Hi guys, I did my first Vo2max workout taylor -2 today after an 18% FTP increase. Right at the beginning of the workout it became evident I wouldn’t be able to complete it at the prescribed wattage. I had a bad night of sleep and really bad meal yesterday, had a light breakfast 30 minutes prior to the workout. So I reduced intensity 10% which stiil left me with intervals at 110% FTP for the first 2 sets. I upped the intensity 2% for the third set and barely made it through the last interval. Two questions for you: Did I still get the intended benefit? It looks like my limiter was my legs which were fried as opposed to cardiovascular, both breathing and heart rate where under control. I experienced the same thing during the ramp test. Breathing and heart rate low but legs fried, which never happenned before. It seems the limiter at my new FTP is much more linked to strenght/muscular endurance rather than cardio. Is this normal? After my FTP went from 131 to 155?

[image] Rahim67: graph… scary… Of no that’s my starting FTP for THIS year. I started below 110 in november last year. Got up to 138 in april after TBLV1. And after a summer of erratic but fun riding I started back in september with SSBLV1 at 131. I’m 42 back on the bike after 10 years of young kids and severe illness. My goal is 200. Hopefully by April. I know it’.s possible since I already achieved 250 in 9 months of indoor riding 11-12 years ago. and I have a stronger aerobic base now. So I guess there is hope for every one of us. Provided theres work, dedication, and no misplaced ego.

So, I did this workout tonight and I had the opposite experience. I actually found the target watts too easy and did most of them 20-30w over. In fact I felt the best in the latter intervals upping it to 40w over. I’m wondering if I did them wrong. I started each interval out of the saddle for the first 5 seconds to get the power up and then let it settle to an even wattage. Does this inflate my effort starting hard out of the saddle for the first few seconds? [image]

Monday was V02 hell for me. When I see an V02 day coming I have to prepare myself. I have to eat better and higher carb the night before and load up the day of. When I am loaded up on carbs. The V02 rides go so much better for me. Like @Nate_Pearson I have to fuel for these rides. If I go into one unrested or depleted it’s a train wreck every time.

You didn’t do it wrong, out of the saddle or otherwise (get the power any way you can!). It’s probably just that these short intervals are easy for you, even at 120%. All my VO2 workouts were longer 3-5 min intervals, then I tried some shorter 30/30 workouts. I did Sleeping Beauty (30/30@115%) breathing through my nose. It may be your natural physiology and/or your recent training which makes these relatively easy for you. Keep experimenting with different types of intervals to find a type that’s a challenge. :+1:

Same here man. I found it a piece of cake. But 30 seconds suits me greatly. I’m definitely massively more type 2 than type 1. [Screenshot_20191120-075105_Chrome] I actually look forward to doing things like Spanish needle. The workouts that I hate are actually long endurance without breaks (leavit + 2 etc)

I don’t think it was the wattage that was easy for the work portions, but I think the rest periods were too long for me as I didn’t feel that accumulation oxygen debt happening. I think a better workout for me would be to keep the 120% efforts but reduce the rest - so something like 30/15s or 40/20s.

I’m actually more of a long SS/threshold guy, so I was happy to do this workout without difficulty. Like I said above, a better variation for me would be a 2:1 work/rest ratio like 30/15 or 40/20s. I just think my recovery is quite fast. I also tend not to do as well on longer VO2max efforts like 4x5 and 5x5.

[image] Ian747: hold guy, so I was happy to do this workout without difficulty. Like I said above, a better variation for me would be a 2:1 work/rest ratio like 30/15 or 40/ Noone does well on VO2Max intervals.

[image] Rahim67: I’m always worry about the next workout… trying to gauge the difficulties through TSS and spikes on the graph… scary… Yeah I kind of have the same experience. But don’t worry. As the plan progress you get to understand what the effort level is for different zones and you progress too. So by the time you do eclipse for an example you will have accumulated two hours at sweet spot, increased leg strenght, more fluid pedalling, All this show up. These plans are structured for you to be ready for the next workout provided you have good recovery. Go in with confidence and commitment to finish it even if it’s with a little les intensity.

oh man the breakfast 30m before sounds like the worst part! you still got some benefit, and you’re doing it right…get the duration in, then add on more watts. if this FTP work, it’s flip flopped…hit the watts, then add duration. good luck!

TrainerRoad

First VO2max today, brutal

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Un-QuittingBikes November 21, 2019, 1:23am 32

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