Power Meters / Powermeters (SRM, Powertap, Quarq, Ergomo, Vector, Stages, power2max, P2M, 4iii, InPower, Cinch)

Everything

That doesn't make any sense, you're saying you need the same abilities to win all tyres of cycling competition?

Anything I've said about training ftp with sweetspot has been related to TT'ing.

That makes sense, time trailing, not racing then.

You must be confused, time trialling is the one where you don't draft your mate for 3 hours before doing some work.

I didn't say it wasn't a competition now did I? There's no need to get upset. It's just it isn't a race, it never has been and it never will be. There reason we started time trailing in the U.K. is because racing was banned on the roads. If there is no one around you to race, it can't be a race can it? It's a trial against the clock and who ever does the quickest time is the winner of the competition.

It's funny how many testers think it's a race yet most of them can't road race, even though they say it's so easy to road race. Whether it be because they can't ride around corners, ride in a bunch, have no above threshold ability, no kick, it's all because it's too easy. What makes it even better is when the lowly road racers do enter an open or club ten and win, on a road bike with drops, when they're competing against real racing time trialists on 10k tt bikes with stick on aero patches.

Basically this is what I do if I've been out of it for a while. I'm not saying it's the best way but it's better than other routes I've tried so I may aswell share...

Start with an hour in mid-to-high z3 twice a week, then push that out (as quickly as you like, these will probably feel quite easy) until you can do 2hours+ at sweetspot. 3hrs really. Try and find quiet, open roads where you can get on with it relatively free from junctions etc. If you're bonking on these some 2hr+ z2/3 rides might be needed initially. Your long weekend rides will be useful here (if they are slow/easy going). You can do all of these on consecutive nights or a day on / day off or whatever. I find blocks most effective (but more draining).

Then, 4 to 8 weeks later... start doing these 2hr+ rides drifting above threshold (over hills, grippy sections).

Then do them with a few sustained kicks (8mins or longer). Push these kicks out longer, or do one 20min chunk just above threshold.

Then add some backed up intervals (5x5m or shorter) and the sharpening stuff that @Smallfurry mentions to your week. I'm not even sure these need to hit into z5 - there value for me is in training for quicker recovery.

Oh look you're fit for 4hr+ rides with hard/fast bits!

Anyone else, using stages, getting some mad power spikes? Today, apparently, I sprinted
with a maximum of 4061W with cadence at 190rpm. Also figures are different if I look at the same ride, one of them uploaded to strava and another one on garmin connect.

seeing that we're on a new page, any advice on ^this?

Thanks Miro, a good plan. Now to find 2 spare hours in the evenings :-)

This is an example of a Sunday club run (most recent) with a solo return.

http://tpks.ws/WYgx

It all just felt a bit harder than it used to. Only two more weeks of mad work hours and then normality will hopefully resume and I'll start on your plan.

What makes it even better is when the lowly road racers do enter an open or club ten and win, on a road bike with drops, when they're competing against real racing time trialists on 10k tt bikes with stick on aero patches.

I'm sure that would be funny, if it ever happened. The last time a professional (not lowly) road racer turned up at one of our club 10s, he was beaten into second place by our club's third best tester. I'm sure he would have set fastest time of the day if he'd been on a TT bike rather than a road bike, but he wouldn't have got close to any top amateur tester if one had turned up.

What makes it even better is when the lowly road racers do enter an open or club ten and win, on a road bike with drops, when they're competing against real racing time trialists on 10k tt bikes with stick on aero patches.

I'm fairly sure this hasn't happened in our club (and open) TTs for about fifteen years.

Yeah, we're on the same page. There is a certain irony that to tune up for these harder rides you might want to do a steady-long z2/3 sunday ;-)

Troll level = poor.

If you're a good roadie you'll get hammered in a TT by strong & clever riders as @mdcc_tester has explained. Happens all the time. Not sure TTers claim road racing is easy either ...

I'm fairly sure it was on this very page road racing was said to be no work, because you just sit behind your mate for three hours before you do anything.

It may not happen where you are but I regularly see time trials won by road riders.

As I said, there's no need to be upset. I didn't say it wasn't a competition did I? It's just not a race, they are two very different things.

Don't be surprised when you get back out riding all you've done is maintained your fitness, and made no gains. I'm no fan of 'virtual' power.

In my last race I was beaten by a full 15 minutes by a guy I follow on Strava. Not only do Our times on serious local segments (Climbs and flat tempo segments used frequently on the our clubs training plan) point to me being very slightly stronger than him. But I actually beat him by a few Seconds up every fecking Climb in the actual race. FTP didnt decide anything that day.

Saying that. If you want to do more than just hold a fastish Group. You're going to need some sort of weponery.

He was in the local TT on Saturday, and I couldnt make it.

Kinda bitter about that.

Testing another helmet, I see? And he's using @xavierdisley's trips - he must be totes scared I'm gonna kick his butt in Newbury :D

#notsureifpainfaceoriflaughingathelmet

You need to check your definition of 'race'. Let me OED that for you. ;)

http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/157030?rskey=XiSu6M&result=1#eid

'mass start' road racing was banned.

"Race - a competition between runners, horses, vehicles, etc. to see which is the fastest in covering a set course"

Testers can win bunch races, road racers can win TTs, now can we get back to hating on drivers please? Thanks.

(Race of) Truth.

I can see sweetspot training being super useful. The defining bonus being the relatively low Level of fatigue.

But I cant see it being the right thing for obtaining an FTP increase.

You dont run half marathons to improve Your 5km pace.

In other News I will soon have done nothing on the bike but 30min 40/20 sessions, as outlined on the last page, for 9 days. One every other day.

I'm mainly trying to avoid tapering while I have visitors. But it'll be interesting to see how the legs respond.

You dont run half marathons to improve Your 5km pace.

Oh.

You can either push your ftp up from below, or drag it up from above.