Gray Guys/Girls Master's Focus Triathlon Mentor Group--CLOSED (Page 31)

• +5 points for no weight gain
• +0 points for 0 pounds lost
• +22.7 point for 681 workout minutes
• Total: 27.7 points

A pretty good training week, although I still didn't lose any weight. Thankfully, the Girl Scout cookies are finally gone so maybe next week will go better.

Scott I.

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"You aren't old until age becomes your excuse." Joe Friel

Hi Deb,

I will take a swing at explaining this.

First, you need a trainer and a speed sensor.  On the Trainer Road site you can verify if your equipment will work.  The Kurt Kinetic Road Machine works very well with Trainer Road.  You will also need an ANT+ or Bluetooth speed sensor.  You do not need an actual power meter nor do you need the Kinetic InRide Watt Meter.  Because Trainer Road can estimate virtual power reasonably well with equipment that most serious triathletes already own it a very attractive training tool.

Now, on the the precision/accuracy debate.  When I signed up for Trainer Road back in January, the first thing I did was an 8-minute FTP test.  I was very concerned when my results came in 47 watts higher than the 20-minute test I had just done a couple of weeks previously so I immediately found myself neck deep in the accuracy/precision question.  The first week of training I did with Trainer Road after the FTP test, I made sure I had my Garmin Edge on and I paired Trainer Road so I could record the Trainer Road power output and compare it to my Vector power meter numbers.  As it turned out, Trainer Road consistently showed 32 watts higher than my Vectors.  That troubled me deeply.  Being a techno nerd (I am after all an I.T. Consultant), and because I am somewhat anal about things like this, I simply had to explain the large difference and figure out which one was the accurate result.

Accuracy - how close a measured value is to the actual (true) value.

Precision- how close a series of measurements are to each other.

Then I realized that I was asking the wrong question.  In reality, there is no way for anyone short of an engineer with a lab full of equipment to tell if Trainer Road, or any power meter for that matter, are 'accurate.'  What is important is whether a power meter, or Trainer Road's virtual power, are precise, also known as consistent - i.e. reporting the same power number for the same input.  At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter what the power meter (including TR) is reporting - it could be .  If every time you put in 'X' effort you get out, then the device is consistent.  Then, the next time, when you put in 'X + 5' the device will report ' + 5' and you will see an improvement.  If the device, or Trainer Road, are precise, then they are suitable for training.

Once I came to that realization, I did another 20-minute FTP test (outdoors using my Vectors) and it came back 15 watts higher than the test I had done 3-weeks previously.    Just that fast, my universe was back in alignment as I had figured out where the discrepancy had come from.  One or both of my devices are not accurate, but they are both precise.

Assuming your tire pressure and roller pressure are the same each time, Trainer Road has been shown to be very precise. 

More importantly, people that consistently use Trainer Road and follow one of their plans consistently show improvement.

My short answer to your question is I use Vector power meters outdoors or when racing and use Trainer Road virtual power indoors on the trainer.

Hope that helps.

Lost 1.2 pounds.

Had 6.2 hours on the trainer.  Have never been so happy to spend 6+ hours on the trainer!

I likely would have had a stronger word than "Darn!"

Hope your feeling better soon Deb.

Deb,

I recommend Garmin.  Here is a link to Amazon for the speed sensor:

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-010-12103-00-Bike-Speed-Sensor/dp/B00JLMS848/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427135979&sr=8-1&keywords=garmin+speed+sensor

Here is a link to Amazon for the speed/cadence sensor:

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Bike-Speed-Sensor-Cadence/dp/B00JM6DKUA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1427135979&sr=8-2&keywords=garmin+speed+sensor

Finally, you will also need an ANT+ dongle for your computer.  Mine came with my Garmin watch so the watch could talk to garmin express and upload to garmin connect.  Here is an Amazon link for the ANT+ dongle if you don't already have one:

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-USB-Stick-Fitness-Devices/dp/B00CM381SQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427135854&sr=8-1&keywords=garmin+ant%2B+dongle

As to, "I am slightly afraid that I'll have so much crap wired to my bike that it'll be too much trouble to take it down & ride outside!"  There isn't anything that is wired to the bike as everything is wireless and in reality it is only the speed sensor..  I put my bike on the trainer, turn on my laptop, open trainer road, choose my workout, and go.  When I am done, I take my bike outside and ride.  No hassle either way.

Trainer Road will pair with your speed sensor through the ANT+ dongle I referred to above.  It will also pair to any other ANT+ devices you may have.  I also use a cadence sensor, which is invaluable to me, as well as a HR monitor.  Trainer Road will pair with all of them and display their output on the training screen.  (Note on other ANT+ devices - Polar doesn't always play nice with other manufacturer devices so I can't speak to Polar's compatibility).

It doesn't take that long to get things setup and working properly.  Trust me, it is well worth any inconvenience that setting it up may present!  If you run into a problem getting it setup, send me a private message and I will help walk you through it (remember I do the technology thing for a living and I will be happy to help you get it functioning).

Weight Loss Challenge:

Recovery week   211 min = 7 points

No wt loss or gain =             5 points

Total                                   12 points

Going back to the motivational question - I never noticed before this last week but working out is very motivational during build weeks but slow recovery weeks are really hard to keep up motivation.  I'm actually glad to be back to regular schedule again.

Spring has sprung here.  Dandelions and cherry blossoms are out and tulips won't be far behind.  Had a great swim and run (hills) today.  First outdoor ride tomorrow.