add) was good too.
Say what you want about Levi, I know everyone thinks he's a sandbagger, but I thought his TT last year was exceptional.

So I know "fat" from looking in the mirror
What is fast?

mr handy

+1

NYJayhawk

Downhill: definitely
Flats: sure
Uphill: probably not

Granted that's a gross generalization. One thing is to figure out your strengths and weaknesses and not only train to improve on them, but also to strategically figure out how to minimize your weaknesses while taking advantages of your strenghts.

For example, if you're a slow climber, try to get to the front of the group before the climb so that you can drop back during the climb without getting dropped. Then make up your lost time on the downhills and flats.

I'm not fat, but at 6'6", 240lbs. I'm not your typical puny cyclist. I can still be coasting out past the bottom of hills and passing littler guys who are already pedaling and still can't keep up because my momentum carries me further after a hill. I've worked my a-- off to become a decent climber, but it'll never be "natural" for me. Meanwhile, long lines of dudes like to get in behind me on descents and flats because of the size of the hole I punch in the air for them.

xfimpg

Fat and Fast?

Yes... but that depends for how long...

Ryleeryno

I'm fat. 180lbs 5'9" and I have yet to ride with someone that can keep up with me (except for Guitar Wizard). Hills, flats, descents, whatever... I have a great cardio base and strong legs.

StephenH

I've never heard of a bike rider packing on a few pounds of blubber so he can go faster. So fast or not, we'd all be faster if we had less fat.

Gibbygoo

without even pedaling

sfcrossrider

Very true... he is FAR from fat.

goalieMN

You can be fat and fast....but not nearly as fast as if you lost the but kept the muscle mass and fitness levels the same.

chinotex

That belly gives me hope.

Terror_in_pink

dude, he's not even that big and definitely not fat.

geez, roadies are worse than adolescents with eating disorders.

shawneebiker

I'm definitely fat and FAST when compared to traditional roadies! 6'2" 205lbs. However, most of my friends outside of biking think I'm slim.

maddyfish

" Can you be fat AND fast?"

Yes. I am considered a good sprinter, and I am 165 pounds. SO yes you can be fat and fast.

ultraman6970

165 pounds is fat?? wow...

mrt10x

5'2"