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.
This week’s rides were as follows:
- Tuesday – Spin Away The Stiffness (Indoors / Zwift)
- Wednesday – Delayed By Parents Evening (Outdoors)
- Thursday – Winner Winner Cycling At Dinner (Outdoors)
- Saturday – Better Out Than In (Outdoors)
Mostly outdoors stuff, and only four rides on the week. Sunday was skipped due to a sore knee, and I figured it might be best to rest ahead of the forthcoming Tour of Watopia 2021 rides.
Going into the week I had no real goal or plan. If anything I would aim to take it a little easier than previous weeks, as per the above expectation of several forthcoming harder rides during the various stages of the ToW 2021.
I had expected to ride Sunday, but aside from the weather being crappy outdoors, I felt it best to rest my knee. I’m of the opinion that three outdoor rides in a row put way more stress on the joint than the regulated / ERG mode rides would do indoors.
This is partly why I can’t give up on my indoor training. That fixed workout mode is a real God send for me. Outdoors I tend to push. Hard. I find it very difficult to take an easy ride outdoors – there’s always some hill, some section to sprint, or just the general enjoyment of going fast that keeps me on the gas.
Even though over the past week I only just broke 100km (coming in at 105km on the week), I feel each outdoor session would have been higher indoors. There’s no denying the fact that I can do an hour at 150w and find myself happily cruising along Watopia at 40km, which outdoors would translate to something closer to 15-18kph at the same intensity.
I’m guessing that now the clocks have gone forwards (or backwards, I never know which) and with the extra hour of daylight in the evening, my evening rides will largely focus on the outdoors this year.
As above, even in the hottest of times however, I need to be mindful of overdoing it and those regulated indoor sessions are good for keeping me in check. With that in mind, at least one ride this forthcoming week will be a recovery session, and another will be the Tour of Watopia Stage 1, so that’s at least two turbo sessions ahead.
Lastly for this week I’m really disillusioned with the Garmin stats – to the point where I question even including them.
For whatever reason I’m having continual trouble with the Wahoo Tickr 2 – both indoors and outdoors. These sessions have not been recovery – the issue is vastly under reported heart rate, to the best of my knowledge. I will definitely get in touch with Wahoo this week and see what they have to say. In fact, I will do that after publishing this very post.
With the ToW 2021 now started this does give my next few weeks a lot more structure. Combine that with the better weather and evening light situation, we should be good for many fine weeks of cycling ahead.
I’m looking forward to kicking off the Tour. That’s been fun these last two years, and having the regular schedule does me wonders. I saw a nice uptick during the recent TdZ, and I’m hoping to carry that form through.
In short, no super set schedule for the week. The ToW ride, a recovery session, and then the rest outdoors if I can get it. I’d be happy with that.