Every 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 4 days riding, two being outdoor rides and the other two being indoor sessions on the turbo trainer.
This week’s exercises was as follows:
- Tuesday – Chipping Away At The Climbs (Outdoor)
- Wednesday – I’m Recovering In The Rain (Outdoor)
- Saturday – Lazy ~20km (Indoor / Zwift)
- Sunday – L’Etape du Tour Stage 3 – Open (Indoor / Zwift)
The two memorable rides of the week belong to Tuesday and Sunday.
Tuesday’s outdoor session was tiring, no doubt about it. I probably overdid it in hindsight. But I had a fairly valid reason for doing so.
On Tuesday morning I’d had an interview, and was asked shortly after to prep for a second stage interview later that afternoon. Taking my chance, even though it was raining, I decided to get outdoors, clear my head, and take on local climb of note Jeffrey Hill.
I followed that climb with a couple of smaller climbs out by Chipping, but my word, the weather near the fells was woeful. Still, I enjoyed it, and am happy to report I was successful in the second stage and have since secured a new position. Good times.
Sundays ride was what I was kinda apprehensive about during the week, and whilst not “nervous” as such, I was definitely keen to preserve my legs without a full and fair idea of what lay ahead.
I think I was right to be cautious.
Climbing Mont Ventoux, albeit virtually, was no easy feat.
Basically 2 solid hours of riding, with a good hour and forty of that being up hill at an average of 8%.
I believe I could have sneaked in another ride on Thursday, but I was kinda wiped out and just wanted to chill out a bit. I don’t think a three rest day week will do me too much harm, honestly.
In celebration of both getting a job, and completing that monumental climb, I decided to splash out on some new cycling kit.
I’ve ordered myself:
- Rapha classic jersey
- Rapha commuter jacket
- A Blackburn saddle bag
- A pump, of which I cannot remember the brand off hand
- Tyre levers
- Spare Inner tube
- Puncture repair kit
- Second water bottle holder
- Sunglasses
- Arm warmers
Kinda went crazy tbh. But I need all of that stuff outdoors.
Out of all of it, I’m most looking forward to getting my first proper cycling jersey, and also a proper pair of sunglasses. God knows if they will fit my head shape. Bit tricky trying on specs during Covid19, so I just bought a big pair that will hopefully keep the wind and flies out of my peepers.
Time will tell.
The other big thing I got done this week was launching my latest bike related computer activity:
Essentially I wanted to find interesting climbs in my area, and see how they compared to climbs around the rest of the world.
It’s very much a work in progress.
I’m aware there’s a bunch of bugs with some countries. It turns out that small countries do not behave like large countries. Who knew?
Anyway, if you fancy checking it out, I’m very open to feedback and suggestions. I have a ton of ideas in mind myself, all of which will be dripped out over the next few weeks and months.
OK, until next week, have a good one!