pelotonracer

I'm 16yo, male, 6', 170-175 lbs depending on time of day, 30" around the thinnest part of the abdomen, 40" around the widest part of the hips (including le derriere), 20.5" around mid-thigh, and 14" around the calves. I've been working on my climbing lately and I've dropped quite a few (~50) lbs in the past 6 months. I could probably lose 10 more lbs from what I can see still left around my belly. How would you rate my physiology?

blonduathlongrl

you're not fat, your cleats make you look bigger.

pelotonracer

Just for comparison, what do ProTour 6' climbers like Christophe Moreau (he looks pretty tall) weigh?

calhoun1

You can't compare yourself to others. Look in a mirror. Do you look fat? If so, you can work on yourself. Weight is only one part of the equation. Weight on its own means nothing. Muscle weighs more than fat. Just work on eating well and exercising. When you start racing and are doing well, then start worrying about your weight pound by pound. Right now, just ride and get fit.

FrankBattle 

Yes, you are fat.

dcbikeguy

What are you talking about? You're beautiful.

indygreg

what is your goal? To be the best possible competitive cyclist? If so, you are probably are too heavy.
to be a very healthy all around athletic person? You might be right on.
To be just be a healthy person living a normal life? probably right on.

There are many factors that we cannot know. Body fat % is important

biffstephens

156 pounds 6'1"

casicua

Also depends on your bone structure, muscle mass, body fat percentage etc.

But the simple answer: you should throw up after every meal.

patentcad

You've dropped 50lbs and you're worried your still fat? Just ride your bike. If you start eating and purging, please contact us again.

I'm 5'11", 178 lbs the other day. I should be 10lbs lighter. But I don't LOOK fat. Maybe that makes you feel better. I am climbing better than I have in two years even at this weight.

pelotonracer

I AM racing, and that's why I wanted to know... this Sunday I am doing the Ontario Provincial Road Race Championship, and the course has a 3 km long climb at 6%, with a 1 km portion at 10+ %:



the course is a loop, and my category goes over the hill 3 times. I've pre-ridden the hill a couple of times, but I seem to struggle to hold any speed above 13-14 km/h in the steepest sections of the course. Sometimes, my front wheel lifts up off the pavement when I'm cranking in the saddle. Out of the saddle, I don't have any front traction problems.

But I digress. Should I try to knock off a couple more pounds so I can get sub-170 before Sunday as I am convinced that every single gram shaved will help- the finish line is just over the hill. Or will I simply start losing muscle? Decisions, decisions...

idcruiserman

You're going to lose a few pounds in 5 days? It will be water.

Nachoman

Congratulations on dropping the 50 pounds. Good job.

pelotonracer

Perhaps. Better water than muscle though.

GuitarWizard

Yeah you do.

HWS

You're SIXTEEN and you dropped FIFTY pounds in the last 6 months?

Did I read that correctly?

long_legs

Unfortunately you are.

Bob Dopolina 

Ever wonder why you drink water when you ride? Because your body needs it to work., Dehydrating yourself, on purpose, before the start of a race is about the best way you can come up with to finish DFL ,unless you say, lop off a limb!

If you were worried about your weight you could have done something about it 3 months ago. It WAAAAYYY too late now. Get some sleep, eat well, show up recovered and get in a good warm-up before the climb. That's the best suggestion for you.

And why is your wheel coming off the ground? Stop flailing around and get some proper gearing for the climb!

Edit; I just looked at the profile. It is 500m over 2km? 2.1% mean? Geeze. Shift my boy, shift!

pelotonracer

I have a 39x25- isn't that small enough?

kergin

Who the **** cares? Go ride your bike.

pjcampbell

I am 6'2 160 and while not fat, I feel like I need to weigh less to be more competitive but I am kind of weak. I think 6'0 and 160 is a very healthy weight for an all rounder racer. If you want to be very competitive then yes lose some more weight. The hillier the course the more weight matters.

calhoun1

Just hang onto the wheel in front of you. Weight/fitness is not something you worry about the week of the race...

Flak

I think a racers weight is a bi-product of his lifestyle, you should view yours the same way.

Ride lots, ride far, and ride hills. Before you know it you'll be 20lbs lighter.

patentcad

Perhaps this will work to trigger the eating disorder I have long sought to obtain. Thank you GW.

If you'll excuse me now, I have to tighten my belt.

waterrockets 

I'd stay away from scales. You're in the ballpark depending on a lot of variables. Just train right and eat smart. Don't eat too little -- make sure you keep the tank topped-off. Your weight will settle where it needs to. Once you've been racing, and get up to maybe Cat 3, then you might want to start looking at where your weight is before moving up into the 2s, but you'll probably be fine by then anyway.

In the race, the 25 should be more gear than you'll need unless you're a real spinner or the pace is super slow. On 3% grade, you'll probably be racing in a 39-19 or 39-17 most of the way with high cadence -- that's a shallow climb, and it's fairly short. It's shallow enough that drafting will be important, so stay tight on the wheel in front of you.