Maintaining constant power output

impaler_diz
impaler_diz Posts: 10
edited October 2010 in Training, fitness and health
Hi all,
Been training with power for about 2 weeks now, but I really struggle to keep a steady output on the road. I'm trying to do 8/10/20 minute intervals, using higher and lower limits from the Time Crunched Cyclist book. That works out as having a 20W band above and below which my Garmin will beep at me like mad for either going to hard or too soft. And it beeps continuously, which can get quite irritating ;-)

What's the solution? Get a turbo instead? Turn off the beeping on the Garmin and just aim to hit the average power required over each interval? Carry on and hope I'll get better at modulating the power output over time?

Thanks,
Vlad

Comments

  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    I aim to hit a given average allowing myself to go over and under that average a fair bit. Obviously if I was aiming for 300 Watts in a 20 minute interval say I wouldn't be happy doing 10 minutes at 200 Watts and 10 minutes at 400 Watts, but if I go up to 350W or even 400W briefly it really doesn't matter.

    It helps a lot if you can find a nice steady incline.

    I'd turn off the annoying beeping on the Garmin anyway - you'll soon get a good idea for what 200W / 300W / 400W feel like.
    More problems but still living....
  • Bronzie
    Bronzie Posts: 4,927
    impaler_diz wrote:
    Turn off the beeping on the Garmin and just aim to hit the average power required over each interval?
    This one
    It's a Lifestyle! -+-+- Coggan Training Levels
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    Bronzie wrote:
    impaler_diz wrote:
    Turn off the beeping on the Garmin and just aim to hit the average power required over each interval?
    This one


    This one + 1


    Or change the output to a 3 second or 30 second average. But generally aim to hit the average for the interval - if it's a short interval - you'll be in the right power band most of the time anyway.
  • APIII
    APIII Posts: 2,010
    Pokerface wrote:
    Bronzie wrote:
    impaler_diz wrote:
    Turn off the beeping on the Garmin and just aim to hit the average power required over each interval?
    This one


    This one + 1


    Or change the output to a 3 second or 30 second average. But generally aim to hit the average for the interval - if it's a short interval - you'll be in the right power band most of the time anyway.

    +1 on the 30 sec rolling average. I always use this for intervals.

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