Online Bike Coach

Where Cyclists and Triathletes get Faster/Stronger/Leaner/Sooner

  • Shop
  • Contact Us
  • What we do.
  • How we do it.
  • Why it works.
  • Who we are.
  • What you’ll need.
  • Let’s get started.
  • Blog
  • My account

Archives for March 2018

Mar 11 2018

Xert Focus and WHERE You Should Train.

Xert Focus Definition
This is a 37K Time Trial. What's its FOCUS?
Focus. Focus on your Strengths. Focus on your Weaknesses. Focus on the demands of the course. Focus on the demands of the race. WHERE should you FOCUS? Let me show you not just where to focus, but when and how.
Become a subscriber and get access to this post and our entire coaching library, all for less than the cost of a movie ticket. Click here to learn more.

Already a subscriber? log in

Written by Richard Wharton · Categorized: restricted, Xert Training · Tagged: Coach Wharton, Interval training, Online Bike Coach, Onlinebikecoach.com, Richard Wharton, Time Trial, Time Trial Focus, Time Trial Training, training with wattage, Training with watts, Wattage Training, Xert, Xert Coach, Xert Focus Time Trial, Xertonline, Xertonline.com

Mar 07 2018

Why We Still Look at Heart Rate

One of the old standards is Heart Rate. For decades, Heart Rate was a practical way to measure intensity. It could also be used to measure recovery, hydration, and fatigue. We cannot look at wattage alone. We have to look at wattage as an extrinsic force. When we look at heart rate, this is an intrinsic force. Both bring value. Here's an example:
Xert MPA Wattage Strain
Looking at Wattage and MPA only, this cyclist did not work too hard.
This cyclist was given a workout of 60 minutes. The main set of intervals were 2 minutes long, with one at the end which was very intense and would hopefully yield a breakthrough per Xert.

If we look at the wattage chart alone, it shows a successful workout. MPA dropped, then rose, and the final interval yielded a CLOSE CALL, but not quite a breakthrough. Watts followed the load very closely.

However, when heart rate is revealed, it shows something more.
Become a subscriber and get access to this post and our entire coaching library, all for less than the cost of a movie ticket. Click here to learn more.

Already a subscriber? log in

Written by Richard Wharton · Categorized: restricted, Xert Training · Tagged: bicycle coach, Bike Coach, Coach Wharton, Cycling Coach, heart rate, Training with watts, Wattage Training, www.xertonline.com, Xert, Xert Coach, Xert Strain, Xertonline, Xertonline.com

Mar 02 2018

More Fitness Breakthroughs with W Prime on PerfPro Studio

W Prime Provides a VISUAL approach to Intensity and Fatigue.

I posted a few days ago about how my clients were successfully using the W Prime feature on PerfPro Studio, to achieve fitness breakthroughs. Well, it’s happened again.

The second day of testing consisted of a 5 minute, 3 minute, and 1 minute test. I looked through the clients’ histories, and came up with their previous recent records. I then placed those values on a Post-It note and gave them to each client. But more importantly, I reminded them that to achieve a breakthrough, we needed to gauge the W prime JUST RIGHT. As time began to expire, I wanted them to work hard enough to deplete their W Prime, and try to get into NEGATIVE territory. Why? Because it means you’re having a breakthrough!

Here is another example:

W Prime Visual PerfPro
Follow the Green Line – W Prime falls just below Zero with a few seconds to go, and the cyclist achieves a Breakthrough!

Do NOT go out too hard, too early!

This client was given a goal of breaking 269 watts over 5 minutes. He went out too hard, backed off, and then raised his average power for the rest of the interval. If you watch his W Prime value in green, it drops in a curved pattern. Just before the end of the effort, it dips below 0 (Zero). The result? 276 watts – NICE!

Not only did we achieve a breakthrough in his power, we also raised his Critical Power, and Anaerobic Work Capacity (AWC). His improvements were modest, but real. More importantly, they give a true psychological boost.

Teaching Intuition with W Prime

The next 8 weeks of classes will focus on mid-length intervals that will continue to lower and raise W Prime. The clients are learning to develop intuition, so that when they are outside, they can judge their W Prime, energize themselves to overcome challenges, and climb or push longer than they previously thought was possible.

If you want to learn how to use W Prime on PerfPro Studio to help you improve your indoor training sessions, let’s set up an appointment.

 

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X

Like this:

Like Loading...

Written by Richard Wharton · Categorized: Free Content, PerfPro Training · Tagged: Bike Coach, Coach Wharton, Cycling Coach, Online Bike Coach, Online Coaching, PerfPro, PerfPro Studio, Richard Wharton, W Prime, W'

Mar 02 2018

Using W Prime in PerfPro Studio To Get the Most Out of Your Body

W Prime PerfPro Studio Analyzer
What's that Green Line? That's Your W Prime Line!

W Prime is a great way to measure your training load.

Not everyone owns a power meter for their bike. Some people do not want to make the investment in equipment. Some just want a great workout and want to see how hard they can push their bodies. W Prime in PerfPro Studio is a great tool to help athletes measure their effort better.

PerfPro Studio has added features almost weekly now for several years. This is a robust, solid training platform that is my go-to for indoor studios. It is consistent and is easy to operate. PerfPro Studio shows riders what they need to know, both on a dashboard and graphically, so they can achieve their goals.

Since 2015, I have been employing W Prime testing at my studio, Cycling Center Dallas. It's a great tool, and in this post I show you how to put W Prime to work for you.
Become a subscriber and get access to this post and our entire coaching library, all for less than the cost of a movie ticket. Click here to learn more.

Already a subscriber? log in

Written by Richard Wharton · Categorized: PerfPro Training, restricted · Tagged: Anaerobic Work Capacity, Bike Coach, Coach Wharton, Cycling Coach, Indoor Training, Interval training, PerfPro, PerfPro Studio, Richard Wharton, W Prime

  • Shop
  • Contact Us
  • What we do.
  • How we do it.
  • Why it works.
  • Who we are.
  • What you’ll need.
  • Let’s get started.
  • Blog
  • My account

Copyright © 2025 — Online Bike Coach • All rights reserved.

info@onlinebikecoach.com   |   (1) 214-616-9850   |     |  

  • Shop
  • Contact Us
  • What we do.
  • How we do it.
  • Why it works.
  • Who we are.
  • What you’ll need.
  • Let’s get started.
  • Blog
  • My account
%d