kenj mentor group - back for another great season! CLOSED (Page 38)

gadgetlaw - 2013-02-10 8:58 PM

Sounds like a great run Becky!

DJ, that sounds like a crazy ride, but ended up being a good day anyway!?

I had a good run, only 5 miles.  I am still nursing my foot/leg.  The PF feels pretty good, now if my achilles would follow I would be happy.

I spent the rest of the day trying to avoid my husband, who has the flu, AGAIN!  And, I talked to my niece who lives in Iowa.  (I am in PA)  She is going to be home for a weekend in May when I am planning on doing a mud run.  I talked her into doing it with me, so I am looking forward to it much more!  I signed up for it to have fun, after I changed from the full mary to the half.  I am really realizing that I made the right decision.

Hope everyone else's weekend was fun!

Karen

jennifer65 - 2013-02-11 4:16 AM Just caught up with all your posts. Spent last week working and skipping workouts. Felt pretty despondent like I've bitten off much more than I can chew. However, I don't want to be here needing to be bigged up all the time so I'm back to it. Got up this morning and did nearly all of my swim work out in the time allowed - success. And I don't think I ever really want aero bars or a pointy helmet. - but they do look good on people who whizz past one. jennifer

gadgetlaw - 2013-02-10 7:58 PM

Sounds like a great run Becky!

DJ, that sounds like a crazy ride, but ended up being a good day anyway!?

I had a good run, only 5 miles.  I am still nursing my foot/leg.  The PF feels pretty good, now if my achilles would follow I would be happy.

I spent the rest of the day trying to avoid my husband, who has the flu, AGAIN!  And, I talked to my niece who lives in Iowa.  (I am in PA)  She is going to be home for a weekend in May when I am planning on doing a mud run.  I talked her into doing it with me, so I am looking forward to it much more!  I signed up for it to have fun, after I changed from the full mary to the half.  I am really realizing that I made the right decision.

Hope everyone else's weekend was fun!

Karen

ramiedd - 2013-02-11 8:38 AMTrying to catch up from a crazy week. I have been back on antibiotics as my cold came back. Both my kids and I are on our second round. Thankfully, my wife has been spared. I have still gotten some workouts in, but it has been wearing on me (everyone tells me you are supposed to rest when you have a bad cold). Fortunately, I am just working on a base building program so not as bad.Couple of catch up items from conversations:When you find the right saddle, buy two if you can afford them. I have always found it better to have the same saddle across all bikes and or have a back up.Road Vs. Tri bike. for the first race I did, I put aero bars and bar end shifters on my road bike, but found that I was too stretched out on the 24 mile ride. This caused two problems; one was a back pain, and the other was cramping on the quads from being over stretched. If I was only going to have one bike, I would find a good aero frame and build it with road bars. This would give me the flexibility of being in a full aero position on triathlon races, and a comfortable road position for group rides. Otherwise, get a frame where you can have a fast forward seatpost to get you in a more aggressive position.

Meulen - 2013-02-11 9:25 AM

Kurt Kinetic Rock and Roll Review:

 

As promised!   I did some thorough work on the KK R&R this weekend.  Saturday was a swim/bike with 2 hours on the KK R&R.  Basically an hour warm up and easy spin and a 4x10' set @210/220/230/250 watts per coach.  I had a talk with coach after this workout.  It didn't go so well.  I've been really struggling with my power numbers at my current FTP.  Coach says it's common to fall 10% on FTP this time of year even without being on a Protein rich diet.  So we decided to drop everything 10% for Sunday's workout.  While I don't like the fact of going backwards, this was much better mentally for me!  I don't deal well with failure, and failing all these intervals just puts me in a funk.  Backing off 10% was still challenging but doable, and left me in a much better mental place to finish the 3 hour ride I had on Sunday.  Sunday was 3x40min@ 80%.

So after the weekends rides heres my thoughts

Pro's

-  The same Kurt Kinetic quality, feel, and low sound emmission I'm used to with the road machine

-  ability to add accessories like inRide, and a 12lbs flywheel to make riding more interesting and enjoyable

-  A much easier quick release than the Road Machine

-  This thing really allows the bike to move allowing with you eliminating friction that you get from most stationary trainers.  This makes for a more comfortable and road like feel.  It really makes long hours on the trainer more comfortable and easier on your body.

 

Cons

-  The legs are really wide so you need a little more space than normal trainers

-  It takes a little getting used to the movement at first and the bouncing up and down as well as the ability to rock back and forth.  It helps to have a turn table front wheel stand because you will turn the bars some while rocking back and forth

 

Overall, this was a good purchase for me.  I found a 12lbs flywheel on sale Friday and ordered it up to see how that is.  It's supposed to give a smoother more road like feel and more of realistic coasting/spin dow time.  I may try the inRide system for power later.  But, I'm fine using my Powertap right now.  Maybe, the wife will get the inRide system to use power!   Ken will be happy with the quick release on this.  I have no experience with the Cycleops one.  But I think this one works ok and is pretty easy to put the bike on/off

 

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

kenj - 2013-02-11 9:58 AM

Very good review, it will be interesting to hear what you think of the extra weight on the flywheel as far as it being a better simulation of real road riding.  I have heard that this is one of the benefits of the KK over the Cycleops.  I will add though, that the Cycleops quick release is much easier than the KK Road Machine. 

Yesterday was the first ride I have had in a month that I hit the numbers through out the entire 2 hours and didn't struggle.  It came at the start of a new build off of a recovery week, so maybe that helped or it could be that I ate a little more than I had been on Saturday.  We will see, as I am back to the reduced calories and this week has some Z5 intervals, although they are fairly short, both Tuesday and Thursday. 

Thanks for the feedback on the new trainer!

Meulen - 2013-02-11 11:18 AM

With the second trainer and my wife and I riding at the same time, I need another fan.  Any of you have a recommendation for a good fan that blows a lot of air?

kenj - 2013-02-11 10:29 AM

I would suggest looking in Washington, but my guess is you don't want hot air.

zee744 - 2013-02-11 12:35 PM

Back from the abyss...figuratively of course.

Hello All! I've been MIA. Mentally tough (non-tri related) couple weeks for me and I kind of shut everybody out. I've still been training, but not at the level I'd like. We'll start back full bore this week. 

So it looks like my coach has disappeared. Lack of communication. Oh well. I've decided to coach myself and picked up the Triathlete's training bible, which I dove right into. If you haven't, I'd strongly suggest doing so. So far this thing is awesome and loaded with information. 

Anyway, hope everyone is doing well!! I don't have the time to go back through and read all I've missed.

zee744 - 2013-02-11 12:35 PM

Back from the abyss...figuratively of course.

Hello All! I've been MIA. Mentally tough (non-tri related) couple weeks for me and I kind of shut everybody out. I've still been training, but not at the level I'd like. We'll start back full bore this week. 

So it looks like my coach has disappeared. Lack of communication. Oh well. I've decided to coach myself and picked up the Triathlete's training bible, which I dove right into. If you haven't, I'd strongly suggest doing so. So far this thing is awesome and loaded with information. 

Anyway, hope everyone is doing well!! I don't have the time to go back through and read all I've missed.

robingray_260 - 2013-02-11 1:19 PM

Also back from a week of being sick - 3 out of 4 (including me) in the family had sinus infections last week.  Missed quite a few workouts and the ones I did do were at easy effort.  Also has a fantastic weekend at a back country cabin, some skiing but not as much as planned 'cause it rained yesterday.

Back at it this week - big week so goal is to get them all in.  Heading to the gym for a spin class followed by a short run!  Happy Monday everyone!

bdenehy - 2013-02-11 2:24 PM

Welcome back.  I think several of us have hit point were we feel it is time re-commit to steady training.  I know I have. 

Starting Wednesday, my wife goes into her austerity phase of the year for religious reasons.  I'm going to try to piggyback on her righteous living and see if I can get more done, both tri-wise and and for "real life".

Nate - I signed up to volunteer at IMLP.  I'll be out there on a late shift on the run course, so maybe you'll be done by the time I go on duty :-).  I had to take a late shift since I have a running race in the Catskills that day.

bdenehy - 2013-02-11 2:24 PM

Welcome back.  I think several of us have hit point were we feel it is time re-commit to steady training.  I know I have. 

Starting Wednesday, my wife goes into her austerity phase of the year for religious reasons.  I'm going to try to piggyback on her righteous living and see if I can get more done, both tri-wise and and for "real life".

Nate - I signed up to volunteer at IMLP.  I'll be out there on a late shift on the run course, so maybe you'll be done by the time I go on duty :-).  I had to take a late shift since I have a running race in the Catskills that day.

kenj - 2013-02-12 4:50 AM

Morning guys! Up for my trainer ride, then boot camp after work with Connie, and then Masters at 8:30.  Not a fan of the time, but I need to do masters 1 or 2 days a week in order to get enough swim volume in.  At least until March or April, then I will stop doing the boot camp and ride outside hopefully after work.

Looks like everyones plans are starting to ramp up a bit? How are you all doing?  Getting the volume in?

kenj - 2013-02-12 5:50 AM

Morning guys! Up for my trainer ride, then boot camp after work with Connie, and then Masters at 8:30.  Not a fan of the time, but I need to do masters 1 or 2 days a week in order to get enough swim volume in.  At least until March or April, then I will stop doing the boot camp and ride outside hopefully after work.

Looks like everyones plans are starting to ramp up a bit? How are you all doing?  Getting the volume in?

kenj - 2013-02-12 5:50 AM

Morning guys! Up for my trainer ride, then boot camp after work with Connie, and then Masters at 8:30.  Not a fan of the time, but I need to do masters 1 or 2 days a week in order to get enough swim volume in.  At least until March or April, then I will stop doing the boot camp and ride outside hopefully after work.

Looks like everyones plans are starting to ramp up a bit? How are you all doing?  Getting the volume in?

Meulen - 2013-02-12 8:26 AM

 

This month was particularly high volume.  Supposedly the highest volume weeks on my plan.  Next week starts shorter, more intense work.  The volume has definitely broke me down.  My FTP actually came down 5-10% and I've been challenged to fit in all the workouts and mentally get through.  Coach assures me "1 step back, 2 steps forward".  So I'm trusting the plan and going with it.  I'm hoping this week will be a really big week.  As long as I can stick with it mentally, and fit it into my schedule, it's shaping up that way.  Kinda tough to do this indoors during the winter, but this is where your season is made or broken!