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.
The first week of 2023 is over with. Both off and on the bike, overall things have been positive.
I kick started the week with a race – the first of Zwift’s new Flat Is Fast series – and that kind of wiped me out, but in a good way. I did better in that race than I expected, and definitely emptied the tank to finish where I did.
After that I kind of struggled to find the motivation to do longer rides, but nevertheless did get in 4 further rides. Each one took more out of the legs, and I think that is to do with the unplanned varying cadence work thrown at me by two of the structured workouts.
Here are this week’s rides:
- Tuesday – Zwift Flat Is Fast: Stage 1 – Tick Tock (B)
- Wednesday – Zone 2 Gotham Grind
- Thursday – Nino Schurter – Punchy Climbs Workout
- Saturday – INEOS Grenadiers Virtual Training Camp | The Bernal
- Sunday – Protest Underway
One thing that is bothering me from this week is that my heart rate monitor strap is goosed:
There’s no denying that thing gets a battering. Unlike most of my kit, that is worn every ride. And subsequently it gets washed a lot, too.
I have a special bag actually. It came with some socks I bought, and the idea is you put your “delicates” in the bag so they don’t get torn to shreds by the washing machine.
Even with that, it seems the issue here is not that the washing machine has torn it to bits, but that I think the glue has melted / worn away. The strap still works, but more and more lately the heart rate drops to half or lower what I know it to be.
Ultimately it’s not the end of the world – but I’m pretty sure it’s giving me duff readings on Garmin’s VO2 Max charts.
I need to buy a new one. I guess that much is evident.
£32 quid though. For a strap.
Bit pricey when I’m a jobless bum. So it will have to wait… though on that front, hopefully not too much longer.
Stats-wise, not a stellar week.
Whilst I gave it my all on Tuesday’s race, I was never maxing it for the full 20 minutes so things look a little down on the pre-Christmas activities.
That said, this actually does mean (I think) that my race / ride management is getting better. If I’m flat out just staying with the pack, I’m going too hard and have nothing left. I’m certainly not recovering in the bunch, but I have been actively trying to knock a few points off my average watts per kilo, sitting closer to the back of the pack more steadily.
As the name implies on these races, Flat is Fast, January’s rides are all looking like they will be absolutely rapid. If anything though, I prefer these to the harder climbing rides. I seem to do better in these, even against the suggestions of those who know better.
Weight-wise, I still think I’m under where I ought to be.
I’d be happier around the 67kg mark, but I’ve been averaging lower for all of January.
Right now I’ve not changed too much, though am hoping it ticks up a little what with not cycling every day like I was for most of December.
It’s a waiting game at this point, but lately it does seem to be trending back upwards.
For the week ahead, it’s all about two rides:
- Flat is Fast: Stage 2 (Jan 9-15): The Fan Flats
- 3 lap (19.4km, 57m elevation)
- Tour de Zwift: Stage 1 (Jan 9-12): Yorkshire
- Long Ride: Royal Pump Room 8, 1 lap
The Tour kicks off this evening at 5pm.
I won’t be on that ride.
The question is whether to do the race first, then the Tour ride. Or vice versa.
Both will likely be hard efforts, so it makes sense to do them Tuesday and Thursday, with something easier in between. AKA, the usual.
Looking forwards to it though. January looks to be a busy one. Some of the Tour routes this year are nuts. Combine that with racing and my weight is seemingly more likely to head back down than up.