training for new racer

Ade Merckx

your heart rate is simply your heart rate. Don't get caught up in old school myths such as people psyching you out by having a lower heart rate or a indeed high max which someone once told me means you'll be a strong rider . See earlier posts

Yojimbo_

I don't have a power meter. I bought a fluid trainer (Kurt Kinetic) with the little gizmo that converts speed to power. I then use that as my guide for the 2X20s. You might want to consider something similar to avoid the HR fluctuations. (I also have a HR monitor, but I don't use it very much because I noticed the same increasing HR shown earlier in the posted figures when I was on the trainer, and I then decided I couldn't really use that as a guide).

I also go to a spinning class on Friday night - at the spinning class, there is no feedback on speed, or power, or anything. My perception is that the intensity level is below that I use for the 2X20s. You might be in the same circumstance.

I think you need to do a bunch of 20 minute intervals (or longer) to get a feel for where your range is. Last year I did the one hour time trial thing on my trainer to peg my FTP, but I don't think I want to do that again.

I find the 2X20s difficult - something I couldn't do every day of the week, even if I wanted to. Now if only I could learn to love that trainer - I might actually gain some fitness over the winter instead of losing some. On the positive side, I am becoming less reluctant to jump on the damn thing and ride it - I think this is partly because I'm getting used to, and partly because I dropped the intensity level a bit so it doesn't "hurt" so much.

Any tips from other posters on keeping your interest up would be appreciated.