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:
- Monday – Lancashire Hot Pot (Outdoors)
- Tuesday – Fly Swatter (Outdoors)
- Wednesday – Too Nice Not To (Outdoors)
- Friday – Tour Of Watopia 2021 – Stage 1: Longer Ride (Indoors / Zwift)
- Saturday – Sunny Breeze (Outdoors)
Four outdoor rides, one indoor ride. Still having major issues with the heart rate monitor. Overall was nice to get out in the sun… which at the time of writing has now decided to go back home. Such a tease.
My plans kinda went out of the window this week as Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday were something of a mini heatwave.
Where I expected to get stuck into the Tour of Watopia 2021 on Monday or Tuesday, I instead went out into the glorious sun, getting into my summer kit for the first time this year. Not bad for the last week in March.
On Monday I managed to put in a solid effort, sweat streaming down my face, averaging over 30kph and beating 20 minutes to 10km, and 40 minutes to 20km, two metrics I’ve placed a lot on over the past two years. Outdoors, for me, that’s something of a sign of a solid effort.
Having smashed myself on Monday, I let myself take it easier on Tuesday. I repeated the route, but in reverse. Taking that ride at lunch time, again in the sun (but not quite as hot), it was a lovely bit of recovery. Nice and enjoyable, aside from the steady stream of insects attacking me.
Can’t win ’em all.
I went out again on Wednesday, still sunny – but again, even cooler. Still, a pleasant way to spend a lunch break, and good for clearing the head in between meetings and stress. That was a total chill out ride.
With a four day weekend to look forward too, I skipped Thursday as a riding day and decided I’d do the Tour of Watopia Stage 1 on Friday – the last possible day for stage 1.
Unfortunately I hit technical issues during that ride which made it harder than it might have otherwise been. In the end it became a low cadence slog which, whilst still a good workout, was definitely less enjoyable than the route might have otherwise been.
That left two riding days in the week. I convinced myself I would do Sunday, but in the end just did Saturday afternoon instead. That ride was forgettable. Cold, back to arm warmers and wishing for more layers. This was definitely the laziest ride of the week, largely because I had no idea where to go or what to do, but also had that bank holiday vibe going on and didn’t feel like pushing myself too hard.
Overall not a bad week. Monday was a solid effort. The rest way fair to middling.
I’m thinking this week I have two stages of the ToW2021 to get stuck in too, and Stage 2 looks beastly with it’s 40km and 900m of climb. Should be fun. I skipped that one today (Monday) because of family commitments and general laziness. I suspect I will be punished for that tomorrow.
Aside from that, not setting any hard targets for the week. I’m aware I’m probably behind schedule in terms of my fitness at this stage on the year. I guess I need to do an FTP test sometime soon. I think in order to do that I’m going to use The Sufferfest. I keep saying this, but it’s got to be the best way to get stuck in.
I doubt that will be this week though. Right now my focus is on enjoying any sun outdoors, and getting the ToW done.