Trainerroad expectations
Discussion
okgo said:
Yes, my point was that for normal sized people (sorry Ross) you should concentrate on increasing power vs stagnating and trying to get super lean, the ideal is to train to be powerful and eat to be lean of course. Most folk are not anywhere near their potential in weight or FTP stakes, so no reason not to concentrate on both. But at a push I would always rather have more watts than lose and extra KG or 2 if the choice is there.
Always remember 1kg is 3 seconds difference up Box Hill and two bottles weigh 1kg. Which is why when you hear people s
tting their pants about 200g here or there you can only laugh.
In my case I'd rather lose the extra 20kgs...... :-)Always remember 1kg is 3 seconds difference up Box Hill and two bottles weigh 1kg. Which is why when you hear people s
tting their pants about 200g here or there you can only laugh.Back on topic, I Carson to do tonight......quite looking forward to it.
As an aside, how often should you do an FTP test to monitor progress?
Personally I don't test, as its fairly obvious when its gone up and I can make a good stab at it from normal training rides and such.
But for someone fairly new to it, I would not do it anymore often than monthly. I think 6 weeks is a good time frame, should mean that even if you catch a bad day when you re-test that if you're fitter it will still show through.
But for someone fairly new to it, I would not do it anymore often than monthly. I think 6 weeks is a good time frame, should mean that even if you catch a bad day when you re-test that if you're fitter it will still show through.
wobert said:
As an aside, how often should you do an FTP test to monitor progress?
Now that I have a bit more structure to my training I'm going to test at the beginning of each block, when I'm fresh after the recovery weeks. At the moment those blocks are 4 weeks but I'll have a play with that and see if I can stretch them to 5-6 weeks and still make good progress. My thinking is that'll help me judge the effectiveness of any given training block so that I can plan better training next year.Gruffy said:
wobert said:
As an aside, how often should you do an FTP test to monitor progress?
Now that I have a bit more structure to my training I'm going to test at the beginning of each block, when I'm fresh after the recovery weeks. At the moment those blocks are 4 weeks but I'll have a play with that and see if I can stretch them to 5-6 weeks and still make good progress. My thinking is that'll help me judge the effectiveness of any given training block so that I can plan better training next year.This ties into the plan I have too...
While I agree nothing predicts performance like performance itself.. there's also an argument that you don't improve what you don't measure.
When I get a chance to do a 25, I regard that as a better indicator of my real FTP than a test; however to get meaningful information on your progress you need to keep the conditions the same. Racing isn't - depends on far too many things, course, who turns up etc. Power is different on the turbo, but at least the test protocol can be identical every time. In my case about 6-8 weeks apart roughly.
When I get a chance to do a 25, I regard that as a better indicator of my real FTP than a test; however to get meaningful information on your progress you need to keep the conditions the same. Racing isn't - depends on far too many things, course, who turns up etc. Power is different on the turbo, but at least the test protocol can be identical every time. In my case about 6-8 weeks apart roughly.
Just did Sufferfest Local Hero....I changed the workout to match the sufferfests app version....a fair bit different; the intervals were generally a little easier, but the "recoveries" were at 70% FTP.....also added a few little efforts on the end.
Really productive session that one....20mins of threshold and 20mins of VO2 max in one session, as well as a couple of mins anaerobic, over 8mins of both sweetspot and tempo and 25mins endurance zones. Aside the warm up/down power never went below 70%
Really productive session that one....20mins of threshold and 20mins of VO2 max in one session, as well as a couple of mins anaerobic, over 8mins of both sweetspot and tempo and 25mins endurance zones. Aside the warm up/down power never went below 70%
Edited by E65Ross on Thursday 19th January 10:43
Long ride planned tomorrow. Will most likely do it outdoors....but I'm a bit concerned as it's going to be VERY cold tomorrow, so gotta be careful with ice.
Liking this thread....I suspect it's going to give most of us a little bit more incentive to keep riding.
I follow the training plans quite loosely....and often substitute some sessions for sufferfest sessions which are similar-ish as I prefer them. I also can only ride 5 times a week due to work routine etc, so I add TSS on some days and less so on others.
Liking this thread....I suspect it's going to give most of us a little bit more incentive to keep riding.
I follow the training plans quite loosely....and often substitute some sessions for sufferfest sessions which are similar-ish as I prefer them. I also can only ride 5 times a week due to work routine etc, so I add TSS on some days and less so on others.
RichUK said:
My Garmin HRM stopped working a few rides ago, changed the battery to no avail. Was just ordering a new one tonight (whilst finishing Taku) and suddenly realised that my Vivosmart HR+ could broadcast heart rate, so cancelled Amazon order saved £40.
I've got a vivosmart HR, I dont think it's that great for reading HR, it doesn't always read and I want my HR recorded for a whole training session or ride*, my last sensor made a break for it on a sportive last year when I was in a portaloo (don't ask)!! I just put a request in via FB and picked one up for £20, I find it much more reliable. I did my first session with my new power today (Elephant! Who thinks of these names??) 6x5mins @ 108%, it was unsurprisingly tough, but I held on. Lucky I've got another rest day tomorrow before Saturdays session (Mount Baldy). my mates coming over too, so at least I have someone to share the pain with!!
- *because I'm a tart.....
Chicken Chaser said:
Some session advice on here would be ideal. I'm nowhere near 2 wheels for a couple of days, but looking forward to a session on the Turbo on Sunday already! Think it'll be a longer one.
What sort of session are you after? Sweetspot, threshold, VO2, anaerobic? Roughly how long are you looking for and what sort of intensity? Try using the search/filter function on trainerroad to see if you can find something to match what you fancy.
Chicken Chaser said:
Some session advice on here would be ideal. I'm nowhere near 2 wheels for a couple of days, but looking forward to a session on the Turbo on Sunday already! Think it'll be a longer one.
I must admit I'm new to TR, but have been using a TT for a few years now. In the past, I have been using a mix of about 5 or sessions with varying intensity and duration (30 to 90 mins) with the 45-60 mins being favoured due to family commitments. I did start following a training plan on TR, but it doesn't always fit into my work / family life balance and having at least 1 weekly TT session with a friend (he doesn't use TR).
I'm sure following a more structured training plan would improve my cycling, but I don't race and I generally ride for enjoyment / exercise, take part in a few sportives / challenges a year, so sticking religiously to a training plan isn't the highest thing on my agenda.
If however, I had a big event to work towards (thinking of the Marmotte in next year or 2), I must admit following a more structured plan would probably help.
I am new to TT and also trainer road. I started using it as I have a family grudge race in July, so rather than previous "just ride how I feel" I figured some structured training would give me the advantage.
Surprisingly I'm enjoying it at the moment,m another surprise is how intense it is, 1hr on the TT does not equal 1hr outside. However having said that I'll probably do the longer weekend rides outside.
Surprisingly I'm enjoying it at the moment,m another surprise is how intense it is, 1hr on the TT does not equal 1hr outside. However having said that I'll probably do the longer weekend rides outside.
RichUK said:
My Garmin HRM stopped working a few rides ago, changed the battery to no avail. Was just ordering a new one tonight (whilst finishing Taku) and suddenly realised that my Vivosmart HR+ could broadcast heart rate, so cancelled Amazon order saved £40.
Get a strap. The Vivosmart is crap on a turbo. For some reason it reads far worse than out on the road. Maybe the sweat? It spikes all over, drops often and seems to lag a lot more than a strap especially when in recovery periods. It's never been a great HRM but seems worse for intensive activities/intervalsFor those struggling with HR readings, try some conductive electrode gel. I got some from Amazon a couple of years ago and it gave me much more reliable and consistent readings, and I've been using the stuff ever since....I did, howeveer, ditch my Garmin strap in favour of a Polar Soft Strap.
E65Ross said:
For those struggling with HR readings, try some conductive electrode gel. I got some from Amazon a couple of years ago and it gave me much more reliable and consistent readings, and I've been using the stuff ever since....I did, howeveer, ditch my Garmin strap in favour of a Polar Soft Strap.
This .... Ditch the Garmin strap and use a Polar ... A bit of spit to get it going , then it works a treat . Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff