TACX Bushido .... lessons learned during OS ....
I know that a lot of you use CT, over here I found it easier and cheepr to get access to the TACX Bushido which I bought specifically for the OS. In case anyone else has the same or similar trainer from Tacx, here my question:
In which "Mode" you are using the trainer for the OS intervals?
Tacx trainer software has serveral modes:
- Catalyst (just numbers & graphs) but you can train by slope/resistant or by watts programs (i drop HR, not useful for EN style training 
- Ergo/Reallife Video: you ride along with biker videos, speed adapts to your speed, resistance adopts to video.
- Real Life Training: you ride based on GPX and Google Earth, "poor mans" way to "ride" race courses
- VR: Not considering this for EN style training, Am i wrong?
I currently use Catalyst ->free ride -> slope, I adjust the slope based on the intervals for the WO. But there is a lot of button pushing
-> I wonder if someone use the thing in cooler / more fun / more motivating / more training efficient way?
I do not know the CT well enough if the question applies there as well?
Thanks for your thoughts and support
Kai
Comments
I have choosen to just try the different modes, last and this week I will use Catalyst -> Power Time Mode, I did program a training schema like this
WU 5min 100W,
2min 190W, 1min 100W, 2min 200W, 1min 100W, 2min 210W, 1min 100W
MS 10min 240W, 3min 100W
10min 250W. 3min 100W
ABP 15min 210W
CU 5min 100W
I quickly adjust the Intervals/Rest/ABP times to fit the WO schedule and time available. Than I start Universal Sports and follow some video there.
Benefits,
All Handling done upfront, trainer will do the work, i just need to see that my cadence is up.
No overachieving possible, matter of fact reports tell the Bushido wattage fades by 2-5% after an hour due to temperature changes,
so I did factor that into the intervals.
Handle bar allows to do some changes on the wattage without stoping the program.
Program does log the cadence, speed, HR and Wattage, like I would be out side
Watching other people cycle helps actually to keep cadence up.
Drawback
No Timer displayed, on the handle bar there is no feedback how long a one segment is already running.
Cadence need to be monitored, if distracted my cadence tend to go south of 80.
Need 5min Admin time until I can start training to adjust program with Workout.
For now I added my little garmin with the same work-out program, there I get add a cadence goal and an count-down timer of the remaining interval. So 2min extra admin here
In the attemped to capture lessons learned a quick update how things work so far using this tool for the OS bike sessions.
Ray made an detailed review of the Bushido System back in Dec-2011.
I used the first weeks (OS week 1-8) mainly the power (watts/time) mode (like CT the ergo-mode)
-> very cool helps to get the work done, you can watch movies next to it and still hit your watts.
-> I tried to keep things in each interval steady cadance in around 95-100.
-> found this useful for get into FTP work groove.
With the VO2 block I changed things a bit up
1. I went from power (watt/time) programs) to slope %/time mode.
This allows more freedom to shift gears and work on different cadance ranges fro 70's - 100's at 120% FTP.
2. I splits the long Z3 intervals in smaller chunks with different slope degrees.
I want to learn to ride with watts, the different slopes are the first baby steps to dail and stay into a given watt range.
(next step will be to use some Google Maps routes of the races i have in front of me this year.)
The Bushido has built in PM, in order to get consistant numbers, the PM needs be calibrated before each workout.
The calibration is by a simple and quick(30sec) run down which should be done after some warm-up.
People with PM report that the accuracy&consitance in the same range than on a Powertap after calibration.
So I do a warm-up now for both of us.
Calibration can be done only outside of the software, hence I do this before i start the WO program in TTS, which give me actually the chance to check & change things before I got locked in workout.
Here my Bike Trainer SOP
Next update in a few weeks when i do more Z3 stuff using the TTS RealtimeTraining Mode. Where I can cycle courses from Google maps.
TTS Workout from last sunday
Results in GoldenCheetah