Chrissie book - it's all about the engine
-
No new posts
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller | Reply |
|
2012-10-22 7:02 PM |
1660 | Subject: Chrissie book - it's all about the engine Enjoying a read through Chrissie Wellington's book right now. (It's cheap for kindle now as well.)
One of the most interesting observations is that throughout her entire racing career up to her first ironman, she raced on a $500 used road bike with clip on aero bars. It was so well used that she continued to use it even after she had a string of races where some component would fail in the middle of the race - often requiring her to ride without certain gears, or hope to not fall over. Even in her ironman victory, she was so budgeted out that she was wearing the same $20 sunglasses she bought in a gas station a few years back. She also seemed to borrow a LOT of gear from people - wetsuits, bikes, even trisuits, you name it.
She won all her races in her early pre-IM career on that $500 beater bike, including one of the national championship races in New Zealand (which she entered on a whim not knowing what to expect and shocked everyone including herself when she won it.)
Her coach Brett Sutton gave her the advice to not focus on the equipment and just concentration on the engine.
It's pretty common knowledge now that it's all about the engine, but Chrissie definitely took it to a whole new level. Really impressive results on a $500 bike. |
|
2012-10-22 7:09 PM in reply to: #4464371 |
Extreme Veteran 556 | Subject: RE: Chrissie book - it's all about the engine That's very interesting, and I couldn't agree more. I upgraded from a $600 low end road bike in my first 2 tris to a mid-line tri bike for everything after. My dad bought a road bike to do a sprint tri relay in Sept with me. Same height so same fit. I asked him if I could try it for a sprint in June. Reason being, he's convinced that I'm faster because of my equipment. I want to use his bike to prove to him that the equipment is a smaller factor than my engine. |
2012-10-22 7:41 PM in reply to: #4464371 |
Elite 3140 | Subject: RE: Chrissie book - it's all about the engine It's the engine for sure....I can't say I have a clunker but a stock felt b16, no upgrades and no aero helmet and I finished 31 st/ 270 in my duathlon, 5 th age group.....had the 21 st best bike split and 2nd best in age group (40-44), and about only a year ago I was pathetic on the bike.....so sorry for tooting my own horn but I am a believer that hard training trumps good equipment in most cases.... I need to read her book. |
2012-10-22 11:14 PM in reply to: #4464435 |
Pro 5361 | Subject: RE: Chrissie book - it's all about the engine FELTGood - 2012-10-22 5:41 PM It's the engine for sure....I can't say I have a clunker but a stock felt b16, no upgrades and no aero helmet and I finished 31 st/ 270 in my duathlon, 5 th age group.....had the 21 st best bike split and 2nd best in age group (40-44), and about only a year ago I was pathetic on the bike.....so sorry for tooting my own horn but I am a believer that hard training trumps good equipment in most cases.... I need to read her book.
yeah- but if you had an aero helmet and zipp wheels... you would have been on the podium! |
2012-10-23 1:30 AM in reply to: #4464371 |
Regular 1893 Las Vegas, NV | Subject: RE: Chrissie book - it's all about the engine So, having this bike: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/rwt_tri.htm
and doing IMCDA in June '13, would you buy a $1500 bike for it, or do it with this bike and save up to get a $3,000 bike by the end of next year? This got my through a HIM in sub-8. I'm just glad I met the cutoff time Now time to put in some work to hit the cutoff times for CDA. 7 months to go!! |
2012-10-23 4:27 AM in reply to: #4464371 |
Elite 3140 | Subject: RE: Chrissie book - it's all about the engine Moreyooo, I was trying not to think of that . |
|
2012-10-23 4:49 AM in reply to: #4464371 |
Regular 311 Aalborg, Denmark | Subject: RE: Chrissie book - it's all about the engine It's definitely the engine, but let's not go totally crazy here. You can buy speed, sad as it may sound. There's a reason we run in certain shoes instead of high heels, and there's a reason tri bikes were developed for triathlon. If you check out the history of aero bars, then you'd probably be amazed at how much the equipment matters. That being said, I don't think there is ever(!) a reason for any triathlete to have a bike that costs more than a small house :p |
2012-10-23 5:56 AM in reply to: #4464717 |
Elite 5145 Cleveland | Subject: RE: Chrissie book - it's all about the engine GatorDeb - 2012-10-23 2:30 AM So, having this bike: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/rwt_tri.htm
and doing IMCDA in June '13, would you buy a $1500 bike for it, or do it with this bike and save up to get a $3,000 bike by the end of next year? This got my through a HIM in sub-8. I'm just glad I met the cutoff time Now time to put in some work to hit the cutoff times for CDA. 7 months to go!!
I'd save up and get the one you really want. Getting a $1500 (or even a $3000) bike will not likely save you enough time over that bike to make a super-huge difference, and shouldn't be the difference between making the cutoff and not making it. Body position on the bike will affect your run, but that isn't likely to make or break your race unless you're competing for a podium. The only real deciding factor for me would be, after getting a fitting, whether or not I was comfortable doing a century ride on that bike, and that shouldn't really be an issue. Develop the engine. |
2012-10-23 6:26 AM in reply to: #4464371 |
Extreme Veteran 890 Sterling | Subject: RE: Chrissie book - it's all about the engine I like the twenty dollar sun glasses. The pair I used all season were 12 dollars from a rack at a Mobil station. They work fine for me. Oakleys are nice and all but, come on 110+ for sunglasses sucks. |
2012-10-23 7:44 AM in reply to: #4464371 |
Member 325 Groningen, Netherlands | Subject: RE: Chrissie book - it's all about the engine 110? Where do you find Oakleys at half price? :D |
2012-10-23 8:07 AM in reply to: #4464371 |
Member 231 | Subject: RE: Chrissie book - it's all about the engine Yes, you can buy speed but it really is the engine. I love the look on the faces of riders on "real" tribikes when I go zippin' by on my Schwinn!!! Patti |
|
2012-10-23 11:51 AM in reply to: #4464371 |
Expert 977 | Subject: RE: Chrissie book - it's all about the engine 13:19 for IMFL riding a $499 road bike bought on Wal Mart.com. Also used my $15 glasses. I'm upset they raised the price of my glasses to $19. How dare they! |
2012-10-23 11:56 AM in reply to: #4464371 |
Expert 2355 Madison, Wisconsin | Subject: RE: Chrissie book - it's all about the engine To be completely honest I am really surprised people have not accused Chrissie of doping yet. I don't think she ever has but with the large performance gap between her and the other ladies for so many years I wonder how it hasn't come into question. |
2012-10-23 12:31 PM in reply to: #4465448 |
Member 231 | Subject: RE: Chrissie book - it's all about the engine Duanerice - 2012-10-23 12:51 PM 13:19 for IMFL riding a $499 road bike bought on Wal Mart.com. Also used my $15 glasses. I'm upset they raised the price of my glasses to $19. How dare they! Love this! |
2012-10-23 12:42 PM in reply to: #4464798 |
New user 170 | Subject: RE: Chrissie book - it's all about the engine Bevie - 2012-10-23 6:26 AM I like the twenty dollar sun glasses. The pair I used all season were 12 dollars from a rack at a Mobil station. They work fine for me. Oakleys are nice and all but, come on 110+ for sunglasses sucks. I spent $15-20 on mine, but that was to get sunglasses with readers (I'm 47) or I couldn't easily read my HRM or bike computer.
|
2012-10-23 12:47 PM in reply to: #4465458 |
Subject: RE: Chrissie book - it's all about the engine bcagle25 - 2012-10-23 9:56 AM To be completely honest I am really surprised people have not accused Chrissie of doping yet. I don't think she ever has but with the large performance gap between her and the other ladies for so many years I wonder how it hasn't come into question.
yet? I've read that in several locations, includnig BT, and especially the year she pulled out last minute due to her illness |
|
2012-10-23 12:51 PM in reply to: #4464887 |
New user 170 | Subject: RE: Chrissie book - it's all about the engine pugpenny - 2012-10-23 8:07 AM Yes, you can buy speed but it really is the engine. I love the look on the faces of riders on "real" tribikes when I go zippin' by on my Schwinn!!! Patti +1 While I enjoy passing people on the bike I love passing people with aerobars or a full tri bike. I told my wife I checked the photos for my last race and only saw two people on standard bikes faster than me, the rest were tri bikes or had aerobars. She asked, "so, is that what you're buying next?" "Nope, I can get quite a bit faster with the bike I have. Maybe in two years if I'm still doing triathlons." I just bought the bike used, and started riding, back in the end of July, so I have lots of work to do on the engine. |
2012-10-23 1:25 PM in reply to: #4464371 |
Extreme Veteran 590 Northern Virginia | Subject: RE: Chrissie book - it's all about the engine I'm reading her book right now as well (she just finished her first Kona win and is digressing into training tips). I agree it's about the engine, but something else I am taking away from her story is HOW you build that engine, namely serious HTFU. Her coach Brett Sutton was merciless toward her, forcing brutal workouts on her without cutting her any slack: if she cut her finger, he basically said "HTFU"; if she hurt her coccys bone, he told her to "HTFU". If she started complaining about anything, he said...
H T F U.
I think that's a big reason Chrissie was so successful: serious mental toughness translates to much better engine development, so the mental toughness plus better engine means crushing the competition (and pro men) in the races (even if you crash on the bike 2 weeks before Kona). |
2012-10-23 1:27 PM in reply to: #4464371 |
Master 10208 Northern IL | Subject: RE: Chrissie book - it's all about the engine The point of this is that it's very possible to do quite well without having the best stuff, not to take extra satisfaction in beating people with "better" things than you have. That can come across as a bit arrogant, even though it may not be intended. |
2012-10-23 1:40 PM in reply to: #4464371 |
Iron Donkey 38643 , Wisconsin | Subject: RE: Chrissie book - it's all about the engine I bet it was because her seat was not too high. |
2012-10-23 2:08 PM in reply to: #4465645 |
Pro 5169 Burbs | Subject: RE: Chrissie book - it's all about the engine windandsurf - 2012-10-23 2:25 PM I'm reading her book right now as well (she just finished her first Kona win and is digressing into training tips). I agree it's about the engine, but something else I am taking away from her story is HOW you build that engine, namely serious HTFU. Her coach Brett Sutton was merciless toward her, forcing brutal workouts on her without cutting her any slack: if she cut her finger, he basically said "HTFU"; if she hurt her coccys bone, he told her to "HTFU". If she started complaining about anything, he said...
H T F U.
I think that's a big reason Chrissie was so successful: serious mental toughness translates to much better engine development, so the mental toughness plus better engine means crushing the competition (and pro men) in the races (even if you crash on the bike 2 weeks before Kona). This is what I got from her book ... girl can dig DEEP (in a sport where a lot of athletes can dig deep, but she has them/ us all beat) |
|
2012-10-23 2:25 PM in reply to: #4464371 |
1660 | Subject: RE: Chrissie book - it's all about the engine OP here - I don't doubt that Chrissie can go deep, but honestly, after reading her book I was less impressed with her HTFU ability than her raw natural talent. Even her coach Brett Sutton was very critical of her HTFU ability (or lack thereof by his standards) even all the way up to her Kona IM win. He's a character in himself, but he has a lot of athletes in his stable, and it definitely didn't seem like she was particularly disciplined relative to the others. She was very, very competitive with the others, sometimes damagingly so, but that's different than discipline.
When she was dominating races before Kona, even at the start of her pre-pro career, she was winning without ever expecting to even be on the podium. By huge margins, sometimes. That's a clear sign of talent above all else.
I wasn't impressed by her HTFU stories, actually. Yes, she trains hard, but I've definitely done some painful sessions in weird hours that aren't that far off her situation, and outside of triathlon, I've got plenty of stories of HTFU with my work etc that are definitely comparable. Won't make me anywhere near that good any time soon. |
2012-10-23 2:32 PM in reply to: #4465645 |
Expert 2355 Madison, Wisconsin | Subject: RE: Chrissie book - it's all about the engine He also coached other female athletes during that time as well. Steffen is one of them. I have talked to a few people that have been coached by Sutton and while his methods are odd/controversial (think periodization is crap for triathlon) he has proven himself with many winners and gold medalists. My coach was coached by him and told me that he would lock his shifters in the big ring and tell him to ride. He also has quite the background with "off the field" issues. Would love to meet him and pick his brain. |
2012-10-23 3:56 PM in reply to: #4464371 |
26 | Subject: RE: Chrissie book - it's all about the engine I haven't read her book yet but will get there soon. In one of her interviews a few years ago, she built a good base MTBiking in Nepal during her stint there and running marathons. Of course she did swim as a kid too so before getting to be Pro she had those background already + her type A personality definitely helps. Just when I was planning to get a tri-bike as a gift to myself, then again getting into a coaching program in a couple of weeks would help my engine and help me decide what path to take on equipment(s). |
2012-10-23 6:35 PM in reply to: #4465782 |
Regular 186 | Subject: RE: Chrissie book - it's all about the engine yazmaster - 2012-10-23 2:25 PM OP here - I don't doubt that Chrissie can go deep, but honestly, after reading her book I was less impressed with her HTFU ability than her raw natural talent. Even her coach Brett Sutton was very critical of her HTFU ability (or lack thereof by his standards) even all the way up to her Kona IM win. He's a character in himself, but he has a lot of athletes in his stable, and it definitely didn't seem like she was particularly disciplined relative to the others. She was very, very competitive with the others, sometimes damagingly so, but that's different than discipline.
When she was dominating races before Kona, even at the start of her pre-pro career, she was winning without ever expecting to even be on the podium. By huge margins, sometimes. That's a clear sign of talent above all else.
I wasn't impressed by her HTFU stories, actually. Yes, she trains hard, but I've definitely done some painful sessions in weird hours that aren't that far off her situation, and outside of triathlon, I've got plenty of stories of HTFU with my work etc that are definitely comparable. Won't make me anywhere near that good any time soon. Not even her last Kona victory? |
|