Which can be done while in ERG mode just fine - as long as you are willing to change the % based on your RPE for the day 
I do have to admit it took me almost two full years of using TR to realize that myself…
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too much futzing around with buttons, I just let my legs/mind do this:
inside or outside is exactly the same. No ‘cognitive load’ just by feel and using my gears.
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Love it!
As long as you’re doing the work, I don’t think it much matters if you’re using erg or resistance mode.
I don’t have a power meter on any of my outside bikes, so all my outside pacing is based on RPE. I do all my indoor workouts in Erg mode, and adjust up or down as needed to get the right difficulty. But generally don’t need to adjust much, as I pick my more intense workouts based on how I’m feeling.
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This is the key. If it keeps you doing the work, then keep doing it. Don’t switch from one to the other just because some else said so. Does it work for you? Certainly try the other, but do whatever keeps you active and engaged.
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/thread
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I’m not sure I entirely agree with the ‘if you’re doing the work’. I think that above threshold, generally I’m always leaving something on the table. The shorter the interval, the less well TR’s %ftp mapping matches a power that forces a maximal effort for me.
My last short workout was 27 x 50/40’s at 430-460. Honestly, I probably should have been working closer to 500 for those.
That said - what workout offers better adaptive stimulus - starting those 50/40s at 550 and fading to 395 by the 27th, or doing all of them at 430?
That’s the point of the you in “if you’re doing the work”. If you believe you are leaving something on the table, as you said, then try resistance mode.
Everyone’s answer to this will be different.
Sure - but I don’t see how that changes depending on the trainer mode. The issue you mention is the power you should be doing intervals at, not how one reaches and maintains that power.
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Thanks for the response. Max O2 uptake would mean sprinting, right?
If you are in resistance mode you can find that maximal effort through your gearing and cadence. If in erg you need to play around with the + button. As you fatigue your maximal efforts may produce less power, which means you might enter the spiral of death in erg, whilst resistance you just produce less power again via lower cadence or changing gears.
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Uh, I guess that would depend on your definition of “sprinting”. Think 2-5min max effort gasping for air, not 15 second ALL OUT.
I use ERG mode less and less during the last months as I see the benefits but I had an awesome experience yesterday I would like to share.
I did a KM baseline FTP test with ERG mode (I know, I know 
)
I did a short FTP interval few days ago so I roughly knew where to start.
So I started at +10W from previous FTP and used the first minutes to dial power up to +20W, stayed there for few minutes, realized I’m slightly over and then moved down to +15W.
Based on the feeling I was sure after 10 minutes what my new FTP is.
And now the best part. During the rest of the test I didn‘t have to focus on the power anymore. This eliminated so much stress during the long test.
For me it was rather a TTE test afterwards. The result was 42 minutes which confirmed the right power setting.
I agree that when you use ERG mode, be flexible and adjust according to RPE.
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I would love to have a mixed mode workout feature set and/or workout bumpers to go into erg mode when to go over/under the target watts too far.
After all this hype/benefit of resistance versus ERG, I did a long z2 in resistance mode with no breaks. Maybe it’s just me, but resistance mode definitely felt easier. I was actually often riding above target because RPE was lower than expected. 
Not to mention I’m wrapping up SSBHV2 and currently carrying -21 form.
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That power graph looks like it could be in erg! 
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Similar gearing between both modes or notably different?
In ERG I ride 40 x 17 (EXPLR 1x). I don’t know what gears I was in for resistance mode, but I’d assume it was in the 17-21 range. Maybe someone smarter than me can do the math with a cadence average in the mid 80s.
EDIT: there were a few times I had to +/- the resistance because my preferred cadence put me too high/low of my power target between gears. Another thing to fuss with for no reason. I’m an ERG’er for life! If for no other reason than simplicity.
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40 / 17 = 2.35 drive ratio
2.35 x 80 cadence = 188.2 flywheel rpm
40 / 22 = 1.91 drive ratio
1.91 x 80 cadence = 153.2 flywheel rpm
Roughly 81% slower or 124% faster depending on which way you compare. Enough of a difference that I could see there being noticeable variation in RPE.
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Was a bit wary of this workout today so I did it in Erg using it as a cross btwn a security blanket and accountability partner. 
Now I know what the wattages I’m shooting for feel like, next time I’ll likely do some or all of it in Resistance.
I think Erg can be a really useful tool in the toolbox.
this, to me, is what make the KM test so much better than a ramp test / 20m test
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