Great conversation as always. The fueling discussion deserves some nuance. It is absolutely more complicated than just eating a lot. While I get his point re: long vs short for preparation - long rides are not "just like a short ride but longer" when it comes to fueling. If a rider treats all his rides like the long, slow endurance rides discussed, they're setting themself up for a nuclear bonk - where they're both dehydrated and under-fueled. The pace has a lot to do with it. The gut can't digest anything -much less complex carbs, fat or protein - when the body is pushing LT2 pace. I can't tell you how many times I've seen, heard of or encountered riders who have been drinking/eating too many carbs and not drinking water to dilute it. This is a recipe for disaster - especially on hot, long races like Unbound. If riders drink sugar and eat sugar (or rice or whatever) the gut will become more concentrated than their blood. So it begins to fill with liquid while the body dehydrates and slows/stops digesting sugar. They puke, can't produce power and have to lie down until the gut can do its thing. Definitely a "beginning rider" won't need to, but a beginning racer could do worse than reading Thomas and Lim's "Feedzone" books. Re: power meter - pedals are the way to go and Favero Duo is the best of those.
Cycle for enjoyment. Have a good bike fit. Use gears that suit your power level. After each ride check tires for anything embedded . This lowers puncture frequency. Have effective winter clothing. Change the chain when it begins to stretch. Ride at your pace. Calesthenics is cycling functional.
I restarted cycling after an 8 year break in Sept 21, I wish now, I had the confidence to buy a power meter and a heart rate monitor. As I would have liked to track my progress, ave speed or time over the same rides are my only metrics currently. Having upgraded my bike in 2022, I am wrestling with buying a power meter and head unit for 2024. I think I am guilty of riding a lot in zone 3. This winter I want to spend most of the time in zone 2, "winter miles, summer smiles'. Great work on your podcast.
I use the power meter only with the standing bike, at the gym. When I will hit the numbers I should, I will allow myself to buy a power meter for the bike. Same with the new aero bike I want to buy: the moment I lose those persistent last 4 kgs, I will place an order.
Don’t feel obligated to follow the fast guys. You don’t know what they’re doing in their day to day or what they’ve done in their past. You’re looking at a snapshot of their lives. There are a lot of guys who purport the “Z2 and hard group rides” who are decent but who never get faster year over year. Who you’re seeing isn’t always the best way.
Never go our without a HR monitor, you can ride without a Power M but never without a HR Monitor 😊 , Also there is no such thing as bad weather, bad weather is only due to shit gear 😉
I think people starting out find it most fun to ride in zone 3 so it’s important to find a good combination at the start of structure and fun
Great conversation as always. The fueling discussion deserves some nuance. It is absolutely more complicated than just eating a lot. While I get his point re: long vs short for preparation - long rides are not "just like a short ride but longer" when it comes to fueling.
If a rider treats all his rides like the long, slow endurance rides discussed, they're setting themself up for a nuclear bonk - where they're both dehydrated and under-fueled.
The pace has a lot to do with it. The gut can't digest anything -much less complex carbs, fat or protein - when the body is pushing LT2 pace.
I can't tell you how many times I've seen, heard of or encountered riders who have been drinking/eating too many carbs and not drinking water to dilute it. This is a recipe for disaster - especially on hot, long races like Unbound. If riders drink sugar and eat sugar (or rice or whatever) the gut will become more concentrated than their blood. So it begins to fill with liquid while the body dehydrates and slows/stops digesting sugar. They puke, can't produce power and have to lie down until the gut can do its thing.
Definitely a "beginning rider" won't need to, but a beginning racer could do worse than reading Thomas and Lim's "Feedzone" books.
Re: power meter - pedals are the way to go and Favero Duo is the best of those.
Cycle for enjoyment. Have a good bike fit. Use gears that suit your power level. After each ride check tires for anything embedded . This lowers puncture frequency. Have effective winter clothing. Change the chain when it begins to stretch. Ride at your pace.
Calesthenics is cycling functional.
I restarted cycling after an 8 year break in Sept 21, I wish now, I had the confidence to buy a power meter and a heart rate monitor. As I would have liked to track my progress, ave speed or time over the same rides are my only metrics currently. Having upgraded my bike in 2022, I am wrestling with buying a power meter and head unit for 2024. I think I am guilty of riding a lot in zone 3. This winter I want to spend most of the time in zone 2, "winter miles, summer smiles'.
Great work on your podcast.
I use the power meter only with the standing bike, at the gym. When I will hit the numbers I should, I will allow myself to buy a power meter for the bike.
Same with the new aero bike I want to buy: the moment I lose those persistent last 4 kgs, I will place an order.
very helpful 😊
great tips!
Don’t feel obligated to follow the fast guys. You don’t know what they’re doing in their day to day or what they’ve done in their past. You’re looking at a snapshot of their lives.
There are a lot of guys who purport the “Z2 and hard group rides” who are decent but who never get faster year over year. Who you’re seeing isn’t always the best way.
Never go our without a HR monitor, you can ride without a Power M but never without a HR Monitor 😊 , Also there is no such thing as bad weather, bad weather is only due to shit gear 😉