Can you get an effective workout just using rollers and monitoring power? Or do you need the variable resistance of a decent trainer?
For example, the hardest rollers workout I did last winter was a 60-minute all-out TT in a virtual race against my friend. I know speed is irrelevant, but we had the exact same rollers (Nashbar parabolic) and computer (cateye). We both averaged ~26 mph, and I definitely was NOT in 53x11 the whole time -- maybe the last few minutes.
So assuming I can ride at a hard-but-sustainable effort using just my gears to control resistance -- say for 2x20:00 intervals -- is my Powertap going to tell me anything useful?
Note: I didn't want to hijack the "outdoor PM" thread.
For example, the hardest rollers workout I did last winter was a 60-minute all-out TT in a virtual race against my friend. I know speed is irrelevant, but we had the exact same rollers (Nashbar parabolic) and computer (cateye). We both averaged ~26 mph, and I definitely was NOT in 53x11 the whole time -- maybe the last few minutes.
So assuming I can ride at a hard-but-sustainable effort using just my gears to control resistance -- say for 2x20:00 intervals -- is my Powertap going to tell me anything useful?
Note: I didn't want to hijack the "outdoor PM" thread.