Many triathletes approach the bike leg of a race with a conservative pacing strategy. The common wisdom is to ride at a comfortable, sustainable pace to conserve energy for the run. The idea of a “Pushable Bike” leg, where you intentionally ride harder than planned, might seem counterintuitive. But what if pushing harder on the bike could actually lead to a faster overall time?
One athlete’s experience at the Lake Stevens 70.3 triathlon offers a compelling case for reconsidering traditional pacing strategies. Having struggled with pacing in previous races, typically finishing half-Ironman bike legs in the 5-hour teens by riding conservatively, this triathlete decided to experiment with a different approach. Armed with new gear and a willingness to push their limits, they embraced the concept of a “pushable bike” leg.
The race began with the swim, and as usual, the athlete exited the water in the middle of the pack. Once on the bike, instead of settling into a comfortable pace, they made a conscious decision to maintain a higher speed to pass other cyclists. For the first seven miles, they pushed harder than initially planned, and surprisingly, they felt strong enough to sustain this elevated effort for the remainder of the 56-mile bike course. The thought process was simple: if fatigue became overwhelming on the run, they could always adjust their pace and incorporate walking as needed.
Arriving at T2, the athlete was surprised to see fewer bikes in transition than expected, a clear indication of a strong bike leg. The initial mile of the run started quickly, but quad cramps soon emerged. Despite the discomfort, the athlete managed to maintain a run, albeit an awkward one, and pushed through. The cramps subsided after about a mile, and remarkably, they completed the half-marathon in the low 1:30s. Despite feeling tired around mile 9 of the run, the legs held up.
The result? A sub-5-hour finish, a significant breakthrough. This personal experiment demonstrated that pushing harder on the bike, creating a truly “pushable bike” leg, didn’t necessarily compromise the run. In fact, it potentially enhanced overall performance. While the athlete acknowledged their experience is just one data point and individual results may vary, it raises a crucial question for triathletes: Could a slightly harder bike effort unlock untapped potential and lead to faster race times? For those looking to break through plateaus and experiment with race strategy, incorporating a “pushable bike” leg might be worth considering. It challenges the conventional wisdom and suggests that sometimes, pushing your limits on the bike can set you up for success across the entire triathlon.
