Beasty's objectives for 2010

This week's excuses:
Bit of a head-cold
Couple of trips to the UK (2 nights, 4 flights, 4 train journeys, 4 London Underground journeys and I was also in the local Paddies Day Parade - a bit of a hectic week all-round)

Hence I only managed a couple of turbo sessions, totalling 103km

YTD total 2,208km, averaging 28.8 kph, leaving me with only 16km headroom against target.

The good news is I have just about hit my target weight for the WW200. Hence I will now aim at dropping another couple of kg for the ride. The interesting thing is I have only really started dropping the weight since I commenced the extended turbo sessions following my accident. I suspect it is because I am training in the evening, and can easily resist the temptation to gorge myself before bed, unlike when commuting when I'll have breakfast when I get to work, and an evening meal when I get home.

I'm now starting to look forward to getting back on the road, hopefully in a week or two's time. If I find it reasonably comfortable, I will be looking to head down to Sundrive for an accreditation session over the Easter weekend.

In the meantime, though, I will try and do another 2 or 3 sessions on the Tacx this week.

Lumen wrote: »

You might like this.

Hope it's not this bit you are referring to:):

"Jayson was knocked from his bike by a car while on a ride by a “hit and run” driver. Knocked unconscious and very, very nearly run over by another oncoming car, who’s driver managed to stop with the bumper bar over Jayson’s head, he is lucky to be alive"

Got to say, I've lost interest in the 35-39 World Hour Record - I'm more focussed on the 50-54 one (which is considerably shorter than the 55-59 record!). Only need to do around 44km or so to get there:D

Total distance on the turbo this week 167km, giving a YTD total of 2,375km, at an average speed of 28 kph.

I have now slipped 9km behind target:eek:

Hopefully I'll get some good news on Wednesday, and should then be able to get back to some road kilometres (I'm starting to get a bit bored of the turbo, with the last 4 weeks and 635km being exclusively on the Tacx), and get back ahead of target

Assuming everything is OK, the plan is to head off to Sundrive on Saturday to try and get some track accreditation (with a few others from Swords CC). I might also get a commute in, then see how I feel with a view to getting out on the roads over the Easter weekend.

Raam wrote: »

Accreditation for you? Haven't you been belting it around Manchester for ages now?

Yes, but I only participate in "taster" sessions. I obtained accreditation at Manchester about 10 years ago, but have never been to any formal training sessions. I think I may need separate accreditation for the Sundrive track. Even if I don't formally require it, I need to refresh the basics, but also learn how to ride a fixie in a group in the wind!

Four of us from the Skerries area planned to get accredited at Sundrive today. In addition to myself, there was shaungil, RobFowl and someone called "Clubber"

The plan was I would take Robfowl and Clubber in my car and shaungil would make his own way from his Wicklow retreat

10.23 last night, and I received a text from RobFowl, crying off. Apparently he had problems with his "plumbing". This made me slightly nervous, as I did not have any background on Clubber, and in particular how he got the name. I therefore hastily removed any blunt objects from the car (better safe than sorry:))

4.25 this morning, I received a text from Clubber - he's going to make his own way "sure I'll see you over there". He also sent a message to shaungil at the same time - it turns out he was only just in and unlikely to see the light of today.

Hence it was down to me and shaungil. I got there a bit early, as I was not sure about parking (it turns out was on-street parking was available).

10.30, shaungil has turned up (with the wrong cleats unfortunately, meaning he had to wear straps) and the coaches are there. We get the right sized bikes (€5 to hire). A handful of other regulars (including a couple of kids - they actively encourage children to take up track cycling, and I will probably take mine along when they are old and able enough) were also there. There were probably another 7 or 8 novices, looking for accreditation.

2 of the novices had ridden on tracks before (myself and someone who had travelled down from Belfast - apparently the track in Belfast is out of action at present as they have bolted some steps to help access to the football pitch in the centre of the track:eek: - pretty ridiculous really as the track is not that steep). The pair of us were allowed to join in with the regulars straight away. We did some lapping and then changing with the rider at the front pulling up the track at the end of the straight, and rejoining at the back of the line. We then did something similar, but in pairs. Next was some sprinting for the length of the straight (we were spread out, about 20m apart, so there was no overtaking).

The other group went through basic safety instructions, and then did some slow paced lapping to get used to the track, and then moved on to changing.

After a while both groups were brought together to do some "snaking" around the track. Basically you follow the guy in front, everyone keeps about 2 bike lengths apart, and the idea is to follow the line like a snake, controlling the distance, moving up and down the track (the bigger guys have more momentum going down, and the smaller ones can keep more pace going up, so it is quite a discipline trying to keep the distance)

Shaungil was promoted to the main group, and we did some more sprinting, this time in pairs or threes, trying to chase each other down.

After another session of line-lapping, our 2-hour session was up.

Accreditation is not really about cycling ability, it is all to do with being able to ride the track safely - being able to start and stop, move up and down the track, ensuring you look over your shoulder to make sure it is clear before moving position on the track. Shaungil did particularly well, given he had never ridden a track (or fixie) before. We both received our accreditation, and plan to get back down to the track some Wednesday evenings when they do racing. I also plan to take part in the IVCA championships later in the year (probably in pursuit or other timed events).

In terms of comparing the track with Manchester, the main difference is clearly that Sundrive is outdoors and therefore subject to the elements. Fortunately there was little wind and the rain stayed away today (the track cannot be used in the rain). Sundrive is nearly twice as long as Manchester (460m v 250m), and the track is tarmac as opposed to wood. I think the Manchester track is slightly wider also. The bends at Sundrive have an incline, I would guess, of up to about 20 degrees, whereas the one in Manchester is 43 degrees. However none of this detracts from Sundrive - clearly it is more susceptible to the weather, but it is an excellent facility, and I would recommend anyone who has an interest in track cycling to give it a go.

2 x 2hr spins this week, a solo effort on Monday and my first Swords spin on Saturday. In addition I did 3 commutes, making my total distance for the week of 302km at an average speed of 28.5 kph and 214w.

A couple of interesting points:

– in the past I would have suffered towards the end of a hard week, but I felt nearly as strong today as I did at the start of the week. In fact, my second commute home (224w) was 4 minutes faster than the first (215w), and the third (229w) was another minute faster still (I was probably taking it a little easier on the first as it was my first commute following the accident, but the second and third were both personal bests for the route I took)

– I was surprised with my power output today. I averaged 214w, but it felt more like 180-190w (indeed Monday’s effort at 188w felt harder). This was only the second time I have used the Powertap when riding in a group. I am not used to group riding and I tend to be on the brakes a lot, although I also felt as if I was hanging off the back a bit while I was sussing out the roads and what was going on. Even then, I did feel the pace was comfortable, and I was able to freewheel much more than normal. I had a similar experience with the power output the other time I rode in a group, and I guess it means that when I do put the effort in I push harder than normal (scrutinising the power records suggests this), but that I recover quite quickly, leaving me more scope to push again.

I did feel the wrist a bit particularly on the longer spins (there were some pretty dodgy bits of road), but it seems to be coming along OK. All the turbo work is certainly paying off, as I feel just about as strong now as I did before the accident (this may be partly explained by the good weather and opportunities to get the shorts out and wear thinner tops).

YTD total now stands at 2,893km, and I have just hit the 100hr mark (100hr 18s to be precise), making the average speed 28.9 kph. I am now back ahead of schedule (74km)

Next week will hopefully see 3 more commutes (and who knows what else;))

So today marked the day of my return to competitive sport, after an absence of (well over) 30 years. Rugby had only just been introduced at our school, and I suspect my size was the main reason I was chosen to play lock forward. We probably only played 3 or 4 matches and lost them all by large margins. Actually we did win one match – it was against the teachers – I suspect the fact we put 2 of them in hospital with broken collarbones (one of whom was the sports teacher) had something to do with it though - in fact, some of the teachers were probably nearly as old then as I am now:)

I have certainly never cycled competitively, and tonight was the start of the Swords League. Mercifully short (1.8km TT), but up a hill. Hence my size would definitely count against me

I have done the hill in question many times – it’s only a couple of km away from where I live. But there are also a number of other locals taking part who know this hill well. My best time was 5m 49s, and I knew the likes of Shaungil were faster than me.

48 riders signed on. I picked up my race number for the season – 666 was not available this time, so I went for 57, not that I like beans, but at least I’ll remember it.

Shaungil was first off. I was probably about 7th or 8th. I didn’t know at the time that Shaungil had posted a time of 4m 35s – well over a minute faster than my best.

My tactics were simple. When doing my best time I had averaged just under 360w. However I had pushed over 450w on the first minute, before the steep bit came in. I had then lost my power up the steep bit, and picked it up again when the slope started levelling off. The plan was to try and keep the power consistently between 360 and 400, until the worst of the climb was over. Then I would just push as hard as I could. It didn’t quite work out. I was still higher in the first bit, and lower in the steep bit. But there was less variation, which helped push me to a time of 5m 21s – a 28s improvement on my previous best. Interestingly my average power was still only 362w, but I think I did use it a bit more efficiently, and there was also a tailwind to help.

Shortly after I finished someone posted a time of 3m 45s!

I am not sure where I finished in the end – there were plenty out there that were faster than me, but not many of them were older and fatter than me:D

I’ve said a few times on here that I am not seriously into racing. TTs probably suit me best (I am used to riding alone, and very wary of riding at speed in bunches). So the idea is to do a few TTs to see how it goes. However it’s a while before Swords put another on. Next week I’ll be away, but who knows, maybe the week after I’ll try a proper race!

Total distance this week 273km at an average speed of 27.5kph and 196w. As it included getting on for 2,000m of climbing I am happy with this.

The wrist seems OK, although I am keeping a splint on it when cycling (as much to minimise the risk of further damage should I fall as anything else)

YTD total now stands at 3,166km, at an average speed of 28.8kph, and I am now 208km ahead of schedule

Plan for next week was 3 commutes plus a trip to the velodrome, but it looks like Eyjafjallajoekull may scupper my plans to go to Manchester, so I might have to find something else to do on Wednesday evening.

Total distance this week = 213km at 30.3 kph and 220w, all on the road, including 32km at 33.5 kph and 279w in the Swords League race on Wednesday

YTD total = 3,380 km over 117 hours at 28.9 kph leaving me 229 km ahead of target.

Total on the road = 2,137 km over 76hr 21m (28 kph), including 15,000m+ climbing
Total on the turbo = 1,062 km over 33hr 14m (31.9 kph)

Off the bike now until Wednesday when hopefully I will be able to take part in the next Swords league race, and then plan to commute on Thursday and Friday

Lumen wrote: »

I look forward to seeing where this is going...

I reckon I have potential. I've crashed at 40 kph, I've crashed at 44kph, and I reckon I have the potential to crash at 50kph

So where's it going - probably back to the Beaumont:)