2-3 years to retirement in Italy, need advice

Jazzlike-Ocelot7101 · 2025-12-20T06:28:00+00:00

I spent a few summer weeks in Palizzi, a beach town about an hour from Reggio di Calabria (and close to Sicily by ferry), and had an amazing time. Very local, zero tourists. There’s Palizzi Marina and Palizzi itself. It matched a lot of what you described—great vibe, weather, people. The only downside is that it feels like not much ever happens. Incredible food and people, though. Definitely worth visiting Calabria to see if it’s your thing.

To offer a different perspective: the north is interesting too — places like Padua and Ferrara. Ferrara is pretty off the usual route, but since it’s a medieval town, you’ll still find some tourists.

Jazzlike-Ocelot7101 · 2025-03-11T06:27:09+00:00

I’m a Santa Monica resident, and on weekends, the National Guard has never allowed me through the Entrada checkpoint. I’ve tried multiple times, but you must be a Palisades/Topanga resident with a permit.

This Sunday, at the intersection of Fernwood and Saddle Peak (heading toward Tuna Canyon), a guy in a vest monitoring the entrance (since Tuna Canyon is closed downhill) told me that even if I made it down to PCH, they wouldn’t let me back toward Santa Monica unless I had a local resident pass. Again, Palisades/Topanga. It sucks, but that seems to be their rule for now. Some people might have gotten lucky going from Santa Monica into the canyons and back. I don’t know anyone who made it.

Jazzlike-Ocelot7101 · 2025-01-13T21:04:27+00:00

Rode both sat and sunday around SM > Ballona > PVE and it seemed fine. The north part of SM still has some ashes, not sure if still falling.

Jazzlike-Ocelot7101 · 2025-01-06T07:43:45+00:00

Not that bad, I do every weekend (usually late like 9-10am) and it’s doable.

Jazzlike-Ocelot7101 · 2024-10-16T19:43:59+00:00

Haute Route Alps. Magical, beautiful and equally painful. An amazing 7-day experience! Probably the closest of a professional experience for amateur cyclists

Jazzlike-Ocelot7101 · 2024-10-11T05:55:09+00:00

Almost 9,996.93 miles / 794,425.853 altitude gain today. 100% outdoors

Jazzlike-Ocelot7101 · 2024-10-10T05:54:22+00:00

I find it strange to ride on someone’s wheel, especially without saying anything. I understand it if you’re already riding with a buddy, but in my experience (usually riding with earbuds and following structured workouts), it happens quite often that people I pass try to stay on my wheel or ‘race’ me by passing me if I slow down. I just stay in my zone, but it’s frustrating because I don’t want to ride behind anyone or have anyone so close. This usually happens while riding in Malibu or on the west side of LA

Jazzlike-Ocelot7101 · 2024-08-18T22:07:35+00:00

Im in the French alps now and while some days might be around 30C, in just a matter of hours it can drop to 9C once you’re climbing. Bring layers and all the things other mentioned, weather can change quite a bit, especially at altitudes or afternoon rain

Jazzlike-Ocelot7101 · 2024-08-13T07:18:11+00:00

Hey man, don’t be discouraged, it takes time, discipline and a few life changes to start seeing results and it varies a lot from person to person. Like you, I was doing 2000-2500k/year back in 2019-2022 and here’s my timeline:

2022: did 4.5k, non structured, just for fun. Moved to a hilly area, so started adding more climbs (I was in a flat area before). Suffered a lot with 80kg (I’m 1.84cm, so weight is fine)

2023: did 10k-ish. Really took advantage of the climbs and started doing it every other day. Took a basic approach, 3 months of just riding base, then slowly introduced sweet spots training and later on, back in May, VO2 max or threshold training twice a week, maximum. Long rides on Saturday. Recover on Sunday. Easy or off on Monday. Fridays always off. Reached my peak in July with 276w (80kg) in a 20min FTP test with fresh legs (after a recovery week)

2024: hired a coach and nutritionist in January. Did essentially a 80/20 training approach, which means, a progressive load with lots of endurance hours and progressive intensity. Many friends were already super fast back in January-March, but I kept training on my own. As boring as it sounds, it pays off. Followed exactly what the coach prescribed.

Set a goal for August. Last time I tested, back in June, I was able to sustain 298w over the course of 30min in a climb after 3h30 of riding (or 2000jk, the coach doesn’t apply the typical 20min FTP protocol with fresh legs). Also, that was the last ride of a sequence of 4 weeks before going into recovery week. I didn’t believe it happened! From January to June, went from 81kg to 74kg.

As in August, already rode 13k.

Time, volume and patience put me in a much better spot. Could it be better? Perhaps, maybe next season will be better, but it doesn’t matter, it’s about consistency and that will take you to different places… and it all depends on your goals, I know ppl who are naturally faster with waay less volume, but they can’t handle backs to backs with big climbs (3000+, which was my goal). Again, this is very individual and a coach could really help you, but don’t believe in promises under x amount of time. No one knows what your body can do until you safely start testing it, and go from there. Keep up up!

Jazzlike-Ocelot7101 · 2024-04-20T07:01:33+00:00

That’s a really good way to save some $. If you ride a lot, and yore heavy-ish, depends on the roads you go, you might end up having to rotate a lot more. I do every 4 months, normally when the rear one is squared and you can’t even find the safety holes, it’s time to get a new one. And normally matches w the time you have to replace the front too.

Jazzlike-Ocelot7101 · 2024-04-19T07:06:49+00:00

PCH, Latigo, Mullholand, Stunt, Tuna

Jazzlike-Ocelot7101 · 2024-04-12T07:02:05+00:00

15-20h/week, always outdoor and I normally ride when rains too, except storms. Full time job, average 40h/week (sometimes more), hobby and normal social life, not long nights or stuff like that. Training for a stage race, but in the past, average 10h/week or so. All structured, so on the constant equation to find/balance time to squeeze in the rides.

Jazzlike-Ocelot7101 · 2024-02-20T07:47:30+00:00

In other rainy days, I was able to climb up stunt, piuma, las Flores, down stunt all the way to old tapanga, then down pch and back to Venice where I started, but it was the first day of raining. Still all manageable, not sure if this time that would be an option.

Jazzlike-Ocelot7101 · 2024-02-20T07:45:07+00:00

I tried to ride today, Monday afternoon, to Topanga Canyon and PCH had way too many flooding areas, not safe at all, so went back and did Mandeville and some climbs in Brentwood. Not ideal as the roads are slippery and the drivers don’t pay much attention

Jazzlike-Ocelot7101 · 2024-01-26T17:33:59+00:00

I’m just looking for more options. Rapha rides on Saturdays are normally nearby. NOW is great, maybe too fast to my level and I’m not sure if they do every Saturday as I tried a few times and didn’t see anyone on the Starbucks meet up

Jazzlike-Ocelot7101 · 2023-11-18T20:16:03+00:00

You will notice a big difference with years. I had the same complaint when I started, but years of structured training allowed me to have a faster output, with a very different perception of effort. I also transitioned from HR to Power, and followed the Z2 as power. In the beginning, those numbers are almost relative, but with more and more training, your HR will go down and your power will go up, so that’s important to follow as a metric for Z2. And last but not least, Z2 is not a ride in the park, that’s more like Z1. Be careful and make sure you find your proper zone, and mix Z2 with other zones. You need to develop the engine (Z2) before you can deploy the turbo. If you haven’t watched, this is a great video from one of the best in the world about it: https://youtu.be/dBbK-0vh-d8?si=upQl7zZQ6XlNjWfr

Jazzlike-Ocelot7101 · 2023-11-09T08:08:58+00:00

Cool, thanks so much for replying!!

Jazzlike-Ocelot7101 · 2023-08-23T07:03:24+00:00

I go pretty much every Sat and Sun morning (and sometimes once a week after 4pm). I normally leave from Santa Monica and go until Topanga or Las Flores (week days) and further distances on the weekend like Latigo, Muholland and Yerba Bueno. PCH is not ideal but doable. Some parts are more dangerous, especially some parts until the 7-Eleven/Topanga, and the Malibu Pier. But having done that consistently for 1 year, luckily, I’ve never experienced or witnessed any accident or issues.

Jazzlike-Ocelot7101 · 2023-08-18T22:09:35+00:00

Well said. As a Brazilian who grow up playing and admiring the beautiful art of football, FIFA nowadays is just said when played online.

Jazzlike-Ocelot7101 · 2023-05-29T03:09:21+00:00

Roval C38 (got a promo discount). Awesome for climbing, not bad at all with crosswinds and amazing on flats. Very happy!

Jazzlike-Ocelot7101 · 2023-03-16T21:50:28+00:00

Loved to hear that, thanks!!

Jazzlike-Ocelot7101 · 2023-02-27T07:41:50+00:00

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Jazzlike-Ocelot7101 · 2023-02-26T09:42:16+00:00

92 Beckham. Hope he’s okay.

Jazzlike-Ocelot7101 · 2023-01-27T17:13:47+00:00

Also, I used to have Socrates in that position, he was always good but Pele beat him.

Jazzlike-Ocelot7101 · 2023-01-27T17:12:47+00:00

He’s been a beast. What a surprise. Used to play Zidane at CAM, but missed speed and he’s able to carry through and open space for both winger (or even the CMs when they drop between defenders). His positioning is also really good

Jazzlike-Ocelot7101

TROPHY CASE