Photography by CyclingTips

Elements of Style: a selection of reviews

by Wade Wallace - October 15, 2014

It’s been a little over a month since we released Elements of Style, a collaborative video project with our good friends at The Sufferfest. As most of you know CyclingTips began by simply posting one ‘tip’ per day, and now we get to go back to our roots by not only giving some tips again, but by actually showing you how to put form into motion. The video is all about helping everyday riders improve their form, efficiency and technique on the bike by giving you drills to practise. We even reckon it will help you look a little bit more ‘pro’.

A couple weeks back I invited a few people to write a short review of the video. I did this for a couple of reasons: firstly, reviewing a video I was involved in would be a bit of a conflict of interest (of course I think it’s great); and secondly, we’re keen to do further videos along the same lines and we wanted to find out what people liked about Elements of Style, and what they didn’t.

First up we asked our editor Matt de Neef to write a review as he had no involvement in the video at all:

“

First up I need to say that I’m not bitter at all about the fact I didn’t get to go to New Zealand to help shoot this video. Actually, I’m glad I got to spend a week here in the office in Melbourne while Wade and his friends rode their bikes riding in New Zealand telling everyone it was ‘work’.

Should you buy this video? Yes, because us CyclingTips employees need to eat. And look, I admit, it’s probably going to help you with your cycling as well. But whatever you do, please don’t email in afterwards telling Wade how great the video is and how “smooth” he looks on the bike. Our office is barely big enough as it is, without having to find room for Wade’s swollen head.

And here’s what some people outside of CyclingTips had to say about Elements of Style.

Jules wrote:

“

This video is a worthy addition to my training library - maybe even a vital one. The video nicely lays out some drills to help you develop more efficient form on the bike. Some of the tips I’d heard before, but some were new. I’ll guarantee you’ll find areas you need to work on - it’s a video you would do well to get out every now and then, when you’re not looking for a 10/10ths trainer session, to ensure your form has stayed on track.

If I had one gripe, it’s being asked to practice standing techniques on drills that are being done on a trainer, but then I guess the point is to get out on the road and work on it!

Andy Logan wrote:

“

From watching the video I definitely learnt a few things that I will take into account while I am out on the bike, I have always been aware of the scraping the bottom of your foot type action, however probably don’t think about it enough or even pay any attention to it while I am out training, so definitely will think about that. I think the systems checks are good things to have in your head to bring yourself back to for example, so that will be a takeaway for me as well.

I was wondering before I watched the video whether the drills might become repetitive or whether it would be a lot of things I already knew, but there was good new content in there and reminders for some exercises that I know about, but don’t put into action often enough.

Dave Arnup wrote:

“

Six drills to improve my efficiency and style, these drills are the battle but to win the war one must master the “Systems Check”. A nine-point foot-to-head check that can, and should be done on every ride. The video repeats the systems check throughout, and states that your should memorise the check, to perform regularly.

The low cadence drills with Allan Iacuone riding a gravel climb, perfect. Most of us will never ride the Koppenberg in the wet, but a gravel climb we can do. On this terrain the rider needs to be smooth and dare I say it relaxed.

I can and will whole heartedly recommend this video.

Calvin Rowaan wrote:

“

I never thought about using my core that much so I did not expect that 40 minutes on the bike could be such an ab workout. The Systems Check was definitely useful and got me to think about my body on the bike. I have a tendency to get my shoulders up around my ears so the reminders to check each part of your body and relax was really helpful.

At times [the video] felt too relaxed though, particularly towards the end when harder efforts are included. In other Sufferfest videos, a gunshot is used to signal the start of an interval but that was not present for the most part. Since it was so relaxed feeling and with Carlton Kirby’s calm voice I often found myself missing the start of some intervals when the information came on screen. A more noticeable signal at the start of intervals would definitely improve the video.

I really like how it played into Sufflandrian lore and made you feel like you were being initiated into an ancient secret society as they bestowed all their secrets upon you.

Name withheld:

“

I won’t be buying or using or recommending Sufferfest as a result of your choice of the buffoon, Carlton Kirkby, to voice this programme. I refuse to support or endorse any company or organisation which prolongs or propagates this ignorant moron as part of the cycling community. He’s not a “character” he’s an embarrassment.

Okay, not everyone is a fan…

If you like the look of the video, or if you like what we do here at CyclingTips and would like to support us, please buy a copy. It’s only US$9.99 (about AUD$11.50) and it will help us invest in more exciting projects like this in the future.

If you’ve already watched the video, we’d love to get your feedback in the comments below. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like? How would you improve it? What would you like to see in the next video?

Tags: Elements of Style, the sufferfest

jules

i think this Jules character is actually a creation of CT!
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  Thanks for delivering on the bribe Jules. I won’t ban you from here like I threatened. :-)
  - jules
    
    please don’t resign me to the CN forums :)
- Sean
  
  I’ve no idea about your CT creation of jules hypothesis. I can tell you one thing, I never read its posts.
Chris

I have no idea if this will do me much good - I suspect I will still look like a sack of spuds on my bike whatever I do.
But I am very much happy to support a site I love and get so much out of for free very day, so I guess we’ll see once the download finishes.
Thanks to Wade and everyone else.
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  If it doesn’t give you the tools to transform you from a sack of spuds Chris, I’ll give your money back!
Jim

It was a first for me, I have never had a ‘training’ video for the trainer, just old races or other distractions. Thinking about it, it isn’t going to utterly smash you, but the 115rpm drills and hard hill climbing reps get the sweat up. I was after a recovery/shorter workout, and it was perfect, with my own additional warm up and down I stretched it to an hour (the workout itself is more like 40mins). The vid keeps coming at you, so it holds your attention, though I must admit to also missing the start of a few efforts, though probably because of not being used to these types of videos. A countdown, ready go or gunshot as previously mentioned may help. I found the scenery and visuals quite good, though got a bit messed up watching the guys riding at some other pace rather than the bpm dial (don’t have rpm counter on the trainer bike). The reason I bought it was it is cheaper than any other SF vids I’d seen, plus had a little discount, and a suitably mellow dipping of the toe into specific training vids. Plus I’d like to have better form on the bike. As mentioned I’d never thought of tightening in the abs when under pressure, seems to help. Do have trouble trying to work out if the glutes are doing the work though! Practically I find myself addressing the tips when I’m climbing and my form seems to waver. You go from being a flappy spider with arms, legs, hips, shoulders and bike swinging all over the place to being much more solid. Love the feeling of still shoulders. I think through the list and it returns me back to better form, plus takes my mind off the pain… HTH
- jules
  
  i like this vid as it returns you to some basics that I confess never having ever properly covered off.
  
  i have a theory that amateur sportspeople tend to focus too much on advanced stuff - shaving 5g off their bike or doing leg weights to find those ‘marginal gains’, when they haven’t mastered the basics.
  
  off track slightly, but this used to frustrate me when i played competitive basketball. i had teammates who would plan out plays like they were about to launch an multi-pronged assault on Leningrad, yet we weren’t doing the basics right.
  
  the most pro thing you can do is get the basics down right!
  - Sean
    
    +1
  - Jim
    
    Exactly! You can just jump on a bike and ride without thinking about this stuff, and now riding is more mindful for me..
    - http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
      
      This is where the idea for this video came from. Swimmers, runners, all sorts of athletes have drills to practise their technique. Cycling doesn’t, but there’s lots of stuff you can do. The saying “it’s like riding a bike” isn’t really true if you want to get good at it. There’s lots of subtleties to the proper pedal stroke, activating your lower back and glues, engaging the core, holding your upper body properly, etc.
      - echidna_sg
        
        cycling does, its just that most road cycling people don’t do them!
  - Andy Logan
    
    Yeah agreed, it got me back down to the basics quite well. I will be honest I came in with thought oh well, how much can I learn. I have had a bike fit and already dont a lot of work on my pedal stroke by practicing descending and peddling at 120-130rpm, to keep my movement smooth, but as I mentioned in my feedback the systems checks definitely helped on the road.
    
    I think personally I would build a slightly easier session around this video, I wouldn’t call some of the efforts as a recovery, so yeah.
    
    I think everyone could take something from it somewhere along the line.
    - jules
      
      i think you need some intensity though. my pedal stroke seems smooth as silk at light loads - it’s at higher cadences and loads that it breaks down and the bouncing commences..
    - Jim
      
      Agree, when I said recovery ride, I more meant efforts were shorter and less prevalent, rather than being hard all the way through. I ride it on my easy days, so that’s why I was thinking recovery I guess…
Sean

The comment by “Name withheld” is very much in the tone my good friend Dave is known to use on here. Busted.
- velocite
  
  Good for Dave, then. Egwetter gree about Carlton Kirby. Other negative comments: could drop the kids’ program ‘you’re doing very well’ type remark - just irritating. And maybe this is a sign of inventiveness, but I found it a little distracting to see that both sides of this bike had chain drive, only the left side featured mirror writing. Pleased to support CT, but dislike the trainer anyway.
  - jules
    
    i was recently introduced to the trainer, resisted for a long time, and have to admit it’s a bloody effective training tool. it’s not fun though, i agree.
  - http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
    
    Yeah, that reverse side trick wasn’t the slickest bit of editing, but necessary. We couldn’t afford to go back to NZ again to do it over!
    - velocite
      
      In that case well done, creative problem solving. Just don’t let it happen again!
clipperton

lindis pass at 1:14?
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  Coronet Peak!
- Winky
  
  I cycle toured over Lindis Pass years ago. A nice long climb on an epic day from Wanaka to Mt Cook. The day before between Haast and Wanaka lays some claim to being the nicest ride I’ve ever done.
Dale Smith

Bought this video, watched it (as opposed to doing it), and the next morning went up my regular 30 minute climb and took 30 seconds off my best time, in the pouring rain I might add. I just kept doing the systems check as I went, and I could feel the extra efficiency. My training partner got dropped out the back, which never usually happens. This $10 video gave me a similar result to spending an extra $3k on a lighter bike, or $1k on a power meter, or however much Ryder Hesjedal paid for his motor! (Just kidding Ryder!). I kept dropping my mate out the back for the next 2 weeks, but eventually couldn’t handle the guilt and coughed up another ten bucks and bought him a copy.
Thanks you CT guys. I get a lot of enjoyment from your site and it was great that you’ve made a product of this quality available at a no-brainer price.
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  You’re too kind Dale! While we’re telling fishing stories, I now constantly drop Allan Iacuone (the hired talent in the video) after I started using these drills and have driven him back to the bottle. I used to look up to him, but now I realise how inefficient he is.
  
  :-)
  - jules
    
    i saw someone drop Al Iacuone recently. however it wasn’t by much and it was that guy who has 99% of KOMs on strava
  - Dale Smith
    
    Only the strong survive in this game!!
Cameron Harris

A tip request then:

I have a very un-fancy Fluid turbo trainer that I was given. The tyre is a 23mm Vittoria slick (std fitment for a Colnago Ace),and has 1000kms on it. I don’t have a spare set of road wheels.

Will I destroy the tyre on the trainer?

Is one of those blue turbo trainer tyres a requirement?

Should I keep these wheels for the trainer and immediately buy a set of 404s?

C!
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  Hey Cameron, I wouldn’t worry about getting a new tyre specifically for the training unless you use it a lot. After a fair amount of use it’ll start squaring off the tyre (i.e. wearing down the middle) but a new tyre costs $40 these days, so it’s relatively cheap if you’re doing lots of riding.
  - Cameron Harris
    
    Thanks.
    
    (so much for a ‘reason’ for new wheels! 303s then?)
    - http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
      
      If you need an excuse for new wheels, I’ve been successful with dozens of them!
- Marcus
  
  If you’re using it 2 times a week or more, buy the cheapest nastiest rear wheel you can, get a turbo tyre, and put an old cassette on it. Won’t cost much, and the turbo tyre will last forever and won’t leave rubber crap on your floor.
Marcus

Bought. A video that doesn’t require me to bury myself, yet ultimately makes me faster - too good to resist.
Alpine9

I train on rollers, and am not a numbers man on the road or whilst training (no cadence, no speed, no heart rate) - Am I going to get the full benefit from this? I love the concept.
- d;
  
  +1 computer illiterate who only resorts to the trainer in desperation
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  Rollers are probably the wrong tool for the job with this video unless there’s a resistance feature. You can’t do low cadence (i.e. 50-60rpm) on rollers very well.
  
  Nothing wrong with enjoying your riding without focusing on the numbers. They’re tools that can help you get better, but not the only way.
  - http://whatspossible.com.au/ Scott Barrow
    
    Well said.
Johnny

I bought the video just because I was curios. I did not have the slightest idea what to expect and thought that I’d rather laugh about the content than pay attention to it. But it was all different. I started the video and was glued to my screen, soaking up every detail, enjoying stylish riders in a wonderful landscape.
Although I’ve always been the kind of rider who has a relatively smooth, fast and efficient pedaling style, this video made me aware of my mistakes. Now I pay greater attention to detail and think I could further improve my position on the bike. I did never expect that, but I can say that this video is worth the money and a joy to watch.

Although this content would not fit into the concept of a training video, I would have loved some tips regarding cleat positioning, saddle adjustment and bike fitting in general. I needed quite a while to find my position and would have benefited greatly of such tips presented by pro riders. Many less experienced riders simply have their bikes adjusted so badly that they just cannot reach a smooth and elegant riding style.

Cheers from Germany!
sumorider

Found the vid to be very useful and effective. Have used 2-3 times a week. The visual styling is really nice. Info graphics size look good on iPhone - the countdown indicator is a nice idea that works well.
Love the drills especially the hill climbing. Well structured.

Only gripe is the music. Never understand why euro trance is the default for cycling videos. And given that this vid is a fresh departure from the norm, its a little disappointing not to see the music follow suit.
Despite this, looking forward to purchasing the next vid! Quality.
http://www.blacksheepcycling.cc Shane Barrie

Great video. Also, Black Sheep Cycling. Style.

http://www.blacksheepcycling.cc
Richard Riley

This was the video that I did not know I needed until I got it. Thanks for a great job all round - CT and SF.

For a follow up video can I suggest one on stretching - before and after a ride and also core muscles which seem to get spoken about a lot in cycling.

Thanks again
Hiro Lai

Thanks CT for this beautiful video! Hopefully these training video come with subtitles in the future, so I can recommend it to friends who do not understand English to enjoy video like I do. But perhaps I should get them to learn a bit more English…