Originally Posted by
Jancouver
I hear you and thanks for the encouragement. Just want to say that I hear that a lot and I do see heavier guys around doing well. That being said, and I'm not trying to whine but I think there is a big difference between somebody 6 feet tall with big muscles being 185lb versus fairly lean 6'5" 185lb carrying the same weight but mostly bigger bones and more body mass and less muscles. You may not believe it but I truly think there is a big difference even though we may weight the same.
There is clearly a difference, and recognizing it isn't whining unless you use it as an excuse. I'm 6'6" and 190. I may not look like Vansummeren, but if I did, I'd probably no longer be married. 190 is about as far down as I can take it and maintain personal life balance. 188 was my racing weight until I built up more muscle mass; now it's 190. Above that, and I feel heavy. Below that, and people start trying to hospitalize me. But in any event, at 190#, I wouldn't consider myself a power guy. When I tell people I'm not a climber, they say "well you sure look like one", and at this weight, when in the right form, I can hold my own more on the climbs than the pack sprints. But against the 150# guys? Phhhhttttt. And I actually have a teammate, my height, who weighs in the 160's when he is at "Gila Weight". My nickname for him is Skeletor. He usually out climbs me, and I'm usually faster on the flats and accelerations.