Bittersweet

fondriest wrote: »

I see the Frank O’Rourke race in your list , it’s in the calendar but I hear locally it may not be going ahead this year . Worth keeping an eye on anyway .

Thanks for the heads up, its a good leg stretcher, pity if it is off the books.

The startling realisation that most of my weight loss last year was due mainly to water loss rather than fat loss is becoming increasingly obvious.
Positives this month, technically my diet has improved tremendously,
eating alot more veg, fresh food and less sweets/chrisps etc.
Also drinking alot less, cutting ti down to two evenings a week and even then, I have alot less than usual as well. This has als had the added benefit of my sleep improving tremendously.

Weight has increased over January, and is not really shifting unless I sweat buckets on the way home. I still think 80kg is possible but I am not training right yet. I am going to start a training regime from the 12th of this month, looking at working other parts of my body other than my legs.

- Weight 87kg
- Max speed 48kmph
- Max HR N/A
- average BG levels 9.3mmol/L

Overall a poor start, but a good thing about being near the bottom is that there is a long way up which means there is no danger of getting bored at the top or falling off from a height.

Done a VO2 max test on Friday last but it turns out I have a chest infection so that is likely under what it should be (or so I tell myself). Came in at 49 which is "above average", I was not impressed.


- Weight 85kg - no change. I have made huge changes to my diet but alas, no dice yet
- Max speed 57kmph
- Max HR 186bpm - far lower than I expected although I never felt like I redlined
- average BG levels update later

Started doing non cycling workouts and stretching regimes, which seem to be helping with my lack of flexibility. Who knew you could pump sweat while stretching.
Will update with glucose data later.

My son is going to his second league race in two.weeks as a marshal for the sign on. He declared he wants to be a racer last week after riding his bike independently. He still struggles with the difference between video and real life, he watches videos of teammates put up on whatsapp and then asks where I am. Not in A3 son, not in A3.

Just out from a hospital appointment on Tuesday. Overall my tests are good but my blood pressure and weight are up noticeably, and something to keep an eye on.
On deeper investigation they have identified what they think is the issue, and one that explains my inability to get my weight back down, my poor humour, tiredness etc. They have given me a plan of action to work on and am back in just over a month to see if I have done what I am meant to

Also have told me I need to have a more structured weekend, and should be cycling as much on a Saturday and Sunday as I do midweek as it is throwing out my insulin sensitivity.

So weight has stalled again but more due to me getting fed up with eating well, and generally feeling exhausted for the last week.

Second last race went alot better. One rider managed to get a 45second break in the neutralised section but the rest had manners. As soon as we went through the neutralised section, a lineout formed and 3 of my clubmates went hell for leather and closed the gap from 45seconds to spitting distance in half a lap. A few more drills and we had him. Spent the second lap mixing between the front and the back in equal measure. On the final lap, I worked my way upto mid bunch before the bridge but at 52kmph there were two people pulling away, never to be seen again. The pace never really let up after this and the group split. i held onto the top half and on the turn up Ballysmuttan I was in a good position, got my gearing right and was spinning up. Not comfortable but I could make it. At the hairpin turn though, the group slowed and I had to take an awkward line, there was a load of dust on the road and i nearly came down. I blew up within a few seconds. Probably about 10th but nowhere in contention in the end.

The next week was very run down and not bothered, even my commute seemed like tough work and the want to even get on a bike was gone. Weight started to creep up again and found it near impossible to sleep for 7 days now. Turned upto Corkagh park this week and legs felt like lead but thought, why not. In the first few laps, there were a couple of times were I felt like sliding off the back but I pushed and held on. Half way through I took a stint on the front and even broke away for a little under a lap but nerves got the better of me when I wasn't making anymore ground and was being hung out to dry. I slowed and let them catch me, and thankfully joined in nicely. The pace upped considerably in the last three laps with two clubmates making a break. I held back the temptation to get up and sat in to the back on lap -3. Same for lap -2, with a Lucan rider putting the hammer down to bridge the gap, he got closer but not close enough but coming to the finish line on that lap, I went round the side and into the wind. When the bunch moved left after the first turn I stayed right and went off the front, caught two lads trying to pull away and went round them. Decided then and there to just put the head down and go like the clappers. Coming round the bottom corner, I could see the lineout behind me I kept my speed up, maybe ilked out a smidgen more but I got swamped a few metres from the line. Got a 6th place out of it but if I had focused and been smarter I could have got third. Let the two away and break later.

So the next week was the 25M TT which I was meant to be marshalling but at the line I had all sorted and I was free to go. Stupidly I thought, why not.

First 12km I felt OK, good speed and above 40kmph without overstressed. Wasn't loving it but happy with the time. Then a taxi pulled level with me and pulled across me, I had to turn left and slam on, with us skimming each other. I let a roar. His head never moved, not sure he even noticed, he just drove off. Got back started and was OK to just shy off 20km, I got overtaken by an Usher rider and while I got a brief ego boost trying to catch him, I soon dropped off. A few km later I lost feeling in my testicles and by 30km my TT bars had come lose. It was not going well. The last 5km my spirit gave up. Picked up in the last few 100m but not a great performance. Total time was 1hour and 6minutes. About 6minutes off my best. I could barely stand off the bike and rolled home at a sedentary pace.

Next race was two weeks later and the standard had definetly jumped. 50km race and it went from the gun, not below 40kmph for the first 20km with most of that above 50kmph. A few small let ups but the pace didn't really change until the last 500m where it turned into an A4, wish we were in the tour, imitation race. All started looking at each other and waiting. At this point I was done so just sat up and let them go with 150m left. Bonked on the way home and considering my lack of interest in a sprint up a hill (the only ones I like) I imagine that started a bit earlier.

Diet wise I have gone all out stupid for the past 7 days. Done up a rough guide on required vitamins and minerals, and then went for a low calorie diet. I typically have tried low carb or similar in the past but went for a change of tactic. Eat as healthy as possible with as few calories as possible. Going between 600 and 1000calories each day, coming up as 175 to 225g carbs a day. The only exceptions being if I go hypoglycemic that I can obviously eat to recover.

I also made a point of not weighing myself for most of the week. Last weekend I was governing around the 87kg. This week I am sub 85kg.

It's a pretty drastic drop, and while its great, I am on holidays for the next week and it will be harder to stick to the planned aim and to be honest, that sudden a drop is probably a bit too much too quickly. Will update in two weeks to see whether it sticks.

A longer post than the FTP thread.

Down under 83kg this week. I did break the healthy rule over the weekend as my partner wanted bold food. Interestingly my "dustbin" reputation may have to be realigned though as I didn't finish the fish and chips on Sunday night as I felt full, like a normal person. At the beginning of the year I would have ate mine, and everyone elses leftovers, followed by a cup of tea and possibly snacks.

Went out for the Ronnie Coates memorial this week. Felt tired at the start but that is not unusual, I think it is psychological as it seems to happen at every race now. Planned to sit in and have manners but one of my team mates was up the front and I went up to tell him that my "go from the gun" comment was more a joke than a tactical plan. Stayed close to the front and on the first time up the double kicker before the finish line I booted oof and pulled away but felt like death when I got to the top of the second bit. The riders caught me and I sat back in to recover. Mulled around at the front, took a few turns. It wasn't slow but it certainly wasn't busting anyones gut. Second time up that double header I done the same thing, recovery was quicker but I decided I would try and be mid bunch the next time.
Third and fourth time up I was a bit back, didn't feel like death, it was tough after the corner but I was in there and no need to recover, which was nice. At this point I managed my most pro thing of all, about 4 down from the front coming over the bridge, a teammate who was dragging everyone pulled sidewards and was drifting down, his legs were gone and he needed a few seconds break to recover. He was going back to quick though and in my head he was about to fly out the back. As I got beside him, I stuck out the arm and grabbed his jersey and just upped my power to match him to me for speed for a few seconds, it was all he needed. In hindsight it was stupid if he panicked but he got it straight away as something we had seen lads do in the club league for each other. On the final lap, a clubmate asked me how I felt (we are both sitting mid bunch), said the climbing was fine but I had nothing for a sprint or a TT effort. As always the bunch slowed on the rough surface, and as always the Hunt wheels carried me through the crowd without pedalling. About 10 from the front, the rider to my right back must have thought I wanted to come out (i didn't) so he tells me there is space. I figure I'll just go up near the front, final lap and all. I pulled out and the momentum carried me past the front and I just started pedalling. I thought someone would be stupid enough to jump with me so I didn't hammer it but kept pace with what we had done in previous laps. I couldn't feel anyone immediately so kept going but figured the bunch must simply be closing me down so must make an effort not too blow up and just keep a steady pace, be ready to slot in once caught Looked behind a few km later and the bunch were gone (or just round a corner). Tried to keep my head on straight and not do anything to stupid, just keep going. They would form up and catch me. I turned to see them, maybe 300m back and also seen my clubmate come to the front and watch for an attempt to stop me, well he had to be because he is a stronger chaser than me and I would have been caught already if he wanted that. I was getting close to the turn for the climb, knew there was a tailwind here and in every other lap I had taken the bunch by over 100m on the climb. Just as I get to the green/white flag that was my marker to get ready for the turn, one rider bridged across. I shouted to go on but I actually grabbed his wheel. In the few seconds that I focused on him and his rear wheel I missed the lead car turning, and looked at the sign for Newtown Mount Kennedy, wondering why I hadn't noticed it before. As it turns out I hadn't noticed it because I was looking at the marshal. I realised just as I passed, slammed on and let a roar. The marshals at the last turn had left. I skidded so hard it looks like it nearly shredded my tire. Managed to skid 180 as well, which was cool, but I was in a big gear and stopped dead. By the time I took the turn the bunch was nearly on me and ploughed past as I carried nothing into the turn. Finished a few seconds down, gutted. Should have known the turn was there but I was looking out for the marshal so it threw me. Got up the hill and passed a few stragglers, seen the bunch who just dropped me and started gaining on them. Had very little time so when the comms came beside me I put the hammer down again but they passed the line as I had 100m left to go and that was the end of that.

Onwards to the Lucan GP.

Another year of semi competitive cycling over.
Down at the Carlow RCC race today. First of all, cracking, good roads, lots of bumps, they really need to promote it better next year as its well worth going down for. I sat in for the first lap until the 10% bump and accidentally went up the left side of the bunch on the line of the ditch (everyone was slightly out). Oddly, I found the downhill tougher after this, and really had to dig in to stay on. Start of the second lap and a team mate went off for a break and I went up the front and was a cheeky sh1t, just dialled down the pace a bit, slowly and almost imperceptibly. Two things went badly for him, the guy he went with had no interest in pushing once away and secondly about two minutes into me dialling the pace back, a rider two back from me copped what I was at, let a roar about team tactics and went after them. Took a few turns on the front but it was sedate on the second lap but still nicely in there. Again the downhill was all out for a few minutes and I was digging in hard.
Next lap the pace jumped and it was then on, I got up close to the front and stayed in, under the M9 and a few km up the road and with a slight drag I found myself up the front again, and for once i thought, nah, not making an effort. Slowed down and just tipped away. Guy who won Roundwood came around and I could feel people waiting for me to chase but I thought to hell with it, I'll just wreck myself, he made a good gap, and fair play to him, I had no interest in being a pr1ck about each break but alas he slowed on the climb. I tired and everyone swarmed around me and caught him shortly after. I hung onto the back of the group but I knew I had nothing for contesting so a few km from the end I decided to wave the comms on and relax, the legs were tired and that was that. A DWCC rider had come down and I decided to pull in to keep an eye until the ambulance arrived. He seemed fine and more upset about losing his phone than the somersault he performed on top of a rock wall and briar hedge (described by the car that pulled in to check on him).
A good day out, and lessons learned, really need to practice my jump over the winter.