Hi blog reading bicycle buddies; you'll be pleased to read that I am back again for another instalment of blog writing tomfoolery.
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Get a cuppa and settle down for a long read.........
[Warning: this is not motivational]
[Disclaimer: reading this could cause unexplained punctures]
So, here we are in February. Work and play are doing their utmost to spoil my training. Pre-Christmas I was merrily (get the xmas reference) churning out 800-900 miles per month. However, all fell apart as I escaped England over the Christmas and New Year period by enjoying the summery wonders of New Zealand. I then returned to Blighty for 1 day before being dragged off to Sweden for work for one week. Another 24 hours rapidly ticked by back in the UK before heading off to France snowboarding for a week. Finally, I am now writing to you from Austria, again work related travels; and I am stranded here for a further 2 weeks. Joy!
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In the midst of all this I have managed to jump on some exercise bikes in various gyms across Europe and squeezed in 10 days back-to-back riding on the bike, rattling off 400+ miles in the process. Work then whisked me off to Austria.
So, the million dollar question, "how is training going?" puncture
I'm afraid the answer is more long winded than 'well'/'badly'........................
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I am assuming the bulk of Endurance training has now finished. I won't have chance in the near future to see Dr. Palmer to assess how the training has gone but to be honest, I've had enough! Maybe another Sports Test would reveal some hidden and mystical improvement in my Endurance threshold performance, but in the most part, it has failed to reveal itself to me. Average speed has shown no improvement, still hovering around 19mph for the longer rides. Maybe it's not meant to improve.....'so what's the point?' Hehe.
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The last ride I did before heading off to Austria with Steve did give me a glimmer of hope though. I actually managed to climb some hills while remaining in Endurance; fancy that! My Facebook post on Feb 3rd revealed my surprise and delight. So, that is where I left it. My last Endurance ride on the bike before I headed off to snowy climbs for work was a good one and it's not all doom and gloom. punctures
In other news, I have also bagged myself a few punctures, I mean 'segments' on Strava, which is encouraging. Having said that, I doubt this has much to do with training! Having said that, training wasn't meant to increase my sub 10min 'sprint-ish' performance. Having said that, it is very frustrating feeling no quicker. Having said that, maybe a Sports Test would reveal an improvement Endurance wise. Having said that, I'm bored of having said having said that! puncture
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So, looking to the future now. I have joined Epic RC and have plenty of rides organised, both Sportives and races. I plan to start my Threshold training block when I'm back in the UK. This will once again be interrupted by a climatic test trip for work at the end of March. Luckily I have managed to move the trip around to allow me to enter the Victoria Park Crits and the Cheshire Cat (on consecutive days no less).
I can also reveal a cunning plan for the work test trip. I intend to buy another bike before the end of march. This way I can send one of the bikes over to Tenerife with the test cars and still have transport left in the UK. Tenerife altitude training here we come!
Right, I know you're bored now so I'll be off.
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Bye for now bloggers and blog-readers. Don't forget, with power comes punctures. puncture
Nick Punctured Power Rawlinson
1 comment:
Can I suggest some gatorskins, or specialised armadillos???
:-)
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