Am I better at Running or Cycling
12-22-11, 01:58 PM
#26
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,330
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Liked 9,229 Times
in
4,279 Posts
12-22-11, 02:49 PM
#29
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,330
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Liked 9,229 Times
in
4,279 Posts
12-22-11, 02:50 PM
#30
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,330
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Liked 9,229 Times
in
4,279 Posts
12-22-11, 02:50 PM
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 8,550
Bikes: Wilier Izoard XP (Record);Cinelli Xperience (Force);Specialized Allez (Rival);Bianchi Via Nirone 7 (Centaur); Colnago AC-R Disc;Colnago V1r Limited Edition;De Rosa King 3 Limited(Force 22);DeRosa Merak(Red):Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Hydro(Di2)
Liked 278 Times
in
146 Posts
12-22-11, 02:51 PM
#34
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,330
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Liked 9,229 Times
in
4,279 Posts
12-22-11, 02:51 PM
#35
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 8,550
Bikes: Wilier Izoard XP (Record);Cinelli Xperience (Force);Specialized Allez (Rival);Bianchi Via Nirone 7 (Centaur); Colnago AC-R Disc;Colnago V1r Limited Edition;De Rosa King 3 Limited(Force 22);DeRosa Merak(Red):Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Hydro(Di2)
Liked 278 Times
in
146 Posts
You can say cock, prick and ass. But you can't say the one who shall not be named!
12-22-11, 02:52 PM
#36
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,330
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Liked 9,229 Times
in
4,279 Posts
12-22-11, 02:52 PM
#37
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,330
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Liked 9,229 Times
in
4,279 Posts
12-22-11, 02:53 PM
#38
Administrator
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Delaware shore
Posts: 13,566
Bikes: Cervelo C5, Guru Photon, Waterford, Specialized CX
Liked 2,267 Times
in
1,513 Posts
Downhill and towards locked?
12-22-11, 02:53 PM
#39
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,330
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Liked 9,229 Times
in
4,279 Posts
12-22-11, 02:56 PM
#42
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,330
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Liked 9,229 Times
in
4,279 Posts
12-22-11, 02:58 PM
#44
Senior Member
I've heard 5k speed in meters per second should match closely to cycling power (in W/kg), assuming equal training. I have no clue if that's all too accurate, and it isn't for me, but they are at least somewhat close. Other people have it match up quite well apparently. But that might at least give you a ballpark idea of which is "better".
So for example, a 19 minute 5k is 4.38 meters per second, and supposedly is in the ballpark of 4.38 W/kg. FTP is 90-95% of 20 minute power, so 4.38*.9=3.94 W/kg.
So that ballpark would have 19 minute 5k about equal to a 4.0 W/kg FTP. Again, I don't think it's really all that accurate, but that's the best comparison method I've seen so far.
So for example, a 19 minute 5k is 4.38 meters per second, and supposedly is in the ballpark of 4.38 W/kg. FTP is 90-95% of 20 minute power, so 4.38*.9=3.94 W/kg.
So that ballpark would have 19 minute 5k about equal to a 4.0 W/kg FTP. Again, I don't think it's really all that accurate, but that's the best comparison method I've seen so far.
12-22-11, 03:36 PM
#45
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,330
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Liked 9,229 Times
in
4,279 Posts
I just don't get it. I wish they would list the censored words instead of having us guess...
12-22-11, 03:41 PM
#46
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Gulf Breeze, FL
Posts: 4,128
Bikes: Rossetti Vertigo
Liked 119 Times
in
70 Posts
Much better runner at a 19 minute 5K. My last 5K was about 23 minutes...but I can maintain a 20mph average on the bike pretty easily for 25-30 miles. My best best ever 5K was 19:30 when I was 23 (I'm 42 now). Ran a 21 minute 5K a year ago and ended up tearing my knee and had to have surgery. Trust me, at age 38 your running days are numbered.
12-22-11, 05:33 PM
#47
Administrator
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Delaware shore
Posts: 13,566
Bikes: Cervelo C5, Guru Photon, Waterford, Specialized CX
Liked 2,267 Times
in
1,513 Posts
12-22-11, 06:14 PM
#48
Senior Member
For the runners and cyclist out there.
I can average 20mph over 30 miles on my own.I've been cycling for 4 years but I think that's the best I'm gonna get
But with running.I running 5k on the roads on my own and have got down to 19 minutes
and I believe I am still improving.
I'm 38 by the way,and used to run 11 sec 100m,and 52 sec 400m when I was 20
Would you say I have more potential for running or cycling
Thanks
I can average 20mph over 30 miles on my own.I've been cycling for 4 years but I think that's the best I'm gonna get
But with running.I running 5k on the roads on my own and have got down to 19 minutes
and I believe I am still improving.
I'm 38 by the way,and used to run 11 sec 100m,and 52 sec 400m when I was 20
Would you say I have more potential for running or cycling
Thanks
I think a lot folks on this forum overestimate how hard it is to actually hold 20mph AVERAGE for 30 miles, even on a flat course, if you're counting on the stops and not stopping the clock. I put up north of 280 watts for an hour without too much difficulty, and that's about what I average solo for a 30mile course, including a few lights in there. Which means I'm pretty much trying to hit 21.5+ mph for the entire ride, which averages down to 20s.I ride a 40k TT in the middle of a triathlon at that ability in 23.5mph on a TT bike, which is usually a "front of the pack" result.
Still, I think you're a slightly better runner than cyclist right now.For your potential, I think you're underestimating your bike ability. I doubt you've been training hard enough on the bike, but I could be wrong. Have you tried doing 200 miles per week, or 5-6 hour 4000+ft hillclimb rides every weekend for 8-12 weeks? That's the kind of training you're looking at for someone of your ability to really hit your potential.
12-23-11, 03:31 AM
#49
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 519
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Hard to comment on your potential, but based on your current results and not knowing anything about your training, you are likely a better runner than cyclist right now.
I think a lot folks on this forum overestimate how hard it is to actually hold 20mph AVERAGE for 30 miles, even on a flat course, if you're counting on the stops and not stopping the clock. I put up north of 280 watts for an hour without too much difficulty, and that's about what I average solo for a 30mile course, including a few lights in there. Which means I'm pretty much trying to hit 21.5+ mph for the entire ride, which averages down to 20s.I ride a 40k TT in the middle of a triathlon at that ability in 23.5mph on a TT bike, which is usually a "front of the pack" result.
Still, I think you're a slightly better runner than cyclist right now.For your potential, I think you're underestimating your bike ability. I doubt you've been training hard enough on the bike, but I could be wrong. Have you tried doing 200 miles per week, or 5-6 hour 4000+ft hillclimb rides every weekend for 8-12 weeks? That's the kind of training you're looking at for someone of your ability to really hit your potential.
I think a lot folks on this forum overestimate how hard it is to actually hold 20mph AVERAGE for 30 miles, even on a flat course, if you're counting on the stops and not stopping the clock. I put up north of 280 watts for an hour without too much difficulty, and that's about what I average solo for a 30mile course, including a few lights in there. Which means I'm pretty much trying to hit 21.5+ mph for the entire ride, which averages down to 20s.I ride a 40k TT in the middle of a triathlon at that ability in 23.5mph on a TT bike, which is usually a "front of the pack" result.
Still, I think you're a slightly better runner than cyclist right now.For your potential, I think you're underestimating your bike ability. I doubt you've been training hard enough on the bike, but I could be wrong. Have you tried doing 200 miles per week, or 5-6 hour 4000+ft hillclimb rides every weekend for 8-12 weeks? That's the kind of training you're looking at for someone of your ability to really hit your potential.
So not really training massive hills or anything.Gonna see if I can get my 5k down to 18 minutes and enter a few local races,and on the bike I train with the fast group,but there are a couple of guys that are quicker than me which I hate
you always get one that can do 26mph for 3 hour rides 
12-23-11, 07:34 AM
#50
Senior Member
Your 'easier' bike training is part of the problem then. 30 miles on a flat course is a friggin' cakewalk. You have to at least double that, if not triple that (work up to that) for your regular long ride. I guarantee you'll have results much closer to your 5k time.
