Posted by Cris LaBossiere (24.66.94.141) on January 29, 2004 at 16:43:24:
In Reply to: Re: Possible Improvements posted by Frank Day on January 29, 2004 at 16:14:39:
I don't see these improvements by Jesse to be large or unusual adaptations at all. The first few years of training typically yields anywhere between 5% and more frequently up to 10% and 15% increases in sustainable wattage from year to year, assuming one starts at around 200 to 220 watts in year one. As an athlete gets closer to their genetic potential, the improvements drop to less than 1 or 2 % per year, or no improvement is made and the athlete repeats their peak genetic potential.
The less fit you are to begin with, the larger the relative percentage of increase of fitness. For instance, one of my fitness clients (non athlete), a 55 year old previously sedentary female could only sustain 4 minutes on a stationary bike at 43 watts when I first started with her. Heart rate was 155 and lactate was 8.1.
4 months later at the same wattage her heart rate is 115, lactate is 1.5, and she can endure 45 minutes. These are huge changes statistically, but were still only talking about 43 watts.
With the case of Jesse the reference is 315 watts for 30 minutes, which is fantastic, but increasing from anything below 300watts should come relatively quickly, getting up to 350 watts and beyond will be a challenge, power cranks or not.