I’ve done long course for the last couple years and I always do the 3rd season as a Sprint/Oly season typically, which is what I’m in this year. Back to basics and the Vo2 workouts I’ve been putting in…. Whew! My lungs are burnin’ and I love it. My long zone 2 rides for my mates are suddenly mid Zone 1 recovery rides for me………
Good primer for those getting started. Certainly next level would be to read Coggins' "Training and Racing with a Power Meter". Definitely on board with W/kg as the way to compare riders. That said, the bigger W/kg isn't always faster. Basic physics says the human is just the engine. In vehicles it is total system weight including cargo used as the metric. Only cycling disregards all this because well, who wants to pile all their kit, water, tools and bike onto a scale before every ride? A very small rider who weight only their naked body, represents a significantly smaller percentage of their system weight than a bigger one doing the same, and thus may have a slightly bigger W/kg number but end up losing the race because their bike, water, etc is weighting them down more relative to the bigger rider.
Great Video! I am definitely guilty of checking my power stats as soon as I get off the bike (if not earlier :D). Only feedback I would give is that it would have been nice to see some sample sessions for Sweetspot Training or Threshold Training. This used to be included to be screenshotted in older videos if I remember correctly. Thanks!
It is wrong to say, that you can compare your watt numbers to your friends. That makes no sense, since we all have different genetic makeup. You should never compare your numbers. What is good for you, might not be good for someone else. Fx a genetic sprinter will most often have a higher FTP or w/kg than a genetic climber, because they can susstain that high power for about an hour and a half before bonking due to lack of carbohydrates. They are also often able to tolerate the "burn" longer. So they often do well at the one hour FTP test. But a sprinter is heavier and tire quicker than a genetic climber over longer distances, since the muscle composition is different and the tendancy to be more dependent on carbohydrates. So having a high FTP or w/kg does not always equate to be better than someone, who fx is a genetic climber with lots of slow twitch muscle fibers.
The good thing about power meters with bike riding, compared to running, is the fact that power meters instantly measure and show the effort you put into it, ignoring the weather or terrain (hills, etc). When you are running, you have to compensate for those factors yourself to train at the right intensity/effort. Heart rate is not as accurate and fast as a power meter. For example: had a run session this week with mud, sand, hills and a very high humidity. Had to play with my speed (and looking at my heart rate) to keep running at the right intensity, but after the session I felt I ran too fast for some time at the first reps. Too bad power meters are still (too) expensive.
Great video! I used power meter since 2020 . Actually the pandemic made that happen. Training in group with my coach in Zwift and Zoom. It’s very useful and makes you a better bicyclist. A lot of information in your video, have to see it again even I know most of it. But it not always more watt gives more speed .
7:04 is an understatement. Fatigue and Fitness are calculated directly from TSS. TrainingPeaks have articles on how these are calculated (and how they’re used to calculate Form).
This video is great timing for me. I've just finished my first sprint tri and now I've got the tri bug! The area I want to work on most is the bike as I'm sure there's a lot to gain having managed just under 40 minutes averaging 30kph. Just picked up a second hand Stages power meter so I'll be able to analyse and train more consistently. Some really useful information here which I can come back to. Thanks GTN!
I started using TrainingPeaks a few months ago with a training program I bought. It makes the training schedule so easy. I would recommend it to others.
I have a great power meter… It’s called my brain. I know how to use my brain. My brain tells me whether I’m slacking or overexerting. I don’t need to pay some corporation to produce a piece of technology to do what my brain can do for me already.
Probably best to test in whichever position you are going to be doing the majority of your training in. If you test in aero, but do 3 out of 4 rides a week on your road bike, you are short-changing your training efforts. If you test in the road position, you can if necessary adjust your race day power targets downward by 5-10%. If you do most of your training on the TT bike, then you should test in aero.
On many of the triathlon bikes you cannot clamp them by the seat post as you would with a road bike. In this instance it is clamped lightly as we're not doing work on it, but even the pro mechanics will often clamp by the top tube - perhaps with a rag around to prevent damage. You're right though, it's not ideal
this is the PEST of the Inter NEtTclaimig what I am doing WRONG! the only way to click bait by showing how WRONg I am in anything I stop watching that! Your Wrong stuff
My power meter ALWAYS reads too low.😅
You can change the slope to feel good about yourself!!!
I’ve done long course for the last couple years and I always do the 3rd season as a Sprint/Oly season typically, which is what I’m in this year. Back to basics and the Vo2 workouts I’ve been putting in…. Whew! My lungs are burnin’ and I love it. My long zone 2 rides for my mates are suddenly mid Zone 1 recovery rides for me………
Good primer for those getting started. Certainly next level would be to read Coggins' "Training and Racing with a Power Meter".
Definitely on board with W/kg as the way to compare riders. That said, the bigger W/kg isn't always faster.
Basic physics says the human is just the engine. In vehicles it is total system weight including cargo used as the metric. Only cycling disregards all this because well, who wants to pile all their kit, water, tools and bike onto a scale before every ride?
A very small rider who weight only their naked body, represents a significantly smaller percentage of their system weight than a bigger one doing the same, and thus may have a slightly bigger W/kg number but end up losing the race because their bike, water, etc is weighting them down more relative to the bigger rider.
(force x distance) / speed is correct, but then James left out crankarm length as the distance.
Man, I've just bought my first power meter 2 days ago and this video is very essential!
Great Video! I am definitely guilty of checking my power stats as soon as I get off the bike (if not earlier :D). Only feedback I would give is that it would have been nice to see some sample sessions for Sweetspot Training or Threshold Training. This used to be included to be screenshotted in older videos if I remember correctly.
Thanks!
It is wrong to say, that you can compare your watt numbers to your friends. That makes no sense, since we all have different genetic makeup. You should never compare your numbers. What is good for you, might not be good for someone else. Fx a genetic sprinter will most often have a higher FTP or w/kg than a genetic climber, because they can susstain that high power for about an hour and a half before bonking due to lack of carbohydrates. They are also often able to tolerate the "burn" longer. So they often do well at the one hour FTP test. But a sprinter is heavier and tire quicker than a genetic climber over longer distances, since the muscle composition is different and the tendancy to be more dependent on carbohydrates. So having a high FTP or w/kg does not always equate to be better than someone, who fx is a genetic climber with lots of slow twitch muscle fibers.
What's most most important skill in cycling? Excel!
Do you need a speed sensor with the power meter . Just asking
what bike should I spend more time on? My TT or sportive ?
30 August 2023
The good thing about power meters with bike riding, compared to running, is the fact that power meters instantly measure and show the effort you put into it, ignoring the weather or terrain (hills, etc).
When you are running, you have to compensate for those factors yourself to train at the right intensity/effort.
Heart rate is not as accurate and fast as a power meter.
For example: had a run session this week with mud, sand, hills and a very high humidity.
Had to play with my speed (and looking at my heart rate) to keep running at the right intensity, but after the session I felt I ran too fast for some time at the first reps.
Too bad power meters are still (too) expensive.
Great video! I used power meter since 2020 . Actually the pandemic made that happen. Training in group with my coach in Zwift and Zoom. It’s very useful and makes you a better bicyclist. A lot of information in your video, have to see it again even I know most of it.
But it not always more watt gives more speed .
7:04 is an understatement. Fatigue and Fitness are calculated directly from TSS. TrainingPeaks have articles on how these are calculated (and how they’re used to calculate Form).
Every ride you try and make the AVG Wats and max watts numbers bigger, it's super simple.
Excellent video and explanation
A precise meter gives the correct data
An accurate meter measures correctly
This video is great timing for me. I've just finished my first sprint tri and now I've got the tri bug! The area I want to work on most is the bike as I'm sure there's a lot to gain having managed just under 40 minutes averaging 30kph. Just picked up a second hand Stages power meter so I'll be able to analyse and train more consistently. Some really useful information here which I can come back to. Thanks GTN!
One of the better and cooler videos gtn released in the last period. Great contents! Like it a lot. Thank you guys ☺️
Power on my road and TT bike is still too expensive.
Has James been hanging about the Sahara desert? He looks super tanned
But do you really know that people really don't know?
I started using TrainingPeaks a few months ago with a training program I bought. It makes the training schedule so easy. I would recommend it to others.
I have a great power meter… It’s called my brain. I know how to use my brain. My brain tells me whether I’m slacking or overexerting. I don’t need to pay some corporation to produce a piece of technology to do what my brain can do for me already.
Should the 20min FTP test be done in the aero position since it is where one wants to be in a triathlon?
Probably best to test in whichever position you are going to be doing the majority of your training in. If you test in aero, but do 3 out of 4 rides a week on your road bike, you are short-changing your training efforts. If you test in the road position, you can if necessary adjust your race day power targets downward by 5-10%. If you do most of your training on the TT bike, then you should test in aero.
James, pleeaaaase don't clamp your carbon bike by the top tube...
On many of the triathlon bikes you cannot clamp them by the seat post as you would with a road bike. In this instance it is clamped lightly as we're not doing work on it, but even the pro mechanics will often clamp by the top tube - perhaps with a rag around to prevent damage. You're right though, it's not ideal
If you can’t clamp the top tube of your bike, it’s not a bike you want to be riding -Calvin Jones park tool company
Heather ❤
this is the PEST of the Inter NEtTclaimig
what I am doing WRONG!
the only way to click bait
by showing how WRONg I am in anything
I stop watching that!
Your Wrong stuff