Should triathletes be allowed on bikes?

[aphronesis]

Yeah, i think there's a drafting thread buried somewhere about strangers and protocol. It's an issue in the quasi urban environment with weekend warriors who are inexperienced and often on the limit. When some pull through they can't hold the pace and start to make mistakes. I still encourage it with young guys who are just excited and trying to learn.

[42x16ss]

Oh noes! Power was up, but speed was down, let's go do an extensive air temperature vs. drag analysis...

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/forum/Slowtwitch_Forums_C1/Triathlon_Forum_F1/Air_Temperature_and_Drag_P6255729/

[King Boonen]

Not just temperature! I thought the whole point of using a power meter was so this kind of nonsense became irrelevant?

[Alex Simmons/RST]

Not just temperature! I thought the whole point of using a power meter was so this kind of nonsense became irrelevant?

Power meter data helps one to understand both the supply and demand sides of the energy equation. And when (perhaps not real) anomalies occur, then sometimes one wants to know why. There is nothing particularly wrong with that.

Answers can be on either side of the supply or demand side. Some mistakenly go looking for minor issues when typically there are bigger factors in play, including of course the potential for measurement error.

[42x16ss]

Not just temperature! I thought the whole point of using a power meter was so this kind of nonsense became irrelevant?

Power meter data helps one to understand both the supply and demand sides of the energy equation. And when (perhaps not real) anomalies occur, then sometimes one wants to know why. There is nothing particularly wrong with that.

Answers can be on either side of the supply or demand side. Some mistakenly go looking for minor issues when typically there are bigger factors in play, including of course the potential for measurement error.

I get that, but there's so many other factors I'd be looking at first before I started analysing the air density and resistance. I just thought that the way simple explanations were overlooked was amusing, along with how quickly the analysis got so complicated.

[King Boonen]

Everything same, more power but slower. Answer = weather. Something you have absolutely no control over. Unless you're the kind of person who wants to attempt to correct for it you just accept it and move on. Next we'll have bikes with wind socks on.

[DamianoMachiavelli]

"I have young kids and if I'm training early I can't use the toilet otherwise I'll wake the whole house up, so I've taken to crapping in a bag. I've become quite adept at it. My wife thinks it's weird and my Mum accidentally saw me in the act when she came to stay (she wakes early), so now she also thinks I'm very strange. Am I alone? What do other people do."

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/forum/Slowtwitch_Forums_C1/Lavender_Room_F4/Crapping_in_a_plastic_bag_P6264637/

[Alex Simmons/RST]

Everything same, more power but slower. Answer = weather. Something you have absolutely no control over. Unless you're the kind of person who wants to attempt to correct for it you just accept it and move on. Next we'll have bikes with wind socks on.

Well the answer might be weather or partly due to weather. But there are other factors in play to consider (e.g. measurement errors and what causes them, some of which might be in the user's control). Nothing wrong with learning about the various impacts on the energy supply/demand equation, their relative importance and what it means for performance in TT-like disciplines. In such disciplines understanding those impacts can influence things like equipment choices or positional changes more suitable for different conditions.

I don't know about wind socks, but bikes are coming that will have inbuilt air velocity sensors as well as power meters.

[42x16ss]

"I have young kids and if I'm training early I can't use the toilet otherwise I'll wake the whole house up, so I've taken to crapping in a bag. I've become quite adept at it. My wife thinks it's weird and my Mum accidentally saw me in the act when she came to stay (she wakes early), so now she also thinks I'm very strange. Am I alone? What do other people do."

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/forum/Slowtwitch_Forums_C1/Lavender_Room_F4/Crapping_in_a_plastic_bag_P6264637/

I hope he's trolling...

You can never be truly sure with that site

[King Boonen]

"I have young kids and if I'm training early I can't use the toilet otherwise I'll wake the whole house up, so I've taken to crapping in a bag. I've become quite adept at it. My wife thinks it's weird and my Mum accidentally saw me in the act when she came to stay (she wakes early), so now she also thinks I'm very strange. Am I alone? What do other people do."

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/forum/Slowtwitch_Forums_C1/Lavender_Room_F4/Crapping_in_a_plastic_bag_P6264637/

I hope he's trolling...

You can never be truly sure with that site

There was a post a while back from a woman who had started tri and thought that when she asked and others said you just got to the toilet in your wetsuit that they meant taking a dump and apparently she did it on a group ride. Again, I'm almost certain it was trolling, no-one is that stupid surely?

[Alex Simmons/RST]

It's the Lavender room. That should give you a clue.

[King Boonen]

That's what they use to get rid of the smell?

[Archibald]

[winkybiker]

Awesome. There was actually an advertisement in a 'strayan triathlon magazine years ago that featured Michellie Jones riding with the advertisers helmet worn backwards.

There are lots of photos of this phenomenom...

[biketheroad]

I'm sure some would object to my saying this, but on this morning's ride I went through DC and found street closings and preparations for " The National Triathlon ". I rode past the many tent structures and shelters, lights, generators, jons, mountains of food and water, scores of emergency services vehicles & personnel on the streets and in the River.
I thought what a tremendous waste of resources this is for a recreational event at this time, and how this is exactly what is sorely needed by the millions of people in our hurricane impacted states. I know life goes on, and who am I to say what others should do. But it seemed a pitiful indulgence.
God be with those who have, are and are about to be impacted by the storms of a lifetime.

[biketheroad]

I'm sure some would object to my saying this, but on this morning's ride I went through DC and found street closings and preparations for " The National Triathlon ". I rode past the many tent structures and shelters, lights, generators, jons, mountains of food and water, scores of emergency services vehicles & personnel on the streets and in the River.
I thought what a tremendous waste of resources this is for a recreational event at this time, and how this is exactly what is sorely needed by the millions of people in our hurricane impacted states. I know life goes on, and who am I to say what others should do. But it seemed a pitiful indulgence.
God be with those who have, are and are about to be impacted by the storms of a lifetime.

POST SCRIPT

The local Media I should point out, presented no coverage or reporting whatsoever of the Nat'l Tri.

[Cookster15]

Awesome. There was actually an advertisement in a 'strayan triathlon magazine years ago that featured Michellie Jones riding with the advertisers helmet worn backwards.

There are lots of photos of this phenomenom...

Backwards helmets? Oh dear as an ex triathlete I gotta say that is beyond embarrassing. Maybe just dizzy after the swim? But then again, those look like pro women? Sorry no excuse it seems Triathlete idiocy extends to the elite.