[pct-l] speed hiking, zero days and crawling along slowly

[Brick Robbins]

On Dec 2, 2007 3:55 PM, g l <gailpl2003 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> My point is this:  If a cyclist rides with a #20 pack on, for say, 3 months
> along side a guy who does the same ride for 3 months, and then the guy with
> the pack takes it off, he'll likely ride faster and farther than the other
> guy.  His muscles, cardio, etc will be up for the challenge because his
> system has adjusted to that load.

I cycle too, (and swim, yes I'm a tri geek now) and cycling is known
to be fundamentally different from running/hiking by the folks in the
know. Cyclists don't have the same connective tissue issues that
runners do. The Triathlete's call cycling "non weight bearing." Yes,
cyclists cardio and muscles are strong, but those are not the things
that end a tru hike. Knees, ankles and hips are the problems.

You will note that "stage races" are common in cycling events, but NOT
in perambulating events.

Lighter saves joints.