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Bike Test (Power) - Inside?

jpmarchewkajpmarchewka
in General Training Discussions

I just bought a Quarq Power meter and should have it set up the end of the week.  With that being said, should I do my test inside as I plan on being inside for another 3-4 weeks or so (still about 30 degrees in Michigan right now)?  Then as soon as I can ride outside regularly, retest again?  

 

Comments

  • Dino SartiDino Sarti
    Sure. It will give you a base line for the next month or so of training, but for racing it will have limited value. They still have the races outside. image
  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    FWIW, every test I've ever done has been under the same protocol and indoors -- year in, year out, rain, shine, heat, or cold outside...all my benchmarks are in the same conditions.
  • ezellrhezellrh
    Jordan, if it were me, here's what I would do:

    1. Test indoors as soon as you can get yourself jocked up for it (tests are 50% mental, 50% physical, 10% ipod mix, 5% inspiration.. wait a minute....)

    2. Once you get outdoors, ride out doors for 1-2 weeks and see how outdoor power differs from indoor power prior to testing. The more accurate thing would be to say would be to see how that your perception of power, its application, and how you handle that outdoors in variable terrain, conditions, weather is all different outdoors vs indoors. Indoor riding is simple in that you find your 'desired output/zone' and go, with minimal adjustments due to other influences. Obviously, once you come off the trainer and throw the 'whole world' into the equation, it will be slightly different from a personal perception vantage point. Give yourself a little time outdoors to adjust and manage your efforts prior to putting it all out there on the line in a test.

    Good luck! Enjoy.
  • Joe MatchetteJoe Matchette
    Also something to consider -- your "Outdoor Power" could very well be the exact same as your "Indoor Power". Mine is, and I know I am not alone. Others, though, will vary....more often higher outdoors, occasionally lower. But there is no hard and fast rule.

    That is just a long way of saying that any benchmark established indoors will be a good starting point once you are able to ride outside.

    So I would just go ahead and test as soon as you can. (Check the recent thread for discussion on that -- http://members.endurancenation.us/Forums/tabid/57/aft/18230/Default.aspx#201807)
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