ChainGang 17.03

[quote="-Adam-"]He should be on the correct gears regardless of whether or not he's racing, the rules are there for a reason. Its just like in a gym, a teenager shouldn't be trying to bench press the same weight as a 30 year old beef cake.

[Michelle]

Huw is the Clubs coach, and a Go Ride accreditted coach too. You ought to let him know.

[Antloony]

Oh yeah...forgot about Huw

Thanks Michelle.

[Paul H]

I cant see any harm in Jack using bigger gears for training especialy with all the hills we have here. There,s loads of juniors rowing who are putting far more stress through there knees without any problems. I wouldnt recommend low cadence hill work though.

[-Adam-]

I didn't think you would, somehow.

If you can't race on the big gears, you may as well not train on them either. My coach, and the rest of the management at InGear have a lot of exeperience with youths and juniors, and all agree that the restricted gear thing is definately best, in all circumstances.

[Toks]

So who's the contact with Jack? Common guys we need to take the initiative here other wise he'll be racing for VCL, Dynamos or Norwood Paragon if we're not lucky. We're essentially a club of 30 and 40 something blokes without any Juniors or youth ridetrs so lets get him on board

[quote]If you can't race on the big gears, you may as well not train on them either

[Ben]

I thought he was a member of Sutton but could be wrong.

As for gear restrictions, isn't part of the aim, to encourage good pedaling technique, i.e. smooth & supple first through spinning, then adding power later.
As it's much harder to go the other way round. Though there is a big jump between, juvenile and junior, gear restrictions pretty much a chain ring from memory. Though if you are approaching 16, I'd guess it would make sense to move towards the junior restrictions.

[Antloony]

Toks, its me who's in contact with him.

Ben, he does ride for Sutton I think but he feels he's wasting his time there.

[Andrew G]

Gear restrictions should always be adhered to, they are there to protect while your body is still growing and developing.

Sutton is a good club for young riders but they exist to encourage young riders and get them started. When they get older they are asked to look for another club as Sutton don't have a senior section so Jack is probably feeling as though he may be wasting his time as their attention will be geared towards younger children.

[-Adam-]

Once again Paul I shall bow down to your superior road racing knowledge. I mean its not like 4 fully qualified coaches with probably close to 100 years experience would know what their talking about is it? I guess they must have gotten several riders racing abroad just on pure chance, riders that they have developed since they were around Jack's age.

I'm sure Huw will not advocate Jack riding on a 53/11.

Why do I do it? Because I am a last year espoir, I am not subject to gear restriction. I do it because it increases the strength I have over all gears. It has been very noticable in my ability to handle cross winds, and stay seated on climbs where others are wasting energy out the saddle. But like I say, my coach must know nothing. I mean he's never been in a rowing boat, so why the hell would he know about training cyclists.

[Paul H]

I think it is good training doing big gear work. Its not me who said "If you can't race on the big gears, you may as well not train on them either".

If your coaches can explain why juniors shouldnt use bigger gears on a chaingang to keep up on decents, I am prepared to listen. Making a statement with no justification will always make me ask why.

Successful training is not a dark art and far more simple than people like to make out. If a coach is lucky to get a rider with exceptional talent, it isnt that hard to make them a successful.

Im not pointing the finger at anybody in particular but im cynical of most coaches including rowing and other sports. Look at Brian Ashton, various England football coaches etc. A lot of them have got where they are by following the party line or claiming success for something they had no contribution.

[-Adam-]

My point is, I am eligable to use big gears in a race, and so I train on them also.

I'm sure my coaches could explain a lot to you, Paul, but I think their priorities lie with their riders, and not your good self. It's not rocket science. It's accepted wisdom that over stressing juvenile muscles is damaging in the long term. The no pain no gain school of thought on training many seem to have is total rubbish, I'm sure you can at least agree on that.

You're right, training is not a dark art. As such I am at a loss for words for the totall lack of quality to many riders ''training''.

Generally, in cycling, things are the way they are because over 100 years plus, things have been proven to work.

[Paul H]

Ive googled this and cannot see any evidence supporting over stressing junior muscles. Gear restrictions would not stop this anyway unless juniors are banned from riding up hills as well. Im sure Rugby, Running, Rowing and various other school sports put more strain on muscles.

Gear restrictions would surely affect the performance of certain riders depending on there muscle fibre FT/ST makeup, leg length, size etc which could put them off cycle racing.

Quality means differnt things to different people and I would say things have moved on over 100 years.

[Toks]

[quote="Antloony"]Toks, its me who's in contact with him.

Ben, he does ride for Sutton I think but he feels he's wasting his time there.