hustler

iTrader: (6)

Nevermind.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

Help me out here, since I dropped again last night and I'm really confused. How do I compare numbers from years prior when my highest 5-minute power was a climb in LIttle Rock last month, 2nd highest was an 8-minute FTP test in December of 17, and third was a ride from last night? My FTP is ~40w higher than it was in December, I can do tons higher sweet-spot work than ever before (just did 255w for 20-minutes, three times), but all of my rides outdoors are lower power numbers than years prior.

Strava is whacked out on my power numbers:

Last night's ride from Trainerroad:



Thoughts? No more riding outside?

Savington

iTrader: (31)

Yes, 100% trainer. No riding outside. Then, when you have a mental breakdown, sell all your bikes to pay for a lifetime of therapy.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

That was sort of a joke. I need to slam-in a few more weeks of long-power and then switch to CX-type race simulations and intervals in October to peak in December. I still try to ride the MTB or CX bike on single track once per week.

emilio700

iTrader: (3)

I recommend doing whatever is fun. It's more funner that way.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

The goal is to get into the 3/4 races and then masters racing in two years and not leave the race in shame of my fitness. The goal was to begin racing again at 4w/Kg and I'm only at 3.3 right now, 3.4 by October after I lose another 7lb or so. I don't really want to do any racing right now with these power numbers because I know how it will end and it won't be pretty. Also, the elite CCR team around here was just given a bunch of TCX bikes as a gift for doing so well at the elite nationals, so I get to race with them and all their Instagram-pro-------ry so I must be on top of my fitness game because it won't be easy to get a chance to elbow or kick them in the chest.

Savington

iTrader: (31)

From someone who spent his formative teenage years sitting on kart grids nauseous with anxiety over the potential results of the race he was about to partake in, hear these words and internalize them: The results don't matter. Race because you enjoy the race. If you are going to skip a race because you will feel ashamed of the results, you are in the wrong sport. The best car races I've partaken in are not the ones I've won.

dcamp2

iTrader: (4)

I've always been able to make more power on the trainer than in the real world... is that what you are asking about? It's easy to sit just right on the trainer to make max power- harder to do it outside on an actual bike ride where you have to balance and pay attention. Same thing going from road to dirt- I can make more power on pavement because you don't have to worry about traction or hit any bumps.

Or it could be a bad day, over trained etc. If your power is trending upward from previous years- take this one drop as a fluke...

hustler

iTrader: (6)

Power is trending downward over the last two months.

emilio700

iTrader: (3)

"then masters racing in two years and not leave the race in shame of my fitness"

You are doing it for the wrong reasons. I can not emphasize this enough. You have to love it or it is pointless. Love suffering in training. Love riding easy with your buds. Love days off when you're cracked. Love racing as hard as you can even if you get dropped. Whatever you choose to do, can;t be focused on numbers. That's the very definition of work. It must be play.

In the end, you have to be happy with the result, regardless of what place you got. The "result" is that you got to ride your bike with some worthy competitors and gave it your best. Ignore this post if you like but trust me, as a guy who did his first bike race in 1974, It has to be fun or you will suck at it and be miserable. It is a choice to have fun, even if you suck sometimes.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

Thanks to both of you. CX was fun when I started but now I'm clearly driven by trying to be someone which I'm not.

Landrew

iTrader: (2)

Any recommendations for trails near Kalispell Montana? Something easy as I will be taking some 14 year olds with little mountain experience. Something I could get shuttled up to by car would be ideal but not absolutely necessary.



Thanks

dcamp2

iTrader: (4)

MTB project App for your phone works decent. should be able to find stuff near where you are going.

EErockMiata

Last night was the local weekly informal mtb race, over the hump. This is my first race back on the bike for me in 1.5 years after battling back surgery recovery and other injuries. Finished 4th out of 15 in my class (intermediate 30-39) and I would have been mid pack in the class above me. Pretty shocked on the result even if it is meh, because I wasn't expecting anything going in. I've pretty much just been riding my bike and paying no attention to training in the last few months. I'm really happy with how hard I pushed myself, digging deep past going out a bit too hard on the first lap and managed to suffer harder then 2 guys in my class on the second lap and pull through. Bikes are fun.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

If I change MTB tires and do not PR on anything, it's slower, right?

Savington

iTrader: (31)

Someone needs to take your Garmin away from you.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

Question about cornering on the MTB and maybe the road bike. I realized I've been trying to hit corners using my understanding of car-tyre dynamics like slip angle but now I'm realizing that cornering thrust applies after some reading on moto-x. I don't understand how to read if I need to put more or less weight over the front tire.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

I recently realized that the people who are telling me to chill out with the competition are people who win at something, all the time. hehe. I just need it once, dudes.

emilio700

iTrader: (3)

I'm trying to balance front to rear load. Key is weighting outside pedal regardless of bike type. Exception might be heavily bermed turns that you can pump on the MTB, then its pedals level so you can transfer weight front to back quickly.
For cross, I notice I handle tight turns best when I have a lot of weight on the front. So I have gradually shifted my 'cross position forward so I can corner on the hoods with a lot of weight on the front.
For MTB, my focus is almost 100% on what my front wheel is doing and whether it has enough.. or too much weight transferred to it. Generally tough to get too much weight on the front. It'll just grip better and better. With a good tire and suspension setup , the MTB will comunicate
front grip well enough for you to make adjustments if you transfer too much forward. Road bike, the feel is much more subtle. Since road is mostly faster turns and wider arcs, it's more about just weighting the pedal.

Generically, the biggest mistake I see riders making is simply not leaning the bike over far enough. Even an nationals and worlds, guys run wide in turns because they panic and don't lean the bike enough. You want it to turn, lean that **** over and weight the front. Pay attention to tire choice, wheel choice, pressure and where applicable, suspension setup.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

Thanks, this helps. With too much weight over the front tire, do I lose traction at the front or rear? Too much weight in the front in a car means understeer.

I have the Saguaros on now and there is a ton of bite in the tire but it still feels numb, telling me I need to push it.