It's killing me but..........

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I find the idea of taunting other riders rather repugnant....It sort of depends on who's doing the taunting. My favorite is to get behind a good-sized rider (male) on a slight descent where I can virtually coast while they're working their ass off on front. I give them a minute or two on front and then say, "Hey, can you pick it up, I can't coast this slow.":D

FR - that sounds rather forgettable. I find the idea of taunting other riders rather repugnant....It's all in good fun.
Someday (maybe.....next spring) I will be picking on them.:)

It's more motivation for me to work hard this winter.

It sort of depends on who's doing the taunting. My favorite is to get behind a good-sized rider (male) on a slight descent where I can virtually coast while they're working their ass off on front. I give them a minute or two on front and then say, "Hey, can you pick it up, I can't coast this slow.":D
laughs - there you go with that trash talking again! Don't think I forgot that bit you suggested to Tyson about telling his foil, that he'd taken a nap waiting for him at the rest stop....

It's all in good fun.
Someday (maybe.....next spring) I will be picking on them.:)

It's more motivation for me to work hard this winter.
Now, now, don't go picking on people!

Really, it is fun to pick on/taunt others?

It just doesn't register with me, and there are plenty of things I've done where I was quite good.

I've never been motivated by beating other people, in any endeavor. It just doesn't bring me any particular joy or satisfaction. Moreover, I don't care for the notion of someone winning and everyone else being a loser, runner-up, or what have you.

My motivation is entirely from within, which is to improve, do my best, and achieve my potential - however high, low, or trivial it may be. That's what keeps me going.
That's a page right out of my ride journal -- from 2 years ago. I'd done the MS150 charity ride for 5 years and trained hard every year strictly to get fit, beat my time, enjoy the ride, and find a fast group to hang with. Some of the guys I rode with were getting into racing, and even though I was stronger than some of them, I really felt no reason to rush out to prove it to the world. In fact, as long as I was satisfied with my ability I really didn't care how it stacked up against others. I relate this because I understand and appreciate that point of view.

Well, I guess something happens to a person during those long, lonely winter days spent on the trainer (or in the weight room, right Felt?). Maybe not for everyone, but that's a lot of time in the pain cave just for the desire to do one's best. Even some of the people on my team haven't gone through that change, but as the others have mentioned, you can tell the wolves from the sheep when you're sitting on that starting line.

Just to put this back on topic, think of Tyson stalking the smoker just so he could grab his wheel right from the start of the 'ride' (c'mon -- race). I'll bet visions of that moment got him through the last few minutes of an interval or two.

To each her own, but when you get your fitness up to where you'd like it to be, hopefully you won't be embarrassed about flaunting it a little, with pride. :)

About this time last year, Andy Coggan posted his winter workout routine (100% trainer IIRC). Its purpose was to maintain most of his FTP, VO2MAX and AWC, with fewer hours on the bike. I recall ~3 rides per week of ~1 hour each ride. I also recall that his power targets were 90% of his MPs from the prior season. I'll try to find that post because I think his routine is just about perfect for your goals after your upcoming ride.
Enjoy :)

Really, it is fun to pick on/taunt others?
Only when you're sure that it's fun for them, too (ie, when you're among friends). In fact, those playful jabs are a common way of letting someone know that you consider them a friend and are willing to let your guard down around them.

I thought it was pretty friendly when one of the girls told me before the ride, "I'll play nice with you today" and then smiled at me.

I knew at that point I was facing some friendly harrassment.

You are right Frenchy. If this group were not talking to me and joking around I would have not felt welcomed to join them and would have had to either ride by myself or join the slower group. I think it was their way of saying, "welcome to the group."

Only when you're sure that it's fun for them, too (ie, when you're among friends). In fact, those playful jabs are a common way of letting someone know that you consider them a friend and are willing to let your guard down around them.
Well yes, naturally among friends, but we are talking about people on club rides or just on the road. So it was alluded to in the prior posts (ie....I get a thrill out of riding some guy off my wheel, etc)...

About flaunting it, well you said to each her own and I agree. For me, that largely means living in my own world and largely indifferent to assorted 'displays' of prowess and what not.

Well yes, naturally among friends, but we are talking about people on club rides or just on the road. So it was alluded to in the prior posts (ie....I get a thrill out of riding some guy off my wheel, etc)....
Difference in perspective, I suppose. I can show up on practically any ride around here and feel like I'm among friends. Not that I'd start with taunts and antics right off the bat without waiting to see if that's acceptable behavior for the group, but I'd be comfortable joining in if others showed that it was. All it takes is a glance or a smile and a slight lifting of the pace to communicate that the game is on.

Difference in perspective, I suppose....That, I believe, is the gist of it!

Enjoy the game ;)

About this time last year, Andy Coggan posted his winter workout routine (100% trainer IIRC). Its purpose was to maintain most of his FTP, VO2MAX and AWC, with fewer hours on the bike. I recall ~3 rides per week of ~1 hour each ride. I also recall that his power targets were 90% of his MPs from the prior season. I'll try to find that post because I think his routine is just about perfect for your goals after your upcoming ride.
It's looking like most of my winter is going to be about 98 percent indoor trainer rides. If the trend continues I should be able to log in about 3-4 hours of L4 time a week.(Only 4-5 hours of ride time total per week). I'm hoping to significantly increase my power over the Winter with this routine. I know Tyson was able to, but he was getting a lot more volume, via his long weekend rides. Do you think a relatively untrained cyclist could expect good gains with the routine?

By the way Tyson, be careful and start your running with low mileage. I started cycling last Feb, after a few months I had gained some cardiovascular endurance but was frustrated because my bike time was limited. So, I started doing some running on the days I couldn't ride. Unfortunately my cardiovascular system was more prepared for long runs than my knees and ankles. Most runners gradually increase their mileage as their CV fitness improves, but I was able to jump right in and I really paid the price for a few weeks. It took some rest and a good bit if Ibuprofen to get going again.

It's looking like most of my winter is going to be about 98 percent indoor trainer rides. If the trend continues I should be able to log in about 3-4 hours of L4 time a week.(Only 4-5 hours of ride time total per week). I'm hoping to significantly increase my power over the Winter with this routine. I know Tyson was able to, but he was getting a lot more volume, via his long weekend rides. Do you think a relatively untrained cyclist could expect good gains with the routine?I think 3-4 hrs of L4 time per week is a lot and you can make very good gains. I don't think Tyson ever got in as many as 4 hrs of L4 time in a week, ever. Trainer time is incredibly efficient. If you use your time well and are relatively untrained, you'll make huge progress.:D

Ah, Lucy, Lucy, Lucy, or perhaps we should call you St. Lucy from now on.

St. Lucy of Cyclicum Forum. Yes, that has a nice ring to it.:D

Lucy, your philosophy on cycling and competition in particular, whilst being commendable, unfortunately does not pan out very well in the real world of cycling.

If I may take myself as an example first ( because I like to be first:p ); as you know I occasionally ride with a friend who is literally half my age, however, lately due to a recurring injury to his left knee, he has avoided my mountain courses, so we don't get out much together at all.

Now, let's assume things are back to normal and my FTP is 275 Watts, :rolleyes:
and on every ride be it flat or hilly, he finds himself falling off my back wheel.
At that point he has 4 choices.

He can determine to train harder (competitive spirit)
He can resign himself to the status quo
He can avoid riding with me
Or finally, he can take up ping pong

In all honesty I wouldn't want to smirk and deflate him completely. Believe it or not, I would feel a slight (ever so slight;) ) tinge of pity. Here's a guy who will be collecting his pension next year showing me how to ride - I'm sure will be going through his head.

So what do I do?

Let's take another example, this time - St. Lucy.

You've trained hard and are capable of generating 1400 Watts albeit for only 10 seconds, and your FTP is hovering around 300 Watts. :rolleyes: Anyway, you're out on the road with this guy with a 5000 dollar carbon frame and Arnold calves, and suddenly low and behold you find yourself way out in front and coasting. What do you do?

He has no way of reading your mind and knowing that you are only competing against yourself, to him you are just that damned skinny?? women kicking his ass. (male thinking)

So I repeat what do you do?

You can either ride alongside him, deceiving him into thinking that he is at the same level of fitness as you. Or in true saintly fashion you could ride behind him all the time, boosting his male ego.

Unfortunately Lucy, if it were not for competition and the innate human competitive spirit, I would surmise we could all still be living in caves.

One final thing Luce, if you are only competing against yourself, then surely a 100 dollar bike would suffice. You could still, along with your newly acquired power meter (jealousy) monitor your progress. The argument that you could progress to an even higher level with a better bike, doesn't hold water. Where do you draw the line? After all you are only competing against yourself, and if you improve to the best of your ability, does it matter whether it is on a cheapie or an outrageously expensive bike?

Lucy, please don't take what I've said as being uttered maliciously or meant as a criticism. Simply just my ponderings on what you said.

I'm sure you will have an answer.(women always do :) ) Now where did I put my parachute? :D Tyson

I feel as though I am back in the Enlightenment era (yes, in the words of General Patton, I was there), sitting around in coffee houses and bars in Paris with my fellow philosophes debating weighty matters.:D

I feel as though I am back in the Enlightenment era (yes, in the words of General Patton, I was there), sitting around in coffee houses and bars in Paris with my fellow philosophes debating weighty matters.:DSo what is your philosophy RaplatoDaddyo? As if we don't already know.;)

Let me try and guess anyway.

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SLAUGHTER THE BUGGERS! :D

So what is your philosophy RaplatoDaddyo? As if we don't already know.;)

Let me try and guess anyway.

SLAUGHTER THE BUGGERS! :DAnd then get tough.:D

............... I can show up on practically any ride around here and feel like I'm among friends. Not that I'd start with taunts and antics right off the bat without waiting to see if that's acceptable behavior for the group, but I'd be comfortable joining in if others showed that it was. All it takes is a glance or a smile and a slight lifting of the pace to communicate that the game is on.......
Sounds like we ride with the same bunch ;)

I must admit that I enjoy riding this way, especially with the younger guys (who are WAY better than me) but there are a few 'seniors' in our bunch (me included) that stir it up at times - we give as good as we get :D

Tyson - You seem like a nice enough bloke though I could respond and prepare quite a rebuttal but let's be honest....Porque?

I don't measure my success or enjoyment in cycling, life, or any other activity by how many people I beat.

It is that simple.

Tyson - You seem like a nice enough bloke though I could respond and prepare quite a rebuttal but let's be honest....Porque?

I don't measure my success or enjoyment in cycling, life, or any other activity by how many people I beat.

It is that simple.I can really understand this POV - I raced last weekend (which MY06_STi saw), tried really hard to make the podium and in my bid, failed to do so. But did I measure my success by how many guys I finished in front of - no, because I rode to the best of my ability on the day, tried something that requires a bit of gumption, and that's what counts - and is the great thing about having the PM - I could prove it too (set a power PB).

But when I do finish in front, that I see is a consequence or by-product of being successful, not the success in itself...

I certainly don't gauge my success by performance on training runs against other riders. If we want to duke it out - then we put numbers on our backs.