ZenTriBrett wrote:
I think it evens out. You make a lot more friends online that are a lot more like you. But then those relationships are shallower because you don't know each other very well. The net result is sort of the same - more quantity of less quality equals the same sum of friendships. Slowtwitch forums are a great example. I know a ton more triathletes because of this place, but I don't know them very well. But now I know tons of triathletes that seriously compete in ultra distance endurance sports, which never would have happened without being online in these forums because IRL I live in a town of only 100,000 people. I think there's only about 3 of us where I live in real life and I see them maybe once a year.
Similarly, I quit training with the local cycling group 15 years ago because they want to stop at every gas station to snack and chat. Or you have newbies that constantly bonk or crash or go too slow or have equipment failures or flat tires (sheer numbers thing). I have a kid and a job, so if I'm taking the time to go ride, I can't be stopping all the time for stuff that other people are still figuring out. Virtual training groups are the same way - they start on time and no flat tires. And everybody has close to the same ability and also the same goals.
In a recent interview, some pro training coach or industry insider said he's noticed that indoor cycling is far bigger a thing with triathletes than other cyclists. This is because we also swim and run and we have less time to screw around. Bike goes on the trainer, ride had no flat tires or stops, ride done. Get social on your swim or maybe on your run, but go virtual on your bike if you want to be time effective.
The up side is we may see our real world friends online when otherwise we would not. Same as real world friends on facebook or ST.
Are you guys seeing a downside where you can't get real world friends out for swim or a run because they are opting to the convenience of the virtual group training at home?
I'll be getting back into the bike training soon so trying to decide if I just go erg mode solo until the snow melts when I can ride with others or add group virtual indoor now. My other problem is that I am better off training with no one for 80% of my training because the quality gets "too high" with others. If I train solo, I respect that I can't be in 'racing mode' every outing.