CycleOps Magnus 1st Take

Last night at our first indoor ride at Cycling Concept I was able to get my mitts on the CycleOps Magnus.  The Magnus is a powered trainer for use with app controlled resistance.  So here is my first impressions:
-Well Constructed
-Very Smooth resistance in ERG mode and Free Wheel
-Easy to set up and use with all apps. (Strava, TrainerRoad, Virtual Trainer)
-Still functional as a free ride unit as long as you have it plugged in.

I did enjoy the unit in ERG mode using TrainerRoad, but you need to keep the unit and your cadence high, if you pause during a hard interval your toast.  Side note:  Keep you bike in a fairly high gear so if you want to pause or slow down you can down shift to get it moving again.  I was in 3rd or 4th gear, and was so tough to get back up to speed I bonked. (which is not to hard to do these days).

The only way I would enjoy Zwift, I just do not enjoy Zwift.  I tried to use it on a quick ride, but could not get into it.  I quickly switch to my favorite app, TrainerRoad.

I will be purchasing this unit by the end of the week for use at Cycling Concepts for group indoor sessions, (Team Member Discount)!

Comparing HR Monitor Straps: Garmin Soft Strap vs. Scosche Rhytm Armband

On a Christmas Day recovery ride, and after I received the Scosche Rhythm HR Armband Heart Rate Monitor for Christmas from my brother Nick.  I thought I would compare the two, the Garmin vs. the Scoshe, head to head, well almost.

VS.

First, we are all familiar with the traditional HR Strap from Garmin with the plastic sensors in the soft strap.  It only read through Ant+, but does a tremendous job as long as the plastic sensors are wet, otherwise the readings are not forthcoming in the beginning of the ride.  I was having trouble getting the strap to read my HR during the beginning of my ride even after moistening it with saliva, (spitting on it).  So I bought some HR strap gel, which made it work again.  Thus the seed was planted in my brothers head and the Scosche was purchased.

Now for the Scosche Rhythm HR Armband.  According the Scosche website: "This heart monitor employs patented optical sensor technology for highly accurate monitoring and measurement. Many other heart rate monitors fall short in this area, but the high-quality Rhythm+ excels in providing remarkably accurate measurement of exercise intensity." This may be true after all.  The Rhythm is also both bluetooth and Ant+ which is great for all types of fitness apps.  I used it with TrainerRoad which senses both on a Mac.  The Rhythm is also an armband that is ultra comfortable and adjustable.  I can with two sizes.  I am assuming on for the forearm and one for the upper arm, but I had to the use the bigger one for my forearm...FAT.

To set the Rhythm up with TrainerRoad, first you turn it on by pushing on the top of the device, then in the program you go to devices and select it, then forget the other one...Easy Peazy. 

While the Rhythm was set up to the Mac and TrainerRoad, the Garmin soft strap was set up to my Garmin 810, tried and true.  This way I could check the active HR, the Rhythm on the TrainerRoad on the TV, and the Garmin on the Garmin.

Accuracy:

The active accuracy was spot on.  The Rhythm actually gave me more variation of HR during activity then did the Garmin, and adjusted more quickly to changes in HR.  I was on a recovery ride, so I did not bring my HR up too high, but elevated and lower it several times in the short 25 minute ride.  Each time the HR was within a beat of each other while moving up and down, and alway the same when a stable pace was achieved.

After the ride comparison:  TrainerRoad does not display maxHR therefore that data point was out, however the avgHR was spot on at 115bts/min.  So good new for those of us who hate putting on a chest strap...The Scosche Rhythm matched the Garmin Soft Strap at every turn!  Nice!

Round 3 of Methotrexate...

Round 3 of Methotrexate: 

Took 6 pills on Friday night as usual, Saturday I was a bit tired and just hung out all day; same on Sunday.  Hands felt OK, bad times seem a bit better than they were before, by maybe a digit or two. So instead of being a 10 out of 10, they are an 8 out of 10. Still bad but I can touch type on a bad day.

Hands and feet are bad today, Monday after eating both Tomato sauce and Potatoes yesterday.  Two of my trigger foods.  Also weather is a bit on the down side, with snow this am, and rain yesterday.  

Day 3 of no riding, but went to the gym and stretched and did an ab workout this morning.  Legs feel good and ready to ride now.  Friday's outdoor gravel ride took a bit more out of me than I thought.  Might try to ride when I get home, but we shall see what the PM brings.

Tuesday 11-15-16 - Hands and feet sore and stiff

Today is Tuesday week 2 weather is rainy.  My hands and feet are stiff and sore although not their worst.  Road 30 minutes indoors, could not have ridden outside.  Added 2 mg to my Methylpresdisolone to a total of 6mg, with Dr. permission of course.  Hope it helps.

1 Week In and 2nd Dose

OK I have been one Methotrexate for one week and there was no change in my hands or feet. The swelling in both went for low to high and back again, with pain doing likewise, all week long.  I was able to get outside to ride twice this week, which was more the type of bike and my determination than anything else.
Friday night I took my 2nd dose of the stuff, and Saturday had a bit of diarrhea, and loose stool this am.  But woke up today (Sunday) with my hands welling a bit better without meds and my feet not aching, but still still and toes sore.  I am able to type normally albeit with a dash of pain, nothing like yesterday.
Over time I have noticed that not food but weather effects my symptoms most.  Temperature has little effect, but when the barometer changes, my swelling and pain rise dramatically, usually before a storm or rain, Once raining however the severe pain calms down and subsides a bit.  Ate red sauce last night to little effect today.  In fact my spirit is great because of the red sause....:)
We shall see what the week brings, but am happy and thinking of road riding today, so I held off from riding indoors the AM.  Would love to take either the gunnar or R5 out for a spin....

Day 2: really day1 of Metotrexate

Sat Nov 5th was day 2/1 of taking Methotrexate for my Psoriatic Arthritis.  No effect on apatite or no nausea to speak of, but was always hungry.  This has been the case ever since taking methylpredosone. My hand and feet swelling and pain are the same, and my psoriasis is also.  The Dr. daid it would be  a month or more, man.

Day 1 Methotrexate for PA

Well I just took my first 6 tablets of Methotrexate which is once per week.  I am going to keep a record of my bodies reaction to it, and whether it is helping my Psoriatic Arthritis or not.  The Dr. had me take it at night prior to bed so I can sleep on the first hour of the dose, and she said I need to have an open day the next day for rest as needed, due to the possible stomach and intestinal upset.  Fun is...
So stay tuned, same bat time, same bat channel.