How do you manage your riding/training performance?

[HiYoSilver]

Curious, what tools do you use to track your riding performance? AND how do you use the tools to help you improve?

Currently I'm just using a spreadsheet and capturing basic data:

-distance
-date
-time
-day of week

Then I calculate: averages, deltas, mph, and performance gain/loss.

Now I have a 25 session base line, what next? How do you use the data? Is there anything else I should be tracking I'm not?

['nother]

In addition to the above, I track:
- route
- ride time
- total time
- total climbing (accumulated elevation gain)
- average & max HR as recorded by my HRM

I generally try to compare apples to apples, e.g. no fair comparing 25 flat miles to 25 miles with 3000' of climbing. I don't get too hung up on evaluating performance; at best what I'll do is look at a route and then look at my previous efforts on that same route and compare times, speeds, HR stats to get some sense of how I'm doing.

[HiYoSilver]

Elevation gain via HRM?

['nother]

Elevation gain via HRM?
No; many times that's estimated. I am not so anal that I need it down to the exact foot; "pretty close" is sufficient for me. I use a program called KLIMB (http://klimb.org/) that has elevation info for our local area (and some others) and I typically use that.

There are some HRMs/computers that have altimeter functions, but I could not justify shelling out that kind of $$$.

[HiYoSilver]

I see, that only works for SFbay, but at least you started me thinking it might be good to add this data point. thanks

['nother]

Yeah, theoretically you can add your own info to KLIMB, but it would take quite a bit of time and effort. For your situation you might be better off getting a GPS or something like that. It's possible Google Earth's info is good enough. Though I suspect there is decent documentation of climbs/routes in your area, you should maybe ask other cyclists around there how they keep track of elevation.

It's definitely a good data point to add unless all of your routes are really flat or nearly so. Changes in my climbing ability are, to me, the best indicator of my progress and fitness -- much more so than distances, speeds, etc.

[HiYoSilver]

I looked at KLIMB and its way cheaper to get altimeter than recreating.

Not level here. My regular route is like riding from Newark to Dumbarton hills, or from Niles to Ohlone college in Fremont; on your side, that would be like from 101 to Stanford.