The official TrainerRoad thread

markp80

michaelede wrote:

http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/520476-Sufferfest-Revolver

First ever sufferfest session, made almost unbearable by the constant frame dropping (the video was running about 10 minutes behind by the end) this is even after down grading the video to Ipod resolution! Guess my old xp laptop is past its prime
So time to look for a replacement laptop (not that it will just be used for TR but it is a reasonable excuse!), anyone have any suggestions for a cheap Windows 7 based laptop that will cope? I am so out of the loop on computer tech it's untrue

Thanks.

Hi,

I find I really struggle with my old notebook PC which runs an Intel Atom processor. However, my laptop which is also old has a Core2Duo processor (not Dual Core) and I would say that is about the minimum. I think from memory though that it did come with a branded video card rather than using the generic motherboard video. It was nothing fancy though.
On that basis, I would expect anything modern to be ok, as the processors are all way beyond mine now, but I would see if you can get one with branded graphics accelerator rather than generic. I'm no IT expert, but my personal experience tells me you don't need to go over the top. Good excuse to get something fancy if that's what you want though!

Cheers,
MarkP

Garryboy

As above, I get this a lot - but it's because I'm trying to run it on an HP Netbook, spec is too low.
I did email TR about this and apparently the software framework that TR is built on doesn't utilise the GPU (graphics card) processor, only the system processor (CPU). If so, not sure a dedicated / branded graphics card will be the difference - but a better CPU will be.
In the meantime, if you turn off the option to start/stop based on cadence (in TR) and play the video in something link videolan you will notice a big difference.
It does mean some synchronisation at the start (pressing play when the TR prompts counts down) - but once your past that it's much better and stops you shouting at your laptop....

markp80

Garryboy wrote:

I did email TR about this and apparently the software framework that TR is built on doesn't utilise the GPU (graphics card) processor, only the system processor (CPU). If so, not sure a dedicated / branded graphics card will be the difference - but a better CPU will be.

- I didn't know that, I assumed that the card in my laptop was helping. If the TR guys have confirmed it's not, then it just must be that my laptop's more powerful processor is doing the business compared to my Atom-powered netbook.
In that case I would think any new laptop is likely to do the trick, because as I say, my laptop only has a Core2Duo processor which was reasonable at the time but is pretty old hat now.

Found a quick link to a benchmark -
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/laptop.html
My laptop processor scores around 1500, my netbook's Atom around 700. Interesting to see the various scores for the more modern processors.

Cheers,
MarkP

dw300

MarkP80 wrote:

michaelede wrote:

http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/520476-Sufferfest-Revolver

First ever sufferfest session, made almost unbearable by the constant frame dropping (the video was running about 10 minutes behind by the end) this is even after down grading the video to Ipod resolution! Guess my old xp laptop is past its prime
So time to look for a replacement laptop (not that it will just be used for TR but it is a reasonable excuse!), anyone have any suggestions for a cheap Windows 7 based laptop that will cope? I am so out of the loop on computer tech it's untrue

Thanks.

Hi,

I find I really struggle with my old notebook PC which runs an Intel Atom processor. However, my laptop which is also old has a Core2Duo processor (not Dual Core) and I would say that is about the minimum. I think from memory though that it did come with a branded video card rather than using the generic motherboard video. It was nothing fancy though.
On that basis, I would expect anything modern to be ok, as the processors are all way beyond mine now, but I would see if you can get one with branded graphics accelerator rather than generic. I'm no IT expert, but my personal experience tells me you don't need to go over the top. Good excuse to get something fancy if that's what you want though!

Cheers,
MarkP

Don't forget about software guys. There may be a way round this ..

My Macbook (no dedicated video processing) runs videos well using VLC Player, but badly using various other players. Just get creative with your window layout and you might get sufficient performance not to have to fork out on new hardware.

michaelede

Thanks for the suggestions guys, turns out my CPU has a passmark of 220! :shock: No wonder it is a little choppy! Will look at getting something higher than 1500 off the bay, did a bit of window shopping yesterday and there is some lovely kit you can get but hard to justify when it is going to sit in the garage!!

Did Guyat last night and burried myself on the final interval, had nothing left:

http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/524042-Guyat

Think that means I need to up my FTP? Strava is now estimating it at 229 and I currently have it set at 216. Think I am getting better at riding the trainer and judging what I've got left in the tank.

markp80

michaelede wrote:

Did Guyat last night and burried myself on the final interval, had nothing left:

http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/524042-Guyat

Think that means I need to up my FTP? Strava is now estimating it at 229 and I currently have it set at 216. Think I am getting better at riding the trainer and judging what I've got left in the tank.

I would say the only way to get your FTP for TrainerRoad is to do an FTP test on TrainerRoad. Too many variables and inconsistencies to be able to use what Strava suggests.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, as the tests are no fun, but you know what you have to do.......

markp80

dw300 wrote:

MarkP80 wrote:

michaelede wrote:

First ever sufferfest session, made almost unbearable by the constant frame dropping
So time to look for a replacement laptop

Thanks.

Hi,

On that basis, I would expect anything modern to be ok, I'm no IT expert, but

Cheers,
MarkP

Don't forget about software guys. There may be a way round this ..

My Macbook (no dedicated video processing) runs videos well using VLC Player, but badly using various other players. Just get creative with your window layout and you might get sufficient performance not to have to fork out on new hardware.

Good point, and that just reminded me of something I read on the TR website. They're currently developing a mobile version of the software which Nate said they were going to then implement on the desktop version. He said this would no longer require the use of the Adobe Air platform, which takes up headroom, meaning the new version would run quicker, particularly video. So things could be improving anyway in due course. (Still not enough for my netbook though, I suspect, but I rarely use that)
Cheers,
MarkP

michaelede

MarkP80 wrote:

michaelede wrote:

Did Guyat last night and burried myself on the final interval, had nothing left:

http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/524042-Guyat

Think that means I need to up my FTP? Strava is now estimating it at 229 and I currently have it set at 216. Think I am getting better at riding the trainer and judging what I've got left in the tank.

I would say the only way to get your FTP for TrainerRoad is to do an FTP test on TrainerRoad. Too many variables and inconsistencies to be able to use what Strava suggests.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, as the tests are no fun, but you know what you have to do.......

For sure, will do it on Sunday

DaveL

^^ good luck

Yesterday's ride http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/ride ... Mount-Bond found it really challenging at a low cadence (I'm a spinner )

michaelede

Is that 3 hours on a turbo??? :shock: Can't even imagine doing that, i'd be crippled. Do you move around a lot on the bike?

MartinGT

Did my 20min ramp test last night, forgot to get the fan out and by the end I was a dripping mess.

LOVED IT!

My only question is now, tweaking the zones I have for my HR to suit the new FTP I have got from this test.

/edit, so I can roughly use these on the road.

DaveL

michaelede wrote:

Is that 3 hours on a turbo??? :shock: Can't even imagine doing that, i'd be crippled. Do you move around a lot on the bike?

No it's on rollers, so moving around is not an option and neither is standing up , I can manage about 45 mins before I have to stop and give my rear a break for about a minute. You can see where I have stopped as my HR drops below 110bpm

I won't lie it was quite painful

MartinGT

Righto, I have a 2h slot tomorrow where I want to do a session in what would be my endurance HR zone.

Anyone recommend a TR workout? I was thinking of this one, anyone done it?

wavefront

I'd recommend Giraud, but it depends on how it fits with your plan and but it may be too short. I still do alot of outside rides and have a long club run tomorrow so it suited me tonight and when I finished my legs felt incredibly loose and fresh.

It's listed as Tempo, but I'd be inclined to call it Endurance as I was in Z1-Z2 most of the time. The small Z2-Z3 intervals helped mix it up a little without too much stress.

Skinner2k3

Did my first 20 minute test earlier to get my FTP. Is there a way of checking what the new recommended FTP was?

I was given the option to use new FTP and selected YES but for some reason when I later went to my Profile it was still at default 200. I think I remember what the new number was but would like to check.

Ta

DaveL

It would help if you posted the link to your test

Skinner2k3

Does this work?

http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/ride ... inute-Test

DaveL

Yes it did work, obviously your new FTP is higher than 200. Have you set it up for power, because if you have set it up for heart rate, I believe it doesn't update. If this is the case then get in touch with Nate, and he will covert it.

The other thing about your test, you went a bit hard before the 20 min test segment, which would have enabled you to go a bit harder in the 20 minute segment.

Skinner2k3

Cheers, pretty sure the new number was 269 and have changed it to that.

I think its set up for power, is that the "Enable Virtual Power" check box in Profile?

Fair point, maybe I need to do it again. Will give it a few days and have another crack at it.

DaveL

Had a look at a 20 min test comparable to yours, and there FTP was 271, so 269 sounds about right. In the meantime if you do a couple of rides at 269, and they feel to easy, just raise your FTP up by 5 or 10 points and see how it feels.

Good luck

Skinner2k3

Excellent, thank you very much.

clivewalker

MarkP80 wrote:

clivewalker wrote:

Just completed Monitor - http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/491834, my 5th workout in the intermediate base plan.

I thought it wasn't going to be too bad, but as soon as I set off my heart rate shot up and my legs felt tired and weak. I think normally if I wasn't following the workout on Trainer Road I would have given up after the first interval, but managed to slog on to the end. Hope I feel better for the 90 minute workout on Friday which contains 3x20 minute sweet spot intervals, else that is going to be hell!!!

Hi Clive,
Maybe it's something wrong with my browser, but when I looked at your ride, your efforts were miles above the target. Is that why you found it hard?! eg -
FTP - 253
Target - 230 (sweetspot workout)
Power - 290

Cheers,
MarkP

Hi Mark,

The resistance had slipped to 4 on the Turbo when I thought it was on 3, so I asked TR to update the workout as if it was on 4, hence the elevate power figures.

I've since borrowed a Powertap and performed the power curve measurements for my Turbo (Elite Mag), TR have added the new devices to TR. It appears the original power curves were over reading by around 20%, this has mean't that I've had to drop my FTP from 253 to 220. It does seem accurate now when I compare my workouts with the ones I performed using the Powertap though, so I'm happy I'm getting quite accurate numbers.

Just performed Tioga this morning and found it hard, I don't think I'd recovered from my training yesterday though so my heart rate was elevated at all intensities by around 10BPM. http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/533820-Tioga

foggybike

Well just done another 8 minute test after finishing the Intermediate base ii plan

http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/plan ... te-base-ii

Up again from 186 to 203. Nearly another 10% increase. So the plans work a treat!

foggybike wrote:

Just interest on whether this is a good improvement on my 8 minute test? Any thoughts please.

August Test (After this is suggest dropping FTP to 169) This test was done at suggested 200




November Test This test was done at FTP 169 and suggested increase to 186

dw300

Skinner2k3 wrote:

Cheers, pretty sure the new number was 269 and have changed it to that.

I think its set up for power, is that the "Enable Virtual Power" check box in Profile?

Fair point, maybe I need to do it again. Will give it a few days and have another crack at it.

284 x 0.95 = 269 (rounded down)

You remembered correctly.

Skinner2k3

dw300 wrote:

284 x 0.95 = 269 (rounded down)

You remembered correctly.

Ah, from the 20 min test figure, still learning!

ExigeR

Has anyone noticed the TSS score can be off a little sometimes.

Did a session tonight and disregarding the recovery intervals all of the power intervals were 100% +

At the end i got TSS 88 where it states 90 if rode as they say.

napoleond

2 out is nowt!

ExigeR

Your right 2 is nothing but if you look at the ride i would have thought it would be + 4 or 5 so 6 or 7 out, still not much.

I won't lose any sleep over it, all i know is that it hurt lol.

http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/536432-Bird

napoleond

Yeah looking at it I'd've thought higher. TSS on a session like is where TSS as a measure falls down. That ride will have far more of an effect on your body than a 2hr 90TSS ride.

dw300

ExigeR wrote:

Your right 2 is nothing but if you look at the ride i would have thought it would be + 4 or 5 so 6 or 7 out, still not much.

I won't lose any sleep over it, all i know is that it hurt lol.

http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/536432-Bird

How long have you been cycling Exige .. your FTP/kg is nuts.

Are you following a TrainerRoad programme, or one of your own?