Good weather: check. New week of core strengthening: check. Keeping off the rain bike: check. So far so good, It's been quite a shock to the system after taking 3 weeks off the bike to get used to the workload of training again. I came up on 5 days in a row of training getting ready for #6 when my body finally said "ENOUGH!" and despite having the trainer setup for my after work ride and despite getting my bibs and shoes on, I ended up asleep on the couch and could go no further (later on I was peeled off the couch for dinner and to put my pajamas on).
After the impromptu rest day I feel ready to get back at the action. Just to build volume for these few weeks I've been riding tempo with a few hard efforts. I usually end up with my normalized power between 250-260 watts for up to 3 hrs. On the trainer I've been putting in 1hr efforts with constant power between 200-240 watts, and keeping my cadence up around 100 rpm. I like to push an easy gear at a high tempo and with my 11-28 cassette on the back it's been great for some faster climbing up the steep hills where we live. Trying to get in the swing of 10 hrs per week as a "normal" training week and will build from there again. Some days I feel like pedaling through peanut butter (I prefer Nutella, personally), other days it's been easy to put out the power. My goal this year is to increase my threshold power from last year for 1hr, 30min and 10min. I feel stronger than last year and will be ready to show it come race season. I believe firmly that a great contributor to this year versus last will be the inclusion of this core strengthening program. I'm into it now for 6 weeks and my posture is better, my seated and standing climbing has improved, and I am less sore in my back than I have ever been before. The winter season is definitely the time to focus on weaknesses and imbalances. Now that work has settled down, Lauren and I are building our careers, and we've moved into a much better place in "the burbs," (not to be confused with the biebs which is a terrible, awful thing). The riding isn't nearly as good as it is in Eugene, but being a bit more removed from the big city lends itself to easier access for those backcountry roads.
So here we go, yippie-kay-aye-yay! Week #4 beginning now, it should be all rainbows and kittens from here. First the winter comes, then the season openers, then the WEDDING (woah), followed by a trip to ride in Solvang, after that we're off to the races, literally. Maybe I can persuade my lady to do a little racing herself too, after all she's been putting in the miles as well. With the amount of work to do it's time to keep-your-head-down (say that phrase like an Austrian, it sounds better) and keep pedaling.
OK, I admit this post is a bit of fluff but it's still a good update to the training log and you've been wanting to read it anyway.
Cheers,
-Andrew-
P.S. I will shamelessly plug that I'm always open for riding buddies, especially in the winter, we can go and train our brains out together.
After the impromptu rest day I feel ready to get back at the action. Just to build volume for these few weeks I've been riding tempo with a few hard efforts. I usually end up with my normalized power between 250-260 watts for up to 3 hrs. On the trainer I've been putting in 1hr efforts with constant power between 200-240 watts, and keeping my cadence up around 100 rpm. I like to push an easy gear at a high tempo and with my 11-28 cassette on the back it's been great for some faster climbing up the steep hills where we live. Trying to get in the swing of 10 hrs per week as a "normal" training week and will build from there again. Some days I feel like pedaling through peanut butter (I prefer Nutella, personally), other days it's been easy to put out the power. My goal this year is to increase my threshold power from last year for 1hr, 30min and 10min. I feel stronger than last year and will be ready to show it come race season. I believe firmly that a great contributor to this year versus last will be the inclusion of this core strengthening program. I'm into it now for 6 weeks and my posture is better, my seated and standing climbing has improved, and I am less sore in my back than I have ever been before. The winter season is definitely the time to focus on weaknesses and imbalances. Now that work has settled down, Lauren and I are building our careers, and we've moved into a much better place in "the burbs," (not to be confused with the biebs which is a terrible, awful thing). The riding isn't nearly as good as it is in Eugene, but being a bit more removed from the big city lends itself to easier access for those backcountry roads.
So here we go, yippie-kay-aye-yay! Week #4 beginning now, it should be all rainbows and kittens from here. First the winter comes, then the season openers, then the WEDDING (woah), followed by a trip to ride in Solvang, after that we're off to the races, literally. Maybe I can persuade my lady to do a little racing herself too, after all she's been putting in the miles as well. With the amount of work to do it's time to keep-your-head-down (say that phrase like an Austrian, it sounds better) and keep pedaling.
OK, I admit this post is a bit of fluff but it's still a good update to the training log and you've been wanting to read it anyway.
Cheers,
-Andrew-
P.S. I will shamelessly plug that I'm always open for riding buddies, especially in the winter, we can go and train our brains out together.