Awesome post, and good to know not to focus much on specific zones. I didn't know if it was sensible to focus on them as a general training pattern. On that front then, is following a plan even worthwhile, or am i better just trying to get out on a regular basis and getting as much time in the saddle as i can in the week (probably around 3-4x1hr rides) and then at weekends try and get 2-3hr rides each day and building up those weekend rides over time, and trying to target what hills i can.
I mean with me saying 'ignore FTP' was very much my trying to tell you not to focus on it too much... But you'll need an FTP value if you're doing any kind of structured training which will use power values, even the endurance stuff as they'll use it to guide the zone to be in... So if you are 'doing a plan' you'll need to get a test done and get it accurate.
But time in the saddle and longer rides need to be balanced alongside any short power structured rides. A 1 hour ride at near threshold on the turbo is quite different to the 3+ hours at a mixture of intensities on the 'real roads' you need to be doing. They'll both 'help' but really you should be doing both of them alongside each other to build. The power side all about zones and managing your efforts. Pushing your top (FTP) up will benefit the lower zones (you'll travel further & faster for less effort). The longer stuff about building a solid base the other stuff benefits from - so you'll more easily spend longer times in the saddle. Core strength and conditioning alongside getting a good comfortable relaxed position helping you just as much (less effort to travel further for longer periods). It's really all a crazy balancing act which only you can find out how to do.
Need to dig out all my gels from storage. Saturday was just under a 3hr ride and i only had a piece of toast before setting off and then a bottle of water and was really struggling after around 2 hours. Need to buy a second bottle mount and then get some carbohydrate drink powder i think and some snacks.
My problem with snacks is if i have anything tasty i eat them in the house
Definately fuel more. Remember you're not really fuelling for the 'current riding' on the bike, but more for what is coming up after. So eating before (or very early in a ride) for what you need during for the next hour. Also like eating even when close to home at the end for recovery. Avoids less of a 'slump' to your glucose levels so you're not at rock bottom when the ride is over and you're trying to do other stuff.
They had a beautiful Enve Melee in there. Lovely bike but not sure if it's £13k nice. The Aethos is very nice in person but the Tarmac SL8 had my attention as soon as I got in there. Spoke to the nice people working there and they think I should go for a size 54 and a longer stem. Mentioned I find my Medium Ultimate that little bit too long when on the hoods.
Now I'm just wishing the year away
Do it! Finally ordered mine on saturday... Well the SL7 anyway.
Brief timeline from when I started the whole thing 5 WEEKS AGO. Seriously took far too long but there we are... All the effort really to get a deal and to keep my business local.
Price when I had settled on the SL7 Comp (the Expert not worth the extra and hard to get stock of) £3999. Two different colour options - White writing on a slate black, or 'Pink' on a slate grey. I went for the white.
LBS had it in stock, shipped it to my local. Was meant to be built. Wasn't. Ordered several changes anyway (narrower bars, wider saddle, shorter cranks) so figured easy to swap before they did.
Built it with original parts not my changes. As it came 'built' (it didn't ffs!) I then have to buy it as that and pay for my changes. Knocked £150 off the price.
Their website price for the Black/white goes up to £4250. Out of Stock on Specialized. Their website price for Grey/pink drops to 3450. Bear in mind they'd not given me a total price yet for the bike+build.
Specialized prices all settle on 4000. Black/white in my size out of stock. Sigmasports drop the Grey/pink to 3176. Discussion over me then riding a pink one to save myself over a grand!
Talking in store, closest they can get is 3800. Not good enough for me, give them until the end of the day before I order from Sigma. Hear back, they come down to 3400 as it's me... Sounding better... Bundle in the saddle as part of that... Ok, but I have to do the changes/upgrades myself. Placed my order. Phew! Considering the Saddle deal and them price matching Sigma for my upgrades I'm paying £125 to NOT ride the pink one (
which isn't all that bad a colour really)
Guy at the shop agrees that the 3150 is an absolute steal of a price for it -
https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Specialized/Tarmac-SL7-Comp-105-Di2-Road-Bike/10KUH
You're basically getting this
https://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/product/80891/2022-tarmac-sl7-expert/ with 105 on it and alloy wheels for ~1500 off the price. Wheels are pretty average on the Comp, but worth selling unused for £200-300
Impressed by the paint though. Doesn't look too bad, compared to my Trek mtb where similar happened and it looked like it was dragged down the road behind a car!
Went under the guise of trying to find a balance bike for our daughter. Usually I'm banned from the shop but my partner was in Cardiff watching the Ice-Hockey so I had an opportunity to go in.
)
