When I was driving to Holland for a ‘cross race I noticed how odd it seemed to see windmills not moving. In a windmill farm of ten, only one was moving and the others looked dead. Though this is drastic in comparison, I noticed similarities in the cadence of the riders in the Three Legs Cycling Sprint DVD in relation to Cav’s spinners. Cav has always pointed out the difference in his sprinting style which cannot be assessed in the lab; no numbers would predict his winning ways. When his numbers simply don’t match the “apes” of sprinting, Cav can still put bike lengths into his rivals. This is attributable to his cadence and leg speed, which is what the 3LC DVDs are all about. I’m not saying that the other riders in the DVD were not whipping their legs around, I am just saying that Cav’s little legs look like they’re on fast-forward, or like he is the only working windmill in Holland.
One of the 900 working windmills in the Netherlands (photo from Globeriders)
Winning a race is more than mashing a gargantuan gear as fast you can in the last 250m. The Sprint DVD session is perfect because it is many sprints in the hour-long session, in addition to the important “time-trial” effort surrounding the balls-to-the-wall effort. In a race it is many many sprints along the final 5-10km. It is a sprint in itself to get to the front, many more sprints in themselves to stay at the front, all to stay in contact with your leadout train (hopefully) which is a “time-trial” effort to stay in contact with, all to be delivered into that final meaningful sprint for the line.
3LC has various DVDs to target various areas of cycling, however it is important to remember that if you consider yourself a “time-trialist” or a “climber” you will still reap benefits from the sprint DVD. Climbers: it won’t turn you into an ape. The sprint session exists to make you quicker.
In both DVDs I have reviewed (Ladies Road Race and Sprint) there is an air of focus which motivates everyone – the other riders in the DVD and you, the one pedaling – to “get it all out.” Looking in from the outside it is rare to see a champion suffer. On the telly we see the courageous attacks, the winning salute, and the podium kisses. Okay, we see the agony of the crashes and flat tires – which is a gutter – but we don’t see how hard the training is to survive (let alone win) a race, or the mental banter ensuing in an athlete’s head. To see Cav drenched in sweat, contorting his face and the turbo into a myriad of shapes while panting “How many more of these do we have to do?” made me realize our World Champion is human, he is real, he is ridiculously smart, and he is savvy about what makes him tick like that different clock he is.
It’s not all about Cav, though, inasmuch as he brings a lot to the DVD through his riding style and words of wisdom. The final 5-10km “sprint” can relate to all sides of cycling and this DVD is one that any cyclist will learn from and grow. It is certainly one that will become a staple in my cyclocross training.
Another staple in Amy’s CX training?
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