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 is a two weekly review, because for the first week I went away on holiday. I did ride on the Monday, but then had 8 days off the bike after that.
Then much needed exercise resumed from Wednesday, although not all of it was cycling. This is partially because the heat here right now is oppressive.
Here are the rides:
- Monday 29th May – Zwift Crit Club Race: Stage 5 – Glasgow Crit Course (B)
- Thursday 8th June – Back To It
- Saturday 10th June – Zwift OG Racing: Stage 1 – Watopia Hilly (B)
It doesn’t look like I’ve done very much, but I don’t track my walks – partly because this is not a blog about walking, and partly because the stats from them are not easily integrated into the cycling training apps like Training Peaks or Garmin Connect. Not sure why, but that is the way it is.
Sunday’s walk was, admittedly, fairly relaxed. It was a roasting hot day and the thought of staying inside and doing a sweaty turbo session was none too appealing. Instead I did what could be considered a recovery walk – albeit one that created blisters aplenty all over my feet. It doesn’t seem to matter what shoes I wear, when I walk, I get blisters.
The other walk on Wednesday was more intensive. A fell climb of Parlick and Fairsnape, thoroughly enjoyable and one I am definitely glad I got in there. So much so it was the very first thing I did the day after I got back.
Rides wise, well it’s either been racing or recovery.
I knew I wanted to finish off May’s Crit Club racing series, and I feel I did alright overall in those races.
Less so, it has to be said, in the first of what look like a challenging set of races for June.
In Saturday’s Stage 1 race of the new OG Racing series we were in for two laps of the Watopia Hilly Route, which meant two trips up the Hilly KOM. I got annihilated, as expected.
I’m not used to racing on Saturdays, but the odd schedule of the week meant that was the only real time to do so. Maybe it was the Saturday afternoon start time, or maybe it was the baking heat, but only 18 total showed for that one. That actually made it even harder for me, as I spent about 95% of the time totally isolated. A sweaty personal TT.
However, that is probably going to be how it is for me for a while.
It’s not forecast to reduce in heat any time soon. And in order to rest and recovery my shoulder and arm from the constant shocks and vibrations of outdoor riding, I am determined to stay indoors and do only turbo sessions until I feel things have improved.
That’s slow going.
Slow, and hot.
So I may well opt for more walks instead of easier rides this week. It seems sensible, and an hours walk burns about as many calories as a 40 minute bike ride – so that seems fair enough.
Why the focus on the calories?
Well…
Yes, it turns out eating 3 fat meals every day for a week is a good way to add excess weight. I gained over 2kg in a week… pretty mental.
So it’s a case of working that back down. Whoops.
I am on with that, and it is trending back downwards.
The other thing on my horizon is that I need to complete my Quarter 2 FTP test within the next 2 weeks. I want to get this done sooner rather than later, but I have to say I’m not feeling in my best shape for it. Not just the weight, but the heat, the blisters, and overall mentally I don’t feel like I’m going to do well. Not a good outlook.
But that’s the plan.
FTP Test, maybe.
Racing, for sure.
Walking, possibly.