Originally Posted by
Carbonfiberboy
We have a tandem Strava account. Our average Strava watts for z2 rides of around 40 miles and similar elevation gain has gone from ~138 to ~152. On the tandem this means we are now cruising at 18-20 on the flat in z2. I know, we suck, but not so very bad for a 134 y.o. mixed team.
I've been trying to understand all of the training info in this thread, but I think I'm getting tripped up in the various zone definitions. How are you calculating the zones you're riding in?
I find it amazing that you're going 18-20 in (what *I'm* thinking of as) Z2! ... and, then, you qualify that by stating that you suck!
I didn't think I was *this* out of shape, but for me to stay in Z2 for an entire ride, I'd have to stay in my lightest gears and I'd probably be going all of 10mph!
My understanding of zones (up to now) had been that Z1 is practically doing nothing (pretty near resting HR), Z2 is the Recovery zone, Z3 the Aerobic zone (and best fat-burning zone), Z4 the anaerobic zone (good for pushing your anaerobic threshold up) and Z5 is basically your max. Am I using different zone definitions?