2011 Challenge

Well, we have received an invite to stay in the Isle of Man this summer and I have been granted permission to take the bike :)  Along with the invite came the challenge of "I'd be interested to see how fast you acn do the TT circuit".  So I reckon 2hrs 15 mins would be a reasonable target to aim for (based on my 30 mile Hilly Route PB).

Here's the route.....

3 Hours Zone 2 *Road*

HR monitor back up and running as it should (courtesy of replacement batteries), one thing it did tell me is that Tuesdays ride was mostly done in zone 3 judging by how 'easy' I had to take things today.  138 was my ave HR today so I was at the top of zone 2 and quite often found myself above 141 bpm.  Its bloody hard trying to keep the discipline of riding in a zone.  I must stick with it though for a good 4 to 6 weeks before I start putting some hills back into the riding.

Zone 2 Ride, Ave HR = 138

Distance = 41.1
Time = 3 hrs 4 mins
Ave Speed = 13.4
Top Speed = 26.2
Hillometer = N/A

Weather = Overcast, 11c

2011
Road Bike = 90.0
Single Speed =13.6
Indoor =44.4
Total Mileage = 148.0

*edited for commute to pub :)

3.5 Hours Zone 2 *Road*

Well zone 2 was the plan until only 2 miles in my HR monitor went tits up and only gave intermittent readings, so whilst it was working I was in zone 2, whilst it wasn't I was guessing, not the best start to this new regime.

Zone 2(ish) riding was quite a shock to the system and the uneducated in 'training' I had to crawl up hills to keep my HR down.  Zone riding also does nothing for your ave speed, 13.7mph is well down on what I'd expect for that ride.  Something about taking it easy to get fit doesn't seem logical to me, I'm sure the brain will get used to it in time.

So the ride itself was a familiar roll to Etwall and back via Castle Donnington, Melbourne & Repton, 49 miles in all. Even the sun put in an appearance for half an hour, a very brief taster of things to come this summer hopefully.  49 miles after the best part of 4 month without doing a great deal, even in zone 2 the legs and rear quarters are feeling it. 





Distance = 48.9 miles
Time = 3 hrs 33 mins
Ave Speed = 13.7
Top Speed = 29.4
Hillometer = 28.9 ft/mile

Weather = Overcast, 6c

2011
Road Bike = 48.9
Single Speed = 8.1
Indoor =44.4
Total Mileage = 101.4

Turbo

An hour on the turbo is certainly much more of an effort than an hour on the road, did 15 min warm up followed by 5 30 second sprints at 5 minute intervals, then 22 minutes cool down in zone 2 to make up the hour.  Will push it to 6 sprint intervals, next time.  First 50 mins of session were OK but the last 10 were hard.

Looking to get out on the road this week for a nice 3 hr Zone 2 ride now the ice has departed and I have girly mud flaps fitted to the Trek.

18.6 Miles turbo


2011
Road Bike = 0
Single Speed = 8.1
Indoor =44.4
Total Mileage = 52.5

Zoning

Whilst reading Cycling Plus last night I stumbled across an article which described me rather well, "use a HR monitor but haven't a clue what the info means?"  Well last year I stopped using the HR monitor pretty much for that reason, and because I couldn't be bothered to learn how to use it.


Well the article (January 2011 edition) very simply illustrates how to work out your zones and then shows how working in them helps various causes.  So I'm going to get the HR monitor out again and have a go at some good 'zone 2' work to build base fitness and more importantly loose weight.

So for my reference I'll log my Zones

Max HR = 188 bpm
Zone 1 = 112-122 bpm
Zone 2 = 122-141 bpm
Zone 3 = 141-154 bpm
Zone 4 = 154-167 bpm
Zone 5 = 167-176 bpm
Zone 6 = 176-188 bpm

So based on that there will be three main types of session for me, 3 hour sessions in Zone 2 to build base fitness, 15 mins warm up followed by six 30 second balls out sprints with 5 mins rest (Zone 2) between them to burn fat and then to build endurance the occasional 3-4 hours in Zone 2 with 10 minute bursts of Zone 3-4 every hour.

The second session sounds like an indoor jobby to me so looking out the window I can see quite a bit of 30 seconds balls out sessions for me...

Off to a start

Just as my enthusiasm reaches the required level we see a return of ice and now snow, so for now I am limited to the resistance machine and commutes to the pub!  So all today has in store is a blast in the bedroom.....(on the resistance machine)

*edit - Just done first Zoned session of 5 30 second sprints at 5 minute intervals.

2011
Road Bike = 0
Single Speed = 8.1
Indoor =25.8
Total Mileage = 33.9

Winter Training

This image makes me feel a right girls blouse (with the frilly bits), I need to get out there and get training right away regardless of  the weather, I need to visit the pain cave and be subjected to the Honey Badger's torture. 

Chaingang might be a baptism of fire and given the fact Iv'e not rode for over 2 months I don't think I'll hang on for even 10 minutes, maybe a little training is required first.

Whatever I need to get off my arse and head out... I need to adopt a BIG(ger)RING riding attitude.

2011

Well a lot has happened since I last wrote and a lot of it I can not talk about......

Last year in some respects was a good year but in many more respects was a shocker, I have learnt things about myself, and can make myself a better person with that knowledge.

So 2011 is a year that I have decided we do not look back, it will be a positive year of change and no aggro.  I have plans which I can not share and I have plans which I can...  The bikes are still very much part of the plan, and having put over a stone in weight on over the past 6 weeks I am keen to get back into (better) shape pretty soon.  Still aiming for 5000 miles even though I failed that target last year, it's a tough target but one I want to achieve

The allotment will remain for 2011 but may not get the attention it requires if other plans come to fruition, so an open verdict on the alotmenteering for now, 2011 could be my second and last year on the allotment. The chickens and bantams are still here and I plan to keep them, in fact breeding the banties could provide a little extra income.

Anything new for 2011?  Well every year I try to tick something off.  Another one of my quirky fancies is pigeons, I'd quite like to keep a few homing pigeons, it's a maybe for 2011, but I have a feeling I'll be busy enough as the year progresses.