Manon: We do look up to the pros. I mean, they win the biggest races we dream of riding, and they do
ride their bikes a whole heap faster than us. Hank: Yes, but saying that, they do have
some really strange advice that we're not sure whether you should follow it not but
I guess here it is anyway, some advice from the guys at the top, the pros. Talking of pro advice,
why are you wearing a full kit? It's 20 degrees. Manon: It is pro advice. You wouldn't know though,
so. [music]
Manon: First up, don't ride too hard into a headwind. It's counter into it but think about
it. The pros reckon if you take it a little bit easier into the headwind, you'll have more energy
for the tailwind, and the tailwind is where it's really going to make the biggest difference in
speed. Save your energy until you've got the wind on your back, and give it some oomph.
[music] Conor:
Pros spend a lot of time on their diets. They can be the lightest possible when it comes to
those big goals. There is a lot of science that has gone into this approach. There are
some nuggets of advice that are just being passed down from-- Well, we don't really know
where. One of those is eating bread. Pros can eat bread, they just can't eat the middle bit of it,
the nice bit, the doughy bit. You'll see a pro empty their bread of dough and
just end up with the crust. [music]
Conor: Just some piece of advice that I guess they have to abide by. This bread's stale.
[music] Manon:
Porridge is a great source of low release carbohydrate and it is the perfect breakfast for
any athlete. However, Conor has informed us that some of his team managers didn't agree. Conor was
once banned from eating porridge for the simple reason that porridge was only to be eaten by
babies. However, Conor has informed us that he'd like to publicly announce that it's not just for
babies and we should definitely eat it. [music]
Hank: Traditionally the pro race calendar spans from February to October, meaning,
November or December, are cast as the off-season. Now as well as the pros letting their hair down,
drinking some beers, they also use it to get back into training. The number one rule
is to do easy tempo. To do this, the pros don't, yes, don't
use the big ring before Christmas. It's weird, isn't it? I love using the big ring hacking away,
for the pros, it's all about the small ring, suppress, piano, easy tempo.
[music] Manon:
Another piece of advice the pros love to dish out is, always wear a cap. No matter if it's hot or
cold, always wear a cap. The reasoning behind this is that if you did a hard training session or a
race, that you put a hat on, and you wouldn't get a cold. A pro cyclist's worst nightmare
is getting a cold. If you want any sympathy from your team manager when you go to him
with a head cold, always wear a cap because if you don't, you know what you're going to get,
"Why didn't you wear a cap?" [music]
Conor: I guess this one makes sense, wearing leg warmers when the weather's cold. It keeps your
muscles warm and gets the out of your ability. I never go it why pros gave you the advice to wear
leg warmers and arm warmers when it's around 19 or 20 degrees. If it's that temperature,
I'd be sunbathing. It's only 5 degrees now, and I've got my legs and arms out, so
yes, always an odd one that one. Keep racked up, buffing, everything. Crazy.
[music] Manon:
If you don't need to stand, then sit. If you don't need to sit down, then lay down.
This is one of those old age pieces of advice given out to the pros to
make sure they got enough recovery in between racing and training. If you think about it,
it does actually make sense. If you're not cycling, lay down, save those legs.
[music] Hank: This is a big one,
no kissing, or hanky-panky before a big event or a training cup. It's said that it draws all
the energy away from what matters most, and that is the pedaling. It's a bit of a strange advice
because it's written in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, that it's got no significant effect
to athletic performance. I guess it's just that piece of advice that's given out from
time to time, but I guess-- Well, we'll leave it up to you to make your own decisions on that one.
[music] Manon:
When you're doing a full-gas effort, you need to be in shorts and jersey.
Anything more and you just won't be able to hit those numbers. You can't go full with your body
on, so take of that [unintelligible 00:04:46], take off the waterproof, take off your gloves,
take off your cap and get that effort done. [music]
Conor: Most pros and cyclists tend to shave their legs. A lot for all different reasons really. Some
say it's for aerodynamics, others- -say it's for massage or injury and some say it's for vanity,
but I'll let you make your own mind about that. What you can't do is shave your legs before a race
day. Some say it's bad luck, but it's been told that it would adversely affect your performance.
Next time you go to grab your razor on race day or even the day before, think again. I've
got one shaved leg and one hairy and it's race day tomorrow, but, yes, I'm going to risk it.
Hey, guys, a bit of privacy, this is just a man shaving his legs.
Come on. Go on. Keep going. Manon: So it turns out the pros do have
some strange bit of advice but what do you guys think? Have you guys ever heard of any strange
cycling advice? Please let us know in the comments section below because we'd love to hear them.
Hank: Yes, we definitely would. We're off to go and eat a whole load of porridge that
is baby food and eat all of the dough in the middle of bread and
we'll ride our bikes in the big ring that the pros don't do around Christmas. You up for it Manon?
Manon: I'm up for the eating bit but-- Hank: Not the riding bit?
Manon: No. Hank: Sounds good. [laughs]
Manon: I'll skip that today. [00:06:12] [END OF AUDIO]