tetonrider

This is one reason (a key one) why I recommend that people buy meters that can be calibrated at home. When people say "accuracy doesn't matter, only consistency matters," they miss the point.

Months and years of seeing incorrect numbers (esp if they are inflated) messes with you mentally.

Why don't you calibrate that new meter? Most Quarqs I've used or serviced differed from factory calibration either at the outset or after a short period of training; it could be that yours is reading low (though in my experience, they mostly reported on the high side).

Also, for those type of efforts, consider covering up the power. Power numbers can sometimes be a negative feedback loop, and what you wanted to achieve was a 20' maximal effort after your 1' effort (I assume, otherwise why do it?). It doesn't matter *during* the test if that 20' # is 200, 300 or 400 watts -- what matters is that it was maximal based on RPE.

Yep

Big time +1. I had a Tuesday Worlds where I struggled and then got dropped on the tough 5 min climb, where I was expecting to hang with the tough guys. It really put me in the question-everything-funk. I then had a decent result this weekend and I was back to "normal".

miyata man

Heal up scheibo. Good to hear you only are going to have a few rough nights sleep instead of a lengthy recovery.

johnybutts

I just got a Kickr to replace an old fluid trainer. Previously power came from my SRM but now using the kickr power. Unsurprisingly there's a very depressing difference in those numbers. Somehow I was hoping it'd go the other way.

Now I've got to reset the ol' FTP and keep on plugging away.

PepeM

Why don't you keep using the SRM power?

miyata man

Or more to point, send the SRM in to be factory calibrated. Gold standard is not a term applied to the KICKR's power measuring functionality insomuch as SRM makes lab quality equipment that has long defined the term.

johnybutts

I guess I could. My thinking was that the Kickr is new and recently factory calibrated, while the SRM is probably 7 years old and been through all sorts of ****e. I'm not married to either. Can the Kickr do ERG mode using the SRM's power?

PepeM

Depends on the software you use. Doesn't work that well IME. Then again, I really don't like ERG mode.

miyata man

It's worth pointing out the second element in reporting the numbers of all these metrics is equally important. The software/computer being fed raw numbers and doing all the complex calculations like smoothing and discarding out of range reporting.

grolby

I have some real paranoia about my numbers reading high. Hoping for this reason to replace the Stages when cashflow allows.

johnybutts

almost 3 hours of riding last week - big work assignment screwed me up.
almost 7 hours this week - largest week so far this year.

Still just aiming for consistency and weight loss.

Radish_legs

My kickr inflates power values. Not accurate at all.

grolby

The Kickr is well-known for significant over-reporting of power.

johnybutts

Sounds like I need to use the SRM for my power output. I'll have to see how that works with the feedback modes.

aaronmcd

What does johnybutts even mean??

Actually I'm not sure what half y'alls names mean, but I'm extra curious about a name ending with "butts"

hack

Nuts ... did a couple hours of hills this AM and about a mile from home while accelerating from a stop light I tweaked my back. Was just accelerating while seated and bam, felt like I got hit with a bat. Have been laying on the floor since.

mattm

100 miles today, with 8k feet of climbing. Solo.

This year has had a slow start to training/racing, so I decided to kick off 'winter training in the spring' today with a big ride. Normally I'd avoid the hills, but wanted to see the ocean - it was worth it.

On a power-related note, there was none. My PT wheel is collecting dust, just using HR & cadence/speed now. TrainingPeaks does "hrTSS" which is a TSS estimate based off of HR - I think it was a little high but overall I'm happy with it, and feel like I'm rolling on better bearings than the PT wheel, so I must be faster right??

aaronmcd

Its always worth it. That's how I got introduced to road riding and absolutely love it

tetonrider

The Kickrs that I've seen have been, well, less than accurate. Best to control them with a direct-measurement power meter, if you can -- even the ones that aren't known for great accuracy usually surpass the Kickr.

hubcyclist

2:15, 110tss last night at 9pm, powered through the tiredness that usually sets in at that time.

rubiksoval

So my 5 min max power has been within 4 watts of itself each year for the last 3 years. I thought I would have made some significant improvement this year after doing a ton of vo2 max work (the traditional 115-120% stuff) over the winter and all, but nope. Still within 2 watts of all time best last year.

Trying a new variation now in which you basically try for 100% vo2 max instead of just a percentage of ftp. For this, I pretty much target 5 min power (=127% ftp) for 3-4mins with equal rests and try to do about 10+ total minutes of efforts. It sucked. I did 3.5 mins, 3:15, then blew up after 2.5 mins on the last one (was trying for 3). Hoping it's just a case of "first time always sucks" and I can do a 4/3.5/3 min thing next time. And I hope it actually increases my 3-5 min power. Because, damn, those vo2 max intervals I did all the time messed with my head by the end and they seem to have done wonders for my 10-20+ min power but missed all the shorter stuff.

Have about 18 million crits coming up in the next two months. Need to up the game soon.

rubiksoval

Dang.

That sounds awesome.

wktmeow

Appreciate the encouragement/reassurance guys. I'm working on my mental state and adjusting my expectations to be more in line with reality, and will keep pressing forward!

I could do that, there is a calibration procedure, but I don't have any accurate enough scale/weight, and wouldn't really trust myself to do it right. It's alright, I expected it to read lower than the Stages anyway, so I don't suspect it's actually reading lower than it should be. I think it was just a combination of mismanaged expectations, combined with a bad testing scenario, and some low self esteem thrown in just for fun.

I'd always had luck with starting off at my previous test result (assuming I was expecting a slight improvement over the previous one), and then re-evaluating at 5 minutes in and bumping the pace a little if I can. I think due to the heat and thirst and 1 minute test prior, I started sputtering way earlier than usual (like the power started dipping and then jumping back up, having to constantly tell myself to pedal harder). That usually happens to me for the last 5 minutes or so. Maybe if I'd had the average power for the interval up on the screen I would have been OK, because it was higher than I thought I'd been doing anyhow. Thought I was barely hitting 305, but it was actually 315 for the 5 mins, and I was supposed to be targeting 305-310.

I've done multiple tests in one ride before, but never in hot/dry conditions. Lingering nausea after the 1 min should have tipped me off.

@scheibo hope you heal up quick!

topflightpro

I do this. In fact, there is always a piece of blue painters tape on the bottom side of my PC8, so I can cover the screen when racing or doing hard intervals for time. I have definitely found I perform better on maximal efforts when I am not seeing my power data.

mattm

it's too nice out here, stay away!

Highway 1 - this was a hard one to get; fast downhill, windy af, but totally worth it.


Heading east back over the Santa Cruz mountains: