Adding outdoor rides to Calender: what are my options?

TrainerRoad Software
1

Hi.

I’m sure this topic has been discussed extensively, but I haven’t been able to find an answer specific to my question.

I usually try to stick to my TR plan. However, whenever I have the opportunity to ride outdoors (whether alone or with friends), I prefer to do so. I don’t follow any particular plan when I ride outside. We might cruise for two hours, go fast for an hour, tackle uphill terrain slowly, or push the pace - it’s essentially a fun ride without monitoring metrics like heart rate, watts, or anything else; as unstructured as it gets.

Is there any benefit to including these rides in TR and associating them with a workout? I’m considering two options:

a) Simply let it sync through Strava and do nothing else.
b) Associate it with an Endurance ride training (for example, if I do a 3.5-hour ride outside, associate it with Manakau).

Any thoughts on which option would be better? I feel like TR should be aware when I’ve gone for a few rides outdoors. On the other hand, if only 25% of the ride falls into the Endurance Zone, then perhaps associating it with a 3.5-hour Endurance training might not be the best approach.

Outdoor rides might resemble the following:

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image1142×522 17 KB

2

Do nothing else. Unless you are riding with the intention of a workout do not associate it with one.

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3

Agreed, A) seems best to me.

Considering there is over 20% coasting and 15% Thresh+, I don’t know that it follows a basic goal of an “endurance” workout. As is covered in numerous posts, it’s not essential that you never stray from Z2 and keep power on the pedals 100% of the time.

There is a relatively wide reality of getting in a functional and rewarding ride outside with the typical goals. But those looser rides should probably not be associated with more specific workouts via the TR method.

Until TR gives us the updated tools, these rides are likely best left unassociated in the TR world. I am pretty certain that is the “official” company line as I’ve seen it listed in the numerous examples of questions along these lines.

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