It's killing me but..........

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The amazing thing about training with power is the amount of additional insight you gain about your body and its abilities. After a few rides with a PM, doing rides of all shapes and sizes, the software will pick out your Mean Maximal Power curve, which is the maximal power that you've been able to hold for any duration - 5 seconds to 5 hours. This curve represents a very real, physical limit for your body and whether you're pushing it or taking it easy, your body will start to complain, then shut down, when you get close to that curve. The point I'm trying to emphasize is that your body is aware of that curve even when your mind is not, and breaking that curve by even a couple watts or few minutes becomes a herculean task (and a major accomplishment). Instead of dreaming about the day you hit 250w, you'll find yourself tentatively daring to try to raise an interval set by 5w each. Still, it's a great feeling when you suspect your FT has risen by 5w, and then you go out on that next workout and nail it. Each baby-step becomes a huge confidence boost and motivates you for the next step.
I really like the idea of that Mean Maximal Pwr curve you alluded to. That seems very useful as a metric.

Oh I do think about 250w, but every bit closer is encouraging in its own right. Sort of creating a mindset that success builds on itself....5w at a time, given long enough, becomes 50w, etc.

I really like the idea of that Mean Maximal Pwr curve you alluded to. That seems very useful as a metric.
It's a feature of the cycling peaks software - both useful and humbling. ;)

Oh I do think about 250w, but every bit closer is encouraging in its own right. Sort of creating a mindset that success builds on itself....5w at a time, given long enough, becomes 50w, etc.
The further you go, the harder the going gets - like inching out on a tree limb or pond ice. When I was a kid I always dreamed about living to be 100. Now, at 36, I'm just thankful for each new day. I wouldn't dream of 100, for fear of slighting 95. :)

It's a feature of the cycling peaks software - both useful and humbling. ;) Once I have the PM, cycling peaks will be on its way. Plus I read you can get a free trial for a few days.


The further you go, the harder the going gets - like inching out on a tree limb or pond ice. When I was a kid I always dreamed about living to be 100. Now, at 36, I'm just thankful for each new day. I wouldn't dream of 100, for fear of slighting 95. :)
Oui, d'accord. Then being a whole 3 months into riding, I'm still at the place in the curve where the gains are easier. For you seasoned riders (aka stronger!), well I know the gains don't come as simply.

I'm in a similar age group and I can't say I ever thought of wanting to reach 100. Rather, I just want to live to the point where I'm self-sufficient, strong, and able to do the things I am passionate about. Beyond that, I am not interested in getting in anyone's way or being a burden.

And yes, something about not seeing the forest for the trees. Then I like trees :)

Rather, I just want to live to the point where I'm self-sufficient, strong, and able to do the things I am passionate about.
Ah yes, in all my musings I forgot about that. I do dream of retirement, even though it's still several years away.

And yes, something about not seeing the forest for the trees. Then I like trees :)
Someone once pointed out that forests are nice, but it's more important that one sees the trees - especially while mountain biking. :)

Ah yes, in all my musings I forgot about that. I do dream of retirement, even though it's still several years away.I don't know about the retirement thing (because I don't plan to ever "retire"), but most things stay the same: (1) you still train your ass off in the winter hoping to start the season with +25W, (2) you still hope the guys with 4+ w/kg last year slowed down, only to learn at the start of the season that they didn't and (3) you still wonder if you can somehow tweak your training to get more out of your time in the saddle.

What's different is (with the kids tuition bills paid): (1) you can actually start picking out a spot in the garage for that Pinarello TT frame with full Campy Record kit, (2) you can plan to build the fastest TT wheelset in existence with a PT SL2.4 hub, (3) you can design and build a computer that provides more useful training and racing data than anything in existence and (4) you can make plans to go ride the greatest road courses in the world.:D

Ah yes, in all my musings I forgot about that. I do dream of retirement, even though it's still several years away.
So in these dreams of retirement, what exactly do you do?


Someone once pointed out that forests are nice, but it's more important that one sees the trees - especially while mountain biking. :)Very pragmatic and sage advice I must say. Here in NM after some flash flooding, add trail to the list of things to see....entire 10-15 foot sections had slid down ravines :eek:

I don't know about the retirement thing (because I don't plan to ever "retire"), but most things stay the same: (1) you still train your ass off in the winter hoping to start the season with +25W, (2) you still hope the guys with 4+ w/kg last year slowed down, only to learn at the start of the season that they didn't and (3) you still wonder if you can somehow tweak your training to get more out of your time in the saddle.

What's different is (with the kids tuition bills paid): (1) you can actually start picking out a spot in the garage for that Pinarello TT frame with full Campy Record kit, (2) you can plan to build the fastest TT wheelset in existence with a PT SL2.4 hub, (3) you can design and build a computer that provides more useful training and racing data than anything in existence and (4) you can make plans to go ride the greatest road courses in the world.:D
Or, you can be at half of the official retirement age, be completely unattached, carefree and do this anyway? I wonder :)

Ok, well affording a Pinarello frame with high-end Campy gruppo might be a bit much....

Well I've been happily following this thread for while but never had much to add. However I AM a math type so I thought this would be my chance.

I remember from pages past that RD says "the first 100W are free" so the 130 W starting number is really 30W and the 280W ending number is really 180W.

Doing the math 180W is a 500% increase over 30W.

I thought I knew the answer, but I don't know how you got 2000.
Easy - multiply by 4!:D

Easy - multiply by 4!:DAha! A math wizard after all. You've been playing 'possum, Tyson.:D

Aha! A math wizard after all. You've been playing 'possum, Tyson.:D
C'mon RD, give us the answer. Obviously no one knows the answer.:(

C'mon RD, give us the answer. Obviously no one knows the answer.:(One more day. Somebody will get it.;)

So in these dreams of retirement, what exactly do you do?
Well, this (http://abbike.com/fast.shtml) for one thing...

.... then there's this (http://www.tenerife-training.net/index.html). Hmm, that's not even enough for one year so I guess I still have some planning to do. :)

Basically, it's all the things I'm doing now, except without that 8hr+ interruption in the middle of my day.

One more day. Somebody will get it.;)Another long-term reader of this thread.

If I'm not mistaken, you arrive at 2000% by dividing the 500% by .25 to reflect the roughly 25% gross efficiency in generating power.

One more day. Somebody will get it.;)To follow on with tbowren's answer .... you divide by .25 to reflect the roughly 25 percent efficiency in generating the additional power on the bike?.

Well, this (http://abbike.com/fast.shtml) for one thing...

.... then there's this (http://www.tenerife-training.net/index.html). Hmm, that's not even enough for one year so I guess I still have some planning to do. :)

Basically, it's all the things I'm doing now, except without that 8hr+ interruption in the middle of my day.Wow! Frenchy those rides look great. I wanna do em. I shall be retiring next year, but I don't think I would have the stamina to do the ride in the US. Do any old boys do it? Ohhh, and that Tenerife ride is a must do for 2008. Geez I'll be 66!:( Ah well, no harm in dreaming - can't turn back the clock eh. TYSON

Psst, anyone notice an increase in posters in this thread suddenly. Amazing what a woman's presence will do. or is it the mathematical challenge drawing them in? :D

Well, this (http://abbike.com/fast.shtml) for one thing... Good choice! It says you go by New Mexico on the way to Boston - say hi or at least wave ok? :rolleyes:

.... then there's this (http://www.tenerife-training.net/index.html). Hmm, that's not even enough for one year so I guess I still have some planning to do. :) How interesting! My grandmother was born in the Canary Islands. Not to be missed, you'd enjoy Tenerife :)

Basically, it's all the things I'm doing now, except without that 8hr+ interruption in the middle of my day. I guess browsing and posting on these forums throughout the middle of the day don't count as a formal distraction then ....

Wow! Frenchy those rides look great. I wanna do em. I shall be retiring next year, but I don't think I would have the stamina to do the ride in the US. Do any old boys do it?
You tell me. http://www.bamacyclist.com/journal2005/2005Fast/bios/riders.htm Really, who else has the time? ;)

The ride journals (http://www.bamacyclist.com/whereismikie.htm) are pretty fun, and there's also a less aggressively paced Ride across America which takes 52 days instead of 32.

Psst, anyone notice an increase in posters in this thread suddenly. Amazing what a woman's presence will do. or is it the mathematical challenge drawing them in? :D
I thought it was because we'd secretly hijacked the thread to something a little more interesting. :D We now return you to your regularly scheduled program.

Psst, anyone notice an increase in posters in this thread suddenly. Amazing what a woman's presence will do. or is it the mathematical challenge drawing them in? :DDefinitely the math. Most everything I say is gibberish or irrelevant, save for starbucks tidbits, that I can guarantee. :D

To follow on with tbowren's answer .... you divide by .25 to reflect the roughly 25 percent efficiency in generating the additional power on the bike?.I suggest that you look at the computation of NP and its underlying rationale.:D

I suggest that you look at the computation of NP and its underlying rationale.:D
Are you still here RD with your connundrum? We've moved on to more exciting things.:D