Dave Zabriskie in a TT
Well, since it was a French article, the oxymoronic finding is to be expected allowed. The study was published in the European journal of applied physiology. In a nutshell, they found that you engage different muscle groups when in an aero tuck than when in the normal roadie position or when sitting straight up or climbing out of the saddle.. DUH. Where this actually makes sense is in application: when in a TT/aero position; the push phase of the pedal stroke is emphasized and the pull phase is used much less; whereas in the other positions the rider uses more pull in combination with the push phase.
Mechanically, this translates to the aero position being much less efficient, even if the reduced wind drag produces greater speed. The muscle analysis during the research “found a 14 percent increase in Gluteus maximus activity with more modest gains from the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis (the lower two muscles of the quadriceps).”
From the link at Bicycling.com: The reason behind this increased muscle use, is that cyclists compensate for the lower negative recovery force. “They push more because they pull less.” And the increased muscle use, as compared to other positions, leads to greater fatigue.
Training more often in a TT position, could help your muscles better adapt and crank out a few extra watts. For a little guidance, check out the Fit Chick’s time trial session, or for a TT preparation workout, try Chris Carmichael’s Steady state intervals. And for some pedaling tips, read The Perfect Pedal Stroke.
Joey Mantia At SF Inline Marathon
Joey Mantia hawking for the line at the 2006 Worlds. Notice the Italian's hand on Joey's hips.. Yes inline speed skating is agressive!
They also failed to mention that lower back muscles become more fatigued when trying the TT position for the first time. What I find interesting is the gluteus maximus part. I come from speedskating and most speedskaters have big butts. I’ve found that most of the speedskater friends that I have that have either cross-trained or converted altogether to cycling tend to be power cyclists as opposed to spinners a la Lance Armstrong. We also tend to ride lower for longer than most other cyclists thanks to our strong lower backs. I had only been riding for a couple of months and most of the riders around me could not understand how someone who had such little milage could stay as low for as long as I did. I wasn’t necessarily in a TT position, but I was definitely proportionately(I’m only 5’5″) lower than everyone else in the pack. This study now lends credibility to the fact why speedskaters that cross over to cycling like being lower when pedaling. Being in that lower position fits the way our muscles have already been trained to work; which is why I think speedskaters tend to make excellent cyclists. We already have the endurance, strength, and drive; all we need is the miles.
Anyone have similar experiences?
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