[Closed] TTers with pms and garmin - what statscreen set up?

I prefer 3 second power

Lap power

Distance/time

Current speed

I wouldn't bother with HR at all, too variable.

Have you done a few FTP tests before? Which protocol? Bear in mind that the figure isn't necessarily gonna be accurate so I'd ride up to it quite conservatively and see how you go.

3s power & cadence is all you need imho

Time/distance/speed will mess with your head when you should be concentrating on the ride and the 2 metrics above

Cadence, should have that.

Why is 3 sec better than 10?

I've used TR 8min FTP tests, 3 so far over winter, haven't tested a full hour at that pace though, so part of the reason for HR, as I know what average HR is usually sustainable for me over an hour. Once I've got everything dialled in I was going to drop it. Other variable is FTP testing wasn't in the aero position, in fact it will be first tt with clipons as well, so I'm hoping I can hold the position for an hour. Going fairly high to start with.

If you haven't been training in aero position for an hour then it is very unlikely you know what HR you can sustain either. Your HR and FTP are likely different in the aero position than your normal road bike position unless the tri bar position is very upright.

If this is your first 25m TT my personal recommendation is to use the PM only for the first few minutes to stop yourself blasting off the line and digging yourself in a big hole. From then on ride to RPE using the old Boardman quote 'is this pace sustainable?' The answer you are looking for is maybe.

Use the PM data as a post race reviewing tool because at the moment you don't appear to have sufficient data to use at as a pacing tool.

Haven't done many TTs with a power meter but find it really useful to have the distance displayed so I know when I've just got a couple of KMs left I can empty the tank.

I would second what smuttiesmih said. Just use the powermeter to ensure you don't go too hard in the first 10 mins and on hills (if there is any). You definitely need to keep an eye on it in the first couple of mins because it's highly likely you RPE will be completely out due to all the adrenaline and excitement. I wouldn't look at HR for the same reason, it's likely to elevated before you've even started riding. There's not much point watching power if you're riding aerobars for the first time as your FTP is probably different to what you tested with previously.

I'd just treat it as a learning experience, focus on perceived exertion and don't worry about anything else too much.

Having done a few last year and enjoying them (in a sadistic kinda way 😈 ) I'll be doing some more this summer. Only on my (new) road bike though so I'll not be taking them to seriously. Last year I did them using a combination of feel and HR but the new bike has a PM fitted so was thinking exactly the same as you. Did a bit of digging on the interweb and found this :
http://www.thetallcyclist.com/2012/12/pacing-a-time-trial-with-a-powermeter/
Interesting reading, especially cutting up the TT into chunks using the lap timer

Only done a couple of ten mile TTs and I just had cadence and HR showing but I do know what HR I can sustain for a reasonable period of time so that was more to ensure I didn't ease up.

Just read that link and it says;

'When you push of the starting ramp you are fresh with the adrenaline pumping and you are trying to get to race speed as soon as possible. After the 30s cranking out the big power you MUST settle down. As you look down at your bike computer you see that your average is 2x of your FTP.'

If you bust out 30secs at 200% of your FTP at the start of a time trial you have just started way too fast. You don't need to get to race pace as quickly possible, just get rolling get into position and build your speed up.

The following link is worth reading;
[url= http://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=106997&hl=pacing ]The Start[/url]

Start slowly, don't go chasing the pain. The pain will come and find you.

Have a good ride.

I just set mine to show Tony Martin as a virtual opponent

and then smash him into the ground

Cadence and power are the only things you can really control, so everything else is just a distraction 🙂

I do have distance so I know how far I've still got to go. I do have time too, but that can be a distraction.

I go for 3 second power. I found I was riding to power too much a while back and so changed it to 10s but now have it back as 3 second.

Can't really understand why you'd have average power or NP for the lap.

Why do you bother with cadence in a race though? Obviously it's a good tool when training but I've always just ridden at a self selected cadence and focused on keeping it smooth and fast.

At what point is it useful to know what your cadence is? So long as you're watching the watts I would have thought it's largely irrelevant?

Cadence really important for me, I can really get bogged down in too big a gear and need to make sure I keep my cadence up at least for the first half of a 10.

Current speed is an interesting one. Undecided on whether usefulness outweighs distraction.

Edit... that link about the auto lap up there would be bloody annoying in a race!

@jamz This is for a TT rather than a race.

Fair enough Mrblobby - I think I just go for a high cadence naturally. Is there anything necessary wrong with a lower cadence tho? I think remember reading somewhere that Wiggins was holding a lower cadence than normal for the hour because it allowed him to produce more power... obviously we're not all like Wiggins!!! - but I would have thought maybe for a 10 that could be carried over and in fact you might be more powerful at a lower cadence for a shorter time frame? Obviously for longer periods then the power is less important and its probably better to spin spin spin. Just a thought anyway.

Yes, thanks whitestone - and what is a TT exactly? Oh yes....it's a race against the clock 😉

Nothing wrong with low cadence, I just find I can make the most power overall if I maintain a fairly high cadence for the first half of a ten. I can make more power at a lower cadence but it's more fatiguing and not sustainable. Ok for the second half though.

DT, how did you get on? What did you have on there? Did it work for you?