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I'll be at Matterley on Sunday. First ever XC race, wimped out of sport and entered open. Going with Barzo front and rear.
Thanks Adam. I think the V1 Forekasters will be staying on, especially as I want to use them in Cannock the following week.
First XC race for me this weekend at Sherwood Pines. Bikes sorted, fitness is what it is…
My only apprehension surrounds it being absolutely b*stard freezing, particularly as I’m in the early morning open cat race!
What do I wear? I’m always cold anyway at the best of times. I’m going to freeze to death stood in a pen awaiting the gun… any tips?
A quick update re SouthernXC, I've just had a message from the organiser to say that it sold out last night so there will be no entry on the day
What do I wear? I’m always cold anyway at the best of times. I’m going to freeze to death stood in a pen awaiting the gun… any tips?
Put loads of layers on and leave them at the start area, just remember to collect them before heading home.
SouthernXC - entered last night. Mens Open. Sadly an early start being in Race 1 but if it's wet possibly getting better course conditions
Good luck AJ, keep us posted after the race with how it went 😀
Gorrick Easter Classic looks like being my return to the fray - hopefully with some semblance of fitness..
SouthernXC – entered last night. Mens Open
Waves, see you on the start line.
That was hard. Thought I was going ok considering but still best part of 2 mins a lap down. Nearly retired at the end of lap 2 when the kick into the start finish dislodged the crap in my lungs. Enjoyed it though and will be back for more.
Managed to finish in the top quarter, quite pleased with that. In one way feel like I had more to give, on the other hand the finish climb nearly broke me on lap 3, so maybe I did judge it right.
Feel I wasted a lot of energy on the slippery off camber sections, so another skill to work on there.
Dressed warmer this week, including thicker gloves, so no numb thumbs at the finish.
Self diagnosed cause of last week’s misery was a slipping seat post. Raised 5 to 10 mil compared to how I finished last week, pedalling much better 😧
Nice, if I read your username correctly I think you finished 3 places above me. You weren't in the the 'bob' jersey were you?
Yes that was me. You’ve got a better memory than me for outfits, don’t think I could reliably recall any of the people who finished around me.
👍 can only remember that top because it stood out. Was using it as a target till my issue at the end of lap two when you got too far ahead.
I had a shocker, not sure what's happened but finished the race with 188w average per in 31st GV and only 5 mins in V02 max HR - some kind of internal limiter had restricted me. Would have ended up in 28th but my free hub exploded into a thousand pieces (I discovered at home) at the start of the final climb forcing me to run over the start line.
Most expensive race ever, and I've had better Zwift races over the last 4 months. Good organisation though and I "enjoyed" the race & setup so thanks Southern XC,
anyway. at least my new Silt wheels will have a modern internal width and 50g less weight, every cloud etc.
😟 that does not sound good. Glad the light wheels are at least one positive.
Was using it as a target till my issue at the end of lap two when you got too far ahead.
somehow my final lap was 5th fastest (in category) so I clearly pulled something out of somewhere.
at least my new Silt wheels will have a modern internal width and 50g less weight, every cloud etc.
broken freehub = full new wheelset of higher quality - thats the kind of man maths I can get behind 👍
Hope the next race goes better.
Lol cheers. To be fair the Mavics are 5yo and we’re a prior year/18 month old model when I bought them for £199. With proprietary spokes, no warranty and a complete rebuild itd cost me most of the new wheels.
God knows what’s wrong with the freehub, it engages forward, has no freewheel and when you shake it it sounds like many pieces inside.
More important is my dire performance. I need to work out if it’s a legacy of all my respiratory illnesses last year or something else.
Unlucky Kryton! I wouldn’t worry too much if you’ve been happy with your performance in training lately.
I had similar last year at the British Gravel Championships. Just totally and utterly flopped and never did get to the bottom of why.
I think that’s the double edged sword of being data-driven in training. On one hand you can optimise your plan to the Nth degree but on the other it makes it harder to just write off a bad day.
Onwards 😀
somehow my final lap was 5th fastest (in category) so I clearly pulled something out of somewhere.
Nice! Like I said one minute you were just ahead then by the end of the top trail section you has disappeared! Up to that point we had been consistently close depending on point of the lap.
At the moment I'm desperately resisting going to town on bike weight reductions :D. New wheels were already on the agenda, just waiting for the spokes, that will be somewhere in the 350-500g saving + a new XD cassette which again will be -100gish (SS on WTB i30 -> XM421/350 combo with comp race spokes).
The eldest and I went over to Crank-it Rnd.1 at a very wet / snowy and muddy Sherwood Pines on Sunday, they're cracking events as they run a 2hr session for U12's which involves coaching and tests where the scores dictate your grid position, he did well and was on the 2nd row of the U12 grid.
He got a good start and was into the first technical feature in 3rd, they left all the adult level A line options in for the kids so they had the option to ride them, which the faster kids did as it was a decent penalty for taking the B line, he had a bit of a slip out on the 3rd (final) lap and dropped to 4th, he took the decision to take the A line into the start finish section ahead of the lad in 3rd who took the B line, Tommy landed as the other lad came out of the B and the sprint was on, Tommy ended up taking 3rd and was well chuffed as a 1st yr under 12 and the rest of the top 5 being 2nd years.
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I went in the afternoon race in Vets and had a decent race, averaged 0.7kph faster than the same event last year - which was bone dry - and ended up 25th placed Vet, so I'll take that in a god quality field.
That looks ace. Well done on the podium to junior.
Tommy landed as the other lad came out of the B and the sprint was on
@steve_b77 We watched this unfold, I’m just to the right of your photo - your lad did brilliant, we were screaming at the group all through that last section.
First ever XC race for me, left it a bit later in life than those lot! Didn’t come last, didn’t crash. Plenty of snow left for the first race too with predictable carnage into the first corner.
Can’t do the next round but I’ll definitely do some more. Need some proper gear too, lots of lost watts with that baggy Jersey hey 🙂
Found it really hard to judge my effort - it’s not sprint-recover-sprint but also not an endurance event. I finished with too much left in the tank I think, as I never got a bell lap, just a flag when I didn’t expect it.
Great fun day out, 120 odd in the open which is ace (if a bit chaotic!) and so good to see all the kids and youths absolutely smashing it in tricky conditions.
First round of the southern xc report:
I've mixed feelings with Matterly. If you are on a bad day you get found out quickly. On Saturday I was nervous, having not raced for a year and some back issues last year meant poor training and I felt a little uncertain on my form. Coupled with my lack of self confidence and medium/high aspirations, race day could go badly.
Race day: practice lap done and I enjoyed a) the single track, b) the climbs (right gradient for me). I hated a) the sticky mud. Still, everyone was in the same boat.
I lined up at the back of the grid and went with the tactic of holding position across the grass start and then try and make time on the gravel climb (as people blew up). This kinda worked and I think I entered the first singletrack in the teens, certainly better than the 40s. I picked off a few more places through the single track (go seated sprint training) and continued to pick people off in the open climbs. After two laps I was into 4th. The top 3 were someway off and I couldn't quite spot them ahead of me so rode my race, encouraged whenever i spotted either a expert cat rider ahead of me or someone I thought could be the 3rd place vet (I still couldn't get close to him). The last lap was quite grim, a bit of rain made the course a little slippy and the legs were screaming whenever they track went up. I held on and crossed the line in 4th about 2min down.
All targets were met. Hopefully at the next race a better gridding will help me stay in contact with the fast guys.
Hope everyone enjoyed the day. The southerns are superbly organised and course seem fun so far
@snotrag I saw him come into that section on the last lap and then choose the A-Line and may've said "oh shit" out loud as he hadn't ridden it at all up until that point, thankfully he made it over in one piece otherwise I may've had some explaining to do to his mum!
He knew he could beat the other lad in a sprint as he did at the Cannock Winter Classic a couple of weeks ago and a new helmet was on the line as a podium prize, so it was literally shit or bust!
Effort wise I spent pretty much the entire race at Threshold, bar the last lap where I went pop a bit half way round.
Good report Ernie, and well done! To get to 4th from the back is impressive! I need to get to a Southern XC soon...
First time racing XC in years at south shields on friday night.
Its going to be a shock to the system only riding for 45 min ( its a night event so shorter than normal )
#makingupthenumbers
Nice reporting guys - some top class racing going on!
Found these on YT. 1 from Gorrick Spring Classic 2, the other from Southern 1. LOVE THE ENTHUSIASM!!!
Gorrick Easter race tomorrow. Highlands farm drains well but given the recent rain I’m expecting slidey rather than submerged.
There’s a SouthWest race on as well. Not sure if there’s anything in the north.
Who else is pinning on a number and getting a mud facial this weekend?
Will be at Highlands, V50s....
I'm loving all the chat, but missing all the racing!
The pippingford marathon will be my first xc race in a few years!
Next year I'll keep my ear to the ground and try and do:
All 3 brass monkeys
Some gorrick and southern xc summer races
DrP
sxc races aren't too far over the boarder, apart from the next one in Fort William.
There was some awesome racing at the first one of the season at Comrie Croft, a few spills as well as it was greasy with a few techy bits.
Have fun at the Gorrick tomorrow, can’t do this one, I’m a bit gutted!
I'll be @ the Travers races tomorrow. Really great races, with a vast array of different age and ability categories. Really welcoming too. The courses are always good with new features appearing almost every week.
I reckon Gorrick will be a blast tomorrow with it being a wetter race, although as already said above it drains well. I'm sitting this one out as can't afford a tumble with a work commitment I can't miss next week. Enjoy folk's
Gorrick course was incredible, not a drop of mud anywhere! Great fun, much nicer as a short race course than the 4hr they ran there last year - I can just about cope with not drinking for an hour!
No.1 son and I headed over to Lee Quarry for the 3rd Crank-it round and as expected it was a grippy rocky smash 'fest with DNF's all over the shop due to the usual array of punctures and crashes.
Tommy went first in the #U12 and after slipping a pedal off the start he dropped back a bit and had his work cut out a bit, but he rode a good steady race and made his move on the final climb twice to move up and take the boys win by a comfortable margin 🥇🏁🏆
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I went in the pretty much everyone over the age of 16 and under 60 race in the afternoon. After the typical God awful start straight up the entrance road climb I was going OK, then had a couple of terrible laps, but got back on it to take 10th place in #vets so can't complain 😉
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Team wise we also had 3rd (Lewis) and 5th (Thomas) places in Junior and 5th (Paul) place in Vets, so a bloody successful weekend up North, down south Harry (2nd year junior) took the Elite win in the Travers MTB series as well.
Nice pic !!!
Great pics. Lee Quarry looked ace, proper race course, was a bit gutted I couldnt make it my second XC race. Leeds the next one for me!
I did all the Manchester Midweek Madness races last year and finished roughly in the top 75-80% in each without actually dying (just nearly) so pleased with that 😋
They're up now on the BC site so hoping to enter at least a couple this year. Haven't ridden for ages and horribly unfit, so we'll see!
Edit: Due to doing all of them I was amused to find out I got inside the top 15 in overall points haha
Anyone entered a xc national this year or other years?
I thought it would be a good idea to enter the Farnham round in the grand vets as its close-ish to me . Now I'm not so sure and am getting a bit nervous about racing in the same race as some expros!
So what should I expect apart from a whole new level of suffering?
I'm planning on racing the Farnham national (first national I have raced in maybe 6 years). Dont be stressed about the competition. I think the southern xc races get a really competitive turnout and should give you an idea of how fast the ex pro's will go. Most importantly, enjoy it and hopefully see you there.
Thanks @ernie, I've raced at the southerns for the last few years and usually place around mid field or slightly better and usually place alot better in the Gorrick events.
It was when I saw names like Nick Craig I thought bu@@er what have I signed up for😁. I'll give it my all and see want happens and hopefully last the distance!
I'll be suffering next Sunday at Farnham for R2 of the Southerns 🤪
you guys are aware it's Fareham, near Southampton, not Farnham near Guildford?
@theotherjonv yes I mean't Fareham, phone thinks differently with its good old predictive text 🙄
The Xcomtb.com site says Farnham, Holywell, estate! Bit of a typo there.
Hahha. I knew it was Holywell. Anyone got advice on the course? I've never been there.
Also git covid right now. I really hope I'm over it for next weekend
I really hope I’m over it for next weekend
Get well soon Ernie and .... please test Sunday morning, none of us want it.
Was really looking forward to the 2nd rd of the new IOW XC series today, the course looked superb and I wanted to support it. Unfortunately, shakes, shivers and sneezes started yesterday morning.
I'll be at the 2nd Southern next week. Not expecting much though as just back from two weeks holiday featuring much food and drink with little exercise! Also taking daughter this time for her first XC outing.
Just entered Cannock spring classic. Fun category only.
Didn't see it mentioned here but there's also FNSS https://www.fnssmtb.co.uk/2023-race-calendar.html for ~Northants
Loads of spaces available for my local midweek xc races NR Cirencester/Swindon. I'm signed up for all four...
https://my.raceresult.com/234099/info
That’s the end of formal training and racing for me. Trudging around only at the back (again) after 4 months of hard training at a cost of £150 this weekend, not seeing the kids, not actually “having” a weekend, no time to address the overgrown garden or various jobs around the house, having to watch what I eat and drink…. I don’t know how others manage it.
Yeah bollocks, it’s become unenjoyable, I quit today with no desire to continue knowing I’m done. I’ll probably do a bit of Trainerroad to keep fit during the week and a weekend club / MTB ride with coffee and cake, and maybe enter a fun / open events on a nice weekend but that’s it.
Here’s to watching the grand tours, F1 whatever with a beer after the lawn is cut on a Sunday afternoon. 👍🏻
I sincerely hope everyone else had a great weekend at a tough and sticky Southern XC course, most people looked like they were having a great time!
@kryton57 Don’t be hard on yourself mate, sounds like it’s the best thing for you to not train like that any more. You don’t have to stop racing though - I don’t ‘train’ as such, just ride as much as I can, and race myself, then turn up at the races, give it my best shot and enjoy myself. Don’t take it too seriously and it’s a lot fun (which is the idea!)
This isn’t a throwing my toys out of the pram thing. Just a sensible decision. On lap 2 today the former last past person came past me and I thought “I really should make an effort to keep up, but can’t be arsed” in addition to an inexplicable power loss in my legs, of which the result was an average power over two laps at “tempo”.
Im 51, missing out on time with my kids and time spent at home. My wife spends all her time ferrying them about because im training for that ^^. It isn’t adding up.
That was a sticky tacky race by the time we started at 3ish. The usual story for me getting passed on the ups and then passing the same guys on the downs. A full mud bonty Xmud on the front really helped. Loads of suffering was had on my behalf.
Not the most flowey of courses, will be interesting to see what they do with it for the national.
This isn’t a throwing my toys out of the pram thing. Just a sensible decision. On lap 2 today the former last past person came past me and I thought “I really should make an effort to keep up, but can’t be arsed” in addition to an inexplicable power loss in my legs, of which the result was an average power over two laps at “tempo”.
Im 51, missing out on time with my kids and time spent at home. My wife spends all her time ferrying them about because im training for that ^^. It isn’t adding up.
Nobody said it would be easy fella... it's hard and there's not only dedication, but there's natural talent to throw in the mix too... but if it's not ticking the boxes for you currently then there's no shame in saying "nah, i'm out"...It's hard at times as 'being a racer' almost defines you as a person, personality, human and taking yourself out of that can leave just as big a hole as being a racer not performing as well as you want... It can be a hard decision to call it a day... so give it a couple of days thought... see what you can learn from it... then maybe make a decision.
I learned this weekend that i'm the opposite to you/most people. Chatting with a few others they were saying how Sat was brilliant this weekend as no practice/travelling etc... I was sitting at home on Sat pulling my hair out with frustration and bordeom.... other people live for the relaxation, the gardening/diy whatever, me, i'm the opposite to that and the race meetings ARE my relaxation and happy place, whether racing or spannering or just driving up and down the M4, it's what completes me..
@muddylegs did you see the state of the kids course! Myself and multiple other parents were having to aid in mud clearance as it was building up to the point wheels would not turn.
I was out in race 1 and the surface was slippery and sticky already. Must have been down right nasty for the later races.
Got 15th in open, up 1 place from round 1. Failed to make the cutoff for the fourth lap by a small amount though I was secretly relieved about that! Wet roots are my nemesis so I was pleasantly surprised with how the race went. I was not crazy enough to hit the A line though. That landing looked nasty.
@nixie I watched a YouTube video this morning of the kids race and that looked proper sticky. Fantastic enthusiasm from all those kids and parents 😁.
26th from 44th for me which i was happy ish with. After the third lap I was done and just hanging in there for the next 2 laps to follow.
That A line was just bloody awkward imo, I rolled it everytime 😂
Nobody said it would be easy fella…
I know, I've been doing it for 10 years. I'm not complaining, just stating a fact.
other people live for the relaxation, the gardening/diy whatever
I'd really like to understand from you or others, how you fit all this in around a disruptive training schedule, something I'm clearly failing to do on the basis the kids activities and life in general have colluded to squeeze out my own time. It wouldn't be so bad but with lap times that clearly put me firmly in last place, where's the pleasure in training for months on end only to come over the line whilst everyones packing their kit away to leave? I could have had a lovely multi-hour ride with a Coffee stop and still got some stuff done at home yesterday, yet didnt. See what I mean?
Please read with an upbeat tone. I'm not whinging, just pointing out some facts of life really.
I’d really like to understand from you or others, how you fit all this in around a disruptive training schedule, something I’m clearly failing to do on the basis the kids activities and life in general have colluded to squeeze out my own time. It wouldn’t be so bad but with lap times that clearly put me firmly in last place, where’s the pleasure in training for months on end only to come over the line whilst everyones packing their kit away to leave? I could have had a lovely multi-hour ride with a Coffee stop and still got some stuff done at home yesterday, yet didnt. See what I mean?
Well i don't race for the same reasons as you mate, my circumstances are pretty rare that i race with/around the boy. Yesterday there were me and 6 of his mates racing, ok so i set off an hour before them, but the pre-race banter was there with them and the post race laughs, as well as riding together in practice (together being a loose term). I'm also in the position that i've semi-accepted my place in the racing world and I race not to be last, as well as pushing my tech skills... The training, riding, etc doesn't even come into my thoughts, if it did, i wouldn't eat how i do, i'd train, fast, eat better etc.
I guess Enduros are different in the context that it's not you against everyone, until the timing comes out, you're in a group of like minded racers, laughing, joking etc for 10 mins as you walk/ride up, then on your own for 1min as you do your stage, laughing at the bottom about how you crashed or hit a tree (as did both me and stevextc yesterday).
Son No.1 and I have had a couple of outings recently, over Easter weekend we went down to Builth Wells for the opening round of the MTB Marathon series, as he's just turned 11 we went for the Sunday half marathon, after a skills and trail rider session for him on the Saturday.
As ever the half is a pretty loose description coming in at 47km and over 1100m of climbing it's more like a 2/3rds, anyway we set off at a steady pace sat in the pack to stop him thrashing himself to death on the tarmac lead-out, he then proceeded to ride past pretty much everyone in front of him on the first climb and from then on I let him set the pace, as ever his descending is fast as you like (he hit 53kph at one point) and we rattled off the distance in just over 3 hours, he crossed the line to come home 22nd out of 121 finishers and just 40mins behind the first rider home.
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Yesterday we both went to the first round of the Welsh XC series at Llandegla, it was the same course as the last event there pre-covid, which translates into a bit of a rise followed by some descending and then one stupidly steep, up to 27% & long climb that levels out a bit and then climbs again to the Red finish so a rather taxing 165m of elevation per lap which killed me in the end and I ended up dragging my carcass round to 20th placed Vet.
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Junior faired rather better (as usual) again on a hilly course where their main climb was the blue finish from the skills area to the café in reverse with a good dose of single track and some jumps he got a good start and ended up taking 6th place in the U12 in a very strong field and 1st placed first year U12 too. Welsh Cycling also ran a skills / junior kick-start style challenge.
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Woke up on Thursday cursing thath I had missed the entry for Southern XC.
Having seen some videos from the kids race which I understand is a different track, looked like a sticky mess.
Rather releived I didn't go as I've got no 29er mud tyre. My 2.6 Icons would have been ill suited I think.
Kids was a different track yes and was worse than the main track (in race 1 conditions anyway).
I’d really like to understand from you or others, how you fit all this in around a disruptive training schedule, something I’m clearly failing to do on the basis the kids activities and life in general have colluded to squeeze out my own time. It wouldn’t be so bad but with lap times that clearly put me firmly in last place, where’s the pleasure in training for months on end only to come over the line whilst everyones packing their kit away to leave? I could have had a lovely multi-hour ride with a Coffee stop and still got some stuff done at home yesterday, yet didnt. See what I mean?
I don't race xc to win or even be competitive - I don't train any more than just my usual regular rides.
Fully expect to go into every xc race as fastest last place 😉.
For me racing is a way of forcing me out on the bike and a general aim to ride for over winter but not a challenge to be competitive. The local series which I'm signed up for again, I came 2nd to last in the first 2 missed the third and last in last race in 2022 - but I was 1st to sign back up for all four races this year.....
I’d really like to understand from you or others, how you fit all this in around a disruptive training schedule, something I’m clearly failing to do on the basis the kids activities and life in general have colluded to squeeze out my own time.
You know the story of my previous encounters with training and impact on normal life, its massive and lets be honest selfish so there's no way I could keep that level going for more than the year I did it for, not without probably ending divorced.
I'm racing XC this year mainly because the eldest is racing XC and we go along together, I'm no where near competitive, but I've had decent results in Vets this year, a top 10, a top 20 and 25th in the 3 ranking races I've done plus a reasonable outing in the Marathon following the child at his pace. I don't train specifically, I just ride my bike during the week, I like beer and crap food. Results aren't the driver, having fun at the race and getting heckled / abused by an 11yr old who is going to be far better than I ever was is the best part - yesterday on every lap him and his mates were shouting "Whip it" over one of the hips / table tops on the course which I'm basically incapable of when blowing out of my arse, but he finds it hilarious.
Yeah at the end of the year I'll have points on the board, I'll have been heckled at every single race, I won't come last and we'll have fun.
@kryton57, I get you. Been there, done that, tried to 'just carry on' and almost put myself in an early grave. Every week a race takes place I look at the results, see who is racing and winning and wonder how the f@#k do they manage all it takes to race with family life? Back in 2011-2013 was the end of my elite racing days, my two children arrived, I finally started to have a career; I could no longer do what I wanted to do (or what I used to do). Believe me i tried and it ended up with me on anti-depressants, sleeping in a separate bedroom, pulling out of every race I entered in fury at myself...generally in a very bad place. The pivotal moment came when I stopped focusing on trying to beat everyone I used to beat and turned to a new page. I spent a fair bit of time just riding with no power meter and no structure. After a bit of personal reflection a few key points dawned on me a) I like training and wanted to continue training, but self-guided, b) I didn't need a goal/key race, and c) training was commuting on the bike (lucky me). With the exception of c), I am where I am now. Looking at my results they are spiky, but this is something I have accepted as my family comes first. With a new job I squeeze in 45-60min training on the turbo in the evenings (pre work training is not possible because of family) and a couple of 2hr rides at the weekend.
The above may not be useful, but I certainly feel like your feelings towards racing after Sunday were a similar position to where I was at crisis point. The above is my story (abbreviated). From what you have written, you’ve lost all sense of fun and enjoyment from riding. The only advice I will give now is stop. Take some time off the bike and get back on the bike when you want to, Sunday 30th sounds good; lets ride bikes, eat cake and talk shit then?
@Steve_b77 - awesome efforts and results for you and junior, well done!
So, thanks for the replies. I've been reflecting a lot today and come up with a little plan before I call it all off. I only have :
a) London Beastway Wednesday evenings as training / fun grass roots events - with Junior now starting 10 mins behind me so a fun carrot to chase.
b) The Southern XC on 21st
c) My 100 miles per day charity ride on 2-4th June, with B&B's and the odd beer & much chatting
I have a meeting with my coach so I'm going to opt to enter Sport at the Southern XC within which I should be mid pack according to historic results which bring me into the mix of fun again without hanging off the back, but also the earlier start 9:30 instead of 15:00 - will give me half my day back. The rest'll be fun stuff. Then after the charity ride having eaten and ridden my way through some fantastic countryside with great company I can sit down and having a proper think about this.
Ernie, all of this basically gives me the chance to do what you said - forget the PM and ride my bike.
As an aside whilst arranging the call tomorrow, my coach offered "maybe its the flat loading program" which I forgot we changed to six weeks ago which is different to the normal 3-4weeks training 1 week rest we are all used to - maybe I'm just tired? He's going to analyse my data & notes before we talk tomorrow with more questions to see. I'd forgotten this change in training process to be fair, oops.
I just had a flash back to your "credible roadie" thread there- where all those years ago it turned out you'd done intervals on the way to a TT or something 🤣
My advice is sack off the coach, buy Friel's 'Cyclists Training Bible' and 'Fast After 50' and enjoy the process of reflecting then writing and following your OWN plan that fits around the life you WANT to lead, not the one you think you ought to do be an Athlete.
Training to me is therapy. People probably see me getting excited about silly 'meaningless' power goals or laugh at the lengths I go in a race report to contextualise an event I've done so I don't feel disappointed in a 'below average' result and scoff and think it's ridiculous. But to me it's the whole point.
I was told (when I was 18 and broke my hip and pelvis and nearly died from MRSA) that I would need a hip replacement by the age of 40. Cycling is why that hasn't had to happen. I race because just turning up is a massive achievement V where I should be right now.
What would be different if you are in the top three v the last three? Not a lot. Same venue, same day, same faces, same banter, same food, same journey, same everything. If you want to be a racer- go be a racer. Race the Cat you want, not the one you think will impress others- look at how hard PRO cyclists have to work to get people to care about their result on a given day. Now times that by a million. Thats how hard it is to make anyone care about what 'we' do 🤣
BBC more or less told us years ago that every minute spent cycling adds an equal minute of life expectancy but to coin a Peter Attia phrase- it's probably even more beneficial in terms of added 'Health Span'. So scrap the guilt and enjoy the process- you will literally get every hour you spend riding back one day in spades 😃
Me too!!
Thanks Crosshairs that’s an invaluable post.
I do want to find out whether a change in process has killed me off or whether it’s still the whole thing I need to back off.
I think reverting to plan A for 6 weeks followed by a social weekend doing something for others gives me a multi facited perception of things. I quite like the steve_b77 training plan including the supporting Jnr element.
Do you get up in the morning, see the sun and dry and think "yay, can't wait to get the bike out"
Or
Is it a bit of a chore?
If every ride is ‘amazing’ Weeksy then none of them truly are 😉
You need a few slogs to appreciate the good ones. Rarely do I feel worse for having gone out but sometimes a ride is just a chance to listen to podcasts or wallow in my own thoughts.
If every ride is ‘amazing’ Weeksy then none of them truly are
Well yes. But I'm not seeing that he's enjoying anything. Which is the reverse but clearly worse. Not only is he not enjoying the racing, the riding but he's drowning in guilt at the same time which makes it harder to enjoy. He's then got the coaching pressure, the HR pressure, power pressure and training pressure to fit in there too.
He needs to get back to just enjoying the riding, the fun of a nice berm, a nice front wheel popped off a root, I nice little roller jump, or a root Fest cleaned. Just seeing the birds, the clouds.
Rather than head down and "I'm shit at this, this is too hard, mt training isn't working, I should be with the family, I'm still shit, he's pulling away"
That’s not entirely true.
mt training isn’t working, I should be with the family
This bit was true on Sunday.
I’m not seeing that he’s enjoying anything
Not true, Tuesday 15th & 17th I had some awesome very enjoyable sessions at Woburn in the sun, each a total of 90 min rides during a visit to Centerparcs. I’ve had some great rides in the local forest and on the local roads over the last few months, some photos of which I posted. You know I very much enjoyed FOD this winter.
As I alluded to in my first post on the subject, I need to find a way to make this fit in with “life”. Some reflection today reveals it could just be the Winter - short days and miserable weather followed by a list of chores which have been put off for a while. Works a bit stressful too.
I’m very much looking forward to summer rides though, many with the kids including Jnrs first road club ride on 6th May. Might also take him to Afan Lodge and rent him a FS.
You know I very much enjoyed FOD this winter.
It certainly seemed that way... and it's what i was alluding to. If you enjoy certain rides/types/something, then focus on those...not on the riding you seem to not enjoy. I sincerely hope it is just a winter hangover for you, it'd be a shame for you to lose the riding plot..
Lots of good wise words on this thread 🙂 . Everyone has bad days, but you need to get training/work/life balance right or it's a miserable slog to nowhere.
Seriously, and I speak as an older athlete who recognises the value of rest, you need to have a hard word with your coach about his rationale for mucking around with your training, and why he thinks flat loading is a good idea. It rarely is
What people wear for racing XC? I've been trying to figure out why those that wear skin suits for racing CX in the winter revert to jersey & shorts for summer XC racing.