Cycling Workouts: Discussion/Encouragement/Sharing/Banter

[Dan Lotus]

I was scheduled to be completing these workouts on Monday and Wednesday:

Frustratingly my daughter passed me her horrible cold on Monday (She had 4 days off school days and the weekend poorly) so I had to do the sensible thing and abort - off to Spain shortly with her to reveal the new surprise bike. Cassette, gear cable and long cage RD packed in the bag ready to go.
Still carrying this s0dding cold though, so not sure how long it will take to shake, hopefully by the end of the weekend or Monday at latest.
I haven't bothered to reschedule the workouts, as I have a new plan ready to go when I return, reduction in FTP I'm virtually certain.

 

[HLaB]

No training fo me last night. In my wisdom 🙄 knowing that the Suito didn't provide enough resistance in ERG, I tried updating the firmware to see if that would help. The radio packet install (whatever that means) only progressed a few percent. Powering it off and on got a bit further and I did that a few times. It got to 100% and locked up (only its blue light is working). 30s didn't reset it or 45mins as suggested on the web. I'm giving it 24h and if it doesn't come to life I'm sourcing a replacement. The Rivo is the new version but its got a bad review. I quite like the look of the Avanti and the Justo 2 but I the latter is a bit heavy perhaps for constant set up. A mate bought a Saris H3 for his wife and she doesn't use it and that could be an option. On launch it got bad reviews for accuracy (I have a power meter anyway) and its a bit tight with some through axles (I'm QR) but its got a reputation for being one of the best handlers of ERG/ ride feel and adapting fast to intervals 🤔

 

[Norry1]

Good luck with finding a decent replacement.

 

[Dan Lotus]

No training fo me last night. In my wisdom 🙄 knowing that the Suito didn't provide enough resistance in ERG, I tried updating the firmware to see if that would help. The radio packet install (whatever that means) only progressed a few percent. Powering it off and on got a bit further and I did that a few times. It got to 100% and locked up (only its blue light is working). 30s didn't reset it or 45mins as suggested on the web. I'm giving it 24h and if it doesn't come to life I'm sourcing a replacement. The Rivo is the new version but its got a bad review. I quite like the look of the Avanti and the Justo 2 but I the latter is a bit heavy perhaps for constant set up. A mate bought a Saris H3 for his wife and she doesn't use it and that could be an option. On launch it got bad reviews for accuracy (I have a power meter anyway) and its a bit tight with some through axles (I'm QR) but its got a reputation for being one of the best handlers of ERG/ ride feel and adapting fast to intervals 🤔

What kind of budget if buying new?

There seems to be a much wider range of very capable trainers out there at much more reasonable (relative I appreciate) prices in recent times.

 

[HLaB]

What kind of budget if buying new?

There seems to be a much wider range of very capable trainers out there at much more reasonable (relative I appreciate) prices in recent times.

I've ordered an Avanti for £435, the draw back is a euro plug, but the cheapest I could find it in the UK was about £95 dearer. IIRC the original Suito was £499. Elite support has actually got the Suito going again but I'm kinda looking forward to the Avanti and will look into giving the Suito to a club junior.

 

[HLaB]

I slotted in an active recovery workout (West Vidette-1) into my calendar tonight to test out the Suito's new firmware that was supposed to have improved ERG control.

I still dont like it, with the new Firmware. On the TR phone app there was an impossible resistance but on the PC app the resistance tracked slightly below the target at a normal cadence.

When I upped the cadence resistance dropped out and when held it at that higher cadence for a period of time it failed ERG failed to adapt. And when I returned to a normal cadence it still failed to adapt 🤔

I'll give it one more chance when the new turbo arrives but at the moment I'll be going back to Resistance mode for the longer term.

 

[HLaB]

I had quite an easy 66mile group ride as my mate blew up at the Prosecco stop, then an even easier 53miles group ride today as we mixed the social ride into ours as the winds were a bit crazy. So I had an inkling to try out my new Avanti trainer with TrainerRoad and see how it handled ERG; and I pulled forwards Tuesday night’s workout (Grassy Ridge +2, 3 sets of 9x30 secs VO2max @125%). I might do a group ride on Tuesday. Of course I had a wee bit of watching the:

first.

The Avanti seemed to handle ERG better, keeping me closer to the target without being too aggressive, for the same power source (Assimoa Pros).

 

[colly]

I did a really easy ride today, with the intention of keeping my heart rate below 96, so it was a slow ride. First of all, keeping it that low was really quite difficult. I managed it for most of the ride but because I was focused on it so much I didnt enjoy the ride, about 25 miles. 98% under my imposed limit. The biggest problem was how hard it was on my rear end. Sitting with all my weight on my sit bones and no relief from pushing on the pedals and taking weight, or standing out of the saddle to crest a hill.
Oddly my legs tonight are aching like never before. Twiddling for three hours is harder than you might imagine.

 

[Norry1]

I did a really easy ride today, with the intention of keeping my heart rate below 96, so it was a slow ride. First of all, keeping it that low was really quite difficult. I managed it for most of the ride but because I was focused on it so much I didnt enjoy the ride, about 25 miles. 98% under my imposed limit. The biggest problem was how hard it was on my rear end. Sitting with all my weight on my sit bones and no relief from pushing on the pedals and taking weight, or standing out of the saddle to crest a hill.
Oddly my legs tonight are aching like never before. Twiddling for three hours is harder than you might imagine.

Was this a strict Zone 2 ride then or were you aiming for something else?

 

[colly]

Was this a strict Zone 2 ride then or were you aiming for something else?

Not zone 2 but zone 1. Recovery ? I don't know for sure.

 

[Norry1]

Not zone 2 but zone 1. Recovery ? I don't know for sure.

It can be very hard keeping power/hr really low when riding outside. Much easier on the turbo - but then you miss all the outside benefits like fresh air, countryside etc

 

[colly]

It can be very hard keeping power/hr really low when riding outside. Much easier on the turbo - but then you miss all the outside benefits like fresh air, countryside etc

Very true but I don't have an indoor trainer. I did have but my God it was boring. Used maybe half a dozen times.
Something up to date would be better, interactive stuff and so on but......meh !