gthomson

Not sure why I've waited so long to try one but never really saw the point of it but as we're nearing (he says hopefully) the end of the indoor season I needed to change things up so tried a time trial. Dang that was hard. I am your average rider at best and approaching 53 so haven't got anything I had when I was in my 20's but I gave er for about 15 minutes and then started to really drop. I need to figure out how to get in a rythym and find a comfortable pace I can maintain for a length of time. Oh well just thought I would share.

unterhausen

Do you know your FTP? If not, I would do an ftp test. I can't imagine you are going to hold much more than your ftp for 26 minutes.

gthomson

Yes, FTP is 265 which I thought might go up this ride as I rode 266 average for entire ride and was higher than that for 20 minutes.

unterhausen

The mistake most people make is to go too hard at the beginning. I always found that settling in at a comfortable pace and ramping up from there worked pretty well.
But I have never done a TT with a power meter, so that's not too helpful.

atwl77

Ouch. Seeing all that red and orange hurts. I myself have never done a time trial because I'm a lightweight C rider - so that's not going to get me anywhere.

jpescatore

I'm not a racer but enjoy them on Zwift as workouts. Time trails are tougher mentally - no blobs of riders to catch up to and grab the draft, just a steady procession of the TTers who started behind me passing me!

Agree with previous comments - I think of it as a FTP test, try to start at about 90% of my FTP but quickly get to FTP and hold it and then push for the last 1/2 mile or so.

gthomson

Yup that was my rookie mistake. I wanted to hold around 300 watts as long as I could but that only lasted about 15 minutes and then I started to die ha ha. I'm not a racer either and to be honest, go much slower than that when I'm out riding as I'm a scenery watcher and would probably kill myself mixing it with speed.
Just wanted to try something different on Zwift as it's starting to get a bit stale. Although not as interesting as chasing other riders, it was motivating to chase the clock, so definitely a good, short work out.

jpescatore

I mix up my just get on and ride Zwift riding with group workouts, group rides, custom workouts I've put on Zwift, occasional races/TTs and the "Tour de Zwift" type series - has kept it from getting stale for me.

I did get outside on the road bike yesterday - first time since mid January, February was snow and ice filled here in Maryland. Headwinds, braking, steering, cars - had to remember how to deal with all that! Luckily, it was kinda like riding a bicycle - it comes right back...

Cold snap coming back here, probably a few more indoor rides in March before resuming mostly outdoor riding.

gthomson

In past years I would retire the bike in October and not take it out again until May the following year, sticking to Zwift only through the winter. When I would get on the bike again after all that Zwifting, the sensation of braking, steering, keeping alert was all a strange feeling. Since the pandemic started a year ago I've been biking both indoor and outdoor more than ever and so I don't have that transition like I have in past years. Good reminder though.

unterhausen

Holding 110% of ftp for 15 minutes is not bad. The 20 minute ftp test has your ftp as .95 of your 20 minute power, so 105% should be doable.
But I wouldn't start out that way.

IRL, there is nothing like the person that started a minute in front of you fighting to stay there and finally giving up.
Especially if your bike has fenders and dyno lights.

gthomson

Nope, learned my lesson It felt good to push myself which I don't do too often anymore. Problems with getting old and lazy.

What does Lance say, it's not the bike? ha ha