Training with Power
Question about training with power and using power of race. If this has been discussed or asked in the past please forgive this question being asked again.
So this year I have been training with a Garmin Vector and have had multiple issues from power not being read on the 910 and 500, to my left sensor not reading, batteries dying, etc.... and its been really frustrating for all people involved. I was even granted a new power meter and still have issues with the new meter. Before the race ALL bases were covered to a really nice long training ride the day before the race to make sure everything was working.
My "A" race was Maryland 2014 and while I was on my second loop of the ride the meter just crapped out. With that being said.... what do you do in a case like this when you've been training with power for months and what should plan b be? Do you go with speed, gut instinct (which I did since I was on loop two), even my cadence information crapped out.
Thanks
Comments
Sorry to hear about your PM issues. You should be training with power and heart rate, and of course you'll always have rate of perceived exertion (RPE), ie, what it feels like.
So when you're PM dies on you, you'll shift to racing with HR and RPE. Under no circumstances should you be racing to speed goal. Ever.
Moving this to the Power forum where more people will see it.
When it happens, you need to adapt and overcome. Remember what your goal watts feel like in your legs, remember what the pedal pressure and cadence "rhythm" is like. Then use the Force. Be smart. When power leaves the building, better to ride a little easy and run like a deer then over cook your ride and walk 5 miles home in the dark.
x2 Masters Dino and Rich. I couldn't have said it better. You will fall back to feel and HR. So its important to know your perceived effort: what 70% feels like in your legs and under your feet. You'll under do it most likely, which isn't bad, then its fairies, rainbows and gumdrops on the run!
Julie- funny you should say that...the exact same thing happened to me at mile 85 on the Maryland course. I had been pushing at IF.70 for 4+ hours so I had a feel for the RPE. I just continued to push as I had been. I use a Power Tap and not sure why it crapped out, possibly batteries.
Hi Julie, the same thing happened to me in the Vineman. Luckily I had been watching my HR all day at it was stable so I just used that and made sure I didn't stomp on it on the hills. After a while of riding with power you can start to get a feel for what your target eats feels like, but it can be a crutch to have those numbers under your nose. I've read blogs by some coaches that say to cover up the power numbers on you computer for one ride a week and go by feel and then check them after the ride. I haven't done that, but I can see the value of doing it.
I have a friend who's done Kona twice and both times her power meter batteries have put early in the race. The last time it happened she went by feel and had a personal best IM time so it can be done.
Steve-the only thing I can think as to why it crapped out was the water on the course. There was some deep spots in the area SO I was very careful in riding through it. The night before the race we put all new batteries in anything that took batteries. All in all I was having Garmin related issues the entire day and honestly sometimes I feel as though Garmin is controlling my ride and when thing like this happens you must resort to the basis. I do miss the days when we did not have all the gadgets attached to our bikes, bodies and shoes.
Anyway I did have a fight for about 45 minutes with me, myself and I, looked like the exorcist but instead of the head twisting around in bed it was on the bike. I just settled down and got into a nice cadence, which felt right. Sorry to have missed you last weekend.
Julie,
Speed is definitely not a good metric, wind hills can cause to work a lot harder. For me I realized that I needed to pay more attention to my RPE when riding especially when I get outside for the season. In the past I have just pushed the numbers relying on my power meter. I also always have a HR monitor on and look at that information periodically throughout the ride.
It's not as exact as the power meter but as you use it more you tune in to your body. You will think I'm riding about 180 watts, look down and see a number close to that. Similarly with HR and even cadence. Think of this as a mental check on every so often on the bike to evaluate how you feel,, and gage the metrics without looking at the computer first. Finally when you are doing rides note the difference in a 1 hour FTP session vs., 3 hour ABP and the long IM rides. Typically these rides are harder than IM effort so if it feels that hard during the race (RPE) then back off.
Gordon