An observation
 

During training camp we did a couple mountain passes. The one I want to discuss was a fairly consistent 6-8% with some 10+% sections thrown in. This climb came early in the ride and I wanted to pace myself and not blow all my energy before the final climb of the day. I taped over the power display on my Ergomo, and went on PE alone.

Climbing, I maintained a pace that felt labored but not extreme. My breathing was controlled, I probably could have talked (a few words at a time) to a teammate had one been with me. I spent some time climbing out of the saddle, but most of the climb was done seated. When I downloaded the data, I noticed the entire climb was done at threshold. Ok, cool, now I know what FTP feels like.

Here's my question: If I wanted to climb above FTP, it would have taken significant concentration. Climbing at FTP was basically a "turn-my-brain-off-and-pedal" kind of deal. Have others noticed the same? That it takes a lot of concentration to maintain power above threshold for a time?

yes.

ya

Definitely.

yup

I'll have to be the different one.

In a race or hard training/group ride it is when I am not thinking that I go above. I have to focus to keep it at ftp and know if I want to go the distance I need to ratchet it down a little.

I'll tell you when I do a climb of 8-12 miles in length. Kinda hard to do that on the flats and rolling plains of central IL.

As it stands, never done anything more than a mile.

yes

neophyte.

Yep here too. I did an 8-mile TT today, and I really do have to pay attention to maintain that 10W over FTP.

You have no idea how miserable I am living in the midwest. Sub-140, watts aplenty. Crits as far as the eye can see.

thank god.

This from the guy in Memphis, swilling 24 oz. cans of Pabst.

it's temporary. :D

When I turn my mind toward anything but riding is when I can climb at a rate above FTP for any distance. If I concentrate on a song or really just day dream I don't feel the pain. If I concentrate on my effort I tend to run at or below FTP. I had a really fast Cat 1 guy once tell me 'the pain is all in your head' once you believe that you can achieve more.

what a silly idea. ;)

Move and quit b!tching :D

Then its right up your alley ;)

I'm looking for someone to sub-let in my house in Fort Collins, CO for the month of July. Interested? I'm about 15 minutes from a 14 mile climb. :) I'm going to be back east. I'll cut you a deal - $250.

:eek:

Pain is just an opinion. My mantra.

Above FTP, my brain goes off. Some people would say that's a 24/7 thing.

guess it's subjective

Pain is inevitable...suffering is optional

"During the race, what goes round in the rider's mind is a monolithic ball bearing, so smooth, so uniform, that you can't even see it spin. Its almost perfect lack of surface structure ensures that it strikes nothing that might end up in the white circulation of thought. Almost nothing, that is - sometimes a microscopic flaw still manages to strike a cord."