jimincalif

October already? There’s been a chill in the air the last few morning here in SoCal. Post your random thoughts here!

Podagrower

Am I the only one who sees LIV and thinks of the lineup of bikes by Giant?

I'll take riding for 200 miles, Alex.

dagray

It was in the high 50s yesterday afternoon... we have a cold snap that came in, and this weather has brought snow to our mountains here in eastern Oregon.

It is almost time to break out the trainer.

indyfabz

92 in Philly tomorrow. 60s by the weekend.

jimincalif

No, you're not. I thought of that too when I started the thread, especially since my wife's bike is a Liv!

So - calling all Giant/Liv riders - this is your month to post in Carbo Loading!

RubeRad

Chill in the air indeed. A couple weeks ago an outlier cold morning was my first of the season in more than just a T-shirt.

This morning was the first with gloves.

Really enjoying the cool evenings.

jimincalif

Yeah, I wore a vest and sleeves for the first part of my ride this morning. Probably been 4-5 months.

indyfabz

It actually hit 95 yesterday. Really motivated the spotted lanternflies that have infested places. I stomped on a few when I went out for lunch. When I left work at the end of the day I saw at least a half dozen creeping around.

High today is supposed to be mid-60s. And we are finally getting some much needed rain, although not a lot.

Beachgrad05

Thank goodness for cooler weather. I can finally sleep comfortably.

I put my commuter bike on trainer in August to do Zwift Academy but a few big outside rides and heat meant I did one week of ZA then didn't pick it back up until September...but I still finished. Now my house is so much more comfortable to rider trainer. I even closed the windows because it was a tad too cool Last night I only used ONE of my fans. Of course the workout I was doing was not all that taxing and so one fan was sufficient to keep me from overheating. I started the FTP builder 6 week plan on Zwift. See how that goes. Prior to Zwift Academy I had never done workouts. I am kicking myself for not using them previously. I was just riding around. No more of that.

I did commute to work on Monday this week for first time since August 30. I wore windvest and wished I had put arm warmers on. I struggle with waking up in the fall for some reason and so riding to work is likely over but since I am on trainer regularly I don't feel guilty. I just hate the soaring gas prices but not enough I guess to get out of my finally comfortable bed...where I am sleeping w/o sweating.

jsigone

ha I set mine up in the backyard the other night and last night in the garage w/ the door rolled up, low/mid 60's feels awesome compared to last week mid 80's when I get home from work. One large fan is used always. but can do it at fan speeds this week.

jimincalif

Tuesday morning I wore a light vest and lightweight arm covers for a morning ride, that was enough. Late afternoon hill repeats yesterday, no layers needed. Was starting to get a bit cool as I rode home shortly after sunset, but still comfortable. Weather is just too good in SoCal for indoor riding! @Beachgrad05, good on you doing some training, structure definitely helps.

Sort of looking out for a bike to keep in Boise for when we are there. Need a road/gravel bike that will accept wider tires (at least 32mm), tubeless (lotsa goatheads), and something I can use on a trainer (ugh, but it's COLD there in winter).

Beachgrad05

Not disagreeing. Weather is perfect. My issue is riding to work is just a struggle during week. Fall kills me with regard to mornings. Not sure why but I always feel I need to sleep longer. It was lovely on Monday when I rode tho other than headwind the whole way home.

Getting riding in somehow during week is why I'm using Zwift/trainer.

I have a ton of stuff happening this month with AIDS/Lifecycle....rehearsal for Drag Me to AIDS/Lifecycle with my team for our performance...then the actual event on Sat 10/19. ALC kickoff ride on 10/12 in Van Nuys. And it's FOOTBALL season which always derails me from riding because I love football. Now I can ride trainer and watch football. No more couch potato during football for me. And I am flying to Washington state on 10/26 to see my family. Crossing fingers that I won't have to deal with snow. They have already gotten snow in the mountain passes. My last visit in February they had snowmageddon.

dagray

You might try the BKool app to control your trainer too... with BKool I can import my rides from Strava and ride the routes again that I physically rode outside. I can even race myself or others with BKool

I use both BKool and Zwift.

Beachgrad05

I have not used BKool. I created workouts out of each day's AIDS rides into zwo files but can't get them onto ATV. Grrrr. I may have to break down and upgrade my computer at some point or get new ipad. I could get onto my phone I guess...and ride the workout in Zwift....

dagray

BKool with the premium account (about $120.00 per year) allows you to import your rides from Strava and Garmin Connect so you can ride them indoors and even race yourself. You can also set up bots (different bots excel at different bike skills such as climbing, sprinting, etc) to race or even draft from. BKool really simulates drafting well.

BKool has velodrome racing, and some routes of segments of the big world tours pre-programmed as well as the ability to find routes in almost every part of the world and at varying degrees of difficulty. Also BKool has a 20 minute FTP test where you are on a fixed incline (this test has smoked me a few times).

You can have up to 125 people on the same course at the same time and if you are within 50 feet of each other on the course you can have real time voice communications amongst the riders.

Zwift has better graphics and a more social aspect, but I admit I haven't tried their workouts. If you ride a route in Zwift and import it to BKool you would be able to race yourself

Beachgrad05

Probably not going to sign up for that. Don't need another subscription to an app that controls my trainer. I get why folks might like it tho.

jsigone

I think the Wahoo app that came with the Kickr allows you to use those GPX/Strava/Mapmyride files and control the resistance per elevation profile. I've yet to try that feature out though as I jumped straight in Zwift free mode for couple of weeks.

dagray

Unfortunately I am too fat for the Wahoo trainers. So I upgraded my BKool Pro (wheel on trainer) to a Tac-X "Genius" as the Tac-X has more resistance capability and is smoother.

jsigone

wait there is a weight limit to trainers? I just read their snap wheel on trainer is same as wheel off trainer. and is there for limits of the frame?!

dang lawyers

dagray

Danged lawyers indeed.

I bought the Tax-X smart trainer as I had been on a Tac-X trainer when I did my bike fit and knew it would hold up. Before that I bought my BKool Pro trainer as it didn't have a lawyer limit and it had a lifetime guarantee. I bought my bike (Orbea Orca) as it was a super stiff frame and again no lawyer limits.

Once the bike shop and I got on the same page that I am not the typical size of the common cyclist, and they started only selling me Clydesdale appropriate items we were able to make my riding more enjoyable (I wasn't having to have my rear wheel rebuild after every 50 miles, and we changed a stem to make me sit more upright so I could breathe while riding) then we started forming a friendship.... in fact they are helping me sell my Burley Encore trailer that I don't use anymore.

jsigone

gotta love good bike shop!!

After a very weak July and Aug ride numbers i had to make the change and got the trainer with their 12mo finance offer. I've been using it as intended, days I can't get out, I hammer out 30-60mins after dinner while watching my kids run around. I have a 53mile MTB race at the end of the month and feel a bit more confident I'll be ready in time.

O&B course, should be 4hr ish of moving time
https://www.strava.com/activities/2731830207

dagray

Good for you

I am trying to get a 12 mile group ride set up in our community as I think it would be a great way to help educate our kids about bike safety, and a great way to get us adults into a less sedentary lifestyle. I also am looking at a new bike (actually saving up for it) a Bianchi CV Infinito Disk in 61cm.

RubeRad

You should organize a bike train, a published route that kids join as it passes closest to their house, and a big group chaperoned by an adult or two arrives all at school together

dagray

What a great idea. This could be done with the end point being the local mom and pop burger joint that has ice cream. We only have 3300 people in our town according to the city limit sign, next town over is 30,000 people (that is where the bike shop is).

RubeRad

I read about the concept I think in an old Bicycling magazine about getting kids engaged with cycling.

For the 'benefit' of people that live too close to the destination, you could start kind of near there, and take the long way, riding kind of a loop to be able to pick up more people