Back in the Fall, I subscribed to Flobikes, which offers much of the Euro and Australian commentary. I specifically got it to watch the Giro, which was not being broadcast on NBC-SN, and I’ll probably watch the Vuelta and some of the classics on it. If I can’t find an alternative for the Tour, I’ll probably watch it on whatever provider Flobikes partners with (if they do at all). Flobikes wasn’t cheap…I think it is $150 a year…and NBC-SN was $40 a year…so some consolidation would not necessarily be a bad thing for me. The only real sticking point is that I really, really love the NBC-SN commentators. That said, I have really been enjoying the pair that have been broadcasting the Giro (the network is Fubo) - Declan Quigly and I think Rob Hayles (?)… Of course I could always adopt what @smokinhole did and just turn the volume down and watch the races without commentary… 
I didn’t know about NBCSN. Strange, because with modern households seemingly watching so little traditional broadcast TV, that NBC would end their streaming effort. I wonder if we don’t know the whole story behind this, as in maybe sports will be picked up by other streaming platforms under their banner, or that they will launch a new, as yet to be announced streaming service.
Regardless, if Liggett, who is without a doubt the grand statesman of pro cycling commentators, choses this development not as a retirement opportunity, he will surely find a home. Bobke, well he probably will too find a commentator’s role if he wishes. Christian can probably write his own ticket, and Horner seems like he has a pretty good grasp of social media. There are others too, who help make the NBCSN coverage what I think is the best that we’ve ever had it this side of the pond, including that during the Lance years, no slight to Paul. Will be interesting to watch what happens.
So I finally finished the Giro…! It only took me about four months! What a grand event they managed to pull of in troubling times. I don’t know who did the editing specifically for the coverage I was watching (I was watching on Flobikes), but the recap at the end of each stage with the music and slow motion videos was mesmerizing. I will miss it as part of my daily routine (watching it while I make pancakes or dork around on the computer)…
Results spoilers:
Tao Geoghenganhart with the awesome final TT ride to snatch the pink jersey was pretty awesome. The whole race from the point Almeida lost the jersey was fantastic to watch.
And Sagan’s breakaway win on that earlier stage was one for the ages. Just an amazing ride.
Good news is - now I can move on to the Vuelta! So I’m back in business!
Also excited because now that I’m finished with the event I can watch a few WEDU The Move episodes that discussed the race…
Stopped by a Trek store today to buy some Look Keo cleats, and asked if they had any gravel bikes in my size (58). I was very doubtful, since they’ve been sold out every time I’ve checked their web site or been in the store the last year. Surprisingly, he said that they had just gotten in a Checkpoint SL5.
Took it for a test ride and as I was rolling off, another customer told me that he had come to the shop to buy this bike. I felt bad because he looked like he was active duty military, judging by his class Ds. But, the bike fit me perfectly, was very comfortable, shifted flawlessly, and checked a lot of boxes that I had in mind, like a Shimano group, and could take up to a 700 x 45 tire. It comes with 40s. The store owner had taken the soldier to look what could be ordered from Trek, so without much deliberation I whipped out the debit card, and she came home with me.
I’ve got a new set of XTR pedals and a few other items waiting to go on, but hopefully I’ll get her out in the Francis Marion National Forest tomorrow.
Congrats, and let me know when you’re ready to train with wattage. It’ll look good with a garmin 530 up front.
That’s a beauty…! 58-60cm is a perfect fit for me. Don’t leave it unattended! 
Thanks whareagle. Right now it’s a more a matter of changing dietary and sleep habits. Kudos to @BeachAV8R for his recent weight loss. I’ve always gone by the theory that whatever positive changes that I make have to be sustainable, lest I backslide. But that shouldn’t give me a green light on the chocolate moose tracks ice cream whenever my wife buys it for the kids. Beach’s way is probably the right way for now.
Have a Karoo 2 for the new wheels. Reviews have been very positive, so fingers crossed that I’ll get it maidened tomorrow.
And I haven’t had the discipline in recent years to even approach a weight where I need to train with power. For instance, my legs are in such a sorry state. You know that feeling when you come off of a long break that your lungs can far outlast your legs? I remember being able to stand and climb at my AT for long periods. It was almost relaxing. But now coming out of the saddle for more than thirty seconds is uncomfortable. And when I get in the drops I notice that my legs are slightly splayed to prevent my thighs from slapping my gut. It’s ugly.
Having bared my soul, I had a really nice 1:30 ride on Zwift tonight. I pretended that it was back in the day and put myself into Monday night recovery ride Zen mode. Absolutely wonderful tooling around Watopia without the stress of trying to set PRs. I even found a couple of like-minded accomplices for about half of it, though I haven’t quite figured out Zwift pace line etiquette yet, if there is such a thing. Often, it resembles a swirling gaggle. @keets is certainly tearing it up. Nice job 
I had planned to get out on the new bike, but have been rained out a couple of days. Tomorrow looks promising.
Haha…one of the harder climbs (it is really short…) on my regular ride…and I’m like breathing like a freight train at the top. One time I saw someone on their porch of one of the houses on the route near the top of the hill there…I saw them look over the top of their newspaper…and I thought I saw them move to pick up their phone to perhaps call in the rescue squad given the noises I was making. I made it to the top…gave a feeble wave…and rode on while trying not to puke down my bib…haha…
Honestly…I think Strava might be evil. I have it installed, but don’t have a membership…so I only get the “teaser” notifications:
“You are no longer King of the Hill…”
“Matt D is now the Local Legend on X segment…”
Ugh… I mean…it is kind of cool to see what is going on around the community, but I think at the same time it can drive you to injury. Or…if you are like me, you realize the records are way, way out of your capability, and you ignore them. Even PRs are sort of a weird thing I think…I mean…it is nice to see progression, but at this point I’m just trying to get through my ride without getting killed by a errant driver (or squirrel)…haha…
Ha, I’ve never seen the top half of a climbing KOM ladder, though owned a descent for a few months in Atlanta. Not quite something to be proud of I suppose.
It’s going to be torture with the Hammerhead, because it displays Strava Live Segments, although I guess that it pretty common now. I’ll probably live longer if I turn those off 
The Karoo 2 was the thing Lance and George were featuring quite a bit during their TDF coverage I think?
Started the Vuelta today. For some reason it wasn’t on Flo-Bikes…but thankfully it was on NBC-SN. This subscription rat race really sucks… Grrr…
Gotta love that opening stage. The route planners weren’t messing around.
My brother in laws brother (I know, I know, this sounds like the start of a stand-up routine…), was a Strava KOM hunter. I say was, because he learnt a valuable, if not painful, lesson chasing a KOM where he lives.
He was on his road bike, riding well into the red, drafting a car on a road with speed humps whilst staring at his Garmin. The car in front braked unexpectedly for some of the humps and he slammed into the back of it, fell awkwardly and broke both his wrists.
I’m sure being the KOM on so many Strava segments eased the humiliation of his wife having to feed him and wipe his butt for 6 weeks. 
That’s kind of what I’m doing for the Zwift tour group rides. I think @whareagle would be facepalming at the approach but I have three types of ride. High w/kg, medium or a recovery ride.
All of them I try and pick a group to hang with. I don’t get the text chat function though. I’m usually too busy not drowning in sweat.
Thanks @chipwich. Weight wise it’s not having a massive impact yet. I think it’s because most rides are under 90 mins. I suspect that as soon as I can get outside and do a longer ride over 90 mins, the weight will fall.
I have to do Ventoux (Vent-top as Zwift calls it) in Feb. I’m not looking forward to it as it’s an uncomfortable indoor ride, but will be a good benchmark as I haven’t done it since last year.
That Karoo 2 is definitely something to look forward to. They’ve partnered with Xert for their metrics, so it’s a start.
The main thing is consistency. Minimum of 20 minutes and alternatively, aim for 60g of fat 3-4 times a week and watch what happens over 6 weeks.
I’ve been considering GCN+, but I’m wondering if the racing content can be viewed in the US.
Edit: I guess that there is the VPN solution as well. Not that I would do that. No sir. Would not touch that with a 10 foot pole. I know better. I promise.
For the rest of her life, she’ll have memories of cycling together with her dad:
Could the same memories be made spending her childhood in the back seat of an SUV?
And riding a bike with your grandad, great memories also:
Next step: independently mobile (on your right-up, healthy-fit bicycle):
Not only are cycling lessons mandatory at primary schools, also cycling lessons from your parents are great…
But cycling with mommy was awesome too:
…or cycling to secundairy school with your classmates in winter, in the snow…
… or with temperatures below zero:
…or in Summer:
Other examples of First World infrastructure: cycling around the busstop:
Bike-parking at a busstop:
Segrated cycle lanes and paths…
A school-run… (with indepentently mobile kids)
Meanwhile in Finland. Winter biking in my hometown Oulu.
True mass cycling in 2 Dutch city centers during rather snowy weather:
Summer:
- bike parking in a city center:
- relaxing in a park:
Cycling in Spring weather…
