Watts on trainer low

Triathlon Forum
1

I haven’t biked indoors using watts until yesterday. I decided to go ahead and set up the garage in prep for this winter (a few months ahead of time).

I was doing 4 x 5 min intervals and I had a difficult time getting my normal watts. Outside those intervals are done at 225 - 230 watts (I am 138lbs for those curious about such things). The watts I was able to generate with my setup was 180 - 190 watts - actually I must say that the indoor 180 watts felt tougher but that may have been because of the heat in the garage.

Trainer - I am using the standard Cycle Ops trainer - I think it is the CycleOps Magnetic Bike Trainer version - so their lower line. I cranked it just about as tight as I could.

Any suggestions or maybe some people can share their indoor setups.

2

You need to get a really big fan, and then you also need to learn to endure new depths of suffering. Another STer wrote a pretty good article on it:

http://alex-cycle.blogspot.com/2009/01/turbocharged-training.html

3

Great article - I appreciate it. I think airflow is/was a major issue. I’ll probably look at some alternative trainers too.

4

Funny - I set my trainer up yesterday on a black track so I could do some brick work and noticed the exact same thing - higher percieved excertion for lower watts that the road. It was super hot here yesterday so I guess that cooling is really an issue.

5

"Great article - I appreciate it. I think airflow is/was a major issue. I’ll probably look at some alternative trainers too. "

“This damn trainer stinks. It puts out way too little watts…” :wink:

6

Definitely get a good fan…and set up inside if possible. It may take awhile, but you ‘should’ be able to eventually approach similar sustained watts indoors. At least, that is what I have found on all but the highest wattage workouts. So, if it’s 8, 10, maybe 20 minute intervals, they are close indoors and out.

7

“This damn trainer stinks. It puts out way too little watts…” :wink:

I seem to have that problem with my bike, maybe an alternative bike would help…