what’s the benefit?
Not sure exactly for a Triathlon, but for road racing it gets you use to being on the limit for an extended period of time at race pace or above. No matter how strong you aren’t going to be able to ride at 60kph for long without a motor. The last really hard bits of races like crits and such are well over 30mph.
It is a long AT workout with the motivation of not getting dropped by the motor. Not sure if it has a real place in tri’s unless you are talking about sprints.
the reason I thought to ask the question was a tweet from Macca today…he posted a pic from his motorpacing workout today.
and the caption: back from motorpace session on the Queen K. 90km in 90 minutes. I love these sets. Thanx Tim Marr for the pacing
holding 60kph for an hour and a half…huge.
I can’t remember (and just tried to search with no luck) who it was (probably Macca) that tweeted or posted about a month ago about motor pacing the whole Kona course in something like 3:30…there was some discussion of the benefit/if any
OK so I finally found it—tweet from Macca from 9/1—just finished motor pacing course in 3:37 (yeah 30.8 ave)
.
what’s the benefit?
someone to draft off of, and carry your crap
the reason I thought to ask the question was a tweet from Macca today…he posted a pic from his motorpacing workout today.
and the caption: back from motorpace session on the Queen K. 90km in 90 minutes. I love these sets. Thanx Tim Marr for the pacing
holding 60kph for an hour and a half…huge.
Depending on the motor… hard but not huge! A dude on a scooter makes a pretty big draft.
Bikes handle differently at different speeds also. Motor pacing allows the rider to get used to how the bike will handle at high speeds.
Allows the rider to get used to the bike at high speeds. No, not really, but thanks for playing.
Motorpacing allows the high cadence/high torque micro accelerations that are a hallmark of road/crit racing.
Not sure why a triathlete or TT’ist would be doing MP, unless it’s a carryover from ‘train like the athletes in X sport’.
It’s only the single most important workout for a TT. Long before the importance of AT workouts were understood, MP was considered the most effective way of increasing your tolerance to riding at your limit. If you want to ride 40 km/hr you’ll need to have the leg speed and ability to to turn a large gear. Riding at 45-50 km/hr behind Vespa or car will make 40 km/hr feel easy. It’s simply the most effective way to gain big gear speed.
After living and racing in Italy for 14 years, I’ve never understood why the American triathlon community has been slow to recognize it’s value. But speak to any European based pro roadie or triathlete and they will understand the benefits.
Americans have taught the Euros many things about training, but this is an old school method that has merit.
…and Macca is definitely taking the bull by the horns this year. Training in Hawaii a month + before the race is awesome. He is really hungry for that second win, and knows that Crowie isn’t going to give him anything. It will all be decided on the run, but it Macca can pull away from the primary group a little bit, the win will be more convincing.
Chris
So how do you do the workout effectively? How fast does the driver go. Do you ride along at your AT heart rate? Or just at your limit of holding on?
this answer simply defies the laws of physics
the only answer that makes sense is that motor pacing is a motivational tool.
its always faster than you, it never has a bad day, you always have to chase it.
its a better carrot that a readout on your power meter.
thats it.
Motorpacing allows the high cadence/high torque micro accelerations that are a hallmark of road/crit racing.
Plus, it is just plain fun!
Plus, it is just plain fun!
Oh so true!!
It’s only the single most important workout for a TT. Long before the importance of AT workouts were understood, MP was considered the most effective way of increasing your tolerance to riding at your limit. If you want to ride 40 km/hr you’ll need to have the leg speed and ability to to turn a large gear. Riding at 45-50 km/hr behind Vespa or car will make 40 km/hr feel easy. It’s simply the most effective way to gain big gear speed.
After living and racing in Italy for 14 years, I’ve never understood why the American triathlon community has been slow to recognize it’s value. But speak to any European based pro roadie or triathlete and they will understand the benefits.
Americans have taught the Euros many things about training, but this is an old school method that has merit.
Probably because some of us (and I’m not an American BTW) have done a Quadrant Analysis of power meter files from motor pacing sessions and recognise their specificity for Tri/TT is low.
Hence its use is more as a roadie/track and motivational aid, than for any physiological rationale for a Tri/TT rider.
this answer simply defies the laws of physics
the only answer that makes sense is that motor pacing is a motivational tool.
its always faster than you, it never has a bad day, you always have to chase it.
its a better carrot that a readout on your power meter.
thats it.
Motorpacing allows the high cadence/high torque micro accelerations that are a hallmark of road/crit racing.
I’ve never done an Ironman, just a half, a bunch of sprints, and bunch of olys.
- Mott 2:1
FANTASTIC TOOL: you have to chase the moto. And the guy on the moto is supposed to scream at you in order you to follow.
It’s funny to see that here.
I’m all for using modern analytical methods, but I fail to see how it’s not specific to Tri/TT rider. I would be interested in seeing your evidence.
Right, no application to TT’ing at all: might want to tell Cancellera that (and every other pro time-trialer)… Please, motor pacing (or, I and keep saying this) race-pace (road race pace) riding with road cyclists in groups is killer for top end (especially if you have little time to train). I do a Tuesday night crit in the summer were most of the local senior 1’s and pros come out: flat course with only really two corners - we’ve averaged 44 - 45kph for 50 k with a group of 100+ - with some charming 1k laps at 55kph … but, oh, right, I’m drafting, so it’s easy, really, it’s not real training… Oh, I use a power meter and there’s no way I’ve ever hit the sustained output training solo that I have in what is, essentially, a motorpacing session.
Oh, by the way, I do duathlons and finish consistently in the top 3% of bike splits, with the duathlon and triathlon splits combined from the concurrent race - with maybe 8hrs a week on the bike (more like 6, most weeks). When are triathletes going to get out of the running paradigm of training and start training like cyclists, for cycling?
I train less than that and don’t motorpace and finish in the top 3% of bike splits too
=)
but i would agree with you, i would think motorpacing to be as valuable to a cyclist as a time trialist. its just a tool to make your brain not give up.
I guess for those looking to hit exacting power profiles thats hard to do in a motorpace session. But every day doesn’t need to be a precise power profile day.
I do something equivalent to motor pacing here in austin which is ride with a group of roadies that make me want to puke. Thats probably the best approach for most triathletes, until you get strong enough that the local roadie studs can’t destroy you anymore at least =)
Oh, by the way, I do duathlons and finish consistently in the top 3% of bike splits, with the duathlon and triathlon splits combined from the concurrent race - with maybe 8hrs a week on the bike (more like 6, most weeks). When are triathletes going to get out of the running paradigm of training and start training like cyclists, for cycling?
I saw that video. Macca wasn’t doing it right … 
