Concept2 Forum

This type of test piece is new for me as I have never done a test piece with the stroke rate restriction. It was hard to get the stroke rate settled in so I went for getting the split I was looking for and then the stroke rate. I haven't pulled a piece for time since February so I wanted to be conservative. I also like to pull negative splits so I planned for 4 splits:<br /><br />planned<br />5 minutes 2:05 1200 meters<br />10 minutes 2:04 1210<br />15 minutes 2:03 1220<br />20 minutes 2:02 1230<br /><br />actual<br />5 2:04.6 1203 meters 24 spm 171 hr<br />10 2:03.5 1214 meters 23 spm 175 hr<br />15 2:02.4 1225 meters 24 spm 178 hr<br />20 2:00.6 1243 meters 25 spm 180 hr<br /><br />Averages were 2:02.7, 24 spm and 176 hr. Drag Factor was 122. I know how the altitude affects the split times, but not sure about the heart rate (my max is around 185 I think???)<br /><br />The higher stroke rate in the last set was in the first 3 minutes, the stroke rate wavered between 24 and 25. The last 48 strokes were all at 24 and the last minute the splits were around 1:58.<br /><br />I don't think my split estimates were too off as the average came out to be 24 spm and the first 3 sets were about a half second under my estimate. However the stroke rate was going up at the end. I am thinking that I was maybe rushing the recovery to make the split and if I had stayed at 24 the last set would've ended up about like the others (around 2:01.5).<br /><br />Actually I think I am over-thinking the whole thing. I pulled a 5k piece in February at 19:56 and around 28 spm. Does this piece mean I am in better shape or worse shape than I was in February?????

Hi All,<br /><br />Just did my piece on my newly purchased model C. This was the first time I have erged since doing a 100K at the beginning of June. I know excuses already.<br /><br />I hoped to hold sub 1:50 but fell a little short. I averaged 1:50.9 and covered 5408 meters. I had a lot of trouble staying at 24 spm and ended up averaging 25 spm.<br /><br />Now that I have an erg at home I'll follow the schedule and expect to see a big improvement at the end of August.<br /><br />John Reich<br />36 LW

Better late than never (I was on vacation all last week).<br /><br />20 min eval piece - 5687 (1:45.5 avg). Nothing to spectacular. Hoping for over 6k by the end of Aug.<br /><br />Dwayne

I was on vacation last week also, so I did my test tonight. I figured I would be somewhere between 1:46 (about as fast as I can pull 24 spm and what I've been doing the 1:30 on 0:30 off workout at) and 1:48. After about 8 minutes I was sitting at 1:46.4, but then fatigue settled in and I saw 1:47 the rest of the way, ending up at 1:46.9 (5615 meters). So, that's right where I figured I would be, no surprises either way. The drag factor was 112, a little lower than planned but I didn't feel like re-starting to adjust it. And I must have eaten too much during vacation , as I was 165.5 after the workout.<br /><br />One interesting point is that in the last minute, when I was pulling with everything I had left, the erg was giving a little at the catch - an odd feeling. It turns out the erg had drifted forward about 5 feet during the workout! (This was the first time I've used it on my new floor.) Do I get any extra credit for that? <br /><br />Overall, not too bad a workout. I didn't lose my vision, feel like quitting, or have drool dripping out one side of my mouth in a state of semi-consciousness...<br /><br />Doug

20:00 test result <br />5484 meters - 1:49.4 - 24 spm<br />5:00 - heart rate 128<br />10:00 - hr 131<br />15:00 - hr 135<br />20:00 - hr 144 - pushed a bit in last minute<br /><br />Will push a bit harder for August tt <br />AT needs some work - looking forward to the next one!<br />Skip D

Results for 20 minute test:<br /><br />5059m<br />1:58.6 avg. split<br />24spm<br /><br />Sorry for the delay--just got back from vacation last night where I had the erg, but no internet access!<br /><br /><br />~Chrissie Monaghan

Hi All,<br /> Glad I looked at everyone's input. I've also been out of town and struggling to get workouts done on an erg. The hotels where I have stayed only had stationary bikes. I was at sea level on Thursday ( I live at altitude, but it is nothing compared to Karen Gress or Dennis Hastings who live in Colorado) and had access to an erg so I did the timed 20 minute piece. I tried to just focus on staying at the 24 spm as it was too tempting to try and lower the split by bumping up the rating. I pulled 5003m for that 20 minutes. I was beginning to wonder if I was the only one having some difficulty at maintaining the 24 spm. It was good to realize that I was not alone in that respect. <br />~Grace