Yeah but your average speed was probably higher.

Hi, it's kind of interesting to me that we, as bicycle racers, now have something else to stress about. I include myself but I think I am headed towards the "Zen" of bicycle racing where I accept what I have as what I have. I guess I should do a test soon to get a baseline. However, I'm supposed to do a 20 Km TT next Sunday (Piru) without a power meter :( so I'm not sure when I'll get a test in.

Base week semi-fail. I tried to cram six days of riding into four days due to the weather, and Father Time whacked me upside the head with a 2x4, yelling, "Hey, dumbass, you're going to be 62 in two weeks. You hear me? Sixty <whack!> effin' <whack!> two <whack!>!!!" Thirty years ago I could've pulled this off, but not now. TSS goal was 933, I made it to 831.

Monday and Tuesday, raining and in the 30s, I didn't feel too bad about not riding. Wednesday I got in about 2:30, Thursday it was in the 30s, humid and overcast in the morning, so I thought I'd ride after Thanksgiving dinner. Uh, nope. Friday I had a good ride, 4:34 with a TSS of 271, 2856 kj, and ate a medium bowl of ravioli and a salad afterwards. My guess is I ended that day with about a 2500 calorie deficit. Saturday, team ride, and I just ran out of gas at mile 60 of 75 and rolled in at my own pace. Luckily everyone had decided it was too cold to hammer the first half of the ride, but the pace increased during the second half. TSS 197, 4:05, 2171 kj. I ate/noshed pretty much constantly for the rest of the day. Today I felt better, but was still dealing with the fatigue from the two previous days, and ended up with just a slightly higher AP than yesterday. TSS 226, 4:44, 2619 kj.

Lesson - painful lesson - learned.

65' of z1/z2 with the Juniors. Wonderful.

Wraps up a 622 tss week, which is my biggest week since June. Looking at my performance management chart, I feel like I'm 6 weeks ahead of where I was last year, so I'm looking forward to the March/April races like Bariani and (if I manage to lose 10 pounds) Copperopolis.

About an hour in gym yesterday doing strength training (I have none). Now my right arm is all tingly and won't stop. I think I slept on it wrong and must have pinched something.

So? Quit making excuses and HTFU.

;)

I feel your pain, Chuck...believe me!

Gee, thanks, Sara - you're a lotta help! :lol:

My coach already checked my files and wrote to me - I'm a lot more upset than she is. As a matter of fact, she's not upset at all, and is more concerned that this is starting to feel more like work to me than fun. This last week, it did. I feel better about it now, having had time to sleep on it and reflect some.

Just had one of the best recovery rides to date, not in terms of output but rather in how I feel afterwards. My legs were really tight, and they've loosened up considerably. It was pretty windy, and that wind seems to have blown a lot of the negative thoughts away.

We've all been there, done that, Chuck. We fall into holes. I'm really bad about it. I guess you could call them "slumps" or "plateaus", or whatever. The point is, it's a natural part of the process, and you have a good coach - she recognizes it and helps you along. I can say, "know it's going to happen", but we do know it's going to happen, and it affects us - some of us more than others. Welcome to training for racing, my friend!

Power meters are machines....we are not. We have hopes, wants, dreams and fears.

Gym last night... box jumps, upper body, core, foam roller and stretching.

Intervals, 5 x 1 minute each x 2. They make for a hard ride. The wind came up and the temperature started to drop while I was out there. It's supposed to be COLD by tomorrow. TSS 139.9, IF 1.086, NP 160, AP 102, Max Q 589.

5 miles ru**ing then 30 min of trainer - low rpm/95% FTP -> 5 on 1 rest; 4 on 1 rest; 3 on 1 rest; 2 on 1 rest; 1 on; cooldown -> 30 min hot tub

3x20 indoors... 2 on the trainer and one on the rollers. We are getting an arctic front moving in that will decrease the temperatures.

S&A. S&A. S&A.

Did I mention S&A?

Definitely getting stronger.

Hour and a half on my fixie last night. Rode a 67" gear @100- 110 cadence for 75" then eased a bit to z2 to finish out the ride. It was a beautiful, calm, dark and forty degrees evening to suffer with 4 others. I'm lucky that I have peeps who will do my workout for the opportunity to have a sandwich and brew post ride.:)

50 min mid tempo at dinner then the 3LC Climbing DVD in the evening.
Good thing there are prompts on screen of what the intervals will be because them boys don't speak a lick of English...

You really know how to enjoy training, AJ. :thumb:

I would join A'Jet and his gang but it is a long drive.

You guys are always welcome to stay for a couple rides since the drive is long.

Ditto!

Youse guys can ride in weather like dat. Fuhgeddaboudit is what I says to weather like dat.

30 miles at the velodrome last night. Intervals were Z1 4min, Z3 4 min, Z2 1 min, Z4 1 min X 4 per set X 2 sets. VanceMac was there riding faster than I.

VanceMac rides faster than a lot of people. Reminds of the line from Wayne's World. Something like "Dude, a lot of guys' girfriends are back stage."

I did 2x20' on the exercise bike at the gym. It has a constant wattage program, so (assuming it's accurate) it works pretty well for longer intervals.

It started out at 15 degrees last Saturday and warmed to 24. I had to thaw out in the hot tub.