TrainerRoad Question
As a HR athlete who also plans on using Trainerroad for "virtual power" during the OS, should I do the "power" bike test or "HR" test?
Also - any word on the EN/Trainerroad partnership?
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As a HR athlete who also plans on using Trainerroad for "virtual power" during the OS, should I do the "power" bike test or "HR" test?
Also - any word on the EN/Trainerroad partnership?
Comments
If a WSM says differently, I'll defer to them
I'm far from a WSM but I had great results with virtual power (VP). Objective of the bike test is repeatability - as in, test, set zones, train, train, train, test again, assess progress, adjust zones (up), repeat. The fact that VP may be off from actual watts doesn't matter - the key is that your testing (which sets your zones) and your training (which is in your zones) is on the same platform. The advantage over HR is that your power is immediate-in-the-moment. Imagine a VO2 Max workout where you're trying to train at 140% of your threshold for 50s then resting 50s then 140% for 50s then rest 50s etc.,. By the time your HR starts to catch up with your effort the interval is over. Power is much better for short-interval training, and short-intervals are important to the EN work ethic. VP was very easy to use, and worked great for me. I didn't actually buy a powertap until I realized how much I wanted that feedback on the road. I do most of my training on a "Free Ride" for whatever time; I do whatever workout my EN plan says to do. Back in the day, I followed the TR plans, and that worked for me too. Reach out if you have any challenges getting the VP set up, but there isn't too much too it. You just need the speed/cadence sensors.
@Ryan-x2
@Russel, you need to post more... That's a great answer.
Thanks!! I'm all set to get started!
But, I still have more question regarding the use of TrainerRoad. I lack tech-knowledge (sometimes I wish I was a tech-geek) - so to use TrainerRoad, I was thinking of purchasing something like this (http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/WatchesClocks/PRD~5023-200/suunto-move-stick-mini.jsp) to transfer the readings from my bike computer which is wireless to my laptop. Now, and here is the question, can I assume that the data stick will read values from my bike computer or do I also have to buy a new bike computer (and if so, is there anything I need to look for that will make it compatible with TrainerRoad)? I like the idea of using VP, especially since I can't afford to purchase a power meter right now. Thanks in advance to any EN members who can help.
Naomi - I am just getting started with TR, so I am by no means any kind of expert. But... I do know that you don't need your bike computer to upload data to your computer. I couldn't make your link work, so I'm not sure what you were thinking of using.
I am using this ( www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003V1YLFK/ref=as_li_ss_tl ) to upload data from my HR monitor and my speed/cadence sensor directly into TR. Because everything is wireless, the information can go to both TR and your bike computer at the same time.
I do have another question, however, about the bike test. In looking at the rides on TR, they seem to have a 2x20' test and another 1x20' test that has a long warm up. But neither of these fit the prescribed Power test in the new OS plans. So... should I just do a 'free ride' and test away as prescribed in the OS plan (5' VO2, rest, 20' FTP')? Or try to 'convert' one of these somehow?
There is an EN like 20 min Test. Search workouts for 20 minute test. Problem is, it has a five minute recovery interval between the 5 & 20 minutes test intervals. So you have to repeat the five minute recovery interval. Just before the end of the interval, use your mouse/track pad to re-position the pointer back five minutes, to the 25 minute mark, click, and TR will start up again from that point.
Naomi, make sure your bike computer or whatever source you are feeding into TR via the Garmin ANT + stick is "ANT-compatible". If it is, the process is automatic, things will work just fine.
In prep for Monday's test, I did a full dress rehearsal today after a six month hiatus from TR. I did a simple TR workout called Birch, and everything worked just fine, it amazes me how TR integrates so many different systems for me: PowerTap, HR strap, trainer are all mutually incompatible, yet TR uses each of them to provide a single easy to read screen of my workout with watts, HR, cadence, speed, everything in fromt of my face.
Are you using a Computrainer with TR? If so, how do you have yours set up and what ant+ devices are you running vs CT devices (ie...cadence, HR, Powermeter...)?
Thanks
I have a CT with TrainerRoad. CT just plugs into my laptop via a USB port. When setting up a TR ride, under devices, just pick CT as your device and pair it. Works like a charm. I also have my PT which I use also to collect cadence data so I pair that too. Once in a while I attach a heart rate monitor, and can pair that too. I save the ride to my Garmin 800 and upload it to TrainingPeaks. You can also directly upload the TR file, but I often do an extra warm up and cool down before/after the TR ride, so the Garmin captures everything.
You can also use the CT handle bar computer to start / stop TR, calibrate the device after warming up and to increase/decrease the intensity of the ride. - I mostly decrease
tom
TR's official Video demonstrating how to use the CT with TR:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvyxow52FnQ
Just make sure when you use Computrainer and Trainerroad, that you warm up tires for a few minutes in early part of workout, then hit F3 to do calibration, then F3 to save. I also recalibrate one more time later in workout.
Thanks for the info!!!
@Jessie - when you say not compatible, are you saying that because it is not listed on TR's list of trainers? Or are you assuming that because it is lower end, it won't work, what with the conversation about computrainers and their ability to plug into TR?
For the most part, as long as your setup is consistent from one workout to the next, that is what matters the most.
What kind of trainer do you have (make/model) and is it mag, wind or fluid?
You've gone to
this pageand not found your trainer among the 213 models currently supported for virtual power? If yours is not on the list, your options/$$ are: ANT+ HR strap and USB stick, to at least get the HR data into TR ($70 or so); buy a compatible trainer ($ a couple hundred for the cheapest); or get a PM (used Power Tap wheel on eBay: $700 or less > New PT: $900-2000 > Quarq, SRM cranks: $2-4000). You need to do one of these three things for EN, whether you use Trainer Road or not.
I assumed it wouldn't work because my trainer is lower end (Travel Trac - fluid) and because this is all new to me. I guess I just didn't fully understand how it all worked or even know there was a list of supported models. Now I looked it up, and my trainer is supported. Now I need an ANT+ speed sensor? ...what is this? I've got the Garmin forerunner 305, so I'm good with the HR.
A local bike or tri shop might also have one. You need this because TR needs some way of determining how fast the rear wheel is spinning (which it then uses to determine how much resistance the trainer is putting up, and therefore how much power is being generated).
You'll also need an ANT+ USB stick from Garmin as well (also available from Amazon - about $25). http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-010-10999-00-USB-Ant-Stick/dp/B000UO9KSY/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1351451974&sr=1-1&keywords=garmin+ANT++usb
Thank you for all your help!
No additional fee
@Jessie - TrainerRoad is a subscription service - http://www.trainerroad.com/pricing - $10 per month. I use TR year round (kids are asleep, wife running, and I'm in the garage...) There are no additional fees to crunch the data.
Full configuration instructions are on the TR site: http://support.trainerroad.com/entries/20636866-what-hardware-do-i-need-to-use-trainerroad
Entry level includes: ANT+ stick, ANT+ speed-cadence sensor (GARMIN or WAHOO, both <$40). You set up the speed-cadence sensor, install the TR software on your laptop, plug in the ANT+ USB stick, and go. If it doesn't work then reach out for support - here or at TR (in my experience the support at TR was great)</p>
@Naomi - I wonder how all this reads to a non-geek - are you tracking or is this topic losing you? No cycling computer involved - just your laptop and an ANT+ USB stick - please feel free to reach out if you need some help getting set up - it's so much better than training without it.
@Russell - thanks for the specifics. I will head to the local bike shop/outdoors store this week to see about getting a ANT+ stick and ANT+ sensor, as you recommended.
@Naomi - anytime - summary -
Does anyone ever adjust the intensity? The little % at the bottom left of screen.
I am on a computrainer with the TR...and found during my test it was much harder to keep my cadence up then when I did just a straight computrainer 10 mile TT test.
Just curious if I lowere the intensity, would the load be a little less.
Yes...I do that all the time. With the CT, you can adjust the intensity via the +- keys on the CT head unit /controller, as well as on screen in TR.Both reduce by 1% a pop. But, when you are using one of the TR testing workouts, TR will convert CT from ERG mode to Slope mode, so adjusting the intensity does nothing; you need to shift gears to ake things easier or harder.
--Larry
Hi All - I have a question to piggy-back on this discussion: I'm using Trainer Road for virtual power as well (with ANT+ stick, cadence + HR sensor). In addition, I have my Forerunner 310xt that I have been using for my runs (and also outdoor rides). I've been downloading all of the Garmin data to the Garmin Connect site, which is great, but it would be so much better if I could have the Trainer Road data alongside it. Does anyone know of a way (or another service) to aggregate the two sets of data?
On top of that, and this is probably a pipe dream, but is there a way to sync Trainer Road with the Forerunner so that the virtual power from TR is displayed/captured by the Forerunner?
-Dan