the bike is a great leg work out when combined with weights

Tor3210 said:

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Just found this thread, lots of good info and tips here. We've had ours since June 2019 and usually ride 5 times a week. I'm an east coast guy so my week day rides are probably before most of you all are awake (5:45). Usually ride around 8 or 9 on the weekends.

Big fan of any rock ride, HIIT, climbs and of course PZ rides. I'm a pick PZ Matt and Olivia fan, and also dig Emma and Kendall for music ad HIIT rides.

You can find me with the #Texags, I'm CycleDadChris, and I'll follow back and look for you all on the leaderboard!

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Just added you! I ride around 5-5:30 AM central, so I'll probably see you. I'm megbmedina

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2. Are there classes that are good for weight lifters? Bike would primarily be for my wife, but I'm thinking 2-3 days a week and work it around deadlift and squat days.

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Like so many things depends on your goals. But imo, the strength classes aren't really for pure gains, more for general strength. They're taught with minimal equipment - no bench, chair or bar, only dumbbells and some bands - so exercises like bench press is replaced by floor press and sitting concentration curls are often done kneeling (thus losing that lower range of motion). Form is discussed broadly but not really focused on too much which we know can be an issue when you start throwing around the heavier weight (but again I wouldn't say gains and heavier weight are the point). The bodyweight classes are actually pretty good for functional fitness imo. If you know your way around a gym already, you can always use the classes as a guide and modify to meet your needs. I have followed along with a strength class while at the gym several times collecting all my DBs in advanced and isolating myself with a bench and modifying on the fly (no pun intended).

tysker said:

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2. Are there classes that are good for weight lifters? Bike would primarily be for my wife, but I'm thinking 2-3 days a week and work it around deadlift and squat days.

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Like so many things depends on your goals. But imo, the strength classes aren't really for pure gains, more for general strength. They're taught with minimal equipment - no bench, chair or bar, only dumbbells and some bands - so exercises like bench press is replaced by floor press and sitting concentration curls are often done kneeling (thus losing that lower range of motion). Form is discussed broadly but not really focused on too much which we know can be an issue when you start throwing around the heavier weight (but again I wouldn't say gains and heavier weight are the point). The bodyweight classes are actually pretty good for functional fitness imo. If you know your way around a gym already, you can always use the classes as a guide and modify to meet your needs. I have followed along with a strength class while at the gym several times collecting all my DBs in advanced and isolating myself with a bench and modifying on the fly (no pun intended).

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This is good insight. I maintain a gym membership purely for lifting and occasionally switching up my cardio. Although the strength classes, boot camps, and rides that incorporate arms definitely give you a good workout too.

2girlsdad said:

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Couple questions:

1. Is the extra $600 worth the newer bike? I see the plus of the auto resistance feature.

2. Are there classes that are good for weight lifters? Bike would primarily be for my wife, but I'm thinking 2-3 days a week and work it around deadlift and squat days.

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Their strength/boot camp classes will kick anyone's butt (if it doesn't, just add more weight)

I think you'd find it very helpful for warmups/cool downs, but also the stretching and yoga programs. It's really whatever you want it to be - you can be very power/sprint focused and take the Hills/Tabata classes. You can be more cardio/endurance focus by more FTP training and just sticking at a high number as long as you can go.

When I'm doing a lot of squatting, their hip mobility classes are fantastic.

LOL, I'm on 5:45 eastern time usually so you're probably still sleeping!

I've only had it for a day, but this is my goal. Alternate, at home, cardio option. I def think I will get better bang for my cardio minute doing this. I am going to do '2 a days' for the next 2 weeks.. do my normal workout in the AM.. 1 ride every evening.

I haven't done a workout challenge in a while, so why not.

Did a strength for runners, but it didn't show up on my phone app. Husband was logged into the TV app. Urrrgggg.

245kj output today, 10kj lower. Legs felt a little burnt from yesterday. The shift in cardio is excellent.

tailgatetimer10 said:

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245kj output today, 10kj lower. Legs felt a little burnt from yesterday. The shift in cardio is excellent.

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That will happen! That can be as simple as a different format of class, or your legs being fatigued, all kinds of stuff. If I was just starting out I would take at least 2 days off a week to recover the legs.

Here is a good example, I am just getting back into it after about 6 months off, so while not a beginner I am having to work back up to my prior fun. Here is 5 30 min rides all done in 8 days or so. Look at the difference in output, and I attribute that to the varying styles of the rides:

Good advice. I'll take a look at the test once my shoes get in. Thanks for the feedback, I'm a bit lost in this since I've never done spin.

I just did a cycling bootcamp. Not sure if I liked it. Nice to mix in some full body work and some lateral movement, though.

Off topic but that Outkast ride with Denis was hella-fun! Your lowest output, but I am sure like the rest of us that took it there were some dance breaks.

CFTXAG10 said:

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Off topic but that Outkast ride with Denis was hella-fun! Your lowest output, but I am sure like the rest of us that took it there were some dance breaks.

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It was such a blast! I hate to say this my 30 min ride PR was on a Lizzo ride that I had a ton of fun on as well. LOL!

That said I learned a long time ago to try and not place all of Peloton self worth on output when I first "met" AngieVerb and she whooped me three ways from sunday when we would take live rides together. Does it still effect me, oh yeah, but if I care too much I would want to walk away from the bike. My output is SUPER low right now as I get back to training and I expect it to take me a solid 2-3 months to get back to where I was last year. It hurts my heart to see outputs at 20% less than my PR's but I never should have taken the time off!

Agree 100%. I started hiding the leaderboard too during rides and I place a lot higher when I do.

I saw this one on that screenshot.. quickly added to my 'to do' list.

I've never been so excited for a pair of shoes, but they come in today. No more excuses for me.. hah!

ILikeTacos said:

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txags92 said:

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Total output is a poor metric to measure day to day effort levels. It is very dependent on the structure of the class, the length of the warmup, the amount of recovery, etc. Once you get comfortable on the bike, do an FTP test. Redo the test about once every 6-8 weeks to see how your fitness is improving. If you are trying to lose weight too, use the FTP to calculate a power to weight ratio. That will more effectively measure your true fitness and will account for any power loss due to lower weight.

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While I agree with all of this, retesting every 6-8 weeks is volunteering for torture.

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Just signing up for a power zone challenge is volunteering for torture...or a Kendall Metal ride...or an Olivia PZ Max ride. Face it, we are all masochists in one way or another.

I would only recommend that frequency for people who are fairly new and/or doing a lot of riding. If you have been riding for years or you are only doing 2 rides a week, you don't need to test that frequently. But newer riders or people riding with more intensity are going to see gains faster and risk outrunning their zones if they don't test often enough.

I keep hearing of this Metallica ride.maybe I should give it a go.

It gives new meaning to the "darkness, imprisoning me" lyric from One.

Old and Busted vs New Hotness

Sweet! Yellow shoes make you faster.

20kJ at least

Every time I look down and see them on my feet I think I should be riding like these guys...+20 pelotons (or whatever they are called) is conservative

So, the shoes feel pretty snug. More snug than I wear my running shoes. I went ahead and rode with them see how it was, everything was fine except my left foot big toe, which was in slight pain from the top of the shoe.

Are they too small or do they need adjustment on the cleat?

tailgatetimer10 said:

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So, the shoes feel pretty snug. More snug than I wear my running shoes. I went ahead and rode with them see how it was, everything was fine except my left foot big toe, which was in slight pain from the top of the shoe.

Are they too small or do they need adjustment on the cleat?

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Some cycling shoes tend to run narrow depending on the brand. They should feel snug, but not tight. Don't hesitate to try loosening them up a bit if you are getting toe numbness or hot foot while riding. If your toes are jammed up against the toe of the shoe, they are probably too small unless you are pointing your toes at the bottom of your pedal stroke to cause it.

I think you're 100% right. I am pointing my toes. I am wearing them right now to see, and the only area I feel any pressure in a relaxed state is on the outter toe, but its just snug, not pain. the big toe is still loose enough to where i can slightly wiggle it and I do not feel the end of the shoe touching it.

Editing post: I have been wearing sitting here for an hour now. while not comfortable, they aren't nagging. Think, dress shoes.

My favorite rides have always been the power zone rides. I recently joined the Power Zone Pack website and see they have challenges. Are any of yall on that group? How do you join a team?

Power Zone Pack

Did my power zone test yesterday. That's horrible. Unsure when I'll do my first power zone ride. Doing weights today and maybe a run tomorrow.

Gotta work on cleat placement on my new shoes. My right foot was hurting pretty bad by the end of it. The arch especially. I think the knee angle is right, but maybe I'm not on top of the axle enough?

They have signups that usually close a week before a challenge begins. It's been the best thing to hold me accountable.

A couple of us TexAgs people are on my team - 3-93. We're the SkiBoonies this round. I'm sure we'll post before the next challenge sign up.

This is my first challenge and I've liked the schedule / accountability. I'll have to get on the TA team next go around.

The challenge completely burned me out on power zone rides, I'm sitting this one out and enjoying some of the other rides with some PZE mixed in

bthotugigem05 said:

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The challenge completely burned me out on power zone rides, I'm sitting this one out and enjoying some of the other rides with some PZE mixed in

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I hear ya, but she did away with the extra credit stuff. You still have the AR, but that is an easier 30 minute ride that is easy to tack on.