Benefits of training at higher altitudes
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Nevada County, California
Posts: 789
Bikes: Subject to change at any given moment but currently is...... Colnago Mapei, Colnago C40, Wilier Triestina Carbon, Wilier Triestina Ramato, Follis 472, Peugeot PX60, Razesa, Orbea Terra, Soma Pescadero and 1/2 owner of a Santana tandem.
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 331 Post(s)
Liked 782 Times
in
264 Posts
Benefits of training at higher altitudes
Yesterday my gf and I completed a 73 mile ride on a route that stayed around 5000’. I’m hoping to attempt my first century this fall on a route that will probably not exceed 500’. Would my performance at 5000’ indicate I’m likely already prepared for it?
#2
just another gosling
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 19,526
Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004
Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3884 Post(s)
Liked 1,937 Times
in
1,382 Posts
Well, you're ready now, but who knows where you'll be in the fall. Stay healthy and ride. Best prep ever is riding 60 mile hilly routes once a week. High altitude performance isn't much of a predictor of anything because lower O2 levels also decrease muscular output. Sleep high, train low is the mantra. That said, 73 miles at 5000' is all to the good.
__________________
Results matter
Results matter
#3
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,945
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6173 Post(s)
Liked 4,791 Times
in
3,305 Posts
Just like riding a heavier bike for training rides then switching to a light bike for a race, you'll definitely feel better about it. There are still a lot of other things that might make your performance numbers not much better. One of them being if this is the only long ride or even short ride you do between now and the fall.
My son lives just outside Denver now. When this COVID thing is done or they get a vaccine, I'm looking forward to going out there and seeing what it's like to cycle there at 5000 to 6000 feet. However, from my flying days in unpressurized aircraft, I never thought 5000 feet very high for physiological stuff.
My son lives just outside Denver now. When this COVID thing is done or they get a vaccine, I'm looking forward to going out there and seeing what it's like to cycle there at 5000 to 6000 feet. However, from my flying days in unpressurized aircraft, I never thought 5000 feet very high for physiological stuff.