Has the cycling community become too obsessed with optimizing every aspect of our rides, from power meters to aerodynamic wheelsets, that weve lost sight of the simplest, most effective way to improve: just riding? It seems like every forum post, social media update, and cycling publication is filled with advice on how to tweak your training plan, upgrade your bike, or fine-tune your nutrition strategy. But what about the old-school approach of just putting in the miles, day in and day out, without worrying about all the ancillary details?
Are we overcomplicating things? Have we forgotten that the most important factor in getting faster, stronger, and more confident on the bike is simply putting in the time and effort? Im not dismissing the value of data analysis, interval training, or proper bike fit, but its hard to deny that many professional cyclists from past decades achieved incredible success without all the fancy gadgets and training methods we have today.
So, am I crazy to think that, in our quest for marginal gains, weve overlooked the most obvious, most effective way to improve: just riding?
Are we overcomplicating things? Have we forgotten that the most important factor in getting faster, stronger, and more confident on the bike is simply putting in the time and effort? Im not dismissing the value of data analysis, interval training, or proper bike fit, but its hard to deny that many professional cyclists from past decades achieved incredible success without all the fancy gadgets and training methods we have today.
So, am I crazy to think that, in our quest for marginal gains, weve overlooked the most obvious, most effective way to improve: just riding?