Road Bike Racing - Using Ptap @ Sandy Hook TT tomorrow - input please

The Cdale TT bike is rigged with the PT. The closest thing I have to a FTP test is a 310 watt average over a 7 minute hillclimb effort. This is a 7 mile race, for me that's 18 mins. or so. Any feedback on what my 18 min. FTP should be based on that info? 280 watts perhaps?

That's what I was thinking. I was going to try to push 300 into the headwind going out (I think it's going to be a headwind) and see what I can manage coming back (I think it will be a headwind/tailwind race tomorrow).

Sounds good on paper.

At the end of your hill climb how spent were you? I bet given that this is a race, you will easily be able to push 310 going out and 290 coming back. The motivation will be much greater than doing an interval. I wouldn't be surprised if you average over 310 for the whole TT.

pcad, with so few data points you're better off not metering your effort off the PT. Seriously.

1) TT bike power is usually slightly less than road bike power. Maybe not so slightly, depends a lot on position and how much you've ridden the TT bike.

2) You want to run negative splits, period.

If you held 310W for 18 minutes, then I'd say go out at 280-290 and just see how you feel. If you're feeling good, go harder. If not, hold that and just gradually start taking the pace up as you approach the end. You want to feel like you need to barf at the end.

pcad, with so few data points you're better off not metering your effort off the PT. Seriously.

Yeah, actually, +1. You can use it to make sure that you aren't going out at 350 or something, but other than that I agree with Brian. We should start a poll titled "What Will PCad's Average Wattage Be?"

I would bet you could do 290-300. Just do yourself a favor. In that first two minutes, watch it closely. So many people push 350, 400, 450 watts for a few minutes to start and then fry themselves. Rein it in.

280 first six minutes. If that feels pretty good, target 300 for the next 6, then everything you have for the final six.

Don't ride over 300 for the first ~5 minutes. Then open the floodgates and let your legs tell you how hard to ride.

how bout you just ride the thing as hard as you can without worrying about the numbers til after the race?

My CP18 is 89% of my CP7 (but I'm a sprinter, which raises my CP7 a lot). So, using your numbers, then you might target 275W and see how you feel. You can always make it up later if you need to. Go up in 5W increments for 2-3 minutes to see how it settles in.

+1 to negative splits if the course supports it. It's much better to approach your limit from the bottom than to start beyond it and try to recover.

I'll push 900 watts for the first 150 meters and detonate. I'll post the graph here. I did tape this image to the top of my TT helmet today:

http://foreignerinformosa.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/wile_e_coyote.jpg

I'll push 900 watts for the first 150 meters and detonate. I'll post the graph here. I did tape this image to the top of my TT helmet today:

http://foreignerinformosa.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/wile_e_coyote.jpg

is that a waterrocket :D
if it is, you're sure to win.

I would bet you could do 290-300. Just do yourself a favor. In that first two minutes, watch it closely. So many people push 350, 400, 450 watts for a few minutes to start and then fry themselves. Rein it in.

So true. 80 to 100 watts over my FTP feels easy for a couple minutes, and with the motivation of trying to beat the clock, and other guys feels even easier. Of course, it's paid for later :rolleyes:

I go off at 10:21, Dr. W. goes off @ 10:51, I'll be able to give him the BF Cheer from the sidelines after finishing my race as he launches on his way to another TT victory. Should be Big Fun.

I go off at 10:21, Dr. W. goes off @ 10:51, I'll be able to give him the BF Cheer from the sidelines after finishing my race as he launches on his way to another TT victory. Should be Big Fun.

Just hope he doesn't catch you!

Good luck.

All this TT talk, and I'm in for it now. I just bought new bars, bullhorns, shifters, and brake levers. New front end on the Felt. Helmet in the works, skin suit in the team purchase (whenever that happens) and whammo... we're set. Ain't spending money fun?

All this TT talk, and I'm in for it now. I just bought new bars, bullhorns, shifters, and brake levers. New front end on the Felt. Helmet in the works, skin suit in the team purchase (whenever that happens) and whammo... we're set. Ain't spending money fun?

I was at the shop today. Any chance you are an XL? :)

I have never performed a 7 minute interval but, using WKO+...ahem, I plotted my 7 minute power and my 18 minute power. For me my max 7 minute was 356 watts. My max 18 minute effort was 331 and my FTP is around 314. So in my case my 18 minute CP is 107.5% of my CP7 power. If you have similar ratios your 18 minute power would be (310/107.5%) 288.37 watts. I'd give myself another 5 watts for adrenaline since it is a race.

Just hope he doesn't catch you!

Good luck.

The guy two minutes behind me is Sandy Chapman, who is faster than stink. He won the 45+ @ Cape May. I hope he doesn't catch me. Not for nothing, but if I can keep Sandy off my wheel, I probably won't have a bad race.

I was at the shop today. Any chance you are an XL? :)

"slim" chance :P

good luck pcad!

Yep. Good luck guys. Hope you get better weather than we are today.