How does a low resting heart rate impact athletic performance?

[pivoxa15]

How would you recognise that someone have talent in racing in road bike competitions?

What criteria would you use?

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

The really good ones have product endorsement contracts. Also, the leg muscles of a good racer are situated closer to the finish line than those of the less talented ones.

 

[Cyrus]

They win?

 

[russ_watters]

Also, the leg muscles of a good racer are situated closer to the finish line than those of the less talented ones.

I would hope that barring a serious accident, the rest of their bodies are also nearer to the finish line...

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

I would hope that barring a serious accident, the rest of their bodies are also nearer to the finish line...

That's where the talent part comes in.

 

[moose]

If you wondered about Lance Armstrong's physical attributes...
http://www.answers.com/topic/lance-armstrong

All top cyclists have excellent physical attributes. Armstrong is no exception, although in one way, he may be unusual even for an elite athlete. He is near but not at the top aerobically, having a VO2 Max of 83.8 mL/kg/min — much higher than the average person (40-50) but not as high as that of some other elite cyclists, such as Miguel Indurain (88.0, although reports exist that Indurain tested at 92-94) or Greg LeMond (92.5).[2] His heart is 30% larger than average; however, an enlarged heart is a common trait for many other athletes. He has a resting heart rate of 32-34 beats per minute with a max heart rate at 201 bpm.[3] Armstrong's most unusual attribute may be his low lactate levels. During intense training, the levels of most racers range from 12 μL/kg to as much as 20 μL/kg; Armstrong is below 6 μL/kg. The result is that less lactic acid accumulates in Armstrong's system, therefore it is possible that he feels less fatigue from severe efforts, and this may contribute to his ability to sustain the same level of physical effort as other elite racers with less fatigue and faster recovery times. Some theorize that his high pedaling cadence is designed to take advantage of this low lactate level. In contrast, other cyclists — like Jan Ullrich — rely on their anaerobic capacity, pushing a larger gear at a lower rate.

 

[chroot]

Only the top perhaps 1-2% of road cycling racers actually get any kind of sponsorship. The vast majority do it as a hobby. Look up the USCF.

http://www.usacycling.org/

- Warren

 

[ice109]

lactic acid doesn't cause muscular fatigue, it's actually a source of energy

http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2006/04/19_lactate.shtml

but god damn that is a low resting heart rate. the many is so close to dead.