illjustride

Sup everyone. I completed a century ride the other day. I've been going over my data and I wanted some data junkies to breakdown my numbers and tell me what they think. Tear it apart if you will, I'm looking for honest feedback if I should be pacing better, taking it easier on my climbs etc. A little bit about the route... It was mainly climbing and rolling hills. Looking forward to building a conversation around this. Let me know if you need more info.

datlas 

Looks like it was a good ride. I am no expert but my sense is you are a strong recreational cyclist.

What’s your weight?

LAJ

Not close to elite, but a good ride, nonetheless. TSS 800+? You need to do an FTP test, set your zones properly, and then the data will let you know how you did.

illjustride

Thanks, I'm at 200lbs and 6.1 in height.

illjustride

Right on thanks. Yeah, I've thought about an FTP test. I'll look into that.

Bah Humbug

Yeah, not elite but not bad. FWIW, your power peak is above anything I've ever done. That's not really part of y training though.

Note how your power declined throughout the event; you have more total speed available if you pace/ hydrate/ fuel better.

And actually that TSS is not just crazy high but impossible - you can't accumulate more than 100 TSS in an hour, by definition (and if you do 100 in an hour, you should be borderline collapsing at the end, not finishing a century). Based on your calculated IF, it seems to think your FTP is 200, which is a common default but inaccurate in your case. Yours is likely not far under 300, if I read correctly that you did 228 for 1:15 during a century.

Greiselman

Looks like you were at about 1.9 watts per kilogram for that ride. I believe most Cat 1/2 riders (is that the right barometer for "elite"?) can put out about 4+ w/kg for sustained periods of time. While a leisurely century is not the best benchmark, I'd guess that you have a ways to go before being "elite".

Out of curiosity, what kind of power meter were you using?

illjustride

Thanks 4iiii Precision

Dean V

Power decline through a century could easily be due to lack of distance training also.
If you aren't used to pushing along for something like that distance you will fade regardless of pace, hydration, or fuel. Unless you make the pace very slow.

Bah Humbug

True. However, anyone not trained for that distance will likely also need improvement on one or all of those other three factors.

znomit

Without posting a bike pic against a white garage door we really can't tell.

guachi

My FTP last time I checked was 289 and I'd be able to comfortably do 170 Watts for 6.5 hours of riding. My back would give out, but my legs would be fine

So... do an FTP test and I wouldn't be surprised if you were around 280. I'm 5'10" and about 195 (and 46). Compared to the people on this forum it's just okay, but many casual cyclists will be in awe.

I'm in the Navy and we can do a 12 minute cycling test on an exercise bike for the cardio portion of our fitness test and I'm the best at our command of the 600 people who ride the bike.

shelbyfv

Max cadence 247 rpm. That is some serious spinning

fstshrk

How do you define "elite" ?

At 200 lbs for 6.1, your FTP would need to be over 3.5-4W/kg to make you an elite cyclist which puts you at an FTP of 360W. And let me tell you from my personal experience. Going from 150W to 250W is a lot easier than going from 250 to 350W of FTP at the same weight.
Much easier to lose 30-40 lbs to reduce "tonnage" as they say. At 72kg, FTP of 280W would put you at a highly competitive level.

Regardless, great ride, I hope you enjoyed it. Remember to hydrate and fuel at least every 30 minutes. Calories in, calories out.

smashndash

I gotta say. There are lot of weird things about this thread.

a) what does “elite” mean? The only definition I know is to become a pro or category 1 cyclist according USAC. Maybe category 2 if we’re being generous. Your power data is irrelevant. Just look at your license.

b) OK, maybe you’re asking if your power data indicates that you’re riding at similar level to elite riders. I gotta ask... why? If we said yes, would you go around telling people you’re an elite rider? Would you stop training as hard because you made it as an elite rider? Did your SO say you cannot buy a new bike until you’re elite? If it’s the latter, I will mail you a hand signed certificate stating that you are henceforth to be known as an elite rider.

c) looking at the wahoo data from one ride is not even close to enough for anyone to judge you as a rider. How would anyone tell you how to pace your climbs better from this? A segment analysis from strava would be better. A few power tests, as some have mentioned, would be even better.

d) Please do not take the following as bashing or whatever... I’m just answering your question. I have a friend who races cat 1, weighs 135lbs, has a 1250W sprint and a 260W+ FTP. Doesn’t sound like much but he did 160W+ for 11+ hours the other day. He has a very long and flat power curve relative to most cat 1s. At 200lbs, you’d have to blast some chain-breaking watts to keep up with a cat 1 field, especially if there are hills or accelerations... which there usually are.

I’m very curious about your motivation for this post. If you want training tips, we’re happy to help. But this post just confuses me.

NoWhammies

Out of curiosity, what app are you using that displays your data like that? Thank you.

seypat

What would those numbers need to be for the OP to be an elite level track cyclist? Just curious.

DrIsotope

That's the Wahoo Companion App.

spelger

Sup?

smashndash

Don’t know much about track... but there are quite a few different events, even excluding weird stuff like hour records.

For a 180-200lb pure sprinter, something over 2000W for 1 second would definitely be elite. 1 minute, probably closer to 1000W. Justin williams isn’t even a track cyclist (though I think he used to be) and can probably get close. But he’s effectively a pro.

I’m sure OP could do more than what is indicated in the data. A hilly century isn’t conducive to setting power records.

WhyFi

Yeah, a bit of this.

He seems like an enthusiastic guy that's asking because he doesn't know what he doesn't know.

Velo Vol 

illjustride

This was the Wahoo App

shelbyfv

Legit thread or not, I give him kudos. He didn't post a link to his blog.

illjustride

No hard feelings, it's all good. Was just looking for some insight and being transparent with my data. I watched a 1 hour video on how to become an elite cyclist and wanted to have a few people help crunch some numbers from a ride. I know 1 ride won't cut it but I figured I put my numbers out there. I also haven't been riding as much due to the pandemic here, I also don't ride indoors because I don't own a Zwift. I've been putting in 100 to 130-mile weeks. I'm looking to increase that to 200 soon.