Sooo... getting back into our weekly 10 mile TTs although finding myself way off where I want to be, I guess because the weekly TT is typically the highest intensity riding I do on a weekly basis.
If I want to do one other short hard session a week I'm getting the impression it should be 4 x 5 minute intervals at a higher-than-TT pace.
The most suitable roads around me are all climbs, ranging from 2% average all the way up to approx 10% average. This is useful as I also want to get some climbing legs back!
Any danger in using hill reps as TT 'training'? I guess VO2 is V02, and the lack of specificity in the intervals isn't that big a deal if I'm TTing once a week anyway, i.e. I'm getting the specificity from the TTs themselves? Our TT courses are all pretty rolling anyway...
Some very strong testers hold with VO2 is VO2, you could train sat up like a postman on a gym bike as the cv effort is all that matters.
Others are the opposite and will work towards holding big intervals in position even on the turbo - recollect hearing John Archibald (100 mile TT record holder - 3 hrs 13 minutes!) on a podcast say he trains in position. It certainly trains mentality as it is hard, but the biomechanics of a stationary bike are quite different.
TTing once a week is the important thing - that is the key thing to get better, and the training session will just strengthen that.
Just getting back to riding after the first three months off with viral infection. Then went down with a further cold and twi more weeks off. On the interesting side, i have a new max HR of 222bpm - previously about 185. One vets circuit race in, and another tomorrow. At least i was not dropped l, but far from the pointy end. Back up to two solid club rides and one mid week extended commute, so about seven hours of Z2/4 (seldom 3) and some race interval training in the mix.
Reading 50 TT is in a week, then some 100 TTs and maybe some fitness for the Welsh 12h in August. Maybe. It’s a long oath back after three months walking the dog 😂. But endurance never teally leaves you. Thankfully.
I don’t ride 10’s. i’m not a glutton for punishment. We have the Westerley ten and a bit (11 laps of Hillingdon) which i have used as a means of honing position and comfort, and years ago I won the series, but I don’t really like the pain. So i like a 100 instead!
but I don’t really like the pain. So i like a 100 instead!
People say cyclists are weird sometimes.
Hard day at the Fred Whitton yesterday.
Been off colour for a few weeks and not ridden the bike in anger, so wasn’t expecting much, a just ride round sort of event. Except you can’t really ‘just ride round’ the Fred, so it went pretty much as expected. Compounded by a comically bad prep of 3 hours nights sleep on a YHA couch, and the morning being Baltic cold at first light. It turned into a lovely day, but there was frost at 6.30am, and I had no gloves. 5 miles down the road and up the Struggle and my hands were burning painful, felt tired, and there’s 11500 feet of climbing to go. Honestly thought about just riding to Keswick and calling it a day.
But! From this nadir things slowly improved – talking 1/10 to 5/10 but still, a significant increase. Got some pace under the wheels with some tasty descending, sun came out and the Lakes looked resplendent, good chat with other riders, and loads of people out and about cheering you on which makes a massive difference to your mood.
Physically things never really picked up – descended well and could tick over the flattish bits, but the legs just got zeroed on the climbs, every one was a battle and felt a level harder than it should. But recognizing I had un jour sans on my hands I just ground it out and didn’t really stop, just a minute or two here and there to refill water, chip time of 8hr 48mins. Wasn’t too fussed with a time objective as this parcours is always going to give me a bit of a leathering, but I wanted to be strong enough to ride round somewhat on my terms. Didn't happen, but such a class event - might try again next year.
Few photos – lovely day, bright sunshine but not too hot, cooling later on.
Good effort Garry! Worryingly close to my 'good day' time from several years ago I think 😂
Meanwhile I sacked off plans for a gruelling gravel effort in the hills above the Tay and went for a lovely sunny road spin, almost felt guilty just spinning along enjoying myself 😂
I did the 6hour solo race at Torq 3, 6, 9...
Felt like a complete bag of spanners for the first 4 hours almost quit after 2 but decided to keep going, got overtaken by seemingly everyone, twice. After 4 1/2 hours though I realised my legs felt fine so pushed on with my quickest lap, it left me with 50mins to do another, had been lapping 42-48 mins so pushed on and got fastest lap at 38...legs feel fine today...guess I should have gone harder but pleased my hydration and fueling were nailed and I finished a 6 hour race feeling strong. Finished mid to lower end of 49-59 cat but amusingly if I was 3 years younger I would have been on the podium
