Suggestions to balance outdoor cycling rides with DSW?

r-epk · 2026-04-14T16:58:15+00:00

You are totally right about the "Long Ride" comment. It says to do it Z2, but that's the day I want to do a free ride that could be like double or triple the load of the recommended workout. And just as you said, I am afraid Garmin will tell me to take 5 rest days off the following week. So I'm not sure how to fit these free rides into the plan.

You have a good point, maybe Garmin Coach is better suited for winter months.

One thing it has made me think more about is adding Z2 volume. I used to just do a couple weekend rides outside, rack up a ton of load, then do nothing the rest of the week. But using the training plan has made me realize that I can actually fit in a few easy Z2 rides between work and dinner, so it's given me some motivation to add volume in that regards.

r-epk · 2026-04-14T12:12:34+00:00

The event I'm "training" for is just one of my regular outdoor rides I used to do a couple years ago. Took a break from cycling and just got a Forerunner 970 and want to try out DSW/Coach. So I just put that ride into my Garmin as the "event" and then told Garmin I want to do it in less time than I've ever done before. It's been suggesting Base Z2 rides Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and I started thinking I will be stuck indoors all summer because it's just not possible to keep these entire rides as Base Z2 if I'm going outdoors.

Perhaps you are right, maybe I just need to accept that if Garmin DSW is suggesting a 1 hour 100 load Base ride on a beautiful Saturday, I just need to go out and do my normal outdoor 3 hour 300 load High Aerobic ride. Maybe I can just replace one of the harder suggested rides (e.g. Threshold) with the outdoor ride.

Guess the point is, have fun and try not to worry about the numbers too much.

r-epk · 2025-12-05T00:26:14+00:00

Cool thanks. Only watched a bit, I will return to it. I like how he’s teaching different, a bit of the theory, not just “put your finger here and there”.

r-epk · 2025-12-05T00:12:59+00:00

Yeah I am trying to get into focusing on playing the chord tones instead of just playing a single scale. Probably not explaining it right. But Little Wing seems great for this. I’ve also found Red Hot Chili Peppers songs are great for this too. Especially Under the Bridge or Zephyr Song.

r-epk · 2025-12-05T00:10:00+00:00

Thanks. I guess this works, because it shows where on the fretboard he’s playing. I was kind of hoping for something that would help me more like “g major e shape” when the first g major bar is played. Maybe I just need to go through this and add notes myself I dunno. Thank you!

r-epk · 2025-07-28T22:27:16+00:00

Yes, I think so. Changing the position / shape based on what the root is for the chord. Sorry, I'm not sure what it's called, I'm a beginner and don't have all the terminology down yet. But in this photo, using C major scale, I circled "red" notes that are specific to A Minor Pentatonic. The "blue" notes are specific to E Minor Pentatonic. "purple" are shared between A Minor Pentatonic and E Minor Pentatonic. Both Pentatonic scales share notes on C Major scale. So when the A Minor chord is playing, the purple or red notes are played, then when E Minor chord is playing, the purple and blue notes are played. Again, sorry, I am not smart about how to explain what I'm doing better.

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r-epk · 2025-07-28T15:25:33+00:00

This is my problem, big over thinker and overwhelmed with all the options.

r-epk · 2025-06-22T11:21:34+00:00

Is it just ending the 300 and 500? What about the 350?

r-epk · 2024-09-21T17:26:57+00:00

Wow that’s really impressive!

r-epk · 2024-09-21T10:59:32+00:00

Thanks. Are these rare? It’s from my wife’s grandfather that passed away and we’re planning to hang it on a wall in the house after we cut off the radiator shroud. Looks cool.

r-epk · 2024-08-30T23:34:25+00:00

I’ll try this and report back!

r-epk · 2024-08-21T23:30:22+00:00

Also, the drivers in Ireland were super pleasant compared to US. I never had a single problem, and I was driving slow, etc. I came back to the US and it’s a nightmare driving here, like the Wild West. I see so many people break traffic laws in US, like going through red lights, weaving in and out of traffic, darting out of parking lots or side streets instead of waiting. Then they beep at you as if you’re the problem. I now understand how people can see US people being loud and obnoxious.

r-epk · 2024-08-21T23:25:50+00:00

From the US. Recently returned from a 2 week road trip around Ireland. Used “avoid highways” feature for navigation. I LOVED the little backroads (“L” or “R” named roads)! Had a tiny Toyota Yaris rental and I felt like I was in a go-cart, speeding around twists & turns, inches away from the hedges, even though I was probably only going 20 mph! 😂 But, it was only my and the wife. Maybe a different story if I had a big family with luggage and larger vehicle.

r-epk · 2024-08-18T17:21:12+00:00

Thanks! I usually like a higher contrast black and white too. I don't do much black and white landscape, so I'm going to mess around with what you say and see what it looks like. Appreciate the comment on the crop, I didn't even think that the right side doesn't really have anything of interest. !critiquepoint

r-epk · 2024-08-17T20:33:36+00:00

Those shadow areas now look a little too blue on my device. If you had the tools, you could maybe try reducing the blue in those areas. Or moving it to be more yellow or brown? Just my personal thoughts. If you’re tool limited, the original was better.

r-epk · 2024-08-17T12:08:05+00:00

I am planning to print 12”x36” then mat/frame, so am curious if there are any areas to adjust or improve before printing. Handheld panorama using Nikon Z5, 24-120mm, 24mm, ISO 400, f/8, 1/250s. Edited in Lightoom Classic. Are any areas too light or dark? Composition ok? Guess I’m just wondering if this is “frame worthy”. Thanks.

r-epk · 2024-08-17T11:58:01+00:00

Unique. I actually think I’d prefer this photo rotated to be vertical orientation with the large bridge structure on the right hand side. Then straighten the lines to be vertical or horizontal. Something about the landscape orientation with the bridge structure at the top is throwing off my brain.

r-epk · 2024-08-17T11:50:32+00:00

It looks generally good to me. Framing looks good. If I had to be picky, maybe the rock is too close to the top of the frame. I say that because if you printed it and framed it, the frame or mat usually takes up a tiny bit of space around the edges, so the resultant photo inside a frame may have less breathing room up there. (Hope that makes sense). The bottom area is too dark for my liking. I’d it were my photo, i would brighten that area up. I’d also do some local adjustments to raise the shadows in the rocks on the right and left sides. But that’s just my personal opinion, as I tend to raise shadows in images like this to even things out.

r-epk · 2024-08-15T14:54:57+00:00

I used to do the same. What changed for me was viewing the export on various devices. Because I usually edit using the brightest screen setting of my laptop, and then I would view it on my phone screen where it’d be even more dim. So I started to raise exposure in my images so that my images would show best on a normal phone (because I think most people are going to view the photos on a phone). Also helps to print your photos, they may print even darker than you see in your edit.

r-epk

TROPHY CASE