Been running and swimming a lot over the years, but my cycling approach has always been “just get out and ride”. I’ve now decided to focus on developing my bike seriously. I have a CT and I think I’m getting repeatable power numbers (effectively doing press-on forces and such).
I’d like some thoughts around beginning to train with power as well as any good educational articles. I understand CP30 as a metric, what is FT that everyone quotes?
Also, as a baseline I rode the Wildflower Olympic course in 1:35 with an average power of 140 watts. Can anyone suggest milestones to work towards? What kind of power does an FOP age group athlete (not me, yet) usually ride over a long course (HIM) triathlon?
CT is good for providing a load but it’s not an accurate power meter unless you are extremely anal about calibrating it with a PowerTap or SRM after warming the CT up and only in the gears you calibrated it in.
Been running and swimming a lot over the years, but my cycling approach has always been “just get out and ride”. I’ve now decided to focus on developing my bike seriously. I have a CT and I think I’m getting repeatable power numbers (effectively doing press-on forces and such).
I’d like some thoughts around beginning to train with power as well as any good educational articles. I understand CP30 as a metric, what is FT that everyone quotes?
Also, as a baseline I rode the Wildflower Olympic course in 1:35 with an average power of 140 watts. Can anyone suggest milestones to work towards? What kind of power does an FOP age group athlete (not me, yet) usually ride over a long course (HIM) triathlon?
Appreciate any thoughts…
DKSF
As pointed out, CTs are notoriously inaccurate, but each one may be consistent (is this the one where you have to do the coast down calibration thing after warming up?).
I haven’t done a half Ironman race with a power meter, but I did do a 56 mile solo TT last summer in 2:32, averaging 230W; I did a standalone 40K at ~279W (all with a PT). I consider myself to be a FOP age grouper, even at age 46.