Trainer Gearing Questions

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2012-03-16 10:24 AM

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Expert
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Albuquerque, NM
Subject: Trainer Gearing Questions

Yesterday I got my new tri bike on the trainer for the first time (previous to that, I was using my road bike on the trainer). Both bikes have a 50/34 crank set - but, the road bike has a 12-25 cassette and the tri bike has a 11-26 cassette.

Coach Troy (Spinnervals) likes to use the 34-15 combination for rest periods - which seems to suit me just fine on the road bike ( I was resting at about 90 RPMs, 150W). However, that combination is now missing on my tri bike. I can choose either 34-14 or 34-16. At the same RPMs, 34-14 seems too hard for rest and 34-16 seems too easy. Yesterday, for the sake of calling it rest, I chose 34-16. This took me down to about 80W @ 90 RPMs.

So, I'm not sure what I should do here...

> Choose the easier gear and get more rest (same RPMs)
> HTFU and choose the harder gear (same RPMs)
> Try to find some common ground... hard gears, less RPMs.

Any thoughts?


2012-03-16 10:37 AM
in reply to: #4099194

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Subject: RE: Trainer Gearing Questions
Do you have an option for 50-22, that would be the same as 34-15
2012-03-16 10:42 AM
in reply to: #4099214

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Albuquerque, NM
Subject: RE: Trainer Gearing Questions
sebaf74 - 2012-03-16 9:37 AM

Do you have an option for 50-22, that would be the same as 34-15


Nope. The 11-26 looks like this: 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 26
2012-03-16 12:03 PM
in reply to: #4099194

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Subject: RE: Trainer Gearing Questions
What does the workout look like? This would affect my answer. Generally though, if it's sub threshold for the interval, I tend to pick the harder one and push. This tends to be longer intervals. If it's a very hard interval, I tend to go lower gear and spin higher. I don't use Spinervals, but would guess it's more like the 2nd one as videos tend to prefer shorter and harder ones.
2012-03-16 12:33 PM
in reply to: #4099463

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Subject: RE: Trainer Gearing Questions
brigby1 - 2012-03-16 11:03 AM

What does the workout look like? This would affect my answer. Generally though, if it's sub threshold for the interval, I tend to pick the harder one and push. This tends to be longer intervals. If it's a very hard interval, I tend to go lower gear and spin higher. I don't use Spinervals, but would guess it's more like the 2nd one as videos tend to prefer shorter and harder ones.


Good suggestion - thanks.

Yesterday they were shorter/harder interval periods. However, I would have the same issue for some of his other videos that have longer, sub-threshold, efforts.
2012-03-16 12:37 PM
in reply to: #4099194

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Subject: RE: Trainer Gearing Questions
We triathletes think too much. Split the difference and take some easy rest and some harder rest. Or put a 12-25 on the tri bike. Or go outside and ride.

Edited by mrbbrad 2012-03-16 12:45 PM

2012-03-16 3:12 PM
in reply to: #4099522

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Albuquerque, NM
Subject: RE: Trainer Gearing Questions
mrbbrad - 2012-03-16 11:37 AM
We triathletes think too much.


Yes we do. As my friend says: "Paralysis by over-analyses."

mrbbrad - 2012-03-16 11:37 AM]Split the difference and take some easy rest and some harder rest. Or put a 12-25 on the tri bike.


More good suggestions - Thanks.

mrbbrad - 2012-03-16 11:37 AM
Or go outside and ride.


Of course, I'd rather ride outside... and yesterday was certainly nice enough. But, I'm trying to keep at least one ride per week inside on the trainer. I just can't get the same workout on the streets.
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