Join Bike Southern Illinois Today for Free!

Join a Community of Beginner to Expert Cyclists in and around Southern Illinois. Find and submit upcoming Organized Bike Rides and Races. Discuss Bikes, Cycling Apparel, and Gear that Fits Your Budget. Better Your Cycling Skills with the Help from Fellow Local Cyclists. Join Bike Southern Illinois Today, it’s Free!

What's your biggest cycling weakness?

Shawn Gossman

Forum Admin
Staff member
Forum Admin
Forum Moderator
Charter Member
Mine is speed.

I need to get faster. I never group ride because I can never keep up with the group. I think I need to focus on getting faster this year.

How about you all?

What's your biggest cycling weakness and do you plan to ever overcome it?
 
If you're worried about speed, definitely just go do some group rides. It will help you get more comfortable at higher speeds for similar efforts.

My biggest weakness is my brain. Haven't found a way around that.
 
Getting faster is a far more complicated question than you think when you are riding with others. Also, your personal physiology plays a large role. For example training apps (I’m using TrainerRoad) classify me as a sprinter. That means I can burst quite large power for not all that long but struggle with near threshold efforts for long periods like fast group rides a bit above my ability.
 
Getting faster is a far more complicated question than you think when you are riding with others. Also, your personal physiology plays a large role. For example training apps (I’m using TrainerRoad) classify me as a sprinter. That means I can burst quite large power for not all that long but struggle with near threshold efforts for long periods like fast group rides a bit above my ability.
That was my power profile for the longest time. Since then I have found that specific effort doesn't do me much good in a race. I focus now on 3-5 min power, and being able to do it all day long. All that being said, yea pushing above where you're capable does require these near threshold efforts. Lot's of time, as long as you can get over the bumps being in the draft will drop the power requirements from threshold to low tempo, hopefully allowing someone to sit in a lot more.
 
You all are getting pretty deep into the speed question. I do not care about speed. Just ruins a good ride. My personal weakness is hills. I live in the prairie lands of Illinois. The biggest hills here are the Highway overpasses! I need to ride more hills and get stronger. Wanna get faster - ride more, Wanna get up hills better - ride more. It ain't rocket surgery! LOL! Get out and enjoy the ride!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rom
You all are getting pretty deep into the speed question. I do not care about speed. Just ruins a good ride. My personal weakness is hills. I live in the prairie lands of Illinois. The biggest hills here are the Highway overpasses! I need to ride more hills and get stronger. Wanna get faster - ride more, Wanna get up hills better - ride more. It ain't rocket surgery! LOL! Get out and enjoy the ride!
For sure Scott! Riding more is always the solution. I also hate going uphill, but there's really no good way to get better, but doing it.
 
Back
Top