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ToC Stage 1

Watts Next?

Great video of the Slipstream boys talking about the end of Tour of California. I love Donald sharing the average wattage for the day. 321 Watts for 4 HOURS!

Power to the Point Presentation

By now you have probably already heard about the Floyd Landis "wiki" style defense process that is taking place.

Every publication has printed UCI President McQuiad and Landis's defense. So instead of wondering here is the presentation.

The Floyd Fairness Fund is here. 

TT for "wa TT age"

I have to admit that sometimes I believe I can be a Pro when I read some of the wattage numbers since they are not more then 10-15% off my personal bests. But then an article like this comes up and I feel mortal very slow and mortal....

This piece is on the Slipstream team warming up for the TT for the Tour of California in Solvang, CA.

Not sure what is better Frischkorn saying he is riding the TT at Tempo which is 330 WATTS! Or Danny Pate slamming two cokes before he heads out for a a TT. If that were me I would have puked.

We catch Frischkorn as he rolls back from the TT. He checks his PT. 331w average. He punched up to 400w at the hill at the midpoint. But settled into a rhythm. [want to estimate his Functional Threshold Level?]

Without looking at the downloads or the results, Team Slipstream Coach & world-renowned Power guru Allen Lim had plenty of say about the stage. First, "the course is kind of unique, in that there’s essentially a headwind uphill for the first part and then a tailwind downhill for the second. That means that all the time gains or losses should happen in the first half of the course." In a situation like this, put everything on the road in the first half and hang on for the second. Pate caught his minute man before the first half was complete, but couldn’t drop him. Donald was caught by his minute man, but couldn’t get dropped, which indicates that the first half was where things mattered. Leipheimer beating Voigt was impressive because this is a course where the bigger rider has a real advantage. As for Pate’s ride, there are two ways to look at it. One is his placing. The other is his power. Lim is more interested in the power, as this is just the start of the season, and "I have a lot of faith in what this kid can do."
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Ryder rides 450 watts

Nice preview video on the Saris site of Ryder telling what he thinks it is going to take to get up and over the Sierra Climb from the Tour of Cailifornia. 450 Watts!

Watts it Cost part 2

Powertap Product Manager Jesse Bartholomew commented on the recent post about Watts it cost to sponsor a team, and he added that I did not include travel, so let's throw in $300/day for 25 days adding an additional $7500 to the total sponosrship of Team Slipstream. That does not include Lotto-Predictor so I would say they roughly will have a $300-400K in sponsorship costs this season.

Powertaps are everywhere at the Tour of Cailfornia

Saw some powertaps in display yesterday from the photos Casy Gibson shot of the stage for Velonews.

In this photo we have a break power by powertap - Lotto-Prdictor.

In this photo you can see Ryder Hesjedal out there getting it down with a Powertap CPU ( can not tell if he is using the hub-probably not b/c the team is sponsored by Reynolds).

These pictures are especially important, since it shows you how much power/wattage has become valuable to the Pro's. In the first picture 3 of 5 have a power meter amd in the second photo 5 of 6 have a power measuring device on their race bike. (And Levi uses one in training - although he told me doesn't like to race with it since it distracts him? )

Powertap more important then Disc Wheel

Hunter Allen writes a great review of the Predictor-Lotto guys using a powertap wheel instead of a Disc. If that is not the ultimate compliment then I do not know what is. Here some other info from the their files. If you have a photo of either guy from stage 5 please send to me.

Mario Aerts: 355 avg wattage - Normalized 366 25.8 mph average, 89 Cadence 163 Avg. HR

Josep was excited to ride on the Powertap and decided that getting the data was more important than riding a disc wheel. He did one loop of the course before the race, to see what it was like, and was riding at 330watts in that warm-up loop! (I was on his wheel being sheltered from the wind and doing 300watts!)

In the TT,  Josep only was really over his threshold in the first 1.5 minutes of the TT. After that, he nailed it right at 390-400watts. ...He stomped up the short climb just past the halfway point at 470watts or roughly 120% of his threshold power, which exactly what you might expect, since it was only a minute and half hill. On the way out, his average speed was 24mph, and on the way back it was 33mph, with a maximum speed of 44mph.

His watts on the way out were 398, and then with the tailwind,they averaged 364. In a headwind, again this proves that the race is won during this time, as in the tailwind, there really isn't anything that you can 'push against' in order to produce the higher watts.

Next time your friend tells you the pro's don't ride with a powertap wheel. Send him to here.

Watt do you do with 150 powertaps?

How do you keep track of 150 plus powertap 2.4 wireless hubs? You number each unit. Here is a good photo (courtesy of Cyclingnews) and it shows that the team has each unit for each rider.

If you watch the video of Vaughters talking about the wheels you'll see the mechanic at the end with the boxes of CPU's labeled as well. He mentions the only team with Shimano built powertap wheels. If you read my earlier post, the team received 190 dura-ace training wheels and cut all the hubs out to build the wheels up. Expensive, but quite the invesetment. I imagine that a lot of these wheels will find their way on to eBay in the Fall the pro's sell their worn-out stuff.

Wattage Gain: In the arch of your foot

Joe Friel has a very interesting bost on his blog about where to mount your cleats. In the photo notice where the SPD cleat is? Right in the middle of the arch. I have some old shoes I am tempted to try this, but I have speed plays so the shoes may get weak with the four holes I need.

Why should you try it? 9% wattage increase in a 300 CP60 (FTP) person is 27 watts that is a big gain in a 40K TT.

-I order a set from Speedplay and will post the photos and review of this product. Total set back is 13mm or roughly 0.5 inches.

I plan on using the Paris Mountain Hill Climb to decide the performance change. I will post the wattage data for everyone. I have to admit I am still not sure. But then again a lot of people though that about wattage and helmets years ago....

Any of you try this?

The shoe maker referenced in the blog has this picture of a women in the position. Doesn't look as freakish as it sounds...

Pro Training Camp

Great video from Gear Fisher and Dirk Friel about the Astana camp. Here you can see that the Pro's have dedicated training camp plans. Unlike the majority of the amatuer teams I have been on where we went out and rode 4-6 hours and besides that there was no-plan these guys have routes, prescribed duration and intensity levels.

I am sure the guys using cyclingpeaks WKO+ will get even better and montiroing their off-season training since they will have so much baseline from this season for next year.

WATTS IN A PRO...

Michael Barry has some information for all us training for the upcoming race season. My first race is this weekend.

We have been racing with our power meters since the first stage. After each stage the team doc downloads the data, analyzes it, and gives us some feedback on our fitness and our effort. I have found it interesting racing with it and the numbers are quite astounding.

On average I have been producing about 3000-4000 kilojoules each stage but the peaks and valleys in download profile are very interesting and completely different to what I see on the training graphs. While leading out the sprints we are accelerating out of the corners at about 500-700 watts and then each stage I hit a maximum of about 1000-1200 watts when I do my final acceleration on the front in the last kilometer before pulling off.

Essentially, the conclusion I can quickly draw from looking at the files is that to race well you need to race, or motor-pace, to simulate a race. Otherwise, it is hard to find the rhythm of the race straight off of a good training block or an entire off-season away from the races.

I was chatting with Thor Hushovd yesterday, and he was complaining that his legs felt good one minute and empty the next-mine were similar-and I guess that sensation is due to the different rhythm and the changes in speed and power output that aren't felt on a solo training ride.

* Images Graham Watson, article Velonews.

Watt a ride...

One of the UCI Pros that uses a powertap is Saul Raisin. Saul went down last year and was in a coma. He is making his comeback with the use of a powertap. He is well on his way to racing again at the top level of the international circuit.

Saul is hosting a ride to benefit  many charities, if you are in the mood for a good ride for a good cause, here is your chance. Some of beneficiaries are: Shepherd Center, Camp Twin Lakes, The Brain Injury Association of Georgia as well as the USA Cycling Development Foundation.

Saul is a very good person, and genuine as they come. He earned his pro-tour success through hard work, dedication and taking the plunge.
                           
I mean who can't support a guy who was doing 6 hour trainer rides in side. The guy is a stud! Next time you complain about riding indoors remember that!

*I personally think that the guys in this picture without helmets are idiots. Hope Saul rides them to wear a helmet.

Watts down there?

Got a nice email the other day from Peter Wright in South Africa.

Check out the site he and his partners set up for South African Powertap users. Good stuff from their atheletes and coaches.

Especially for the European readers, I know some of you head to South Africa for winter training, keep these guys in mind when you are down there. I am sure they can set up a system for you or show you the right roads to train on.

What is great about this, is that there are readers from: Europe, all of North America, Australia, New Zeland, Thailand, and Japan. I guess I have to blog in spanish to get our southern neighbors to contribute.

Considering setting up a coaches link on the front page. If you are interested email me for the details.

Videos and Files from Tour of California Stage 1

Ouch! Hate to see a crash of this size occur in the race, especially when it is so close to a finish. From what I saw someone must have hooked bars because the Quickstep guy is completely off his bike flying to the barrier taking guys out before you ever see his bike.

I really have to wish Dave Zabriskie a speed recovery. Not only is Dave a great racer, but having met and ridden with him a couple of times he is also very cool.

Here is a great video of Chris Horner from Lotto-Predictor discussing Stage 1 of Amgen Tour of California.

This is a video interview with Chris Horner specifically talking about using a power tap.

Additionally you can see the power files from Mario Aerts, Bart Dockx and Josep Jufre from the team during the stage today.

I find it interesting that these guys have power levels that are within the human range. I know that some people will question what I mean by that. But having read that people like Lance and Floyd had huge Functional Threshold Power levels and talking with Kevin Livingston last year, he said that he was putting out 400+ for preperation for the Tour de France. I know there is a lot more that goes into racing then just raw power, but the 500+ watts I have read people speculate Lance, Cunego, Basso and Floyd generate seem to be more fiction then possible reality.

Slipstream has also updated their recap of stage one right here.

Power Generator in a Garbage Truck....

Just found this post of team Slipstream's equipment-specficically powertap usage- in the Tour California.

Great information from the post:

Without a doubt, one of the biggest keys to today's performance was the decision to go with 100 mm deep rear Blackwell wheels built with the new wireless PowerTap instead of a standard disc. After a number of discussions with John Cobb and his staff at Blackwell Research it was apparent that a disc would not be any more aerodynamic than a 100 mm deep. More importantly, based on the course profile of today's prologue, we knew that pacing strategy was going to be a bigger determinant of speed than any other factor.

In the end, Jason Donald nailed his pacing strategy and used the PowerTap to keep his ride in check along the flat Embarcadero road. During the race, holding back made that section feel far too easy.

All that said, Jason's power was still amazing. For the entire 4 minutes and 50 seconds of his prologue, he averaged 539 Watts. On the flat section he averaged 489 Watts for 1:40 (min:sec), and on the climb he averaged 677 watts for 2:10 (min:sec). Not bad for a first year pro who two months ago was driving a garbage truck, so he could follow his dream of being a professional cyclist.

How you can find a better endorsement of it then this?

Plus, Cancellera raced with his SRM so;
Powertap =1
SRM =0
Ergomo - N/A.

If Slipstream keeps this up the boys are going to be opening up a lot more people's eyes to the benefits of RACING with power.

WATT'S IN A PRO?

Here is an awesome link to follow the Tour of California. Dirk Friel is following Lotto-Predictor during the race. And is uploading their wattage files.

This is Mario Aerts file showing his 5 minute power (430), and why he finished so poorly - dropped chain. Can't wait to see the upcoming stage files. You can download his file and look at it yourself.

Watt's it cost?

So this morning I was thinking about the investment Cyclops has made to Slipstream. When I find this video of Vaughters talking about the same thing. Coincident?

I am guessing here, but my thoughts on the investment Saris/Cyclops is making just with the Slipstream team. This is based on Saris paying for the wheel building and subsidizing Allen Lim's services.

200 - Powertap units  = $160,000 (wholesale price estimate)

Wheelbuilding ($75/wheel) = $15,000

Allen Lim Coaching (?) = $50-75,000 (fee subsidized with Slipstream Sports)

Total Sponsorship = $250,000

And don't forget that they also sponsor Predictor/Lotto this season as well. So we all must have made some money for these guys last year.

Power Spike

Well looking at the standings of the Tour of California prologue, we see that Slipstream rider Donald put the hurt on the pro boys. Here is a great photo of one of the riders with his powertap in full view.

Here is his comments after the race:
“I used to be a collegiate runner and did a 3:52 for the 1500m. Then, I took up mountain biking and two years ago started road racing as a Category Five racer. The Slipstream team picked me up after I won a stage at the Tour of the Gila last year.”

Here you can see him running a deep dish wheel with a powertap. So you can't say a powertap is too heavy for you to race with! My opinion, what helped him was running a traditional rear wheel. If you have ever raced a disc, it is heavier and slower to get up to speed, add a super steep finishing clim and you'll want ever bit of the wheel speed you can get. (Last year a lot more pros went with a typical bike set up instead of a TT position/bike...)

*Photo courtesy of Velonews and Casey Gibson.

Watt openess

I was touring Dirk Friel's blog this morning and came across his training information that is posted on the trainingpeaks website. Now I know some pro's already post some of their training on their sites. But this site has everything that he is doing.

The guy and his father have basically put professional cycling coaching on the map. Here is just a brief list of their accomplishments:the most widely used training book the Cyclist's Training Bible series, come up with trainingpeaks, or merge the Cyclingpeaks software into the trainingpeaks program).

I  really appreciate the openess of his training information. I mean what other pros detail this much out. Not even Floyd ever published this much data. It can only help you get better and understand how the Pro's apply the different workouts.

Video: Bulk Import for WKO+

Gear Fisher has a good video for all you new users to WKO+ who want to import your training files in bulk to save time and get your calendars current.

WATT-ch us ride...

Good NY TImes article about thying clean up the Professional Ranks. I like the fact that Pat McCarty is mentioned - good young guy who got screwed by the TdF Drug issue.

Watts a Pro's to do...

From an email/interview with Gear Fisher, one of the founders and developers of WKO+ software (formerly cyclingpeaks). This is his oberservations from the Lotto/Predictor Team Camp referenced in earlier entries below.

What did the riders think of the powertaps?

They were very interested and willing/eager to ride with them. Most of them had not heard of PowerTap, so their first questions were "how does it compare to SRM".  Perhaps only five of the guys even had SRM's though, so they were happy to now have power on their bikes.  The mechanics seemed to like it too with the wireless setup, it is just so easy.  Training with power is still a pretty new concept for these guys, but they are all eager to learn more, especially the younger riders like Dominique Cornu, he's the world time trial champion U-23, and he's never ridden with a power-meter, until now.

 

What has been the biggest surprise so far in working with all the Pro Tour riders?

I was surprised both at how traditional most of their training is, as well as how cordial and nice the guys are. We could easily have been cast aside by these guys, but instead, they really wanted to learn more and understand more about training with power.

What do the riders think of Cyclingpeaks?

 

Well of course they loved it! :-)    Really, they did like it a lot. I heard many times "well that's easy". The "upload to TrainingPeaks.com " feature is perhaps the thing that most of them found really neat, same with the bulk import to WKO+, that always seems to get a "wow!". But certainly the concept of TSS/IF and the Performance Manager was the foundation of most of their questions.  None of them had heard of these terms before and many of them really wanted to dig in and know more about it.  We left several of Hunter& Andy's books behind for them to really dig in.

What do you expect to learn/develop from the input from the Pro Tour riders?

We hope to really tune the TSS/IF/Performance Manager systems. We'll have world-class, long term data from these guys, which should let us really dial in some of these concepts at the top end, which will work it's way down to the "age grouper" cyclist too.  It's like Nascar really, car manufacturers learn and test car designs, engine parts etc. at the top-end, then trickle them down to consumer vehicles. We're doing the same thing.  They have already suggested a few new features, so we're working on those now. 

What is the most important thing the team have seen in using cyclingpeaks?

I would say  it's the communication between the riders and the team doctors, directors and management. Everyone is on the same page now.  Eventually, as they gather more data, I think it will start to really influence their training techniques.

Who has the highest FTP you have tested so far? What value?

Well, I really can't say specifically, but pretty much everyone was at 340 or above, some way above.. amazing stuff really. Note that we don't do any testing per se, that's the realm of the team docs and physiologists, but we are with the riders as they setup their WKO+ settings, so that's where we get exposed.

WATT a great video

This is a great Youtube Video on Team Slipstream and the use of the 2007 Wireless Powertap System. Some Highlights: 150+ hubs to be used Every rider every ride and every race Most accurate meter on the market Simpliest computer on the market Allen Limm - 12 years of development with a Powertap System.

The one thing I notice from this video along with my own discussions with Pro Riders, is how these guys look as much at energy used/consumed in the form of KJ's.

For me I concentrate more on TSS score from each ride using the Cycling Peaks software to predict growing base/form. But when I ride with Levi or George, they both were more intrerested in how many calories the ride burned/consumed Maybe they don't fret about TSS since they look at kilojoules during their races...

You tube Video

Here is a video from the 2007 Floyd Landis Powertap Camp. Some good dope from Allen Lim and other people at the camp. Looks like most of the campers were just there for the fun of it....

Powertap Link Dump

Here is a masisve list of Powertap links some powertapgeek, some from other sources. Looks like there is a lot of 2.4 Wireless questions.

Keep Riding Smarter and Harder! But don't burn out....

Its only February 8 months to the end of the road season.

Watt's Inside a Wireless 2.4 Hub

Watts inside a Powertap Wireless System? Here is a nice cut away from the Landis Powetap Camp.

Here is a blog of the internals of Powertap Wireless 2.4 system from Road Magazine.

Here you can see an overweight Floy climbing with his new Pegoretti bike courtesy Jesse and the people at Saris.

Watts this? A ptap!

Could not believe my eyes, a Slipstream rider with a Powertap on his bike. Danny Pate no less. Get ready people the Tour of California is only a couple of days away...

If you guys are reading I would love to post some wattage files from the Tour Prologue!

Check out the video they have on the site.

Watt's That - Lotto Photos

Great new micro site on cycling peaks website. The all new Lotto bikes with Power Taps is pictured here.

Not sure why they posted this clown with a SRM, Polar and Powertap system on his bike. Not sure which is dumber, the fact he trains with no helmet or the three computers on his bike. What does he do when he gets back check all three? Or is he the guinea pig for the Cycling Peaks programs compatibility test?

Here is the link the Youtube video they have up on their site from the training camp. Nice commentary from either Dirk or Gear. Good luck this year guys I think you are about to revoluntize the sport.

One other note, check out how many bikes have the Concor saddle in the photos. More then half? That thing is the business - best saddle ever.

WATTS INGTON RIDER

HERE IS A POWERTAP SPOTTING. Courtesy of Cyclingnews.com

In the picture is Ian McKissick - who I use to race with out in Seattle. He is very talented. Congratulations on getting in the big leagues. He could make a career out of this. Would not surprise me if He and Tom Peterson represent Washington and the US in the Pro Tour in years to come.

Notice the Powertap in the picture - now I remember someone telling me that Ian used one last year in preparation for the Elite Nationals. I also know that BMC Racing Team mates Scott Moniger uses one along with the photos I posted of Danny Schmatz.

Moniger is the one who told me at Mt. Hood Stage Race that he always races (as much as possible) with the CPU even if he doesn't the wheel to store all have all his race and training data in one place. (i admit I did not know you could use the CPU as a simple computer.) Dah!

Power outage

From Coach Boyd here is a picture of what the Slipstream guys will be riding on for this coming season. That is a lot of wheels!

You can see more interesting photos and comments on Brad Huff's blog.

Cyclops must have machined the hubs to accept the right spoke count for these rims?

Wheelbuilder must have been building these things for 2-3 straight weeks.

Which wheel set would rather race? Deep-dish Dura-Ace or Low-profile Dura-Ace? A Shimano guy told me last year that the low-profile is just as fast (don't know in what distance) as the deep dish since it has less rim mass and can quickly "spin-up."