It has been a few weeks, but the winter competition for the most miles on the CompuTrainer at The Recyclist ended on March 7th. I finished with a little over 600 miles, which outdistanced everyone else in the field, so I'll be getting a Specialized Tarmac Elite road bike as the prize for winning. I haven't got a new bike in so long I almost don't know how it feels. But I'm excited to try out a full carbon road frame and compare that with my Titanium framed Serotta. I'm also excited tat I'll have two bikes, so I can keep working when one of them is getting worked on.
Thanks to Mike, Randy and Pat at The Recyclist for first of all putting on the competition and secondly, putting up with me all of those nights that I went in to ride. My hope is they will do it again next winter but also that more people come in and try out the CompuTrainer. I think once people try it, they will want to integrate using the CompuTrainer into their winter fitness program.
In the next few days, I'm going to post a full review of my thoughts on the CompuTrainer after riding it for 3 months.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Why Ride When its (Cold, Rainy, Windy, Hot, Crappy) Out
As I posted yesterday, despite pretty cold weather conditions in Appleton (windchills in the low 20's), I was able to get a 34.6 mile ride in. Could I have toughed out a few more miles--probably. But almost 35 miles is nothing to complain about on a day like yesterday. Yes, it would have been easier and warmer to stay in and watch the NCAA tournament game, but this wouldn't have helped me get to my goals.
For me, the short answer to why did I ride yesterday was all about goals. The Great Lakes 200 km brevet is only 4 weeks away. With so few base miles in (285 miles total for the year at the start of the day), snow expected Saturday night eliminating Sunday as a riding option, I wanted to get some miles in. Over the course of a year, a 35 mile ride isn't a big deal. But I didn't want to take a zero for the weekend, especially since spring weather is so unpredictable. At least I got something in.
But I think there is another reason to try to ride on some days when the weather isn't exactly your friend. Most cyclists have some sort of goals. Maybe its doing your town's century ride, maybe its an MS 150, maybe its Ride the Rockies or Cycle Oregon. The fact is, on any event, there are no guarantees about the weather. Events are held rain or shine, warm or cold. If you have been planning and training to do an event for months, you don't want to have to sit out because of weather. So on some of the crummy days, you go out and train so you know how to deal with less than ideal conditions. Here are some examples:
For me, the short answer to why did I ride yesterday was all about goals. The Great Lakes 200 km brevet is only 4 weeks away. With so few base miles in (285 miles total for the year at the start of the day), snow expected Saturday night eliminating Sunday as a riding option, I wanted to get some miles in. Over the course of a year, a 35 mile ride isn't a big deal. But I didn't want to take a zero for the weekend, especially since spring weather is so unpredictable. At least I got something in.
But I think there is another reason to try to ride on some days when the weather isn't exactly your friend. Most cyclists have some sort of goals. Maybe its doing your town's century ride, maybe its an MS 150, maybe its Ride the Rockies or Cycle Oregon. The fact is, on any event, there are no guarantees about the weather. Events are held rain or shine, warm or cold. If you have been planning and training to do an event for months, you don't want to have to sit out because of weather. So on some of the crummy days, you go out and train so you know how to deal with less than ideal conditions. Here are some examples:
- The year I did Ride the Rockies, one morning we started off and it was 34 degrees. People where complaining about the cold left and right. had been commuting to work on my bike all spring and spent a lot of cold mornings riding to work when it was in the 30's. I knew how to deal with cold. I knew how my body would react and to get myself warmed up, so while everyone else was being miserable, I was OK.
- I did a century ride in Pocatello, ID where 70 miles into the ride, the heavens opened with a rainstorm Noah would have been proud of. In addition to being wet, it cooled off considerably. The last 30 miles were honestly not a lot of fun, but I have ridden in the rain enough to know how my bike handles and how to cope with wet roads so I didn't put my safety at risk
- The next year on that same century in Pocatello, we had a tailwind the first 50 miles and straight into a headwind the last 50. Once again, I've ridden in enough wind to know how to pace myself and how to work my way through it. It is never enjoyable, but I get home.
- I can't even count how many long rides I've done when the temp has been over 100 degrees. But I know from experience how much I need to be drinking in that weather. And I know when my body is telling me that maybe a little longer break and some more fluids is in order, so I can address that before it becomes a problem.
Yes We Can (Ride when it is really cold out)
OK, so maybe it wasn't really cold out, but it was plenty cold enough. It has not been a good week for weather in Appleton. Early in the week there was lots of rain and wind, with cooler temperatures. Thursday was the best day--low 40's with some wind, but you could ride. Friday was dry with no wind, but a high of only 36. Still, you can ride when its 36 and I did. Today, Saturday, I think the high was 34. During my ride the temp was between 31 and 34. But what really gets you is that 15-20 mph wind out of the Northeast. That equates to windchills anywhere from 19-24 degrees F. Cold.
It is my desire to do the Great Lakes 200 km Brevet on April 25th, so just 4 weeks away. While I've been able to train the last couple weekends, there just aren't a lot of miles in my legs yet, and if you are going to do a 200 km ride in a month, you better get some base miles in and build some endurance. So cold as it was, I headed out.
I wound up doing 34.6 miles. The first 25 miles or so I was actually fine and didn't really feel cold. I t the 26 mile point, I dropped into Recyclist to see my buddies there. When I cam back out, it was just 8 miles home, but it seemed to get a lot colder while I was in there.
Anyway, the point is, you can ride if you prepare for it. The worst part is actually sitting in your house before the ride thinking about how cold it is. If you can get out there, and get through those first 3-5 miles, usually you are OK. On a cold day like today, the extremities will get cold, so you have to manage that, but it is possible to get a good ride in. As cold as it was today, I don't feel like 34.6 miles is anything to be ashamed of. And a couple years ago, I did a 200 km brevet in Maryland and Pennsylvania, and I doubt the air temp ever got over 38 all day (fortunately there was no wind that day).
You always hear people say you can ride if you dress for it. But no one ever says what they do to dress for it. So I'm going to do that here. Today, this is what I wore
When dressing for the cold, pay special attention to the extremities. For me, its always my fingers that get cold first. Having the glove liners actually really helps. It creates another dead air space. I also really like the Gavia gloves. They have a long cuff that will go over your jersey or jacket and prevent any wind from getting onto your wrists.
Some sort of thermal headband to cover your ears is a must too. I put the beanie over the headband and under my helmet, and my head wasn't cold at all.
One final piece of advice. When shopping for winter cycling gear, consider buying things like jackets a size larger than you normally would. First, in the winter you are riding less, so you may not be as fit and trim as normal. Second, remember you are going to be layering all this gear over other gear. You don't want your clothing so tight you can't move. On the other hand, be sure its not too loose or you defeat the whole purpose of layering by not creating dead air spaces.
Anyway, Appleton is supposed to get 3 inches of snow tonight, so its good I got a ride in today.
It is my desire to do the Great Lakes 200 km Brevet on April 25th, so just 4 weeks away. While I've been able to train the last couple weekends, there just aren't a lot of miles in my legs yet, and if you are going to do a 200 km ride in a month, you better get some base miles in and build some endurance. So cold as it was, I headed out.
I wound up doing 34.6 miles. The first 25 miles or so I was actually fine and didn't really feel cold. I t the 26 mile point, I dropped into Recyclist to see my buddies there. When I cam back out, it was just 8 miles home, but it seemed to get a lot colder while I was in there.
Anyway, the point is, you can ride if you prepare for it. The worst part is actually sitting in your house before the ride thinking about how cold it is. If you can get out there, and get through those first 3-5 miles, usually you are OK. On a cold day like today, the extremities will get cold, so you have to manage that, but it is possible to get a good ride in. As cold as it was today, I don't feel like 34.6 miles is anything to be ashamed of. And a couple years ago, I did a 200 km brevet in Maryland and Pennsylvania, and I doubt the air temp ever got over 38 all day (fortunately there was no wind that day).
You always hear people say you can ride if you dress for it. But no one ever says what they do to dress for it. So I'm going to do that here. Today, this is what I wore
- A long sleeve base layer
- A long sleeve wool jersey from Portland Cyclewear
- An outer cycling jacket from Sporthill. These can also be used for Nordic skiing, and are nice because the front is windproof but the back allows you to breath
- Pearl Izumi Ultra Sensor shorts (same shorts I always wear)
- Pearl Izumi Leg Warmers
- Pearl Izumi Tights over the shorts and Leg Warmers
- Wool socks
- Toe Warmers
- Pearl Izumi glove liners
- Pearl Izumi Gavia gloves
- Pearl Izumi Thermafleece headband
- A Beanie type cycling cap under my helmet
When dressing for the cold, pay special attention to the extremities. For me, its always my fingers that get cold first. Having the glove liners actually really helps. It creates another dead air space. I also really like the Gavia gloves. They have a long cuff that will go over your jersey or jacket and prevent any wind from getting onto your wrists.
Some sort of thermal headband to cover your ears is a must too. I put the beanie over the headband and under my helmet, and my head wasn't cold at all.
One final piece of advice. When shopping for winter cycling gear, consider buying things like jackets a size larger than you normally would. First, in the winter you are riding less, so you may not be as fit and trim as normal. Second, remember you are going to be layering all this gear over other gear. You don't want your clothing so tight you can't move. On the other hand, be sure its not too loose or you defeat the whole purpose of layering by not creating dead air spaces.
Anyway, Appleton is supposed to get 3 inches of snow tonight, so its good I got a ride in today.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Feels Like Summer Again…
The long Wisconsin winter has finally appeared to break. Today it was 45 degrees, tomorrow will be 49 and Monday and Tuesday of next week will be in the low to mid fifties. With the warmer weather and roads that are clear of snow, I can finally start riding again.
I did a 35 mile ride today, from home down to High Cliff State Park, then back up to the CE trail via Military Road and Harwood Road. I dropped into the Recyclist to purchase a new cycle computer and then used Prospect Ave to get back to Washington Street in Kimberly and across the bridge and back home. It was a great route. High Cliff State Park is always nice. After climbing the hill, I came straight back down, out the gate and took a right onto Spring Hill that took me to Military Road. There was another smaller hill here, but it was cool to do something different than just to come back via State Park Road.
My only complaint was with Outagamie County. In several places, the CE trail is still covered by snow, forcing me to get off and walk over the snow. Eventually, I gave up and just road on CE (College Ave). The traffic out east isn’t too bad an there is a shoulder, so safety was fine. But come on folks, its springtime after a long hard winter. People want to get outside and after being indoors for the last 3 ½ months. Lets get the trail plowed. We pay a lot of taxes in Wisconsin, I wouldn’t think it would be too hard to get someone out there to plow the trail.
There were quite a few people outdoors today in Appleton. Mostly people out walking, a few runners and a few cyclists. It was great to see. I think everyone is ready to do something other than huddle indoors and try to stay warm.
I’ll see how I feel tomorrow, but I’ll get another ride in. I’d love to do 40-50 miles, but early in the season, you just have to see how you feel. I feel like I’m a couple of weeks behind where I would like to be with my training and building a base. So I want to get out there and get some miles in. But I need to be careful not to overdo it too. So I’ll do something, but I’m not sure what yet.
But it doesn’t matter. Spring is here. I can ride outside again. The sun shined a little brighter today.
I did a 35 mile ride today, from home down to High Cliff State Park, then back up to the CE trail via Military Road and Harwood Road. I dropped into the Recyclist to purchase a new cycle computer and then used Prospect Ave to get back to Washington Street in Kimberly and across the bridge and back home. It was a great route. High Cliff State Park is always nice. After climbing the hill, I came straight back down, out the gate and took a right onto Spring Hill that took me to Military Road. There was another smaller hill here, but it was cool to do something different than just to come back via State Park Road.
My only complaint was with Outagamie County. In several places, the CE trail is still covered by snow, forcing me to get off and walk over the snow. Eventually, I gave up and just road on CE (College Ave). The traffic out east isn’t too bad an there is a shoulder, so safety was fine. But come on folks, its springtime after a long hard winter. People want to get outside and after being indoors for the last 3 ½ months. Lets get the trail plowed. We pay a lot of taxes in Wisconsin, I wouldn’t think it would be too hard to get someone out there to plow the trail.
There were quite a few people outdoors today in Appleton. Mostly people out walking, a few runners and a few cyclists. It was great to see. I think everyone is ready to do something other than huddle indoors and try to stay warm.
I’ll see how I feel tomorrow, but I’ll get another ride in. I’d love to do 40-50 miles, but early in the season, you just have to see how you feel. I feel like I’m a couple of weeks behind where I would like to be with my training and building a base. So I want to get out there and get some miles in. But I need to be careful not to overdo it too. So I’ll do something, but I’m not sure what yet.
But it doesn’t matter. Spring is here. I can ride outside again. The sun shined a little brighter today.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Adjusting the Fit
I've owned my Serotta Road bike for over 10 years now. Its been a fabulous bike. In large part, its been a great bike because it fits me so well. I'm 6'4" tall with log arms and a long inseam. So I need a big bike. My Serotta is a 62 cm frame and has fit wonderfully over the years.
For the last 3 years, I have had a problem though. I have hot foot in my right foot. Everythng I have tried has not helped. Different shoes, different insoles, different cleat positions, still no fix. Sometimes its better, sometimes its worse. But its hard to ride hard when you are in pain.
Also, riding the CompuTrainer, I've felt like I needed to move my saddle forward a bit. Not much, maybe half a centimeter or so. But I've noticed that when I am in the most comfortable position to sit on the saddle, I feel like my back is stretched a little more than I would like it to be on the hoods. Part of this is that in the 10 years I have owned the bike, I've probably lost a little bit of flexibility. That's one of the things age does. Its probably also true that in I'm not as flexible in January as I am during te riding months of summer.
So in any case, I decided to toy with the fit tonight. Not big changes, just adjustments. One reason is that in the off-season, my body can adapt to these changes. Also, if the changes don't work out, I can go back with a minimal loss of training. In the spring and summer when I hope to be riding 200-250 miles a week, this isn't such a good possibility. And the last reason is that riding on the CompuTrainer, I have a static platform to evaluate changes on. I can ride for an our and not worry if the way I felt was because of the wind or that last hill or look out for that truck. I can make an adjustment and ride the CompuTrainer and just evaluate that adjustment. That is hard to do on the road.
So Randy at the Recyclist and I set about to make a few changes tonight. The first change was soem new insoles. I've had e-Soles insoles for the last 2 1/2 years, and they have been OK, but they have never fully fixed my hot foot problem and at this point, I think they are just plain worn out. So we put in some Specialized Body Geometry Insoles. Then we brought the seat forward, probably about 1 cm.
I rode on the CompuTrainer for an hour after that. My first thought is a lot of new. I've always rode sitting way back, so coming forward a bit is just very new. There will be an adjustment period. I did feel at times though that my pedaling was more free and relaxed, so that is a positive. Tonight though, my right knee is a little sore. It does do that sometimes, so I'm not sure that is related to the position change. It was easier to stay on the hoods rather than on top of my bars with less strain on my back, so that is good. I am going to stick with the new saddle position for a few more rides and continue the evaluation.
More disappointing was the insoles. I still had some numbness in my right foot and when I finished, a pins and needs sensation. We were using the +++ insole tonight, which has the highest arch support and the largest metatarsal bump. That is good for me since I overpronate badly and I need to spread my toes out. But speaking with Randy afterwords, we are wondering if maybe its too much for me. Maybe that high arch and large metatarsal bump is putting pressure on another part of my foot causing numbness there. So next time, we are going to try the ++ model and see if that works better for me.
I don't want this blog to become an advertisement for a company or shop, but I do have to say, its really great to have a bike shop work with me the way the guys at Recyclist is. I don't mind spending the money to get the right set of insoles, but I really don't want to buy several different varieties to find the right one (hey, there is a recession going on after all). Its a tremendous advantage to be able to take a product like an insole or saddle or make a change and jump on the CompuTrainer there in the shop and test it out and see if it works for you. First of all, you aren't dirtying the product in any way so that if after 30 minutes you say it doesn't work for you, they can't put it back in the box and onto the shelf. Second, if you make a change and after 30 minutes you cramp up or something, no biggy. You are in the store. Its not like you have to limp home or call someone to come get you. And finally, you can make a change, ride for 15 minutes, get off and make another change all right there. That isn't easy to do when you are on the road. And they have all the measuring instruments there so you can record your settings and see if you within accepted norms. But the part that really makes the difference is they have people wiling to work with you.
So, I'm still pondering what to do about my right foot, but I'm happy I have an avenue to try to fix it.
For the last 3 years, I have had a problem though. I have hot foot in my right foot. Everythng I have tried has not helped. Different shoes, different insoles, different cleat positions, still no fix. Sometimes its better, sometimes its worse. But its hard to ride hard when you are in pain.
Also, riding the CompuTrainer, I've felt like I needed to move my saddle forward a bit. Not much, maybe half a centimeter or so. But I've noticed that when I am in the most comfortable position to sit on the saddle, I feel like my back is stretched a little more than I would like it to be on the hoods. Part of this is that in the 10 years I have owned the bike, I've probably lost a little bit of flexibility. That's one of the things age does. Its probably also true that in I'm not as flexible in January as I am during te riding months of summer.
So in any case, I decided to toy with the fit tonight. Not big changes, just adjustments. One reason is that in the off-season, my body can adapt to these changes. Also, if the changes don't work out, I can go back with a minimal loss of training. In the spring and summer when I hope to be riding 200-250 miles a week, this isn't such a good possibility. And the last reason is that riding on the CompuTrainer, I have a static platform to evaluate changes on. I can ride for an our and not worry if the way I felt was because of the wind or that last hill or look out for that truck. I can make an adjustment and ride the CompuTrainer and just evaluate that adjustment. That is hard to do on the road.
So Randy at the Recyclist and I set about to make a few changes tonight. The first change was soem new insoles. I've had e-Soles insoles for the last 2 1/2 years, and they have been OK, but they have never fully fixed my hot foot problem and at this point, I think they are just plain worn out. So we put in some Specialized Body Geometry Insoles. Then we brought the seat forward, probably about 1 cm.
I rode on the CompuTrainer for an hour after that. My first thought is a lot of new. I've always rode sitting way back, so coming forward a bit is just very new. There will be an adjustment period. I did feel at times though that my pedaling was more free and relaxed, so that is a positive. Tonight though, my right knee is a little sore. It does do that sometimes, so I'm not sure that is related to the position change. It was easier to stay on the hoods rather than on top of my bars with less strain on my back, so that is good. I am going to stick with the new saddle position for a few more rides and continue the evaluation.
More disappointing was the insoles. I still had some numbness in my right foot and when I finished, a pins and needs sensation. We were using the +++ insole tonight, which has the highest arch support and the largest metatarsal bump. That is good for me since I overpronate badly and I need to spread my toes out. But speaking with Randy afterwords, we are wondering if maybe its too much for me. Maybe that high arch and large metatarsal bump is putting pressure on another part of my foot causing numbness there. So next time, we are going to try the ++ model and see if that works better for me.
I don't want this blog to become an advertisement for a company or shop, but I do have to say, its really great to have a bike shop work with me the way the guys at Recyclist is. I don't mind spending the money to get the right set of insoles, but I really don't want to buy several different varieties to find the right one (hey, there is a recession going on after all). Its a tremendous advantage to be able to take a product like an insole or saddle or make a change and jump on the CompuTrainer there in the shop and test it out and see if it works for you. First of all, you aren't dirtying the product in any way so that if after 30 minutes you say it doesn't work for you, they can't put it back in the box and onto the shelf. Second, if you make a change and after 30 minutes you cramp up or something, no biggy. You are in the store. Its not like you have to limp home or call someone to come get you. And finally, you can make a change, ride for 15 minutes, get off and make another change all right there. That isn't easy to do when you are on the road. And they have all the measuring instruments there so you can record your settings and see if you within accepted norms. But the part that really makes the difference is they have people wiling to work with you.
So, I'm still pondering what to do about my right foot, but I'm happy I have an avenue to try to fix it.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Cycling Goals for 2009 Season
So here are my goals for the 2009 calendar year as it relates to cycling
Complete the Ride Across Indiana (RAIN) 156 mile ride in 7 hours, 45 minutes of ride time or less.
When: July 18, 2009 (http://bloomingtonbicycleclub.org/tours/rain/rain.html)
Why: Three times I've completed Seattle to Portland in a day, though the last time was in 2005. This is just my kind of event. Long ride, relatively flat, get in your big chain ring and let it rip. Team tactics will be critical. Find a good group of riders that that will trade off at the front and keep the pace high. Plus, its riding all the way across a state in one day. How many people can say they have done that. And I've never done a ride in Indiana before, so this will be a first. This is the goal I am really looking forward to-- a long distance endurance event, just what I like.
Earn a 1000 km RUSA Distance Award
When: 2009 Calendar Year
Why: I earned a 1000 km distance award in 2006, my first year of doing brevets. The last couple of years, I've been too busy to focus on doing brevets. I'd like to change that in 2009. This goal is really about season long fitness. Unlike goal number 1 being a one day ride, doing 1000 kms of brevets will require rides and fitness from spring to fall.
Win the Recyclist Indoor Cycling Miles Competition
I've already put a lot of work into this one. I'm leading the CompuTrainer competition with 330 miles. My closest competitor has 197. So yes, a big lead already, but this goal is more about staying active through the winter. I want to continue what I have been doing, a ride a week of about an hour and a two hour ride on the weekend. I feel like riding the CompuTrainer has already improved me as a cyclist, and if I keep it up over the next two months, I should have a nice foundation to accomplish the above goals. And hey, nothing wrong with a new bike either.
What This is Going to Take
Prepare a Solid Foundation in the Winter
It is going to be pretty much impossible to ride outdoors until sometime in March. Snow and cold have a way of doing that to you. But I need to go into March with a solid foundation, so specifically for the next two months I need to
Learn some Discipline in the Diet
Hit the Base Training Hard Come March and April
Fix My Hotfoot Problem
So there you have it. The 2009 goals. Goals are great, but now its up to execution. With that said, where is that Yoga DVD anyway?
Complete the Ride Across Indiana (RAIN) 156 mile ride in 7 hours, 45 minutes of ride time or less.
When: July 18, 2009 (http://bloomingtonbicycleclub.org/tours/rain/rain.html)
Why: Three times I've completed Seattle to Portland in a day, though the last time was in 2005. This is just my kind of event. Long ride, relatively flat, get in your big chain ring and let it rip. Team tactics will be critical. Find a good group of riders that that will trade off at the front and keep the pace high. Plus, its riding all the way across a state in one day. How many people can say they have done that. And I've never done a ride in Indiana before, so this will be a first. This is the goal I am really looking forward to-- a long distance endurance event, just what I like.
Earn a 1000 km RUSA Distance Award
When: 2009 Calendar Year
Why: I earned a 1000 km distance award in 2006, my first year of doing brevets. The last couple of years, I've been too busy to focus on doing brevets. I'd like to change that in 2009. This goal is really about season long fitness. Unlike goal number 1 being a one day ride, doing 1000 kms of brevets will require rides and fitness from spring to fall.
Win the Recyclist Indoor Cycling Miles Competition
I've already put a lot of work into this one. I'm leading the CompuTrainer competition with 330 miles. My closest competitor has 197. So yes, a big lead already, but this goal is more about staying active through the winter. I want to continue what I have been doing, a ride a week of about an hour and a two hour ride on the weekend. I feel like riding the CompuTrainer has already improved me as a cyclist, and if I keep it up over the next two months, I should have a nice foundation to accomplish the above goals. And hey, nothing wrong with a new bike either.
What This is Going to Take
Prepare a Solid Foundation in the Winter
It is going to be pretty much impossible to ride outdoors until sometime in March. Snow and cold have a way of doing that to you. But I need to go into March with a solid foundation, so specifically for the next two months I need to
- Ride the CompuTrainer twice a week for a total of 3 hours of bike time
- Make my way to the pool and swim for an hour twice a week
- Work on my core strength. Maybe I should actually do that Power Yoga DVD I bought a few years ago. Or the core strength program Bicycling Magazine has
Learn some Discipline in the Diet
- I drink way too much soda. Always have. But that means a lot of calories. Time to discipline myself. I did this successfully a couple years back and it helped a lot
- Minimize the fatty food I eat. Chicken and Rice, Chicken and Rice, must remember chicken and rice. Minimize the beef, the brats, the mashed potatoes. I love them, but need to cut the fatty meals down to a couple times a week
Hit the Base Training Hard Come March and April
- As I look back to when I was doing STP a few years ago, I'd have weeks in April where I would put in 200 miles. That is a lot of volume, but it also provided a solid foundation. Those will be some hard weeks, but they will set the stage for the goals above
Fix My Hotfoot Problem
- I've been battling hotfoot (a burning, numbing sensation) in my right foot for 3 years. I need to get this figured out. Hard to go fast when you are in pain.
So there you have it. The 2009 goals. Goals are great, but now its up to execution. With that said, where is that Yoga DVD anyway?
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
All CompuTrainer, All the Time
Here in Wisconsin, we've just recorded the snowiest December on record. Not just snowy, but its been cold. The high today was somewhere about 9 degrees. The overnight low is going to be something like -4. Not real good weather for road cycling.
I've been consistent though in heading down a couple times a week to Recyclist to ride the CompuTrainer. I think I'm now at 16 rides for a total of 330 miles. Riding a CompuTrainer is never going to replace doing a road ride outdoors. But, during the winter, it sure beats doing nothing. Now tat I have some more significant mileage put in, I am better able to comment on likes and dislikes.
Likes
--You are riding your bike.
Fit is very important. Specitivity in training makes a difference. Riding a stationary bike is never going to be the same as your bike. I'm training on the same bike I've been riding for 10 years and will ride next summer. That is important.
--Variation in Courses.
On a normal trainer, you have to adjust the resistance. On a stationary bike, you get some workout like intervals. the CompuTrainer has you riding real courses, so the resistance is always changing. So you have to shift. You have sections where its easier and sections where its harder. But that is like a real course, so that is good. And since its always changing, it helps combat some of the boredom of riding indoors. There is also a good selection of courses. I've done courses from 15 miles in length to 37 miles in length. Hilly courses and flat courses. You aren't doing the same program over and over again, unless you want to
--Power Meter and Spin Scan.
The science is very good. I've never ridden with power before. But now I am aware of it and can work on it through the winter. So far, I've been able to increase my average power from about 200 watts to 215 watts. I've just started using the spin scan to analyze my pedal stroke, but I am hoping I can improve that too. Overall though, the CompuTrainer is giving me much more information to train with than I've ever had before
-- It makes you work.
In the winter, it seems harder to get in enough training hours a week. I've been doing just 2 training sessions a week, one of 1 hour and one of 2 hours. Since this is all I'm getting, I need that training to be as effective as possible, and the CompuTrainer does well here. The RacerMate website claims that one hour on the CompuTrainer is like two hours on the raod. 'm not sure that is quite true, but it is harder. For one, if you stop pedalling, you don't really cost. So you keep pedalling and you train your legs to keep going at all times. Second, since you are watching your power number on the screen in front of you and riding against a pacer at an average power, when you go down a hill, you have a tendency to go hard to keep that power number up there. In general, since I am usually aiming to keep my average power at some goal, I tend not to slack off while on the trainer. And that is good. That is what I need in the winter
Dislikes
-- The scenery gets a little redundant.
By default, the CompuTrainer comes with three backgrounds--Seattle, Mountains and Desert. It uses these to generate the 3D graphics you see. The graphics are good, but after a while, you've seen it all. One thing they could do would be to include more scenery packs in the default CompuTrainer install. The other technology I am hopeful about is the Real Course Videos. But these are pricey at $100 each.
-- Cost.
A CompuTrainer is $1600, plus the need for a computer with pretty good 3D graphics, and then you probably want some sort of large LCD TV or Projection system to really enjoy it. So a total price tag of probably about $2500 if you want one at home. Fortunately, I can ride at Recyclist, but by the time March rolls around, I'll have seill probably sunk $250 or so into time to ride. As mentioned above, the real corse videos are $100 each. So none of this is cheap. Hopefully, with a little bit of competition out there in the computer based trainers, prices will come down a bit. If the unit can come down to around $1000 and the videos drop down to around $40 or $50, I think the ability to have a CompuTrainer at home is greatly increased.
Overall though, riding the CompuTrainer has been great. I think I have gained a little power. Tonight, I was really taking time to evaluate my riding position as well, and I think there are a few minor adjustments I may try out. And, my real course video should be in soon, so that will add a new element to riding. And for now, that is good, because its not getting any warmer out there.
I've been consistent though in heading down a couple times a week to Recyclist to ride the CompuTrainer. I think I'm now at 16 rides for a total of 330 miles. Riding a CompuTrainer is never going to replace doing a road ride outdoors. But, during the winter, it sure beats doing nothing. Now tat I have some more significant mileage put in, I am better able to comment on likes and dislikes.
Likes
--You are riding your bike.
Fit is very important. Specitivity in training makes a difference. Riding a stationary bike is never going to be the same as your bike. I'm training on the same bike I've been riding for 10 years and will ride next summer. That is important.
--Variation in Courses.
On a normal trainer, you have to adjust the resistance. On a stationary bike, you get some workout like intervals. the CompuTrainer has you riding real courses, so the resistance is always changing. So you have to shift. You have sections where its easier and sections where its harder. But that is like a real course, so that is good. And since its always changing, it helps combat some of the boredom of riding indoors. There is also a good selection of courses. I've done courses from 15 miles in length to 37 miles in length. Hilly courses and flat courses. You aren't doing the same program over and over again, unless you want to
--Power Meter and Spin Scan.
The science is very good. I've never ridden with power before. But now I am aware of it and can work on it through the winter. So far, I've been able to increase my average power from about 200 watts to 215 watts. I've just started using the spin scan to analyze my pedal stroke, but I am hoping I can improve that too. Overall though, the CompuTrainer is giving me much more information to train with than I've ever had before
-- It makes you work.
In the winter, it seems harder to get in enough training hours a week. I've been doing just 2 training sessions a week, one of 1 hour and one of 2 hours. Since this is all I'm getting, I need that training to be as effective as possible, and the CompuTrainer does well here. The RacerMate website claims that one hour on the CompuTrainer is like two hours on the raod. 'm not sure that is quite true, but it is harder. For one, if you stop pedalling, you don't really cost. So you keep pedalling and you train your legs to keep going at all times. Second, since you are watching your power number on the screen in front of you and riding against a pacer at an average power, when you go down a hill, you have a tendency to go hard to keep that power number up there. In general, since I am usually aiming to keep my average power at some goal, I tend not to slack off while on the trainer. And that is good. That is what I need in the winter
Dislikes
-- The scenery gets a little redundant.
By default, the CompuTrainer comes with three backgrounds--Seattle, Mountains and Desert. It uses these to generate the 3D graphics you see. The graphics are good, but after a while, you've seen it all. One thing they could do would be to include more scenery packs in the default CompuTrainer install. The other technology I am hopeful about is the Real Course Videos. But these are pricey at $100 each.
-- Cost.
A CompuTrainer is $1600, plus the need for a computer with pretty good 3D graphics, and then you probably want some sort of large LCD TV or Projection system to really enjoy it. So a total price tag of probably about $2500 if you want one at home. Fortunately, I can ride at Recyclist, but by the time March rolls around, I'll have seill probably sunk $250 or so into time to ride. As mentioned above, the real corse videos are $100 each. So none of this is cheap. Hopefully, with a little bit of competition out there in the computer based trainers, prices will come down a bit. If the unit can come down to around $1000 and the videos drop down to around $40 or $50, I think the ability to have a CompuTrainer at home is greatly increased.
Overall though, riding the CompuTrainer has been great. I think I have gained a little power. Tonight, I was really taking time to evaluate my riding position as well, and I think there are a few minor adjustments I may try out. And, my real course video should be in soon, so that will add a new element to riding. And for now, that is good, because its not getting any warmer out there.
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