Carmichael Training Systems Question?

[Chase1996]

I have predominatly used Spinervals in the past for winter training. Those of you who use Spinervals are familiar with the fact that Troy tells you gearing / intensity and cadence expectations during each routine.

I decided to give the CTS (Carmichael) Mountain Bike video a try. They instruct on cadence and effort...but leave out the gearing info that Spinervals gives. What do you guys do in this scenario?

I guess I am looking for gear ratio info...more specifically during the high effort sections. Spinervals traditionally has you in Big/15 for these efforts...what do you find yourself in for CTS training?

Any advice or guidance is appreciated!

Hope this makes sense...

[dcb]

Although I have both Spinerval and CTS DVDs it has been a long, long time since I've used them. However, it seems to me that you can only give 2 out of those 3 variables (cadence, intensity, gearing) if you're working with a really large group of riders due to huge variations in fitness and equipment.

If you tell someone to get in a specific gear and pedal at a given cadence their intensity is going to vary to a large degree with different riders using different types of trainers/rollers/bikes/tires etc...

Realistically cadence and intensity (RPE or Watts as a percentage of FTP) are more important than gearing when you're on a trainer. My trainer, which just broke by the way, always feels as if I'm going uphill a little. Because of this, I can generate power in lower gears that I could not duplicate on the road unless I was going uphill.

[Chase1996]

Realistically cadence and intensity (RPE or Watts as a percentage of FTP) are more important than gearing when you're on a trainer. My trainer, which just broke by the way, always feels as if I'm going uphill a little. Because of this, I can generate power in lower gears that I could not duplicate on the road unless I was going uphill.

So, would you advise using whatever gearing I need to keep my cadence where instructed depending on intensity?

In other words...if I need to shift to lower gearing to maintain given cadence at max effort, then do so?

[dcb]

Yes. I don't think in that scenario you have much of a choice anyway unless you want to really decrease your cadence. I'd rather keep the cadence where it's supposed to be based on whatever the focus of the training session/DVD is.

So, would you advise using whatever gearing I need to keep my cadence where instructed depending on intensity?

In other words...if I need to shift to lower gearing to maintain given cadence at max effort, then do so?

[2fst4u]

I've used the Carmichael Mt bike training dvd last couple years on and off. During the intervals he mentions 90 rpms or higher-during the rest periods you could go to 80ish or whatever is comfy. The prescribed intensity should be met with the correct cadence making the gear choice a no brainer. Just go 90 rpm's during the intervals and choose a gear that is low enough to produce the right intensity. During an interval you may need to adjust gearing several times to keep rpms at 90 and intensity high enough.

[Chase1996]

Thx!