I don’t know the exact physiological answer but I know that when I’ve done easy, fasted rides (90 min) I feel like I did a hard 50 mile, 3 hour ride on food. Fasted ride just seem like a low level of work for the amount of fatigue involved and don’t really help you get faster.
Your post above seems a little contradictory. On one hand you say that you do most of your rides fasted but then you mention only short zone 2 rides.
It probably doesn’t matter that much how you do your easy zone 2 rides. You also seem to think there is additional benefit to doing your zone 2 riding fasted. Is there? Have you researched this?
Overall, using Z2 riding for metabolic control and doing a training plan and improving seem to be at odds. I still think you need to separate them. Like I said before, you can do kettle bells, squats, dumbbells, or jump on the trainer for 15 minutes several times per day for metabolic control. I would look at that as an addition to training.
So, when I say short zone 2 rides, I mean 45 to 90 minute zone 2 rides.
For me, the main reason I do my rides fasted, is because I find it has a beneficial effect with blood sugars throughout the day but also ease. Getting up first thing & jumping straight on the bike gets it out of the way. If I eat first, I then have to wait before I do a ride which then means I have to wait till the afternoon or evening because of work.
Blockquote
You’re definitely right about me needing to add them in. I love doing walking lunges & when I commit to doing them frequently throughout the day I do find a beneficial effect on my length strength as well as sugars.
I’ll give sweetspot a go & see how it works out. If I give 100% commitment & never deviate and don’t see improvements I can go back to using primarily Z2. I’m starting the plan today. I’m a bit confused on when to do rest weeks though? I used the plan builder & it has me doing 52 weeks straight of exercise.
Thanks mate. I’m starting SSB 1 today so will update this post with how I get on long term. It’ll be an interesting experience & even if I can’t make it work or if I don’t improve or even decline further, it’ll be cool to play around with still at least.
That sounds very similar to my mate he was getting T1 sorted (as much as possible) slipped a bit with life getting in the way. I have chronic brittle asthma (new one on me brittle it means random as *****) and allergic and every other type apart from exercise induced so like you I find keeping fit keeps it under control - fingers crossed.
Only other thing care with Durian rider’s advice it’s sometimes been proved to be less healthy and less pharmaceutical than he claims.
Glad you’re well and loving the riding and even better its good for you
