furiousferret

Good stuff from both you and @gsteinb. Five w/kg is impressive at 20 minutes, and I know a lot of people say that doesn't matter in crits, but it would seem to me having that kind of power would help you be in cruise control most of the race and pop out maximum power at the end; am I right in assuming that?

My biggest issue in crits has always been even though I can hit xxxx in a sprint, I'm just too gassed from the overall race effort and my final surge is 30% less than my maximal power for that time. One thing I've started doing is 2 all out sprints at the end of every ride, just because that's when it matters.

For what I'm doing, the 5 second to 5 minute band of power is the most important. However, I can only manage that about 4 hours a week, the rest is filler of z1 / z2. I'm a bit older and new to training so I'm not sure if its low, but I can't imagine people doing much more than it. For me, 1 minute and 5 minute intervals are pretty taxing, and what I refer to as 'heart attack efforts'.

I enjoy the low volume trash filler, so its not a burden. I do think it helps, but probably not an efficient use of time either.

Hermes

You articulated my point very well. Truth be known, I always keep a monkey around but I am not saying why just in case any competition is reading this thread.

revchuck 

Everybody's got something to hide, 'cept for me and my monkey...

shovelhd

People that say that FTP doesn't matter in crits don't understand how to win crits. Even sprint specialists will concede that a strong base FTP is critical just to have a shot at the end. If you don't have a shot at the end, you're not really racing, your just riding around.

In general, if you train to your strengths and do not seriously train to improve your weaknesses, then you become a one trick pony who has to rely on racecraft or luck to win. The higher up the categories you go, the harder it will be to win with just one strategy.

I don't play the Ewang game. I will say that when I was completely healthy and in peak fitness for Nats two years ago, I was not only on the front but one of a handful of riders dictating the race dynamics, and only one of two without stripes. My numbers told me that I was competing at the National level and that was confirmed.

mattm

One thing you can do when doing "filler" miles is work on cadence; you can still be in z2 and make sure you are spinning at 100+ rpm.. that will help the top-end speed.

I (try to) do this in the first ~20 mins of my rides, that included a bunch of annoying turns and stoplights, to avoid wasted time on the bike.

There is always room for non-focused riding of course, but you might as well squeeze as much out of every ride as possible!

Wylde06

Everything is a weakness for me. The few times I haven't been dropped, I usually have nothing left anyways (mostly crits with the occasional road race). I really need to work on a lot this year.

Ygduf

I knew you were loaded, but a pet monkey too? Invite me in next time!!1

Hermes

Stripe wang. Who would have thought.

shovelhd

Someday, maybe.

caloso

It started raining here just as soon as I rolled out of my driveway and I was thinking this is gonna suck. Turned out to be pretty light and stopped altogether after 15 minutes. Got my intervals done and made it to work in one piece. All that matters.

Hermes

I am totally bored with the rain. Gym and rollers today...so it goes.

Ygduf

I rode in a ridiculous downpour last night. At a certain point I just had to laugh. It was like a midwest thunderstorm. I think 1/2 inch in like 30 minutes.

YMCA

For seriously, someone said that? Ha. Let them keep not thinking. One more competitor out the back.

rkwaki

I just froze my weiner and fingertips (both about the same size) but hit my highest wattage in a sprint in a while (even though I couldn't feel hands)...

furiousferret

Enlighten us, let the ewang out for all to bear witness.

revchuck 

Down here that's considered just over a moderate sprinkle. Good on ya for riding, though!

rkwaki

1127 watts




















Plus a little

hack

30-second watts?

I've been tossing in an occasional sprint here or there while night riding (for fun or to catch a light) and I don't care for it. The light is only so bright and it's like sprinting into an abyss.

furiousferret

misterwaterfall

I do one leg drills sometimes...

rkwaki

Okay just to get under your skin as I've seen your numbers take your max and add 225-250

misterwaterfall

Kind of like the difference is body weight between us? All of the cheeseburgers!!!



Also: google searching fat man on a bicycle generates more boobies than expected fyi

hack

^Shoot...kudos to him. Number on the bike and he's riding.

shovelhd

Needs a bigger helmet, but yes.

rkwaki

Or a smaller head.