Chris, I had the same thought in a slightly different form. My interest was the indoor/outdoor variability from person to person, where we see some people with identical indoor/outdoor ftp, and others who pretty much inhabit a different FTP body across, seeing such a range between the two. Further, from the severity of the difference, what can this tell us about our individual heat tolerance? Or, yet another scenario: think of the athlete who has a large difference between FTP (or HR at FTP) between indoors/outdoors, but has more or less the same stress response at ABP watts? Or at IM race pace?
Thanks to everyone for all of their comments in this thread. My work schedule has changed this year and it seems to be a never ending stretch of meetings during business hours, while in the past it would be more off hours. As such, I am finding that my usual ability to get out in the morning or go for a mid day ride is much more complicated during the week. Living in chicago, the last thing that I want to do is to take the bike out for a ride on the lake front path or on any road at 5pm. I've been down the get hit by a car road and I guess I am becoming more risk averse/stay on trainer if the timing isn't correct. Also, with the unpredictability of the rollerblader walking a dog on a leash, I find that I am just not able to reliably stay at the prescribed FTP for the specified intervals. So today I did something I haven't done in almost 10 years of training for triathlons, I went on a trainer ride after may 1st. It was the midweek FTP ride. I was initially a little hesitant but it was a great ride and after the brick my legs feel completely shelled. (Did 3 hour ride yesterday when I had day off)
So while I definitely feel as if the "work" was beneficial, the part that I honestly missed was being outside. I think that part of the reason all of us are in this game is the joy that comes of being outside on a bike and riding watching the scenery go by. The upside of my little experiment today confirms that it can be done, i can get a good work-out, and not be too mentally destroyed in the process. Reading through the previous posts, especially by Matt, really do make a good case for the indoor rides. That said, I still plan to ride outside as much as I can, but if work gets in the way, being able to get on the trainer in the AM or the evening seems like it will be a reasonable solution. Luckily several years ago I got an extra wheel to permanently mount a trainer tire and use on my trainer, it is now just as simple as swapping out the wheels and riding indoors vs outdoors.
So while I definitely feel as if the "work" was beneficial, the part that I honestly missed was being outside. I think that part of the reason all of us are in this game is the joy that comes of being outside on a bike and riding watching the scenery go by.
I can't disagree with this. So far this season I've had a grand total of ONE outdoor ride. I'm writing this having gotten off my bike 10 minutes ago -- after 80' of trainer FTP brutality. I'm feel very done with the trainer at this point. It's time to get back outside!!
Funny story. I made an arbitrary decision to do my FTP itervals inside this evening. I was doing 4 x 10. In between #2 and #3, for no good reason at all, my glasses just split right in the middle of the nose bridge (Think prototypical nerd taped glasses here...) I am so blind without them they can't really even measure my vision as 20-XXX... so I guess it was a good safety result that I had been inside rather than 10-12 miles from home!
For me for logistical reasons I will pry end up doing some indoor rides mid-week just to make sure that I can get in my rides. I am switching up my season a bit due to injury so I am actually training on bike focus more for fun than requirement.
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So while I definitely feel as if the "work" was beneficial, the part that I honestly missed was being outside. I think that part of the reason all of us are in this game is the joy that comes of being outside on a bike and riding watching the scenery go by. The upside of my little experiment today confirms that it can be done, i can get a good work-out, and not be too mentally destroyed in the process. Reading through the previous posts, especially by Matt, really do make a good case for the indoor rides. That said, I still plan to ride outside as much as I can, but if work gets in the way, being able to get on the trainer in the AM or the evening seems like it will be a reasonable solution. Luckily several years ago I got an extra wheel to permanently mount a trainer tire and use on my trainer, it is now just as simple as swapping out the wheels and riding indoors vs outdoors.
For me for logistical reasons I will pry end up doing some indoor rides mid-week just to make sure that I can get in my rides. I am switching up my season a bit due to injury so I am actually training on bike focus more for fun than requirement.