Quote:
Nothing will make you better at riding than riding.
That's a fine sentiment, and certainly not without some small amount of merit. But the reality is that SMART riding is far better than just riding. I've made more gains this spring using focused, power-based training on 180 miles or less per week than I ever made when I routinely rode 250-350 miles per week, many of which were hard roadie group rides a few years ago. My base is about the same, but, for instance, I completed a race rehearsal 1/2 IM brick this weekend at 1/2 mph faster than my PR pace from a few years ago when I was doing monster training. The key to having all the technical gear is NOT simply laying out the cash and looking cool with an SRM or PT or disc wheel mounted on your bike or an S710 hanging on your wrist. The key is making use of it. That's why I recommend a coach in my post above. As a triathlete with a full time job and family, having a coach has relieved me of most of the burden of tracking and planning my workouts. I simply execute, based on feedback from my training, provided by these high tech gadgets. Having that info, the coach is better able to pinpoint weaknesses and strengths and plan training appropriately. That's A LOT better than simply piling on the miles.