The official TrainerRoad thread

colinsmith123

According to the conversation I had with Handtec today the Garmin ANT+ stick is not compatible with the Edge 305 and 500 series. The Garmin website seems to confirm this..

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=10997

Is this the case? Or, just an out of date Garmin website. I did try calling Garmin UK but lost the will to live after 5 mins and thought it easier to post the question here..

Advice on what USB stick to use with my Edge 305 and future 500 and best place to buy greatly appreciated.

Colin

Simmotino

colinsmith123 wrote:

According to the conversation I had with Handtec today the Garmin ANT+ stick is not compatible with the Edge 305 and 500 series. The Garmin website seems to confirm this..

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=10997

Is this the case? Or, just an out of date Garmin website. I did try calling Garmin UK but lost the will to live after 5 mins and thought it easier to post the question here..

Advice on what USB stick to use with my Edge 305 and future 500 and best place to buy greatly appreciated.

Colin

It works with the 800, that much is certain. I'd be surprised if it didn't work with (at least) the 500 to be honest.

Edit to add: According to this list it is: http://www.thisisant.com/directory/?

johncp

colinsmith123 wrote:

According to the conversation I had with Handtec today the Garmin ANT+ stick is not compatible with the Edge 305 and 500 series. The Garmin website seems to confirm this..

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=10997

Is this the case? Or, just an out of date Garmin website. I did try calling Garmin UK but lost the will to live after 5 mins and thought it easier to post the question here..

Advice on what USB stick to use with my Edge 305 and future 500 and best place to buy greatly appreciated.

Colin

It doesn't matter which Garmin unit you have - the TR app uses the garmin usb stick to pick up signals from your sensors. You can use TR without ANY garmin unit at all if you like

daveyok

Simmotino wrote:

colinsmith123 wrote:

According to the conversation I had with Handtec today the Garmin ANT+ stick is not compatible with the Edge 305 and 500 series. The Garmin website seems to confirm this..

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=10997

Is this the case? Or, just an out of date Garmin website. I did try calling Garmin UK but lost the will to live after 5 mins and thought it easier to post the question here..

Advice on what USB stick to use with my Edge 305 and future 500 and best place to buy greatly appreciated.

Colin

I could never get my 500 to work with the Ant+ stick when downloading data from the Garmin to PC - had to use USB cable. However, using trainer road it only really matters that the Ant stick can detect your speed/cadence sensor and heart rate monitor. I've used both my laptop and Garmin (at the same time) when using trainer road and all the metrics - HR, speed and cadence - can be sent to both the laptop and garmin.

jotko

Just did Gayley, hard work but got through it - http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/153612

I am still experimenting with what cadence is best for me on the sustained efforts (only got cadence sensor last week) - from todays workout I seem to happier spinning at ~95ish than mashing.

Baxter up next - looks fairly easy, although at 1hr30 it is not my legs I am worried about but my backside, my sports direct cheapo shorts are not cutting it!

ChrisSA

mikenetic wrote:

ChrisSA wrote:

I was all set for the 20 minute test tonight, and the power kept fluctuating....then disappeared. Looks like the cadence sensor was on the way out, and now it's toast. I'll have to retry tomorrow with the sensor from the other bike.
Bah!

We had a similar issue with one of our bikes. It turned out that it was just that the cadence wheel sensor pickup was right on the very edge of the activation range of the magnet (Garmin GSC10). Power fluctuated, and wouldn't go above a certain level. Moving the pickup arm towards the spokes cured it. It was as if above a certain rotational speed the pickup didn't have time to respond to the passing magnet.

Thanks - though the speed sensor is dead. I can't hear the reed switch clicking. I'll repair it later.
So sensor robbed from road bike, and 20 minute test carried out. Pacing was awful, but I gave it my all. New FTP is 223W. Previously it was 220W (or so I thought). When I did the initial test (13Sep12) I hadn't selected the turbo for power, and thought I'd used #3 resistance. TR reworked the workout for me and came up with 175W. I then thought I'd done the test on resistance #4, so TR once again reworked the workout for 220W.

So I reckon the original test was done at level#3. Either that or I have only improved by 3W over a few months. Admittedly there hadn't been a great amount of cycling (~50 hours) since then....

springtide9

robklancs wrote:

This tour of suffalandria, I'm assuming you need to own all of the videos? Too expensive for me so I'm out, nothing to do with a lack of ability of course.

I'm going to have a go, but will do an FTP test prior to the tour so it's set at my current fitness.

Not sure you need the videos although it implies you need them.. surely TR and a bit of music is enough? (how do they tell you didn't use the videos?)

kleinstroker

jotko wrote:

...
Baxter up next - looks fairly easy, although at 1hr30 it is not my legs I am worried about but my backside, my sports direct cheapo shorts are not cutting it!

Baxter is pretty good, but read the instructions, I think you're supposed to do it without changing gear!! I think this really helped me get my cadence up to 110+ without jumping about like a kangaroo!

cheers

jgsi

kleinstroker wrote:

jotko wrote:

...
Baxter up next - looks fairly easy, although at 1hr30 it is not my legs I am worried about but my backside, my sports direct cheapo shorts are not cutting it!

Baxter is pretty good, but read the instructions, I think you're supposed to do it without changing gear!! I think this really helped me get my cadence up to 110+ without jumping about like a kangaroo!

cheers

Exactly.. no TR workout EVER ends up 'easy'
and don't cut corners with turbo work.. wear the best shorts you can afford.. you need them.. and for me never without chamois cream

jotko

JGSI wrote:

kleinstroker wrote:

jotko wrote:

...
Baxter up next - looks fairly easy, although at 1hr30 it is not my legs I am worried about but my backside, my sports direct cheapo shorts are not cutting it!

Baxter is pretty good, but read the instructions, I think you're supposed to do it without changing gear!! I think this really helped me get my cadence up to 110+ without jumping about like a kangaroo!

cheers

Exactly.. no TR workout EVER ends up 'easy'
and don't cut corners with turbo work.. wear the best shorts you can afford.. you need them.. and for me never without chamois cream

My comfort zone is probably about 90rpm so I will be spinning between 70 and 110 - I can see how sustained efforts at 110 could take it out of you regardless of power output.

My cheapo shorts are not too bad when riding outside but are definitely not good on the turbo, not sure why, maybe you don't move around as much.

Wrath Rob

jotko wrote:

JGSI wrote:

kleinstroker wrote:

jotko wrote:

...
Baxter up next - looks fairly easy, although at 1hr30 it is not my legs I am worried about but my backside, my sports direct cheapo shorts are not cutting it!

Baxter is pretty good, but read the instructions, I think you're supposed to do it without changing gear!! I think this really helped me get my cadence up to 110+ without jumping about like a kangaroo!

cheers

Exactly.. no TR workout EVER ends up 'easy'
and don't cut corners with turbo work.. wear the best shorts you can afford.. you need them.. and for me never without chamois cream

My comfort zone is probably about 90rpm so I will be spinning between 70 and 110 - I can see how sustained efforts at 110 could take it out of you regardless of power output.
.

I was reading The Secret Race and there was an interesting passage about cadence. I'd not read about it before but the gist of it was that by increasing cadence you're moving the load away from your muscles and onto the other parts of your physiological systems, e.g. respiratory, circulatory. These become the limiting factors in your performance instead. This makes sense as you're putting in less effort per pedal stroke but having to make more strokes per minute.

Unfortunately this was in the context of PEDs as something like EPO and blood transfusions improve your oxygen carrying capacity therefore if you can shift your limiting factor to how much oxygen you can transport and then boost it (illegally), your performance will massively improve as you don't need to increase muscle bulk, and hence weight, to produce more power.

daveyok

Picking up a cycleops powercal from the post office tomorrow (after I've paid a customs charge and a bloody handling fee). Anyone use one with trainer road? Just wondering what option you select in order to pair it and how it compares to the virtual power. Not sure if I should just use it for outdoor rides and keep using virtual power on the turbo. Also thinking about how it will affect using software like training peaks or golden cheetah if I have 2 different sources of power. :?: :?: :?:

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Froomes Edgar

Wrath Rob wrote:

jotko wrote:

JGSI wrote:

kleinstroker wrote:

jotko wrote:

...
Baxter up next - looks fairly easy, although at 1hr30 it is not my legs I am worried about but my backside, my sports direct cheapo shorts are not cutting it!

Baxter is pretty good, but read the instructions, I think you're supposed to do it without changing gear!! I think this really helped me get my cadence up to 110+ without jumping about like a kangaroo!

cheers

Exactly.. no TR workout EVER ends up 'easy'
and don't cut corners with turbo work.. wear the best shorts you can afford.. you need them.. and for me never without chamois cream

My comfort zone is probably about 90rpm so I will be spinning between 70 and 110 - I can see how sustained efforts at 110 could take it out of you regardless of power output.
.

I was reading The Secret Race and there was an interesting passage about cadence. I'd not read about it before but the gist of it was that by increasing cadence you're moving the load away from your muscles and onto the other parts of your physiological systems, e.g. respiratory, circulatory. These become the limiting factors in your performance instead. This makes sense as you're putting in less effort per pedal stroke but having to make more strokes per minute.

Unfortunately this was in the context of PEDs as something like EPO and blood transfusions improve your oxygen carrying capacity therefore if you can shift your limiting factor to how much oxygen you can transport and then boost it (illegally), your performance will massively improve as you don't need to increase muscle bulk, and hence weight, to produce more power.

You never need to increase muscle bulk to produce more power (except possibly over very short durations).

daveyok

I think I know what to do - got a speedy response to my questions from the fellas at trainer road. Continue using virtual power for my indoor workouts but use the cycleops as a HR monitor and send the power data to my garmin. That should work :?: That way my garmin collects all the data (inside and out) and I don't muck up the figures I've already collected using virtual power on the trainer.....I think.

ChrisSA

daveyok wrote:

I think I know what to do - got a speedy response to my questions from the fellas at trainer road. Continue using virtual power for my indoor workouts but use the cycleops as a HR monitor and send the power data to my garmin. That should work :?: That way my garmin collects all the data (inside and out) and I don't muck up the figures I've already collected using virtual power on the trainer.....I think.

That's what I do with my PowerCal. I use virtual power from the turbo on TR, but capture the data to my Garmin for uploading to TrainingPeaks. My 20 minute test gave me 2 FTPs (Virtual and PowerCal); I use the virtual for TR basis, but TrainingPeaks gets the PowerCal based FTP. All is sqare that way.

The PowerCal is too spiky for good use on TR. The intervals are good data, but the recoveries are just a mess with power all over the shop. What the PowerCal has done for me is show me how to train with power, and will probably make me buy a DFPM or similar.

Why did you have to import yours?

daveyok

That's what I do with my PowerCal. I use virtual power from the turbo on TR, but capture the data to my Garmin for uploading to TrainingPeaks. My 20 minute test gave me 2 FTPs (Virtual and PowerCal); I use the virtual for TR basis, but TrainingPeaks gets the PowerCal based FTP. All is sqare that way.

The PowerCal is too spiky for good use on TR. The intervals are good data, but the recoveries are just a mess with power all over the shop. What the PowerCal has done for me is show me how to train with power, and will probably make me buy a DFPM or similar.

Why did you have to import yours?

That's good to know. Just collected the powercal from sorting office this morning and think I'll try it out - with your kind of setup - tonight on Beacon. Hoping the longish, steady intervals will show it at its best.

I got it on ebay from the states as it came to about £50 with delivery. I've had a few things from oversees recently which have not attracted any duty so I thought I was saving £20-£25 on the cheapest price I'd seen it for in the UK. However, add on the £10 import duty and an £8 Royal Mail 'handling fee' :evil: and it wasn't such a bargain. Ah well.....

ChrisSA

Well you still saved £10 on Wiggle, ex-del. Good luck, and let me know how you get on.

The Hunted again here. New 20min record .

For comparison:
TR PC
Whole workout 199AP, 213NP, 94TSS 214AP, 225NP, 93.2TSS
main 20 minutes 236AP, 237NP, 38TSS 240AP, 242NP, 38TSS

So not too dissimilar.

daveyok

Just did Beacon.

http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/156082

Used PowerCal on my Garmin. Heart rate seemed in line with the Garmin strap, although I had to change the battery in the strap first!!! :?

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/261278478

Power values were considerably lower than virtual power on TR. But I know not to expect to be able to compare values from different sources. Rest intervals were all over the place with the efforts a little more consistent. I'll hopefully get a chance to use it on the road tomorrow (snow forecast!). Going to try to do the 8 min test on Monday or Tuesday (before starting Base II) and set up some meaningful power zones with PowerCal.

damov2

Hello Peeps,
Looking for a bit of advice, I'm a week from finishing a cardio/interval plan(Insanity-not related to cycling). When done I want to start using Trainer Road as like to work to plan for motivation reasons.

Has anyone any experience of using Virtual power with a Cyclops classic mag trainer(I noticed its still in beta phase), or would I be better off buying the PowerCal? or a new trainer?

ExigeR

Not done much to this since Xmas for various reasons so thought i would download a Sufferfest vid and give it a blast.

Bad idea i think a little bit of me has just died lol.

http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/157051

Next time i might make it....

Roubaixsl3

Been on the turbo for two months now, working mainly on increasing FTP. Now just starting the experienced century high volume plan in time for the first sportive at the end of March. I feel my FTP is accuarate (not the specific value but the effort required), therefore presumably the longer endurance workouts (eg. Perkins) should be at the correct level for me. However having done Perkins twice in the first week, first time felt that my effort was far too low. I realise enduarance training is at a lower effort than threshold but my HR was only around 130. When I'm out on the bike on a long run, I would normally be around the 145 mark, very rarely see it at 130 unless I've backed off. So on the second run on Perkins I bumped it up to 105%, still my HR was hovering around 130, I ramped up the effort in the last 15 minutes just to feel as if I'd worked hard. I really want to get the effort correct over the next 11 weeks so am I right to bump up the % (ie. increase the FTP) to get the same feel as I do on the road or should I leave it as is ?. I know if I increase the FTP I wouldn't be able to achieve the threshold outputs on previous workouts so it doesn't seem right to increase it during the endurance workouts. I just don't want to waste 11 weeks training only to find my century times are the same as last year.
Robin

mattshrops

Only done a few bits on TR recently although been out on the road and also had a great xmas trip to the velodrome.
With the plunging temps forecast for sunday morn decided to hit the turbo for a good long session instead. Had a look at Disaster and couldn't believe how many people had done it (Yep its 4hrs10mins)
On closer inspection nearly all of them hadn't actually completed it. Ooh now you're talking.....

Unfortunately you can add me to that list bailed out at 3hrs.
http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/155591

The 4x12mins is a killer. Maybe next time.

jgsi

mattshrops wrote:

Only done a few bits on TR recently although been out on the road and also had a great xmas trip to the velodrome.
With the plunging temps forecast for sunday morn decided to hit the turbo for a good long session instead. Had a look at Disaster and couldn't believe how many people had done it (Yep its 4hrs10mins)
On closer inspection nearly all of them hadn't actually completed it. Ooh now you're talking.....

Unfortunately you can add me to that list bailed out at 3hrs.
http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/155591

The 4x12mins is a killer. Maybe next time.

I did it back in August on a Friday and needed the following 4 days to recover myself from it.. but I found it beneficial as a 'shock' workout done only a few times a year .. but you have to be feeling good about yourself before attempting it...
I put a note on the ride that the last 2 hours were perceived effort no lower than an 8!

mattshrops

Not feeling too bad today(may get up at 5.30 for an hrs thrash ) but i suspect that was due to my fail for the last hour.When you consider its an IF 0.87 for 4hrs 10 its hardly surprising you felt it for a few days. :shock:

ExigeR

Roubaixsl3 wrote:

Been on the turbo for two months now, working mainly on increasing FTP. Now just starting the experienced century high volume plan in time for the first sportive at the end of March. I feel my FTP is accuarate (not the specific value but the effort required), therefore presumably the longer endurance workouts (eg. Perkins) should be at the correct level for me. However having done Perkins twice in the first week, first time felt that my effort was far too low. I realise enduarance training is at a lower effort than threshold but my HR was only around 130. When I'm out on the bike on a long run, I would normally be around the 145 mark, very rarely see it at 130 unless I've backed off. So on the second run on Perkins I bumped it up to 105%, still my HR was hovering around 130, I ramped up the effort in the last 15 minutes just to feel as if I'd worked hard. I really want to get the effort correct over the next 11 weeks so am I right to bump up the % (ie. increase the FTP) to get the same feel as I do on the road or should I leave it as is ?. I know if I increase the FTP I wouldn't be able to achieve the threshold outputs on previous workouts so it doesn't seem right to increase it during the endurance workouts. I just don't want to waste 11 weeks training only to find my century times are the same as last year.
Robin

I think Perkins is an extended version of Homer Nose which is a higher cadence workout.
I did the same as you when i did Perkins and just peddled away at 85-90rpm with a few gear changes thinking this is way to easy, When you do HN it has instructions that tells you to pick one gear that you can do the whole work out in, mine gave me a range from 85-125+rpm to put out the watts i needed to hit the targets.

Your Perkins

http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/153501

My HN

http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/143523

I haven't done Perkins since.

jgsi

Roubaixsl3 wrote:

Been on the turbo for two months now, working mainly on increasing FTP. Now just starting the experienced century high volume plan in time for the first sportive at the end of March. I feel my FTP is accuarate (not the specific value but the effort required), therefore presumably the longer endurance workouts (eg. Perkins) should be at the correct level for me. However having done Perkins twice in the first week, first time felt that my effort was far too low. I realise enduarance training is at a lower effort than threshold but my HR was only around 130. When I'm out on the bike on a long run, I would normally be around the 145 mark, very rarely see it at 130 unless I've backed off. So on the second run on Perkins I bumped it up to 105%, still my HR was hovering around 130, I ramped up the effort in the last 15 minutes just to feel as if I'd worked hard. I really want to get the effort correct over the next 11 weeks so am I right to bump up the % (ie. increase the FTP) to get the same feel as I do on the road or should I leave it as is ?. I know if I increase the FTP I wouldn't be able to achieve the threshold outputs on previous workouts so it doesn't seem right to increase it during the endurance workouts. I just don't want to waste 11 weeks training only to find my century times are the same as last year.
Robin

The Advanced century high volume should do the trick there is enough TSS to tax you on a weekly basis and enough to allow some neat recovery before your first event... however,

you havent retested since early December, do it again

if the weekend workouts are not hitting the spot , swap 1 for road miles

jotko

My backside could not handle the 1hr30 saddle time required for Baxter so I skipped and did Ericsson instead - http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/156171. Found it pretty easy to be honest, amused myself by hammering as hard as possible at the end of each interval.

I bought some Endura FS260-Pro bib shorts today - pad is 200 times better than my existing shorts so no excuse now, will have a crack at Baxter tomorrow.

bobinski

Used TR for the first time today.Was going to leave it for 24 hours after 2 days in a row of Sufferfest video turbo sessions but temptation and a nagging concern about recent weight gain and lost fitness got the better of me

http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/157205

I almost enjoyed it!

Not sure I chose the right turbo. I have an Elite crono elastogel and chose what i thought was the nearest to it from the drop down list. Going to have a 24hour break from the bike and then try TR with some of the sufferfest vids. It wont be pretty!

fukawitribe

Not sure I chose the right turbo. I have an Elite crono elastogel and chose what i thought was the nearest to it from the drop down list.

The Elastogel is a wee bit further down, at 111 when I had a peak the other day. Entry is titled "Elite Fluid Alu AKA Chrono Fluid ElastoGel". I did the same thing, more or less, when I joined the other week as I thought all the trainers were grouped by manufacturer at first (I realised something was up when I was happily outputting over a kilowatt at some bits).

Hope that helps.
Tim

bobinski

Tim,
Got it-many thanks.