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.
Yet another four ride week. Seems like that is unintentionally becoming the new normal. Although for this week I do have a good excuse as Monday was a very long and tiring road trip up to Edinburgh and back.
Beyond the crappy work situation I am pleased with how the week went. Getting in two high intensity efforts (Wednesday and Thursday), covering off the Stage 2 group ride that I missed out on, and then taking an easier ride Sunday.
The week ahead is looking no different really, but more on that below.
Here were this week’s rides:
- Wednesday – Tour of Makuri Islands: Stage 4 – Fine and Sandy Race (B) (Indoors / Zwift)
- Thursday – Tour of Makuri Islands: Stage 6 – Country to Coastal (Indoors / Zwift)
- Saturday – Tour of Makuri Islands: Stage 2 – Suki’s Playground (Indoors / Zwift)
- Sunday – Easing Off (Indoors / Zwift)
The big thing this week was to finish off the Tour of Makuri Islands.
I’ve had a blast doing those events, and won’t truly consider this one done and dusted until Race Makuri Stages 5 & 6 are complete. Those come this week, and back to back, a first for me.
I’ve found this Tour to be just what I needed to get back into the swing of Zwift. With regular rides to attend against a compact schedule it’s given me a focal point each week and a chance to see all the new stuff added over the course of 2022.
What it’s also highlighted is whilst I’ve made decent fitness progress, I still have a long way to go. I’ll probably cover this in more depth next week as this most applies to the races, but as we all know, many Zwift group rides turn into races anyway, so there is some aspects that apply to both.
One thing I’ve found after doing a big event like one of Zwift’s multiple stage Tour series is that the following month can seem a bit of a downer as there’s seemingly nothing to do.
Of course there are always the workouts and Robopacers, individual events and just generally pottering around the map. But I do like having something more structured to attend.
Where I think that is now different is thanks to Race Makuri I’m looking to get involved in the regular weekly races. That’s quite interesting as I have no idea what’s on, but I do know there are always plenty of races to get involved with each day. It would be nice to have a series, but all I can see at the moment is the Zwift Racing League, and as I don’t have a team to ride with, that’s not an option unfortunately.
For the week ahead, and to see out the Race Makuri series there are two final races – Stage 5a and 5b I think they are properly called.
These two are supposed to be done back to back. I had a look on Zwift Events on the app earlier and the first is 7.1km and the second, I think, is 5km. The first has about 50m of climb, the second about 150m.
For the first event the start time would be 12:10, and the second is 12:30… so they are expecting these to be fast.
The goal for me is to see them both through as intended – back to back. Position-wise, well, let’s just see what happens. I think being realistic I won’t be in the top 20 in either, and if I can make the top 50% I’d consider that a good day’s riding.
As nuts as it sounds I am looking forwards to it. But then I often do on the days before… it’s when it’s race day that the anxiety kicks in.
Lastly then this week I’m a little concerned about my weight. It’s down low – staying around the 66.5kg range. I can handle this, but the scales are telling me my fat mass is below the healthy range.
I mean, I could take this as an opportunity to burger up, particularly in the run up to Christmas. But as I haven’t changed my diet, to the best of my knowledge, it seems strange that it’s dipped. Could it all be down to the high intensity Zwift efforts? God knows, they are sweaty enough.
Something to keep an eye on though. I won’t be dropping the Zwift weight just yet. If it remains at 66kg average for a couple more weeks I’ll drop it down. Usually all it takes is a pizza and a can of beer and I’ve ballooned up by 4kg anyway, so that’s why I’m not quick to switch.
Right, overall very pleased with the week. The one question I have going into the new week is whether or not to start up with the Advent of Cycling again this year. Maybe.
Or maybe not.