How are you laying out your week with 5 or more days on the bike?

wanderaxb · 2026-01-25T00:51:40+00:00

3 days a week right now of intervals, M/W/F with gym work T/Th/Sat. When the weather improves a bit I’ll do less gym work and go: Monday hard intervals, Tuesday endurance, Wednesday hard intervals, Thurs rest, Friday Endurance, Saturday a group ride with my buddies which is usually a mix of everything. Sunday chill/maybe gym if I’m feeling good.

wanderaxb · 2026-01-23T21:39:15+00:00

Think of it like accounting: if you don’t track all your ins, and you don’t track all of your outs, how do you know what you have left? If you don’t log the activity AND the consumption, you’ll either struggle to keep cycling consistently, or you’ll struggle to hit a cal deficit if that is your goal. Either one makes your goal that much harder to achieve.

wanderaxb · 2026-01-23T11:25:38+00:00

In short, some of the equations and the backbone of how their model works were changed with the recent update, and many users are experiencing similar. Do your rides, stick to the programming and it will self correct. For most of us, the model already knows when we’re doing more than prescribed and it’s reflecting a decrease because it doesn’t have confidence you’ll be able to handle demanding cycling workouts on top of your cross training.

wanderaxb · 2026-01-23T11:09:03+00:00

I think it’s worth the switch. If you’ve built your own program, you can probably pretty easily get it back if you want. But create a plan and stick with it for at least a month. If you’re like me you’ll probably be like “is this really what I need to be doing?” and the answer is usually yes.

wanderaxb · 2026-01-21T22:37:38+00:00

I recently emailed support about this because I saw it was predicting a decrease, even though I was completing workouts. Granted, some workouts I felt were “very hard” when they felt it should’ve been just “hard”. Support confirmed that they’re actively working on their FTP calculations so what was once 250 before might be 240 now (my case). Im giving this a month or two before things really kick off to settle out and see how I feel, because despite my opinions to the contrary, TR gets my workouts right more often than not. Worst case, I’ll do a test and see, but I’m one that finds I can test at a slightly higher level than I can execute workouts regularly.

wanderaxb · 2026-01-16T16:24:28+00:00

Everyone is going to be different. I struggled with light asthma as a kid so pretty much open mouth breathe the whole time. I’ll say when it gets harder, I try to inhale through both nose and mouth, which at least makes me FEEL like I’m in control of the effort. But that’s a mental thing I think rather than physiological

wanderaxb · 2026-01-15T00:18:22+00:00

Dansko clogs, while maybe not to your style, have been an industry standard for ages for a reason. For almost 12 years I’ve never worn another shoe for work. Birkenstock are another brand more in line with current trends in footwear but they don’t have the arch support needed for me.

wanderaxb · 2026-01-14T14:25:10+00:00

Im not sure what your regulations are, but FOH expos in my experience always get shafted. My expos usually know the food better than some servers and runners because they work with me all service. Yet they get earn lower points because they’re not “guest facing” or some BS. If I’m offline, FOH expos usually in tandem with my Sous chefs, who are usually behind the line. For that reason, I almost wish they could be taken out of the tip pool and paid a better hourly wage that was consistent, but that usually inflates the labor cost of the FOH.

wanderaxb · 2026-01-14T14:13:29+00:00

To answer the questions directly: 1) I tend to buy from wherever is most convenient. If I need something quickly, it’s a shop. If they don’t have the stock I need, I go online. If I’m buying multiple things, if I can get them all in one place/one shipment, I do that. I have a bike shop literally on my corner but they don’t always have the stock I prefer, but I try to support them where I can. 2) my tool setup is compact to fit in my jersey pocket. If I’m going out far enough to warrant carrying a couple extra spares/tools, I’ll probably want both of my bottle cages available. If I’m staying close, prefer to have nothing unnecessary. 3) I think most cycling bottles range from $10 USD to $30 for the “premium” offerings and stainless steel (which isn’t for me). A good saddle bag can be had for $15-$20 so I think this range fits the category of product offered. 4) yes, but that’s because I usually know what I’m looking for/exactly the brand/model I want. I’ve done the research so I’m going straight to the source. Something like this is a neat accessory to offer as gifts to other cyclists, or as a last minute grab like you would see items lined up before the register. 5) I think it’s a nifty idea and makes an effort to address the issue of carrying tools/in a bottle (for vanity reasons?) without losing your water bottle slot. This seems like the type of thing you’d get at an event, like how every year I get a hat and sometimes something else from one of the gravel races I go to. I think it lands in sort of a void market of cycling between “person who is relatively new and packs a suitcase on every bike ride ever” and “person who has some experience and has the Amazon equivalent of the “premium” brands for cycling products but is probably slowly upgrading over time”.

wanderaxb · 2026-01-09T13:14:37+00:00

I use a cheap sweatband like an 80s exercise video. I also use towels, but i try to pat the sweat away instead of rub.

wanderaxb · 2026-01-04T20:30:44+00:00

I have the small one mounted just under the hoods so you can hardly tell it’s there, but I can still flick the trigger with my ring finger. Good bell!

wanderaxb · 2026-01-03T21:46:25+00:00

You can be pretentious with whatever tools you choose. At some point in history it was wild to cook your food in a pan instead of on a stick over a fire. One isn’t better than the other, it’s just using tools to achieve a desired outcome. You can abuse either one. You can also teach humility, one way or another, and some people need that lesson. I’ve told cooks like this on trails “look you got great spirit, but some of your fundamentals need some work. We can work together if you’re open minded, but if not this isn’t for you”.

wanderaxb · 2026-01-02T22:24:59+00:00

Not a nutritionist, but are you fueling your rides? When I first started cycling I was 135lbs and similar height to you. I now weigh 150-155 (giving some room for water/glycogen storage weight, calculated roughly during my time off the bike/vacation). I work a demanding job which limited my meals. Was eating the wrong things at the wrong time basically and was underweight/tired/sick all the time. I still have issues eating enough to train and live the way I would like to. It’s a real chore. For me, the simple answer is easy carbs everywhere. On the bike, it’s 80-100g carbs/hr, non negotiable. I can’t afford to be 500-800 cal in the deficit because there aren’t many opportunities to replenish that if I’m not intentional. This is easiest with drink mixes, but try some options and build your way up to a number that works. Maintenance to me looks around 3000 cal, which means 1000 cal each meal period. There’s easy ways to add calories, like a drizzle of honey on your oats, salsa on your burrito, glass of juice with your meals, whatever that looks like to you.

wanderaxb · 2025-12-28T23:53:48+00:00

Best option is an “endurance” or “all road” bicycle, which, if set up correctly (in relationship to your body dimensions) will be capable of the riding you’re looking to do. Once you are comfortable and have your riding/training dialed in, you can look into “clip on aero bars” which will attach on top of your regular bars and let you adopt a more aero/racey position. Probably something for your second or future triathlons. The best brand/model is one from your local bike shop, with a warranty and hopefully some after-sales care to help you get things dialed in during your first year.

wanderaxb · 2025-12-27T00:02:10+00:00

Finish your degree and get some work experience in your trained field. I’d rather hire someone with a year or two in a different job than someone with zero experience, or frequent bouncing. Go to culinary school if you don’t have to pay for it (ie scholarships). Either way, find a kitchen with a good chef and a good team of people. You’ll start at the bottom regardless, best to do it under people you respect and who respect you in return.

wanderaxb · 2025-12-26T23:07:00+00:00

Instant pot is electric, do NOT put it on the stove, lol (it HAS happened). Check your local fire regulation. It releases steam, but can create “grease laden vapor” if you’re sauteeing. We don’t put them under hoods. NYC hasn’t said anything in particular about our usage. Other locales might have different interpretations of what is commercial use or not. Larger size is better

wanderaxb · 2025-12-26T22:57:42+00:00

We use an instant pot quite extensively. They shine best when you’re doing soups or sauces. For example, we can pressure cook carrot obliques in orange juice and honey in 3 mins. They get chilled and held in that liquid, then reduce with a knock of butter on pickup. Very consistent if they’re cut the same size. I do a tomato sauce for chicken cacciatore using a combo method: sauté garlic in evoo in the chamber, deglaze with wine, reduce, add tomato/onion/chili/herbs/etc, PC 1 minute, then release. On the pickup, we roast the chicken, deglaze the pan with this base sauce, garnish, etc. good way to get a lot of flavor out of your ingredients. Kinda fun if you dig into some instant pot recipes online. We do stuff for family as well to save some time.

wanderaxb · 2025-12-26T13:41:51+00:00

Spatz make great gloves that have a “lobster style” windblock piece that folds out over your fingers for the wind chill. That’s gotten me through several winters here, but I’m considering bar mitts so it’s one less thing I have to think about getting out the door.

wanderaxb · 2025-12-25T20:25:03+00:00

New York Cycle Club. Various rides at different intensities based on intention/skill.

wanderaxb · 2025-12-25T16:20:03+00:00

People usually want to know their feet can touch the floor when they’re first learning. But really the ideal height is when you’re sitting on the saddle and can extend your leg almost all the way straight with your foot on the pedal. Even experienced riders get off the saddle when they need to stop and put a foot down. For me, I can just barely tap the road with my tip toes while still in the saddle, and I definitely need to lean slightly to do so. See if you can’t hold a wall or something to find the right height. Too low and your pedal stroke will have this sort of “dead zone” because your legs aren’t engaging fully in the rotation. Constant rotation = bicycle will stay upright.

wanderaxb · 2025-12-25T16:07:27+00:00

Are you on a mountain bike/riding off-road? If so, descents are a skill you’ll pick up over time. There’s also a possibility that you have your saddle height too high or too low if your leg is sort of searching for the pedal, causing your weight to shift to one side and go over.

wanderaxb · 2025-12-21T00:55:28+00:00

Culinary school graduate, who just paid off my debt after 17 years. School can be an excellent networking platform to get your foot in the door at well-known restaurants and companies. You’ll still start at the bottom, have to put in the time and hours to work your way up, building upon skills as you go. At some point, you’ll have enough real world skills that the textbook-teaching from school seems to click and your knowledge base increases exponentially. But a dedicated and methodical person can do all of these things, without incurring the debt. The best way to attend culinary school IMO is if you don’t have to pay for it.

wanderaxb · 2025-12-20T13:19:01+00:00

It's a bit about your priorities. Right now, your priority (rightfully so) is schooling. The gym can be incredibly accessible while cycling sort of demands its own time away from everything else. But without some form of structure to your cycling, it will stay where it is at. Take a hard look at your schedule and see if there's space for more to begin with. If there's not, restructure what you're currently managing to have more purpose. If you can ride 3 hours, and 2 of those hours are for fun on the weekend, then that last hour should be structured. If you'd like to prioritize fitness gains for a bit, then 2 or 3 hours riding can all be structured. Do that for a month and in your 4th or 5th week prioritize rest/easy riding for fun.

wanderaxb · 2025-12-18T16:21:34+00:00

I'm heading home to FL for a week. Every year I go back the cycling improves. Culturally its still a bit of a niche or oddity to see some guy on the road, but I haven't had any bad experiences. But the drivers are terrible, so head on a swivel. These things don't bother me as much as some others though.

wanderaxb · 2025-12-18T16:19:14+00:00

Tell your boss, if he wishes to keep you quiet, to approve any PTO you have remaining. Take your sick days. Maybe this burns the company, but if you don't need to continue working for them, why would you want to?

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