I dont get the pictures 
. It’s like a different language.
I think that’s why it’s been such an unpopular opinion. There is no normal life stress for everyone to agree on. Each slice of the population has a different normal.
I think my work is normal, but it can be very taxing mentally as it can involve constant decisions. So, I fit into the science-tested approach more clearly than this stereotypical, average paper-pusher job. I may have been sitting at a desk all day, but I’m wasted by the time I’m looking at an interval session. I may have slept and fed well, but I’m tired, I’m worn down. Over time, that affects my performance because I cannot always do all my intervals. To only look at my glycogen-loaded muscles would be myopic.
I think that’s what the pod hosts are getting after. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be noteworthy to keep mentioning that life stress can hinder training and its planned adaptations. I don’t think they’re picturing a paper-pusher with 2.5 children in suburbia who is currently living their best normal life in-between crises. The emphasis and conversation around them saying this is stress, not just executing some mildly difficult, everyday tasks at work or home.
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OK, glad we got that over with! MOVING ON NOW…
It is too. damn. hard. to become a cyclist. Even for someone like me, who just wants to cycle 50-100 km for fun, at a decent speed, and gradually get faster over time, with zero interest in competition or racing or what anyone else is doing. There is too much crap to buy, too much to learn about fueling, too much to learn about bikes, and too many competing schools of thought on how to train when cycling is not your life’s priority.
I’ve put about 4 years into cycling so far, and I’m the type to normally deep-dive into anything and find it fun. But even for me it’s been kinda frustrating, and I have several friends who’ve borne witness to my learning journey and tried to join me, only to decide that they just don’t have the time for the non-actually-cycling time investment required in order to actually go cycling.
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It’s as hard (or easy) as you make it. My first year riding I bought a mountain bike and built up to riding about an hour a few times a week (it’s about all my butt could handle). No strava, no GPS watch… just riding. I had a water bottle, ate when I got home and made some friends out on the trail. It was awesome.
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It’s really weird when TR responds in a forum topic to the OP as the if it’s a personal/private help ticket response. Like it’s a surgery theatre and we’re the audience to their personal treatment, worts and all.
“I’m not sure TR is working well for me”
POST 47 “We understand. It looks like you missed 5 months of training at the start of this year, tried to do a century, then went on a binger for 2 weeks. Otherwise, you’re doing great.”
“I’m getting burned out every other month”
POST 1013 “We understand. How is your sleep life stress balance? It looks like you’ve created a leg spinning machine so you can train while you sleep and your TR playlist consists only of natures deadliest sounds: final squeals and shrieks of captured vermin. Plus, your PLs are all turned up to 11. Otherwise, keep up the great work and congrats on life.”
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Post 432:
“Was all my VO2 max work a waste of time?”
“We understand. Looks like you are did 10x your TSS the week of your A race and had a 10 hour ride on Sunday the week before. Coupled with doing extra VO2 max workouts every day the week of the race, it might have been a bit too much. Otherwise, keep up the great work!”
[@DXR This should be its own dedicated thread 
]
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That’s just me doing a v02 session on my ancient trainer bike.
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Specialized Tarmac SL8: so what. I’m almost worried by how little I care about it.
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Great description of a TR user. Maybe needs to add some whimpers and the soft “thump” of someone letting themselves slide off the trainer to the floor after a miserably hard workout or ramp test.
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You’ve just listed everything that makes cycling so damn fun for me 
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This is why I have my nice fixie. It’s geared and fast enough for spicy group rides (if I have the legs), but I could also jump on it without being kitted up and just ride.
Having said that, I almost never encourage people to get into cycling. It’s too much time and work. I just can’t quit it and occasionally I have a lot of fun with it.
I hear you. In fact, I agree with you. I’ve enjoyed the process and the journey, and four years later I’m still here and planning to cycle forever. BUT, it’s very hard to grow the world of cycling if most people find it too complicated to actually get into the habit of it and enjoy it.
I think cycling is as complicated as one wants to make it. All anyone needs to ride seriously is used bike of any kind with decent tires, and ideally shifters on the handlebars. Bottle cages would be handy as well. Anything beyond that is by choice.
By serious…I mean participating in group rides, training to get faster, etc.
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- Ditto. Those complaints on complexity can be lobbied towards just about any sport or hobby once you get beyond the entry point of taking part on a basic level.
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I am talking about participating in road cycling at a fairly basic level. But feel free to disagree… the point here is not to reach consensus, that’s why I mentioned it in the UNPOPULAR opinions thread.
- Thanks for your permission?
- Just offering a counter view point, not aiming for consensus on my part.
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I will say though that compared to other sports…the CEILING for cycling complexity/spending is astronomically high.
Compared to running where there’s shoes and…I dunno a fancy t-shirt? I do get the argument…if you feel the need to keep up with your neighbors equipment I’m sure it gets out of control fast.
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I can tell you that the majority of riders in my club do NOT:
read bike forums all day
listen to bike podcasts
give a crap about structured training
obsess about every detail
optimize anything
care about aero
They typically buy a bike from the local roadie store, suit up and ride. When the bike is not working they get help at the bike store. They often ride Gatorskins with a -20 watt penalty so they don’t have to deal with flats. They buy a new bike about every 10 years it seems.
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We’re just trying to help out in those threads – we often feel like they can be a good learning opportunity for the OP and for other athletes who drop in to read or ask their own questions. 
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