Satisfying day at work

25/07/2009 by admin.

I had a very satisfying day at work yesterday having ramp tested 3 of the riders I train.  What is a ‘ramp test’?  I am guessing you are thinking. 

This is a test carried out indoors, where the rider’s bike is placed on a static trainer which adds resistance all the way through the test, so it gradually gets harder and harder.  The test finishes when the rider cannot hold the power any longer.  So, you could say the test always ends in failure.  It usually lasts anything from 13 minutes to 20 for a well trained cyclist.

Obviously it was ‘tough’ for me to watch the suffering but it’s all in a day’s work! 

They did produce the goods though.  All 3 riders produced personal best power.  Two of the riders have been under my supervision for 2 and 3 months whilst the other for 4 years.  For me it is satisfying to see the early gains from my new recruits but also to see gains from my long suffering rider.

For the riders, at this time of year, the result is usually a confirmation of where they are  in terms of fitness and underpins the race results they are getting.  When these tests go well, it is a really big confidence boost for the riders.

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