Power meters, aerodynamic framesets, deep dish wheels, and carbon everything; cycling is a seemingly endless quest to keep up with technology and the “new cool.” It is very easy to get caught up in the minutiae; watching every ride on the power meter, tracking every gram and chasing any aerodynamic advantage. Yet cycling is more than these things. It is the beauty of finding a new road on a long ride with friends. The thrill of a speedy and serpentine descent. It is discovering the glory of cycling’s history, or learning a new trick from a grizzled veteran.
By Matt McNamara
I would be willing to bet you have a group ride you do regularly. I would also bet that in the group is at least one, and likely more than a few, old school, hard core, rip it up and “git ‘er done” guys. I’m not talking about the up and coming super-talent, nor am I talking about the local pro(s) who can tear your legs off, and do. I’m talking about those guys that have been part of the local scene for years. The guys that can hang on any ride, with anyone. They may pin on a number twice a year, every weekend, or never, but there is no doubt about their talent, skill, and experience. Do you know that guy? You should.
Old school riders like these are stalwarts of every cycling community. They pass on advice, have lots of opinions, and ride with an effortless confidence that is enviable. Old school guys (and gals) grew up riding under a different set of ‘to do’s’ that were born less of hard science and physiology than lore and tradition. Too often we let lore and tradition slip away as we chase science and technology. Well, this week I wanted to revisit some of the old school standards to honor an old school hero.
Stay Right
Ride as far right as possible. That was Andy Hampstens’ advice at a camp one year. He was only a couple of years removed from winning the Tour of Italy and he just didn’t understand why people wanted to ride the white line and take the risk of an errant side swipe. Instead he extolled the virtues of the edge of the road. It’s quieter, safer, and more fun!
Ride with the old school guys enough and you’ll find they tend to err on the side of caution on the open road. They don’t take unnecessary risks. They don’t crash much. It’s a simple question of survival. To survive twenty or thirty years of riding and racing you have to learn patience and common sense.
Train Heavy, Race Light!
This is one of the oldest of old school mantras. I knew I was a ‘real’ racer when I got my first set of race wheels. A sweet set of Mavic GEL280’s to compliment my MA-40’s (yea, it was that long ago). There are few things better than the psychological lift of slipping on a set of ultra-light, scary fast wheels. They should have on a nice set of tires too. Train on the heavy, thorn resistant, 700x25’s. Same goes for the cassette. Why burn through a $250 high-zoot cassette climbing dirt roads?
Climb To Get Fit
If you want to be a stronger, more complete, more competent cyclist – Go Climb! Climbing forces the body to ride at a higher level of focus and intensity. It leads to increased hip strength, a better pedal stroke, and stronger connective tissue. Climbing also leads to descending, which is an all too often neglected part of being a complete cyclist.
Don’t just climb though. Climb remote roads in the middle of nowhere, preferably on dirt. Dirt roads take you places that deepen you. They teach you to maintain traction and pick lines on questionable surfaces. Dirt roads harken back to the origins of the sport and they make any ride feel a bit more hard core. They make you tougher as a cyclist. You need to be tough as a cyclist.
Lose Weight
Another way to ride faster, lose weight. To find the true apex of your fitness you need to experience being really lean at least once in your racing career. Bradley Wiggins is a multi-time Olympic Champion. He is one of the best pursuit riders in the world and has built a career on those talents. Even so, he wanted more. Wanted to see what was possible; so he dropped 8 or 10 kilograms and is now climbing with the top men in the Tour De France. It’s a longer term project than some radical weekend diet, you have to take a systematic approach. Start with some research including a good book called “Nutrition Periodization” by Bob Seehobar. He lays out a responsible and reasonable approach to getting lean.
Win First, Then Upgrade
In the old school way you should win a race before upgrading. It sets you on a path to success in higher categories. These days winning, in any category, takes talent, luck, and determination. There is a substantive difference between taking the upgrade with a win or two than from a rash of fifths and sixths. It shows you have mastered the category you are in and are ready for the next step.
Summary
This article is dedicated to Christopher Hipp, a true old school warrior who’s star shone bright across more than two decades of impressive racing. Chris was a fixture on the local scene and consistently pulled off impressive wins. More than his racing palmares, Chris was one of those guys you just loved to watch ride. Whether he was threading through the field or slipping effortlessly into his amazing front wheel manual, Chris had a competence and confidence that was inspiring. He could do anything on a bike and loved to explore remote roads. To me he was old school perfection.
Time and again articles are written about the latest and greatest training iteration, power workout, or new technology. These are important considerations in the performance paradigm, but there is much more to your riding and training than simply staring at a watts readout. Take the time to explore some ‘old school’ techniques and strategies.
Ride new roads and climb. Save the ultra-light wheels for racing. Try to get lean, truly lean, at least once in your season or career. Learn to ride your bike like it is part of you. Race everything. Help others that know less. Be a resource.
About Matt McNamara:
Matt McNamara is a USA Cycling Level 1 coach with over 20 years of racing, coaching and team management experience. He is the founder and president of Sterling Sports Group, a performance coaching company focused on creating a seamless interface between athlete and coach, technology and personal attention. Visit us online to learn more at www.sterlingwins.com.
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