2022 Cycling Challenge

Clip shoes - get them exactly your size. Slop isn't good for power performance. If you can find zip-closures in your size, go for it. Mine are velcro, and while I don't mind much, they can sometimes be a pain in the butt in the middle of a long endurance ride when you just want to slack them a smidge mid-pedal stroke because your feet are swelling at mile 80 and you have 20 more to go.

Make sure you buy the right system, too! I think they use SPD's on Wattbike (don't quote me), which is a pretty common Shimano clip system. DON'T accidentally buy SPD-SL!! This is an entirely different system! SPD is a mountain/gravel/cyclocross clip that's metal, insanely durable and meant for quick clip in/clip out in muck. This is the system I have on all of my bikes, gravel and road, because I love it. It does make a tiny hot spot on your foot during very long, very hard efforts due to the small contact area, though, so that's a pretty major drawback.

SPD-SL is very similar to the Look KEO cleats. These are typically made of plastic and are meant for road bikes. They have a large contact area, therefore don't create those little hot spots, but they're also plastic and wear out rather quickly, plus they're hard to walk in. SPDs are usually recessed into your shoe (so you can run in them in cyclocross races) so you don't have to walk like a gimp with your cycling shoes on lol - those plastic cleats elevate your toes and make it hard to walk. Plus walking on hard surfaces warps the clip edge, and you get to replace cleats quite often (I've had my little metal SPD clips for years now and have never replaced them).

There's also speedplay clips, which I've never experienced but I've heard are pretty bomb. The people that have them love them. I've just never worn them, so I can't give any insight.

Anyway, ride today. Been down with the flu so scrapped my planned 150 miler last week. Started a Zwift 'tour of' event instead to get back into the swing of things now that I can sit upright without vertigo.

Ride - 35.42 km
Previous - 664.81 km

Year Total - 700.23/2022 km

Strava:
https://www.strava.com/activities/8078381769

FTP test. Came out to 180. Not bad for not riding nearly as regularly as I did last year, and coming off the flu.

Ride - 14.61 km
Previous - 759.85 km

Year Total - 474.46/2022 km (mile challenge complete)

Strava:
https://www.strava.com/activities/8119048017

Thanks, @ashleycarole86 !! Do wish it'd been a bit higher, but I did this test correctly (no getting out of the saddle) so I think this is a little more accurate than my last FTP Zwift recorded (it records every time you ride, so all those 'out of the saddle and dying' attempts up the Alpe du Huez (called Alpe du Zwift in-app) really mucked the numbers.

And now on to today's ride, and not typoing a 7 as a 4 this time lol

Ride - 8.07 km
Previous - 774.46 km

Year Total - 782.53/2022 km (mile challenge complete)

Strava:
https://www.strava.com/activities/8132258574

Took a break from logging on here, but have been riding! One real ride (super short) and 3 Zwift rides since last time I logged.

Ride 1 - 2.97 km
Ride 2 - 40.34 km
Ride 3 - 19.34 km
Ride 4 - 33.79 km
Previous - 808.35 km

Year Total - 904.79/2022 km (mile challenge complete)

Strava:
https://www.strava.com/activities/8149312890
https://www.strava.com/activities/8141062198
https://www.strava.com/activities/8158771023
https://www.strava.com/activities/8154615480

@15822 I have faith in you!! You've got this!!!

Rode today to burn some turkey off. Cut short by birdie bedtime - gotta kill the lights in the workout room when the parrot's ready for bed, otherwise you live to regret it lol

Ride 1 - 11.39 km
Ride 2 - 11.29 km
Previous - 904.79 km

Year Total - 927.47/2022 km (mile challenge complete)

Strava:
https://www.strava.com/activities/8164764826
https://www.strava.com/activities/8164802446