Powertap fun!

So I FINALLY got to test out the Powertap now that I’ve got rim tape on the new wheel (need to remember to leave feedback for the seller now too).

I did my first ride on the trainer to try to establish a baseline. The workout [all zn2 + 20x(1:30 zn4 : 30 sec zn1)] called for me to hold 146-165 watts according to my bike computer. I noticed during the ride that the ptap tended to hold a little lower than the bike computer was. The powertap also uses a smaller sampling period than the bike computer did, so it was a little more up and down through the ride.

At the end of the ride, my average watts on the powertap was 155, while the bike comp was 159. Pretty close.

In general, I definitely liked having the powertap on. I set it to show current watts, cadence and time whereas before I’d have had to use two devices to get all three of those showing at once.

The install was pretty simple, even for having the wired version. I had never changed a cassette on my bike before, so that was probably the biggest challenge, just owing to the uncertainty around doing it. There was of course the adventure of the rim tapeless wheel, but that was just me not thinking.

I Haaave the Poowwwer!

I have my powertap. It is sweetness.

Also, I'm an idiot. Guess how many tubes I went through before I realized I need rim tape for my new wheel?

Three.

Yes, I'm an idiot.

5k Run TT

I did a 5k in Arvada yesterday morning as a TT for my training. I came into this race with some high hopes, specifically I wanted to break a 7:30 pace for the race and was having daydreams of breaking 7:20.

I was sorely disappointed.

I finished the race in 26 minutes flat... an 8:32 pace. That's WAY off my last TT. Granted, it was really, really cold, but still, to be a whole minute off my goal pace was very disappointing.

time to head on over to the race calndar and find another 5k, see if I can't do better.

Holiday surprise

Owing to an unexpected (and unexpectedly generous) Christmas bonus, I found myself able to purchase a Powertap Pro (wired) mounted on a DT Swiss 700c wheel. I kind of would have liked to wait to find one mounted on a Zipp wheel, but the price was right and a friend of mine’s BF is a wheelbuilder and can cut me a deal on getting the hub remounted on a Zipp wheel once I get one. This way i can start training with it sooner, rather than waiting until I have the money for the Zipp's

I didn’t think I’d be getting a Ptap until probably the end of January but now the setup should be shipping tomorrow at the latest and I may very well have it by the first of the year. I’m not sure who is more excited about the Powertap, me or Mark (though perhaps I should be worried that Mark is excited).

The first order of business, of course, will be to see how the Ptap readings match up to the trainer computer I’ve been using, that should be very interesting because if I didn’t calibrate it correctly then my TT results could be well over or well under the 212 average I established, though I’m pretty sure I got the setup right.

I can't wait!

Bike TT

I'm pooped...

40 minute TT on the trainer tonight. 10 minutes splits below...

10' 208W

20' 210W

30' 210W

40' 212W

That's what my pwer computer read at each point, not the split for each 10' period, it doesn't do that on its own, but a little simple math makes it not too hard to figure out.

0-10'  208W

10-20'  212W

20-30'  210W

30-40'  218W

I think I figured that correctly. In any case, the 40' average was 212watts, I really pushed it the last 10', and especially the last 5'.

And now I don't want to move... but I need food. Somebody come bring me some food!

Life is Good?

I wake up every morning and step outside my house to a view of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

I walk to work along  Boulder Creek or Pearl Street, which is basically a choice between a mountain stream or a much less crowded Pedestrians only Newbury Street back in Boston.

I work for a company that cares about its employees and their careers, in an office full of really cool, funny people, doing green design of healthy, healthcare environments.

I’ve come to know wonderful people who have amazing attitudes about the environment, training, architecture, and living life in general.

I bike up mountain passes just minutes from my front door and out onto the prairies. Half the roads have dedicated bike lanes, and even where they don’t the drivers respect cyclists so it doesn’t matter.

I run on paved trails along the creek and up dirt trails climbing hills and mountains with breathtaking views and clean air.

I come home to a comfortable house in a quiet neighborhood and comfortable room, with a fun flatmate who respects and appreciates my quirks.

Some people would say “Life is Good”. I say, “No… Life is Beautiful!”

Swim TT

My last swim TT was back in March and here were the results...

1. 9'22"
2. 9'41"
3. 9'46"
4. 9'42"
T. 38'31"

Today

1. 9'17"

2. 9'45"

3. 9'34"

4. 9'27

T. 38'04"

I started out too strong again and paid for it, but I think I was able to recover from it better than I did back in March. I've made some progress, but not a ton. 27 seconds off of a 2000 yard swim is jsut over a second per 100 yards. Actually, it's .675 seconds per lap. I was kind of hoping to take off a whole second per lap, which would have put me under 38 minutes total. Maybe getting my effort a little more even for the TT would help with that, I'm sure I wasted some energy in that first 500.

Benchmark Testing

I've got Benchmark testing for the swim coming up this week... should be interesting. Even though I feel like my swim has gotten a lot smoother and cleaner, I'm not sure I've gotten much faster. on the other hand, i don'te usually time my swims, I just do the distance and try to push myself appropriately, so maybe I have improved and I just haven't noticed. The bike TT is the following week, no idea when the run TT will be.

38'31" was my time in March for 4x500yards.

Black Friday

Most people think of shopping on Black Friday. I just think about the time I quit my job after showing up at work that morning and finding out I had FINALLY gotten my raise for my annual review (I was an assistant manager for a small bookstore chain) and found out my raise was a nickel. Considering inflation, it was actually more like a salary cut and I was making crumbs as it was.

Anyhow, I quit on the spot, with no dea what I'd do for a job. my boss and the big boss called to try to get em to come back, I said no. The next monday, still with no idea what I'd do for a job, a friend at school came up to me and said her company was hiring and she thought of me and would I like to come in for an interview. I ended up getting the job, working with great people, doing interesting work (particularly compared to retail) that was really helpful to my career and made 50% more an hour right off the bat than i had at my old job. She didn't even know I had quit my job, I just straight up lucked out.

Thank you Anne, I will always, ALWAYS, be grateful for the chance you gave me!

Howdy Strangers...

It’s been a while since I posted, I’ll run through a few things real quick.

 

Winter is coming here in Boulder. There’s a nip in the air most mornings and the scent of snow, though it’s only snowed once so far. I see ice forming along the banks of Boulder creek and I’ve turned into an utter wimp when it comes to riding outside. I may start going in to work early so I can take a longer lunch and ride at lunchtime.

 

I found out my office encourages employees to decorate their desk for the holidays…. This could be dangerous.

 

I was in the pool a week or so after my swim lesson with mark, focusing on driving from my hips, reaching as if I was punching when I noticed that the punch/reach was leveraging my other arm that was already in the water doing the stroke. I wasn’t sure that was supposed to happen as I didn’t recall Mark mentioning it, but as I thought about it, it made sense. Sure enough, when I asked Mark, that’s exactly what I should be feeling.

As I think about it now, I remember back when I took Tae Kwon Do, every punch you throw is balanced by snapping back your other arm (and shoulder) which prepares you to punch with the other arm as well as generating more power.

 

Training is going fairly well. I’ve felt particularly good running lately, though my bike on the other hand kind of feels like it has plateaued. The swim is solid, Mark has me doing a lot of sprints to focus on improving my form and getting FASTER. It’s generally kind of boring (it’s laps in a pool after all), though the occasional breakthrough like I mentioned above is very exciting and I know it’s all working to make me faster.

 

I’m still figuring out my race schedule for next year aside from the IDT. I’m thinking about doing Wildflower, but I think I might be better served doing that the following year.

 

Mark had a great race at IMAZ, putting up a PB and finishing 13^th among the pro men. Good on ya man!