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  • JackPozzi
    JackPozzi Posts: 1,191
    Anyone had issues with odd data?

    My setup is powerbeam pro turbo with TR running on a laptop, all in a garage with very weak/intermittent wifi (which I suspect caused the problem). Have got TR setup to automatically send ride data on to Strava and Training Peaks.

    Yesterday I rode for an hour, shut down the PC and went for a shower. Checked online and the first 12 mins had been sent to Strava, while TPeaks had the same 12 minute file and also the full hour which looked correct, but speed was around half what I would have expected.

    Decided to delete the files and try resending from TR with a decent wifi signal but cocked up and managed to delete from TR as well so unable to establish what the problem was now!

    Haven't had any issues like this before so assuming it was just down to TR trying to send the data via a bad wifi connection but just wondering if anyone else has suffered a similar problem and found a fix?

    If there is power to the garage you could use a pair of powerlines/wifi extenders. I have some setup in my shed giving Ethernet and wifi and they work perfectly.

    Not had much joy with extenders or powerline things but not worried about getting internet down there, always bring the laptop back into the house after so no need for it really. Just want to avoid dodgy data!
  • Anyone else find the move from a TR Base Plan to a Build Plan much harder?

    I didn't do a base plan, but went straight into the sustained power build earlier this year. I managed to complete all the sessions apart from the end of one where I had to turn the intensity down to 95% for a short period. It was really, really hard though and I was at my limit an awful lot. I found the really long workouts ok, but the ones with the names like 'Stevens' and 'Jacks' that have you over FTP for long periods were pretty nasty.

    Superb training though that made a noticeable difference to my riding. Shame I've let it slip, just haven't done enough miles this year and am going to start a base training program next week.


    I think I over stretched myself with going to the Build Plan with a new FTP that was too high, so it was too much too soon. The Base Plan I followed to the letter and felt much stronger after it. I going to try the 20 Min Power Accelerator Plan with a lower (sigh) FTP test from yesterday.
    .
    "Let not the sands of time get in your lunch"

    National Lampoon
  • norvernrob
    norvernrob Posts: 1,448
    Anyone had issues with odd data?

    My setup is powerbeam pro turbo with TR running on a laptop, all in a garage with very weak/intermittent wifi (which I suspect caused the problem). Have got TR setup to automatically send ride data on to Strava and Training Peaks.

    Yesterday I rode for an hour, shut down the PC and went for a shower. Checked online and the first 12 mins had been sent to Strava, while TPeaks had the same 12 minute file and also the full hour which looked correct, but speed was around half what I would have expected.

    Decided to delete the files and try resending from TR with a decent wifi signal but cocked up and managed to delete from TR as well so unable to establish what the problem was now!

    Haven't had any issues like this before so assuming it was just down to TR trying to send the data via a bad wifi connection but just wondering if anyone else has suffered a similar problem and found a fix?

    If there is power to the garage you could use a pair of powerlines/wifi extenders. I have some setup in my shed giving Ethernet and wifi and they work perfectly.

    Not had much joy with extenders or powerline things but not worried about getting internet down there, always bring the laptop back into the house after so no need for it really. Just want to avoid dodgy data!

    Suppose it doesn't matter then, but powerlines should literally be a case of plugging in either end, plugging into your router and that's it. Took 5 minutes and I have exactly the same internet speed in the outbuilding as the house.
  • Finally got my ANT+ dongle for my iPhone to give it a go with my smart trainer.

    Amazed at how well it works! Before on my dumb trainer getting the power in the correct range took a bit of work with getting the right gear, manual resistance adjustment and cadence etc, but now I just leave the gears in the middle of the cassette and concentrate on keeping my cadence at 90ish and the power is taken care of for me.

    As I was only doing 30 mins I didn't even bother putting the radio on as I normally would.
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    edited September 2015
    I'm still a bit confused as to how best to use the plans. For the moment I'm using General Fitness > Time Chrunch > Low Volume as it consists of 30 minute sessions 3 times per week. Which is fine because at the moment I have about 45 minutes to spare three mornings per week.

    But lets say that changes and I wanted to do 45 minutes or an hour four times per week, ideally I'd put in what time I have available to me and then it would spit out a training plan based on that? But it doesn't seem to work that way? Even some of the plans which include 1 hour rides have the occasional 1 hour 30 minutes, 30 minutes I don't have as I have to go to work.

    I've noticed there are quite a few 45 minute workouts in the catalogue, should I just pick them at random?
  • dinyull
    dinyull Posts: 2,979
    I'm sure this has been covered in one of the previous 158 pages of this thread, but hoping someone can save me trawling through it all.

    I would consider myself to have a fairly good base fitness - I passed 5k miles for the year at the weekend and I'm out every weekend for a 60 mile ride. This will continue over the winter aside from when there are icy roads.

    Would people still recommend I start with a base plan or should I be ok getting straight into a power build?
  • Dinyull, check MarkP80's post on page 157. I asked a similar question and I am following his suggestion which made sense to me and gives me a plan of sorts throughout the winter months.
    In Sweet Spot Base Mid Level 1 the weekend has a 90min and a 150 min workout. It is likely I will do the 90 on the turbo and swap the 150 with an outdoor ride - which is where your 60 miles weekend rides fit in. As I get to the 40K TT plan I wil probably do most of that on the turbo with maybe a few outdoor miles as well to get the mileage up. Let us know what you choose
  • JackPozzi
    JackPozzi Posts: 1,191
    I'm sure this has been covered in one of the previous 158 pages of this thread, but hoping someone can save me trawling through it all.

    I would consider myself to have a fairly good base fitness - I passed 5k miles for the year at the weekend and I'm out every weekend for a 60 mile ride. This will continue over the winter aside from when there are icy roads.

    Would people still recommend I start with a base plan or should I be ok getting straight into a power build?

    Traditional thinking for planning a season is a base period, build period then peak period to get to a target event, so plan backwards from the event date. There are alternatives but IMHO unless you have a coach or some coaching knowledge it makes sense to stick to that kind of layout really
  • I'm interested in this too, but my question is always, what event are you training for? My thoughts are that the traditional base, build, peak is based on preparing for road racing, with shorter races.

    My goals for next year will be the Fred Whitton, then the Salzkammergut trophy (211km, 7000m+ climbing on a MTB), so for this I would prefer to work on ftp improvement and power over the winter, transitioning into longer endurance closer to the event. So I'm looking to trainer road and turbo time over the winter to work this.
  • My goals for next year will be the Fred Whitton, then the Salzkammergut trophy (211km, 7000m+ climbing on a MTB), so for this I would prefer to work on ftp improvement and power over the winter, transitioning into longer endurance closer to the event. So I'm looking to trainer road and turbo time over the winter to work this.

    Looks like the High level Century plan which last 8 weeks is what you might want https://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/plans/category/18-road Just work back from your FW date to get a good start date
  • But there is no way I am spending 8 weeks over summer riding on my trainer, I will outside riding, especially on my MTB to ensure I am comfortable down the technical descents.

    For me Trainer Road is about winter training, getting into a good position to build on over the summer, and I would rather use this time to build power and speed, then build endurance as I lead up to the events.
  • dinyull
    dinyull Posts: 2,979
    Johnny, Jack

    Thanks for the reply. I don't have a specific event to aim for, just looking to make the most of my turbo use over the winter. Starting with a base plan isn't going to do me any harm so I'll start with that cheers.
  • markp80
    markp80 Posts: 444
    I'm still a bit confused as to how best to use the plans. For the moment I'm using General Fitness > Time Chrunch > Low Volume as it consists of 30 minute sessions 3 times per week. Which is fine because at the moment I have about 45 minutes to spare three mornings per week.

    But lets say that changes and I wanted to do 45 minutes or an hour four times per week, ideally I'd put in what time I have available to me and then it would spit out a training plan based on that? But it doesn't seem to work that way? Even some of the plans which include 1 hour rides have the occasional 1 hour 30 minutes, 30 minutes I don't have as I have to go to work.

    I've noticed there are quite a few 45 minute workouts in the catalogue, should I just pick them at random?
    Hi Mark,
    I wouldn't pick random workouts - the plans are specially designed to give you workouts in specific zones, with specific objectives. Just picking a random workout is unlikely to give you good results.
    I had a look in the training plans and spotted "Super Time Crunched B", which might fit your needs. This has two workouts per week, most of which are under your 45 minute window, some are much shorter. They will of course have a correspondingly unpleasant intensity! Have a look at that plan and see if it is what you're looking for. I guess if you have extra days you could repeat one of the workouts, or alternatively, do a 45 minute recovery/endurance ride such as Carter, which I use a lot when I want an easy day.
    You'll find this plan in the TrainerRoad plan archive, it's not one of the current ones.
    https://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/plans/107-super-time-crunched-b
    Cheers,
    MarkP
    Boardman Road Comp - OK, I went to Halfords
    Tibia plateau fracture - the rehab continues!
  • markp80
    markp80 Posts: 444
    Johnny, Jack

    Thanks for the reply. I don't have a specific event to aim for, just looking to make the most of my turbo use over the winter. Starting with a base plan isn't going to do me any harm so I'll start with that cheers.
    Hi,
    I've tried both Sweet Spot Base and Traditional Base plans and they're both quite different. I found the Sweet Spot plan more of a challenge and gave better results for me, I wasn't convinced by the Traditional. Have a look at them and see what you think.
    Cheers,
    MarkP
    Boardman Road Comp - OK, I went to Halfords
    Tibia plateau fracture - the rehab continues!
  • Thanks Mark. It's still lacking somewhat. As some rides are 12 minutes, which is a bit silly I'm not gong to get everything set up for 12 minutes riding.. But others are an hour - I don't have an hour.

    I guess I just hoped there would be a system which created a plan for you based on what time you have available, rather than you having to change what time you have available to fit the plan.
  • AK_jnr
    AK_jnr Posts: 717
    So you never have time to yourself then? Literally on the go all day and night until you go to bed? Savage....
  • So you never have time to yourself then? Literally on the go all day and night until you go to bed? Savage....

    haha, not quite ;). But there's work, there's eating, there's spending some time with the family after you get in from work and there's some rest in there too!

    That's weekdays of course, weekends are a different matter.
  • markp80
    markp80 Posts: 444
    Thanks Mark. It's still lacking somewhat. As some rides are 12 minutes, which is a bit silly I'm not gong to get everything set up for 12 minutes riding.. But others are an hour - I don't have an hour.

    I guess I just hoped there would be a system which created a plan for you based on what time you have available, rather than you having to change what time you have available to fit the plan.
    Super Time Crunched A then, and swap the Langley workouts for more Thunderbolt :wink:
    (and 12 mins of Whitney tabata intervals isn't easy if you're doing them right :D )
    Boardman Road Comp - OK, I went to Halfords
    Tibia plateau fracture - the rehab continues!
  • dinyull
    dinyull Posts: 2,979
    Hi,
    I've tried both Sweet Spot Base and Traditional Base plans and they're both quite different. I found the Sweet Spot plan more of a challenge and gave better results for me, I wasn't convinced by the Traditional. Have a look at them and see what you think.
    Cheers,
    MarkP

    After having a good look into both, I've actually found myself edging more towards the Traditional. I know the gains aren't as quick, but they should be better long term.

    Can I ask though, how does TR do the Traditional workouts - are the efforts based on FTP or HR zones?
  • Can I ask though, how does TR do the Traditional workouts - are the efforts based on FTP or HR zones?

    Everything is power based in TR is it not? HR display is just for reference.

    I've actually figured that on weekdays doing an hour twice a week will be easiest, so I'll probably look at either the Sweet Spot Base plan. Although the plan would be to ride the Tuesday & Thursday 1 hour workouts on the trainer but substitute the 90 minute Saturday workout for a long ride outside if weather permits. Is that generally what's done?
  • dinyull
    dinyull Posts: 2,979
    That's what I thought, but after reading about their Traditional Base it sounded like it was mostly based upon (like most "traditional" base plans) 50%, 60% etc of your HR. I wasn't sure how they'd be able to calculate, accurately, how much power I can produce with 50% HR etc so assumed they'd just base it off HR which to me at least would make sense.

    Maybe I'm thinking too much and actually just need to get signed up and started...
  • That's what I thought, but after reading about their Traditional Base it sounded like it was mostly based upon (like most "traditional" base plans) 50%, 60% etc of your HR. I wasn't sure how they'd be able to calculate, accurately, how much power I can produce with 50% HR etc so assumed they'd just base it off HR which to me at least would make sense.

    Maybe I'm thinking too much and actually just need to get signed up and started...

    Nah as far as I can see they don't have a means to scale via heart rate, the green bar goes up and down based on power. I think it's just that the workouts are based on those which were designed for heart rate, but these are superior being power based instead.
  • That's what I thought, but after reading about their Traditional Base it sounded like it was mostly based upon (like most "traditional" base plans) 50%, 60% etc of your HR. I wasn't sure how they'd be able to calculate, accurately, how much power I can produce with 50% HR etc so assumed they'd just base it off HR which to me at least would make sense.

    Maybe I'm thinking too much and actually just need to get signed up and started...

    So our workouts are power based, which has slightly different zones and percentages than HR. Traditional Base will have you largely in Zone 2, or the "endurance zone" which is about 56-75% of your FTP. This is the aerobic and fat-burning zone that you want to build during the early parts of the season in order to build the best base fitness. For most, myself included, zone 2 will usually have your HR above 60% of your threshold HR. Let me know if you have any other questions about our plans or workouts, happy to answer them :)
  • Is this odd?
    Background. Not interested in racing (too old anyway). Only started 'half seriously' 18 months ago and this summer was my first properone where riding was my 'thing'.
    Pleased with my progress, i.e. I can go longer and faster and make 100 milers in comparative comfort.
    Spent winter through to June on TR, mixed with road rides. Since early July went away from TR and did more miles.
    So, at the end of the summer I can go longer, a little faster and get up hills that I'd never have dreamed of a year ago.
    The query is that if I'm fitter and stronger, why can't I match my TR FTP from May? Had three goes at it over the last couple of months.
    I finished up on the Sustained Build program but since then doing mainly endurance work I seem to have lost the ability to work around and above FTP, in fact I think I'm going to have to reduce by about 10% to complete the 20min test.
    Is that right, that I can have built endurance and ability to climb whilst at the same time slipping back on FTP?
    I really thought that I would have gone up some, not fail!
  • JackPozzi
    JackPozzi Posts: 1,191
    Is this odd?
    Background. Not interested in racing (too old anyway). Only started 'half seriously' 18 months ago and this summer was my first properone where riding was my 'thing'.
    Pleased with my progress, i.e. I can go longer and faster and make 100 milers in comparative comfort.
    Spent winter through to June on TR, mixed with road rides. Since early July went away from TR and did more miles.
    So, at the end of the summer I can go longer, a little faster and get up hills that I'd never have dreamed of a year ago.
    The query is that if I'm fitter and stronger, why can't I match my TR FTP from May? Had three goes at it over the last couple of months.
    I finished up on the Sustained Build program but since then doing mainly endurance work I seem to have lost the ability to work around and above FTP, in fact I think I'm going to have to reduce by about 10% to complete the 20min test.
    Is that right, that I can have built endurance and ability to climb whilst at the same time slipping back on FTP?
    I really thought that I would have gone up some, not fail!

    Does sound odd! Have you been doing the tests while fairly fresh (or at least as fresh as the May test)? What are you using to get power, could it have been overreading for the May test?
  • I am pretty much the same EBJB. Not managed to improve or even match my FTP despite being much stronger now than last year. I just put it down to not being focussed enough on the test. They are pretty hard things to do well. I was setting my resistance with 4 ful lturens (KK Road Warrior) and based on advice from others I have reste to 3 turns - makes a world of difference - I can now achieve the recommended cadence on TR sessions and feel I am pedalling much better. I was 215 FTP ( a recent test set it to 210 but I always felt it was a poor test). Re-adjusted to 225 without a new test but I feel that is about accurate. Will test again as part of my next plan.
  • January 196, March 209, May 217. Maybe May was just a blinder but would have expected to have caught/surpassed that by now. No changes in kit (PM and turbo) and mindful of freshness. Thought I'd be pushing 230 by now :(
  • I've had the same coming back after a summer of riding. While I am faster on the road, my ftp is down. It comes back after getting used to the turbo again.
    I think it also depends on your riding. Most of my riding is long distances, so getting back into shorter, hard efforts take time.
  • Maybe you've lost weight and hence muscle mass? So you're faster on the road especially climbing but with less power. Total guess?!
  • tim_wand
    tim_wand Posts: 2,552
    Last year was training VP on Cyclops Jet Fluid 2. Sold that for silly money in the spring.
    I ve picked up A Cyclops Magneto and want to get back on it. There's literally 6 different Betas for this trainer plus some old obsolete ones. Any one out there using a Cyclops Magneto on TR if so which Power Curve are you using on TR for Virtual Power. If gone for Beta 3 which seems close to the figures I was producing on the Fluid pro last year.