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Rudi Pollard

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Everything posted by Rudi Pollard

  1. I agree with the points changes in principle but they should add more points earning zones. On top of that there should be a way to calibrate the formula to agree to your actual HR stats in order to assist the people with low HR's and make it more difficult for people with naturally high HR's like myself. For me it is very easy to earn points as my max HR is 13 beats above the simple 220-age formula which Discovery uses. They should use the formula for example if you haven't done a fitness test with a certain points table. If you go for a fitness test and they add a max HR calculation which is then used for your points allocation, they can put you on a different points table where you earn more points in more zones. That way it will encourage people like myself to actually go for the max HR test. Luckily I didn't sign up for the apple watch so the only financial impact it can possibly have on my is when I am injured or resting and then I wont get my full Virgin fee back. This is a brilliant idea by Discovery, but they clearly did not take into account that not everybody is created equal...
  2. I was sick earlier in the week and went out for a 4 hour ride this morning. The heart rate did not behave itself, but I kept it in a safe zone. 3000 points for a 210min vigorous workout... So for me same old same old...
  3. No it doesn't From discovery's website: Swipe your Clicks ClubCard at any Clicks till or your Dis-Chem card at any Dis-Chem till before the cashier rings up your items to earn cash back on HealthyCare items. Your cash back will be converted into loyalty points and paid into your store card after each billing cycle, and you can view these details on www.discovery.co.za. Vitality members will not earn Vitality points for buying HealthyCare items.
  4. I have received cash back from discovery but I am never entirely sure what its for as the description is vague. It would be nice if you can get an account statement with the events listed you got refunded for as well as the gym booster etc. As far as Dischem goes you dont actually get physical cash back. It gets loaded onto your dischem vitality card as Dischem points which you can spend at Dischem...
  5. Thats very strange. I get points for all my swims using a Garmin FR 225 with wrist based heart rate stats.
  6. After splashing on 1x11 already I can't see myself going to 1x12 just for the bailout gear. I am quite happy on my 34t upfront and haven't found a hill I couldn't ride yet. Obviously if I am going to do an epic I might go down to a 32t to save the legs a bit.
  7. I wonder if they are going to update the 11 speed chains as well or if the new design 1X rings will just work with the standard 11s chain?
  8. Yip, I was on the round ring for a good 4500 km before going oval. The big differene I have noticed is the traction when climbing. the power delivery is a lot smoother so you have much more grip and control. As for it behaving like a 32T on climbs and 36T on flats as claimed, that is very difficult to say. I usually ride to the point where my legs burn. Saying that I have had quite a lot of PR's since going oval, but I have been doing big mileage as well. To just give credit to the oval ring is not an accurate statement so cant really say if it made me faster or not...
  9. Very happy with it. You get used to the ring very quickly and I definitely have more traction on technical climbs
  10. XX1 cassette. First chain was XX1, the second is the X1(cheaper version) if I remember correctly. I have the Absolute Black oval 34t on at the front
  11. That was one of my concerns as well when I converted to 1x11, but to my surprise the parts have lasted a lot longer than the 2x10 counterparts. I got 3500km out of my first 11s chain and the second one is on 2800km now. I a still on my first cassette and only changed the front ring when I converted to Oval. Yes the parts are more expensive but they last a lot longer which levels the playing field again...
  12. I wonder which ring Jaro is going to ride with this. He did the one world cup on a 38t with the 11 speed so they'll probably have to custom make something for him. That guy is power!!!
  13. They had a few mechanicals early in the stage today. Watch out fit them the the rest of the week
  14. My Specialized Epic Marathon with XX1 comes in at 11.2KG's with pedals, bottle cages, swat box with a tube and a bomb and the multitool on the frame. Without all the extras it is 10.2KG's
  15. If they truly want to get this right they need more time brackets and more HR zones. For shorter exercises(less than 1 hr) I am happy that they have moderate and vigourous zones as that is achievable. For anything longer they should add 1 or 2 more zones so that you are rewarded for base training as well. A 3-4 hour base session shouldn't reward you with 3000 points, but it shouldn't be zero either. By the looks of it they might be experimenting with something at the moment behind the scenes
  16. This is one powerhouse african team!!! I think its going to be a dogfight for the african Jersey this year. My pick: 1. Team NAD (Gawie and Nico) 2. Team Scott/Spez (James and Gert) 3. Team USN (Darren and Waylon)
  17. It's not that complicated. Dicsovery wants you to workout at least 4 times a week at a certain instensity. The only way they can check this is with HR data. They have structured the points allocation to fit in with this. Yes there is a few things that they need to sort out but I agree with their approach. From 1 Jan I have basically been hitting my goal by doing 1 workout. With their current system I racked up between 15000-18000 points a week. My fitness points was maxed by 17 Jan. This does not make sense.
  18. From their response they are not encouraging you to train for 3 hours at that intensity to get your points goal on 1 day. What they are trying to encourage is 4 sessions a week of half an hour(like a spinning class). That's why I also said that they need to reconsider the points for longer workouts because to ride for 3 hours at 75% plus is going to hurt... They can even reduce the points allocation but for longer sessions they need to add points for the 55-65% of HR as well.
  19. I am also on the favorable side of the coin as according to vitality my max HR is 190, where my actual max is 204. All my rides are currently being flagged as vigorous... Something they might want to consider is to include a max HR test as part of the Elite Fitness Test. That way you can go for the test, they can capture your actual max HR and the system can work out your points from there. If you don't go for the test your points will be based on the 220-age formula, which has a 15 beats up or down standard deviation if I remember correctly. They are trying to encourage the correct behavior, but it is very difficult to get a points system that works for everyone as there are so many variables when it comes to a persons max HR. The other thing they should reconsider is those long base sessions which will never hit the moderate or vigorous categories. If I go for a 4 hour base ride and I get zero points I wouldn't be to happy...
  20. Discovery can then just ask the dishonest couch patatoes to provide proof that it was actually them doing the exercise just to find out they don't even own a bicycle or a pair of running shoes... Meanwhile they log 2 hour bike rides on Strava to reach their weekly goal and get a free watch.
  21. The problem discovery is sitting with is to eliminate the people who is currently cheating the system. The solution they have come up with now penalises fit active and honest people which is counter intuitive to the entire Vitality brand. They have the right thing in mind but their knee jerk reaction has just pissed everyone off!!!
  22. Just put a flat battery in your HR strap. My Garmin reads at 220+ if the battery goes flat... On a more serious note, they will have to reconsider the new points allocation system. It does not make any sense to give someone zero points for a 3 hour plus base ride. It will drive the wrong behavior and people will find new ways to cheat the system!
  23. I don't think its the trails that is the problem. It is the start/finish area with media and the worlds eyes on it. Imagine the chaos the protesters can cause with all the supporters, and all of it on live television...
  24. I maxed my fitness points by the 18th so not to fussed if I still receive 3000 or 1500 or whatever... I do always track my HR so for vitality rewards it is still 1 ride per week to reach my goal...
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