Since COVID has delayed (and maybe ended) track season, I put the track bike on the trainer so I could prep the road bike for real rides. I then did my daily "Fake morning commute" 10-mile ride on Zwift, and it was a really surprising difference.
First, it seemed MUCH easier to maintain a higher average power output (my estimated FTP rose 25% from 2 days ago, so that wasn't all me). I'm guessing that's attributed t (in order):
- No power lost because of chainline angle
- No power lost shifting
- Me just generally feeling groovy and digging it
- No power lost freewheeling / coasting for seconds here and there
- Less shifting around (Because my track bike has no hoods)?
My gearing was 48/15, since that's what everyone at our track is required to ride until Cat3. That was absolutely fine, with plenty of room past what I was capable of sustaining, though I wasn't going to catch that 800w achievement on it--at least not on the flats.
Now this was all on a remarkably flat course. I imagine on hills (unless I turn on ERG mode), it's going to be a very, very different beast. SUPER-fun so far.