# ERG mode in the big ring

**URL:** <https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/erg-mode-in-the-big-ring/43660>\
**Category:** Training\
**Created:** [September 29, 2020, 9:24am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/erg-mode-in-the-big-ring/43660 "2020-09-29T09:24:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dragan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/dragan/32/81858_2.png) [@dragan](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/dragan)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2020, 9:24am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/erg-mode-in-the-big-ring/43660/1 "2020-09-29T09:24:04Z")

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I’m rather new to smart trainers, but I’ve owned a Kickr for about six months now and while I never thought I’d get used to ERG, I love it.

Anyway, I’ve always used it on the small ring with a straight chain line and never thought that the gear could make any difference up until today when I decided to do some VO2Max work (Kaiser +2) in the big ring for some reason. Also, putting it in the big ring makes my trainer make a weird noise and I don’t know what’s that about, maybe it’s the flywheel spinning so much.

Is it just me, or does it make the workout ever so slightly easier?

I have noticed that ERG can’t smooth out my power so much, so the power graph ends up looking much more like when I was on a dumb trainer, so I do get a bit more natural feeling.

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**Author:** ![onemanpeloton](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/onemanpeloton/32/69536_2.png) [@onemanpeloton](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/onemanpeloton)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2020, 9:54am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/erg-mode-in-the-big-ring/43660/2 "2020-09-29T09:54:52Z")

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You might find some useful information in this topic

> [@Big vs Small Chainring - Same Power (ERG Mode Gearing)](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/big-vs-small-chainring-same-power-erg-mode-gearing/6119):
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> I recently did the Antelope workout which has 10-min intervals at around 90% FTP. Since I use a smart trainer in ERG mode, I normally do not shift gears and just leave it in my small chainring and a cog that makes the chain straight. Five minutes into the first interval, and holding a cadence of 85-95 (Antelope recommendation), I found myself really struggling. I shifted to the big chainring and one cog easier (one cog easier just to offset the big chainring a bit), and finished the second and …

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**Author:** ![dragan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/dragan/32/81858_2.png) [@dragan](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/dragan)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2020, 12:13pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/erg-mode-in-the-big-ring/43660/3 "2020-09-29T12:13:45Z")

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Thanks for the link, very educational stuff!