Originally Posted by
FLvector
I think our only opportunity to stay with any of the pros is if they are doing an easy recovery ride.
There's a direct correlation to the amount of time and effort put into training with your wife, you and the pros, and the speeds each can produce. If you put in the miles that they do and stepped up the training, you'd certainly be faster. It's just a matter of priorities unless there's certain physical/health limitations. Good to hear you're spending some time on the bike with the wife - I do the same.
Good points, but if I may expand on them and emphasize a portion of what you said and draw more attention to it...
Here's the standard BF/Internet bulletin board phrase: if you put in the same mileage the pros do, you'll be able to ride as fast as them. This is not true. If you put in hundreds of slow miles a week, you'll be able to ride hundreds of miles a week,
slowly.
Let's re-phrase that standard BF/Internet saying to: if you put in the
training the pros do, you'd be faster.
That "training" incorporates the speedwork, the strength development, the core-development, the many long hours of base-building, the on-bike skills (balance, knowledge, stress-handling, etc...), and also the many long miles. There is also a genetic component, although I'm convinced it can be overcome, at least in the lower reaches of the pro peloton. One of the most important of factors are the many years of riding and racing they have completed by the time they reach the professional ranks.
However, even with those years on the bike, they're nothing without the other factors. I know many cyclists who have been riding for 20-30 years, yet can't hold a candle to pro speeds. It's the training that makes the difference.
Anyway, pet peave of mine so had to say something.
