Sooo confused...

bananabanana

Bike Zones
FTP	182
Zone1	118 - 127
Zone2	127 - 136
Zone3	145 - 154
Zone4	172 - 182
Zone5	218

 

Can someone help me? These are the numbers from my bike test, but I'm not sure if they are watts or heart rate. I hope they're watts because if they are heart rate, it's REALLY high and I will die.

I tested with heart rate as I don't have a power meter right now. Just not sure how the bike calculator interpreted the info. Help?

 

Joe Matchette

@Anna - Did you put values in the FTP and VO2 sections on the Data Tool for the bike?  All that you need to do is put in your LTHR, which is the average HeartRate you had for the 40min test.

Putting in 182 as your LTHR (Lactate Threshold HeartRate), and zeros in FTP & VO2 fields, I get :

Your Results

FTP = 0

LTHR = 182

Zone	HR	Power
Z1 / < 70%	<142</span>	1-0
Z2 / 70-75%	143-162	1-0
Z3/ 80-85%	163-169	1-0
Z4 / 95-100%	170-180	1-0
Z5 / > 100%	>182	1

rmiller

I'm curious where the value of 182 came from - was that the highest HR achieved, or was that the average for the test?

bananabanana

182 was my lactate threshold watt number. My maximum test heart rate was 167. (These numbers are from a Performance Test I had done at a Triathlon Coaching place in my area about a month ago.) Did I put the wrong numbers in?

benvanmarcke

I would forget about those numbers because you don't have a powermeter so they won't be of any use during your training. The best is probably to redo the test with your current fitness, using the protocol as described in the training plan, and using the avg HR from the 40' test.

Dino Sarti

Without a power meter, those are definitely not watts....

did you plug your max HR into the bike calculator?

carls10

I agree with Ben. Do a new HR test take your avg HR and plug it in. Having watts won't help you if you aren't training with a power meter.

rmiller

So the 182W and 167bpm were from a performance test at some facility, presumably one where they could measure watts - like on a computrainer? If so, then 182W may be a valid number (as are the z1 through z5 numbers you posted above) - but as others indicated, without a power meter yourself, it'll be next to useless during your training because you won't have a repeatable number to reach for.

So without a power meter, you are best off doing another test at home on your trainer, and getting new HR numbers from that.  Don't get me wrong, though - the 182W and 167bpm are nice data points to have.

Shancey

Anna, I am so happy to hear your questions. I am glad too, that I am not the only newbie on the block. Happy training.....

Jason Baldomir

Forget wattages, they are irrelevant if you are not going to be training with power. When you are ready to head down that road you will have to redo the testing and that is obviously in a different time from the here and now.

Now the 167, you state that was your maximum heart rate during the test. Again, not really gonna help you too much at this point of trying to set up paces for your bike training by heart rate, but an ok number to have. My strongest suggestion is to go back (once rested and follow the protocol for the 40 minute test by heart rate only. Determine after the 40 minute hard TT effort what your average heart rate was during that 40 minute period. (This can be done by starting your HR monitor as you begin the 40 minute portion and then stopping it at the end of that effort and viewing your average HR.) This average HR is your Lactate Threshold Heart Rate or rather the point in which your body is right on the button between producing too much lactic acid which burns in the legs and clearing enough out of the legs to keep going. This is the most important number to derive if training by heart rate. Take this number and plug it into the LTHR field in the bike portion of the data tool. Then click get my paces. The data tool will then give you your heart rate ranges for your workouts.

The main gist of the training plans is to get you into intervals that are spending quite a bit of time repeatedly around that Threshold HR or sometimes above it to make you more fit. As time progresses you will become fit and subsequent tests will move these number around a bit to move to the next level of fitness. Hope this helps shed a little more light on the process and lessens any confusion you have

Brenda Ross

Anne, I agree with everyone. Your fitness can change in a month (down if inactive, up if active), and I would retest to get your actually HR numbers at the fitness level you are at now. When you go into enter that number, remember to put zero in the FTP and VO2 slots and then you will get your HR numbers for each zone. Then you are set to start the season at the fitness level you are are now. Something to also note on your bike computer is your distance and avg speed. Those numbers are the numbers you will also look at when you retest. So, if this test your distance is 30miles with an avg speed of 16miles an hour and then the next time you test you travel 32miles at 18mph you have improved. Does that make sense. I think there is a webinar or a forum from the coaches on this. Might even be in the wiki.

bananabanana

Once again, thank you! However, I was secretly hoping that no one would say I should test again. (Groan.....). And, I have to say, I am so impressed with this group. That you take the time to think through my "issues" is impressive.

Brenda Ross

I know what you mean about the test again Anna. I did the test with a group and felt I nailed and it appears that instead of pushing the lap button I was pushing the stop/start button, so all data was lost. I had to retest, but for some reason the second time around felt like I knew what I was doing and I spent two days building my mental game so that when I got on that bike, I owned it. Let us know how it goes.