Originally Posted by datlas

We had a good midweek ride. Starting temps in the upper 20’s meant occasional frozen runoff, but we were extra vigilant and only had to stop/dismount/walk a couple times. Way better than the trainer or a job.

Originally Posted by indyfabz

Is polishing really tarnished silver a PITA? I have two old platters I got from mom. I’m almost certain they are silver, but they are in horrible condition.

Originally Posted by Mojo31

Glad to see you haven't been banned.

Originally Posted by genejockey

Yet.

Originally Posted by genejockey

I looked at the "Sunrise/Sunset Times" last night, wondering when I could return to riding outdoors, and damned if it's not just 3 weeks from the time change! I had been thinking, ever since the Fall change to Standard Time, that I might use the winter to do some structured training, but I never got around to it, for a couple reasons, but the biggest reason is I didn't have any kind of overarching plan, and I didn't have an overarching PLAN, because I don't have any overarching GOALS. Get fitter? Go faster? Higher FTP? Yes, those would be nice, but what would I do with them? I don't race IRL, and since Zwift once again saw fit to declare me a "C", racing there consists of me watching the lead group disappear in the distance while I look around for another group to ride in so we can all battle for Umpteenth place at the end.

Most training plans seem to be predicated on having some event in the future for which you're building up, knowing that it will be the peak of your fitness and you'll inevitably decline a bit after. But I don't have any such event to aim for. I just want to be able to ride faster for longer, more or less permanently. Where's the training plan for that, apart from "Modified Merckx"? And is there even any downside to simply riding like that all the time - go hard some places, easy in others, and try to pace myself so I tire myself out on every ride?

Anyway, it's almost time for weekday after work rides again, and I've done no structured training, and my FTP seems largely where it was last Fall - somewhere in the 2.8-2.9 w/kg range, and my legs pretty much will take me as far as I have time to go. And I guess that's really all I need.

Originally Posted by datlas

We had a good midweek ride. Starting temps in the upper 20’s meant occasional frozen runoff, but we were extra vigilant and only had to stop/dismount/walk a couple times. Way better than the trainer or a job.

Originally Posted by Eric F

I was recently pondering the "why" of doing rides with the intent of getting faster and stronger for longer. Yes, I'm active with the occasional gravel events. but I really don't care much about placing. I have zero interest in returning to the intense suffering of road racing. So, why do I train? For me it's about being better at the "game of bikes". Whether the game is sharing a spicy group ride with other folks, tackling a local climb, or handling a demanding singletrack, feeling like my body can handle those things confidently and competently matters to me. I enjoy the sensation of rolling down the road efficiently, under my own power. I enjoy the sensation of pouring on more watts for a tough section, or in response to other riders in the group raising the pace, and my body responding easily to the demands.

Originally Posted by Mojo31

Nothing says "Stay off my property" like a trip wire!

Originally Posted by TMonk

+1. I learned during the pandemic that I enjoy training as much as racing (or maybe more); still trained hard. Plus, I just came off a killer 2019 season where I lost 10lbs, had a huge w/kg boost and laid waste to the SCNCA cat 3 fields. So I wanted to keep that vibe going .

genejockey I think most (or all?) training philosophies are indeed predicated around events, or at least a "season" where one wants to be really good, and build a periodization plan around. For me, I find it helps to take it easy for a few months in late summer/fall. Go camping and backpacking and stuff. After some time of that, I usually feel pretty motivated to train and get good on the bike. The early gains are always inspiring.

Originally Posted by Velo Vol

I'm not a 14-year-old girl. I came of age before social media. I know what's going on and am not controlled by dopamine hits.

Originally Posted by BillyD

Winter is unraveling like a cheap suit on a rainy day.

Originally Posted by genejockey

Yet.

Originally Posted by BillyD

I hear freakin birds singing in the trees, I see another bird preparing its nest, and I see leaf buds thickening on trees. It's still February and it's beginning to look a lot like spring, everywhere you go. Winter is unraveling like a cheap suit on a rainy day.

Originally Posted by Velo Vol

I'm not a 14-year-old girl. I came of age before social media. I know what's going on and am not controlled by dopamine hits.

Originally Posted by BillyD

I hear freakin birds singing in the trees, I see another bird preparing its nest, and I see leaf buds thickening on trees. It's still February and it's beginning to look a lot like spring, everywhere you go. Winter is unraveling like a cheap suit on a rainy day.

Originally Posted by Eric F

An important thing for me in this phase of my riding life - which is different than my previous racer-boy mentality - is that sometimes I go ride with zero intent. Even programmed easy days are an intent. I find it incredibly mentally refreshing to leave the house with no plan, and maybe even without a route picked out. Just ride however I'm feeling in the moment. I had to teach myself how to do this.

Originally Posted by rjones28

45F and sunny. I washed the salt off of the SportWagen.

Originally Posted by TMonk

Dang, Zen mode, achievement unlocked. I'm not sure my personality type would ever permit such an open mind. I'd have to teach myself as well.

Most years, I have no records of weekly plans from July through some time in October. During this time I rarely carry a negative TSB and might go by feel, but at the very least the duration is planned, and usually a route as well when I leave the door. I have on extreme occasion just left to explore - but it's usually when I'm visiting or otherwise new to an area. After that, my brain defaults to selecting a route.

Originally Posted by Eric F

An important thing for me in this phase of my riding life - which is different than my previous racer-boy mentality - is that sometimes I go ride with zero intent. Even programmed easy days are an intent. I find it incredibly mentally refreshing to leave the house with no plan, and maybe even without a route picked out. Just ride however I'm feeling in the moment. I had to teach myself how to do this.

Originally Posted by LesterOfPuppets

looks like it's raining out there now

And I'm wearing my super duper breathable running shoes

Originally Posted by genejockey

Interestingly, this is how I've always done it, though I do always tend to have a route in mind, but that's me - creature of habit! It's anything more structured than just riding however I feel that doesn't come naturally to me.

Originally Posted by Eric F

I spent 12 years as an active racer. I beat the "just ride" freedom out of myself with my huger to be better/stronger/faster on race day. Every ride had an intent. It wasn't all structured intervals, but there was definitely a training reason why I did each ride. In the last few years of it, I had pretty much abandoned my MTB, which was the one place where I would "just ride" to some extent. That intensity of focus was a big contributor in my motivation to ride taking a nose-dive, and part of why I stepped away from my bikes for 15 years. There were other factors, too, but burn-out was certainly in the equation. The thrill was gone.