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Pro ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Finally got this thing installed on the bike yesterday and went out this morning to do 20 miles and get used to riding with the PT and Joule 2.0 computer. First thing I noticed was that I was pretty tired from yesterday's 18 mile run. Second thing is that it is very easy to be obsessed with looking at the computer and not at the road. OK, sorted those two out and biked around to get an idea of how my perceived effort translated into wattage. Next observation was that I didn't know how to view cadence information. I'm used to going off cadence and RPE, so this threw me for a bit. Still not sure how to view this, but that's what manuals are for. After about 9 miles I piked up a fellow traveler. We were stuck at a light and commented on each others bikes (he had a Cervelo S1, I have a R3). Found out he lived about 4 blocks from me, so we rode another 12 miles together at a nice pace. This was really good because I stopped looking at the computer! Now I am trying to decipher the data in PowerAgent. Clearly I need to do a lot of background reading on training with power as I don't know how to digest all these data. It is fascinating though. I have yet to do a FTP test, and am not sure if I should just ride for a few weeks first or not. I do have 2 marathons coming up so that will definitely affect my riding. What was funny is that after downloading the data I could see my pedaling cadence. It was 89, so spot on. Average Power, Watts 141 |
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Champion ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() It's a good idea to just ride for a week or two with power and collect the data. I'd get another program other than Poweragent.....some are free others cost money. I like wko+ and have been using it for 5 years. RaceDay and Golden Cheetah(free) are two others. Have you read Allen/Coggan's book on training with power? Or even better Skiba's two books on tri training and tri training with power. The power book is built on the first so I always recommend getting both. |
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Master ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() x2 on Golden Chetah |
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Pro ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I just installed Golden Cheetah. Having trouble with the USB drivers so I just imported the data and it worked fine. It's a lot more intuitive than Poweragent. After a few rides I'll download the trial of WKO+ for evaluation. The Allen/Coggan book is available on Amazon, but the books by Philip Skiba aren't at Amazon or at my library. Both are available at his website though.
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Veteran ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() The skiba books are great. Only available through his website. You may want to check out his RaceDay Apollo software too. I've been using it for a few years for myself and those I coach. Great place for one stop data for s/b/r. You can download from physfarm.com on a 1-2 week trial basis. Open source so native to Mac too if you are in that boat. Just tool around with the PT for a couple weeks before you start 'real' training with it. Do as you are doing now which is just familiarizing yourself with your own natural cadence/power/power spikes etc. Once you start training/racing w/power you will wonder how you ever got along without it. Be ready for pain. jamie |
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Master ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Enjoy your 'new toy,' but don't over analyze things initially. One thing you'll notice is that your power fluctuates drastically on a ride. Uphill vs. downhill is big. It's far easier to hold more power going uphill than going down. Eventually you will want to do a FTP test, which is essentially a 20 min test where you can estimate your FTP by taking 95% of the power you get in the test. Some people advocate a 5 min 'blow out' test before the 20 min test - if this isn't done your FTP may be a tiny bid high. I was in your shoes last October, when I got my PT, so let me know if you have any questions. |
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Master![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Poweragent isn't bad if you ignore their "zones". For cadence, you probably just aren't displaying it on the Joule. If you move the highlight over one of the 6 fields, push down on the joystick and hold it. It'll cycle through different settings for that item. That way you can customize everything you want to see on the ride. Edited by spudone 2011-09-25 4:18 PM |
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Pro ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() natethomas2000 - 2011-09-25 3:37 PM Enjoy your 'new toy,' but don't over analyze things initially. One thing you'll notice is that your power fluctuates drastically on a ride. Uphill vs. downhill is big. It's far easier to hold more power going uphill than going down. Eventually you will want to do a FTP test, which is essentially a 20 min test where you can estimate your FTP by taking 95% of the power you get in the test. Some people advocate a 5 min 'blow out' test before the 20 min test - if this isn't done your FTP may be a tiny bid high. I was in your shoes last October, when I got my PT, so let me know if you have any questions. Thanks. I was able to figure out the menus and get cadence, so I'm going to use it like a regular bike computer for a couple of weeks. I know I need to do the FTP test but I am also in the middle of marathon training. I have marathons October 30 and November 18. I'm going to do Jorge's plan this winter, think I should wait for the FTP test until after marathons are done? |
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Champion ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() moldoverb - 2011-09-25 10:22 PM I'm going to do Jorge's plan this winter, think I should wait for the FTP test until after marathons are done? Yes. Just get used to riding with it for now. |
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Expert ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Experior - 2011-09-26 8:47 AM moldoverb - 2011-09-25 10:22 PM I'm going to do Jorge's plan this winter, think I should wait for the FTP test until after marathons are done? Yes. Just get used to riding with it for now. Ride for now and just save the data for later....Jorge's plans always have the necessary testing built in---so a week or two of getting on the trainer and then a test week so no need to worry about FTP now while marathon training. |
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Elite ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Without trying to hijack, does anyone know if you can do a mass download of existing rides from PowerAgent over to Raceday or Golden Cheetah? |
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Pro ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Skippy74 - 2011-09-26 8:03 AM Experior - 2011-09-26 8:47 AM moldoverb - 2011-09-25 10:22 PM I'm going to do Jorge's plan this winter, think I should wait for the FTP test until after marathons are done? Yes. Just get used to riding with it for now. Ride for now and just save the data for later....Jorge's plans always have the necessary testing built in---so a week or two of getting on the trainer and then a test week so no need to worry about FTP now while marathon training. That is good news. Cycling on my days off from running is really enjoyable. I don't think the cycling on Jorge's plan will count as fun! |
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Elite ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Golden Cheetah, is pretty awesome once you get used to it. offers much more cool stuff then even WKO+ (which i used for 1 yr). Just ride first week then take your test. |
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Veteran![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() GoFaster - 2011-09-26 9:28 AM Without trying to hijack, does anyone know if you can do a mass download of existing rides from PowerAgent over to Raceday or Golden Cheetah? This is a little bit of a pain, but you can select all your rides in the bottom left window (ctrl-a or click-holdshift-click), then do file->export to some format. I used peaksware (.pwx), as I found that CSV didn't include the ride time and thus caused issues in Golden Cheetah. Then in Golden Cheetah, import them all. I say it's a pain because I had to click "yes" on a dialog once for each ride, which was super-annoying. There's probably a better way. |
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Master ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() moldoverb - 2011-09-26 10:36 AM Skippy74 - 2011-09-26 8:03 AM Experior - 2011-09-26 8:47 AM moldoverb - 2011-09-25 10:22 PM I'm going to do Jorge's plan this winter, think I should wait for the FTP test until after marathons are done? Yes. Just get used to riding with it for now. Ride for now and just save the data for later....Jorge's plans always have the necessary testing built in---so a week or two of getting on the trainer and then a test week so no need to worry about FTP now while marathon training. That is good news. Cycling on my days off from running is really enjoyable. I don't think the cycling on Jorge's plan will count as fun! No, it won't. But it does work. BTW, the one thing that you find out quick with a PM is that the 400w you are holding momentarily that seems so easy ain't so easy 30 seconds later. I do that all the time. |