umd

It wasn't last year, it was 2 years ago. He's a 2 or a 1 now, and I think he had been a pro triathlete. IIRC his threshold was about 350W at around 150lbs.

spinwax

There was no Callville Bay 2 yrs ago (09). Wasn't it last yr you won the RR stage as a 4 at Callville?

umd

Sorry I was thinking of this year as last year, it was so long ago... It was 2009 I won the RR stage. Anyway, you could look up the TT results, he was the winner of that stage but I think he got nipped in the GC by Robert Shaw's solo breakaway attack in the crit.

caloso

Reading this thread makes me wonder how in the hell was I able upgrade to 3.

spinwax

Has to be Shane.

umd

Yeah I just didn't want to connect his name with power claims so directly in the thread...

spinwax

Being that it was almost 2 yrs ago I am sure nobody cares what kind of power he was making then. We all know he makes good power, hence his great results and his TT ability.

echappist

reading this thread makes me wonder if i can upgrade to 3 on points

caloso

Go top tens. All the cool kids are doing it that way.

Psimet2001 

Luckily I won't have to worry about any upgrades anytime soon. I just get sad every spring and fall when i watch the new crop of cat 4's upgrade....sad to see them go. Starting to imagine this is what teachers feel like.

guadzilla

Around 220W (pretty much my FTP). I am built like you 6'0", 180lb+ and broad shouldered. But I am able to get quite low on the bike (almost a flat back while on the hoods).

EDIT: I meant flat back while on the drops, not hoods.

V.

myclem

Jeebus. I need to sell my powertap, if not the whole bike.
All the eWang-swinging around here is making my mangina sore.

I have been pack fodder (survived) in all of my Cat4/5 races. Dropped once in a Masters crit.

Next season I hope to have a little more time and discipline. But truthfully, I've got way to much *life* in the way to devote as much time as some of the 4/5's around here. Sticking to a training plan lasted about 3-4 weeks, then I just resigned myself to unstructured Just-Ride-When-I-Can + commuting. Sounds like the perfect recipe for a career Cat4.

umd

Fair enough. Suffice it to say, he learned pretty quickly not to drag around the whole pack and upgraded shortly after I did. I think he won one of the cat 3 Gila stages that year and was pretty high in the GC. Hmm, it would be fun to look at everyone around me in the GC from Callville that year and see where they are all now. I know Shaw is a 2, don't know about the others.

spinwax

Yeah Shane is a fast dude. Heard he is a nice kid as well. I love to see young guys promote through the ranks quickly.

MJH2

In the spring of 2009 I was putting out over 100 peak watts more than I was in the spring of 2010. And, I'm pretty sure that those numbers were higher than a lot of the guys who were handing out the beatings. My FTP was higher in 2010, though. In the spring of 2009 I scored exactly upgrade points. This year I upgraded before Memorial day (all on sprinting).

I think peak wattage numbers are a little silly. They help you get a gap, but not a whole lot more. My personal experience is that 5 minute power (so you can move up if needed on the last lap) and 20-30 second power (so you can finish) on top of a decent FTP will win you more sprints than just looking at "sprinting power".

Hida Yanra

Hey man, I feel you. I started the year super strong, did work for the team, but haven't had training time since late April.
I still have good days, and can still spice up races, but the lack of training b/c of "non-bike" stuff has killed my chances to upgrade this year.
Glad to hear you are still around - I was thinking about you last weekend as I hadn't seen you in a while.
(Our team ride is coming up, look us up on the WSBA page and come out :-)

Psimet2001 

none of your experience counts though....you were racing against me. I suck.

MJH2

It's not about you, man, it's about the numbers!

And, FWIW, my peak power is now up even higher than the spring of 2009. And I haven't finished a race since June.

ridethecliche

Most of the people who say that 'life' gets in the way don't try hard enough to figure it out. The time doesn't appear out of thin air, you have to make it. There are plenty of guys who do this with a family life, demanding job, and still see their friends etc.

I'm sorry, but I really dislike that argument because a lot of people have to work really hard to fit everything together.

I hope that you have more time and discipline next season as well. If you don't then you're just going to have to resign yourself to doing the best that you can given your constraints.

spessx

LMAO. My favorite post of the thread.

-s

myclem

Sure. Since you qualified that with "most people", let's just say I'm an outlier.

But yeah, I hear you, RTC. Hopefully, I'll have fewer interruptions next year and can stay on track.
This year I got my feet wet.
Next year...whet the power.

I'm gearing up for cross season now and hoping to get some mojo into these legs.
(Man, I wish they made a mojo meter.)

Hida, sorry to hear about your season, too. I might still do another RR this year (LWV:Carnation), so maybe I'll see you there. I'll try an make it to the team ride, too. It looks like one of the few not on a CX race day.

Hida Yanra

I'll be out at carnation -
and I'll be at the team ride, (I think around 80% of our team races cross, so that was entirely intentional :-)

mollusk

The human brain consumes about 20 watts. Those are the most important watts.

spinwax

You are correct. It doesn't matter. It is all about getting out there and just having fun. This is truely the greatest sport around and it is just a pleasure to be part of it!!! I am just excited I might be able to race next season. Hopefully the ol knees will hold up.

spinwax

Mine only takes about 3.4 to power, it is very small and aerodynamic.