Training Status??? (IV)
#2026
once a runner
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: bay area
Posts: 511
Bikes: n+1
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 270 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I like structured training, but I find I can only do so many weeks of it before it wears me down mentally (physically its fine). I just get stressed about being concerned about weight, over analyzing my numbers and workouts, worrying about results, etc. I want to go back to exploring and not caring for a while.
Intensity wise, I find I actually get a comparable amount when I'm doing unstructured riding because I still like going up hills hard etc. Its just that I need to transition my mental model to one where I don't get upset if I'm not executing everything to plan or PRing all the time.
Also, until I can 'stride' again I really have nothing else I like to do with my time, so I'll still be getting in plenty of pedalling hours.
Intensity wise, I find I actually get a comparable amount when I'm doing unstructured riding because I still like going up hills hard etc. Its just that I need to transition my mental model to one where I don't get upset if I'm not executing everything to plan or PRing all the time.
Also, until I can 'stride' again I really have nothing else I like to do with my time, so I'll still be getting in plenty of pedalling hours.
#2027
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Redwood City, CA
Posts: 10,978
Bikes: aggressive agreement is what I ride.
Mentioned: 109 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 967 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
I like structured training, but I find I can only do so many weeks of it before it wears me down mentally (physically its fine). I just get stressed about being concerned about weight, over analyzing my numbers and workouts, worrying about results, etc. I want to go back to exploring and not caring for a while.
Intensity wise, I find I actually get a comparable amount when I'm doing unstructured riding because I still like going up hills hard etc. Its just that I need to transition my mental model to one where I don't get upset if I'm not executing everything to plan or PRing all the time.
Also, until I can 'stride' again I really have nothing else I like to do with my time, so I'll still be getting in plenty of pedalling hours.
Intensity wise, I find I actually get a comparable amount when I'm doing unstructured riding because I still like going up hills hard etc. Its just that I need to transition my mental model to one where I don't get upset if I'm not executing everything to plan or PRing all the time.
Also, until I can 'stride' again I really have nothing else I like to do with my time, so I'll still be getting in plenty of pedalling hours.
#2028
Rides too much bike
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Boston
Posts: 842
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 232 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
you being concerned with your bodyweight is nothing but unproductive. you'd likely recover better and feel better a couple lbs fatter. Over time, the better recovery leads to stronger legs which makes the original 2lbs you gained meaningless. I stress about my fatness and weight more than anyone. Don't be like me in that regard. It's stupid.
As much as I would like to lose another 10-15 lbs this winter I know that when I am 5 lbs lighter than now I start to feel fatigued and my performance goes down. The primary goal is about getting faster, not skinnier.
#2029
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 956
Bikes: Giant TCR, Giant Anthem, Felt CX
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 65 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
"Training" has sucked this week. Been sick since Saturday which started out as a sore throat, fever and earache. Now it's just congestion and so.much.snot!! I'm a terrible sick person. I hate sitting around and haven't been able to sleep well. I've done a few easy rides this week and some trail running. I ended up at the doctor for antibiotics for my ear and sinus. On the plus side, I was due for a rest week and I weigh less than I have in years!
#2031
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
Had a morning meeting in Santa Rosa so I took my bike in order to get in a little ride in the afternoon. I don't think I'll be challenging that KOM any time soon, not until I get a grand fondo named after me.
#2032
Senior Member
1hr20, with 60mins at 231w (89%). felt great could have kept going for longer, really.
I don't know if anyone else gets annoyed when they have a power/cadence dialed in and the fluid resistance decreases on the trainer. I assume many fluid trainers have this to varying degrees, just a bit of a pain to have to spin a little too fast or too slow at times to stay at a desired target (plus I have 8 speed cassette so not a lot of fine tuning on that)
I don't know if anyone else gets annoyed when they have a power/cadence dialed in and the fluid resistance decreases on the trainer. I assume many fluid trainers have this to varying degrees, just a bit of a pain to have to spin a little too fast or too slow at times to stay at a desired target (plus I have 8 speed cassette so not a lot of fine tuning on that)
#2033
once a runner
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: bay area
Posts: 511
Bikes: n+1
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 270 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
short tempo yesterday, short ride with openers today. hopefully tuning the body to race tomorrow. chain feels bad in the big ring but i can worry about that later because i won't be using it much.
current status: attempting to deceive myself that this isn't just a faulty reading in my sprint and i did in fact set a new 1 sec MMP.
current status: attempting to deceive myself that this isn't just a faulty reading in my sprint and i did in fact set a new 1 sec MMP.
#2034
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Southern California, USA
Posts: 10,475
Bikes: 1979 Raleigh Team 753
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3375 Post(s)
Liked 371 Times
in
253 Posts
They blips sometimes, but that looks like a real number. Blips tend to be ridiculous numbers.
#2037
once a runner
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: bay area
Posts: 511
Bikes: n+1
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 270 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
yeah, i dont get spikes very often but usually its really obvious like 1.5x my max power when i wasn't even attempting to sprint.
975W is about 10% higher than i've hit before which makes me suspicious, but it was during an attempted sprint and don't try to sprint very often so its a gray area.
it seems like 5s power is more useful to track, but 'because big numbers' (relative) its still fun to see 1s power.
975W is about 10% higher than i've hit before which makes me suspicious, but it was during an attempted sprint and don't try to sprint very often so its a gray area.
it seems like 5s power is more useful to track, but 'because big numbers' (relative) its still fun to see 1s power.
#2038
Senior Member
#2039
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Southern California, USA
Posts: 10,475
Bikes: 1979 Raleigh Team 753
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3375 Post(s)
Liked 371 Times
in
253 Posts
I tend to think spikes within 200% are just timing the pulses right, so I don't see it so much as an equipment malfunction. I have a number (<.1%) of power spikes 10,000W+ - which I have no explication for. Then my son had a transport 50miles mid ride. But that was in New Mexico so it may have been aliens.
#2040
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,449
Mentioned: 64 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 693 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
yeah, i dont get spikes very often but usually its really obvious like 1.5x my max power when i wasn't even attempting to sprint.
975W is about 10% higher than i've hit before which makes me suspicious, but it was during an attempted sprint and don't try to sprint very often so its a gray area.
it seems like 5s power is more useful to track, but 'because big numbers' (relative) its still fun to see 1s power.
975W is about 10% higher than i've hit before which makes me suspicious, but it was during an attempted sprint and don't try to sprint very often so its a gray area.
it seems like 5s power is more useful to track, but 'because big numbers' (relative) its still fun to see 1s power.
in the past week i've had 3 people talk to me about how their accelerometer-based meters are exhibiting some 1" anomalies--power when they are coasting but hit a bump, that sort of thing. happens less when a magnet is on the bike.
#2042
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Blacksburg, VA
Posts: 4,850
Bikes: Yeti ASRc, Focus Raven 29er, Flyxii FR316
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Sprint, or sprint to finish off a race?
Two different things.
Two different things.
#2043
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 128
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#2045
Ninny
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: The Gunks
Posts: 5,295
Mentioned: 53 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 686 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
My 2c: you can't really focus on numbers to improve your sprint. You can improve your sprint power by doing sprints, and sprint-like exercises on and off the bike. But so much of successful sprinting is about timing, positioning, patience, form, and mental commitment, none of which can be represented by a number.
#2046
Senior Member
2nd day in a row where I rode 1x60min @ sweet spot, plus another 30 at endurance 100tss total. feeling great
#2047
Senior Member
today was the race that broke me. i've been racing pretty regularly since april and am just friggin tired. signed up for two more cx races but at this point i'm just going through the motions.
#2048
OMC
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: South Louisiana
Posts: 6,960
Bikes: Specialized Allez Sprint, Look 585, Specialized Allez Comp Race
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 461 Post(s)
Liked 116 Times
in
49 Posts
At least you could drive to it, so there's that.
__________________
Regards,
Chuck
Demain, on roule!
Regards,
Chuck
Demain, on roule!
#2049
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,449
Mentioned: 64 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 693 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
it looks like some other replies might have taken 'focus on #s ' a bit literally.
what length are your practice sprints?
aside from all the non-power-related stuff for sprinting, i'd focus on doing repeats of 10-12" where you shift once, or maybe twice, but only after you wind out the gear.
afterwards, you can worry about analyzing all the data (and even then i wouldn't focus on 1", ever...and i'd ONLY pay attention to 5" when i made sure the raw data was not repeating 3" of the last # transmitted, as referenced earlier). i'll tend to look more at that 10-12" power. if those are done to exhaustion you can then see your maximum sprints and your repeatability, and you can figure out if you're fading at 8", 9" or 11".
IMO max power is nice, but when looking at athletes' data i care much more about acceleration and how long they can keep accelerating before they top out. that's a bigger determinant of knowing how far from the line they can jump and hold it, and contributes to more results.
if you sprint for 12" but achieve your max power in 3" and fade, as a coach that tells me that we may need to work on different things than someone who takes longer to hit their max but, perhaps, has a lower max.
of course, tactics, position on the bike, position in the pack, gearing, yadda yadda.....
what length are your practice sprints?
aside from all the non-power-related stuff for sprinting, i'd focus on doing repeats of 10-12" where you shift once, or maybe twice, but only after you wind out the gear.
afterwards, you can worry about analyzing all the data (and even then i wouldn't focus on 1", ever...and i'd ONLY pay attention to 5" when i made sure the raw data was not repeating 3" of the last # transmitted, as referenced earlier). i'll tend to look more at that 10-12" power. if those are done to exhaustion you can then see your maximum sprints and your repeatability, and you can figure out if you're fading at 8", 9" or 11".
IMO max power is nice, but when looking at athletes' data i care much more about acceleration and how long they can keep accelerating before they top out. that's a bigger determinant of knowing how far from the line they can jump and hold it, and contributes to more results.
if you sprint for 12" but achieve your max power in 3" and fade, as a coach that tells me that we may need to work on different things than someone who takes longer to hit their max but, perhaps, has a lower max.
of course, tactics, position on the bike, position in the pack, gearing, yadda yadda.....
#2050
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,449
Mentioned: 64 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 693 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
i just had my last CX race of the year, and i feel like it was my best one. in some senses i'm sad it is over (weather was unseasonably nice, which helped), but i'm also glad for the change of seasons. i may be racing on skis in 2 weeks.
last saturday came closer than i have all season to beating a racer i respect, and this weekend i caught and passed him after 3 laps into a 7-lap race. he followed me for 3 laps. i could not break him, though. on the final lap i was unable to isolate him on the power section/headwind, and he got around me in the barriers that were 2' from the finish. finished a few seconds behind him. chapeau.
we actually had a really fun battle for 1/2 the race. i exploited my strengths and then went tape to tape to negate his. (nothing unsportsmanlike.) i even went through the internal dialogue when i was deep in the race, lungs burning, legs aching -- reminding myself that that was EXACTLY the time to go even harder.
final lap was the same time as my first lap. i'll get him next year.