Beethoven Symphony No. 1
Setting: Time Travel to Vienna and the hills above it on a warm early April day in 1800.
Profile Overview: Challenging, but less than 25 minutes. Experienced level of spinning, 80% of the time out of the saddle. Parts are fast, but within the range of standard cycling cadences, 60-112. Visualizations and Ride: Each movement can be used as a "Stage" in a longer cycling journey, or can be used as a standalone. Fitness Objective: Upper range of aerobic commitments, with pops to anaerobic threshold levels -- interval training. For a complete performance of the First Symphony on YouTube: Click Here |
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Stage I: Warm up, then Racing With Resistance (Very Fast Cadence at 112, Resistance Level: Light to Moderate 2-4)
Setting: race day in Vienna, April 1800 – we prepare for a race on the cobbled streets. Slowly, we stretch our arms, neck, and legs as we get ready for the starting line. Mentally we “rev our engine” faster, getting ready to explode at the start. Then the start, exploding in standing in Position 2, fast, fast, we begin the pedal forward, with the resistance of the wind on the streets before us and the cobbled street we’re biking over. Racing forward at full throttle, we gain our position as buildings and the crowds whiz by. After a couple of minutes, not decreasing our cadence or speed one bit, we sit back in the saddle for just a moment’s relaxation after the tense start. Several times we will jolt to Positions 2 or 3, so as not to lose our place in the pack, before settling back in the saddle. Twice we round this first course through the city streets, then we begin to pull away, and the race develops. Tense, not slowing a bit, we maintain our speed in Position 3 with some movements to Position 2. After winding through the side streets, we find our way back to familiar territory, and traverse the same route we had past earlier, moving through the positions as we had before. At last we near the First Stage finish line … we race ahead in Position 2 as the tension builds … and then cross the finish line with an explosion. Stage II: Moderate Climb with Moderate to Heavy Resistance. (Cadence 60-70, Resistance Level 7)
The scene: in the hills above Vienna on this bright, warm April day, with trees beginning to green and a warm breeze blowing into our face. We’ve pulled away from the pack … at least for bit. Then, we’re joined by other riders, first one team member, then another. Together we ride, forming a pack. After a bit of a climb, we’ll decisively move forward to Position 3 as the tension of the climb develops. After some unexpected twists and turns in the road up, we reenter some familiar scenery and climb off into the distance. Stage III: Racing Away (Light-Moderate Resistance (Fast Cadence 100, Resistance Levels Moderate 2-4)
We’re still in the hills, but headed downhill, the city far below. Our team members want to play games, one sprinting ahead, and then another as we pass through small villages and beautiful countryside. We oblige the challenges, racing in the saddle, and then shooting from time to time to Position 2 for more power and speed. Then a pause in the game, a bit of a downhill grade, as we stay seated in the saddle (but no decrease in resistance … a headwind!) and a rise in the saddle with a couple of rising grades. After this “pause”, it’s back to the races.... Stage IV: The final stage … Running with Moderate Resistance -- Moderate Upward Grade (Moderate-Fast Cadence 85-90 Moderate Resistance 2-4)
After the opening fanfare the riders that have made it this far edge up to the starting line for the final stage of the race. Without a gun or signal, the race begins as we go scurrying off, fast, fast, with upward grade and wind resistance. This will be a final test of endurance – we may wish we were going downhill with the wind at our back, but we’re not -- we're into a strong wind with firm resistance! Position 3 with movements to Position 2, we race ahead, other bikers pushing forward. Then we enjoy just a brief rest in the saddle, as we keep our cadence, always racing forward. Then, off the main road, we’re pushed ahead, alternating between positions 2 and 3 … as the riders weave in an out of the pack, vying for position. After the bob and weaving, we begin to pass back through familiar territory, as we turn for home. Racing ahead, we keep our cadence steady (it’s hard!) but at least we see the finish line. At the end, it’s almost a blur, as time seems to pause, the riders weave in and out, but then we pull it together, and make our push across the finish line, exhausted but elated. Back to "Biking to Beethoven" Click Here
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