Beware of PowerCranks

On Tue, 31 Jul 2007 11:30:58 -0700, wrote:

In my opinion, the limiter is the ability to deliver oxygen to the
mitochondria so the mitochonria compensate by using another mechanism
with lactic acid as an end point. Once there are enough mitochondria
in this situation the amount of lactic acid being produced overwhelms
the bodies ability to compensate for this and the "failure cascade"
starts.

Pardon me if I switch topics, but now that Frank is posting I want to
get back to the subject of Powercranks and strength training .

Jobst Brandt has opined - I hope I am not misconstruing him - that the
full circle muscular movement that Powercranks train, is not really
used when pedaling a bicycle. Good old stomping is how regular cranks
work mechanically.

I'm still a beginner on my Powercranks and usually manage a low
cadence. I trained them on the basement trainer over the winter, and
now use them only about twice a month (hint: they are absolutely
perfect to use when taking a spin with your S.O. if she, or he, is a
less strong cyclist. They slow you, or at least me, down enough so
that we actually can ride together.)

Anecdote: I took out my single speed maintain bike this evening for
the first time this season and the first time ever after using
Powercranks. Anyone who climbs on single speeds knows that the
gearing is much higher than what would be used on a multi geared bike,
and that standing and grinding at a very low cadence, rather than
sitting and spinning, is what gets you up and over. I found that an
approximation of a circular pedaling motion works much more
efficiently than stomping in this venue, and that I was noticeably
stronger over terrain that in the past was much more difficult.

So, anecdotally and subjectively, I'm thinking these puppies have made
me stronger.

FWIW.