Feel is still Real

Why feel still matters

A Note to Cyclists, Endurance Riders, and Masters Athletes

I don’t coach robots.
I coach people who love riding, have full lives, and don’t recover the way they used to.

And that’s not a weakness — it’s just reality.

If you’ve been riding long enough, you already know this:
some days the legs are there, some days they aren’t. No chart explains that fully.

That’s where feel comes in.

Your Body Changes. Your Awareness Has to Catch Up.

As a masters athlete, training stops being predictable.
You don’t always bounce back just because the plan says you should.

Sleep matters more. Stress carries over. Heat hits harder.
And forcing sessions on tired legs doesn’t make you tough — it just makes tomorrow worse.

Listening isn’t quitting.
It’s adjusting.

Effort Tells the Truth

Power and pace tell you what you’re producing.
RPE tells you what it’s costing you.

And cost matters.

If an endurance ride feels like work, it is work — even if the numbers say otherwise.
That doesn’t mean you failed. It means the day is different.

Training works best when effort matches intention.

Easy Needs to Feel Easy (Yes, Really)

This is where most experienced riders drift off course.

Easy turns into “a bit steady.”
Steady turns into “kind of hard.”
And suddenly everything feels heavy.

Easy rides should leave you fresher, not flatter.
Relaxed breathing. Loose legs. Plenty left in the tank.

That’s not softness. That’s how endurance is built.

Hard Work Still Matters — Just Not Every Day

Intensity is important.
It just has a price.

Hard days should feel hard because you’re ready for them, not because you’re chasing a number or trying to prove something.

When you arrive rested, those sessions land.
When you don’t, they just take.

More pain doesn’t mean more progress.
Better timing does.

Ride the Conditions, Not the Screen

Headwinds, climbs, heat — none of them care about your FTP.

On those days, ride the effort.
Smooth pressure. Controlled breathing. No panic.

That’s how you pace long rides, fondos, and races without blowing up halfway through.

Use the Data — Don’t Let It Use You

I like data. It’s useful.
But it’s not the boss.

Glance at it. Learn from it. Review it later.

During the ride, pay attention to your body.
That’s the signal that keeps you training consistently year after year.

The Long Game Is the Point

Most masters riders aren’t chasing one big result.
They’re chasing consistency, health, and enjoyment.

The goal is to still love riding next season.
And the one after that.

That means respecting recovery, backing off when needed, and trusting feel without guilt.

What I Want You to Remember

Train with purpose.
Ride with awareness.
Recover without apology.
Use numbers wisely.
Listen early, not after you’re exhausted.

Because at this point:

Progress comes from precision, not punishment.
Longevity beats hero workouts.
And feel — always — is real.