Legs a bit tired? Yeah? Well, tough. Still gotta exercise. But, I’m not that mean on myself. I did, after all, let myself take my weekly easy ride. Such a nice guy.
This is what I used to believe, wrongly, was Active Recovery. This session is taken from Zwift’s 10-12wk FTP Builder series, and in particular this one is Week 5 Day 3. It turns out Active Recovery should be entirely gray, and blue is technically endurance I believe.
Anyway, it doesn’t matter. It was a laid back ride. And for the hour I managed to watch lots of pointless junk on YouTube. I really need to get some better stuff to watch whilst I grind out these sorts of sessions.
On the plus side, I hit my weekly 3 hour riding goal, and had I known it at the time, I might have continued on for the remaining 2km of my 100km other weekly goal. As it stands, I’m at 98km on the week.
But those are Zwift KMs. Which, as I know after this summer, are not quite the same as real outdoor kilometers.
Still, better than nowt.
Tomorrow is a proper rest day. Then Saturday, unless things change unexpectedly, will be continuing on with some kind of Zwift Academy ride. Possibly workout #7, or possibly one of the group elective activities. Almost done with that now.
In truth, my legs did feel stiff pre-ride this afternoon, that’s why I didn’t bother with another ZA2020 workout for this one. A day’s easy riding, followed by a days rest, and hopefully, workout #7 won’t suffer from ERG issues. This ride today proved ERG works just fine on my trainer every other time. Sigh.
Hey Chris,
Yeah I rate the grey zone recovery rides. I try to do them for 1:30-2hrs, 10min ramp and the rest at 125w.
Not sure if you’re still looking at the Specialized Roubaix, but I got a mate who just happened to buy one today. I took it for a blast around the block and I was well impressed! Did a few hard sprints and the future shock wasn’t bouncy (I had some concerns around that) and I went over a few bumps (to my mates horror🤣) and it soaked them up nicely. I’m thinking the Diverge E5 to replace my mountain bike (been over the handle bars one to many times to remain friends with it) and my Allez (current commuter) which will do gravel riding and commuter duties.
Oh I got that same HRM strap you ordered from Amazon and another 2 on the way, it’s been mostly good for the 6 months I’ve had it. I’ve found hand washing every two weeks and moistening the sensor pad keeps it running (mostly) fine.
As you well know, I am but a cycling newb – just trying to learn 🙂 I’ve not found any Zwift rides that are entirely grey zone. Did you create the workout yourself? I’m finding it hard to do +1 hour on the turbo lately. Need to build up the mental stamina to stick with it. I find my ass gets way more uncomfortable indoors than out :/
Ahh great stuff re: the Roubaix. Yep, my plan is still to get one, though I’m waiting on the Specialized sale which I hope comes in the new year. I contacted them directly and asked how I might be able to do a demo ride on bikes in their range – no reply as of yet. I’m loathe to splunk £3000+ on a bike I’ve never tried. I found a local shop that stocks the Roubaix but they won’t let you demo them, other than sitting on it in store. So yeah, bit of a strange one. Did your friend get the Futureshock 2.0 or 1.5? I found out servicing is needed about once every year and costs about £85. I didn’t think that was so bad.
One thing I have found on my research is that the Diverge comes with the Futureshock 2.0 – the lockable one. The comparably priced Roubaix only comes with the FS 1.5. Not sure why that is. Going off road, even on to gravel, isn’t really something I have much pull towards. Though tbf, the roads round here are so bad in places that a gravel bike would probably be the better choice for day to day riding anyway. I would quite like the option of controlling the FS though, which bumps the price up to £4500 for the Roubaix.
Ahh good stuff on the HRM strap. My replacement arrived yesterday, not tried it yet. If I get 6 months out of it, I’ll be happy enough for price. My other one is destroyed. It went through the washing machine, twice I believe. When I wash it, I leave it to soak in a bowl of detergent overnight. That’s probably destroyed it, too. Though honestly, I didn’t realise the strap contained any electricals or whatever. I thought all the magic happened in the little Tickr device. Silly me. I’ll post a photo of how ruined my Wahoo strap is. Good for a laugh if nothing else. No wonder it doesn’t work :/ Or maybe it does. Maybe my resting heart rate is 220bpm.
My mates Roubaix has the FS 1.5. I thought it would be FS 2 or nothing, but after riding the 1.5, I wouldn’t say the FS 2 is a deal breaker. The E5 Diverge I’m looking at also has the FS 1.5, I don’t think I can get approval from the household CFO for anything that comes with a FS 2. The Roubaix can take 33mm tyres, so something like 30mm tyres with tubeless should give a pretty smooth ride over rubbish roads.
For my active recovery ride I created my own custom workout. Just dragged the warm up ramp over and then a grey zone and made it 110min. Yeah 100% there is some mental game to spend 2hrs sat on the trainer. I did used to find 1:30 was an absolute mission to complete, but after doing quite a few of those, the jump to 2hrs isn’t too bad. I figure the mental training is as beneficial as the physical although I could be full of crap lol. I do have the Wahoo Climb and I move it up and down to provide myself some relief on the long rides, that and a couple times out of the saddle helps a bit. Oh and the chamois cream! Lube up the bits and saves the saddle sores.
The household CFO, pmsl. I’ve heard that about larger tyres, but have no hands on experience to understand the difference they can make.
Yeah – did the same re: AR ride. So, interestingly, I investigated saddle sores / chamois cream last night, and finally understood wtf these infrequent spots I get on my ass actually are. I know you’ve mentioned chamois cream before, but up until now I never realised what it solves. Anyway, I ordered a pot last night – some from Muc Off. They make bike lube. And apparently, ass lube, too. 😀 Will see how I get on. It arrives tomorrow.
Unfortunately I’m back down with the covid at the moment, so it’s AR rides – at best – for me for the foreseeable future. Madness. It’s the kids / schools that I’ve got it from. I don’t leave the house. Sucks.
Oh yes I have the muc-off cream too, it’s good stuff!
Just used it today for the first time. Not sure I put enough on. Will apply more liberally for subsequent rides. Seemed fine up until the last fifteen minutes of a 2hr ride.