That long high-force low-rpm type of work is very different than special force as originally practiced by the East Germans. Those were all out maximal strength efforts on the bike. I think the translation from the German could also have been Specific Force. We would work up through a range of gears on our road bikes up to 53x12. Doing a 50m all out standing effort on a 53x12 would give me that same weird metallic taste in my mouth that I would get with heavy squats. So yes, it is definitely strength training and might result in similar adaptations to those seen by Per Aagaard. But that is only a reasonable hypothesis and we won't know till someone actually does the study. By the way, trying to do these on the track is too much of a vortex because of the need for changing gears and the smaller range available in a typical track gear selection. Road bike is much better.
The long grinding stuff you mentioned is likely beneficial for muscle respiratory development for two reasons. First, even though the power is low enough to be sustainable, the force is high enough to recruit large type II motor units. Second, there is evidence from NIRS data that lower cadence produces greater changes in muscle oxygenation with the pedal cycle. That is, the longer period of occlusion due to high muscle tension lets saturation fall to lower levels, which likely provides a greater stimulus for mitochondrial and capillary development. But again, the adaptations have not been carefully investigated as far as I know.
Cheers,
Jim
CoachFergie said:
Uphill on pursuit bikes on aero bars at 40-60rpm for 8km. That was 1997, so not sure if they do that now.
I do overgear work, but on the track I go one sprocket smaller than race gear. Yes, lots of seated starts or seated accelerations from varying speeds.