The official TrainerRoad thread

jgsi

Garryboy wrote:

JGSI wrote:

Number 200!
BLENDER

My favourite Sufferfest at the moment.. the intervals seem to be bang on for being a real workout but achievable.
The soundtrack is pretty spot on as well.

Sweet, did blender on the rollers last sunday, was fun but hard to concentrate on anything else like the soundtrack. Did you keep it at 100%?

This is one SF that I can do at 100% of ftp.
It is all a question of training smart.

Garryboy

Yep - training smart is my issue - can't seem to stick to a plan - get distracted by other stuff, like using rollers instead of turbo.

It's not that I'm not putting in the hours, it's structure and focus - and talking proper rest days. Time to go back to the TR plans methinks...

jgsi

I have 2 races this weekend, I'll let you know Monday how smart I have been

jotko

Blender is on my, errr, agenda this weekend.

The new video format is brilliant, enjoyed the reformatted revolver (well as much as you can enjoy revolver)

Garryboy

I gotta get outside this weekend - sub zero temperature or not, can't take much more indoor training!
At least it's forecast to be dry - so should reduce risk of ice

ChrisSA

JGSI wrote:

Scrumple wrote:

Paying nearly seven quid a month for this and feel like u am missing something...

Just using the on screen workouts and Mainly the simple hour long threshold ones.

Are the videos extra cash? Or part of the subs price??

Cheers

The videos are extra... however if you feel like it is not vfm then perhaps you just need to think if you need structured training? it can be a pita and if you are simply just wanting 'to ride' faster' then maybe you could save that £7 a month.
For me, without having to go to hassle and expense of owning a Powertap and the like, I get some kind of feedback from using Virtual Power that far outweighs the expense.... but then again I do race.

This.

Had considered Blender last weekend but went MTBing instead. Cake ride this Saturday so may put it off to Sunday. This weekend is the National day of Sufferlandria after all.

I do all my Sufferfest rides at 100% when doing them with a non-suffer day in between. If I do two days in a row I'll knock the %age down.

This week was run focused so after a Tempo run Tue and a track session yesterday I did Geiger, a sweetspot session tonight. Tomorrow I might try to ride outside, or I'll just hit an Threshold session on TR. I know what will help me more. Only 3 weeks to the European champs :?

twotyred

Well its time to put the turbo away until next winter so I don't have any need to continue my TrainerRoad subscription. When I stop my subscription will my login and history disappear or can they be reactivated by starting my subs again in November?

ChrisSA

Is it that warm and sunny in Wilshire?
It'll still be there next winter. Or next week

twotyred

Is it that warm and sunny in Wilshire?

Indeed. A balmy 6°C today with a refreshing NE wind. I almost changed from my warmest gloves to my second warmest 8) Still beats staring at a computer screen in the garage.

Pigeons in flight

JGSI wrote:

Garryboy wrote:

JGSI wrote:

Number 200!
BLENDER

My favourite Sufferfest at the moment.. the intervals seem to be bang on for being a real workout but achievable.
The soundtrack is pretty spot on as well.

Sweet, did blender on the rollers last sunday, was fun but hard to concentrate on anything else like the soundtrack. Did you keep it at 100%?

This is one SF that I can do at 100% of ftp.
It is all a question of training smart.

I'm just new to TR..and am very impressed. I was previously finding that I basically clocked up a load of turbo junk miles...sitting on it whilst watching TV, etc. Using TR has made me realise that I really wasn't pushing it very much at all!

I invested in a Kinetic Road Machine and can highly recommend it. Very solid and quiet. It's made me realise how cr*p my Minoura magnetic one actually was. I'm using virtual power....which I am, again, very impressed with. The Kinetic seems particularly good at maintaining consistency. I'm on the Intermediate Build I plan....which is a complete b*stard!

Speaking of which...I did my first Sufferfest (Angels) on TR the other day. I stupidly did it on 100%....I crawled through the d'Huez part of the vid...80% next time I reckon. In my defence, I had been on the lash the previous evening...
http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/275614

Btw..thanks to all the contributors to this thread. Very useful.

jgsi

Just an update on TR training effect.
a 3/4 race yesterday/short circuit crit - well stayed safe in the bunch as it was a bit lairy thru some tight corners
today a 75 minute tli race on a longer road type circuit (traffic free) with a god awful headwind.. again the TR training came into use... 1/2 way I heard a clatter behind me when on the front and turning a corner, thought my bike had decoupled or something, so slowed and checked.. and obviously went off the back of the bunch.
All ok, so started to pedal again and had a nice mile and half getting back on in the teeth of the wind.
I went red but got back on... but it was just too cold despite the sun to be in the mood to do much else.

ChrisSA

JGSI wrote:

Just an update on TR training effect.
a 3/4 race yesterday/short circuit crit - well stayed safe in the bunch as it was a bit lairy thru some tight corners
today a 75 minute tli race on a longer road type circuit (traffic free) with a god awful headwind.. again the TR training came into use... 1/2 way I heard a clatter behind me when on the front and turning a corner, thought my bike had decoupled or something, so slowed and checked.. and obviously went off the back of the bunch.
All ok, so started to pedal again and had a nice mile and half getting back on in the teeth of the wind.
I went red but got back on... but it was just too cold despite the sun to be in the mood to do much else.

Good effort JGSI, well done!

Did a lumpy 100km yesterday for our final club winter ride. We transition to summer chain gangs in a week or so, plus the TT season has started. I haven't ridden that far for a month or so, but the legs were there all through the ride, including some silly bits where a few of us tried to make a break (on a club ride ) and also towards the end where I dragged a clubmate back to the cafe for the last 15km. TR definitely benefiting me.
Will ride outside again tomorrow then back on the Turbo Tuesday morning (Threshold), maybe a Sweetspot Wed then first seasonal TT Thursday.
Tight RH calf so no running this week.

jgsi

Well, took the decision to suspend the subscription. With the racing starting to get full on from now onwards, the legs are just too tired to make any focussed turbo work worthwhile.
It has been very good value for money, however and it is a fantastic product.

ChrisSA

See you next winter!

I rode Goethethis morning before work. My body is not designed for FTP efforts that early, and that close to waking up.

rinko

I started using TR about 8 weeks ago, and did the 8 minute test to get me going. I don't think I really did this properly (I think I could have gone a bit harder), but I ended up with a FTP of 224.

However I did Sufferfest's Revolver last week and felt it was way too easy - so decided to re-test (I've stupidly not manually increased my FTP over the weeks). I did the 20 minute test at the weekend as was very happy that my FTP has now gone up to 265 - although my LTHR is still low (139 I think). As I say in the notes, I think I maybe could have gone a little faster on the cadence, but I could feel my legs were pretty full of lactate.

Obviously the jump is probably more pronounced due to the 8 minute test being a low reading - but I'm chuffed to see an improvement. I know the power figure is likely some way out from actual, but as an indication of progression I'm happy - so just wanted to share!

Going to try Revolver again tonight, we shall see if I need a bucket or not!

markp80

Well, I've been on holiday for a couple of weeks which has disrupted my training half way through the plan. With that in mind, I've been doing a couple of Sufferfests to get back into the swing of things, Angels and Fight Club.

Starting to feel like I'm getting the legs back a bit now, and completed Angels last night at 90% -
http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/300381

I'll do a bit more of the random stuff this week, then get back onto the plan proper next week.

Not many posts on here recently - has everybody been riding outside or something? Might even try that myself

Cheers,
MarkP

napoleond

Well, after a few months off, had a bike for at www.pedalprecision.com. BIG revelation, not been engaging glutes/outer quads at all for last two years.
A couple of rides to get to new position and decided to start from scratch. Fitness very low, but now using far more muscle...

8 minute test today resulted in FTP increase of 20w from 3 months ago!

http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/301406

Gonna be a freaking warlord by next year

Pigeons in flight

MarkP80 wrote:

Well, I've been on holiday for a couple of weeks which has disrupted my training half way through the plan. With that in mind, I've been doing a couple of Sufferfests to get back into the swing of things, Angels and Fight Club.

Starting to feel like I'm getting the legs back a bit now, and completed Angels last night at 90% -
http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/300381

I'll do a bit more of the random stuff this week, then get back onto the plan proper next week.

Not many posts on here recently - has everybody been riding outside or something? Might even try that myself

Cheers,
MarkP

I'm playing catch-up with TR...really getting into it after most people are back out on the road! I'm doing Intermediate Build 1 Mon, Thurs & Sun and mixing it up with steady commutes Tues Wed and long ride Sat. I have noticed a massive change in my fitness in a relatively short period of time and am a definite convert of TR. I'm feeling that the work outs are getting slightly easier...so might do a 8 min test.
http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/300361

Pigeons in flight

Btw...has anyone found that the workouts sometimes fail to save. A 'processing error' message comes up...and I (annoyingly) lose the workout. It's happened a couple of times now...one of them after I'd bust my balls doing Blender. My set up's in the garage...which may mean intermittent wi-fi. I've got the standard TR software...maybe the beta's better?

markp80

Pigeons in flight wrote:

MarkP80 wrote:

Not many posts on here recently - has everybody been riding outside or something? Might even try that myself
Cheers,
MarkP

I'm playing catch-up with TR...really getting into it after most people are back out on the road! I'm doing Intermediate Build 1 Mon, Thurs & Sun and mixing it up with steady commutes Tues Wed and long ride Sat. I have noticed a massive change in my fitness in a relatively short period of time and am a definite convert of TR. I'm feeling that the work outs are getting slightly easier...so might do a 8 min test.
http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/300361

I really enjoy using TR so I'll try to do a similar mix throughout the summer, the turbo won't be getting put away, that's for sure.

A few folk on here, myself included, found that it was worth re-doing the FTP test after four weeks into an eight week plan, for the very reason you mention. Mind you, I've been finding the Build I plan much tougher, and haven't had any inclination to retest.

I haven't personally had any problems with workouts failing to save from software crashes, although I did lose one right near the end when my PC crashed. That turned out to be overheating due to a blocked fan though. However, if you have any problems like this I'd recommend you drop an email to the TR support guys. They are very helpful and I'm sure they will be able to get you sorted. They actually managed to recover my lost workout (I was particularly upset as it was right at the end of one of the Tour Of Sufferlandria stages).

Cheers,
markP

markp80

Incidentally, is anyone going to enter the 8 Days in California? Must be a few Tour of Sufferlandria vets fancy it?

Cheers,
markP

napoleond

MarkP80 wrote:

Incidentally, is anyone going to enter the 8 Days in California? Must be a few Tour of Sufferlandria vets fancy it?

Cheers,
markP

Can't as I'm off on holiday mid way through...

jgsi

MarkP80 wrote:

Incidentally, is anyone going to enter the 8 Days in California? Must be a few Tour of Sufferlandria vets fancy it?

Cheers,
markP

yes, I rejoined, was missing the metrics....
I got the email invite, so have said yes.
Now is this because I am gifted but out of contract or is every TD,H getting an invite ?

Garryboy

JGSI wrote:

MarkP80 wrote:

Incidentally, is anyone going to enter the 8 Days in California? Must be a few Tour of Sufferlandria vets fancy it?

Cheers,
markP

yes, I rejoined, was missing the metrics....
I got the email invite, so have said yes.
Now is this because I am gifted but out of contract or is every TD,H getting an invite ?

Hi, Im Harry

markp80

JGSI wrote:

Well, took the decision to suspend the subscription.

JGSI wrote:

yes, I rejoined, was missing the metrics....

I knew it wouldn't last!

Garryboy wrote:

JGSI wrote:

I got the email invite, so have said yes.
Now is this because I am gifted but out of contract or is every TD,H getting an invite ?

Hi, Im Harry

Oh no, it wasn't sent to everyone, was it? My dreams shattered again :oops:

Cheers,
MarkP

springtide9

8 Days in California

How could anyone resist... unless they are on holiday in California

Simmotino

MarkP80 wrote:

Oh no, it wasn't sent to everyone, was it? My dreams shattered again :oops:

Given I've not even sat my a**e on the saddle in a month (don't ask, all that initial effort wasted! ) and I got the invite, I guess that makes me Dick.

No, hang on...

Pigeons in flight

MarkP80 wrote:

Pigeons in flight wrote:

MarkP80 wrote:

Not many posts on here recently - has everybody been riding outside or something? Might even try that myself
Cheers,
MarkP

I'm playing catch-up with TR...really getting into it after most people are back out on the road! I'm doing Intermediate Build 1 Mon, Thurs & Sun and mixing it up with steady commutes Tues Wed and long ride Sat. I have noticed a massive change in my fitness in a relatively short period of time and am a definite convert of TR. I'm feeling that the work outs are getting slightly easier...so might do a 8 min test.
http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/300361

I really enjoy using TR so I'll try to do a similar mix throughout the summer, the turbo won't be getting put away, that's for sure.

A few folk on here, myself included, found that it was worth re-doing the FTP test after four weeks into an eight week plan, for the very reason you mention. Mind you, I've been finding the Build I plan much tougher, and haven't had any inclination to retest.

I haven't personally had any problems with workouts failing to save from software crashes, although I did lose one right near the end when my PC crashed. That turned out to be overheating due to a blocked fan though. However, if you have any problems like this I'd recommend you drop an email to the TR support guys. They are very helpful and I'm sure they will be able to get you sorted. They actually managed to recover my lost workout (I was particularly upset as it was right at the end of one of the Tour Of Sufferlandria stages).

Cheers,
markP

Thanks for the pointers Mark

ChrisSA

springtide9 wrote:

8 Days in California

How could anyone resist... unless they are on holiday in California

I got the email when I powered up my phone after landing in San Fran. My tired brain was initially confused. So I'm in for the ToC now anyhow.

I'm probably due an FTP test before then. The week before the euro du champs I beat a lot of power PBs on TR so FTP has likely increased. Shame the bike leg on the day was so crowded so I had to hold back a little (non-drafting race)

richa

Pigeons in flight wrote:

Btw...has anyone found that the workouts sometimes fail to save. A 'processing error' message comes up...and I (annoyingly) lose the workout. It's happened a couple of times now...one of them after I'd bust my balls doing Blender. My set up's in the garage...which may mean intermittent wi-fi. I've got the standard TR software...maybe the beta's better?

I have had it previously but thought the issue was fixed. (It happened during Tour of Sufferlandria. I had to do a re-ride :evil: )

Are you using the latest release? No wifi is required to do/save a workout - just to sync back to the website so more likely some other bug. Log a support call & the guys will have a look for you. Usually they are very responsive.