Each week I try to review and reflect on my previous week on the bike. This allows me to see how my fitness and ability is progressing on a wider timescale than day to day. For previous weekly reviews please click here.
This week consisted of 5 consecutive days riding, with a nice and sweaty mixture between very hot indoor rides, and a couple of cooler outdoor rides.
This week’s exercises was as follows:
- Tuesday – 7 Days of Tarmac SL7: Stage 1 (Indoor / Zwift)
- Wednesday – 7 Days of Tarmac SL7: Stage 2 (Indoor / Zwift)
- Thursday – Beautifully Sunny Recovery (Outdoor)
- Friday – Tan Topper Upper (Outdoor)
- Saturday – 7 Days of Tarmac SL7: Stage 3 (Indoor / Zwift)
By far and away the biggest victory of the week has to be in riding the full hour at 230w average during the third and final stage of the spealcized sl7 series. Whilst I didn’t particularly enjoy the ride itself, hitting that figure certainly made it feel worthwhile after the fact.
It was only after the ride, whilst reviewing the statistics, I realised that I’d managed to hit my yearly goal during the climb. I definitely find things “easier” when it comes to keeping consistent pressure on the pedals when fighting a solid incline. Easier is definitely relative. It’s only easier in relation to pedalling on the flat.
That said, when reviewing the figures here, it’s showing as 229w outside of Zwift. Arghhh!
I’d hit a 20 minute max effort above 230w already a few months back, and at the time I was pretty much certain there was no way I’d be able to hold that figure for an hour. Well, three months later, give or take, I managed it. I don’t know how. But I did. And so whilst I would have taken the 20 minute effort as “good enough” to have hit my yearly goal, having done it for the full hour is pretty much the icing on the cake. Just worrying what figure I’ll be setting myself for 2021 at this point!
One thing that actually goes in my favour is that I have lost more weight since then. I’m now down to 10 stone 6 pound, which puts me at 66kg. I’ve been doing all my indoor rides plugged in at 67kg, and whilst it is only a kilo, it may make a tenth of a watt per kilo difference on the stats. I’ve now updated my Zwift profile, but this didn’t seem to take effect during my last ride, so may only be put in place the next time I log in. Seemingly I’d already updated this on the Garmin Connect app, so hopefully that’s also in use as my weight value on my head unit.
Having the Specialised rides this week did add some structure to my week. I liked that. It sucked doing them in the incredible indoor heat, and I don’t think I’ve ever sweated quite so much. Puddles. Wellies required when getting off the bike. Boy howdy, it was a hot week. I’ve washed the matt I use under the bike today (Sunday, as I’m writing this) and it was absolutely filthy. Disgusting. It’s also a bit ripped now. Not sure how. I might replace it. I’ve had a fair amount of use it of it at this point. I guess a twenty quid matt doesn’t last forever.
The outdoor riding I did do were laid back affairs. Or at least, they were supposed to be. Neither was intended as involving efforts of any kind, but sometimes I find myself going too hard. I like the indoor rides with ERG mode as a way of preventing that kind of thing. Left to my own devices I sometimes succumb to my inner chimp it seems.
Although the weather is not supposed to be perfect for the week ahead, I am looking forward to having a week off from work (so soon!) without the pressures of having to job hunt as part of it. I’ve got some ideas for rides for the week which sound really appealing at this point. Just need that weather to hold out. Or not. I guess I’m going to go out anyway, it’s just nicer if I don’t end up soaked.
And with all that, it’s another good week in the books. Whilst I hit a milestone its not a huge leap in progress. More of a gradual and continual upwards trend that I’m honestly really pleased with. If I can do it, anyone can. I’m just a newb who keeps turning up.