JP's Corner
J.P. is the author of Tour Fever published by Penguin. It can be found at Amazon, Powells, and a host of other retailers both brick-and-mortar and on-line.
The right music makes you faster
At least that’s what research seems to indicate.
well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/25/phys-ed-does-music-make-you-exercise-harder/
Aug 30, 10 | 9:13 am by JP Partland #
Some water bottle strategies for long road races
If you’re doing a long road race that comprises multiple laps of a course and you have a feeder, make life as easy as you can for that feeder. Be super-nice, make directions as simple as possible, and don’t yell at them. and much more.
One essential thing to do is to write your initials on the neck of every bottle you start with and give them. That way they know yours and know what to give you and also know what to look for after you’ve tossed the bottle either at their feet or just past them. And it’s even better to have matching bottles. That way they know what design to look for and you’ve made it much easier for them to recover your bottles.
Jun 28, 10 | 7:24 am by JP Partland #
This isn't 'Nam, this is bike racing. There are rules.
I would have kind of liked to wave my piece in the lane during last weekend’s L&C Cup race was a particularly shameful exercise. Just because there was a prime sprint, people attacked through the jogger’s lane. Just because people were boxed in for the finish, people attacked through the jogger’s lane. This isn’t only cheating. It’s endangering other bike racers and other park users and potentially jeopardizing all bike racing in the park. There’s been bike racing in Prospect Park for at least 30 years; it would be nice to see it go on for another 30.
People are going to say that the cheaters are merely passionate about the race. That’s bullshit. Everyone who toes the line is a bike race is passionate about racing. If they’re passionate about the race they either wouldn’t do it, or they’d disqualify themselves. These people are looking for an edge. They’re looking to take advantage of the fact that others aren’t doing the same. They’ll probably blame a few others for cheating as well, as if that justifies their actions. It doesn’t.
Jun 25, 10 | 7:06 pm by JP Partland #
creating a mini-peak
I like this article from Frank Overton on creating a mini-peak for a race that’s only a few weeks away. It’s simple and considering that building big peaks is hard to combine with life, it stikes me as just the right balance.
Jun 03, 10 | 7:27 pm by JP Partland #
A Slurpee for the road?
Take the brain freeze and go. It could make you faster.
www.nytimes.com/2010/04/27/health/nutrition/27best.html?emc=eta1
May 17, 10 | 6:19 am by JP Partland #
Can a doctor help with that ache?
This has long been a concern with athletes. Primary care physicians who know little about sports and the people who play them. Gina Kolata of the NY Times tries to add some knowledge to the subject
www.nytimes.com/2010/04/01/fashion/01best.html?scp=1&sq=gina%20kolata%20see%20the%20doctor&st=cse
May 10, 10 | 4:29 am by JP Partland #
Bike Month in NYC
Transportation Alternatives has a big, busy calendar of events. For racers, every month is bike month, with high season July, as the Tour takes our month. Still, get out and celebrate. Maybe more civilians will start to understand why we ride, and join us. Get your non-riding friends out on a ride.
May 03, 10 | 12:52 pm by JP Partland #
Workplace stress. A limiter?
I don’t know how to measure workplace stress. I don’t think there’s a metric for that yet and there certainly isn’t a work-o-meter to tell you. But it can have an impact on training. I have to believe that a certain amount is good. Too much can be draining. When it becomes too much, only you can know. Maybe cycling is the antidote. Here’s an interesting article that discusses a study where it appears that overstressed workers just wanted to watch tv after work. Too bad they weren’t cyclists.
Apr 26, 10 | 3:20 am by JP Partland #
High Intensity Training works for Sedentary types, what about cyclists?
There’s now research that High Intensity Training (HIT) is more effective as a fitness regime for sedentary types than just exercising at an aerobic pace 30 minutes at a time a few days a week. sportsinjuries.suite101.com/article.cfm/high_intensity_interval_training
Think about it in terms of your cycling. If you want to get a quick fitness boost or maximize the few windows of riding opportunities you have, kill it for those short sessions.
Apr 17, 10 | 4:25 am by JP Partland #
How Heart Rate and Power are different
Here’s a take on the subject from one of the expertiest experts in the field, Allen Lim.
www.saris.com/athletes/PermaLink,guid,5b125d33-e6ce-493e-adb6-c3d0d4b50f4f.aspx
Apr 12, 10 | 4:34 am by JP Partland #