On headphones: I tried using in-ear earbuds for the first 2 years I was on the trainer. None of them felt good in the ear, so I switched to a pair of on-ear headphones. The Uproar Wireless work well when running or cycling, but aren’t the best at ambient or active noise cancelling. I sweat a lot and it hasn’t been an issue in ~2 years.
I think it’d be hard to get noise cancellation out of on-ear headphones because of the heat management from having your ears enclosed.
Aftershokz headphones are amazing, and far safer as they don’t pump sound waves into your ear canal. Bone conduction allows you to also hear loud noises or conversations if the volume is low. These are next for me as the sound is amazing and my hearing will last far longer.
At 1:46:10 on the youtube version of this pod, @Nate_Pearson said he is going to try a maltodextrin drink for his carb loading as it’s low GI made from corn.
Uh… Did he get confused with something else? Maltodextrin is one of the fastest absorbing carbohydrates, right? Like around 100 on the glycemic index? I use it for all my post workout drinks and also during races and training. I don’t think you’d be wanting to use it to carb load while sedentary.
I’m guessing he mis-spoke.
Obviously not speaking for others but I’m able to load up a good 90 grams of it into about 500ml for a post workout mix and down it all at once. 90 grams because I thought each scoop was 20 grams but I eventually measured it and it was 30 lol.
But like others have mentioned, it’s usually not bad for most people.
Whoops, yes I should not have said that.
Interested in the headphone conversations.
I wonder if anyone has any experience with after market headphone tips that apparently improve noise isolation, e.g. spinfits. Do they work? I already have a set of waterproof, true wireless headphones but they it would be nice to reduce the noise of the fan.
Alternatively, if it would work better I could use ear plugs and my aftershokz, any experience? If so, any good ear plugs (preferably reusable rather than a large vat of foam ones which I don’t like).
I didn’t know “dry January” existed. In Belgium they do it in February, since that’s the shortest month of the year 
Clever…! In Germany it’s common to stay “dry” the 40 days before easter. 40 days!
+1 for Brewdog!
They’ve sponsored a few bike races in the UK, I got handed a bottle with my finishers medal after crossing the line at Tour of Cambridgeshire a few years ago. First time I’ve ever been given an official beer, slightly disappointed when I realised it was alcohol free! Have had a few other decent alcohol free wheat beers, think the wheat flavour is strong enough to mask the lack of alcohol.
Big Drop make some good 0.5% ABV beer as well.
I have 100% done this, and it works great. They even come with foamie earplugs, actually, but I just use the $2/50 pack of standard noise supressing ear plugs. Protip: Use Aftershokz in combo with earplugs for some amazing airplane headphones.
I thought your surroundings could still hear what your are listening to with the aftersokz, or did I misunderstand that?
You can. My point is that you use can earplugs to block the surrounding noise like you would want on an airplane, but the aftershokz don’t use the ear canal, so they can still be heard. It lets you block out the loud airplane drone while still listening to music/tv.
In regards to the tubular road tire being a big issue if you get a flat - I find repairing a tubular flat takes just a bit longer than switching out a tube for a clincher flat. If you have sealant that works with CO2, you can remove the valve core, add sealant, replace the valve core, and then use CO2 to re-inflate. I agree that tubeless is the way of the future, but training and racing on tubulars is doable. Another tip is to verify your sealant works well with your tubular tires from home.
I didn’t hear it in the podcast but there are two more reasons tubulars are still used en masse in the pro peloton.
Sorry I don’t think I phrased my question right the first time, I know the person wearing the Aftershokz can hear his or her surroundings.
What I meant to ask was, doesn’t the person next you on the plane hear what you are listening to as well?
No.
As far as headphones as Chad mentioned, it is all about the fit for sound quality and drowning out noise. There are replacement tips in different sizes for pretty cheap to try out, I like Comply. I also find that when you start heating up, my ear canal seems to expand so they have to start tight.
Contrary to Jonathan, I actually find that wearing earbuds when mountain biking increases my skills, specifically in traction situations. I attribute this(unscientifically) to the dulling of one sense strengthens the others. Hearing rocks pinging off your frame and your tires scratching through loose over hardpack can be un-nerving, but is completely normal.
If I am already past the normal sound of tires holding traction, and I hear my tire breaking loose, it is already too late. I would contend that if I take away sound my tactile sense increases and I would feel these things sooner and react quicker. Just my observations.
But, this is limited to races that have low traffic, and you have to be very aware of others coming up from behind. For me even that “sense” seems to be triggered when wearing headphones, for no reason I look back and there is a rider coming.
Nate, a big thumbs up on not following the “sheeples line”(thanks Lee McCormack) on your gravel bike. It makes perfect sense for its application. If you want to add to the “unique look” check out Soma Fabrications “Condor” drop bars. Enjoy your supermodel.
I use them for CX/Gravel/road and get ridiculed, but they are amazing in the drops with only a 50mm net drop. I am 6’-4" with some back stuff(extra long torso) and these bars give me more comfy hand positions and way more control on rough descents, lower COG in corners, and a touch more aero without crushing my erector spinae!
Now in the Fall take that Pivot mach 4 SL w/ Live valve, throw some cx tires on it, drop bar/shifters/brakes, and you will have the ultimate cx weapon(as long is there is not too much running!)
Ooo, I like that idea about the Pivot. I should have gone axs so it would be an easier change.
Just wanted to say thank you to the TR crew for noting that a more aero wheel does not affect handling. The old trope of not using a disc wheel in windy conditions needs to die out…a disc is always the fastest wheel choice (unless it is a hill climb).