I don't gain much as I am a smaller man similar to Caleb Ewan 🇦🇺 , 5ft 6 " tall . I don't get too close as some riders break good etiquette . It can be scary.
It's uncanny... I went through all of those phases on the lycra: baggy shorts and t-shirt because I didn't want to look like an idiot... then to cheap cycling shorts and cheap cycling shirt because I realised all that flapping was slow and uncomfortable... next to slightly upgraded shorts and tighter shirt... finally to expensive bib shorts and jersey because they fit much better and I'm now convinced I look awesome in them.
I think a lot of riders looks very good in lycra, got passed by Johannes Kulset /Uno-x one day and he looked superfantastic. I saw lycras with nice olive green colour that looks very good, but I stick to more flashy colors because of visibility in trafic/safety. I dont look best in lycra (more fit people look better) but thats not my problem, I enjoy the ride and seeing whats in front of my eyes.
Fact. You will get passed by more experienced rider. This will happen less often over time, but there are always going to be more experienced riders. Don't let it ruin your ride and take all the fun out of the sport.
Hold on a sec here, when the newbie gets over getting passed, he'll start to see those passing as carrots to chase after and try to draft as long as possible just to prove a point that they're not slow just taking it easy!
@@StettafireI disagree. I’m not ok with getting passed (even by e-bikes), and that drives me to improve. Each of us chooses how we ride, and hopefully we’re introspective enough to know what we want from cycling.
I'm only annoyed when a 70-year old gray-haired e-biker passes me. I'm in my 40's and a little over-weight for a cyclist so I probably can't compete with younger riders anymore. But I'm also passing some other riders wearing spandex while I don't. Still, I only compete with myself, to be in better shape.
Or use agave syrup, it is fructose, then you can cut the glucose and put less stress on the body! I did this with my coffee 5 years ago. The 2 cheapest sources I've found are from Costco, or Madhava has a 2 pack of 64oz bottles on amazon. Ive never tried sugar water... right now im drinking LMNT in a bottle of water before my ride. What sort of benefit does the sugar water provide? Should I drink it while riding or before? The limeaid sounds good! Its the same flavor LMNT i like. Its like a nonalcoholic margarita with the salt in the the glass instead of on the rim. I began using LMNT to battle cramping while working outdoors @ 117f the summer of 2022. I was losing so much salt from sweating and purging my body with water to keep from dying in the heat. I would get full body cramps after work, it even started happening @ work. I went through a lot of things trying to figure it out including potassium. LMNT has the salt and potassium, plus some magnesium which couldnt hurt as im taking it too.
The demonization of carbs in the fitness world needs to stop. Carbs are life and energy, especially for very active people. And the only fasting I'm going to do is when I'm sleeping.
The issue is that many overconsume carbs and underexercise, hence this negative view of the carbs. How many folks are truly grinding it out there daily (bike, gym, run, swim, etc.) vs. those who eat like crap and merely check an exercise box, if that?
Well, maybe a bit of insight into insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, and the metabolic syndromes, will help you see why. There's a type 2 diabetic epidemic and I saw a triathlete on UA-cam responding to viewer comments about his crappy high carb diet by taking a test. Turns out he was a full blown type 2 diabetic.
I never thought I’d wear Lycra. I bought a road bike and did MTB shorts and a t shirt…. After a few weeks I gave in. Now I love the Lycra and and slowly building up a whole wardrobe
I was a t-shirt rider for years, and I was amazed at the difference when I got my first real kit. This is a great video! A lot of valuable advice packed into 14 minutes.
Yes I would struggle to get to 40kph in tshirt and overshorts. When I got the slim fit kit 40kph was much easier and could stay there for minutes. Much more fun at that speed
Thanks for the info on formula369. I used your link and my bag came this week. After trying, I can say I feel similar to when fueled by Maurten 320, which I used for an event last year. I feel that is too expensive to use for training, so thanks again for this alternative. By the way, I enjoy your videos; your personality, humor, and storytelling.
That lycra thing is very true. I went as fast as I could in lycra got speed of 41 km/h, three days later, same road, same max effort, but a loose jacket- 39 km/h. Another great thing with lycra is the backpockets. I love them.
Bearing in mind that 2Km/h during a max effort can mean a lot to some people, and nothing at all to other people. Most people who care about how fast they get from A to B choose a motorized vehicle of some sort.
@@Frostbiker I am fat and 62 years old and appreciate everything that helps. When I visit my mother I am going 55 km over tarmac and dirt throug hills climbing 500 meters. It is hard enough with dedicated clothes.I like to go on my superfast gravelbike in clothing that works. On small trips what I likes best with my lycra is the pockets on the back. No other clothes I have do have these pockets where i carry my phone and something more.
Started cycling last winter and have never touched no lycras, bib shorts whatsoever. I still ride in my regular ass cotton t-shirts and baggy gym shorts and am still having so much fun, averaging around 30km/h these days in a very flat area. And no chafing and butt hurting after a few months. Guess I just adapted. I'm totally satisfied with how I ride now, so the biggest lie for me has been that you should just wear those skin suits that'll charge you like crazy $$$. But if I ever get more serious about getting faster, I'll definitely consider joining the dark side....
This was the perfect intro to cycling video we all needed. LOVED the zone of delusion as well. Fully LOL moment. Keep the vids coming. Instant sub I was so impressed in a world of meh...
Since I’m not racing speed isn’t my main focus - getting fitter is, so as long as my Watts are going up I’m good 👍🏻 Therefore comfort and ease (aka lack of mechanicals) is the main goal. If I was racing though, then it’s ALL about speed! Carbs though, are a universal truth for all endurance sports - no matter what your goals are
Yeah, same here. Started wanting to be faster and go further but quickly enough realized that being comfortable to ride somewhere nice for a few hours was enough of a goal and one I’d already reached anyway. Feels enough to just enjoy it and have a nice trip out and it’s the short more regular rides I enjoy the most.
I quit riding in the 90s when I got my drivers license. Picked it back up 3 years ago at 265lbs and having been a smoker for 20 years. That first ride was less than 3 miles and I thought I would puke. A 20 mile ride now feels almost effortless and being 55lbs lighter (and still dropping) doesnt feel too bad either.
First video I watched from you and I have to say I really like your presenting style. The content is solid, too, but the presentation is even better. I'll definately watch some more!
I Can't tell people enough when they are starting the cycling journey to EAT EAT EAT and the right food (carbs) I neglected this for my first few months of riding and when I started eating everything changed!
news flash: cycling isn't all about speed. sometimes it is, sure, like if you're into racing or just pushing your limits for training, but MANY of us do NOT ride for speed. Lycra/spandex is NOT a requirement (unless again, if you're into doing races), but this goes for all the points here. This video is for people getting into racing/speed.
The professional racing culture and fast road biking mentality has infected the concept of cycling in general. There seems to be a great confusion between cycling/riding a bicycle, and road racing. It is hard to find videos that give ideas related to cycling. It seems that most or all cycling channels on UA-cam give advice related to road racing, and they call that cycling.
respectfully disagree. From the youtube lense it may appear as such, but youtube doesn't encompass all of cycling; there are quite a few cyclists, especially in other areas of the world that do not watch youtube or in other ways influenced by 'big youtube cycle channels'. In fact, in terms of the world cycling community, I'd say youtube consumption is a vast minority.
@@void_presence Yeah, worldwide, probably most bike users are aiming for "go faster than walking, for less effort, and moving stuff." Casual clothes, upright posture, 10 MPH if that, bike built like a tank. Utility biking.
The funny thing is I swapped to bib pants because my baggier clothes would end up coming down while leaning over and swapped to a cycling jersey because it's a lot easier to carry phones and other things in a cycling jersey. I probably has ended up making me faster as well. Recently, I tried unzipping one of my vests a bit, and when I started descending I really felt it as it ended up completely coming undone and flapping in the wind, which was really concerning since I had my phone in a rear pocket, so I had to stop and zip it back up before continuing. It really was a good demonstration of air resistance, however.
There are two kinds of “buying a new bike”, one is “replace this with that” (for whatever reason: looks, component upgrades, performance upgrades, proper sizing). The other is “add X to my stable because it’s for .” I’ve done a mix of both: upgrading my “fast” road bike 3 times (once for size), and my gravel bike 2 times (once for sizing). But I added a dedicated trainer bike for convenience, an endurance bike for comfort, and a flat-bar gravel for more technical off-roading than I was comfortable doing on my gravel. Sure, I could probably have consolidated all my drop-bar bikes into a single frame with 2-3 sets of wheels. My was was more expensive, but each serves its own purpose even with overlap.
I have three road bikes (excluding vintage), a 2022 Vitus Razor, a 1992 Trek 2300 composite, and a 1997 Olmo Giro. There isn’t much speed difference between them unless on a very long descent. On an average ride it’s minimal. Lycra is a far bigger difference.
I have a self built fixed gear death trap with pursuit bars and a nice gravel bike. I rode the gravel bike for half a year thinking it might just be a tad slower than a road bike and then had to switch back to the fixed gear while the gravel got a check up. Its 4kmh difference on average even though the hubs on the fixie belong in the trash at this point
More important thing about lycra than speed iml is the functionality on the bike. Both the padded shorts for comfort and the back pockets in the jersey for storage, anything else is not allowing you to cycle as it's supposed to be
Just starting out myself and just ordered jerseys. I got bib shorts because my ass hurt and I had to get jerseys because my bib shorts don’t have pockets
There's a demographic of cyclists that wear their cycling clothing into the ground. Saggy / see through bibs. Dudes. Consider them a consumable. They do have a lifespan. When they no longer compress and sag on you, or are threatening to go see though, replace them. There's affordable yet quality options. Quality reputable name brands do go on sale, so you don't have to settle for generic.
As a clydesdale rider (6' @ 250 average), I respect that I am already a huge sail-= but I also ride in some hot and open spaces for extended rides. My average ride is currently 40 miles at roughly 3-4 hours riding. I have recently started wearing summer hoodies and, while they flap around, I feel like the lower exposure to the sun along with the fact that there is no "form fitting' jersey options for a dude who wears XXL-XXXL in biking clothing.
Good video, I don't necessarily agree with the new handlebar upgrade, I think that can be a good one. Don't forget that as you said 80% of the drag comes from you, the rider and the handlebar plays a big part of your riding position. Of course the no 1 important thing you need for an aero position is a strong core but if you are like Chris Froome (tall and super skinny with long limbs) then you might be the person with the strongest core on the planet, but if you are riding with a 44cm handlebar and a 70mm stem and have a saddle designed only for climbing then holding an aero position will still be likely very painful after 20-30 minutes of riding. Having said that I think the 4th lie that perhaps hold a lot of beginner cyclists back is that pro/retül bike fitting is a waste of money. There are of course better and worse bike fitters but if you are member of a local club then you can ask the club members, mainly more experienced ones who they can recommend as the best bike fitter of your local area.
I was riding a 30+lbs steel bike with downtube shifters and 35mm tires for the past 9-10 years. I Just bought a used Eddy Merckx San Remo from a local bike shop and my mph went up 3mph instantly. This may be an exception to your 3rd rule. But in all fairness I think you're communicating to the people with already nice race bikes who want to upgrade to something unrealistic economically. Loved your video!
All true. Though the most effective upgrades are always upgrading yourself. Thus such thing as training plan and direct drive trainer for your pain cave got top ROI of all the upgrades.
I started wearing lycra for the dissipation of sweat and no other reason. I didn't even care about aero when I started wearing it, I was far too slow to care AND I was riding an ebike at the time, but I had a massive issue with sweat (and still do) which lycra helped with quite a lot. It also allowed me to carry clothes with me on my ride if I got too hot or cold, normal clothes are bulky and heavy in comparison.
My biggest hold-back from embracing real cycling kit was the cost of getting kit that was comfortable. Yeah, I did the Amazon cheap stuff, but it wasn’t until I tried that I built an inventory of bibshorts & jerseys. Finding affordable, comfortable kit made it possible to give up all that loose, floppy exercise gear. Great advice for all cyclists, not just new ones. One of the simple sugars I like to bring along is Smartees. Aside from the tartness that can induce thirst/drinking, Smartees are almost pure dextrose (aka “baker’s sugar”), which in my experience is incredibly easy on the tummy. And the biggest change I made to improve my performance was losing weight. Not of the bike, but of the *rider*. It took serious attention to how much & when I was eating, but I dropped 25lb between two seasons and the difference in how I felt and how fast I felt was very noticeable. Everything else was “marginal gains.”
Of course everyone needs a different fit but I found NeoPro jerseys to fit extremely well and they're very affordable. I do prefer bibs from other brands though.
I think the professional racing culture and fast road biking mentality has infected the concept of cycling. Most "cyclists" I see these days look like professional road racers, instead of just... cyclists.
10 years ago people would laugh at me for eating so much whilst riding, my nickname was the grazing cow!! Some of my riding buddies would literally just rub marmite on their gums and go out for 6 hour endurance 'fasted' rides. This advice is now the polar opposite! Eat more sugar!!
Thanks for this, I want to get into cycling, I just ordered £200 of cycling clothes on top of a £1500 bike (that was enough for one outfit!) and this video helped me know I made a good choice. Also I did not know to avoid fat and protein. One thing I worry about is muscle atrophy which is why I usually include some protein before cardio, I guess I will try to consume protein a bit longer before and straight after and focus on carbs. I bought a gravel bike but when my funds are replenished I plan to get road wheels so that will cover the tyres part too, I will look at those tubeless ones you suggested. Thanks again for a great video!
I was practicing swim with swim trunks and I had a 25 yrd time of 28 seconds and I got really tired out easy, i bought a pair of racing shorts that were tight, and now i can do 25 yrds with ease in 25 seconds, with my pb being 21 seconds, which still isn't good but it's a huge overnight improvement
I just came off an 09' Allez that I had upgraded piece by piece - really to make it more comfortable. I just got a Winspace SLR 2.0 carbon fiber frame, and it is a night-and-day improvement over a 15-year-old aluminum frame in the comfort department. As they say, fast is smooth, and smooth is fast!
I think a lot of people have different reasons for riding a bike. Your friends might say you don’t need spandex because they aren’t in the minority of bicycle riders who wear spandex. And the fact is, you don’t need spandex to ride a bike
Glad I found this channel! I signed up for a 100 mile race in August and I am just a beginner (long story about my grandpa giving me his bike). Can you tell me when it comes to carbs... what tells you they dont work well with your body? is the goal to feel the energy, belly feel great, no poop? Lol
That's awesome! Good luck with your first race. Definitely "practice" eating carbs on your training rides. You should eat the same thing during your training and the race, because everybody responds a little differently to different foods. Also, taking in a lot of carbs can be difficult to do at first as it requires you to eat a lot more than you may be used to. I like using drink mixes because it's easier to drink from a water bottle while riding than unwrapping a bar or energy gel, but some people say drink mixes upset their stomach, and they prefer solid foods. My best advice would be to try a couple different things and find what works best for you.
my Lyrca story... at 17 I got a pair of biker shorts for christmas... growing up a "husky" kid even though I wasn't at the time I always wore overshorts... until in the middle of a FL summer day around noon I decided to go out for a ride... I stepped outside and the heat hit me hard... I tossed the overshorts back into the house and haven't looked back... unfortuantly it took me anothe 10+ years to move to wicking/jersey type fabric for my torso... I wish someone would have told me how bad cotton T shirts where haha... these days as a SUPER CLYDE (aka fatty) I wear spandex... I ride for my comfort... not yours... in Houston the humidity sucks... wicking fabric is king
Although I am slowly getting into cycling clothes I don't agree with the point of "go for cycling clothes". I bought them, because I had trouble with sweating on my 21 km commute, but I would recommend to wear whatever makes you having fun on your bike. Riding a bit faster is nothing compared to riding more. I say, if you have fun on your bike and feel good, don't spend money on expensive gear to get 5% faster. On shorter rides you will spend more time with taking your bib on and off than the time you are saving during the ride. Also it is inconvenient to change clothes on the toilet at the office.
Bonking isn't just about running out of glycogen; it's really about your brain signaling you to slow down or stop because of low blood sugar levels-it’s trying to keep you safe. Interestingly, there's also significant fat oxidation even at very high intensities, like at 90% VO2max, and there’s solid evidence to back this up. It’s worth noting that you didn't mention MCTs. Many professional tour riders enhance their carb intake with ketones. They also focus on training their bodies to adapt to using fats more efficiently, which helps reduce their reliance on carbs and is easier on the digestive system. I have my own mix which has cyclic dextrin, MCTs, collagen and electrolytes. This way I stay in ketosis und have carbs and do not run into the risk of becoiming a pre-diabetic.
Buying a new bike will give me massive performance gains! Right now im chasing road bikes on my full suspension mtb. But bikes are so expensive im saving. I want to go in for a fitting 1st to dial myself in. The fitting alone is $325-450, just to ensure im as comfortable as i can be on the bike. Allowing me unlimited potential (within my limits ofc)! Im still seeking advice/ideas for a good endurance bike.
I have a 1990's Diamondback. Shifts good and relatively fast. I bought a 1990's Trek ( Chrom- moly) that had a chainring that was larger and really small cassette, so really flies! The Trek was only $11.40 from KARM.
I offered a backup set of lycra to a riding partner a few weeks ago as a good deed . They didn't like them even though they were the correct brand for his bicycle . He really did need a spare set , though .
I get the kit and speed connection, but as a novice on a budget and female and wanting to avoid the sun at all costs, i havent found any kit that meets my requirements...so ill just continue biking in my hiking gear.
last week i did a test and turns out my w/kg is 5.3 lol, only trained about 2 or 3 three times a week so apparentely i am talented! Keep it up Mitch, great content!
The section best attempt feature of Strava , especially rising grade sections still has many issues like run up speed variations and start to end point datum accuracy issues as well as varied attempt trajectory problems .
I don't think I get passed because I don't wear lycra or have good tires. Seems more likely that my 205 watt ftp has something to do with it. 😂 Eventually I will get both though. For now, getting fitter is the priority.
I feel like the lies about spandex are not a lie. Normal people indeed don't need spandex, unless they want to be not-normal. There are good reasons to wear biking specific apparel (whether it's specifically spandex or something else), but being faster/having an easier ride is not a "always good" and when you start getting obsessed with speed that's when you change from "normal cyclist" to, Cyclist ™. Besides wind, baggy clothes and such is just extra resistance. You get harder exercise, which depending on your goals, might be exactly what you need/want. Otherwise great points to keep in mind!
Carb vs fat. The more fat adapted one is, the more glycogen stays in the tank even on short hard bursts. I have only bonked once in the last 6 years since becoming fat adapted, and that was because we had a high carb lunch. I recovered to finish, but it took 30-40 min to recover. You need to train fasted, low to med intensity and keeping high intensity efforts to short bursts. Recovery needs quality clean protein and the carbs that are more nutrient dense. Save the carb loading for the higher intensity or longer rides. I have seen many many riders new and experienced overdo it with carb consumption on long rides still bonk and go into situations of gastric distress.
You know what you can buy that will make you faster? A trainer lol, someone who can work with you to optimize your training to keep gaining watts. Spending $200+ on a aero handlebar is going to do way less than developing your engines. I'd put money into that before upgrading the bike tooo much. Health and fitness = speed to me and you can buy ways to optimize your training, increasing your speed at a greater rate than tryna figure out on your own. There's people that go to school and specialize in that stuff lol you don't have to if you don't want to! milliseconds faster doesn't equate to more enjoyment in my commuter only atm opinion xD(I say that knowing that some enjoyment stems from seeing you beat your times and scores, I am highly competetive so I understand that it's not just the act of riding for road cycling, but also your times) I think i'm leaning more towards wanting to get into touring/bike packing rather than road cycling/racing so to me really buying speed is irrelevant if you aren't already optimal in the health and comfort on the bike department. over a 100 mile ride you saved 2 minutes with the aero handlebar, woooow, type thing lol, vs I did 50 more watts consistently over that 100 miles, that's friggen something right there.
I bike since I was 3yers old :) To day in my early 60's I keep up and its pretty Amazing. Thought the part of Carbos is so important also surprised me many bikers don't follow. Anyway love your video!!
Interested to see your diet video. I am 53 and been on carnivore diet for 4 months now. I don't ride 6 to 8 hour rides but have had no issue with rides of 3 to 4 hours with zero carbs. I will be experimenting with higher intensity rides because I am planning a 2200km trip.
My guess is that you do not ride hard all the time. I can ride hard up to two hours without carbs. So if I go relaxed I guess my glycogen stores would not empty much longer. As long as you feel good all is fine i would say. I eat loads and loads of carbs every day and still struggle to keep my weight (I become thinner and thinner which I do not like) since I ride roadbike regularely.
(This is coming from a commuter perspective vs this video, but fr still applies, you got into cycling some but just can't seem to get completley into it for whatever reason, read this lol) I feel lucky to have genetically massive legs lol so I feel I got a head start, but tbh all the pains and stuff go away the more you ride. Literally just ride more and it will get more comfortable(Baring you do have a well fiting bike and all that jazz). Tbh what changed my mind is, bike shop guy told me this. Big plushy saddles will get uncomfortable on long ride, but the right shape and less padding will become more comfortable the more you ride because your butt will just become tougher, the muscles around all of it grow giving you more padding lol (I mean obviously there's a line, like he rides a specialized romin evo no bibs, he said if he had that saddle like 3 years ago he'd hate it just because his butt wasn't tough enough). So literally just don't stop riding, keep at it and eventually those slightly tough rides are a breeze and you won't even have that lil voice in the back of your head, need to go to the store to get a small thing and you would normally drive, ride your bike? Don't force yourself to only bike when training/working out. Make it fun so when it is a workout, it's just easier! Start doing small tasks on your bike that you'd normally drive. Don't be afraid to make adjustments, keep note of pains, uncomfortable feelings, and how you ride and slowly address those things if you don't want to go drop $150-$200 on a "Normal" bike fit, not like the whole hook you up to diagnostic machines and all that to find the optimal position for power output type fit lol those are like $800 or more. The bike you have is not what you get, you can change literally everything, so it becomes more comfortable and better for you, what's best for you is what makes you ride more!
Funny thing is, when you said that it's only bikeheads who think they look good in lycra I was like wait what? Thinking about it you might be right, but I never considered other riders or myself not looking good the way we dress. Though I hardly wore anything else for bike riding since I was ten, so that might explain it. 😜 I've been thinking if it might be slightly unappropriate that I wear tights to University as well, but I guess who cares. (It is around 30 kilometers from where I live, and I've found that it's a perfect way of putting in riding time with a tight schedule if I go by bike.)
I train on a Dahon folding bike that I have upgradet with 10-speed gears and a Garmin Vector 2s. No aero, no high speed. But since I'm driving alone, that doesn't matter.
Made all these mistakes and believed alot of it. These days i went from going ham every ride to just relaxing. Speed was and is never the whole point of my cycling. Fitness is
Friendly PSA: Don't buy speed from bikers. Oh... nevermind, wrong room
Unless you declare them as "business expenses"
I mean it is good advice… 😂
😂 Just say no.
They will say anything to justify wearing lycra.
I don't gain much as I am a smaller man similar to Caleb Ewan 🇦🇺 , 5ft 6 " tall . I don't get too close as some riders break good etiquette . It can be scary.
The calves of a Greek God and the arms of a T-Rex!!
The perfect body... for a very select group 😅
I resemble that remark ahaha
I’ve seen cycling coaches advising amateurs to stop weight lifting so much as it was going against their cycling performance.
i look like an orc, big belly big calves, small head
@@twowheelsandcroissant That's not too bad. I have the genitals of a greek model.
It's uncanny... I went through all of those phases on the lycra: baggy shorts and t-shirt because I didn't want to look like an idiot... then to cheap cycling shorts and cheap cycling shirt because I realised all that flapping was slow and uncomfortable... next to slightly upgraded shorts and tighter shirt... finally to expensive bib shorts and jersey because they fit much better and I'm now convinced I look awesome in them.
one of us! 🫡
You dont....
I think a lot of riders looks very good in lycra, got passed by Johannes Kulset /Uno-x one day and he looked superfantastic. I saw lycras with nice olive green colour that looks very good, but I stick to more flashy colors because of visibility in trafic/safety. I dont look best in lycra (more fit people look better) but thats not my problem, I enjoy the ride and seeing whats in front of my eyes.
Congratulation my friend, you are on the right path to cycling nirvana...
Still in the denial phase, but I already see I will not be able to resist much longer...
Fact. You will get passed by more experienced rider. This will happen less often over time, but there are always going to be more experienced riders. Don't let it ruin your ride and take all the fun out of the sport.
Even more irritating...is being dropped by the new cyclist...😭😭😭🤣
Hold on a sec here, when the newbie gets over getting passed, he'll start to see those passing as carrots to chase after and try to draft as long as possible just to prove a point that they're not slow just taking it easy!
Same for running. Be ok with getting passed. No one else is judging you for being slow, they're just getting on with their own runs
@@StettafireI disagree. I’m not ok with getting passed (even by e-bikes), and that drives me to improve.
Each of us chooses how we ride, and hopefully we’re introspective enough to know what we want from cycling.
I'm only annoyed when a 70-year old gray-haired e-biker passes me. I'm in my 40's and a little over-weight for a cyclist so I probably can't compete with younger riders anymore. But I'm also passing some other riders wearing spandex while I don't. Still, I only compete with myself, to be in better shape.
I'll wear spandex no problem, but if I EVER start saying stuff like, "wow, this kit looks great" then I'll know I'm in tooooo deep
you will eventually, trust me.
All I hard was "buy a new Aero bike"!
Thanks for convincing me :)
🤣
😂🤣
Lol, my partner calls my sugar water 'hummingbird food'. A bit of lime juice and table salt makes it more drinkable.
putting a bit of Salt into your drink is an underrated hack. (Unless its already included in your sports drink).
My favorite
You've reinvented the lemonade haha.
Lime juice also contains fructose which makes glucose absorption easier. Add equal parts maltodextrin to sugar and you've got most sports drinks.
Or use agave syrup, it is fructose, then you can cut the glucose and put less stress on the body!
I did this with my coffee 5 years ago. The 2 cheapest sources I've found are from Costco, or Madhava has a 2 pack of 64oz bottles on amazon.
Ive never tried sugar water... right now im drinking LMNT in a bottle of water before my ride. What sort of benefit does the sugar water provide? Should I drink it while riding or before?
The limeaid sounds good! Its the same flavor LMNT i like. Its like a nonalcoholic margarita with the salt in the the glass instead of on the rim. I began using LMNT to battle cramping while working outdoors @ 117f the summer of 2022. I was losing so much salt from sweating and purging my body with water to keep from dying in the heat. I would get full body cramps after work, it even started happening @ work. I went through a lot of things trying to figure it out including potassium. LMNT has the salt and potassium, plus some magnesium which couldnt hurt as im taking it too.
The demonization of carbs in the fitness world needs to stop. Carbs are life and energy, especially for very active people. And the only fasting I'm going to do is when I'm sleeping.
Thank you.
The issue is that many overconsume carbs and underexercise, hence this negative view of the carbs. How many folks are truly grinding it out there daily (bike, gym, run, swim, etc.) vs. those who eat like crap and merely check an exercise box, if that?
Well, maybe a bit of insight into insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, and the metabolic syndromes, will help you see why. There's a type 2 diabetic epidemic and I saw a triathlete on UA-cam responding to viewer comments about his crappy high carb diet by taking a test. Turns out he was a full blown type 2 diabetic.
@@JustBrowsing777Type 2 is caused by obesity, not by eating carbs
@@electricant55 no, obesity is a symptom not causality. Learn som basics mate. You can be slim and type 2 diabetic.
I never thought I’d wear Lycra. I bought a road bike and did MTB shorts and a t shirt…. After a few weeks I gave in. Now I love the Lycra and and slowly building up a whole wardrobe
It sneaks up on ya!
same with me just a week ago lol
@@MitchBoyer My cycling wardrobe is too much .
Got me too. It's so awesome cutting through the wind. I live in a hilly, windy area. I need all the help I can get
Another great video Mitch. I've loved watching your journey going from a beginner cyclist to a seasoned athlete. Very inspirational.
Going for an ebike like the Kawasaki Ninja can really improve your confidence if you're new.
not with the average american learning how to corner on a wallie lot
one of the slower ones but sure
I was a t-shirt rider for years, and I was amazed at the difference when I got my first real kit. This is a great video! A lot of valuable advice packed into 14 minutes.
When did you come out.
Yes I would struggle to get to 40kph in tshirt and overshorts. When I got the slim fit kit 40kph was much easier and could stay there for minutes. Much more fun at that speed
Thanks for the info on formula369. I used your link and my bag came this week. After trying, I can say I feel similar to when fueled by Maurten 320, which I used for an event last year. I feel that is too expensive to use for training, so thanks again for this alternative.
By the way, I enjoy your videos; your personality, humor, and storytelling.
That lycra thing is very true. I went as fast as I could in lycra got speed of 41 km/h, three days later, same road, same max effort, but a loose jacket- 39 km/h. Another great thing with lycra is the backpockets. I love them.
Bearing in mind that 2Km/h during a max effort can mean a lot to some people, and nothing at all to other people. Most people who care about how fast they get from A to B choose a motorized vehicle of some sort.
@@Frostbiker I am fat and 62 years old and appreciate everything that helps. When I visit my mother I am going 55 km over tarmac and dirt throug hills climbing 500 meters. It is hard enough with dedicated clothes.I like to go on my superfast gravelbike in clothing that works. On small trips what I likes best with my lycra is the pockets on the back. No other clothes I have do have these pockets where i carry my phone and something more.
my pants have pockets, better yet, all my clothing has pockets and dont make me look like an activist
"Fat-adapted,"live it!
Oh, and wear bright colors so you don't get hit by a car. Love your vids!
Started cycling last winter and have never touched no lycras, bib shorts whatsoever. I still ride in my regular ass cotton t-shirts and baggy gym shorts and am still having so much fun, averaging around 30km/h these days in a very flat area. And no chafing and butt hurting after a few months. Guess I just adapted. I'm totally satisfied with how I ride now, so the biggest lie for me has been that you should just wear those skin suits that'll charge you like crazy $$$. But if I ever get more serious about getting faster, I'll definitely consider joining the dark side....
same for me although i just started riding. its so much fun:)
You hit on the nail, just have fun who cares about all that other nonsense.
@@Bravonewyork that’s the real secret to bike riding. Having the most fun = winning at life.
Try it.. ;)
I am the same way. I ride to have fun and get some exercise, not to shave seconds off my 2 hour long rides. Different strokes, I guess...
This was the perfect intro to cycling video we all needed. LOVED the zone of delusion as well. Fully LOL moment. Keep the vids coming. Instant sub I was so impressed in a world of meh...
Sitting on my couch, eating beans, and I spot myself riding 0:34 in this video 😮
Since I’m not racing speed isn’t my main focus - getting fitter is, so as long as my Watts are going up I’m good 👍🏻 Therefore comfort and ease (aka lack of mechanicals) is the main goal.
If I was racing though, then it’s ALL about speed!
Carbs though, are a universal truth for all endurance sports - no matter what your goals are
Yeah, same here. Started wanting to be faster and go further but quickly enough realized that being comfortable to ride somewhere nice for a few hours was enough of a goal and one I’d already reached anyway. Feels enough to just enjoy it and have a nice trip out and it’s the short more regular rides I enjoy the most.
I have more cycling clothes than regular cloths. It's also important that my shoes match. I truly believe look good, feel good, and ride good.
I quit riding in the 90s when I got my drivers license. Picked it back up 3 years ago at 265lbs and having been a smoker for 20 years. That first ride was less than 3 miles and I thought I would puke. A 20 mile ride now feels almost effortless and being 55lbs lighter (and still dropping) doesnt feel too bad either.
Beginner here! Got some chuckles and learned some stuff! Subscribed!
I can confirm J graph, I was embarrassed of wearing Lycra. Now I love it and its super comfy
Haha glad to hear my hypothesis has merit and it was not just my experience 🫡
First video I watched from you and I have to say I really like your presenting style. The content is solid, too, but the presentation is even better. I'll definately watch some more!
I Can't tell people enough when they are starting the cycling journey to EAT EAT EAT and the right food (carbs) I neglected this for my first few months of riding and when I started eating everything changed!
They look malnourished
Holy moly, those bibs are $255! Here I thought my Castelli's at $75 were expensive.
Uhhhhh don’t google “Castelli Premio Bibshort” Your idea of brand market position may be slightly misaligned. 😂
i have three full kits of italian made gear. all bought secondhand for maybe $45 total - try a bike co op
Neopro. Cycling industry as a whole is gross.
The video we all needed 😅 thanks mate
news flash: cycling isn't all about speed. sometimes it is, sure, like if you're into racing or just pushing your limits for training, but MANY of us do NOT ride for speed. Lycra/spandex is NOT a requirement (unless again, if you're into doing races), but this goes for all the points here. This video is for people getting into racing/speed.
The professional racing culture and fast road biking mentality has infected the concept of cycling in general. There seems to be a great confusion between cycling/riding a bicycle, and road racing. It is hard to find videos that give ideas related to cycling. It seems that most or all cycling channels on UA-cam give advice related to road racing, and they call that cycling.
respectfully disagree. From the youtube lense it may appear as such, but youtube doesn't encompass all of cycling; there are quite a few cyclists, especially in other areas of the world that do not watch youtube or in other ways influenced by 'big youtube cycle channels'. In fact, in terms of the world cycling community, I'd say youtube consumption is a vast minority.
@@void_presence Yeah, worldwide, probably most bike users are aiming for "go faster than walking, for less effort, and moving stuff." Casual clothes, upright posture, 10 MPH if that, bike built like a tank. Utility biking.
The funny thing is I swapped to bib pants because my baggier clothes would end up coming down while leaning over and swapped to a cycling jersey because it's a lot easier to carry phones and other things in a cycling jersey. I probably has ended up making me faster as well. Recently, I tried unzipping one of my vests a bit, and when I started descending I really felt it as it ended up completely coming undone and flapping in the wind, which was really concerning since I had my phone in a rear pocket, so I had to stop and zip it back up before continuing. It really was a good demonstration of air resistance, however.
Cool stuff, informative, easy to listen to and humorous. New sub for ya lad.
There are two kinds of “buying a new bike”, one is “replace this with that” (for whatever reason: looks, component upgrades, performance upgrades, proper sizing). The other is “add X to my stable because it’s for .”
I’ve done a mix of both: upgrading my “fast” road bike 3 times (once for size), and my gravel bike 2 times (once for sizing). But I added a dedicated trainer bike for convenience, an endurance bike for comfort, and a flat-bar gravel for more technical off-roading than I was comfortable doing on my gravel.
Sure, I could probably have consolidated all my drop-bar bikes into a single frame with 2-3 sets of wheels. My was was more expensive, but each serves its own purpose even with overlap.
you should invest in a grannybike, millions of people use it and their sole and only bike, but im sure you think youre the expert here
I regretted buying an Sworks Helmet, 9months later I got hit by a car and that hurt my soul cause replacing it was expensive.
I bought a recumbent and I am CRAZY fast now. Even after going back to T-shirt and cargo shirts 😅
I have three road bikes (excluding vintage), a 2022 Vitus Razor, a 1992 Trek 2300 composite, and a 1997 Olmo Giro. There isn’t much speed difference between them unless on a very long descent. On an average ride it’s minimal. Lycra is a far bigger difference.
I have a self built fixed gear death trap with pursuit bars and a nice gravel bike. I rode the gravel bike for half a year thinking it might just be a tad slower than a road bike and then had to switch back to the fixed gear while the gravel got a check up. Its 4kmh difference on average even though the hubs on the fixie belong in the trash at this point
More important thing about lycra than speed iml is the functionality on the bike. Both the padded shorts for comfort and the back pockets in the jersey for storage, anything else is not allowing you to cycle as it's supposed to be
get a bag and ride more
Just starting out myself and just ordered jerseys. I got bib shorts because my ass hurt and I had to get jerseys because my bib shorts don’t have pockets
can't wait to follow all these tips to get to work faster! Exciting!
I know about the Lie 1, but my chubby tummy laughs at me through the spandex each time I try it on. It hurts.
There's a demographic of cyclists that wear their cycling clothing into the ground. Saggy / see through bibs. Dudes. Consider them a consumable. They do have a lifespan. When they no longer compress and sag on you, or are threatening to go see though, replace them. There's affordable yet quality options. Quality reputable name brands do go on sale, so you don't have to settle for generic.
I'm not sure what your recipe for your videos is. I can't figure out why I enjoy them but all I know is that I do.
Lots and lots of glucose
As a clydesdale rider (6' @ 250 average), I respect that I am already a huge sail-= but I also ride in some hot and open spaces for extended rides. My average ride is currently 40 miles at roughly 3-4 hours riding. I have recently started wearing summer hoodies and, while they flap around, I feel like the lower exposure to the sun along with the fact that there is no "form fitting' jersey options for a dude who wears XXL-XXXL in biking clothing.
Good video, I don't necessarily agree with the new handlebar upgrade, I think that can be a good one. Don't forget that as you said 80% of the drag comes from you, the rider and the handlebar plays a big part of your riding position. Of course the no 1 important thing you need for an aero position is a strong core but if you are like Chris Froome (tall and super skinny with long limbs) then you might be the person with the strongest core on the planet, but if you are riding with a 44cm handlebar and a 70mm stem and have a saddle designed only for climbing then holding an aero position will still be likely very painful after 20-30 minutes of riding.
Having said that I think the 4th lie that perhaps hold a lot of beginner cyclists back is that pro/retül bike fitting is a waste of money. There are of course better and worse bike fitters but if you are member of a local club then you can ask the club members, mainly more experienced ones who they can recommend as the best bike fitter of your local area.
I was riding a 30+lbs steel bike with downtube shifters and 35mm tires for the past 9-10 years. I Just bought a used Eddy Merckx San Remo from a local bike shop and my mph went up 3mph instantly. This may be an exception to your 3rd rule. But in all fairness I think you're communicating to the people with already nice race bikes who want to upgrade to something unrealistic economically. Loved your video!
All true. Though the most effective upgrades are always upgrading yourself. Thus such thing as training plan and direct drive trainer for your pain cave got top ROI of all the upgrades.
I started wearing lycra for the dissipation of sweat and no other reason. I didn't even care about aero when I started wearing it, I was far too slow to care AND I was riding an ebike at the time, but I had a massive issue with sweat (and still do) which lycra helped with quite a lot. It also allowed me to carry clothes with me on my ride if I got too hot or cold, normal clothes are bulky and heavy in comparison.
A fast helmet makes a huge difference too, after good clothing and tyres it’s where I would go next
My biggest hold-back from embracing real cycling kit was the cost of getting kit that was comfortable. Yeah, I did the Amazon cheap stuff, but it wasn’t until I tried that I built an inventory of bibshorts & jerseys. Finding affordable, comfortable kit made it possible to give up all that loose, floppy exercise gear.
Great advice for all cyclists, not just new ones.
One of the simple sugars I like to bring along is Smartees. Aside from the tartness that can induce thirst/drinking, Smartees are almost pure dextrose (aka “baker’s sugar”), which in my experience is incredibly easy on the tummy.
And the biggest change I made to improve my performance was losing weight. Not of the bike, but of the *rider*. It took serious attention to how much & when I was eating, but I dropped 25lb between two seasons and the difference in how I felt and how fast I felt was very noticeable. Everything else was “marginal gains.”
Of course everyone needs a different fit but I found NeoPro jerseys to fit extremely well and they're very affordable. I do prefer bibs from other brands though.
Not a beginner but still greatly enjoyed the video, and was reminded of a thing or two! Nice work, and thanks for putting this out there!
You inflate my ego too much
Yeah, but if I have a tailwind on a climb, shouldn't I wear baggy clothes ? That would give me a huge advantage !
Oh, just don't forget a sail mast in your back pocket. You have three, remember?!
Just carry an umbrella. Much easier 😂
Nobody ever has a tailwind; they're just crushing it on that segment.
So much focus on speed and "fastness" for beginner cyclists.
I think the professional racing culture and fast road biking mentality has infected the concept of cycling. Most "cyclists" I see these days look like professional road racers, instead of just... cyclists.
10 years ago people would laugh at me for eating so much whilst riding, my nickname was the grazing cow!! Some of my riding buddies would literally just rub marmite on their gums and go out for 6 hour endurance 'fasted' rides. This advice is now the polar opposite! Eat more sugar!!
Bonking is actually wonderful in retrospect….to have that reference point
Thanks for this, I want to get into cycling, I just ordered £200 of cycling clothes on top of a £1500 bike (that was enough for one outfit!) and this video helped me know I made a good choice. Also I did not know to avoid fat and protein. One thing I worry about is muscle atrophy which is why I usually include some protein before cardio, I guess I will try to consume protein a bit longer before and straight after and focus on carbs.
I bought a gravel bike but when my funds are replenished I plan to get road wheels so that will cover the tyres part too, I will look at those tubeless ones you suggested. Thanks again for a great video!
I was practicing swim with swim trunks and I had a 25 yrd time of 28 seconds and I got really tired out easy, i bought a pair of racing shorts that were tight, and now i can do 25 yrds with ease in 25 seconds, with my pb being 21 seconds, which still isn't good but it's a huge overnight improvement
I just came off an 09' Allez that I had upgraded piece by piece - really to make it more comfortable. I just got a Winspace SLR 2.0 carbon fiber frame, and it is a night-and-day improvement over a 15-year-old aluminum frame in the comfort department. As they say, fast is smooth, and smooth is fast!
Another great video. Let me know when you want to come to NC, we'll go climb a couple mountains
I think a lot of people have different reasons for riding a bike. Your friends might say you don’t need spandex because they aren’t in the minority of bicycle riders who wear spandex. And the fact is, you don’t need spandex to ride a bike
Where I bike I am usually one of the very few people who don't wear spandex 😆 Everyone looks like a professional road racer these days.
I must say one of the best video for beginners. Thank you
Glad I found this channel! I signed up for a 100 mile race in August and I am just a beginner (long story about my grandpa giving me his bike). Can you tell me when it comes to carbs... what tells you they dont work well with your body? is the goal to feel the energy, belly feel great, no poop? Lol
That's awesome! Good luck with your first race. Definitely "practice" eating carbs on your training rides. You should eat the same thing during your training and the race, because everybody responds a little differently to different foods. Also, taking in a lot of carbs can be difficult to do at first as it requires you to eat a lot more than you may be used to. I like using drink mixes because it's easier to drink from a water bottle while riding than unwrapping a bar or energy gel, but some people say drink mixes upset their stomach, and they prefer solid foods. My best advice would be to try a couple different things and find what works best for you.
my Lyrca story... at 17 I got a pair of biker shorts for christmas... growing up a "husky" kid even though I wasn't at the time I always wore overshorts... until in the middle of a FL summer day around noon I decided to go out for a ride... I stepped outside and the heat hit me hard... I tossed the overshorts back into the house and haven't looked back... unfortuantly it took me anothe 10+ years to move to wicking/jersey type fabric for my torso... I wish someone would have told me how bad cotton T shirts where haha... these days as a SUPER CLYDE (aka fatty) I wear spandex... I ride for my comfort... not yours... in Houston the humidity sucks... wicking fabric is king
Although I am slowly getting into cycling clothes I don't agree with the point of "go for cycling clothes". I bought them, because I had trouble with sweating on my 21 km commute, but I would recommend to wear whatever makes you having fun on your bike. Riding a bit faster is nothing compared to riding more.
I say, if you have fun on your bike and feel good, don't spend money on expensive gear to get 5% faster. On shorter rides you will spend more time with taking your bib on and off than the time you are saving during the ride. Also it is inconvenient to change clothes on the toilet at the office.
Crazy at one point they had us convinced that masks should be worn outside.
Love it! I'm not a speed bike, but a MTB, and most of the advice suits well! :3
Thanks for the tips!
Bonking isn't just about running out of glycogen; it's really about your brain signaling you to slow down or stop because of low blood sugar levels-it’s trying to keep you safe. Interestingly, there's also significant fat oxidation even at very high intensities, like at 90% VO2max, and there’s solid evidence to back this up.
It’s worth noting that you didn't mention MCTs. Many professional tour riders enhance their carb intake with ketones. They also focus on training their bodies to adapt to using fats more efficiently, which helps reduce their reliance on carbs and is easier on the digestive system.
I have my own mix which has cyclic dextrin, MCTs, collagen and electrolytes. This way I stay in ketosis und have carbs and do not run into the risk of becoiming a pre-diabetic.
"Keep peddling", that's what I do as a fixed gear rider. Can confirm, it's good.
Love this! nice video Mitch!
Great video Mitch . keep up the good work
You are a great presenter fellow! congrats! love the content
I really enjoyed this video, you are explaining ATP very well.
Lifelong BMX rider getting into road cycling, this video was great, thanks! 😂😂😂
This was great man thank you!
Buying a new bike will give me massive performance gains! Right now im chasing road bikes on my full suspension mtb.
But bikes are so expensive im saving. I want to go in for a fitting 1st to dial myself in. The fitting alone is $325-450, just to ensure im as comfortable as i can be on the bike. Allowing me unlimited potential (within my limits ofc)!
Im still seeking advice/ideas for a good endurance bike.
I have a 1990's Diamondback. Shifts good and relatively fast. I bought a 1990's Trek ( Chrom- moly) that had a chainring that was larger and really small cassette, so really flies! The Trek was only $11.40 from KARM.
I offered a backup set of lycra to a riding partner a few weeks ago as a good deed . They didn't like them even though they were the correct brand for his bicycle . He really did need a spare set , though .
I get the kit and speed connection, but as a novice on a budget and female and wanting to avoid the sun at all costs, i havent found any kit that meets my requirements...so ill just continue biking in my hiking gear.
love your videos mitch!!
last week i did a test and turns out my w/kg is 5.3 lol, only trained about 2 or 3 three times a week so apparentely i am talented! Keep it up Mitch, great content!
WOAHHH! Dude that's amazing!! 💪
@@MitchBoyer thanks!
How long was the test, 2 min.? 😂
how the dog was chilling killed me 😂😂😂
The section best attempt feature of Strava , especially rising grade sections still has many issues like run up speed variations and start to end point datum accuracy issues as well as varied attempt trajectory problems .
Your last conclusion line is hilarious and perfect 🤩 😂
Great video . Thankyou so much for this. I do long rides and nutrition is my bugbear! 😅
use a fixed gear for the easy days. I do 48/16. constant pressure on the pedal... works great
I don't think I get passed because I don't wear lycra or have good tires. Seems more likely that my 205 watt ftp has something to do with it. 😂 Eventually I will get both though. For now, getting fitter is the priority.
So what I’m hearing is that I can and should wear all my Jiu Jitsu rash guards and spats while riding my bike.
I feel like the lies about spandex are not a lie. Normal people indeed don't need spandex, unless they want to be not-normal. There are good reasons to wear biking specific apparel (whether it's specifically spandex or something else), but being faster/having an easier ride is not a "always good" and when you start getting obsessed with speed that's when you change from "normal cyclist" to, Cyclist ™. Besides wind, baggy clothes and such is just extra resistance. You get harder exercise, which depending on your goals, might be exactly what you need/want.
Otherwise great points to keep in mind!
Everyone looks like a professional road racer these days. I am just a cyclist who wears his exercise pants, t-shirt, and light running shoes.
Carb vs fat. The more fat adapted one is, the more glycogen stays in the tank even on short hard bursts. I have only bonked once in the last 6 years since becoming fat adapted, and that was because we had a high carb lunch. I recovered to finish, but it took 30-40 min to recover.
You need to train fasted, low to med intensity and keeping high intensity efforts to short bursts.
Recovery needs quality clean protein and the carbs that are more nutrient dense.
Save the carb loading for the higher intensity or longer rides.
I have seen many many riders new and experienced overdo it with carb consumption on long rides still bonk and go into situations of gastric distress.
Thank you Sir! Great advice
Also, clipless pedals and shoes. The lies are that they're scary and dangerous when they're much safer, make you faster, and are way more comfortable.
I just ordered some and I have never used them before, I’m a bit nervous to be honest of getting stuck while stopping and falling over…
You know what you can buy that will make you faster? A trainer lol, someone who can work with you to optimize your training to keep gaining watts. Spending $200+ on a aero handlebar is going to do way less than developing your engines. I'd put money into that before upgrading the bike tooo much. Health and fitness = speed to me and you can buy ways to optimize your training, increasing your speed at a greater rate than tryna figure out on your own. There's people that go to school and specialize in that stuff lol you don't have to if you don't want to!
milliseconds faster doesn't equate to more enjoyment in my commuter only atm opinion xD(I say that knowing that some enjoyment stems from seeing you beat your times and scores, I am highly competetive so I understand that it's not just the act of riding for road cycling, but also your times)
I think i'm leaning more towards wanting to get into touring/bike packing rather than road cycling/racing so to me really buying speed is irrelevant if you aren't already optimal in the health and comfort on the bike department. over a 100 mile ride you saved 2 minutes with the aero handlebar, woooow, type thing lol, vs I did 50 more watts consistently over that 100 miles, that's friggen something right there.
My new girlfriend thinks I look good in lycra. That’s how I know she’s a keeper. 😂
I bike since I was 3yers old :) To day in my early 60's I keep up and its pretty Amazing. Thought the part of Carbos is so important also surprised me many bikers don't follow. Anyway love your video!!
Interested to see your diet video. I am 53 and been on carnivore diet for 4 months now. I don't ride 6 to 8 hour rides but have had no issue with rides of 3 to 4 hours with zero carbs. I will be experimenting with higher intensity rides because I am planning a 2200km trip.
My guess is that you do not ride hard all the time. I can ride hard up to two hours without carbs. So if I go relaxed I guess my glycogen stores would not empty much longer. As long as you feel good all is fine i would say. I eat loads and loads of carbs every day and still struggle to keep my weight (I become thinner and thinner which I do not like) since I ride roadbike regularely.
I couldn't lie to my friends about the Lycra. If you want to go fast, don't wear baggy clothes. Simple.
A good friend 🫡
(This is coming from a commuter perspective vs this video, but fr still applies, you got into cycling some but just can't seem to get completley into it for whatever reason, read this lol)
I feel lucky to have genetically massive legs lol so I feel I got a head start, but tbh all the pains and stuff go away the more you ride. Literally just ride more and it will get more comfortable(Baring you do have a well fiting bike and all that jazz). Tbh what changed my mind is, bike shop guy told me this.
Big plushy saddles will get uncomfortable on long ride, but the right shape and less padding will become more comfortable the more you ride because your butt will just become tougher, the muscles around all of it grow giving you more padding lol (I mean obviously there's a line, like he rides a specialized romin evo no bibs, he said if he had that saddle like 3 years ago he'd hate it just because his butt wasn't tough enough).
So literally just don't stop riding, keep at it and eventually those slightly tough rides are a breeze and you won't even have that lil voice in the back of your head, need to go to the store to get a small thing and you would normally drive, ride your bike? Don't force yourself to only bike when training/working out. Make it fun so when it is a workout, it's just easier! Start doing small tasks on your bike that you'd normally drive.
Don't be afraid to make adjustments, keep note of pains, uncomfortable feelings, and how you ride and slowly address those things if you don't want to go drop $150-$200 on a "Normal" bike fit, not like the whole hook you up to diagnostic machines and all that to find the optimal position for power output type fit lol those are like $800 or more. The bike you have is not what you get, you can change literally everything, so it becomes more comfortable and better for you, what's best for you is what makes you ride more!
No one coaching approach 9:20 works for everyone . 30 years ago , a coach put me on a strategy that later was found to be ineffective .
Funny thing is, when you said that it's only bikeheads who think they look good in lycra I was like wait what? Thinking about it you might be right, but I never considered other riders or myself not looking good the way we dress. Though I hardly wore anything else for bike riding since I was ten, so that might explain it. 😜 I've been thinking if it might be slightly unappropriate that I wear tights to University as well, but I guess who cares. (It is around 30 kilometers from where I live, and I've found that it's a perfect way of putting in riding time with a tight schedule if I go by bike.)
I train on a Dahon folding bike that I have upgradet with 10-speed gears and a Garmin Vector 2s. No aero, no high speed. But since I'm driving alone, that doesn't matter.
Made all these mistakes and believed alot of it. These days i went from going ham every ride to just relaxing. Speed was and is never the whole point of my cycling. Fitness is
I try to have carb deficite on easy rides and only fuel for hard efforts/hard rides.