I know your post wasnt aimed at me primarily RB - but i felt i could reply from my point of view - i am not treying to answer for anyone else! 
[quote]retailboy wrote:
BBB,
Everyone reacts different, and everyone has different goals.
On tren, my muscles seem fuller and at low body fat give me the ‘grainy’ look - help combat the flat muscle on low carbs. But these characteristics aren’t lasting, and once I’m off the tren I look the same as if I used test (generally).[/quote]
But you must see that it would be beneficial to use to cut and STAY on it for the show - remember a cut for a show is only done for that one day - it all builds to the one peak, so if the look is lost after, it isnt important, as long as you peak.[quote]
I respect your experience though - I think we can both agree it is beneficial in some way during a cut… I just believe it’s short lived visual effects, you belief it retains muscle more.[/quote]
I happen to know that if i try to cut a little on test and deca (i know, weirdo!) i find that the results are MUCH better than if i was on test alone… I can easily see why tren and test would retain more than test alone - it depends on bodytype and diet of course but all being equal…[quote]
My methodology of steroids is mainly based on low dose test all year (300-500mg e/w), cycle deca or tren in and out (I believe you like the blast/cruise BBB). I also believe people make this shit to be rocket science and it really isn’t, a lot of the gear out there can be replaced by Test and have just as good if not better result… but it’s about making money and about over analyzing things.
(I 100% recommend ‘stay on’ for those 40+… anyone younger can cycle and bounce back)[/quote]
That is a fine plan - but you are not a competitive BB or an aspiring one. It really is a different thing to have that aim, it changes the whole thing and while your cycling will give as good as gains as anyone may need - there are options, not to make things complicated for no reason but simply because adding IGFR3 and GHRP cycled with slin and GH on top of your protocol WILL give more and better results. As will 1500mg test a week!
You also say that alot of gear could be replaced with test for as good or better results - that is probably the opne thing i 100% disagree with. it is just wrong actually - at least in the case of well planned cycles.
Obviously when someone is running sust at 250mg a week and var for ‘safety’ then tripling the test dose would be much more effective - but in all honesty i would prefer to run test and deca for a total of 1.5g rather than test alone… and i KNOW the results are superior.
Test has specific results and side effects that arent always desired - hence the love of deca over the years (till now it seems!)[quote]
My cutting ideology: Diet will do the trick along with the cardio. Use something to hold on to the muscle. It does not get any more basic than that.[/quote]
As i said, it isnt enough for some goals… it is fine for the best of recreational physiques… but judges look for certain shit.
The thing is RB, while again you are not wrong in your simplicity there are reasons that this is not the case for a competitive BB.
There is a look onstage that is desired and awarded. it is the grainy, dry and hard look - as you pointed out you need to be on high androgens and non-estrogenic drugs (your example was tren) for this to happen - just because AFTER the cycle you look like you may have used any anabolic - say test, it is about peaking for a day… the morning and evening show.
This is an accumulation of the diet the training for muscle size and drugs… and like it or not the pharmacology of BB is a VERY important aspect.
You can build a very advanced physique with test and deca… and it will be the base of my arsenal forever - as there is little i have tried that works like the combo.
However when it comes to the show (this is the point - it is the show NOT just ‘cutting’) different drugs will be needed - not just for the muscle soparing effects - a absolute must of course - but for the visual and psychological benefits.
the cutting is done the 12 or so weeks PRIOR to the show, and you are right - test alone would suffice, but you can get different effects by adding other drugs. tren will help with appetite, aggression in the gym when depleted, harden the muscles… and be a drug you can use during the show.
If the question is simply what shall i use to spare muscle while i drop bodyfat then test will be fine (although there are benefits even then to adding certain compounds).
If the question is what cycle shal i run to cut and compete on? then the answer will follow the theme of this thread more I suppose.
I know you know all this - you are an educated guy - especially with diet i know, and you are not wrong in anything you have stated - but there ARE benefits to adding other drugs for cutting as well as for competing.
You might be into the “back to basics” kinda mentality, but maybe you should move outta your comfort zone and see what damage you can do!
With respect mate.
