Bier en modder

I dislike power testing.  Yeah, the best power data you can get is from a race but sometimes the timing and schedule doesn’t always work out that way.  So yesterday’s ride, and one later today, is for a quick test.

Yesterday was the 5 and 20 min intervals.  For me, the 5 minute one is the suckiest one of all.  Right around the 2 minute mark it feels like you’re Hammy on a Red Bull in Over the Hedge – time slows down to a crawl while you suffer away.  Ugh.

I tried something different yesterday by taping over the power portion of the head unit, leaving just the speed and time visible.  I’ve had this feeling that seeing the power value, especially during the longer tests, could prejudice you one way or the other in your effort.

For example, heading out with a preconcieved notion that since your last test was at x watts, then after a month or two of hard work of course you should be at least at x + 15, or whatever.  But if you get this realtime feedback during the test that you’re not quite there…then what? These flippin’ tests are hard enough without getting a proverbial sucker-punch to the gut that you haven’t improved.

So yesterday, with the power value blanked out, the test seemed a little different.  Instead of checking in at a number, it felt easier just to ask myself – ‘is this the hardest I can ride for the next x minutes’ and then adjust effort based on that.

Anyway, the tests I did yesterday showed a solid improvement in the 5 min and a return to the 20 min effort I was in at the peak of last season.  Seeing as I’m barely getting into the rough stuff, it’s all good.

Whats next…PIR next Monday.  TOE 50, hopefully as part of a 35+ team, at the end of the month.  Then short track.

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