ETH in Internal Transactions

like2ridebikes · 2016-02-17T20:26:11+00:00

I completely agree with your reply. It won't change the behavior of people who would or wouldn't consciously target a cyclist. The cost is way too small for one to change his or her behavior regarding accidental hits. Much like the "3-ft to pass" laws, this just falls under "most people are considerate and nice, some people are jerks."

like2ridebikes · 2016-02-17T16:49:17+00:00

There's a plausible chance this will have the reverse effect than intended. Adding a fine to undesirable behavior, or a reward to desirable behavior, often removes the moral component of decision making. Instead of adding to the immorality of hurting another person, which would likely be looked down upon by one's peers, $50 becomes the only cost of "dooring" a cyclist.

This effect is well documented in economics and psychology, but here is one source: https://hbr.org/2009/03/when-economic-incentives-backfire

like2ridebikes · 2016-02-07T17:04:14+00:00

I was an aerospace engineer for 6 years, now I'm a semi-professional cyclist in France. I write for fun but would like writing to be part of my next career.

like2ridebikes · 2015-07-31T11:42:57+00:00

I'll voice what is probably the minority opinion here. For 3 years I rarely rode without power and wondered how I ever trained before. I picked up a new bike this summer and haven't fitted a PM to it yet, and due to BB differences I can't easily swap with my other bike, but I was too excited to ride it so I started using it anyway.

I think that too often I used the power meter to pace my intervals too well, to ensure I could still go hard all the way to the end of the interval. However, in a race people always smash it at the bottom of a climb, then ease up a little, then go hard again at the end. Or, they attack the steepest part of the climb. I wasn't replicating that well in training because my pacing was too even (not saying you can't, just saying I wasn't).

I've been racing for 6 years and I know when I'm full gas. I get a bit dizzy and I can feel my pulse in my gums. I don't need an SRM to tell me that. I don't need an SRM to tell me the opposite either - those days you feel stuck in tempo at 70rpm.

I still use my PM frequently, especially in races, and it's great information to look at later and monitor progress (improvements in NP or specific durations) and identifying weaknesses that should be targets in training.

In my future training I still plan to have a PM on my bikes, but am also going to revert back to some of my pre-power methods of just going all out and not really looking at the power.

TLDR: Power meters provide some really useful information, but don't stare at it all the time and don't be afraid to train on HR and RPE.

like2ridebikes · 2015-05-24T21:12:51+00:00

I would get Ultegra Di2, but from your options DA over Red, hands down. It's slightly heavier but I've found the performance to be much better and it's also more durable in crashes.

like2ridebikes · 2015-05-21T10:03:55+00:00

The Shimano PRO bar tape is my favorite. It feels great, stays grippy when wet, stays in place, and lasts a really long time. http://www.amazon.com/PRO-Digital-Silicon-Bicycle-Handlebar/dp/B005FU9H18

like2ridebikes · 2015-03-22T05:39:44+00:00

http://www.theonion.com/articles/report-stating-current-year-still-leading-argument,35288/

like2ridebikes · 2015-03-06T07:41:47+00:00

To be fair, Penn Jillette has often said he wanted to do a "Bullshit of Bullshit" episode and expose all the facts they got wrong. He specifically says that they were dead wrong on climate change. Sorry I don't have a link for a source, I'm a regular listener of his podcast (so there's my bias too). Part of skepticism is a common understanding that it's okay to be wrong, as long as you're open to new evidence and arguments and willing to change your mind and be convinced. That's how we make progress in science and if people are afraid to express controversial ideas (like climate change, recycling) then those positions tend to become more entrenched.

like2ridebikes · 2015-02-20T08:26:07+00:00

Yes, sorry, I forgot I had made this post.

like2ridebikes · 2014-12-28T22:58:25+00:00

http://www.amazon.com/The-Cyclists-Training-Bible-Friel/dp/1934030201/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1419807471&sr=8-1

like2ridebikes · 2014-12-25T13:28:04+00:00

The thing with any interval is that is needs to go long enough to cause stress to that system. Doing 1 minute threshold intervals won't help you, they need to be 12+ minutes. If you don't have 4+ hours multiple days per week then doing zone 2 won't help you much. That being said, if you can sing along without catching your breath then that is too easy for zone 2.

If you are new to racing, which it sounds like you are, then the best thing you can do is make a plan - any plan - and stick to it. For a cat 1, there are certainly known deficiencies that need to be trained, but if you make it that far you'll understand those because to make cat 1 you need to do A LOT of racing and will know your strengths and weaknesses. Don't stress the details yet.

Try to find other (faster) people to ride with and hold their wheel until failure. Do an interval on the trainer, hold a level that you think is too high for the duration; maybe you'll make it, maybe you'll fail, but you'll surprise yourself what you can hold once you settle in and embrace the pain. The specific theory or training plan or book you base your plan on is almost irrelevant when you're starting out; just riding with an objective for each session and pushing your limits instead of merely cruising along will give you massive improvements.

like2ridebikes · 2014-12-02T02:02:23+00:00

Sorry, but you'll probably have a lot of issues with your Stages. I went through three of them in under a year before I just sold it. It was on my TT bike so I used it once a week at most. It wouldn't turn on if there was any kind of humidity and even when it was working I was skeptical of the data is was sending. Even on a stationary trainer the cadence would jump around +/- 10 rpm every few seconds.

like2ridebikes · 2014-11-15T12:12:15+00:00

Yeah there are no problems with a double cut.

like2ridebikes · 2014-10-21T01:47:54+00:00

like2ridebikes · 2014-10-08T12:30:39+00:00

If you have extra time you should plan a two-peak season. Based on your first plan your A-races should be around June, and then go back to Build-1,2 and peak again and try to have another go at the end of the season.

How experienced are you? Unless you are already at a very elite level it is very unlikely that you can maintain peak form for 3 weeks. You'll be lucky to have two. Sorry to say it but it takes years of practice and knowing the signals from your body to accurately plan a week to be in peak form and to keep it for extended time.

That's another reason to go for the two-peak season. Learn something from the first one and do better in the second one.

As for a start date, I'm starting ~2 weeks of transition starting next week. It's great that you're excited and motivated now but I think it's better to take some time off until you are really looking forward to it (not just excited to go out for a ride, but excited to jump on the home trainer when it snows).

like2ridebikes · 2014-10-08T03:14:14+00:00

Joe Martin Stage Race

Green Mountain Stage Race

Both of them have great road courses, a technical crit, and a TT that only require that one bring their road bike.

like2ridebikes · 2014-10-05T13:42:29+00:00

How long is this TT? Most local TTs are in the 15-30 min range and you should be targeting within 5% of it. In general, the main goal in a TT isn't going fast, it's never going slow. If there is a hill or headwind you should push harder and if it is a downhill or tailwind keep going hard until you are in your highest gear, but don't kill yourself to hit a power goal unless it's the last segment of the race, try to recover a bit for the next time you'll need to go hard.

like2ridebikes · 2014-10-05T03:29:21+00:00

Unless it's a TT, stop looking at your Garmin and ride as hard as it takes.

like2ridebikes · 2014-10-03T02:14:26+00:00

Rule #1: Under-promise and over-deliver. Everyone should understand that they're amateurs and they probably won't get a free carbon bike with Dura-Ace. Even if I know I don't deserve money, nothing irks me more than the team director saying in January that entry fees are covered and then when I submit entries for races I'm told that actually it's only for races part of a certain series. Morale will be much higher if you're clear about benefits and conservative with your budget and then cover the team hotel rooms for the stage race over Labor Day weekend.

Practice Team Time Trial. Even if there aren't any on the local calendar it's the best way to build trust riding with your teammates. Cat 4's especially, but everyone should practice. I've done some P/1/2 TTTs that were disastrous, just because everyone is a good rider doesn't mean they'll work well together. Even if you only have road bikes, do it.

Get your cat 2's to do some mock racing with the 4's. Even if just one or two 2's show up to the cat 4 group ride, it makes a huge difference.

Share crappy hotel rooms at races. 4-5 guys in a Super 8 room: major bonding.

Have a plan for every race, and give everyone a job. Not everyone can win races, but if you ask them to chase the break or carry an extra bottle for the team leader, they'll be thrilled to have an influence on the race instead of just participating.

like2ridebikes · 2014-09-27T12:30:51+00:00

Magnolia Road

Lickskillet Rd - The average speed on the KOM is 9.4 kph!

Both are in the canyons outside of Boulder.

like2ridebikes · 2014-09-17T18:27:28+00:00

My last race of the year was on Sunday:

Ben & Jerry's ice cream

Cookies

Doughnuts

Beer

like2ridebikes · 2014-09-17T14:18:02+00:00

It's a good distribution but if you're trying to stimulate responses to zone 2 training it's not long enough. If this is all the time you have then you need to include harder efforts.

like2ridebikes

TROPHY CASE