If we were using stationary bikes, we could standardize by setting them to a resistance level such that you get one consistent “speed” for one power output across the board. Though that would require a pretty substantial effort on the part of the rider to somehow map power vs. speed on a given bike.

If we all had access to the same model from the same year, they would presumably have the same power vs speed curve–or at least be close enough for rock and roll.

I dunno–I don’t use stationary bikes often and am not really sure about their resistance mechanism.

I primarily work with my road bike and a trainer.

How do you standardize an erg such that power corresponds to a certain velocity no matter the model? Presumably we could do the same on stationary bikes?

I imagine the power calculation on these units is more accurate in an absolute sense than the “speed” they report.

Perhaps a better way to do it (on both the erg and a stationary bike) might be to assign a total workload–500kJ (just throwing it out there) that would be somewhat representative of a 10k Time Trial. Then instead of saying 10km TT, we make it a 500kJ TT.

That is, of course, assuming we can get gym equipment to report kJ rather than Calories. I am unsure of their calorie calculation–if it’s based purely on power output and converted to calories, or if it’s based on rider weight.

Something to think about anyway.

It’d also work on the erg.

The other big problem with an indoor bike TT is that times will almost certainly scale with rider size–as there are no equalizers like headwinds, hills, etc–and a larger rider is typically capable of larger outputs.

Again, we could scale the goal output by body mass. Watts/kg is typically an accepted power scale when comparing two riders. Report your time to achieve your given power output as well as your average Watts/kg over the course of the TT.

I’ll think about it some more….

Jesse,
Without a real bike, is there a way to standardize simulated bike riding?
The Schwinn Aerodyne Bike or some other exercise bike likely available in a gym?

The TGUs would take me a long time @35# as would the C&J’s at 135# (I’d pretty much be doing singles on power cleans because I know that I can’t do proper catches @135. I presume this would be ok?), but I’d be game for trying. I’m not a runner or a rower, but those are easier events to standardize than a bicycle TT.

I don’t really have an event that I’m good enough at to warrant wanting it added to the roster, so it sounds pretty good to me as is.

Horribly Hilly Hundreds. *Shudder* I remember losing peripheral vision, thinking my kidneys were failing, and pushing my bike up the final death march to the finish line alongside a one legged man at the ‘06 100k.