As I think we mentioned above, I think HR is only used as an estimation if you don't have power figures. (I generally seem to have a low HR compared to other people of similar age that I cycle with) With Watts burnt they should be pretty accurate calorie count? How well my PM is calibrated is perhaps a different matter? I guess there could be 5-10% variance in either of ours?
I'm not sure what Strava uses for it's calorie burn, surely different riders burn different calories at different power and HR levels. Not to mention HR being really quite individually specific...!
And comparing powermeters is always a bit of a fools errand, even different meters between the same rider on different days. Too many variables! Easily 5-10% variance between ours, easily probably around 15% or even 20% would be 'within margins' of error/measurement/conditions/riders.
Think DCR commented a while ago that even him riding multiple PWM's at the same time then 5-8% variance was acceptable and 'normal'.
My partner and I are expecting our first child next month. So for the next year or so it's going to be hard to get out as much as I'd like or equally she wont have as much time as she would like to go running so I proposed the idea that we get a Turbo trainer towards the end of the year.
Really good idea and for a time pressured fairly recent father I can easily say "I'd be nowhere without Zwift!". My little guy was born end of september 2018 and look what it did to my riding:
The convenience of just 'jumping' on Zwift when the time allowed was invaluable, but moreso than that - being able to ride until 'interrupted' and being able to immediately stop and 'be there' rather that out on the road meant I rode far more short sessions and lost a huge amount less fitness. If I'd had to rely on outside riding I'd have only been out once a week, which I could still have done - but with the convenience of Zwifting I could choose not to ride outside and to be home more. Just no pressure to ride and felt like no huge sacrifices to make!
She's planning on getting a road bike in the summer but for times where we both can't go out together - for most of the year i suppose - she agrees that she'd quite like to use a tubro trainer inside whilst I'm out and vice versa. She actually likes the idea of Zwift more than I do as it means she can cycle with her friend who lives back in Wales.
Seeing as most the decent ones have a power meter built in
Nope, only a few do! Even those can be that manufacturers version and maybe not the most reliable or accurate...
The social element of Zwift can't be overlooked - find the right groups and you'll find the miles whizz by. The Sunday afternoon 3R endurance rides I do there is such a group of regulars with so much joking and banter that it really doesn't feel like 2 hours most of the time!
Got a pair of Rc9 from a friend who's had nothing but trouble with them and ****** his feet doing a 12hr TT in them. Had the rep in today and was sizing him for Lake and he'll be a 44.5 and a wide fit(due to bunions) so no wonder the Rc9 were destroying him as they feel snug even for me.
The Lakes 'look' massively wider!? Shimano shoes known for some being quite tight, guess that's why they do -W offerings to get Wide ones. Do sometimes see people selling 1 W and 1 normal as a 'pair' on the bay... But could almost guarantee they're not the 'way around' you need them!
I also finally changed the front tyre. I think I posted an image before about how I was getting strange "growths" on the tyre after plugging a puncture which the sealant couldn't quite seal properly (it never went totally flat on the road, so never stranded me). The tyre had done just under 4000km.
The blue circle is where I stuck the Dynaracer plugs in - the red is a bit of the weird rubber growth that would build-up and then fall off whilst riding.
This is inside the tyre with the tips of the two plugs still there:
Still mystified by this. Needs some chemical engineer to investigate to tell us exactly what it is!
I guess it's not totally impossible whatever you hit somehow damaged the outer part of the carcass before making the hole a bit further over. So what you've actually got happening is sealant from the hole 'leaking' between layers of the tyre and gradually coming through that damaged area. It's obvious the damage isn't 'holes' which the sealant can seal as it keeps happening and you're not really losing pressure for it. Maybe they're not big enough and it's more the sealant carrier leaking through than the stuff which actually seals is too thick to get to the area to seal it?!
I've been 100% camped indoors since Wednesday afternoon due to how fortunately my work rota fell, but I'm getting cabin fever and pondering a ride out in 55kph wsw breezes!
Don't do it! Actually brought the car to work today, would've been a tailwind in and with an option of around 90% cycle path still not convinced it was totally safe.
Rode last Wednesday & Thursday doing the Nursery commute in it. It's not as bad as today
but tailwind was fun (without trailer). Then such a slog on the way back (towing +40kg) into constant headwind that any gust of wind just brought me to a halt. I actually decided to
go up the path (not technically a pavement, but is separated from the road) for safety and so I could ride at 6-8mph and not hold up the traffic. I know I shouldn't but towing a trailer and going at walking pace shouldn't get too much grief (lots of other 'bike riders', not cyclists, use it anyway)... But gusts of wind & the headwind before then it was taking
250-280W just to maintain the usual 11-12mph (normally around 200-230W). I'm quite used to the trailer in constant headwind feeling like having a back brake rubbing, but those gusts felt like I had the lever pulled right back and dragging an anchor!
Really excited to get my turbo trainer tomorrow. I've no idea how I'll cope on it and I feel the Dyson fan we have will not be up to the task of cooling me down but I'm just looking forward to getting back on my bike and turning my legs over even if it is virtually.
A bit undecided as to what platform I'll use. I've set up a Zwift account and will use the trial but I also like the look of RGT and being able to add in real road routes and cycle them virtually. I'll stick with Zwift for a while as it has a few workouts I'd like to do and I suppose it's more popular for a reason. Just excited to get going
You'll love Zwift, but be aware of RGT and well worth trying it. Really quite different and the drafting/riding mechanics are different. RGT is drawing more and more riders to it - I'm actually joining a TTT there on Tuesdays (once ZRL is over in a couple of weeks). The way the drafting and team dynamics work make it far more complex/interesting!
But Zwift for a 'just jump on and ride' perspective has a lot more appeal/draw. Far more routes, events and 1000's of riders wherever you go. RGT can easily feel 'empty' outside of events. I've become quite spoilt with the social and community side of things on Zwift as it's just always 'there' and you don't have to work for it. RGT the chat is quite hidden away, so even on a popular event hardly anyone 'says' anything.
I really want to find out my FTP... But the test looks grueling! I also know it wont be that high (if it was higher than 180-200 I'd be shocked) so I wonder if it's just worth doing the 4 week booster workout plan and doing a test at the end.
It is meant to be a 'test' after all! But well worth doing a couple of rides where you hold sustained power for 10/15 mins to get an idea of 'how it feels' before attempting the actual test. Riding 'flat out' for 20 minutes is hard and not something you'll regularly repeat, but it is a good measure to have and start from - no matter how poor. We all started somewhere!
How accurate the PM is a different discussion I guess 
