u/hourlyproblemsolver

I've spent the last few months building an indoor cycling coach as a side project and I'm at the point where I need real users instead of more code.

The core idea is pretty simple: instead of following a fixed training plan, the app recommends a workout each day based on how you're feeling, recent training load, goals, and whether you've actually been absorbing the work.

I've been a TrainerRoad user on and off over the years, so a lot of my thinking started from my experience of having an hour long ride planned for a day where I only had 45 minutes and I had been up all night with a sick toddler.

I'm not really looking to sell anything here. I'm trying to find a handful of indoor cyclists who are willing to use it for a few weeks and tell me where it's wrong, confusing, or just worse than TrainerRoad.

If that sounds interesting, let me know and I'll send you the link.

MSP-SFO yesterday, dropped the car seat at the oversize item spot after checking in with United. The bag tracker shows "checked at MSP" and "tag processed" yesterday, but it was never loaded onto the plane. 24 hours later, no additional scans or updates. Is this normal or should the bag have been scanned again already?

I was a Zwifter for a long time, but realized I was paying $200/year to basically enter in my own custom workouts and then watch Netflix (I was never into the virtual world). I also hated Zwift's reliability, the random updates that always seemed to be forced on the one day I was pressed for time, the janky UI, etc. Lastly, I finally found myself struggling with leg strength while cardio was never an issue, and realized that my random custom workouts were not the most efficient way to get better.

So I built the indoor cycling app that I actually wanted to use: SmarterTraining

Here's the gist of it:

• you check in each day with how you feel, how motivated you are, how much time you have, and any other factors that might matter
• it looks at your check-in answers and recent workouts (from the app as well as from Apple Health and Strava (to be released tomorrow))
• then it gives you the workout that fits best for you today

It’s focused on structured indoor training (generally Z2, over/unders, Vo2/threshold, etc), but with a much more adaptive / real-life approach than a rigid calendar plan. The premise is really that the target user has limited time, so what's the best use of that time to achieve their goal (and that best use could, in fact, be recovery).

A few examples:

• slept terribly because your toddler was up all night → maybe today shouldn’t be VO2
• unexpectedly have only 35 minutes → workout adapts
• smashed yourself skiing / running / lifting yesterday → recommendation changes
• feeling great after a few easy days → it’ll push you a bit

The positioning I keep coming back to is: “training for people with real lives.”

Would genuinely love feedback from people here, especially on whether others have felt a similar disconnect with fairly rigid training plans and/or training with a super busy/chaotic life.

App Store link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/smartertraining/id6769845035

30 day free trial with $7.99/month thereafter if you want to keep using it. I'm happy to give away some free annual subs if you DM me with feedback after a few rides.

A few notes:
- iPhone/iPad only right now

- Allows posting directly to Strava - if anyone knows how I can get access to the Strava Partner API so I can include screenshots in the payload, that'd be amazing

- Connects directly to FTMS smart trainers via BLE

- Connects to Apple Health to support any device you use with Apple Health

- Connects with most bluetooth HRMs

Currently have a Sapper that I love. Fits me well, warm AF, very good for cold/gray days. I want another high quality, buy-it-for-life jacket that can serve for the warmer days. I don't necessarily need a second waxed jacket (fine with quilted), but I want something that works well for a slimmer build (6'2", 175 lbs) and like the Sapper can either punch above its weight as far as style/formality is concerned, while also working fine on a more casual level.

The Elmstone seems nice, but I can never tell if a bomber-style jacket is going to be too short for me and too boxy. The Powell seems like a nice option, but I can't tell if it's too warm for my use case. Tracker Casual and Flyweight Chelsea also seem like possible options, but I'd be curious if anyone has opinions on those.

Any suggestions/recs? Thank you!