hhnngg1

This dude placed 2nd at the world championships in triathlon in Kona and said:

"Pete: I coach myself and I spent a ton more time on the bike. I got a CompuTrainer and I've spent a lot of time on it. I spent nearly more hours on the CompuTrainer than I have on the road. "

112 miles in 4:31, 24.7mph with no drafting but aero gear. And then he ran a friggin' fast marathon after that.

Makes me want to get on my trainer more.

https://www.slowtwitch.com/Interview/...ough_2396.html

merlinextraligh

no amount of time on the trainer is going to do that for the vast majority of us. sub hour 40k time trial has traditonally been a benchmark. If you can do that, you're reasonably fast.

Even with modern aerodynmic equipment and training a decent percentage of amateur bike racers can't beat an hour for 40k.

4 1/2 sub hour 40k's preceded by a 2.4 mile swim, and followed by a marthon is something only an extremely small percetnage of the planet could ever do, even if they set on a trainer till the cows came home.

hhnngg1

Dude, this guy is 2nd in the WORLD in ironman triathlon. I don't think we're even dreaming to get near his speed.

But riding my trainer more to get a little faster, that I can do.

merlinextraligh

that would be my point. There's something more to his results than just the amount of time he spends on the trainer.

hhnngg1

I actually think it's funny that you even thought I (or anyone else) could be seriously considering replicating even a fraction of his performance.

Pug

Guy who rides in my club, and went to Kona this year, used his trainer a lot so he could get acclimated to riding in hotter ambient temps.

amps

I can see how that might help. I may live in Canada but every winter my basement feels like the south pacific as I'm chuggin away down there on my trainer.

zjrog

And that is why I'm going to put miles in my legs on the trainer. Until my back can take a road ride again, the bike on the trainer is where its going to be.

jrobe

There are some significant advantages to training indoors - no traffic, no wind, no rain or snow, no winter darkness, etc.. It takes self discipline but it doesn't have to be boring. I have one bike set up on a Kurt Kinetic trainer all winter with about 25 different Spinervals and CTS videos for variety. With a powermeter, it can be highly productive. For example, the 2 month CTS Progressive Power series of DVD's is an excellent, structured, power-based training program for the winter months. I also have a 2nd bike set up on a Tacx Fortius trainer with about 10 virtual training workouts including many of the famous TDF climbs, the Tour of Flanders, etc. that I use for long aero base sessions (often 2-4 hours or more). I love to Cross Country Ski in the winter but I find that I now spend more time on the trainers because I don't have to get dressed and fight the cold and darkness and don't waste time driving to the ski areas.

StephenH

"I got a CompuTrainer and I've spent a lot of time on it. I spent nearly more hours on the CompuTrainer than I have on the road."

Don't overlook a key word in there. It's not like he sat in his house all year and then went and did an ironman.

Informative video on the topic (some adult themes and crude language thrown in):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B03dFMG8nR4

sideshow_bob

Triathletes by and large are time poor. I struggle to get my weekly cycling in, let alone fitting in swim and run training. A computrainer isn't exactly your average run of the mill trainer. They let you have very focused power based workouts with the computer managing the resistance according to your training program, nothing to do but get on and pedal. In my own direct experience for most people you attain better results faster.

I've in the last few months started using a training facility that is all computrainers. Each month I get a break down of my workouts and see where the power numbers go according to my coaching plan. I've seen much better results then my previous years (and years) of training, and they are absolutely quantifiable.

nixternal

I can vouch for the CompuTrainer, as I am sure PSIMET can as well, at just how much better it is as a trainer than your regular $300 trainers most of you use. Being able to do difference courses while feeling the effect of your weight and hills while riding on the CompuTrainer make it bar none the best training device outside of riding your bike available today. Riding 20 miles on a CompuTrainer can actually be tougher than going out and doing 20 miles on your bike. When you step pedaling on the CompuTrainer, you simply stop, there is no rolling whatsoever. A CompuTrainer not only can, but will make you a stronger rider. That is why a lot of us in the burbs of Chicago do one of the CompuTrainer boot camps during the winter months to stay in shape. I just happen to coach one

pgjackson

What would be a good amatuer 40K TT time for someone on a road bike without aero gear? Just wondering.

nixternal

70 minutes would be a good guess. I have seen amateurs run it in 50-53 minutes on a TT bike, all the way up to 70 minutes. I have seen them also do it in the low to mid 60s on a regular road bike.

hhnngg1

Agree. That works out to about 21.3 mph over 24.8 miles, which is respectable for a nondrafting, nonaero rider. If you add aero gear like helmet, wheels, skinsuit, frame to that same guy, he'll be about 22.5mph.

hyhuu

Comparing to BF average speed, that's kinda slow eh?

merlinextraligh

Breaking an hour, "Eddy Merckx style" makes you a strong rider. Not going to win any state championships, but sub hour the old school way is an accomplishment.

popeye

I just bought one, talk about an impulse purchase. Is anyone using this with GoldenCheetah
realtime mode? I would love to try my track bike with a track DVD if one is available.

pgjackson

Cool. Just trying to come up with some benchmarks to strive for. Did a 10-mile TT yesterday averaging 21.7. Did a 21-miler a while ago at 20.1 mph average...hairy legs and all. Need to map out a good 24-mile course.

Treefox

A guy on my team was stuck at home as a stay-at-home dad with a newborn all Spring - hardly any outdoor time at all, but the white noise of the trainer kept the baby asleep. Then he gets set loose and podiumed like five times in seven races, right off the bat. I believe he went from no points to an upgrade in just those seven races.

hhnngg1

Keep in mind that these are 'respectable' numbers but not by any means impressive numbers. Ok, impressive compared to a nonracing casual roadie, but peanuts for a racing roadie, even at Cat5, I'd venture many, if not most, whom can put up such numbers.

I can drop 23mph the 40k bike leg of a triathlon on a rolling hills course with no aero gear, even after going near all-out on a 30ish minute swim beforehand and then running sub7min miles for 10k more afterwards, and I'm nowhere near what a good Cat3 and above cyclist can put up. You're going to want to see 24+ for nonaero gear and 25+ for aero gear if you want to be 'good' (not even 'great) for 40k.

hhnngg1

Just as an aside, top pro triathlete Andy Potts, who won the half-ironman world championships a year or two ago, came from a swimming background, and in interviews said that in the early phase of his career, where he had a lot of success even at the highest levels of competition, he spent 95%+ of his time on a Computrainer.

Same with another young bike stud who's now pushing 21 years old - I forgot his name, but he dominates the bike leg even against the top guys, and he says over 90% of his training is also done indoors, on a Computrainer so he can precisely target the power ranges.

I haven't seen or heard of any roadies doing such stuff, due to the need for tactics and accelerations requiring lots of outdoor experience.

jsutkeepspining

The most important part of this is, he's doing what everybody else is doing, just inside instead of out side. he's on a similar training schedule as everyone else (at the pro level). his z2 rides are still zone 2 and his hard rides are still hard. the difference between him and most people is genetics.

hhnngg1

Yup, genetics make all the difference at the pro level. However, it's neat to see that even at the pro level (for nondrafting races), that indoor training is legit.

Pug

Sorry to be a cynic, but anyone familiar with prevalence of doping in Ironman? I have no idea, and if they're clean more power to them.