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.
Some ups, some downs this week.
I did the FTP Test which I’ve “wanted” to do for the last couple of weeks. I also did my usual weekly race.
However the major downer for me at the moment is that I am really enjoying going for long walks rather than doing one of the week’s lower intensity rides, but the walks are destroying my feet so much that it’s making me deeply regret doing them. The pain 🙁
Here are this week’s rides:
- Tuesday – Zwift Race Scotland: Stage 4 – City and The Sgurr (B) (Indoors / Zwift)
- Wednesday – Don’t Check Your Emails Whilst Riding (Indoors / Zwift)
- Thursday – FTP Test Results: Q1 2023 (Indoors / Zwift)
- Saturday – Sick Of Blistered Feet (Outdoors)
I didn’t realise that the Race Scotland series only consisted of four races. I was expecting a double event for Stage 5, but that’s not happening. That series is now finished.
Perhaps it’s coincidental, but it ended just in time for me to start on my new job. A gentle reminder of all the pain endured in Scotland. Maybe I’m reading too much in to it. Anyway, it’s done.
That does mean the week ahead involves a new race series (Race London), and also the start of the Tour of Watopia… which looks utterly brutal this year. Good times.
The race went alright this week. Nothing stellar, but then it never is. It’s really all about putting in a good personal performance, and in setting new best efforts on the power curve.
Speaking of which…
Thursday’s ride was the FTP Test I’ve been saying I’ll do for the last couple of weeks.
I knew I needed to do this ahead of the Tour of Watopia, simply to get it out of the way in what will, almost certainly, be a fairly taxing next three to four weeks. Combine that with starting a new job and I seriously doubt the thought of a sustained 20 minute effort would be very welcome at all.
This time around I opted for the Longer FTP workout, and I think that actually paid off. The shorter version, whilst it is over quicker, definitely doesn’t give you the recovery gaps that the longer format does. And it’s really not that much longer in terms of actual work. Just longer recoveries between blocks.
One thing I did differently this time around was to aim for a cadence target rather than a power target. My hand was somewhat forced, as I’d left the trainer difficulty at race settings (about 30%), so was unable to hit a sweet spot of around 95 RPM to get my target wattage. Instead I had to hit around 99RPM.
Anyway, it turned out OK.
I managed an uplift of 3 watts, which doesn’t sound huge, but it certainly felt hard enough sustaining 260w / ~3.8w/kg for 20 minutes.
Weight-wise, things are erratic. Not sure what to make of it.
Not overly fussed, but if I can keep to mid to high 66’s then I’ll be happy enough. I don’t get why the fat mass jumped so much last night. I guess it’s not super precise.
Whatever.
It’s going to be an interesting week really. New job starts tomorrow, and that usually takes it out of me – mentally if nothing else.
So I’m going to say the only goal for this week is the usual workouts (3 mid week, 2 weekend), and also the Longer Stage 1 Tour of Watopia event. No idea what that is. Hopefully something flat. And hopefully over the weekend.
The main thing is not to try to take on too much.