Bagsy's Training Log

Okay, I really need to update my log. But in short, I finished this cycle of 5/3/1, and today I rode my first 100 km! :sunglasses: In around 4 hours and 20 minutes. Not counting idle time, of course.

10 Likes

The super cool enthusiastic bike bro at the shop would love to show you the coolest trick for that.

Its just how they are. Like huskies that can fix bikes or something.

2 Likes

Okay, so my job has been killing me lately. I squeezed in two full-body workouts this week, but I think I need to program hop onto something else. It was still hard for me to balance the lifting, cycling, and bit of running on top of my other responsibilities. I think I’m going to buy Dan John’s newish Easy Strength Omnibook and see what I can glean from that.

On the other hand, I’m now busying myself with the prospect of buying a new bike. Maybe. I took mine for its first tune-up today, and that turned into more of an inspection and not getting it tuned up. It turns out that the bike is in worse shape than I thought. I’m trying to weigh the pros and cons of repairing and tuning it versus buying a new, lower-end road bike. Given the wear on the bike and the lack of identical parts available on the market, I was told by my local bike shop that the parts, installation, and tune-up would cost at least $500, and the bike wouldn’t ride exactly the same as before (better in some ways, worse in some). For example, I would lose a gear.

The thing is that I will almost definitely be moving in 1-1.5 years, and I don’t know how far away. I know shipping bikes is a thing, but that sounds expensive. So, I don’t know if I should just repair as little as necessary on my current bike and hope that it holds out for that much longer. At the same time, I could get a decent chunk of my money back if I have to sell a newish road bike before moving again. Then again, I don’t like being wasteful or justifying new purchases. cries in graduate student stipend

10 Likes

You deserve nice things. Buy a new one. Come time to move, remove the wheels and handle bar = packing it down into a smaller package.

(My old mountain bike front suspension has seized up. Again similar story, older model so no parts. More trouble than it’s worth. So either make do with what I have till it totally falls apart then get something else…)

2 Likes

You really have taken to cycling, and do spend significant time engaged.

I’d lean more toward a new one now that you’ve gotten past the initial stage of trying and finding out if you’re into it or not.

2 Likes

Hey, losing a gear could be a none issue depending on the number of teeth on the lower and higher ring.
On my little commuter bike, I technically have 21 (3 x 7) gears, but many are over lap or not very good. I use maybe 12 or 14 of those. The fit is the most important as long as it is safe to ride.

1 Like

Buy the new bike, then turn the move in to an extended cross country cycling and camping trip, zero shipping costs!

2 Likes

I agree with what others have said. Most old bikes aren’t worth $500+ for repairs. You can get a decent, new, road bike for around $1500. I get that is triple, but it will probably be triple the bike.
Or, get a gently used bike from Facebook Marketplace. Ideally aluminum frame, snap one from someone upgrading to Carbon. Or, this is my favorite, get the bike that “I bought for my wife and turns out see hates riding and rode it once.” Those you can usually beat down on price to get it out of their garage.

2 Likes

Thanks all! I’m definitely going to get a new bike. Especially because I think it could be fun to try bike touring next year, so I’m leaning toward an endurance bike. I’m looking at some aluminum frames and debating if I want to splurge a little bit on an entry-level carbon bike :rofl:

5 Likes

Invest in a good bike fit before going carbon. All my roadies friends say it makes a world of difference.

3 Likes

I’ve only ever had aluminum, because for a long time carbon was out of reach for anything but the most serious rider. Like, my one friend got a custom tri-bike for doing the IronMan in lake Placid. Crazy $.

But they have gotten way more reasonable. Having only rode up & down the road a few times, I can’t say much other than that the weight difference was phenominal.

I’ll second the fit advice. I had a so-so GT that I rode a lot, and my hip flexors, ITB and lower spine would get cranky after a couple hours. I don’t know if anatomical differences of the hips come in to play there, but it might be worth consideration.

2 Likes

I really am terrible at logging. My job has been killing me for the past several weeks. Last week was especially brutal. I also spent a lot of time contemplating which bike to buy. Even though I mostly ride on the road, I ended up going with a gravel bike because I want to go on a bike trip in the fall. Debating as to whether I want to get a different wheelset for it on the road or just pick up a used road bike in a few months, but we’ll see. Even though my junk road bike right now is faster than my gravel bike right now, the difference is night and day. What an upgrade. I’ll be even more inclined to run less now, which will be good for me too.

I was doing Easy Strength for a bit but switched yet again this weekend. I don’t know why I occasionally entertain the idea of full-body programs because I always realize after a few weeks that they don’t suit me.

Now I’ve decided to try conjugate, more or less Joe DeFranco’s WS4SB. These days I really just want to lift heavy for a set or two and just do more hypertrophy-related things. Not worrying about percentages will free a lot of mental space for me, I think. And as I get more into cycling, having only one day for lower body lifts is a lot less mentally daunting for me.

7/13

Bench: Worked up to 90x5 (haven’t bench pressed in ages…)
CG bench: 80x3x6
T-bar row: +35x15,12,13
BPA
Some weighted sit-ups

7/14

Went on my first ever gravel ride! 57 km. Had so much fun despite the heat. I’m exhausted now.

13 Likes

Bike are like horses, the perfect number to have is n+1

Enjoy the new bike!

4 Likes

Congrats on the new bike! Gravel bikes look sweet, awesome choice.

1 Like

7/16

Pull-ups: 3x8
Front squat: Worked up to 115x3
Front rack BSS: 2x6
RDL: 115x2x7

I had to cut the accessory work short. I’ll be pretty sore from the BSS and RDLs anyway. I then run-commuted six miles to take care of something at work.

11 Likes

7/17

Biked 55 km

7/18

Biked 47 km

7/19

Ran six miles

7/20

Pull-ups: 2x8
Push press: Worked up to 70x6
SA BB row: +35x20,16
Push-ups: 3x8

Biked 67 km

7/21

Biked 50 km

I think I have a problem. I am now hooked on cycling.

12 Likes

7/23

Ran six miles with some sprints thrown in.

Then I worked up to 200x3 deadlifts but had to stop there due to some stomach issues… just an off day.

10 Likes

7/24

Biked 50 km

7/25

Biked 31 km. Got new tires and set them up tubeless :smiley:

Pull-ups: 9,8,8
Dips: 15,12,8 (60s rest between sets)
Ab wheel: standing 3x4, then a lot of kneeling reps
Supersetted curls, lateral raises, and tricep extensions
BPA

7/26

Biked 80 km. A really fun gravel ride!

7/28

Pull-ups: 40 total
Press: Worked up to 65x3, then 55x3x7
Ab wheel: 3x5
BPA

Biked 61 km. Did ~14 km of hill repeats at the beginning.

Lots of cycling!

11 Likes

I love the crushed limestone trail beds and dappled sunlight. Looks just like the Montour trail I ride on a good bit.

2 Likes

7/30

Pull-ups: 2x9
Front squat: Worked up to 120x3
Front rack BSS: 55x3x6
Some 24 kg swings
Ran six miles

Kinda started thinking about selling my SSB. Idk

7/31

Biked 50 km

8/1

Biked 32 km
Pull-ups: 3x8
Press: 40x16,14,10 (60s rest)
BPA

Cut this short bc fatigued and short on time. Oh well

11 Likes