Cycling Workouts: Discussion/Encouragement/Sharing/Banter

[Ming the Merciless]

Vo2 max efforts today, total of 7 sets done outdoors. Went well and felt good.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Recovery ride today, with long endurance outing tomorrow

 

[Legs]

Vo2 max efforts today, total of 7 sets done outdoors. Went well and felt good.

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How do you moderate your efforts to VO2 range when doing intervals like this outdoors? Is it just on feel? Measured power?

I've been doing outdoor running workouts recently, with my intervals at, say, 5k effort or half-marathon effort, which I've got a pretty good feel for. On flat ground, there's a pretty strong correlation between running effort and running pace, so checking on my Garmin can reassure me that I'm meeting the right pace.

I'm not convinced I'd be able to do the same on the bike (for one thing, the potholes and gravel are so bad around here that you've got to have your attention fixed on the road at all times).

 

[Ming the Merciless]

How do you moderate your efforts to VO2 range when doing intervals like this outdoors? Is it just on feel? Measured power?

A mix of measured power and feel from doing them. I do them on the same hill each time, gradient 3-4%, with a good surface, and no junctions or interruptions.

 

[Norry1]

How do you moderate your efforts to VO2 range when doing intervals like this outdoors? Is it just on feel? Measured power?

I've been doing outdoor running workouts recently, with my intervals at, say, 5k effort or half-marathon effort, which I've got a pretty good feel for. On flat ground, there's a pretty strong correlation between running effort and running pace, so checking on my Garmin can reassure me that I'm meeting the right pace.

I'm not convinced I'd be able to do the same on the bike (for one thing, the potholes and gravel are so bad around here that you've got to have your attention fixed on the road at all times).

When you use power for a while you tend to get to "know" roughly whe you are. I have 3 sec power and lap (interval) power on my head unit so I can glance and check how I'm doing.

 

[IrishAl]

How do you moderate your efforts to VO2 range when doing intervals like this outdoors? Is it just on feel? Measured power?

I've been doing outdoor running workouts recently, with my intervals at, say, 5k effort or half-marathon effort, which I've got a pretty good feel for. On flat ground, there's a pretty strong correlation between running effort and running pace, so checking on my Garmin can reassure me that I'm meeting the right pace.

I'm not convinced I'd be able to do the same on the bike (for one thing, the potholes and gravel are so bad around here that you've got to have your attention fixed on the road at all times).

Until 2 years ago all of my structured workouts were indoors and nearly always in ERG mode, and I a bit like you always thought trying to ride to a particular power zone outdoors would be next to impossible with traffic, junctions, uphills, downhills, etc etc but I quickly came round to it once I started giving it a go. I do still find I need to carefully plan a route though if I’ve got Z4 or above efforts in store and I much prefer doing those on the flat or uphill but that’s not always possible.