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.
Finally we reached the end of the Zwift Academy 2023 this week. It’s felt like a long and challenging six weeks, particularly the final two, where I’ve had to cram in two races and a longer workout.
But worth it. It’s felt like I’ve made some decent progress. Whether I actually have, well… all will be revealed in the week ahead.
Here are this week’s rides:
- Tuesday – Best of 2023: Stage 2 – Castle to Castle (B)
- Thursday – Zwift Academy 2023 – Race #2: Cobbled Climbs
- Saturday – Zwift Academy 2023 – Workout #6: Long | All Out Burn
The week was pretty standard in terms of structure. However rather than doing an SST workout and a race, I’ve had to do two races so that I could get the Zwift Academy mandatory events done, alongside not missing out on the monthly Zwift racing series.
I did manage to get my usual walks in on Wednesday and Sunday, and boy, don’t they feel considerably easier when compared.
So the plan for the week ahead is slightly different this week.
The aim is to do my Zwift race on Tuesday. From then on it will be a recovery walk on Wednesday, and an endurance ride on Thursday.
That’s because I have an FTP Test to do this week. Either Friday or Saturday are the scheduled days. I’m off work on Friday (have to be, mandatory office closure) so can either put it in then, or the day after giving more of a rest. Have to see how I feel.
In terms of the FTP test, my current metrics have me around 237w again.
Realistically, I’m thinking my best outcome is anything north of 240w. I think that means holding ~255w or similar for the 20 minutes… which sounds rather grim, but providing I can dial in a good trainer difficulty on the turbo before hand, I think it’s achievable. I need to get that done days ahead of the ride, as I have often thought this during my FTP Tests… and by then it’s rather a little too late.
So that’s the big thing for the week ahead.
Once that’s done it’s Christmas down time baby! A week off the bike, which is my Christmas present to me. I make it sound like I don’t enjoy it. That’s very much not true, I just need a good rest.
Overall then a good week.
I am having a few issues with connectivity between devices so my Garmin stats are fudged for now. Not even showing them.
Weight, still happy with that. Probably put on a bit over Xmas. Oh well. I won’t stop myself indulging, but it will almost certainly be food not drink.
Right, enough blather. I am going to veg out on the sofa.