Sprinting

[fatbottomedgurl]

Thanks- I figured as much. I think for now tho I need to build up more cardio, then might consider pushing harder. As it is my HR rate gets plenty high just spinning up a hill.

[RoadRaven]

The best way to see sprinting and understand it is to watch the end of a road race...

I'm thinking right now of some of the sprint finishes in the big pro races like the Giro and Tour.

Watch how those guys who are sprint aces sit on someones tail til the last possible minute and then whip out and past, standing at a high cadence and thrash their bikes from side to side... that's sprinting...

Now, how do I do it? Not like that at all - though in my head I imagine I can. Sprinting is my weakest point and I am doing sprint rides as part of my training at the moment. Basically I thrash the pedals as hard as I can (read, at as higher cadence as I can) for 45 seconds and then I recover for about 2 1/2 minutes and then I sprint again. Sometimes now I even manage to stand! Its tough work, but it is maximum power and maximum cadence for a very short burst.

Like I said, watch some race finishes locally, or on telly, and watch how others do it. Remember, sprinting is a short burst, not something you do for ages.