Lower Gearing Significantly Harder In ERG Mode

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1

I’m wondering if anyone else has experienced this issue. When doing a workout in ERG mode, I find it much more difficult to maintain a given wattage and cadence in a lower gear than a higher one.

So for example, if I’m doing 85 rpm in a 34/19 my heart rate is 15 bpm higher than if I’m doing 85 rpm in the 52/19. I thought the whole point of ERG mode was to adjust resistance so that your gear combo was irrelevant.

Just to be clear, my cadence is the same. So is the target wattage. The only difference is whether I’m in the big ring or not.

2

Maybe the offset of your trainer isn’t consistent and are you actually putting out different watts. I have a Vortex Smart, but I use a real pm for the power as my Vortex isn’t reliable and broadcasted ouputs differ

3

Could you explain what you mean by “the offset of your trainer”?

Thanks!

4

Ian,

 

First never shift gearing while your in erg mode.  The problem with doing so is erg works in a closed loop system, A gearing change will shock the system.

Second erg allows you transition seamless from muscular to cardio based power.  High gear is a more muscle dependent low rpm to produce wattage.  Low gear you will need spin more to build up to required wattage but wont be as taxing on the legs.

5

> High gear is a more muscle dependent low rpm to produce wattage.  Low gear you will need spin more to build up to required wattage but wont be as taxing on the legs.

 

I think you may have misread my post:

“Just to be clear, my cadence is the same. So is the target wattage. The only difference is whether I’m in the big ring or not.”

So, as I said, in ERG mode, low gear doesn’t mean “high rpm”, and high gear doesn’t mean “low rpm”. That’s the whole point of ERG, resistance is adjusted to generate the same wattage for a given gearing regardless of cadence.

 

6

Ian,

Trainerroad explains erg mode great

http://support.trainerroad.com/hc/en-us/articles/201869764-Erg-Mode-Explained

Take a look at this article.

But for erg pick the big ring and mid cassette and leave it there for workout duration and keep leg speed at a constant 90 or otherwise instructed in the workout.

keep in mind if your having difficulty with erg mode assess the following

Setup (everything at proper specs wheel pumped? if wheel on trainer)

your ftp? your ftp may be wrong too high a ftp you will not be able complete the workout.