Beer Drinker's Appreciation Society--Always Open (Page 9)

I used Zwift last year - it was fun and I did a couple of races and got creamed.  Having a smart trainer helps the "real" effect, but as long as you have a power meter (or even virtual power) it's pretty cool.  There are a bunch of training plans on there and structured workouts, so it's becoming a little more training and less focused on social.  I might get back on it if I ever get in shape.  Another cool thing is that you can train or race virtually with people you know.

Setup can be a bit of a pain and some trial and error.  Biggest thing is you need your ANT+ stick REALLY close to your power meter or speed sensor.  I have a 6' USB cord from my laptop to the ANT+ stick which is right next to my wheel (Powertap hub).  I use a 32" monitor to make it a little more immersive.

You're still indoors staring at a wall , but it does provide some entertainment and training value.

Rouvy!!  I've looked at it as well.  It has more real world courses, and I believe (might be thinking of the BKool simulator tho) that it has uploaded video courses as well, in addition to the video game style sims.  

I rode the trainer yesterday for 1:15.  Wanted to keep going, but my butt was killing me...  How long before a saddle is broken in?  Anyway I was watching pro cycling on the laptop and riding along, and for whatever reason that really motivates me.  It's a 'dumb' trainer - the resistance doesn't vary with whatever is happening on the video (unlike Jenn's Kickr), and yet still I would find myself falling into cadence with the riders.  Then I spent like 20-30 minutes trying to simulate the climb of the Col du Colombier while watching them go up, between high resistance climbing out of the saddle, and low resistance high cadence.  I think a smart trainer type setup would be great for me - I'm infinitely more motivated this way rather than just spinning and constantly looking at my watch to see how much time is left in the workout.

:D  And it looks like our week of winter is over, things should be back up in the mid-high 70s next week, touching 80 possibly.

If I end up on my trainer I watch pro cycling too but just suffer along at one speed whilst they do crazy stuff! I will hopefully get out on Sunday for a ride (followed by cake) as it will be 4c (40f) e.g. too cold for the floridians but tropical for everybody else! 

I watch it too, on the Roku/NBC Sports.  I'm 2/3 of the way through the Tour de France from last year - don't spoil it for me. 

Got my first really good swim in since about November - 1800 yards and I let it loose a little bit.  Did some strength training afterwards.  This morning was not so successful - labored through a tempo workout on the trainer - OMG I'm out of shape.

If I end up on my trainer I watch pro cycling too but just suffer along at one speed whilst they do crazy stuff! I will hopefully get out on Sunday for a ride (followed by cake) as it will be 4c (40f) e.g. too cold for the floridians but tropical for everybody else! 

Mike - I'm only up through Stage 9, so don't spoil it for me either!  (I do know who won, but that's just because I'm completely unable to avoid pro cycling news).  The Roubaix cobbles in the TdF is one of my favorites all time.  That and if they decide to throw in some dirt roads, like with Paris-Tours.  If it's just flat/sprint stage, mountain stage, time trial - its too boring and predictable.

Gretchen - sorry you're still sick!!!  Somehow I managed to avoid the respiratory plague in my house that took my daughter out of school for two days.  Poor kid, she had perfect attendance going...

Got a 3 mile run in yesterday, taking today to rest since we have a 5k in the morning.  I'm not racing, just run/walking with the family.  But if my daughter is feeling good I'll pace her to a PR :D  Sunday morning I'l get a bike path ride in, then it's my daughter's birthday party, then a Super Bowl party.  Good thing I took Monday off!  My first time, believe it or not, ever taking Super Bowl Monday off.

Most importantly though, I logged all my January workouts into the Training Log.  I failed to do that at all last year, or consistently the year before.  I've resolved to keep up with it.  I rode 130 miles in January.  That's on pace for 1500 miles for the year.  Which, as compared with every cyclist's annual mileage I read about, is basically nothing.  Everyone is like 6000-10000 miles annually......

YES.  This is important!  

Also - it starts at 6:30 PM on the East Coast.

Sappho tell me you are going to record and watch it the next day, it's on in the middle of the night for you isn't it?

I've been tracking my workouts here on BT for over 8 years now - probably 98% of them I remembered to do.  It's really cool to look back and also see what I average each year in between or despite of injuries.  For what it's worth I average around 2000 miles a year on the bike pretty consistently, with a spike to 3K in 2015 when I really focused on it.  A whopping 57 miles total in January for me - heck I've done that in one ride several times before.  Tough month.

Whoa...that's like 1990s HTML and stuff. 

Thanks for this!  I have signed up for meetup and the group.  I'm looking for the power ride for tomorrow but I'm wondering if I'm a day off and it was actually today.  It's cool though, there is another group meeting up at Green Springs in Deltona which is a couple towns away from me so I may check that out!  I would absolutely love to start riding with some people.  Other than one charity ride one time I've always ridden solo...