Motor patterns

It's only been 19 days since the last blog entry. Actually, I thought it had been longer. Thanks to Gus for spurring me to start writing again.

I've been batting several things around in my head. However, little seems to be solidifying into cogent thoughts. Most of my thoughts have to do with improving muscle memory patterns and decreasing internal resistance to movement.

Muscle memory patterns have to do with improved firing of motor neurons(nerves to muscles). When you start practicing a new movement, the coordination of these nerves is rather disjointed, so to speak. It's not smooth. As you practice, the brain actually optimizes it firing pattern and synchronization so that the movements occur more effectively.

You optimize the motor pattern that you practice. That is good and bad. If you practice bad movement patterns, you become more efficient at movement ineffectively. And, likewise, when you practice effective movements, these become optimized as well. The proof of what to practice comes in the testing. Unless you are tested to determine the effectiveness of your movement, you will always resort to moving in a pattern that feels most comfortable. And, it's comfortable because it's the way you have always moved.

You can't use average speed as an indicator of optimized movement. Average speed will increase even though you continue to move badly. You just have to move badly, harder and faster.

It's takes commitment to make a change because, things are going to get worse before they get better. It's like learning to walk all over again. You will have to fight the urge to return to old patterns. You will feel like you are slower than you have been in the past. It will be true. You will be slower as your weak muscles learn to do their part. It takes time to convert. Once you establish the new patterns for movement, you will get faster.

(Since this blog is getting rather long, I'll talk more about internal resistance to motion on another day.)

Levi was technically superior on Brasstown Bald

It's been a while since the last post. Things have been crazy and I'm not getting enough miles.

On to things that are more interesting...
I had the opportunity to watch the VS coverage of the Tour de Georgia. Specifically, I watched the mountain stage to Brasstown Bald. One observation was glaringly obvious. Compared to the other riders, Levi finished the stage like he was on a Sunday cruise. Everyone else looked like they were coming apart.

What was the difference? Technique, technique, technique. It's not like Levi is that much more powerful than everyone else. Ok, let's give him the benefit of the doubt and say he's more powerful, but it still doesn't matter. He was still able to harness his power and translate it to the wheel better than every other rider.

Go to the VS website and watch it. Hopefully the video is still there. He was perfectly quiet on the bike. All the other guys were flailing all over the bike and road.

There are ways to tap into technique. Once your technique it mastered, you can apply power to the wheel.