MAP Tests Ramp Rates why is there not a standard?

I have always questioned the validity of the some of the institutes protocols for testing Functional Threshold Power and Lactate threshold in fact the actual testing of many of the individual physiological variables that determine our performance when we can just look at the actual race data and results of performance measures instead. Sure it is great to be in the lab having lactate taken and analysis of RER’s and VO2, but, at the end of the day the results on the road are a combination of all the factors and are far less invasive.

With this in mind I don’t get may athletes to do anything more than a standard 25 watt/min ramp rate MAP for guys or a 15 watt/min ramp rate for women. This is followed by a 20 minute FTP test on a climb or on circuit without stops. I then simply look at the relationship between each and determine the AWC of that athlete and construct training accordingly. I do when the weather is very bad have my athletes carry out a separate ergo FTP as well as an outdoors climbing FTP as RPE is different when doing tests indoors and outdoors and by altering the ergo indoor FTP sessions become achievable and there is less failure to complete sessions. There is much debate about this, but, quite simply some can achieve indoor sessions at or close to outdoor sessions power and some cannot. It is far better to have success and completion of sessions than ball busting failures that crush the spirit and motivation of a rider.

This all came about when my associate coach Damo Mason came over today to help me move my slide on camper and some timber as I can hardly move with my ruptured disc. After moving the gear we had Damo primed ready for a test on the CycleOps PT 400. I have set up a large number of programmed sessions and the ramp tests are fantastic when completed on the load ergometer. Damo smashed out a great test and with the short protocol the whole thing was done in 40 minutes. Damo managed to average 458 watts for the last-minute and it was a great result. Thos just confirmed the numbers we had been seeing out on the road and the 340 - 350 watt FTP we have set to base the training upon. This is also why Damo just smashed the recent NSW Maters 3 ITT  Champs.

Damo Mason MAP 25 Watt Ramp

I suppose the reason for this meandering post is that if we all followed the same easy to follow protocols it would be so much better to cross reference riders form and fitness. Quite simply if for instance what does it matter knowing a rivals FTP it is what it is and so you just have to use the governor to overcome those with better physiology and genetically given gifts ;o)

Ramblings of an injured Athlete

It is a funny old game that of sports science and most written pieces and discussions are all basically going over the same discussions and areas of debate. We all try to come up with interesting articles in the magazines and unpack more complex science and bring it into layman’s terms so that everyone can understand and gain insight into the differences between the elite and the club cyclists. I was always let down by the information given in articles and written discussion when I was a lad and basically found that nothing was given no real advice with no gumption or substance and so I have strived to actually give in my written articles, give free knowledge and real substance. The most recent article was derived while watching the Tour this year and it was spontaneous and creative, there I was with the SRM data streaming live on the laptop and the Tour live on the TV. Wow how good was that, why did we not have live blow by blow data streamed live into a little box on the side of the screen???? I was Facebooking live data and info working out ascent rates live and had quite a discussion going with a fair few people it was great. I then got a private message from the editor of Cycling Weekly in England asking if I could do a piece on a topic relating to my Facebook discussion. Awesome I said I will work out what real-time cyclists would do compared to the pro’s up a climb I had fixed data on from that particular stage, where Geraint Thomas was away with Roy where I had copied blow-by-blow data on his power for the climbs. That was it then and I wrote the article which was published this week in CW.

I will of course in the future put the article for free download on this blog or the website and I am sure it will be used and adapted by other sports scientists out there for other articles and debates. I suppose this is as I sit here waiting for my back operation unfit and a little down about nothing is new, creativity and spontaneity is what will  inevitability uncover new training ideas and new levels of performance. As sports scientists and coaches we should take time to get together as we do at www.ftptraining.com and increase the pool of knowledge with regular skype conferences and discussions on clients need and goals and have that pool of creativity and energy uncover new area to study and increase performance by doing so.

What are you waiting for coaches and sports scientists my contact details are on the website, lets start the process instead of reading and rewriting each others work lets start creating a new level of understanding by pooling knowledge and data for the good of increased performance and discovery.

These are ramblings of an injured athlete on lots of meds to stop the pain from ruptured disc resting on the sciatic nerve, I am hoping to have the surgery within the week and begin the journey of recovery and who knows new levels of performance ;o) I was really looking forward to doing the elite State ITT Champs this year, up until a month or so ago my FTP had been creeping up with very little (3 – 5 hours a week) training. I was focussing on ultra specific efforts at very high power outputs at or above race pace. FTP had come up to 340+ watts at just under 7okg’s which for winter was the best my weight had ever been and I was looking forward to doing a sub 60 min State ITT and we had a Torq team set up for the Tour of Gipps and then the Tour of . What a bugger, always next year eh )

Cheers

Fenz

Some awesome bikes for sale

Dean at Torq has just sent me the list of 3 brand new bikes that he has in the warehouse looking for new owners. Take a look at the specs and you will be frothing, these are remember brand new and never ridden. If you are interested contact Dean at dean@torqaustralia.com

GTR Carbon Pro red

2010 Cube reaction GTC Race

GTR Carbon Pro rival

These rigs represent awesome savings on new so drop dean an email and set up a test ride.

Cheers

Fenz

 

 

 

 

Time Trial Speed Part 2

I suppose as I am injured the NSW titles are out this year, a bloody shame as I was going to race Elite this year and I think it would have been close Peter ;o) After looking at some refinements to the CUBE Aerium I thought today we could look at some measured stats for a number of different pieces of Time Trial equipment. This was posted on cycling tips blog and by calculations in field testing it is pretty good.

The following chart shows the aerodynamic savings according to what www.aerosportsresearch.com calculated for Velonews 

How much time does your $$ buy?

These numbers are calculated for a rider over 40kms at a time of 48minutes.

So then although we can spend heaps of $$$ on the small bits and pieces for the bike the speedsuit is one of the biggest bang for your buck items for TT speed. This is followed by the tri bars and obviously this is governed by their overall set up and position as discussed yesterday. Areo helmet and time in the wind tunnel can bring about similar benefits, but, the costs are massively different!We are always looking at wheel and in my research it will depend a lot upon conditions. A deep 90mm + front wheel will in most conditions be faster than a shallower wheel or a tri spoke, but, various yaw angles and wind speed will have differing effects upon this relationship, so , trial and error along with experience of handling the wheels in wind will play a part. It is no good having the fastest wheels on for the day, but, being scared and blown about the road not being able to actually ride and concentrate on pacing and power production. Look at the results for shoe covers!! big gains can be had for sure for little outlay. Last but not least the frame, small, but, meaningful gains can be made with the slipery framesets if you have the money.

It is easy to see then why when I turned up for the Masters State RR Champs with my team mate and associate coach Damo Mason on that windswept day in we both had on our Champion Systems FTP Training speedsuits and overshoes isn’t it;o)

Cheers

Fenz

Time Trial Speed and Bike Tuning

As most of you are aware I tend to cross over the cycling disciplines throughout the year and love all manner of bike racing. As well as the MTB and Road Racing the Individual Time Trial has a special place in my heart. Being brought up on the English scene the classic summer series of evening 10′s and 25′s was all part of the staple diet and included into each and every training schedule. The feeling of pure power and speed got me hooked at my very first race. I remember it well as it was the New Year Day 10 at Steyning back in 1990. I rocked up on my road bike standard with no mod cons  and certainly no aero helmet. It was a brutally cold morning and about 2 degrees with frost on the ground and very little wind. I remember the starter holding me up and setting me off. It was awesome, no snivlers sitting on, just measured power and effort and pure speed. To my amazement I won my very first 10 in a time of 23.05 with an average speed of 26.03mph or 42km/h. I had a cyclo cross race the next day and I could not stop thinking about the ITT.

How things have changed, bikes, gear, knowledge the whole sport was in the dark ages back then and knowledge was passed on through the A graders in the club if you were lucky. There was no internet, no wind tunnels, no anything, just trial and error and away you go. I was hooked from then on and found that I had a talent for time trialing, my pretty average physiology could be pushed beyond its real limits against the clock and solid results followed. Part of this is due to my inquisitive and partly OCD nature. I love the tinker, the changing the gluing and moving of all the bits and pieces involved on the TT rig.

Now than I am not going to give away all the secrets for Uber speed , unless you are one of my riders as it has taken literally 20 odd years to learn, but, I am wiling to show pictures of the rig and see if you can work most of them out for yourselves. I gave a report of the new CUBE as soon as I had built it up and transferred the measurements from the Transition, but, there have been lots of changes since, so, I think a revisit is in order.

The front end, is the most critical first point of contact with the enemy. Frontal area needs to be reduced to a minimum, but, still allowing breathing and power output. There is a crossover point where getting too low reduces power. A lot of testing needs to be done to establish this point for you as an individual. Too high not very aero, but, lots of power vs too low very aero, but, no power. Let look at the front end of the CUBE for details.

CUBE front end neat and tidy

Neat and tidy front end, very narrow with elbow touching and a 30 degree bend for the extensions. This position has taken years to get into and most people cannot ride like it. If you try it be carefull the overall control of the bike is far more difficult and cross winds really get you!!!

TRP Brake mounted behind the front fork to smooth airflow

USE Tula bars adapted slightly with armrests 120mm below the saddle height. I have found this the maximum drop height before I start to lose power. The average is between 110 – 120 for most riders as an optimum drop height.

Awesome USE Tula 380mm wide the minimum width allowed by the UCI

I am using the 54 tooth OSymetric rings as used by a large amount of the SKY team and most notably Bradley Wiggins. I once tested Bradley when he was 16 years old at the lab with Simon Jones for the BCF. He had just I think won a World Champs on the boards. It is amazing to see him now rally at the top of his game and the pinnacle of his physiological capacity..Anyway some great studies have come out with these rings and after chatting to a good mate back in England Chris Mc and email with his coach Jon Sharples I decided to give them a go. As I am now unfortunately injured the test period was small, but, I did hit a peak pb 3 minutes of 460 watts at 70kg, with one crippled leg, and was 3 second off my course record at a local 15km TT, so, signs are very good indeed. They actually ride very naturally straight off and I was amazed by how good they feel. If anyone is interested I can get them for a good price. Go onto my website www.ftptraining.com and send me a message and I will see what I can do for you.

54 Tooth OSymetric Ring on a Quark with Keo Blade aero pedals

The Keo Blade Aero Pedals help smooth airflow under the foot as well as looking bloody great ;o) There are more little things that I am not going to tell you as you need to travel down the path of discovery for yourselves, but, there is more free speed in the setup if you choose to uncover it.

Good luck on the journey of discovery and ultimate speed, I am over 20 years into it and simply love it.

CUBE = FAST

Cheers Fenz

Time to change the years plans :o(

After winning the State Masters RR I had only been doing short but very specific interval based training targeting the ITT and State TTT. Everything was going very well and the numbers were showing good improvements with my 20 minute power coming up to nearly 360 watts. I had been tinkering with the ITT position and set up and basically was targeting the Elite State ITT and then Elite RR. For the last couple of years in the RR I had come close to getting a real result finishing on the top 10 on both occasions and last year nearly getting across to the winning break with a couple of Virgin Blue riders.

Then about 3 weeks ago I had an asthma attack at the beginning of the State TTT and had to pull the pin. Then the left leg started to ache and the old tell-tale signs of my back problems started. tightness in the left glute, sacro iliac pain and over the past two weeks completely debilitating sciatic pain to the point as I write this that I haven’t been able to sleep for the past few nights and I cannot even walk. The pain into the sacrum area radiating down the leg is too painful. I went for a scan today and I am awaiting the results on Monday. I have a foreboding feeling that this just isn’t right and something is seriously wrong. I have been put on some rather serious pain-killers that target neuropathic pain most often used for fibromyalgia. They are supposed to knock me out and dull the pain, but, I have had 300mg tonight and it is doing nothing, so, it looks like another sleepless night!!!!!!!

Bugger it, I hope to be back in the saddle soon.

Smash some trails for me

Fenz