Where Cyclists and Triathletes get Faster/Stronger/Leaner/Sooner
I’ve been meaning to write about this for a while, so apologies that it’s a few weeks late. However, our training in March and April led to multiple Mean Maximal Power Breakthroughs, and I wanted to write about this. Mean Maximal Power is defined as the “Highest average power” you can generate over a given amount of time. This time, at the studio, we used 5 MMP’s. They were: 1-minute, 2-minute, 3-minute, 5-minute, and 8-minute efforts. This was done over two days, and we did “Pre-Tests” the week before for the 3-minute and 8-minute values, and we accepted the higher value of the two. All tests were performed using PerfPro Studio software, and several of my clients are using Xert Fields on their Garmin head units.
We test for Critical Power at the studio, because not all of our clients own power meters for their bikes. PerfPro Studio is the best program to help cyclists understand how intervals work. Intervals on PerfPro incorporate Critical Power and W Prime. Intervals of different intensities, durations, and number, improve fitness.
Most of my clients are veteran studio cyclists, so when we tested, we used previous values as a benchmark to surpass. Here is an example:
In March of 2018, Leo Spencer had Mean Maximal Power Numbers for the following durations:
As a result, this led to a Critical Power Value of: 214 watts, and a “W Prime“, or “W'” value, of 13,010 j. Critical Power is a value above which a cyclist is drawing from anaerobic power sources, and it cannot be sustained for long periods of time. Below Critical Power, a cyclist is largely using aerobic power, and the effort can be sustained much longer. The W Prime (W’) value is sort of a “bank account”, from which energy is drawn and returned, when wattage is above Critical Power. If Leo were to ride at 300 watts, his W Prime (W’) would fall quickly. When his power was at 150 watts, it would begin to return.
Furthermore, you can also see that most of Leo’s values came from one day in March, with one day in February completing the 5 MMP’s.
This was in the middle of a “MesoCycle” of training. Mesocycles are periods of time where a cyclist is increasing training volume and/or intensity. Four weeks later, after an increase in intensity, the installation of a power meter and a Garmin 1000 head unit, along with the introduction of Xert Fields and Metrics, we tested him again.
Here are his charts…
The 5-minute, 3-minute, and 1-minute MMP Tests yielded:
Here is his 2-minute and 8-minute MMP Test chart:
The 8-minute and 2-minute MMP Tests yielded:
His Critical Power Curve ended up looking like this:
These Mean Maximal Power Improvements led to more overall fitness for Leo and many others. In fact, 3/4 of my studio clients achieved breakthroughs in at least 3 of the 5 MMP’s!
Here are Leo’s Gains by %.
So here is what I find so interesting.
Before Xert, I would give cyclists their previous MMP Records. Leo got his April Mean Maximal Power values, to try and break. But the method of breaking the MMP records was what made it so successful.
Leo and all the riders who use Xert, used COLORED ZONES to better pace their efforts. Watts colored in Black are at Threshold Intensity. Power showing watts in Yellow were at Vo2 Intensity. Watts colored Red were highly Anaerobic, and if the watts turned Purple for a long enough period of time, then a breakthrough could be achieved! By timing the efforts JUST RIGHT, Xert users were able to “See” how much more they could give, before they surpassed previous limits. Leo’s breakthroughs were all performed visibly as well as mentally.
Therefore, in PerfPro, the chart looks like this (this is from March, 2018):
And here is Leo’s file from Xert’s point of view…:
In conclusion, Mean Maximal Power is a way to test yourself for work capacity. Using PerfPro, we can accurately look at empirical records to set breakthrough goals. When combined with Xert Fields, cyclists can better pace their way to breakthroughs. Using PerfPro Studio with Xert Fields on your Garmin, is truly the best combination available.
Unfortunately, I’m posting this a few weeks late. Another update to Xert fields has already rendered this video somewhat obsolete. It’s still a great demonstration of how to get into the old Xert Garmin fields and update them. It also shows what the Garmin Xert Field displays now provide.
In Summary:
There are still several hiccups in the process, about which I am hearing. Most of the comments relate to a Garmin’s inability to connect with the user’s phone, and thus, Garmin Connect (The Software). The Garmin head unit has to connect with the smart phone; otherwise, the latest signature will not be posted in a timely manner, which leads to further frustration.
I’m going to leave you with one quick comment…
This 8 minute video required about 8 hours of work. If you feel that you got something out of it, please consider making a token donation below. For the price of a Cup of Coffee, you get the satisfaction of knowing that I’ll be the best, most direct, 3rd-party support guy you’ll ever meet. Furthermore, it may lead to more, regular videos. Garmin bike computers are the best. Xert technology is the best. If you want the best person to help you marry the two, have a look around at the website and send me a note with your inquiries.
