rsbob 

Stunning and beautifully equipped. Love the color and choice of wheels. Well done

Sierra_rider

The plan is to do a 2-ride day...26 degrees this morning, made me not want to ride outdoors. So I did a short. indoor session on the new bike(was going to do the old bike, but the shifter broke again,) and will hopefully get an outdoor ride in this afternoon.

I mostly kept it in zone 2 and did some minimal adjusting of the shift indexing, via an app. The chain was noisy/jumpy at first, but that ended up being just excess chain wax. After about 10 minutes, it became buttery smooth and quiet.

Sierra_rider

Thanks, I really liked this color scheme. The only other color in this particular build level was all black...I don't mind black bikes, but I do prefer a little bit of color. The lower-spec bikes had much flashier 2 tone paint schemes, that I wasn't a major fan of. Last year's version of this particular model was purple...I'm so glad that they changed to blue this year, there was no way I was going to ride a purple bike.

I was looking at other brands too, but the weight specs, component level, wheels, price, and previous brand experience, all led me back to Canyon. It's electronic Ultegra 2x12...I've already put the climbing gears on it(50/34, 11-34,) as that's pretty much a prerequisite for the local roads. I was looking at aero bikes too, but figured all the climbing I do justified a climbing bike...although this one does have some aero considerations in its design. The handlebar is 3 piece and has width adjustment...also no need to cut the steerer to change the stem height, so I wasn't too scared of the integrated cockpit. The final draw was the wheels. I'm not afraid of hookless, but having hooked tubeless wheels, was definitely a selling point to me.

bharrisonb

This morning ... a nice 25 miles , under 40 degF on the 1971 Raleigh Sports ... (all three speeds where used)


Coffee on a bench at Singing Beach, Manchester-By-The-Sea, Mass.

rsbob 

30 Lazy miles (post FTP yesterday) in the farm country. Saw a good sized herd of elk. A mere 500’ gain, but was not in the mood for a hard effort.


Elk herd

Super friendly

Also friendly

White cows

Sierra_rider

Took the new bike out for it's maiden voyage this afternoon, a total of 26 miles, 3300' of climbing, and an average temp of 46F. I'm really impressed with it, very stiff(in a good way) and responsive. That and the light weight, it's a dream to climb hills with.

IDK if my disappointing FTP was a fluke yesterday, or not...I hate to brag, but I'm pumped on how I felt today. I ended up setting a few PR's and Strava top 10's on one particular road. I wasn't even aiming to set any PR's, but I looked down at my live segment 1/2 up the first climb and realized that I was on target for my previous record. So I kept pushing and then decided to see how many climbs I could push a PR pace on. The standout segment was 1 mile @ about 12%, that I held over 380 watts on for 8:40(7th OA.) I then was able to get a 1 minute recovery and get a 4 O/A on the next 1/2 mile climb. Even after all that, I was able to ride mostly tempo and threshold for the remaining miles of climbing back home.

rsbob 

I knew it! Your FTP test was an anomaly and you hadn’t lost it. Way to power up those climbs and get those PRs.

Read some good news in my fave news-rag today about the relationship between high intensity training and keeping the brain in good shape for memory and cognition. Even though the brain may shrink with age, HIIT helps create new blood vessels in the brain helping decrease the effects of aging. It did not specify how many workouts per week though. I would think two would be more than sufficient in my non-medical background - along with maintenance of Z2 to keep the positive hormones flowing (less depression/better mood overall).

georges1

Went to my local trail with my oldest mountain bike, my 1991 Merida Al Bon fitted with hutchinson toro 26*1.85 tubeless tires , it was really challenging because with no so large tires , the risk of sliding is present when attacking some rough terrains. I slipped and fell gently on the grass due to a tree root and the fact that my tire wasn't wide enough.Otherwise the bike depiste its non slopping geometry and rigid fork, rolls fast and corners very well. Important also is that on this trail if you have a too wide mtb bar it can pose you problems. The XT 780T groupset does a formidable job and is a truely reliable groupset. Once my Hutchinson Toro tires are worn out, I will go with Conti Mountainking in 26*2.3

rsbob 

Had relatives over so got in a 2.5 mile dog walk with 385’ gain in a 10th of a mile and rode with son and 5 YO grandson for 2 miles until the little guy started getting tired. The grandson won all the sprints. The preem was a chocolate chip cookie. He was happy. The kid can really go.

First pic from walk.

Sierra_rider

A bit longer ride today...I drove down the hill from my house to start the ride, as it was still in the 30s by mid morning. About 3k' down the hill, it was in the 50s. Fun times other than a headwind in the closing miles of the ride. I felt good on this one and I'm not as concerned about my form ahead of a 70 mile XC race, as I was before this ride. The other noteworthy event on this ride, is I PR'd my 1 minute power (800 watts.) Also the on-bike recovery between efforts, was really on point today.

Sierra_rider

That doesn't surprise me...as it seems, to a highly uneducated person such as myself, like an adaptation to keep the brain oxygenated during hard efforts. Although I'm talking out my rear on that one.

As a rider that is blessed with strong anaerobic capacity, but only a so-so aerobic engine, the zone 2 has been a game changer for my fitness. Between that and actually paying attention to nutrition, my ability to do longer rides and recover well, is the best it's ever been.

rsbob 

Let’s see. 2 KOMs, 2 4th places, over 7,000’ climbed , and a “massive effort” but an average speed of only a mere 14 MPH with all those puny climbs? So very sad. Back to work!

Sierra_rider

Lol, that's the reward of winter full of zone 2.

Sierra_rider

Indoor zone 2 recovery ride this morning, 26 miles and 1100' of virtual climbing. 21 of those miles were Rouvy cobbles in virtual France.

jaxgtr

Love the color...

jaxgtr

No riding over the weekend, too much work and family obligations. Today got in a Rouvy ride, 29 miles, 2800 ft., had very good legs for the climbing today, probably due to taking the 2 days off.

rsbob 

30 something Zone 2 for an hour and a half. Watched The Regime to keep from going insane - Ooops - too late. Did ‘lose it’ at the end and went for a PR on a sprint. My bad

Sierra_rider

Thanks, the option was that or black...I used to be all about black bikes, but I've learned to embrace color. My road bike of the past 5 years or so was my first "colorful" bike...kind of a bright metallic red/sunburst orange color. That was a big step for a boring person like me...I still appreciate black bikes, but every bike since then has had a non-black frame.

I think it's alright if you save it til the end lol...or maybe it doesn't matter. I think that's the big debate in the zone 2 world right now. Not if it's optimum or not, but rather if an above zone 2 effort screws up any of the zone 2 work immediately following it.

Troul 

102 miles OD. Legs are already complaining.

Sierra_rider

Did a zone 2 ride at 255 watts up the virtual Tourmalet on Rouvy. 11.5 miles and 4550' of fake climbing, in a little less than 1.5 hours.

jaxgtr

I suffered on my ride on Rouvy today, I did not eat or hydrate well today, I was in the code zone at work, and I should have picked a flatter route. 25.3 miles, 2200 ft ascent.

rsbob 

Banging out those centuries already! Nice

Troul 

it's been a rough few months, just trying to get it in where/when i can.

rsbob 

1 hour Z1 one and finished watching The Regime - very disappointing ending.

XxHaimBondxX

Finally, a ride outside!!! Left work early and did 20 gravel miles. Wasn't too bad, but had to ice my knees.