Query: Site for 20' Power Field Test

[katew]

I gave myself a shiny new toy for Christmas and look forward to getting out there to gather some meaningful data and set a baseline FTP (nowhere to go but up) in a few weeks when I'm feeling better and have had some time to rebuild after this truly putrid flu.

I've been searching for a good place to go attempt the 20' test and had been thinking of using the Sidney TT course, as it's flat-ish and relatively sheltered. But I found this post from Peter, written a few years ago:

Schedule:
Start at Shoal Point 6am -
Interval 1 - 20' TT - Shoal Point to Foul Bay along Dallas, return.
10' easy pedalling
Interval 2 - 20' TT - Shoal Point to Foul Bay along Dallas, return.

Now, given reality, which is that there's no way I'm doing 36 km/h for 20' and will find myself weeping and gnashing my teeth somewhere around the Surf Motel instead of smugly back at Fisherman's Wharf, I wonder whether any of you tried this protocol and whether, given gentle rollers and the route's exposure to wind, you'd suggest it instead of going to Sidney in search of uninterrupted flat-ish road.

Alsotoo, did anyone but Peter *actually* manage to force him/her self back out there for the second one? Ai yi yi.

Incidentally, I also think the sight of me attempting an oxygen-deprived U-turn at Foul Bay/Crescent would be worth selling tickets and popcorn.

[Plawless]

Kate,

you should do the Dallas route I suggested before. It is really quite a good course and what you can do is change the start / finish to surf motel in both directions to get it to 20" or so (But I think the key to that test is that it be a repeated DISTANCE not a time...)

the real beauty of this route is that its so close that it can be done as often as you might like (ideally monthly) and the total test with 2 x 20' can also be done by starting at 6 and then still hitting the regular Sunday ride after...... Who wouldnt want to do that?

Peter

[Josh.E]

I like ring rd at Uvic best for that sort of thing

[Kevin F]

Ironically I just saw this post. I came across the Strava segment while stalking Peter weeks ago. I too was looking for the 20 minute test. I didn't have time for the best warm up or a second session but I have a baseline to measure against. I will likely be just as time crunched next month and do the same test. I don't care as much about time as power and HR. Time will come with a TT bike.