Turbo Trainer Advice

why do you care about the ftp? (as a metric)

I am pretty much on the most unscientific-dont-care-trying-to-just-keep-fit spectrum end of the scale. I have set my FTP to what feels hard enough and then just choose random sessions based on what time I have.

As long as I am not gaining weight like a mad man and keeping fit, I am happy.

I still use trinerroad and smart turbo but I am extremely casual about it.

Am not fussed about the number but surprised that given I am doing 5 sessions a week my fitness is in decline.

meh, fitness comes and goes, fatigue plus so many factors, you arent racing or chasing segments like @andyp so why bother with ftp.

just exercise

It’s just weird that when I am feeling quite good that my cardio is in decline. Am also doing an hour of yoga every day.

Obligatory five-sessions-a-week-maybe-you're-over-training comment.

You can also get fatigue from 1 hour of yoga a day...

Funnily enough I’ve plateaued on the trainer (in terms of my FTP) but I’m going much better outdoors.

I don’t like my smart turbo. Feels terrible compared to my dumb fluid set up but perhaps it’s making me stronger.

then just choose random sessions based on what time I have.

Used TrainNow?

Change something.

Are you tired? Are you not pushing as hard in tests? Have you done so much SS you've blunted your top end? Are you just sick of sitting on a bike inside every day? Etc

Last year in lockdown I raised my indoor FTP above what I'd done outside and then it progressively declined before the Breckland 12hr. Could I explain it? Maybe it was just trainer fatigued. Maybe there was a physiological reason but if there was I don't know what it was.

Sometimes you just need to do something else.

I've just started back on the trainer again, doing TR, since last trying some HIIT stuff earlier in the year and not really getting on with it. My FTP tested around where it normally does, but I'm hit and miss when it comes to finishing sessions. I just bailed halfway through a 3x20. I'll probably try it again tomorrow. Also, unlike last year, this time around I'm doing the Low Volume because I'm riding outside and because I can't face HV SS again. I'd rather go flog the gravel bike around.

I was on the piss last night (obvs, fucking drunkard) though so even getting on the trainer today was a result :)

I do think having vague racing goals is impacting my desire to train.

If I was sure I could do races x, y, z then I'd be more likely to be putting in the work. Then again, I'm older, less motivated to race in general and finding pleasure in doing dirt stuff so spending a day on a TT bike is just less appealing these days.

yep

Have had a few days off, we had a scheduled power outage on Thursday, yesterday I was gardening and today am visiting my dad. I think I have done too much base work and possibly ought to do a build program. Plus possibly need to find more violent or stimulating stuff to watch on Netflix to get me fired up. The light comedy of Lucifer or Rake isn’t exciting enough.

I can't watch stuff if I'm doing SS or above sessions. I can listen to music at the most and even then I have a selection of mixes or whatever that will work for a given intensity and they rotate over time.

Below say 70% I could probably watch stuff but I generally don't unless I'm doing long sessions and I haven't done long turbo sessions for a long while now.

When I'm talking about time off though, I'm not talking about days. I'm talking about weeks or more. Like, if you are changing stuff up and you get nothing back then maybe it's time to put some hiking boots on and go and be in nature instead of staring at watts on a screen or whatever.

Go me. Got through the 3x20 today. Had another wobble 10min into the first one, so dropped 2% and swapped from podcast to music. After 5min put it back to 100% and was good for the next two 20min blocks. Glutes are noticing it even though I wasn't in aero position for much time at all.

Not go me... was doing a warmup sprints for some efforts last night on Zwift... tore a muscle in my shoulder. Hard to train when even drinking a coffee with that arm hurts like hell.

Ow!

And ‘ow the fuck?

@dancing james I also did Bluebell day before yest, our numbers are comparable, I was watching Man on Fire (Tony Scott).

I think I had started to avoid doing much work over ftp due to fear of failure and avoiding further strain on hip flexor which has meant all I have done for a while is sweet spot and below for quite a few months.

The last few rides have had above threshold work and they haven’t defeated me or overly stressed the hip flexor so fingers crossed I can start to do more build work. I have been watching Rake for hour long sessions or 2x Lucifer episodes for 90 minute workouts. Both are just mental pap.

Neo 2T users @Dammit @TM @TTM

do you use it powered or not?

is there a bit of 'wobble' built into the design? i.e like using a rocker plate?

what is the significance of the light that it emits on the ground?

do you use it powered or not?
Usually powered, but have used it not plugged in and makes no difference. I plug it in because I worry about overheating without it’s internal fan running, but have no idea if this is really necessary.

is there a bit of 'wobble' built into the design? i.e like using a rocker plate?
Yes, it sways a bit side to side. It definitely helps with comfort during long sessions.

what is the significance of the light that it emits on the ground?
It changes colour depending on intensity. Blue for steady, purple for tempo, red for threshold (I think). Serves no purpose obviously, but looks futuristic if that’s important to you.

Excellent thank you, I am impressed by 2T that it doesent have the heavy freewheel yet feels exactly like Saris.

Will be flogging Saris once I do 10+ sessions on 2T

It’s a really good trainer. As it should be for the price