Training Status??? (IV)
Senior Member
Recovery week done, heading home Tuesday, glad I got in my full training on the stages spin bike these past 2 weeks. 2nd half of short power build kicks off this week, might actually sign up for a couple of crits now that I might not be so one dimensional in my power, but CX season is my main focus
Senior Member
Haven't posted in a while but I had about a 2 week run where I just felt flat, and power is way down right now. I took a 7 day rest period and I think it helped, we'll see tomorrow.
BWR is next week and I have a laundry list of mental reasons not to do it; crashing twice in the first 30 miles doing gravel (both over the bars), hardly riding gravel after, not being able to descend quickly on gravel because of point 1, and the fact that I'll be nowhere near the front.
I just can't get excited for events where thousands participate and there's no chance of winning, and I really can't get excited for one I may finish in the back. I did that for years and while I pat myself on the back for not quitting, getting that feeling that everyone is laughing at you because you're awful isn't something I care to revisit...
BWR is next week and I have a laundry list of mental reasons not to do it; crashing twice in the first 30 miles doing gravel (both over the bars), hardly riding gravel after, not being able to descend quickly on gravel because of point 1, and the fact that I'll be nowhere near the front.
I just can't get excited for events where thousands participate and there's no chance of winning, and I really can't get excited for one I may finish in the back. I did that for years and while I pat myself on the back for not quitting, getting that feeling that everyone is laughing at you because you're awful isn't something I care to revisit...
Likes For furiousferret:
Senior Member
Haven't posted in a while but I had about a 2 week run where I just felt flat, and power is way down right now. I took a 7 day rest period and I think it helped, we'll see tomorrow.
BWR is next week and I have a laundry list of mental reasons not to do it; crashing twice in the first 30 miles doing gravel (both over the bars), hardly riding gravel after, not being able to descend quickly on gravel because of point 1, and the fact that I'll be nowhere near the front.
I just can't get excited for events where thousands participate and there's no chance of winning, and I really can't get excited for one I may finish in the back. I did that for years and while I pat myself on the back for not quitting, getting that feeling that everyone is laughing at you because you're awful isn't something I care to revisit...
BWR is next week and I have a laundry list of mental reasons not to do it; crashing twice in the first 30 miles doing gravel (both over the bars), hardly riding gravel after, not being able to descend quickly on gravel because of point 1, and the fact that I'll be nowhere near the front.
I just can't get excited for events where thousands participate and there's no chance of winning, and I really can't get excited for one I may finish in the back. I did that for years and while I pat myself on the back for not quitting, getting that feeling that everyone is laughing at you because you're awful isn't something I care to revisit...
Here's the frankenbike:
Likes For wktmeow:
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,863
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Liked 3,111 Times
in
1,418 Posts
Fellow TrainerRoadians: is it my imagination or are they messing with the display again? The instructions seem much smaller and the average power dot is barely visible at all. (This is on the iPad app)
Senior Member
Are you already signed up? You should go and just have fun with it. Even at my fittest, I had no chance of winning, and everyone passed me like I was standing still in the dirt (I hit the first dirt segment maybe 30th wheel in 2019). This year, I'm doing it on my dumb, slow, frankengravel bike. It weighs like 30 lbs and is made of noodly steel, and spins out at like 26 mph. I'm doing the wafer distance and going party/endurance pace, probably stopping at most of the rest stops, and just aiming to have a blast before, during, and after. Not every event has to be about performance, sometimes it's fun to just get out with a bunch of likeminded folks doing the sport we love.
Here's the frankenbike:
Here's the frankenbike:
I'll actually be doing the wafer (I downgraded a few weeks ago) in a grey CAADX, I should have an Orange Dons kit one. More than likely I'm going to do it. You somewhat talked me into it!
Senior Member
May 4th TT. 36 minutes, 294W avg, 172 bpm HR.
July 7th TT. 29 minutes, 270W avg, 183 bpm HR.
5 minute splits of W and bpm on the first ride:
281/157
296/170
291/171
292/172
292/175
297/178
308/179
Second ride:
282/167
290/183
282/186
265/188
243/186
252/187
Going backwards is no fun.
July 7th TT. 29 minutes, 270W avg, 183 bpm HR.
5 minute splits of W and bpm on the first ride:
281/157
296/170
291/171
292/172
292/175
297/178
308/179
Second ride:
282/167
290/183
282/186
265/188
243/186
252/187
Going backwards is no fun.
Senior Member
Likes For wktmeow:
Version 7.0
This AM 2x20k hour of power TTT. Great morning at Fiesta.
BWR ride. This looks like a totally fun race/ride worth doing. Let’s check my assets and liabilities.
Gravel bike - yes but no gravel tires or wheels that match the course. I have the Roval 50s on now but I cannot imagine riding those in a ride like the BWR - too fancy.
Gravel technique - I rode about 10 miles on the Strava Bianche in Tuscany, Italy a few years ago. The SB is actually quite smooth so I am not sure that it counts.
Fast gravel legs - Well, I have 40K Fiesta legs and 2k track legs. The wafer is 75 miles and I also have 2 hour sit bones. The math does not seem to work.
Race weight - yes and I do well powering though rough road when the ahem 135 -150 guys are bouncing all over the place. Hence, this is why guys like me, but with more fitness and talent, do well in one day classics like Paris Roubaix.
I have a just do it side to my calculating side but it seems like too much to do with too little time and too many liabilities. Next year.
BWR ride. This looks like a totally fun race/ride worth doing. Let’s check my assets and liabilities.
Gravel bike - yes but no gravel tires or wheels that match the course. I have the Roval 50s on now but I cannot imagine riding those in a ride like the BWR - too fancy.
Gravel technique - I rode about 10 miles on the Strava Bianche in Tuscany, Italy a few years ago. The SB is actually quite smooth so I am not sure that it counts.
Fast gravel legs - Well, I have 40K Fiesta legs and 2k track legs. The wafer is 75 miles and I also have 2 hour sit bones. The math does not seem to work.
Race weight - yes and I do well powering though rough road when the ahem 135 -150 guys are bouncing all over the place. Hence, this is why guys like me, but with more fitness and talent, do well in one day classics like Paris Roubaix.
I have a just do it side to my calculating side but it seems like too much to do with too little time and too many liabilities. Next year.
Likes For Hermes:
Not actually Tmonk
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 15,083
Bikes: road, track, mtb
Liked 3,899 Times
in
2,034 Posts
I resembled that remark when I did BWR pre-pandemic (still do). I thought I'd be fine since I ride MTB and know the trails around hodges, but boy, was I wrong. I felt like a popcorn kernal out there and was totally uncomfortable out there on my Giant TCR with 25's.
If I was to do it again - I'd want to get a bike with clearance for bigger tires. Like 30's maybe. With 100 miles of road I felt fine for most of it, and excelled in the final stretches, but Hodges and black canyon were just no fun and I lost tons of time there. Not to mention two consecutive flats in Hodges on the return leg within 15 min...
Epic event, I do look back on it fondly, but not my cup of tea given my equipment limitations. I seem to have convinced my wife to let me buy a new MTB, which is a priority for me in comparison with these "gravel" bikes, or whatever you hipster young kids are riding these days.
__________________
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
Likes For TMonk:
Version 7.0
This AM the San Diego newspaper had a significant article about the BWR in the print section. For some reason, it is not in the electronic version or at least, I cannot find it.
The promoters do a great job at providing training, coaching and equipment ideas for the ride. Tires seem to be one of the key elements in having fun on the bike. Something that works on single track and the road.
The promoters do a great job at providing training, coaching and equipment ideas for the ride. Tires seem to be one of the key elements in having fun on the bike. Something that works on single track and the road.
Senior Member
Ugh I had a long response to the BWR stuff and lost it. I got stung in the mouth at World's last night and my temp is 101, so I think I'm going to get some sleep.
Senior Member
I'm into the time of year when my training status decays due to racing and other summer activities. For example, this week I race Tues and Saturday. I would add a hard training ride today (Wednesday), but have friends from out of town visiting. So, its two hard rides for me this week and that is it. A fair amount of hiking, camping, and kayaking on weekends also cuts into training. It is what it is, and is all good, but my CTL is 60 down from a peak of 72 this spring.
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,863
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Liked 3,111 Times
in
1,418 Posts
My kid did a ramp test last night and we found out we have almost exactly the same power to weight FTP, about 3.6 w/kg. The thing is I expect him to be at 4+ soon if he keeps following the training plan we worked out. The only way I'll get to 4+ is if I find a time machine that takes me back to 2004.
Version 7.0
furiousferret ihad a sting in the mouth a few months ago and took prednisone / Benadryl Feel better fast
Likes For Hermes:
Version 7.0
Here is the link to the San Diego Tribune article on the BWR. It may be available to non subscribers to read.
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com...s-this-weekend
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com...s-this-weekend
Likes For Hermes:
Senior Member
So the sting had nothing to do with my temperature, which topped out at 104. Its a kidney infection, so I'm on antibiotics and probably have to ride easy for the next few weeks, if at all. Yesterday was the first time in over 16 months I missed a day on the bike =\.
Not actually Tmonk
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 15,083
Bikes: road, track, mtb
Liked 3,899 Times
in
2,034 Posts
Yikes, feel better soon FF.
I'm only a couple of weeks into off-season mode, and like usual, I feel like a million bucks when I ride. Prob the lack of fatigue + good fitness = some nice form. I should have fun at the next couple (few?) track racing sessions, depending on who shows up of course. I'll need it for a Zwift event I have planned for Saturday, an A race on "The Pretzel" route, 70km with two big climbs, It's gonna split up over Epic KOM and form gruopettos, then again on the way up the back side later, and likely come in in groups of 1's and 2's at the finish.
More hiking and jogging and not much riding outside of commuting and track. Maybe a 3 hour ride here and there. Or maybe not. Even went swimming on Wednesday!
I'm only a couple of weeks into off-season mode, and like usual, I feel like a million bucks when I ride. Prob the lack of fatigue + good fitness = some nice form. I should have fun at the next couple (few?) track racing sessions, depending on who shows up of course. I'll need it for a Zwift event I have planned for Saturday, an A race on "The Pretzel" route, 70km with two big climbs, It's gonna split up over Epic KOM and form gruopettos, then again on the way up the back side later, and likely come in in groups of 1's and 2's at the finish.
More hiking and jogging and not much riding outside of commuting and track. Maybe a 3 hour ride here and there. Or maybe not. Even went swimming on Wednesday!
__________________
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
Likes For TMonk:
Version 7.0
furiousferret Take care of those kidneys - very important. Get better fast.
Likes For Hermes:
Senior Member
Heal quickly FF.
Likes For cmh:
Senior Member
furiousferret Rest up and get better quickly.
Likes For ntnyln:
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,863
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Liked 3,111 Times
in
1,418 Posts
Get better, FF.
Likes For caloso:
Killing Rabbits
So the sting had nothing to do with my temperature, which topped out at 104. Its a kidney infection, so I'm on antibiotics and probably have to ride easy for the next few weeks, if at all. Yesterday was the first time in over 16 months I missed a day on the bike =\.
Not actually Tmonk
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 15,083
Bikes: road, track, mtb
Liked 3,899 Times
in
2,034 Posts
It split up right away on the the first climb, Epic KOM, which was kinda demoralizing. After 21 or so minutes of climbing, I was 7th on the road, and it was clear that me and the mini group I was in would catch two ahead that were really struggling up the steep radio tower second climb. Most of the rest was fairly uneventful, more people getting dropped up front, and out of our group as well. It's really easy to over extend yourself on the climbs on this course.
It was really me and 1 other rider for the last 22 or so miles, including the second 20+ minute climb. We went over it together, in fact he had ~10s on me mid way through but I caught back on. He attacked me several times over the last bits, but I was able to stick them and wanted it to come down to a sprint, which I beat him in.
I'm spent! Was still sweating for a good 30 minutes after my shower...
__________________
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
Senior Member
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,863
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Liked 3,111 Times
in
1,418 Posts
We’re up in Tahoe for the weekend. Hiked today: 7.9 miles, 1760 feet of vertical. Amazing views of the lake and Desolation Wilderness. Going to ride our mountain bikes tomorrow.
Likes For caloso: