Originally Posted by
cyclezen
well, you're riding seems to be bugging you... so you want to improve that... however...
central park has no real 'technical sections', it's all about matching your strengths and improving weaknesses (as always is the case).
you will likely be able to 'power' up short rises, where someone with less peak power (small woman) might not be able to 'power' as much - longterm climbing is a completely differnt thing...
smaller rider profile means aero advantage is greater than greater mass on short, gradual downhills, also advantage aero on flats...
you did say you are 190 lbs plus...
I expect that there's some to lose. I would also expect all else remaining the same, 175-180 lbs would make an appreciable difference in your riding capabilities and pace...
Ride On
Yuri
Dropping your chain - could use some attention. check the FD settings. also if you're FD is a mismatch to the chain width (9 or 8 spd FD being used for 10 & 11 speed?).
Older FD work well, but even when used with their appropos older systems, they were often too wide cage (unless durace or Suntour Superbe/Cyclone) and would allow chain drop.
The new FDs with new shifters/drivetrain/cranks) rarely drop chain unless their mal-adjusted.
If you drink from your water bottle from the very side of your mouth, tipping bottle by side of head - you can be in the drops and still be pedaling... LOL!
an HRM can teach you many things... strap heart monitor is cheap and eassy, like Kickr , mated to your cell or whatever bar mounted meter... recommend
The FD probably just needs a little limit adjustment - she's a new build, almost all of her 250 miles has been this year, in Manhattan. The FD cable went a bit slack a couple of weeks ago - I pulled it taut, so it might be pulling against the outside limiter when I shift up. I just used that point to illustrate that I was going really slow for 20 seconds or so, just enough time to let her pass by in her aero tuck.
Definitely trying different bottle techniques - still not used to the underhanded, side of mouth drinking, but I like it when I remember to do it.
As for the 190-ish? Yeah, gained about ~10lbs during COVID (stopped running 10ks at the gym, 3-4 days a week), dropped about 5 of them this year. If I can stay away from fries, cheese, and donuts, I might knock myself down to low 180s... funnily enough, I set my Central Park PR this year, which is a little over a minute faster than my last time, set back in 2018 (when I was closer to 183 lbs).
Heading out to the SF Bay area in a few weeks (wife has a conference = free hotel) - I'm looking forward to working on a few climbs longer than ~0.5 mi while I'm out there...