Back from the distractions of the holidays. Too much eating, not enough bike riding, and I am a little tardy in keeping up with the blog. Here is the latest. The ErgVideo Threshold Test DVD arrived in my mailbox a couple of weeks ago. Coach Wharton had estimated my threshold power at 190 watts, which I have been using for my workouts and it seemed about right in terms of generating ErgVideo workouts that are challenging, yet not overwhelming.
So after a rest day I installed the Threshold Test, and gave it my best shot. The first thing to report is that the test REQUIRES that you warm up properly. This is a 20 minute warm up that ramps up in intensity and includes a number of intervals at 100% and above threshold power. It was more intense than I ever would have warmed up on my own, and I am sure how I SHOULD be warming up for a time trial effort!
The test itself offers both a 20 minute and 60 minute time trial to determine threshold power. I chose the 20 minute test because I am still a wimp. The time trial is done on a 1% grade, in which you follow another rider. You are NOT riding this in ERG mode, in other words, you ride at whatever power level you can maintain(which makes sense, as this is a test after all). The rider you see is only a visual aid that helps you pace yourself--I found it to be helpful seeing someone else so at least I could convince myself that I was not suffering alone.
At the end of the test, the software calculates your threshold power and displays the stats as an html page. I tested at 189 watts--almost right in line with Coach Wharton’s estimate.
Now that the holiday’s are behind me it is back to a regular training schedule and regular reports on my progress. Happy 2009 to all!
Ken
No comments:
Post a Comment