Feeling a little calmer now. Probably just resigned to the fact that there is nothing I can do about my level of fitness now. Just have to go with what I've got.
I've managed a couple of turbo sessions since the last post, with some pleasing numbers (managing to keep 320watts for 10 minute intervals), so that is good.
Also went out for an evening blast and did 40 miles in 2hours 20min. Again, feeling good.
Last weekend was the annual "Challenge Weekend" : a 10 mile tt on Saturday afternoon and a 25 mile tt on Sunday morning. Good results for me : 25min 18sec for the 10. Just 8 seconds off my PB, and a Class win ( with a cash prize of £10 :o) and finishing 28th overall. Happy with that !
The 25 time was also a PB : 1hr 5min 41sec, 29th overall. Only 4 seconds behind Rich Gamble, my 2-up partner. So again, very happy with the result.
This weeks Tuesday 10, was another quick one. A new PB by 1 second ( 25:09 ).
So, to state the obvious, a bit of training and you go faster!
Let's just hope this is enough to get me up to Alpe d'Huez.
Thursday 30 June 2011
Wednesday 22 June 2011
3 Weeks to go... and no training.
Once again there has been a total lack of riding over the last couple of weeks. Not Good.
The Hinckley 25 on 12th June went well. A really windy day, but I finished with a time of 1hr 7min 2sec. Pretty close to my 2-Up team time trial last month, and faster than most of my closest rivals. All very good.
On the down side, I have failed to get my long ride in again this weekend. Family stuff has got in the way, specifically get the houses on the market. 18th and 19th June was going to be my big mileage weekend, but instead I spent the weekend clearing the garden at the in-law's old house. No riding at all.
Also haven't ridden the regular Tuesday TT for a couple of weeks. Last week Josh broke his arm, so I was looking after Fin while Jo took Josh off to A&E. Really annoying as conditions were perfect for a good time. (Obviously upset the the little chap has hurt himself) This week I was down to marshal, so, again, didn't ride. Did think about doing my pushing-off duty and then riding at the end, but got messed about by some Cock who was also supposed to be marshaling. Ended up with him riding and other picking up the slack. Not happy.
So I'm not into the last 3 weeks before the Etape, and my training has disappeared. Not happy, but some things in life out-rank riding my bike.
The Hinckley 25 on 12th June went well. A really windy day, but I finished with a time of 1hr 7min 2sec. Pretty close to my 2-Up team time trial last month, and faster than most of my closest rivals. All very good.
On the down side, I have failed to get my long ride in again this weekend. Family stuff has got in the way, specifically get the houses on the market. 18th and 19th June was going to be my big mileage weekend, but instead I spent the weekend clearing the garden at the in-law's old house. No riding at all.
Also haven't ridden the regular Tuesday TT for a couple of weeks. Last week Josh broke his arm, so I was looking after Fin while Jo took Josh off to A&E. Really annoying as conditions were perfect for a good time. (Obviously upset the the little chap has hurt himself) This week I was down to marshal, so, again, didn't ride. Did think about doing my pushing-off duty and then riding at the end, but got messed about by some Cock who was also supposed to be marshaling. Ended up with him riding and other picking up the slack. Not happy.
So I'm not into the last 3 weeks before the Etape, and my training has disappeared. Not happy, but some things in life out-rank riding my bike.
Friday 10 June 2011
JFDI #2
If I keep going like this I'm going to be in trouble.
Training has been a bit hit and miss again this week. Some good intervals in the turbo on Thursday and Friday, followed by a fun weekend away in Oxford. Good to see Matt & Niki and the boys again, and good to relax with a beer or two, but not good from a training point of view.
The main down side is that there was no long ride again this weekend. My good intentions of another turbo session when I got home on Sunday soon faded and we tried to get an early night. Monday was a gray day and I just couldn't summon the enthusiasm for training. A slightly randon 30 minutes on the turbo, followed by a couple of hours battling with the internal cable routing on my TT bike handlebars instead.
Tuesday Night 10 round #10 this week was an interesting night. The new base bar on the time trial bike had moved the position of the aero bars - just a little closer together. I'm not exactly Martin Johnson, but I think I've got quite wide shoulders and chest. The new position was a bit uncomfortable, and also made steering a bit difficult.
Wind was really blustery, from the side. No real help in either direction, but did bouncy me sideways a couple of times. Once, at about 9.5 miles, the quickest part of the course for me, I lurched onto the wrong side of the road. It scared the **** out of me, but no harm done.
Per formance was good. Didn't feel smooth, and was fighting the bike a bit, but came out on top. time : 25:11 just 1 sec of my PB from a couple of weeks ago. Quite a few people struggled, and many were significantly slower - so a net gain then !?!
The rest of the week again lacked motivation and energy. No more training at all. This weekend is also filling up. Saturday we will be off to see my brother-in-law to discus house stuff and the evening is the MIRA 65th celebration party. Sunday is the HCRC 25 mile TT championship. Weather is looking wet and windy. Don't think quick times are on the cards.
So, again, no long ride this weekend.
31 days to go.
Just want it to be over now.
Training has been a bit hit and miss again this week. Some good intervals in the turbo on Thursday and Friday, followed by a fun weekend away in Oxford. Good to see Matt & Niki and the boys again, and good to relax with a beer or two, but not good from a training point of view.
The main down side is that there was no long ride again this weekend. My good intentions of another turbo session when I got home on Sunday soon faded and we tried to get an early night. Monday was a gray day and I just couldn't summon the enthusiasm for training. A slightly randon 30 minutes on the turbo, followed by a couple of hours battling with the internal cable routing on my TT bike handlebars instead.
Tuesday Night 10 round #10 this week was an interesting night. The new base bar on the time trial bike had moved the position of the aero bars - just a little closer together. I'm not exactly Martin Johnson, but I think I've got quite wide shoulders and chest. The new position was a bit uncomfortable, and also made steering a bit difficult.
Wind was really blustery, from the side. No real help in either direction, but did bouncy me sideways a couple of times. Once, at about 9.5 miles, the quickest part of the course for me, I lurched onto the wrong side of the road. It scared the **** out of me, but no harm done.
Per formance was good. Didn't feel smooth, and was fighting the bike a bit, but came out on top. time : 25:11 just 1 sec of my PB from a couple of weeks ago. Quite a few people struggled, and many were significantly slower - so a net gain then !?!
The rest of the week again lacked motivation and energy. No more training at all. This weekend is also filling up. Saturday we will be off to see my brother-in-law to discus house stuff and the evening is the MIRA 65th celebration party. Sunday is the HCRC 25 mile TT championship. Weather is looking wet and windy. Don't think quick times are on the cards.
So, again, no long ride this weekend.
31 days to go.
Just want it to be over now.
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