Have used TR since mid 2019 when I first got a smart trainer. Love the structure and the simplicity. The adaptive training feature is excellent. I always choose low volume plans and add 2-3 outdoor rides per week. I don’t always complete the weekend TR ride. FTP has increased from 3.2 to 4 watts/kg. Importantly my endurance has increased a lot as well. Pair the app with their excellent podcast and take your understanding to the next level. Easy to shrink the screen and watch YT or videos during the workout too
Great vid. I consistently use MID VOLUME TR every October - May for the last five years to regain what I lost in a summer of play. My FTP climbs about 5 points every block. Obviously, it would eventually increase at a slower rate if I continued. Always curious what it could become. But, I want to hike & backpack & travel too. It’s the quickest way for me to regain what I lost. High volume would totally burn me out. Mid volume is almost too much. I’m 55 now. I love it. It does exactly what I need it to. I enjoy its simplicity & my ability to crank my music and watch movies on endurance days.
I've used Trainer Road here and there, it is a great service for finding a plan specific to the event you're training for. Winging it can work, but having some guidance over just doing what sounds good does make each ride feel more purposeful and probably does make you that little bit more fit at the end of it.
I’ve used Xert as my ‘coach’ a year and it has definitely helped me get faster. I initially used Zwift work outs but I didn’t have an overall plan or specific goals. Xert allowed me to put together a plan to actually reach my goals. Now I use Xert inside the Zwift world. It’s the best of both worlds. 😄 I’ve also lost weight and have lost some of my top end but overall I’m faster because I can put down more power over the whole ride. The most important thing though is to get on the trainer/bike! Thanks for another video!
This is cool. I also use Xert as my coach and I do sprinkle in some Zwift races. I love Xert and how it’s adaptive to my tiredness. How do you like Xert in Zwift? I want to try this but I run Zwift on Apple TV. Take care!
The number 1 way of getting burnt out is starting a set plan of any kind, missing 4 or 5 days of training for any reason and then carrying on with said plan. It took me a couple years to realize that the plan doesn't apply with it's progressions when you miss a chunk. Solution: start or make a new plan from/ based on your current Chronic Training Load. Also, never try to make up missed training sessions.
@Tim Cooney I think they now factor in outside rides. Also you can do no plan and use their train now feature and get a work out. Takes the pressure off needing a plan.
Generic plans simply don't work because a) life doesnt care, b) The plan has no clue in advance how your body reacts. A generic plan is a rough framework based on someones experience or opinion, but needs permanent adjustment to you. Develop your plan while you go in the *spirit* of the framework, not by the numbers.
@@gerrysecure5874That's why TR has a post workout survey asking you to rate how you felt, then they adjust future workouts based on how you answered. I've done TR workouts that a few weeks previously would have been on their "hard" scale, but for whatever reason it felt "all out" and I had to have short breaks to complete it. So in their post workout survey I click "all out". TR knows that it shouldn't have been all out based on my previous similar workouts, so they adjust future ones down in intensity. An actual coach would do the same. The only way a coach knows how you feel is by asking you, then they adjust future workouts based on what you tell them. They don't know how your body will react and is reacting without YOUR input.
Thanks for the tips to match the Zwift workouts with trainer road . It breaks up the monotony . I am in the build phase 1 with TR on a 9 hours week plan. I failed my first workout because of depression due to life stresses. I listen to my body took time off and I am feeling good again.
You're welcome. I battle depression myself, so I empathize with you. I am glad we have bikes as a tool to help us my friend. Good luck with your training and take it one day at a time.
No problem, I am glad it was helpful. If they still offer a free trial period, I would say try that and see how you like it before you spend any money.
I wasn't super impressed with the power gains until you mentioned that you've lost a significant amount of weight. Your power isn't a lot higher -- although it is enough to matter -- but your power to weight ratio is way better. Good job! Congratulations.
I’m an average masters racer. Just trying to squeeze as much juice out of the orange that I can lol. My FTP is a little higher now than when I made this video. But to your point.. if you can lower weight in a healthy way and increase your power at the same time, that’s the sweet spot. Thanks for taking time out of your day to watch. It means a lot!
Well said @PhilNPrice. I've been told the best measure is your Watts per Kilo. So if your FTP watts are down 5% but you wieght is down 10% you're actually getting better. Nice video
Thanks for the really helpful video. I've been using TR since March 2019 and I really like the app. It has helped my endurance tremendously, though I haven't seen a ton of gains after the first year. My FTP flows between 260-280 and I'm hoping this year to get up above 300. As a 50 yo male, I do find that even the mid-intensity plan can introduce too many "stressful" workouts in a week, with a VO2 workout on Tuesday, a threshold workout on Thursday, and another VO2 or threshold workout on Thursday. It can become too much mentally as well as physically. One thing I noticed in your career chart was how much you ride outside. I'm wondering if your big gains were because of TR or because of all of the outside riding you've done.
Hi Zach! Yea, the intensity can be a bit much at times. 280W is still a strong FTP and as you saw it took me years to get where I am. So just stay consistent and patient with yourself. Also, I do TR assigned workouts outside when feasible. Especially the endurance required ones (good excuse for me to ride Z2 to a coffee shop). On top of that, I do a lot of my TR workouts in Zwift. So when I transfer them back into TR they get logged as non TR rides.
If you have plateued, you simply need more volume. Have you concidered the polarized plan? That way you can get more volume without adding more intensity
@@MysticMac000 I haven’t looked at the polarized plans, but will. I feel guilty every time I remove intensity (my problem, I know). How many days of intensity do the polarized plane have?
@@zacharymorford1846 i believe there is 1 or 2 days. It should be roughly 80% zone 2 and 20% high intensity. The benefit to this program is that you can add alot of volume without getting burn out, and it sound like it would be a great fit for you. Do note that you have to enable this program in the settings, as its currently i Beta
I’m an older (62) relatively new biker. Was doing 600-700km per month of which a few rides 100+km and 6000-7000m of climbing as well (I live near the alps). Winter is here. Outdoor riding is done so I just got a wahoo kikr. Gamification is of no importance to me. Trainer road sounds good. Would you agree? Great video btw🙏🏻
Thanks for taking the time to watch, Rob! If you just want to get a workout in and stay fit, TrainerRoad is a great option. But if you find yourself wanting a bit of a social interaction indoors via group rides, you can add Zwift in. Even if it's just for the duration of their free trial period. My "Zwift or TrainerRoad" video goes into how you can utilize both (see the chapters to navigate through the video as you wish). I hope this helps!
@@SeeSmithTV thanks for your feedback. I'm an unsocial animal ;), really just want to get in the workouts, stay fit and improve myself for next season. I will do more long rides and want to make it up the alps faster than I have been so far. living in Europe, the passes are the fun bits and it will be nice to not get dropped on the climbs on group rides, or when out with a couple of younger fitter folks.
Nice video. Would be super helpful to know how much volume you've done over that time. The biggest problem for me is consistency and time i commit to the sport, for example, and i suspect that for the vast, vast majority of people browsing these videos, it's the same thing.
Off the top of my head, I'm not sure on my cumulative volume. But usually I'll do around 10-12 hours a week. 1-1.5 hrs/per ride during the week then Saturday and Sunday are usually my longer days in the saddle.
@@dcy4063 Smart move! There’s a new feature in the app that warns us about potential upcoming burnout. I’m finishing up a plan now and will make a video on my experience. I’ll also make sure to share my thoughts on the new feature.
Thanks for waiting till the very end to ask anyone to like it subscribe, I'll subscribe for just that reason. Thanks for backing your reason with your own data. Can't wait to watch more of your videos.
Thanks for the helpful and well produced video. I'm looking at TrainerRoad but it would be only for outdoor riding; I live in a temperate area (San Francisco bay area) and don't have an indoor trainer. BTW, I'd be *happy* to buy you a coffee but didn't see a link.
Hi Jonathan. The good thing about TrainerRoad is that you can export your workouts to your Garmin/Wahoo etc from the web or app and do the workouts on the road. The intervals will display as you ride. And thanks haha maybe I should set up a "buy me a coffee" link!
@@SeeSmithTV That's good to know, thank you! I saw your other video where you went to Spain. My son and I went to Spain and Andorra last month. I loved it. I wish I didn't have to leave. I agree with others: your videos are great and I hope your viewership increases if that's what you want.
Hey man, just ordered my first smart trainer (Elite suito t), gonna test out my FTP later today on work on a wattbike. Expecting to be around 200 ftp+-, and 2.2/watt pr kg. So not the best. How much do you think i realistacly can gain this year in terms of FTP? I just want to have fun with the cycling and loose some body fat, but also be good enough to try out some races eventually🙂 Are Swifts training plans good enough for my purpose? Great Chanel, subbed😊👍🏾
Thanks for taking the time to watch! Honestly, I can't make an educated guess on what your FTP may be, so I am not going to throw a number out there and mislead you. The best advice I can give is to just do your best on the test. You may surprise yourself! In terms of how many watts you might gain in your FTP, it depends on how structured your training is plus how much volume you get in. If you can afford it, I suggest working with a coach to start. You can learn a ton from them as a newer cyclist. For training plans, I would recommend using TrianerRoad's plans over Zwift. Hope this helps!
I use Training Peaks currently . I bought plans from fascat and linked them with TP and zwift to do my work outs. I definitely saw the benefits, but I have to do an ftp test every 6 weeks or so to see if I need to up the intensity of the workout to make gains. Does TR do that automatically adjust your load as you progress?
I believe the adaptive training does that. As you do more work outs in your plan, it suggest/changes workouts that are on your schedule to do in the future. You then have the option to accept or deny the recommendations.
Thanks for taking the time to watch, Owen. Early on I was crit focused, so I did that plan. Biut over the past couple of years I've done the rolling road race one to line up with some races I was targeting.
I’ve used it. There was talk about being able to upload your outdoor sessions so it recognises them in the progression. It’s one of the reasons I stopped using it. Do you know if it has been updates to include that feature?
It seems to pick them up now. That was also one of my pain points. I think also you need to make sure you respond honestly to the post ride survey on each ride that you complete. The AI takes that into account.
Is it also good if you are more of a sprinter? I have some shitty days the last weeks and i fell with my bike and the fork broke so i can't afford a new bike and a coach, I wanna participate in amature road races next year
Sorry to hear about your crash! I hope you heal up and come back stronger. I would say the platform is useful for all types of cyclists. Just make sure you pick a training plan that aligns with your goals. There’s a free trial period with the app. So, you can feel it out before you decide to buy it or not.
Absolutely, Marcy. On TR, training plans and workouts are tailored to you. I started in a similar position. Take it one day at a time, don't compare yourself to any one else along your journey and most importantly have fun! :)
Maybe combine TR with another ride like Zwift etc; every other workout?..Does that make sense to alleviate burnout?..I'm seriously considering TR but the structure can bore me even thinking about it..
It's more the large load of TSS and intensity that causes burn out vs the platform that you choose to use. If you incorporate TR workouts into Zwift (my other video on "Trainerroad vs Zwift" walks you through this), it can definitely be more engaging than simply just doing it on the TR app. You can also do your workouts outside. With all that said...you can just ride your bike for fun and not train at all. There is nothing wrong with that!
Yup! You can set your workouts to “outside” from the Trainerroad calendar on the website. Just be thoughtful about where you are going to do your workouts. Will there be a lot of stop lights? Will I be able to complete these intervals without interruption? Etc. This will save yourself a lot of frustration when you’re out on the road.
TR kicking my a__. 1000 HOURS? I've been using for about six weeks. Very difficult workouts I am going to maybe drop my FTP a bit because I struggle to complete workouts.
@@SeeSmithTV Yup, took the ramp test first, my FTP was 213. The interesting thing is that according to my progress, my FTP has gone up to 222 but when asked if I wanted to accept new FTP result and adapt plan, I responded, no. I have to stop once in awhile during training due to numbing around the groin which does not happen to me on the road. I will try dropping my FTP though, at 65 you just don't know how much you should be pushing the envelope. Appreciate the video as well as your feedback. Keep on truckin brother.
@@mrtonod when outside you would be stopping and starting, getting off the saddle etc, whereas on the trainer you’re not doing as that so hence the groin discomfort. Also consider seat position.
The main issue I have with TR is that while I am indeed making noticeable gains, it just feels so slow. Each month all I see is a 5-10W increase in FTP. Granted, I’m only investing 5-6hrs on TR per week, but I was hoping that it would be a magic pill to sending my FTP up with minimal time investment.
Those are actually good gains off of the time your investing. If you add more volume, you could see a bigger jump. But honestly my increases are similar. It's taken me a couple years to get to where I'm at and I do at least 10 hrs a week for the most part. Keep putting the time in... and at least we aren't losing 5-10W each month lol
How has your experience with TrainerRoad been?
Have used TR since mid 2019 when I first got a smart trainer. Love the structure and the simplicity. The adaptive training feature is excellent. I always choose low volume plans and add 2-3 outdoor rides per week.
I don’t always complete the weekend TR ride. FTP has increased from 3.2 to 4 watts/kg. Importantly my endurance has increased a lot as well. Pair the app with their excellent podcast and take your understanding to the next level.
Easy to shrink the screen and watch YT or videos during the workout too
Thanks for watching Paul. I do the same re: adding outdoor rides. Usually to go get coffee haha
How do you not have more subs. Come on algorithms get with it. Videos are awesome.
Haha thanks, Dorian. I appreciate that. Thanks for taking time out of your day to watch.
Great vid. I consistently use MID VOLUME TR every October - May for the last five years to regain what I lost in a summer of play. My FTP climbs about 5 points every block. Obviously, it would eventually increase at a slower rate if I continued. Always curious what it could become. But, I want to hike & backpack & travel too. It’s the quickest way for me to regain what I lost. High volume would totally burn me out. Mid volume is almost too much. I’m 55 now. I love it. It does exactly what I need it to. I enjoy its simplicity & my ability to crank my music and watch movies on endurance days.
You are incredibly articulate, original, and insightful. I really appreciate how much value (to the viewer) you put into this video. I subbed!
Wow, thanks for the kind words Chris and for taking the time to watch!
I've used Trainer Road here and there, it is a great service for finding a plan specific to the event you're training for. Winging it can work, but having some guidance over just doing what sounds good does make each ride feel more purposeful and probably does make you that little bit more fit at the end of it.
Awesome video. Thanks for creating it. I was looking for a review because I was looking at what TR provides.
No problem, Paul. Glad to hear that you found it helpful!
I’ve used Xert as my ‘coach’ a year and it has definitely helped me get faster. I initially used Zwift work outs but I didn’t have an overall plan or specific goals. Xert allowed me to put together a plan to actually reach my goals. Now I use Xert inside the Zwift world. It’s the best of both worlds. 😄
I’ve also lost weight and have lost some of my top end but overall I’m faster because I can put down more power over the whole ride. The most important thing though is to get on the trainer/bike!
Thanks for another video!
Absolutely, Joe. The most important thing is that we are healthy and able to get on a bike and enjoy the ride. I'm going to check out xert soon.
This is cool. I also use Xert as my coach and I do sprinkle in some Zwift races. I love Xert and how it’s adaptive to my tiredness. How do you like Xert in Zwift? I want to try this but I run Zwift on Apple TV.
Take care!
The number 1 way of getting burnt out is starting a set plan of any kind, missing 4 or 5 days of training for any reason and then carrying on with said plan. It took me a couple years to realize that the plan doesn't apply with it's progressions when you miss a chunk. Solution: start or make a new plan from/ based on your current Chronic Training Load. Also, never try to make up missed training sessions.
That's the best part of adaptive training with Trainnerroad. They automatically adjust your training plan when you miss time.
@@michaelmaher3428 I'm sure that's helpful when your following the correct program and don't add extra outside of the program.
@Tim Cooney I think they now factor in outside rides. Also you can do no plan and use their train now feature and get a work out. Takes the pressure off needing a plan.
Generic plans simply don't work because a) life doesnt care, b) The plan has no clue in advance how your body reacts. A generic plan is a rough framework based on someones experience or opinion, but needs permanent adjustment to you. Develop your plan while you go in the *spirit* of the framework, not by the numbers.
@@gerrysecure5874That's why TR has a post workout survey asking you to rate how you felt, then they adjust future workouts based on how you answered. I've done TR workouts that a few weeks previously would have been on their "hard" scale, but for whatever reason it felt "all out" and I had to have short breaks to complete it. So in their post workout survey I click "all out". TR knows that it shouldn't have been all out based on my previous similar workouts, so they adjust future ones down in intensity.
An actual coach would do the same. The only way a coach knows how you feel is by asking you, then they adjust future workouts based on what you tell them. They don't know how your body will react and is reacting without YOUR input.
Very honest opinion. Great video, and well shot
Thanks, Michael.
Thanks for the tips to match the Zwift workouts with trainer road . It breaks up the monotony . I am in the build phase 1 with TR on a 9 hours week plan. I failed my first workout because of depression due to life stresses. I listen to my body took time off and I am feeling good again.
You're welcome. I battle depression myself, so I empathize with you. I am glad we have bikes as a tool to help us my friend. Good luck with your training and take it one day at a time.
Thanks for the review. I'm playing on signing up for Trina road so it's nice to hear an objective perspective on it
No problem, I am glad it was helpful. If they still offer a free trial period, I would say try that and see how you like it before you spend any money.
@@SeeSmithTV nice, yep that's my plan👏🏾 I'm looking forward to it!
Nice one, you've made me feel better for just doing 1 workout this week. I'm back on it after the weekend 👍🏼
Definitely listen to your body and try not to beat yourself up if you miss workouts-it happens. Happy training, my friend!
Solid review. Thanks!
Thanks, Ed. Thanks for taking the time to watch!
I wasn't super impressed with the power gains until you mentioned that you've lost a significant amount of weight. Your power isn't a lot higher -- although it is enough to matter -- but your power to weight ratio is way better. Good job! Congratulations.
I’m an average masters racer. Just trying to squeeze as much juice out of the orange that I can lol. My FTP is a little higher now than when I made this video. But to your point.. if you can lower weight in a healthy way and increase your power at the same time, that’s the sweet spot. Thanks for taking time out of your day to watch. It means a lot!
Well said @PhilNPrice. I've been told the best measure is your Watts per Kilo. So if your FTP watts are down 5% but you wieght is down 10% you're actually getting better. Nice video
Really great review, love the video!
Thank you, Addie. That means a lot!
Thanks for the really helpful video. I've been using TR since March 2019 and I really like the app. It has helped my endurance tremendously, though I haven't seen a ton of gains after the first year. My FTP flows between 260-280 and I'm hoping this year to get up above 300. As a 50 yo male, I do find that even the mid-intensity plan can introduce too many "stressful" workouts in a week, with a VO2 workout on Tuesday, a threshold workout on Thursday, and another VO2 or threshold workout on Thursday. It can become too much mentally as well as physically. One thing I noticed in your career chart was how much you ride outside. I'm wondering if your big gains were because of TR or because of all of the outside riding you've done.
Hi Zach! Yea, the intensity can be a bit much at times. 280W is still a strong FTP and as you saw it took me years to get where I am. So just stay consistent and patient with yourself. Also, I do TR assigned workouts outside when feasible. Especially the endurance required ones (good excuse for me to ride Z2 to a coffee shop). On top of that, I do a lot of my TR workouts in Zwift. So when I transfer them back into TR they get logged as non TR rides.
If you have plateued, you simply need more volume. Have you concidered the polarized plan? That way you can get more volume without adding more intensity
@@MysticMac000 I haven’t looked at the polarized plans, but will. I feel guilty every time I remove intensity (my problem, I know). How many days of intensity do the polarized plane have?
@@zacharymorford1846 i believe there is 1 or 2 days. It should be roughly 80% zone 2 and 20% high intensity. The benefit to this program is that you can add alot of volume without getting burn out, and it sound like it would be a great fit for you. Do note that you have to enable this program in the settings, as its currently i Beta
I’m an older (62) relatively new biker. Was doing 600-700km per month of which a few rides 100+km and 6000-7000m of climbing as well (I live near the alps). Winter is here. Outdoor riding is done so I just got a wahoo kikr. Gamification is of no importance to me. Trainer road sounds good. Would you agree? Great video btw🙏🏻
Thanks for taking the time to watch, Rob! If you just want to get a workout in and stay fit, TrainerRoad is a great option. But if you find yourself wanting a bit of a social interaction indoors via group rides, you can add Zwift in. Even if it's just for the duration of their free trial period. My "Zwift or TrainerRoad" video goes into how you can utilize both (see the chapters to navigate through the video as you wish). I hope this helps!
@@SeeSmithTV thanks for your feedback. I'm an unsocial animal ;), really just want to get in the workouts, stay fit and improve myself for next season. I will do more long rides and want to make it up the alps faster than I have been so far. living in Europe, the passes are the fun bits and it will be nice to not get dropped on the climbs on group rides, or when out with a couple of younger fitter folks.
Nice video. Would be super helpful to know how much volume you've done over that time. The biggest problem for me is consistency and time i commit to the sport, for example, and i suspect that for the vast, vast majority of people browsing these videos, it's the same thing.
Off the top of my head, I'm not sure on my cumulative volume. But usually I'll do around 10-12 hours a week. 1-1.5 hrs/per ride during the week then Saturday and Sunday are usually my longer days in the saddle.
I just got burned out from trainerroad (thats how i found this video) i lowered the volume of the plan to low and will take extra recovery days
@@dcy4063 Smart move! There’s a new feature in the app that warns us about potential upcoming burnout. I’m finishing up a plan now and will make a video on my experience. I’ll also make sure to share my thoughts on the new feature.
Thanks for waiting till the very end to ask anyone to like it subscribe, I'll subscribe for just that reason. Thanks for backing your reason with your own data. Can't wait to watch more of your videos.
Thanks for the helpful and well produced video. I'm looking at TrainerRoad but it would be only for outdoor riding; I live in a temperate area (San Francisco bay area) and don't have an indoor trainer. BTW, I'd be *happy* to buy you a coffee but didn't see a link.
Hi Jonathan. The good thing about TrainerRoad is that you can export your workouts to your Garmin/Wahoo etc from the web or app and do the workouts on the road. The intervals will display as you ride. And thanks haha maybe I should set up a "buy me a coffee" link!
@@SeeSmithTV That's good to know, thank you! I saw your other video where you went to Spain. My son and I went to Spain and Andorra last month. I loved it. I wish I didn't have to leave. I agree with others: your videos are great and I hope your viewership increases if that's what you want.
Live, quality coaches that know how to push can get raw power results much larger. Weight and TR are a great combo though.
2 years I’ve gone from 220 watt ftp to 340. I would say TrainerRoad is perfect till about 5wpk! Then you need a coach imo
That's a HUGE improvement man. Good work!
Nice video thanks
No problem. Thanks for taking the time to watch.
I just wish they colored the zones instead of everything being blue
That would be cool. I've hadn't thought of that.
1000 hours? that was like 3 months during pandemic, right :D
Haha
Hey man, just ordered my first smart trainer (Elite suito t), gonna test out my FTP later today on work on a wattbike. Expecting to be around 200 ftp+-, and 2.2/watt pr kg. So not the best.
How much do you think i realistacly can gain this year in terms of FTP? I just want to have fun with the cycling and loose some body fat, but also be good enough to try out some races eventually🙂 Are Swifts training plans good enough for my purpose?
Great Chanel, subbed😊👍🏾
Thanks for taking the time to watch! Honestly, I can't make an educated guess on what your FTP may be, so I am not going to throw a number out there and mislead you. The best advice I can give is to just do your best on the test. You may surprise yourself! In terms of how many watts you might gain in your FTP, it depends on how structured your training is plus how much volume you get in. If you can afford it, I suggest working with a coach to start. You can learn a ton from them as a newer cyclist. For training plans, I would recommend using TrianerRoad's plans over Zwift. Hope this helps!
I use Training Peaks currently . I bought plans from fascat and linked them with TP and zwift to do my work outs.
I definitely saw the benefits, but I have to do an ftp test every 6 weeks or so to see if I need to up the intensity of the workout to make gains.
Does TR do that automatically adjust your load as you progress?
I believe the adaptive training does that. As you do more work outs in your plan, it suggest/changes workouts that are on your schedule to do in the future. You then have the option to accept or deny the recommendations.
Great review. What plans and volume did you do over the years?
Thanks for taking the time to watch, Owen. Early on I was crit focused, so I did that plan. Biut over the past couple of years I've done the rolling road race one to line up with some races I was targeting.
I’ve used it. There was talk about being able to upload your outdoor sessions so it recognises them in the progression. It’s one of the reasons I stopped using it. Do you know if it has been updates to include that feature?
It seems to pick them up now. That was also one of my pain points. I think also you need to make sure you respond honestly to the post ride survey on each ride that you complete. The AI takes that into account.
Is it also good if you are more of a sprinter? I have some shitty days the last weeks and i fell with my bike and the fork broke so i can't afford a new bike and a coach, I wanna participate in amature road races next year
Sorry to hear about your crash! I hope you heal up and come back stronger. I would say the platform is useful for all types of cyclists. Just make sure you pick a training plan that aligns with your goals. There’s a free trial period with the app. So, you can feel it out before you decide to buy it or not.
Is TR good for an overweight unfit beginner? I’m thinking about buying a used smart trainer and using TR, but I’m pretty concerned I can’t keep up.
Absolutely, Marcy. On TR, training plans and workouts are tailored to you. I started in a similar position. Take it one day at a time, don't compare yourself to any one else along your journey and most importantly have fun! :)
Maybe combine TR with another ride like Zwift etc; every other workout?..Does that make sense to alleviate burnout?..I'm seriously considering TR but the structure can bore me even thinking about it..
It's more the large load of TSS and intensity that causes burn out vs the platform that you choose to use. If you incorporate TR workouts into Zwift (my other video on "Trainerroad vs Zwift" walks you through this), it can definitely be more engaging than simply just doing it on the TR app. You can also do your workouts outside. With all that said...you can just ride your bike for fun and not train at all. There is nothing wrong with that!
@@SeeSmithTV thanks..I’ll watch that video too..great channel
is it good for training outside ?
Yup! You can set your workouts to “outside” from the Trainerroad calendar on the website. Just be thoughtful about where you are going to do your workouts. Will there be a lot of stop lights? Will I be able to complete these intervals without interruption? Etc. This will save yourself a lot of frustration when you’re out on the road.
TR kicking my a__. 1000 HOURS? I've been using for about six weeks. Very difficult workouts I am going to maybe drop my FTP a bit because I struggle to complete workouts.
Try lowering your FTP by 5% and see if that helps. Did you take a ramp test before you hopped into the work outs?
@@SeeSmithTV Yup, took the ramp test first, my FTP was 213. The interesting thing is that according to my progress, my FTP has gone up to 222 but when asked if I wanted to accept new FTP result and adapt plan, I responded, no. I have to stop once in awhile during training due to numbing around the groin which does not happen to me on the road. I will try dropping my FTP though, at 65 you just don't know how much you should be pushing the envelope. Appreciate the video as well as your feedback. Keep on truckin brother.
@@mrtonod I agree with you. Check with your bike fitter about the numbing issue. That does not sound fun. Same to you - happy training!
@@mrtonod when outside you would be stopping and starting, getting off the saddle etc, whereas on the trainer you’re not doing as that so hence the groin discomfort. Also consider seat position.
The main issue I have with TR is that while I am indeed making noticeable gains, it just feels so slow.
Each month all I see is a 5-10W increase in FTP. Granted, I’m only investing 5-6hrs on TR per week, but I was hoping that it would be a magic pill to sending my FTP up with minimal time investment.
Those are actually good gains off of the time your investing. If you add more volume, you could see a bigger jump. But honestly my increases are similar. It's taken me a couple years to get to where I'm at and I do at least 10 hrs a week for the most part. Keep putting the time in... and at least we aren't losing 5-10W each month lol
5-10 watts per month is 60-120 watts per year. That is a lot.
You’re having a laugh dude😂