Two Wheel Blogs

What could be better than doing a 60 minute TT on your trainer? How about doing two of them on consecutive days?

A recent thread in the wattage group inspired the idea to do another FTP test today. Or maybe it was a couple of threads I mashed together. I don't remember really. I do remember there was some recent conversation about doing multiple timetrials in a single day, and some about block training, and some thoroughly intriguing discussion about poopie balls. I crammed all that into the very limited capacity of my brain and the decision to do another 60 minute TT today seemed like the only natural thing to do.

Last evening was a first for 2009 for me. I performed my first FTP test of the year.

First up: Testing protocol. My philosophy is simple. Nothing but the best will do. Why go to the trouble of a test** for estimating Functional Threshold Power when you can measure Functional Threshold Power directly? I did a 60 minute TT. On my trainer.

You know the feeling? It's sort of like pedaling with a tailwind, or sheltered in a nice sized group. You're clicking along at a nice rate of speed and just giving the pedals a light but firm tap each revolution.

Only thing is, I wasn't in a group and I'm sure I don't have a tailwind in my basement.

Maybe it's because it's Friday, or maybe it's that prospects for a warmer weekend look good. Whatever. Tired as I was starting out, after 20 minutes everything came together and I found myself in trainer zen.

My wattage was right on target for the entire 40 km session. Good solid work, but no suffering. Tempo. CTL building.

FTP test coming up soon. I think I may see some good numbers.

It sure felt good to get outside for a ride today. Temperature at ride time was right about 50°F. I wasn't sure at first, but as it turned out, I dressed just about perfectly. When the sun was shining I felt a little bit warm. And when the sun was behind clouds or when we rode into the wind it was just a little bit cool. On balance I would call that perfect.

One thing I do know, I could stand to ride more often outdoors. Lately I haven't been able to get out much and it really shows. When the road turns up, it can get pretty tough. I can lay down the power at a good steady pace for quite a while, but the anaerobic capacity to punch it up a climb just isn't there right now. Something to put on my to-do list for spring.

Today ended up being one of those consummate indoor training kind of days. My hat is off to anyone who got out on the road to ride today around here. You might not have gotten cold, but you got wet.

I stayed indoors. Mostly because I'm a total weenie when it comes to cleaning up after a ride in the rain; but also because I wanted to do a not-really-test session.

The timing was right. I just calibrated my SRMs. My legs are reasonably fresh from the holiday affected training (and diet) routine of late. And as noted, the weather sucked. And OK, a test, any test at all, was long overdue here.

A bit cool. That's an understatement. I think it took me an hour to stop shivering. That's certain to be our last aero test session of the year down at the Centaur Rd. wind tunnel. According to reports from the nearby airport's weather station the temperature at start time was 48.0 °F / 8.9 °C. Andy's hand held weather station said it was even a bit cooler in the tunnel. By the time we'd finished it had only warmed up a couple of degrees. This is definitely not weather for skinny guys in skin suits.