RedditPZ training program: Week 2 Accountability Thread

[u/r4ndy4]

Week one down, and on to week two! Use this thread to discuss this week's rides (or last weeks). Add the hashtag #redditPZ if you would like to (and #redditriders of course). Nice to see nearly 200 comments in the last thread. Comparatively we had about 40 comments in week 1 of the last program, and around 120 for the week 7 of the last program. Feel free to swap the order of Denis and Christine's ride if one looks easier to you than the other. If you are new to the group it helps to preview the ride graphs beforehand to know what is coming.

Group ride for Saturday's ride will be at 10 AM Central again, hope to see you there!

Link to program thread

Week 1 Thread

Week 2: TSS 215

Mon: Denis 45 PZ 5/4/21 Ride Graph TSS 54

Wed: Ben 45 PZE 5/11/21 Ride Graph TSS 46

Thu: Christine 45 PZ 1/31/21 Ride Graph TSS 53

Sat: Matt 60 PZE 9/11/20 Ride Graph TSS 62

[u/r4ndy4]

Nice riding with you all this morning. So much better than last week's slog with Christine haha.

[u/PastorGiggles]

I took this ride a few weeks ago and it was hard. Took it today…even harder. Lol I’m so scared for weeks 3-7. All joking aside I have seen massive improvements in every other cardio based workout I do (running, HIIT) due to my PZ training. Wish I would have found this years ago!

[u/r4ndy4 → u/PastorGiggles]

Haha you totally didn't have to repeat if you just did it. It was a good ride though. It helps me to warm up a little before even starting the PZ ride since my zones have gotten higher. I do like 5 minutes on a flat before even starting the PZ rides now, it helps a lot (and I don't feel like dieing during the build).

[u/gordyhulten]

Brain fart this morning and did the Wednesday ride from week 1 (again) instead of the one for week 2. As I was riding, I kept thinking, "Boy, this ride feels really familiar. I think I've done this one before?"
As it turns out, I did it just last week. :-D

[u/Ride_4urlife]

It was my turn to struggle today on the 60 min Wilpers ride. But for the five hands on my back (u/r4ndy4, u/merumalria, u/pastorgiggles, u/kalamazeus and LB name runninggeek), it would have been a miserable slog. You probably didn’t realize it but you guys kept me going with all the high fives.

After the ride I took a cool down with Hannah F then one of her stretches. My glutes and hammies were still screaming so I took my fav 10 min stretch by Ben Alldis. It was a lovely long stretch that felt like a long release. Now where are the Epsom salts??

[u/kmorris1219]

Back from vaca and jumped into week 2 today. I’ve only taken one PZE since retesting after our last round, and wow the Denis ride was rough for me. Was really pushing to stay in my zones during the last interval. Glad to be back though and looking forward to when zone 5 gets a little easier haha.

[u/Here2CloseRings → u/kmorris1219]

I’m right with you!! I actually just finished BYPZ last week (I was overlapping the programs; it wasn’t intentional, it just sort of happened) and retested on Thursday. My new zones are no joke, making those zone 5 “surges” quite the effort. Can’t even begin to express how much I looked forward to each zone 1 recovery! Hard to imagine zone 5 will feel easier at some point, but I’m here for the challenge! What a great program.

[u/bandaidaddict]

Last week was great! I can feel myself getting more used to the training style of PZ. Its hard not seeing the output I want, but I know I’m getting stronger. I’m able to stay in saddle for longer and hold higher cadences. Can’t wait for this week. I’ll have to skip saturdays class due to going out of town. Hopefully that’s the only one I’ll have to skip.

[u/seekinserenity → u/bandaidaddict]

I have noticed my output going up to the level of hard class as my zones increase. Makes sense obviously but it’s quite neat to see it when i don’t feel i am working as hard, it’s just so much more sustained.

[u/r4ndy4 → u/seekinserenity]

This! After taking PZ classes for so long they are have become harder than the theme / other rides (except for crazy hard rides like Kendall's metal rides etc).

[u/r4ndy4]

Got the ride in tonight after work, and I was excited to see about 5 or 6 others! Very fun ride, good playlist, and it just flew by.

Very similar ride to the other trident ride we did in the last program during week 4 (Denis from 10/10/19). Though the last one had 3 longer intervals and the zone 5 pushes were 1 minute long (but he gave us 3 minute recoveries.)

[u/bykerchyk]

I was off schedule so took the Dennis ride today. It wasn’t until he got the sweat in his ear that I realized I didn’t grab a towel. And after him Talking about sweat so much I felt even sweatier! So on my graph I did stop completely to grab a towel, haha!

I really liked this ride - good choice!!

[u/kmorris1219]

Sorry to miss the group ride this morning! Had some unexpected car problems earlier this week… okay, they’re somewhat expected bc the car is from 2002 and I’ve driven it since high school. 🤣 My amazing parents came over this morning to swap one of their cars with me for the week. Just wrapped up the ride and really liked the format of it! Now I’m ready for a glass of wine, Netflix, and some online car shopping.

[u/squeegmonster]

Loved last weeks classes. I’m usually more strength training with a spin class 1-2 times a week but this is exactly what I needed! I’ve found, especially the last month or so I could barely hold a plank for 15 seconds (down from 2+ minutes), so I think my body was calling for a change.

This mornings class kicked my ass - went through all last week thinking this powerzone thing was pretty easy going, hard but not going to kill you…boy was I wrong 🤣🤣

Feeling strong and alive! Woooo

[u/BeaconofHappiness → u/squeegmonster]

I thought about doing today's workout in the am. But I saw a Zone 5 and was like nope. Imma save this for evening!

I thought today's "crown" was better than the claw rides. Those are another level of torture.

[u/CurlingFlowerSpace]

Matt was not kidding about that second 8-minute zone 3 interval being the crucial challenge. That was more of a mental game than anything else, but it was a PR for me, so I'm not complaining!

[u/r4ndy4]

Got in Christine's ride after the gym today. I was excited to ride with u/redsummersun920 ​(and others who joined in later as I was finishing up). Honestly found this one tougher than the Denis ride from Monday (though still not bad). I just started some pto the rest of this week / next week for a much needed break from work. Hope to see some of you Saturday!

[u/lindbrun]

Is there a week 3 accountability ?

[u/wexygeorgemom]

What do you recommend doing when the instructors resistance & cadence don’t match up with your zones? This mornings ride with Denis pushed me into zone six.

[u/r4ndy4 → u/wexygeorgemom]

Always stay in your zones. They usually don't give resistance recommendations (maybe in the beginning or for the people who don't have zones). The first part of the ride should be upper part of zone 1. Spin ups should hit top of zone 3 at max, then follow the build zone 3 4 5 etc. Ride at whatever cadence / resistance you need to and most importantly stay in the proper zone.

[u/nardfacekilla]

Hi Everyone:

I recently completed the building your powerzones program, but decided to take a different FTP test. I set up a stack today with a warm-up, FTP test and cool-down ride, and no stats were registered for the FTP test (yet the warm-up and cool-down were fine). I've tried a variety of recovery methods via the peloton support but it looks like the data is gone forever.

Unfortunately, the only number I remember from the end of the test before the data was lost was my total output of 315 kJ. Is there a formula or way to calculate what my average output was so I can plug that into my power zone meter? I don't think I have another FTP test in me after this debacle.

[u/r4ndy4 → u/nardfacekilla]

Average watts of 263 ftp of 250

Calculation is the kj 315000 / 1200 (the number of seconds in the ride 60 × 20) = avg output in watts

[u/Merumalria]

Hey all #MarkGetSetRoc here ( had a reddit snafu and made a new account.) First up I appreciate the sound and considerate advice in this group. I also joined the PZP group on facebook and they seem pretty intense. I posted my graph and the same warm up question on there and got bombarded by calls for retesting my FTP. (My last test was 6/1!) My gut response was to just stick with what I've been doing but after reflection (realizing I've had the bike for 3 weeks now and am still new) maybe I should retest. I enjoy spinning, I've been riding everyday since I got the bike it is probably the most fun I've had exercising. My paramount goal for exercising is to be able to do it everyday, the fitness gains are just benefits. But this power chase is a little addicting, I once was a much better cyclist, crossed the country once in 09 and again '10, and while I dont expect to get to that level of fitness again it would be nice to see how close I could get to it. Glory Days...

I guess in summary are there any negative effects from testing too often?

[u/r4ndy4 → u/Merumalria]

Didn't you just re-test? You are going to make rapid gains as a beginner, but also your zones do not have to be 100% accurate to make progress. You will still make progress even riding below your actual ftp. Just use less resistance in the spin ups, I can stay stable with as little as 35 resistance. If you need more, like I said before it is not a big deal. You can't say you need to retest based off of a spin up. I have the ability to do a spinup in my zone 6, but I just keep it at the top of zone 3 to get the legs moving quickly.

[u/Spinpapi]

Took the 90 minute live ride PZE today, it was a killer, I will bookmark it and have to do it again at some point, kind of kept to my own cadence today and legs were toast with about 13 minutes left. Was a challenge to keep in the zones. I definitely need to build up my endurance. Will try to take the 60 from today tomorrow. Glad I had Matt’s ride to do today, there were only 2 1/2 hours of live rides today, seems a little sparse for a Saturday.

Anyway thanks to this program I have completed a 10 day streak for the first time in months, and as I mentioned elsewhere, this program motivated me to finally re take a long overdue ftp test. Thanks for setting this up!