Weekly Review September 4th – 10th 2023

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

A variation on the usual (and planned) setup to my regular week’s riding as the good weather showed up for one last hurrah. Unfortunately that did lead to a mechanical, which then led to me booking in the bike for a bit of an upgrade and all round servicing.

Every cloud.

Here are this week’s rides:

It’s been a very hot week here in the UK.

Temperatures most days were above 26c, and indoors that was often 28c and higher. Not ideal turbo weather.

That’s what led me outdoors on the Tuesday. My regular Tuesday ride would be an indoor turbo SST session on Zwift. Instead I went for a 20 minute FTP Test-esque ride, taking on my local loop that I use for that kind of thing.

A road closure meant I had to do a double back at the half way point which did lose me some time – about 10 seconds overall – but the end result was pretty close to what I’d expect in a few week’s time now. Nothing amazing, basically, but some reassurance it can’t be as bad as last time.

Wednesday’s ride was a different beast. I usually go for an easier session on Wednesdays, but this time being another scorcher I went outdoors again.

The problem on this one was my route choice. I went into too much traffic, nearly got knocked off, then on the way home I suffered a cable failure meaning I couldn’t change gears. Stuck in the hardest gear I had to grind it home. Better than walking, I suppose.

I was not expecting to be back on the bike for Thursday’s regular Zwift race, but thanks to the help of a local mobile bike mechanic I was up and running again Thursday morning. As part of that I decided to plump for a full service and components upgrade. Looking forward to that.

However, due to other commitments, and delay whilst ordering in the parts, I am going to be ‘turbo only’ until at least the 19th September. No bad thing, really. The weather has turned again today, so I suspect outdoor riding wouldn’t have been an option anyway.

On Thursday I did my regular Zwift Race, and got my customary annihilation.

I expected to do better in that ride, but it wasn’t to be.

No complaints though. Just grateful to have been able to do the ride what with the previously mentioned hardware problems.

Then Saturday I was going to ride on MyWhoosh, but due to their insane 13gb patch requirements I ended up back on Zwift for a climb of La Laguna Negra. Another fairly middling Saturday climb performance, sadly. But at least I did it.

As above then, I can’t go out this week. The bike is on the turbo and will be staying there for this week and some of next. There may be a few missed riding days in the following week whilst it goes away for repairs / upgrades. I will have to plan accordingly.

I do wonder if that will help any with the FTP test though. A smoother ride? Better kit? We shall see. I’m doubtful.

Anyway this week, more of the same.

SST, endurance, Race, recovery, Climb (maybe MyWhoosh) and then Sunday walk.

I blistered my feet big time on my walk yesterday, so hopefully tomorrow’s ride isn’t compromised. I’d post pictures but … well, it’s not nice 🙂

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