Proper sprinting technique?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 190
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Proper sprinting technique?
I ride 48x15/14 clipeless and when I sprint out of the saddle, my rear wheel pops up, sometimes with every pedal rotation. I could sprint in the saddle but I won't accelerate nearly as fast. This isn't a huge problem but I fell like if I knew what I was doing I could go faster and be more efficient.
#2
cxmagazine dot com
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: WI
Posts: 8,269
Bikes: Titus road, Fort CX
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
you should learn to do standing and sitting jumps (sprints out of and in the saddle).
the rear wheel is popping up because you are pulling hard on the upstroke, but have not yet made your opposite pedal stroke efficient.
In short - you need to worry more about form versus speed at this juncture. Picture your EACH of feet making its own perfect fluid circle as it moves through the full pedal stroke. Every stroke. Everytime you pedal.
in time, it will happen without thinking about.
that is pedaling efficiency
the rear wheel is popping up because you are pulling hard on the upstroke, but have not yet made your opposite pedal stroke efficient.
In short - you need to worry more about form versus speed at this juncture. Picture your EACH of feet making its own perfect fluid circle as it moves through the full pedal stroke. Every stroke. Everytime you pedal.
in time, it will happen without thinking about.
that is pedaling efficiency
#4
Bow$$
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Bodymore, Murderland
Posts: 2,013
Bikes: Surly Instigator '02, Schwinn Traveler fixed conversion, '02 Fuji Track
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
might want to look into some ankle weights, and start wearing them on your weaker leg when you're just cruising around your house. your weaker leg will be the one that on the down stroke your wheel begins to hop on.
(sorry if this is written oddly, I'm sick and on cold meds right now...)
(sorry if this is written oddly, I'm sick and on cold meds right now...)
#5
yeahh, becky
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: DC
Posts: 1,395
Bikes: 1990 Kotter Albuch, 2005 Empella Spaar Select Cross, 2007 Ridley Aedon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I agree that it's a pedal stroke issue. Try to borrow someone's rollers. They've done more for my pedal stroke than anything else, because you can see the little band jump around.
#6
Guest
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,242
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Practice one leg riding. I used to do it when I was racing. Also when you sprint try pulling on the bars . Every action and a postive/negative reaction.
watch video of keirin racing, Olympic riders etc.
S/F,
CEYA!
watch video of keirin racing, Olympic riders etc.
S/F,
CEYA!
#7
Dismount Run Remount etc.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Some Latitude and Some Longitude
Posts: 2,235
Bikes: A couple customs and some beaters.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Ceya
Practice one leg riding. I used to do it when I was racing. Also when you sprint try pulling on the bars . Every action and a postive/negative reaction.
watch video of keirin racing, Olympic riders etc.
S/F,
CEYA!
watch video of keirin racing, Olympic riders etc.
S/F,
CEYA!
#9
Dismount Run Remount etc.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Some Latitude and Some Longitude
Posts: 2,235
Bikes: A couple customs and some beaters.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by pat dasein
bikeforums runs ****.
i was so about to buy rollers too.
i was so about to buy rollers too.
#10
Glorified Blender
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Arlington, VA
Posts: 686
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Also, make sure your weight isn't too far forward. Ideally, your back should be horizontal, and the nose of your saddle should be brushing the backs of your thighs. Or so I've heard.
#11
Paste Taster
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 4,392
Bikes: , Jury Bike, Moto Outcast 29, Spicer standard track frame and spicer custom steel sprint frame.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
this will sound weird and I will get flak for it but take a spin biking class learn to properly spin and you will be alot faster and mor efficient on the bike
learn to do 120 in the sadddle concistantly eheh ha
learn to do 120 in the sadddle concistantly eheh ha
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 110
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by 12XU
... Also, to make your sprints more efficient, keep your arms rigid and throw that weight to your feet rather than dissipating it by swaying.
If this is a problem, the long-term solution isn't to eliminate the rocking, but rather to get the timing right so that it adds to the pedal stroke. Watch the bikes of any group of professional pack sprinters accelerating at full throttle; they're certainly not staying upright, and their arms aren't rigid either.
#13
park ranger
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: mars
Posts: 1,794
Bikes: recumbents
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by xsdg
Sure, keeping rigid arms may make a sprint more efficient, but it will also reduce the energy output because you aren't using your arms to help propel you. The bike rocks side-to-side during sprints to move the pedals relative to where the feet would be if they weren't moving. When properly timed, rocking the bike will move the downward-moving pedal up against the foot and the upward-moving pedal down against the opposite foot. Simply put, that means you are adding some force from your arms to the force already being produced by your legs.
If this is a problem, the long-term solution isn't to eliminate the rocking, but rather to get the timing right so that it adds to the pedal stroke. Watch the bikes of any group of professional pack sprinters accelerating at full throttle; they're certainly not staying upright, and their arms aren't rigid either.
If this is a problem, the long-term solution isn't to eliminate the rocking, but rather to get the timing right so that it adds to the pedal stroke. Watch the bikes of any group of professional pack sprinters accelerating at full throttle; they're certainly not staying upright, and their arms aren't rigid either.
i was really drunk one time and was cruising home...i hit a long hill and stood up to climb and my timing was all off with my arms...it was crazy how little power i was actually putting to my rear wheel
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Van BC
Posts: 3,744
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
My instructor at the velodrome told me the stiff armed, no swaying style of sprinting is for track riding, in order to avoid a pedal strike in the banks.
#15
Guest
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,242
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by mander
My instructor at the velodrome told me the stiff armed, no swaying style of sprinting is for track riding, in order to avoid a pedal strike in the banks.
Not only that but you can
1 crash
2 waste alot of energy
3 see 1 and 2
S/F,
CEYA!
#16
elite
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: seattle, wa
Posts: 516
Bikes: track, road, cross, fixie
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by mander
My instructor at the velodrome told me the stiff armed, no swaying style of sprinting is for track riding, in order to avoid a pedal strike in the banks.
if you have an actual track bike with track geometry, try both styles. if you just have a "street" fixie or a conversion, try the road style, or whatever comes more natural to you.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Van BC
Posts: 3,744
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Originally Posted by trackstar10
well...its mainly just a lot more stable, which is very important in track racing. the only way you will strike a pedal on a track bike is if you go down onto the apron in a corner, or are on the banking very very low, and your pedal hits the apron while sprinting road style. stiff armed non swaying style helps you keep your line better, but the swaying road style is just more comfortable and natural, and easier to do on a road bike because of the geometry.
if you have an actual track bike with track geometry, try both styles. if you just have a "street" fixie or a conversion, try the road style, or whatever comes more natural to you.
if you have an actual track bike with track geometry, try both styles. if you just have a "street" fixie or a conversion, try the road style, or whatever comes more natural to you.