Weekly Review January 16th – 22nd 2023

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. 

It’s hard not to be disappointed with how this week played out. I picked up an injury on Tuesday that has stopped all immediate plans.

At this point it’s about being sensible, taking it easy, and recovering.

However, with having had time to reflect on it, I guess it’s not that surprising that I picked up an injury, as I have probably been over exerting myself for the last two months.

Here are this week’s rides:

• Tuesday – Tour de Zwift 2023 | Stage 3 | Longer Ride
• Friday – Don’t Get Cocky, Kid
• Saturday – Tour de Zwift 2023 | Stage 4 | Short Ride

The gist of it this week is that I picked up a knee injury on Tuesday. About 3/4 of the way up the Tour de Zwift 2023 Stage 3 La Reine ride, something gave in my left knee leaving me crawling, and nearly crying.

However I think I picked up this in Stage 2. On the steepest section of Yorkshire, I jolted my knee – and I felt it at the time, but didn’t give it as much caution as I perhaps ought to have done. Instead I continued on, albeit at a slightly slower pace. Fortunately that was maybe 3-5km from the line, so I didn’t do too much further damage.

Had I not had to then do a long climb a few days later, I probably would have avoided this. But as it was, I deliberately picked the Longer route and, combined with all the racing and higher intensity stuff I’ve been doing pretty much relentlessly for a good few weeks, I guess something had to give.

So for now, I’m taking it easy.

Fortunately I am still able to ride.

Anything above about 175w / 2.0 w/kg is really noticeable. One thing I have found though, is that being out of the saddle seems to have no pain. So it’s something related to the specific seated position.

Anyway, my plan is to see out the next few stages on the short to medium routes, tackling everything at a fairly relaxed pace, but seeing it through none the less. I’m not being stupid though. The really steep routes are being avoided. Fortunately Stage 5, being New York’s Everything Bagel, isn’t an intensive climb. So I plan to do that one.

But I haven’t checked beyond Stage 5.

Basically I can climb, but I have to be realistic and sensible.

Beyond that, not masses to report. With only a handful of rides it hasn’t been busy on the bike.

Bit frustrated, but then I think this may be my bodies way of telling me that yes, I am now 40 years old and I should behave accordingly.