pete1234

I am new to road bike racing, I was a junior international athlete (steeplechase) but injury has forced me to stop running. I was just wondering what the ideal build of an endurance cyclist is. I know I am not ideal as i am 197cm and 80kg, but I was just wondering whether it is worth me even trying to get to a decent standard with my build!? I was also wondering whether a Specialized Allez is a decent enough bike to begin training seriously on?

simplyred

CREDIT AGRICOLE
106 - HUSHOVD Thor (NOR)
Born in 18/01/1978 à Grimstad (NOR) (NOR)
Height : 1.83 m
Weight : 81 kg



QUICK STEP - INNERGETIC
131 - BOONEN Tom (BEL)
Born in 15/10/1980 à Mol (BEL)
Height : 1.92 m
Weight : 80 kg



^ Boonen is the 2005 World Champion..
He is 5 cm shorter than you though... it's over for you...

You'll be just fine - but finding a bike may be tricky for 6' 5, some brands don't like tall guys...
Almost any bike you buy from a LBS is just fine for training.

Cheers!
-Peter

geneman

If you're more of a tours versus a one-day race man, the optimal build would be something smaller than either Boonen or Hushovd. Considering most races us amateurs participate in are one-day races, you should be fine.

Keep the body fat down, build the biggest quads you can get, work on your AT and stay away from the hilly stuff. Most of all ... have fun!

Mark

my58vw

200 cm, 170 pounds

Actually ideal is YOUR lightest weight with YOUR highest power rating with YOUR highest AT... even being ideal does not make you a winner BTW!

Keith99

There was a pretty good cyclist who was 1.965 meters tall. Couldn't find a weight, perhaps because that changes over the season.

acathi_cyclist

I have one piece of advice. I'm 6'5" and only five or ten pounds heavier than you. I recently bought a Felt F70, which I might say is a great entry level bike, but it is not stiff enough for me. When frames get above about 61cm they become more flexible due to the long tubing and large triangles. Guys like you and I have to create more power in order to climb hills and accelerate, thus putting a lot more stress on the bike. So my one piece of advice is to test ride any bike that you are considering, and make sure that you take it up a hill or get into a standing sprint, and be sure that it can withstand your weight. The most obvious symptom is when the bottom bracket flexes and the chain rubs against your front derailer, even when it is at the high limit. Sorry for going on for so long, and if I have confused you, but I wish that I had considerd this more. Now I'm looking into buying a Cervelo Soloist, I hear they are rock solid.

DannoXYZ 

Here's one study I've found: IsItBetterToBeLightOrHeavyAsACycling.pdf

However, there's so many variables involved that there's no one "right" answer. The only common theme appears to be you want to have minimal fat on your body with as much and as strong muscles as possible without getting too bulky and heavy.

Specialized Allez is fine, I've had one since '91 and made it to the 1/2/Pro ranks without any problems.

doctorSpoc

The "big boy" in the peleton is Magnus BACKSTEDT... he outweighs you by 10kg/22lbs... very good classics rider (one day races)



Magnus BACKSTEDT
Born : 30/01/1975 in Linköping
Height : 1.93 cm
Weight : 90 kg
Nationality : Sweden

Wins:
2004 : Paris-Roubaix
2003 : Gand-Wevelgem (Pos:12 - Time:18"),Paris-Roubaix (Pos:4 - Time:1'09")
1997 : GP d'Isbergues

my58vw

I weight in at about 98 kg right now and I can be 90kg approximatly. You can only get SO small, don't sweat it...!

lilHinault

Track cyclists can get away with being bigger, so that's an option too, me myself I'm a peewee and looking at the track. It comes down to get out there, have fun, and see what you like and are good at.

pete1234

Thanks a lot for all your advice, you have definitely made me feel a lot better about going for it, I was worried about going down to a cycling club and seeing a load of 5ft blokes!

cosmo_the_third

Rolf Aldag is a pretty big dude, as well. What really matters is Vo2 max and watts at threshold. I'm guessing you'll do fine.

thewalrus

Magnus Backstedt is 6'3" and 205 pounds...

Who are the smallest guys racing in europe? Rasmussen is only 131-132 pounds if I remember right.

ed073

Samuel Damoulin of AG2R was the smallest rider at the Tour. 5 foot 3, I think.

tekhna

I guess aerodynamics are one of the factors that hurt us tall guys. But we do get more leverage.
If I did the calculations right I am 6'4"/193cm and 70.31kg/155 pounds.

ed073

That is BLOODY thin!!!

thewalrus

If you're worried about your height being a problem, maybe you have a future in track cycling! Here's some photos of Ondrej Sosenka. He's the Czech who recently beat the Merckx and Boardman hour records at the Moscow velodrome. He's 6'7":

TheKillerPenguin

That's what I'm thinking.

6'2.5'' 168 lbs and I thought I was thin.

tekhna

I never really feel that thin, I dunno. I'll see if I can dig up a represenative picture, but I eat very well, I lift weights regularly. I eat a very high protein diet. There is no reason I should be so skinny.

tekhna

That is an older picture when I weighed a little more. I think I weighed a little more anyways.

acathi_cyclist

[/QUOTE]

that guy is a monster!!!!

Keith99

Ah, so it is mainly height you are concerned about. The name of the 1.965 M tall cyclist I mentioned earlier is Eddy Merckx. Seems tall guys can do Ok in cycling.

pete1234

Haha! not a bad role model i suppose!

roadwarrior

Hincapie's 6'3' and 175 lbs...

pete1234

seems there is a lot of big guys on the circuit, in tours,1 day events, and on the track. guess the horsepower in your legs is more imortant. Have to build up some beef in my quads, anyone know bout thigh circumferences and what size is big,or whether it doesn't matter!?