aaronmcd

Every shoe ever made is narrow. And not shaped like a foot. Who the **** decided to shape shoes like that anyway?

hack

I feel like they're all wide at least through the heel.

hack

I think Bont is supposed to be more "foot" shaped, no? I'm suprised there isn't a road shoe built on the New Balance Minimus or Merrel Barefoot last.

Ygduf

maybe read through Shoe suggestions for narrow feet

hack

Will check it out!

Sadly, I think shoe fit will be just like any other fit. What works for person A won't for B, but maybe for C and so on. I'll just tinker until one hits the spot.

Ygduf

yeah. that they recommend northwave for narrow feet while I've also seen northwave recommended for wide feet just about sums it up.

topflightpro

Yep, I feel the same way. And I don't feel like I can get the cleat where I want it, despite the rather large area for cleat placement.

Honestly, that doesn't seem that expensive to me, all things considered. Bicycling, and bicycle racing, is a freaking expensive sport, and at this point, I'm willing to spend the money to be comfortable when doing it. At this point, I feel like I've spent too much time trying on shoes in the $100-$300 range with no success that dropping a chunk of change to just be happy is worth it.

Gramercy

I want to read a CDR-length post about how you can physically ride that much in a year, how you have the time for it, money, energy, job flexibility, family flexibility, etc.

Ygduf

Live in NorCal: riding season goes from Jan 1 to Dec 31.

Have a wife who appreciates that you do something you enjoy and care about while also having her own interests. We encourage each other to have robust personal lives.

Have a job that is 3 minutes from local 5-days-week 70-90-ish minute group ride, and the flexibility to get to that ride most days. If I can't get to nooner, there are also morning and evening rides to make.

Ride every day. I don't have a coach, so I do what I want. That's work hard when I feel good, and ride really easy when I want rest.

Commute to and from work. I get 9-miles/day 5x/week cumulative, from commuting. That adds up to like 2k miles/year that just happen. No stress, just function.

Energy? I dunno. I am pretty lazy. I have no kids, I throw a ball for my dog, I am minimalist in lifestyle. My wife and I are not party or bar people. We go to dinner, we hang out together, but nothing otherwise too taxing.

Check my strava, It's public. The miles are there. I just train with a focus on the long term. Consistency in stress, good sleep, try to keep a good diet. Etc.

UmneyDurak

It's not that difficult. I guess without kids, with flexible schedule and NorCal weather. Around 40miles Tu,W,F, and 50-60 mile rides on St, Su. That is in 10k+ range right there.

rbart4506

I've consistently done 12500km+ a year and I'm in Canada. If I was in California i'd have no problem hitting Ydguf type mileage.

bdcheung

And there's the secret!

topflightpro

My wife and I lover our Kid-Free life.

thechemist

You can do it with kids you just wake up super early.

rideaz

I sometimes wonder how much the kids/family affects training? I already had kids when I started cycling so I don't know what it's like to have this hobby without them. I guess if I stick at it long enough, the kids will have moved out and I will get to see.
I would imagine it would be a more difficult transition to add a child/children to a busy cycling/racing hobby than it would be to add cycling to an already established family life?
I think the key in either scenario would be to have a supportive significant other!

waterrockets 

I got a LOT faster when we had our third kid. Timed with power meter purchase, and busier life -- had to get focused. That's when I upgraded to Cat 2.

Ygduf

there ain't nothing to it but to do it.

I know a larger-than-you-might-expect number of guys who ride 15k+ miles/year.

shovelhd

I do too, but they don't win anything.

topflightpro

I've actually known several guys who got faster after they had kids.

One guy described it to me as when he is on the bike, he finally gets to release all the pent up anger and energy that grows from dealing with his children.

I once suggested to my wife that we should have a kid so I could get faster. She said no.

Gramercy

What's your resting heart rate? I'm hoping with my riding this year my heart rate will drop - still around 70bpm or so. Also, don't the pros ride around 15k a year? I've seen on strava there are pros in the Northeast - I wonder if they ride on trainers 6+ months a year.

rbart4506

I got faster, marriage went in the toilet.... Or, marriage went in the toilet, I got faster

Ygduf

look at the thread we're in, but yeah, I ride less when I'm racing more. You have to. It's just that my down weeks are ~200-250mi.

Ygduf

HR is low, but I'm also tall and big, like an elephant. It dropped probably 15-20bpm resting in the past 6 years of riding.

shovelhd

Pros ride that kind of mileage because they're pros. The ones I know go to warmer climates to train for the road season.

shovelhd

Comparing heart rates with other riders is even more stupid than comparing power.