Added Weight for Bike Training

Not really...

You'll have to either (a) ride longer because it slows you down... you could just tack on an extra few miles, or (b) pedal harder, which you could achieve by spending time in harder gears.

Plus, you risk throwing off your balance, and even potentially damaging your cages/frame. Those water bottle holders and the screw holes weren't meant to hold 10+ lbs.

Ever try doing some intervals in a higher gear?

Mark

Well...I need to make sure I truly look forward to bike commuting every day.  It's a 50 minute ride.  For about half of it, I can really work hard if I chose to.  But the other half is on roads with traffic.  Working hard and being ultra-alert in traffic is a bit hard.

Maybe I just need to make 2-3 of my commute legs standard training days rather than go by how I'm feeling on a particular day.  I've not tried that yet.

At least I am already as non-aero as I can get with my homemade bucket panniers!

Thanks for the feedback so far everyone!

I understand if you don't want to ride fast while commuting.  Safety first.

So what you can do is use the slowest tires you can find, and put tire liners in them.  If that doesn't provide enough resistance, then wear really baggy clothing to catch more wind resistance.  If that doesn't work, adjust your brakes so they rub.

What I've learned about bike commuting and having a power meter is this.

if you just ride your bike- fairly easily as you would just to commute.  you're getting almost no fitness benefit (no TSS points).  if you ride hard- you can get quite a bit.

for a serious cyclist- 50min isn't a very long ride- especially if half of it is required to be at an easy pace.  So- those other 25 min need to be TT speed.  Some real intense intervals or sustained threshold riding.

I'm wondering if you can turn off your normal commute route and add some 20 mile out and backs, to add an hour a couple times a week, where you're not intensity/speed limited?  Additional volume would certainly help.

or- just enjoy your commute.  Given that you're not a pro, and likely don't make a living on your bike- you really get to just enjoy riding.  Kudos

I do this sometimes but not regularly enough.  The best time is in the morning when I have a clear head and can remember that I want to train.  Afternoon rides are a bit different...as I usually end up processing work events of the day before I remember I should be training.

Here are some pics!

(Bucket Pannier #1.jpg)

(Bucket Pannier #2.jpg)