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

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I'll often pick the most likely guy to press the pace and have him drop back with me. Kills two birds with one stone.:DLOL:D

A team of researchers came from a Nagoya university to our gym today to test a method they have patented, which with the help of a camera, sensors and computers shows exactly where the pressure is being exerted on one's feet.

All the "oldies" in the gym had to walk (voluntarily) for about 30 feet, midways stepping on a black plate. (3 times) We were then given a multi-coloured printout indicating where the pressure is applied when you walk.

The chief researcher told me I had no problem (nice to know:) ) and that I was fast, presumably when running. I thought, what a shame this "speed" doesn't translate to the bike.:(

New FTP 236 watts thats 25 watts increase in 2 months:cool:

The chief researcher told me I had no problem (nice to know:) ) and that I was fast, presumably when running. I thought, what a shame this "speed" doesn't translate to the bike.:(
Are you saying that the researcher was admiring your footprint? :D

New FTP 236 watts thats 25 watts increase in 2 months:cool:Well done WD. You might or you might not find your rate of progress will be slower hereonin.
I think with all these young whippersnappers at my heels, I definitely need to up the training. Hopefully will have a new FTP figure to reveal at the end of Jan, i.e. when a year has passed since I began structured training.

Is it Spring yet I feel the need for speed.:)

Well done WD. You might or you might not find your rate of progress will be slower hereonin.
I think with all these young whippersnappers at my heels, I definitely need to up the training. Hopefully will have a new FTP figure to reveal at the end of Jan, i.e. when a year has passed since I began structured training.

New FTP 236 watts thats 25 watts increase in 2 months:cool:Congrats!!

Nice improvement! The 250 watts is almost there!


A lot of pages back I joined this topic. Couldn't sport since then but a couple of days ago I moved into my new house and my cycleops Pro 300PT is comming this sunday. Hopefully I can report my (baseline) stats next week. To be continued!! :D

PT300 nice pain device.... I use a KK ....Hey did I mention I gained 25 watts in 2 months?:)

Congrats!!

Nice improvement! The 250 watts is almost there!


A lot of pages back I joined this topic. Couldn't sport since then but a couple of days ago I moved into my new house and my cycleops Pro 300PT is comming this sunday. Hopefully I can report my (baseline) stats next week. To be continued!! :D

PT300 nice pain device.... I use a KK ....Hey did I mention I gained 25 watts in 2 months?:)
LOL Yes, I think you did somewhere.;) Anyway, just in case you didn't, tell us again.:D

OH yeh right 25 watt gain in 2 months....I've got the power dun dun da di di dun dun I've got the power.:)

LOL Yes, I think you did somewhere.;) Anyway, just in case you didn't, tell us again.:D

OH yeh right 25 watt gain in 2 months....I've got the power dun dun da di di dun dun I've got the power.:)
Of course, it what would be far more impressive if you were to increase your FTP by the same amount over the next 2 months. Keep us posted.;)

Now I'm back in serious training again, I'm definitely (based on the way the training is going at the mo) looking at a 25 watt increase over the next 2 months. Bearing in mind of course, I did detrain for a period, so am starting from a base lower than where I was a while back.

Here to admit my failure... I've been off the bike/trainer for a while(probably the last month). Several factors, some good reasons, but even these boil down to excuses. After all, where there is a will there is a way. I got my kurt kinetic trainer last week and I am now going to get back on track.

Here to admit my failure... I've been off the bike/trainer for a while(probably the last month). Several factors, some good reasons, but even these boil down to excuses. After all, where there is a will there is a way. I got my kurt kinetic trainer last week and I am now going to get back on track.
I don't think you should regard it as a failure. We are all (well most of us:D ) human with our idiosyncratic weaknesses. At least, like myself, you realize you did sucumb to the temptation not to slog your guts out on the bike/trainer.
However, you haven't resigned yourself to becoming a couch potato and are determined to get down to some serious workouts (on your new KKT;) )

FWIW, I tried to ease myself back in by doing workouts at 170W-220W. Then I kicked myself and said stop pussying around - get some work done you lazy old sod! It's damned hard - especially the VO2Max workout I did yesterday, but hopefully psychologically, the effort involved yesterday will be reflected in my workout tomorrow.

Keep us posted on your workouts on the KKT.

Well atleast you're enjoying the time off it is the off season and holidays no better time for it. I did have to work harder the second month for a smaller gain so I am expecting gains to average down.

Here to admit my failure... I've been off the bike/trainer for a while(probably the last month). Several factors, some good reasons, but even these boil down to excuses. After all, where there is a will there is a way. I got my kurt kinetic trainer last week and I am now going to get back on track.

Today made an amazing discovery. I found that, intead of pedalling my 350W intervals at a steady cadence of around 60 and gradually coming to a grinding halt through the stress on the quads, I covered up the display (so I couldn't see my HR) and started off at a cadence of 90 plus and stomped on the pedals.
A piece of cake compared with before!

Moral of the story - forget HR - wind it up to 350W and pedal like a maniac.

Next week intend to try this method for my 5 minute VO2Max intervals at 300W.
If I fall off the bike I know I've overdone it.:D

What put me on to the above idea was this. I noticed if I really ramped up the cadence to 110+ @ 200W my HR went up to around 155BPM but still felt very comfortable. However, if I'm doing above 280W at much lower cadence, my HR still goes up to 155BPM and I found the perceived effort was far greater.

In other words, at 280Watts plus I thought I was working the old ticker harder, but correct me if I'm wrong, the extra perceived stress was on the legs not the heart. I still don't know what my max HR is, but theoretically it should be around 155 plus or minus. Last Tues in the gym it rose to 167BPM and I still didn't feel I was about to drop dead with a heart attack.;)

In other words, at 280Watts plus I thought I was working the old ticker harder, but correct me if I'm wrong, the extra perceived stress was on the legs not the heart. I still don't know what my max HR is, but theoretically it should be around 155 plus or minus. Last Tues in the gym it rose to 167BPM and I still didn't feel I was about to drop dead with a heart attack.;)The stress of interest is always the legs (mainly the quads). Your heart can run at its max output basically forever. When you have to reduce intensity, it is never because your heart got tired and couldn't go any longer at that pace. The heart is a truly amazing organ. And as to your "theoretical" maximum, it is simply a number that corresponds to a large percentage of the population. I've never had the curiosity to delve into the data underlying that formula. And I'm still not sufficiently curious to look into it. I am much more interested in AWC recovery rates (now, that matters a lot!) than max heart rates.

The stress of interest is always the legs (mainly the quads). Your heart can run at its max output basically forever. When you have to reduce intensity, it is never because your heart got tired and couldn't go any longer at that pace. The heart is a truly amazing organ. And as to your "theoretical" maximum, it is simply a number that corresponds to a large percentage of the population. I've never had the curiosity to delve into the data underlying that formula. And I'm still not sufficiently curious to look into it. I am much more interested in AWC recovery rates (now, that matters a lot!) than max heart rates.The statement in bold is quite an amazing declaration. If what you say is true, what is it physiologically that gives up the ghost? I know one can say it's the legs and the quads in particular, but I assume it's the lactic acid buildup in the limbs that serves as the limiting factor. Of course if the lactic acid accumulation reaches a certain level you black out.
Again I assume this is the body's natural defence aimed at protecting the vital organs.
However, getting back to your assertion that the heart is not the limiting factor. If you are working out at or near your HRMax, isn't the lactic acid build up more rapid, eventually stopping you in your tracks? Or put another way, your heart cannot work at it's max for ever because other factors come into play preventing this from holding true.
Apologies RD if I have confused things as I usually manage to do.:D

FWIW I read some where that heart muscle can actually burn lactic acid as fuel while other muscles cann't. I think if you went hard enough long enough without a quick replacement (fortified drink of some kind) of minerals like magnesium for example your heart could not relax between beats and sudden death heart attack can occur. Another important mineral is silica there is more silica in the aorta than in any other place in the body it makes it more resilient long term deficiency can cause problems with the heart.

The statement in bold is quite an amazing declaration. If what you say is true, what is it physiologically that gives up the ghost? I know one can say it's the legs and the quads in particular, but I assume it's the lactic acid buildup in the limbs that serves as the limiting factor. Of course if the lactic acid accumulation reaches a certain level you black out.
Again I assume this is the body's natural defence aimed at protecting the vital organs.
However, getting back to your assertion that the heart is not the limiting factor. If you are working out at or near your HRMax, isn't the lactic acid build up more rapid, eventually stopping you in your tracks? Or put another way, your heart cannot work at it's max for ever because other factors come into play preventing this from holding true.
Apologies RD if I have confused things as I usually manage to do.:D

Aren't some of you guys the ones poking fun the HRM a couple months ago? :)

About the time you guys were making fun the HRM I had already decided to put mine in storage when I use the spin bike because I found myself subconsciously using it as a limiter to push more intense efforts. I was constantly looking at the thing as if I were going to have a heart attack, but like RD says I have done just fine. (I still use the HRM on the Garmin, but I don't pay much attention to the output when I upload the data)

I am now starting to convince myself that I like the discomforting burning feeling in my legs just like I had to convince myself long ago that I loved the pain of doing squats. Once I convinced myself that I liked the pain my squat weight improved tremendously so as I hope my climbing ability improves in time.

I still use it when I am in the sweet spot on my KK because when I ride outdoors I will not have the speed to power computer that comes with the KK and I'm to cheap to buy a power tap.:) This is my method it makes the HRM more fine tuned to the individual than the standard 220-age etc formula that I found to be wanting.

To raise FTP as you train ask yourself am I going to fast to take a swig from my water bottle right now? If the answer is yes back off a little. Then ask am I going so slow that I could take a swig without having to take three quick breaths before it? If the answer is yes pick up the pace a little. Once you find this semi comfortable hurt zone after about 20 minutes of this check your HRM that is probably your sweet spot (low L4 91% FTP) plus or minus 5 bpm.



Aren't some of you guys the ones poking fun the HRM a couple months ago? :)

About the time you guys were making fun the HRM I had already decided to put mine in storage when I use the spin bike because I found myself subconsciously using it as a limiter to push more intense efforts. I was constantly looking at the thing as if I were going to have a heart attack, but like RD says I have done just fine. (I still use the HRM on the Garmin, but I don't pay much attention to the output when I upload the data)

I am now starting to convince myself that I like the discomforting burning feeling in my legs just like I had to convince myself long ago that I loved the pain of doing squats. Once I convinced myself that I liked the pain my squat weight improved tremendously so as I hope my climbing ability improves in time.