PowerWatts Blog

In the race against truth, the time trial, it is all up to the individual rider.  Team tactics do not matter, only the ability to stay in an aerodynamic position and maintain a steady, high output of power.  On May 7, twelve of our Team PowerWatts-FitTime Masters riders lined up in their skinsuits, aero wheels and helmets to test themselves against the wind and other competitors at the 18.5 km Granby TT.   The result was two gold medal and several top 10 placings for the team.

Sylvan Adams, with a brand new position and bike, won the Masters C (50-59) category with a time of 25:00.81.  In second place was Denys Mantha, a PowerCoach at Premier Studio, who is showing his best form in years. Denys is not actually on our team, but we are very proud of his performance, as he personifies the PowerWatts lifestyle.  Allan Schouela rounded out the top 10 in only his 2nd time trial of his life, and PowerBlogger Dan Lundenberg was just a few seconds behind him in 11th. Yves Dubois, a client from our Nun’s Island location, had a very impressive 14th place in his first TT (and first ride on his new bike).

In the Masters B (40-49) category, Master-PowerCoach Dave Albert won with a time of 24:45.19 against a strong field, with the fastest Masters time of the day.  Nun’s Island PowerCoach Michel Courval finished 11th in probably his best TT to date in 25:48.43.

In the Masters A (30-39) category, retired elite rider, Master-PowerCoach and coach of a very well known potential Olympian Chris Rozdilsky placed second in 25:32.40 and Brandon Sant was 4th with a time of 25:43.18.

Special thanks goes out to Martin-Swiss Cycles, who did a great job preparing our team bikes and making sure the riders have access to the best equipment money can buy.

Photos from our 2011 Arizona PowerCamp. Special thanks to Marie Farmer and Denis Bourdon for sharing these with us.  Enjoy!

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.220358731311429.72523.116704578343512

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.220364664644169.72546.116704578343512

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.215523508461618.67155.116704578343512

I was asked if there were 10 people in my group.  There were 50 who started, 29 finished. I had two goals – to finish with the first group and to be in the top 10.  I succeeded in the second goal but did not stick with the first group.

http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2011/04/10-Tour-of-the-Battenkill.asp

I was in the lead group of 10-12 for the first 30k.  Lost contact with the front at the Juniper Swamp Road climb – 0.64k on dirt; 14% average grade, 19% maximum.  Was unfortunate to be in a small group of 3 chasing a larger group of 8.  (But fortunate to be with two nice guys who didn’t give up and we equally shared the work.)  For about 10 minutes, the lead group was in our sight (a mirage perhaps).  We lost sight around Shushan, and my chase group partners and I stuck together for the next 70k.  We passed many, many, many stragglers from other pelotons (we were spaced out in staggered 10 minute starts) but did not find any from ours.  After the last climb – Stage Road at 90k, we resolved to ride hard into town as a group, until the last kilometer.  The finish was not the straight-line, like last-year, but a C.  We were guessing how many were in front of us and figured that we were sprinting for a top 10.  As many of you know, the Lundenbergs are blessed in many ways, but not with fast switch muscles.  My max power on the sprint was a pedestrian 585 watts, but I did the turns perfectly (or at least better than my competition) and to my shock – I was not passed.  Only found out this am that it meant 9th.

The course was in good shape – dry; the dirt roads were in good shape.  Some were better than our Quebec roads.  Some were not.  There is a new stretch of dirt road that was pure gravel, and there were a few places where there was sand — not fun to ride through.  Saw some wild turkeys crossing the road on a descent.  You should all know – turkeys are not like squirrels – they just keep on walking.  Not interested in slowing down for a screaming biker.

Was a beautiful day – sunny and 16C to start.  Was glad to see the clouds, as it cooled us off.  Rain only started on the drive home.

Used my Trek — too much crap on the road to bring the new bike.

Vital stats:

103k
3:36:53
28.5 average speed
73.4 maximum speed

The course map says 2900 fee of climbing — I had more than 4000 feet.
The course map say 18% max grade — my computer showed two climbs that went over 20.

Many thanks to Dave Albert for tolerating my rookie racer questions on the ride down.

best to all

Dan

The 2011 club kit is ready for pre-orders! This year we have gone with a beautiful race-red for the men and PowerPink for the women.  You can order shortsleeve and longsleeve jerseys, bibshorts, vests, cold-weather jackets, arm and knee warmers from our online store at MindBodyOnline, the same site where you can view your account and make changes to your PowerWatts schedule.

Some of you may not be aware of PowerWatts involvement with the Spidertech presented by C10. Here is a link to a article in the Toronto Sun in which Steve Bauer describes his approach to building a Protour level team and PowerWatts’ role in it.  Exercise Physiologist Paulo Saldanha has been recruited to perform physiological testing and provide training programs for specific individuals within the team.  Several of the Québec-based riders have been spotted training at Premier Studio in the build-up to their European campaign which begins mid-February.

At PowerWatts we periodically hold special events, such as fundraiser or club competitions. The group-based training concept of PowerWatts is ideal for creating a friendly, competitive energy among co-workers, teammates and even complete strangers. Below are some photos from a time trial evening held for the cycling club ”Le Suroit” back in December, 2010 at our West Island location. Please contact us at premierstudio@powerwatts.com if you wish to organize a similar event.

His legs were burning. The ragged sound of his breathing mixed with the drumming of his heart filled his ears. The hill seemed to go on forever.
“Keep that leg speed up!”, boomed the voice behind him.
He shifted to an easier gear, and focused his attention on the numbers in front of him:
295 Watts, 75 RPM, 6% grade…
That’s good…breathe…keep it up…
He allowed himself to close his eyes for a split second and felt the air blowing the sweat off him in steady rivulets.

-Just for a second…have to keep the numbers in the range…

“Almost there! Keep your butt off the saddle! Pull the pedal through the top of the stroke! White numbers 50-50!”

-Why can’t he just leave me alone?

“Two-hundred meters until the downhill….keep moving! Relax those elbows and shoulders!”

-Ok…I can do anything for 200 …legs hurt…heart rate is up….

“One hundred meters….”

-Not long now….breathe…

“C’mon! Take it up a notch…let’s go for a peak power…SPRINT!”

He closed his eyes and drove his knees forward, hands in the drops, leveraging off his upper body….

“Fifty!”

-Go!

“Thirty”

-GO!!!

“Ten!!”

-ARRRGGG!!!…

“Nice!!! Ok, everyone in the small ring…turn those legs over. We don’t want the blood to pool in your legs.”

He opened his eyes. The TV monitor showed an average of 292 Watts, 73 rpm and a Peak Watts of 873. That was hard…

“Great workout, wasn’t it?” said a breathless voice beside him. As he turned his head towards the source, a drop of sweat fell from the tip of his nose, landing in the puddle that had formed beneath his bike. The woman was middle-aged, 5 feet tall, and a little overweight. She was beaming.

-Yeah…hills are not my thing, but the coach always seems to get me over the top…

He looked around the room. There were seven other exhausted but strangely-satisfied-looking people sitting on bikes. The bikes were adjustable, and fit a seemingly impossible range of body types. The front fork was clamped to a mount, and the rear wheel was securely held in contact with a rolling drum which peaked out from a transformer-like cylinder with a small red LED and the words “PowerWatts” emblazoned on it.

A series of monitors in front of the class with miniature virtual riders spinning their legs mirrored his efforts. The wind he had felt came from a fan mounted just in front of the bike at floor level.

The coach was talking to some of the riders, explaining why they had been overgeared for that last climb. His own legs were finished, but he loved the feeling of relieved exhaustion and well being that came over him whenever he finished a PowerWatts class. He took a mouthful of water from his waterbottle.

It’s all worth it. I’ve never felt stronger on the bike.

He glanced out the window. It was snowing.
-Shower time….

PowerWatts and the great group of coaches under our umbrella has made an impression on Canadian Olympian Clara Hughes:

http://www.thestar.com/sports/olympics/article/891846–olympian-clara-hughes-making-a-comeback-for-2012-games

Not to toot our own horn, well, maybe a little…

Stephen Roche, winner of the 1987 TDF, Giro d’Italia AND the World Championships was in town last year and one of our clients invited him down for a ride at Premier Studio….I think the picture says it all: