sciguy wrote:
The GMAN wrote:
Your RPE and HR, how you actually feel on race day, are far superior race day metrics to the watts people often blindly chase during a race.
An RPE for an
IF of .75 feels ridiculously easy at the beginning of an IM and pretty darn challenging by mile 90. The vast majority of bikers pacing their effort via RPE go significantly too hard for the first third of their race.
If it's way the heck hotter than you've been doing your test rides in then you're an idiot if you don't back off 5% or so.RangerGress wrote:
You've listed a number of disadvantages to having power information during a race. I'd argue that having more information available doesn't make you stupid, nor more likely to make bad decisions.
One is not forced to stick with a plan if conditions seem to indicate modifying the plan.
To the bolded parts... both you guys have been to Ironman races before, right? :-)
How many times have you seen people at races or read race reports in which people kept to their goal watts no matter what, and wonder why they fell apart in the latter parts of the race? I'd say that's the norm rather than the exception for the majority of the AG field pacing using power meters when conditions don't match their typical training. They will continue to ride their goal watts.
I do agree that having more info doesn't make you stupid. It's what you choose to do or not do with that info that can make one stupid. Lots of folks will ignore indicators that race day watts are too hard (HR too high, RPE seems too high, just feeling like shit) and soldier on. Not everyone walking most of the 13.1 or 26.2 lacked run or bike fitness. They lacked common sense race day tactics and decision making.
My quasi useless statement was my way of saying people don't use them right on race day. Or more specifically don't adjust to what their bodies are telling them.
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