Tag Archives: Jemison Cycling

“Watch out for the preacher with certainty”

  By MJCT | January 15, 2012 - 8:25 pm | Luxury Cycling Tours
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I came across this quote last week and posted it on my Twitter feed.  I think its a good reminder to question everything.

So many things came to my mind when I read the quote.  I thought about  cycling ‘coaches’ who design training programs that their clients faithfully follow and the ‘expert’ professional bike fits.  What strikes me is that people rarely question their newly prescribed bike position or  training program.

Please think about, how many athletes have been successful under the direction of your coach?  Do you have goals that exceed what your coach or his/her athletes have ever accomplished?  I hope so.

What about bike fits?  There are many different thoughts out there and most of those doing the fits have the best intentions.  If its your first bike, your probably starting closer to your ideal position than if you did it alone.  Know, that if you had a dozen ‘Professional’ fits that you would probably get a dozen different results.  If you had the time, you could average out all of the results and get a result that would probably work out quite well.

The same goes for choosing the correct frame size.  It may take a few bikes to find your ideal frame size and geometry. “Watch out for the preacher with certainty”  Get a second, third and forth opinion.  Ask yourself about the experience and expertise of each person that you ask. (did the guy giving you advice accomplish something with the bike of your choice?) I think it matters.

There are good fit calculators out there, but not many will ask you how flexible you are.  Two identical athletes with the same measurements can differ drastically in flexibility.  One athlete may have a hard time touching his toes and the other athlete can easily place his palms on the floor.  Do you think these two should be on the same size frame?  Maybe and maybe not…

I’ve noticed over the last 20 years or so that the “perfect” position tends to mimic the rider who has recently won the Tour de France.  However every rider who has won the Tour de France has had a different body type and a different bike position.

So, get a professional bike fit and hope that it comes close to your ideal and future – preferred position. This may take many years and different bikes before you ‘know’.  Find a coach that helps motivate you and helps you believe in yourself.  Take the best of what the ‘professionals’  teach you, but believe in yourself and your ability to question everything….  Most importantly “watch out for the preacher with certainty”.  ( in fact run away from that guy… )

Fall in love with your bike and ride more….
Marty Jemison
2 Time Tour de France Finisher
1999 US Professional Road Champion
( with no writing credentials )

Tour de France – Alps – 2009

  By MJCT | August 3, 2009 - 5:27 am | Luxury Cycling Tours
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Below are just a few pictures found in our 2009 Tour de France – Alps trip.   See more here:  http://www.martyjemison.com/gallery.html

After a warm-up ride around Lake Annecy,  France I convinced a few guys to join me for a swim…in our cycling shorts.

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Pictured here are two Jemison Cycling Tours groups

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I like this picture as we see a the Schlek brothers secure a spot on the Tour de France Podium.   Kloden had just droppen and  Lance Armstrong was next to summit.

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Ventoux! No words can really describe this climb…. So make sure it is part of your life’s plans to do it.

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Traveling in style: 9-passenger vans are more flexible when following the Tour de France.

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See all of our pictures here:  http://www.martyjemison.com/gallery.html

Jemison Cycling – Bike Tours throughout the World

Fishing Line – Pounds Test Rating

  By MJCT | April 24, 2009 - 12:43 pm | Luxury Cycling Tours
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Read the question from Gene, and the answer from Jim, about Fishing Line -  Pounds Test Rating.  Then, try to follow me in how I relate it to cycling.

Gene’s Question: I have a question about the fishing line -  pounds test ratings.  I just read about a guy who caught a 1,200 lb. hammerhead shark using 130 lb. test line.  I always thought that the weight test number was how big of a fish you could reel in without snapping.  Can you explain how the ratings are done and what the numbers mean?

Marty’s first thought: Come on Gene…. can you imagine fishing for shark with a “fishing line” that is rated for 1200lbs?  Read  what a Professional fisherman has to say…

Jim’s response: The pound rating system is what PRESSURE the line will take before it breaks.  Essentially you are right in that NORMALLY 130 pound test line would break with a 130 pound  fish of  its dead weight on the line. However the drag system on a reel allows you to set the amount of pressure that it will take before letting the line release slowly to reduce pressure. Also the rod will flex reducing the pressure of the fish so the amount of weight put on the line may not be 130 pounds even though the fish weighs many times that amount. I guess the best way to explain it is this.. When you excercise you lift a LOT of weights numerous times. You do not go directly to a weight you can not pick up. The pressure on the line directed at the fish tires him. It does not take 130 pounds of pressure to tire an 800 pound fish if you fight him long enough. Eventually he tires from the exertion.. (Reps to a weight lifter) The fish in essence is working out on the line and weakening as he works out. He is not allowed to put all his weight INTO the line so he will not break it, so he has to keep pulling ( Or lifting like a weight lifter ) so he eventually tires out, just like a weight lifter lifting a small amount of weight numerous times.

Marty: Okay….  As cyclists we choose to RIDE  as “recreational riders”, “club riders”,  “racers” or even “professional racers”….Imagine yourself as the SHARK on the line.   We are on the ‘line’ by choice, and it should be our goal  to stay on the line, until the finish, wherever that may be.   Exausted yes,  but we want to be the one who gets pulled into the boat.  In fishing, the prize is held up by the fisherman, and in cycling, You are the Fish.   IF the line does not break,  you may be the PRIZE.    Does anybody follow this?

If we are the shark (cyclist) it is smart for us to know or be sensitive to what our Fising Line Pounds Test Rating is.  What?  We need to better understand what our PRESSURE limits are before our line breaks!   When our line breaks in cycling we get “dropped”.  If we get dropped, there are few chances to get back on the line.   As cyclists,  we do not want to get dropped…. We want to stay on the wheel.

As a cyclist you’ll have more success  if you learn how to swim,  race or ride, using  the lowest possible test line.    “WHAT?”,  you say…   As a cyclist, you probably know about the benefits of drafting….. but drafting is only the beginning.   As we progress as cyclists throughout the years, we become more aware of our PRESSURE limits.  We learn how to keep ourselves on the line.   We learn how to get to the Finish, using rod flex and drag systems to our benefit.

As a Professional rider for 7 years,  I can relate the Fishing Line Pounds Test Rating to many areas  Cycling.  In racing, training and in rest off of the bike.   The more we understand our PRESSUE  limits, drag system (our “moving” position within the Peloton) and rod flex (covering an attack or pulling through), the better our results as cyclists may be.

Where do we start? The more we ride the more this will make sense.  The more we race the more it will make sense.

I started winning International races as I started chanting this mantra to myself:  “Stay at the front & out of the wind… Stay at the front & out of the wind”.    As a Professional cyclist, there were several races I had to race when I was sick;  just like you may go to work sick.   Sick with a fever, chills or cold sweats,  I knew I had to stay in the race to keep my job.  (too true).   Racing sick and staying at the front & out of the wind took on a whole new meaning.   I found myself out of the wind, but falling to that back of the peloton….  Racing sick taught me a lot about my “pressure limits,  drag system and rod flex”.

As a Shark in the Peloton it is our goal to stay on the ‘line’.  The riders in the Peloton may tire us,  however we make choices how to race, within the race or ride within our ride.  We choose to stay at the front and out of the wind, we choose to stay on the line.  AND,  if all goes well, at the right time, we choose when to break the line. Break the line on your time and swim upstream to VICTORY.

Marty Jemison Cycling

PS:  I will attempt to refine my thoughts regarding Fishing Line Pounds Test Rating and refer back to this post.  There is so much to learn and understand about cycling even when it comes to your rides.  Whether it’s a solo ride,  a ride with a friend,  group or race this knowledge can be applied.  Hopefully, some of my experience and stories will help you with your cycling.   Ride well…