How Do I Stop Getting Dropped? | Ask GCN Anything

This week's Ask GCN is bought to you by Si who's on hand to answer your cycling related questions. Remember to get your questions in with the #Torqueback, or if you are in need of some help with your training, use the #AskGCNtraining.

In this edition of Ask GCN, we address FTP and perceived effort at a certain wattage, whether spinning or grinding is better, how to not get dropped from a group ride and what disadvantages training with speed has versus power or heart rate.

Remember to leave your questions in the comments below. 👇

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[gcn]

Get your questions in with the #Torqueback, or if you are in need of some help with your training, use the #AskGCNtraining. 👇

[davepratt]

Best way not to get dropped is to ride with slower friends.

[simonbogaert]

I would like to thank you guys from GCN, because the video you made for indexing your derailleurs helped me fix my bike. Now it runs as smoothly as it did before. So THANK YOU!

[beeble]

I'd love to check out your Tour de France content, but I refuse to have anything to do with the cesspit that is Facebook. Why don't you post it on YouTube?

[Protoman]

Si kudos on patience for all these ridiculous questions. 'Is my power higher if i am spinning a small gear at 200w or grinding a big gear at 200w' derpppp

[JeremyHansenbluekid]

Such amazing and helpful information in this video! Great work GCN team.

[slimelord]

Thanks for the answer Si! Even before you answered the question I actually sort of changed my riding style to ride the climbs a little harder. Huge fitness improvement

[blingn]

#AskGCNTraining can you talk about hart rate variability as it relates to fatigue, and how to best track fatigue in order to maximize workouts and recovery

[rasmuswi]

Thanks! And now my bike build is complete. It turned out that in the end I had to get bigger chainrings in the front anyway, and in spite of that I find myself using the big ring and the small cogs a lot more than on the steel bike. Love how easy it is to go fast on my new bike!

Oh, and I'm a bit impressed by how right you pronounced my name, including that bit about W being pronounced just the same as V in Swedish. :)

[joachimbauer]

#Torqueback
Could you guys do a segment about heavy riders and what options they have regarding bikes and tech ? I'm a big guy (105 kg) how like the gym as much as his bike. I'm looking for a new bike and wheels but I'm not shure what to get, please help

[CreRay]

15:45 Hi GCN, Many thanks for answering my question!! I finally managed to get the tires off, no way I could have mastered this at the side of the road, at least not without damaging the rims. I can say now that it was not the hook of the rim holding the tire in place, as I was able to push the tire away from the rim edge, where I could see the rim tape. I still think the sealant did sort of stick the tire to the rim tape, preventing the tire from being pushed inside the "gutter" in the center of the rim. On 1 of 2 wheels the tire actually did get glued to the rim tape, as I actually pulled the tape right off the rim in 1 place when I managed to push the tire into the rim center! I also found that on both wheels, sealant managed its way inside the last layer of rim tape, from the end of the rim tape. Either Reynolds is using unsuitable rim tape, or mine were from a bad batch.
Going back to inner tubes now, the rims have survived, but my tubeless adventure is finally over.

[arnavwadhwa]

Hello, when I am biking I can put out a lot of power for a short period of time then I wear off very quickly. What is the best way to train to sustain a sprint for about 20 minutes or so.

[Yosser]

#askgcnanything I really think there should be a TDF for the women. Can't they run stages the same day as the men but start an hour or 2 later. Press and TV would all be there plus the infrastructure so cost would be kept down. the fans would also be there so sponsors would be happy. After the finish of the men's, all the motorbikes and choppers can go back down the road to cover the last hour of the race live. Saying that, I'm sure the men wouldn't mind a few less bikes buzzing around so they could do the full thing live. Euro Sport have enough channels to put it on so that shouldn't be a problem. I'm sure it's doable if they put their minds to. What do you think?

[whattheref]

#torgueback: Which strength intervals on the bike should i do to get bigger quads? Mathias

[razaninaufal]

11:20 haha! that's exactly now! it's getting rarer and rarer to buy a rim brake

[Jesse-jxbc]

#AskGCNtraining i have a question for you. I live in the netherlands so i train without any mountains. So how can i train on a flat road like i’m in the mountains?

[alexdsm]

Hi, I m soon gone make the "route des cols" in the pyreneens. question is that i m looking for a high ratio gearing for the moutain, like 14/36... and only Shimano Tiagra propose it, is it compatible with my dura-ace / ultegra group-set?? thx gcn! #askgcnanything

[cristianguerrero]

Hi, I believe it would be training, technique, clear head concentration. Great if all were constantly.
If only unlimited supply.

[leewendt]

Hey GCN, I am basically a runner who just discovered the pure joy of riding a bike. Not that i am totally new to cycling, but I really want to improve. How should I train in order to being able to gain overall fitness. At the moment i can not sustain any „tempo“ workouts because my muscles start to hurt before i get into any heartrate zones. #torqueback

[dsloth]

Hey guys, curious to know your opinion on larger pulley wheels. There's a lot of hype around ceramic speed and other brands over sized pulleys yet shimano/sram etc. Don't seem to go down the route of oversized pulleys with their stock deraileurs...do they think there is no benefit to it? #torqueback