Happy Birthday Von!
Yeah, I currently have a CycleOps Jet Fluid Pro. It's a really nice turbo. I love it really. But I wanted to be able to set the power, and just get on with the workout. I know it sounds lame, but I find focusing on the power very tiresome (I run TrainerRoad in virtual power mode) so keeping the set gear and cadence to maintain the power becomes draining. I know I'd ride like that on the road, but on the turbo I want to turn off and and focus on grinding out the watts. If that makes sense.
Know exactly where you're coming from, my ventures into Turbo'ing started from Sufferfests, went to GCN/YouTube and then to TR... I was fully expecting TR to be Sufferfest but with live activity data. But no. It's more of the same (holding an effort, at least with live feedback) with no video so you have to watch something... Although to be honest I've not sat there with just TR and nothing else, anyone else tried that for more than 1 session? At the very least I'd need some fast paced music but would then run the risk of pedalling to the beat and not the power on screen...
I'm planning to move to shorts and such towards the end of this week. I'm *really* hoping that the move towards almost double-digit temperatures means I can get away with it without too much pain. I've done a few rides in fingerless gloves recently too so that's something else I want to move to for all rides.
I'm still wearing thermals, usually with a second layer (bibs) over my legs. Weekend rides I've ventured to non-thermal tights with an extra layer of shorts but admittedly that was weekend before last when the windchill was brutal. Still in winter gloves for 80% of the riding and probably 90% of my commuting, full fingered for the remaining and not brave enough for fingerless until the temps are above 10 degrees, including the windchill!
OK,
still trying to find a route into Manchester that is both safe and not 29 million miles longer than I want for a commute.
I tried NCN 55 this evening. What a joke.
Was that the route you spotted from a bridge or something when looking previously? Sounds like their money ran out for surfacing/preparing it, fingers crossed they'll continue/finish it this financial year which will help you further.
I'm stuck figuring out what bike I would need, and which route is best for me to take, I can either do 4 miles of canal into Birmingham & 1 mile of road or 5 miles of dual carriage way and a bypass which includes 2 roundabouts which morons are attracted to.
Figuring the canal would be better, what bike do I want to be buying? The paths aren't exactly great, mostly dirt/half slabbed but should it rain then I'd probably not even attempt it, for all other weathers what can handle that type of terrain and be half decent on the roads?
Hey Reaper, welcome to our small corner of the forums! Glad to have you here
Couple of heads up - don't get persuaded into a Hybrid even though it may sound like a logical choice - they tend to be 'jack of all trades, master of none'.
You're probably best looking at a CX bike and more towards the CX side than the road side for the grip you'll need in the bad weather/bad road surfaces. You'll have the comfort, safety and confidence then when 'off-road' (which you wouldn't get with a road bike/road tyres). Yet the road miles will still be easier/faster/better than a suspension'd MTB bike. Might mean you go through grippy tyres more but the cost of tyres is nothing in comparison of getting the wrong bike - they're easy to change. Much like the dilemma of pedals/cleats - easy to change in future, but flat/drop bars is much more of an important 'starting choice' you need to get right. Go with drops, I'm glad I did (but I came from a flat bar hybrid).
ThaReaperGuy said:
Yardley to Birmingham New Street and then Derby Station to Sinfin Lane.
I'm actually near Solihull decommissioning a network today, shame I won't be back as this area (Earlswood/Maypole) looks quite nice for cycling!
Also, definitely get drop handlebars. I got a hybrid with flat bars for my first bike and regretted it. In fact, the previous thread was filled with people that got flat bar bikes and regretted it/bought drop bar after. Sounds like you're already open to the idea of trying them out and getting used to them so I guess my point here is more "do it - you won't regret it"
I think that sums it up - drop bars can be scary, but you don't have to ride in the 'drops' - even now I'm confident in them 80-90% of my riding is on the 'hoods' as for commuting/steering they're just so much easier. Drops are for perfect road, perfect conditions!
Does anyone correct the elevation from Garmin to Strava or just leave it?
I've not noticed any issue but I have nothing to compare it to, but I am using an 810.
Yesterdays ride
Stealing one from grudas:
To be honest I'm not following it absolutely religiously.
At the risk of answering my own question here but... How important is it to stick to a plan? I find it hard to do more than 1 evening sessionson the turbo after work - I just don't have an extra hour (or more) to spare as I work 7:30-5:30 and don't spend enough time with my Mrs enough as it is... The low-volume plans are usually 2x1 hour weekly sessions with 2+ hours on the weekend. If I were to do that I'd struggling commuting (which I try to do 4+ days a week) which kinda defeats the idea of training - I'm training to be a better cyclist, commute 100% of the time and enjoy riding, not to race!
My evenings usually consist of: 6pm, home greet dog & girlfriend; 6:30-7:30, cook and eat dinner; 7:30-9, usual chores/washing up/some gaming if I can; 9, TV/girlfriend/dog time 10:30/11pm bed for 6am alarm. I can probably sacrifice much of my chore/gaming time but more than 2x 1 hour sessions a week and everything else would suffer (and I'd be cramming everything else into 2 evenings as go shopping 1 evening already. And who wants to do much on a Friday night!)
So I'm left with my weekends - I do have lots of time but I'd rather be out on the road in the nice weather than at home on the turbo... Different story in winter time, but that's gone now...
D
I'm guessing I should pick and choose the sessions I do rather than follow a plan? My commutes are more and more an endurance exercise now I'm doing other riding than the race I used to treat them as (and now I'm commuting more). I know I struggle with hills but my intervals/sprinting is good as I stop-start a lot commuting and I've always sprinted well (big thighs, short legs).
* at pro speed race speed.
I think that's it though - wearing an aero helmet will probably influence normal non-pro riders to adopt a more aero position than if they weren't wearing it, therefore making the gains higher?
Thankfully it's not in the plan I'm following (http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/plans/152-short-power-build-mid-volume) but I'm sure some of those other sessions will be similarly hellish.
