Caffeine and stress are not happy bedfellows with intense exercise. I seem to remember  that they were contributory factors in an episode in an athlete in on of the articles on heart damage for older endurance atheletes that was shared on here a while back,

I had a minor arrhythmia last wednesday after diving straight into Beastway with no warm up after a nightmare 2hr commute after a full on day of work, coffee and stress.

^I’m jealous.

5hr Z2 Road ride for me. Lovely weather and stunning route but ouch. Amazing how much you can hurt your legs with Z2.

I now live away from home in N11 midweek. So far ridden north to Potters Bar via Monkden Hadley, South Mimms, Ridge, Shenley.

I went out expecting a rat run nightmare and I can honestly say it was one of the best rides I’ve ever had. Not a shred of gnar just stunning countryside (and houses!).

<span style=”font-size: 0.8rem;”>I had thought I’d ride to Beastway but its serious traffic and I’m too scared. </span>

You will want to give up. Understand this and work out what you need to do to keep on going.

From about 8hrs have a treat waiting on your table – mine was half a can of coke per lap.

Race Beastway tired or Z2 ride…..

I presume you can enter at the event?

If you can do progressively longer rides on the bike you use ending at 8hrs then if you’re comfortable and well hydrated/fed at the end of that you’ll be fine for 12 IF you manage your pacing well.

Sorry to hear it Kryton – good to be in one piece and that which doesn’t kill us makes us stronger!

Managed the 120 route in 7hrs which I was pleased with 3hrs longer than I’ve ridden in a year and shows my base hasn’t utterly deserted me. Rode to power with good discipline, ate a heap and drank  lot.

I also have over – 50 form but at the start of my training block. Some adjustment needed I think!

Bucks off road sportive for me today in my continuing move to enjoy my bike. Such a great event. Looking forward but I’ve not been on my bike longer than 4hrs in the last year……

Kryton it’s a quote from Gore Vidal that recognises the inner competitiveness in us all. Much as I”ll be happy when you succeed as you surely will also a very small part of me will be pissed.

Well I can honestly say I’m enjoying not racing.

I could have rocked up to G100 and pissed myself off but instead did a 4hr Z2 Road loop on the MTB. My season will start as most are finishing and the time off just ticking over has some me good.

I salute Kryton. “every time a friend of mine succeeds a little inside me dies” I dread hearing of his success but I fear its inevitable.

I like my home, my kids, sometimes my wife and I’ve bottled it. I spent a decade or more with Sunday night syndrome and I’m buggered if I’m going to do it again.

Luckily there was a substantial salary mismatch and also luckily I’m experienced enough I insisted on a telephone call before flogging 200miles for an interview.

Sorry to waste your time.

Well I’m not racing this year. No longer office based and with no SSP I can’t take the risk of injury atm.

I’ve kept ticking over with a couple of hard interval sessions each week so power is up even if fitness is down.

I’m about to uninstall training peaks and may sell my Epic s works…. On the plus side I’m still enjoying riding and may well do some longer events single speed.

Not really racing in 2018 as no statutory sick pay

Might do 24:12 and torq

Seems a shame to destroy a new FS at a BM where any advantage is so minimal.

Did Caffell twice, fun and pretty good considering. The divert for twrch ended up at a barrier for forestry so I retraced and redid Caffell.

No HR monitor or powermeter just me vs hill :-)

Ta – CC with Flux ’tis then.

Is it HT friendly. Only want to beast myself on the climbs really

But do RCT dampers in Revs have platform? I’m not convinced, I seem to remember there is an RCT without platform when not in a SID

I find both of mine can take a while to settle down after being stored upside down or a on a hook from the ceiling. They do exactly what you describe. Eventually they behave e as they are supposed to

Things I learnt when I did Amberley to Eastbourne and back in a day.

Bike position – bearable for 6hrs is not good for 10-12

It is not possible to ride
it all in Z2 the hills will have you at threshold

Don’t descend unless you KNOW you are on course

Be unfashionable and have a hugely low gear for late in the day

Eat and drink a lot but only stuff you have already trained with.

Nope would be nuts to use FS in these conditions

If you at all serious you will want a 29er. The basic premise of swapping is sound but the multitude of standards will make it hard. There are some great Trek procalibre models that look ready to race for quite cheap.

The bike discount sale seems irrelevant unless you ride a 23″ frame

Want to but can’t really risk it :cry:

Really glad your recovery has been so good. I remember the day it happened.

Destroyed a set of Turner bearings in 2 winters. Getting sick of replacing jockey wheels. Currently rigid singlespeeding and about to build up a winter version of that for Ridgeway plugging – constant mud and grit even destroys rigid single speeds!

I just quit a well paying job with no other job to go to, because it was the most toxic place I’ve ever worked and was ruining my mental health.

I did that too, aged 41.

I’m 53, have done the same. No mortgage but the funds I built up to cover things on a rainy day got spent on our new house build. At least I’m told I look better than I’ve done in 2 years.

Sorry now have school run so can’t.

I could be a possible for this.

Doesn’t really fit with your aims though does it?

Too much travel and weight to race and how can you keep in zone going down stuff? :wink:

240s are worth it. The front is easier to swap axles on 240s compared to 350s

You should be happy with your build – I was – quick and the wheels are well built

240s are worth it.

You should be happy with your build – I was – quick and the wheels are well built

So now what gearing :mrgreen:

Sounds positve. I’d have been aiming for GV podiums but the way things have gone I’d be down on last year and I’d rather not be racing for places with all the risk that entails.

I train on a very light rigid SS. Just never raced it.

Thanks – could be worse – was very unhappy and now I’ve got time to do some long rides even if I’m not racing.

2017 is not turning out well for racing. Having been ill for 7 weeks I’ve worked my arse off on intervals to catch up to where I was and…..
Redundancy.
I really cannot risk injury through racing when my short term earning is health dependent so Brass Monkeys cancelled and I’ll probably just do some long rides.

FWIW I’ll be riding a Z2 lunch ride tomorrow about 40w higher than previously, and my 20 min “sweet spot” sessions are within a hairs breadth of my FTP rather than the 85% some trainer road sessions have, plus I’ll be training 2-3 days back to back to develop greater stamina.

Now you will understand how I could get so tired on Z2

Enjoy the Z4 – 4x15minutes ? The perfect combination of intensity and duration to be true agony. It’s a very effective session.

Torq use lactate measuring for Z2 so if you’ve got a very good aerobic base you may inadvertently be training in Z1 if you use the traditional FTP based method.

I’m back to health and am pretty much back up to speed training.

That sounds very positive. Glad you’re a different age band!

How many dark chocolate digestives will my FTP test result make me want to eat?

More likely how many dark chocolate digestives will reappear after/during your FTP test :oops: