Too many matches?
 

This is from the crit last night. I went anaerobic a lot, maybe this is normal? I went over 600 watts too many times to count. Thoughts?

Matches are only lit if you had to go so deep and hard, you felt *****.
You usually don't have more than one or two of those in a race, and one of them has to be for the win.

All those other 600w+ efforts you are talking about are not what I'd consider matches.

Ah ok. Two laps to go I had very little left, and by the final 500m I was just trying to stay with the split that happened at the end and I couldn't make any power. I'm just trying to figure out what I could've done better, other than have more fitness.

I was actually reading about "matches" on trainingpeak.com yesterday (in preperation for my powertap wheels). I won't even pretend to try to interpret your graph, but, their definition is:

As a starting point, I propose that for most riders and racers, a match can be defined as an effort in which you go over threshold power by at least 20% and hold it there for at least one minute.

I've heard from those who know more than me that in each race you have 3 matches:

1 - to make the break
2 - to split the break
3 - to win the race

use them wisely.

procrit: fwiw I think an attempted physiological definition of "matches" in terms of power is in another recent thread.

your chart looks like a typical crit, kind of a "sine wave" if you smooth it out.

Race smoother. I'm going through the same issue. I had a 1 hour crit where I spiked over 600 watts 111 times, 54 of those were 800 watt spikes.

I compared my file to a teammate who is a very good crit rider. He had A LOT less spikes, less than half what I did. He's one of those guys who can work his way around in a pack and always pop out up front.

Very jealous.

Stupid and tasteless analogies for the win. :rolleyes:

Or to hang on if you suck

Your graph looks just like mine. cat 4/5 training crits from last week. Wide turns, but still huge accelerations out of the turns nonetheless. Every turn I have 600-900W spikes.

It's not the height of the spikes so much as the duration. See here for an article about creating a graph, or PM me the data and I'll plug it in my spreadsheet for you. It doesn't look like matches to me though.

I have to learn to do the same as your teammate.

I always end up sprinting around corners only to have to slow down when the pack starts slowing right after them. I need to hit them a bit smoother this time around. Crits this weekend, so I can get some practice :)

Also when you look at the training peaks FAQ it states a match is 20% over your FTP for 1 minute and you can use the fast find tool in WKO+ to find those matches.
http://home.trainingpeaks.com/articl...s-a-match.aspx

Ive noticed from my files that position has alot to do with it. Being near(not on) the front my spikes are much smaller then being in the main pack or near the back. Of course on a more open course I can get away with it because while others a braking for corner I can accelerate just a bit and make up ground. Tight courses position can have a great effect on the spikes.