Thanks both, reassuring that what I choose won’t matter too much, might go for the gravel one as has some cadence drills in there and at the moment I’m prone to lag behind some mates spinning 100rpm up the trails while I’m nursing 70ish rpm.

J-R this the Nirvana Loop you’re talking about?

I’m down on the coast in Worthing so not far from the SDW to do a bit of practice on the middle 30 miles when things dry out.

I know you’re all mainly on the racing side of things, but I’d like some advice on what plan to go with next.

I’ve been sticking to the plans mainly because the ~1hr session fits well with time I’ve got to ride and my FTP/WKG means I’m not going to be troubling even the lowest cats in races.

Main objective at the moment is to drop weight, I was 92kg at 170 CMs and a combo of Zwift/Less Beer/Longer dog walks/Avoiding Sausage rolls I’m down to 82kg. I’ve been creeping up the FTP to 216w and the KGs going down has helped the W/KGs figure.

I’ve been doing the 4wk FTP Builder with the odd free ride and a few extra ramp tests to see how I’ve been getting on. But the 7 days a week of that schedule hasn’t really worked for me. I’ve been doing more like 4/5 a week depending on if I get an outside ride as well.

Getting towards the end of the programme so wondering what to do next.

I’d been riding sporadically once a week with a weekly run for last couple of years but nothing structured or that high intensity. So already a fairly big step up in volume but enjoyed it and it’s helped with the motivation to eat better.

I’d really like get down to >70KG by next summer which would put me in the healthy weight zone.

The weight loss is the main goal but secondarily I’d like to get better at the ups at Surrey Hills Trails, have a go at the South Downs Way in a day next year and maybe the London Duathlon.

I’m considering either the Gravel Grinder or the MTB Absa Cape Programme

They feel sensible? Should I be looking at something else or because I’m starting from a fairly untrained state will it not really matter as long as I stick with it?

To the OP do it, theres various elements that take a bit of time to get you head around, but that’s mainly because over the years you “get” how to live with an ICE car. Once you get used to how EV works differently there’s no looking back.

Good to hear everyone’s stories here, I’m one of those in the process of trying to lose a bit of timber.

A proper spreadsheet showing progress, Zwift, less beer, extending the dog walks and healthy breakfast has been good for me so far, 7.7kg/17llbs down.

Still a bit further to go and expect to fall back a bit over xmas.

So plugging away on the training programme at the moment, mainly to drop the KG bit of the w/kg equation.

All going well and enjoying it so much considering getting a cheap treadmill and having a go at running on Zwift, anyone had a go on it? Any thoughts?

Already run a bit, but outside I can’t help but pootle along, so hoping a bit of structure there will help me get nearer former glories.

I got this mega cheap one from Amazon for Zwift, seems good so far https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07D4J5VDK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

So had my first ever race in the Cat D as I’m really slow!

https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=235819

Pleased with how it went considering shortly after the start I had to unclip and stop my iMac from restarting, which must have cost a good twenty seconds plus.

Think a couple more weeks of structured training (and eating) still required though.

90 at the mo

So just tentatively starting my Zwift Journey here, a few days into the 4wk FTP builder, starting from a low w/kg here of 1.9.

Obviously hoping that might be a little higher once I get through that programme but any advice for getting into the races at the E/D level, spose it’s all similar to some extent.

So reckon it’s the shifter where the difference between NX and GX is biggest?

I’ve done two one hour journey with mine down some fairly twisty narrow roads and then faster dual carriageway. I was fairly nervous but seemed really sturdy.

Also would the standard Seasucker adaptors fit? so https://www.evanscycles.com/sea-sucker-15mm-bolt-on-fork-mount-for-through-axles-EV336276

In a situation not a million miles from you, from far too much research I think I’d def stay away from a 2nd hand with 26 inch wheels.

By all means go 2nd hand but something three or four years old or newer and the bigger wheels. If you get a couple of years out of it will have some second hand value. I think in two or three years time 26ers are going to be worth even less second hand than now.

Picked one up today, I think they’re firmly in the “could work on the lid but something lighter might be nicer”

That reassuring so other than maybe a little less wear and tear you wouldn’t spend much more on a 17 over a 16

Maybe I’ll pick up a single light first and try it on the lid! See how I get on

Quite the thread! Considering grabbing two of the 1600 one for the bars and one for the helmet, reckon that’s a good alternative to the MTB Batteries Lumenator17 + Lumen800 combo?

My Helmet has a gopro mount so that’s part of the appeal.

Would be replacing a solarstorm x3 on the bars and u2 cree torch on the helmet, which have stared getting flakey.

Sorry the thread hijack? but anyone got any experience of the Lumenator17 + Lumen800 combo? How’d it compare to the Bike Hut one’s discussed?

How removable are the actual fork brackets on the rock bro ones? Wondering If I could quickly unbolt them and use for a kayak?