[Closed] Bike Racing Doldrums...

I'd be pissed too. Currently living in fear of illness stopping my winter base phase - there's a lot of illness around.

Dare I say that you should adapt to survive. If fitness training and motor improvement are off the cards I'd suggest shifting your aims to XC and taking advantage of time not spent doing intervals to improve your skillz etc off road. Book a skillz course to cheer yourself up etc.

Sure, I'm racing Mud Sweat and gears as of March 1 and my hopes now are to have got better by then, by staying off the bike/turbo now.

Ugh, that sounds bloody frustrating. What does that mean in terms of the training you can do?

None is best.

To try to make this a short story - the now spotted part-time asthma was causuing coughing fits with effort/ in the cold and delaying the chest infection healing up. Now I have an inhaler to stop the fits, I need to rest and let the cold/chest infection go away.

Essentially, I'll miss a crit tomorrow (I've only ridden 2 since 1st Jan), a base ride Sunday, and no training all next week. In theory I have Thetford winter series 4h on the 22nd but that could be at threat of bringing the chest infection back.

Then I have MSG on 1st March which is supposed to be a P2 target series for me, I'll have lost 4 weeks trianing beforehand assuming I'm clear for that.

Not resting runs the risk of perpetuating the chest infection, I had 6 weeks of it already in Nov/Dec so my overall winter Training which WAS looking good has taken a big hit.

Would you be ok to do long low intensity stuff?

I guess you could take the opportunity to focus on some core/gym work too?

I try and keep it in perspective but it's such a PITA though when you put so much effort into it. Lost most of Nov here with something I picked up from the kids.

Would you be ok to do long low intensity stuff?

I guess so. The two things I'm supposed to avoid is stressing my body/immune system, and wacking cold air down my lungs and exaggerating my cough.

I'm in a one week rest window on TrainerRoad so perhaps I could extend that ensuring I don't go above Tempo.

At least it would keep the legs ticking over. Maybe double up on a Birch or Black, fairly low intensity but some variety.

Back for some winter CX maybe? 🙂

On the positive side, now you've got a proper diagnosis of the asthma your future training will be much more effective (instead of being constantly derailed by chest problems).

Assuming you'd planned more than one training cycle and peak then you haven't lost a whole season and should be able to still have some good late-season performances.

If that doesn't help then look at it as a test of your overall training plan - if you manage to get back to where you want to be later in the season (without thrashing yourself and getting injured obviously) then your training plan wasn't as good as you thought and you can make a much better one for next year. On the other hand if you feel like you're undertrained and underperforming all year then it's a fantastic endorsement of your plan and you can do similar next year with a huge amount of confidence!

Kids? Mine keep getting me ill, I need a winter retreat away from the little ****ers!

Just knock it on the head and treat the Spring as your winter base and re-focus on races later in the season, it's a vicious circle that'll only piss you off. I tried to ride through illness at the end of last year chasing 3 points to move into Cat 3 ( 😳 we've all got goals, just some loftier than others...) and it's just silly. Season is long and from the sounds of your previous posts there's loads of racing!

Kids? Mine keep getting me ill, I need a winter retreat away from the little ****ers!

You are not wrong. Spent most of last night mopping up vomit and runny poo. I fear the worst 🙁

Kids? Mine keep getting me ill

it seems to be particularly bad this year.

MrBlobby - Black or Birch looks good, might help me keep some weight off also.

Kids x 2

timb34 thanks for the positivity.

It's really frustrating. But illness can sometimes give you a rest which means you'll be stronger later in the year. If you can target events a month or two later than planned, that can prevent it being a wasted year.

Still sucks at the time though 🙁

Give yourself a break (literally and metaphorically) - sounds like you need to focus on getting back to 100% health first and then refocus on training. As others have wisely said, move your goals back to later in the year and see how you do then.

Remember, it's only bicycle racing and not worth sacrificing your overall health for by training when you are sick.

EDIT: easier said than done I know, I'd be climbing the walls in your situation so hope you get back to full fitness soon.

Number of years ago broke a couple of ribs and had a few complications, compounded by me doing the first whinlatter challenge whilst damaged, this led to me being put on an inhaler and realising that I've always coughed hard when pushing. I would as others say concentrate on steady efforts and getting sorted. It is no hindrance having exercise induced ashma if corrected, I am fitter and stronger at mid 40's than I've ever been.
Very frustrating though but it will get sorted but don't rush it, my cardio took a while to get sorted but legs are much stronger for it.
Good luck

What about some strength training with weights? Squats and lunges etc. Shouldn't stress the aerobic system too much. Plus some core strength stuff.

I can't believe the size of some guys calf muscles at crits - it can't all be down to riding a bike!!?

That sounds shite Kyrton, but at least you have found a cause and now possibly a solution.

As has been mentioned I'd stop training aerobic and start focusing on core and strength, you know the sort of stuff only too well. Also don't forget flexibility will you.

As for planned races, bin them. Accept they're too close to where you are now. Ride fresh and happy late Spring with added motivation.

Happens to us all, I'm recovering having just had a 30cm chunk taken out of my stomach. My early season plans weren't anywhere near yours but hey I'm focusing on other aspects rather than dwelling on one.

BOL.
Don't take it out on the Alfa 😆

Calf muscles are determined genetically if I'm not wrong - shape/size largely depends on the 'anchor points' and is why some body builders resort to implants when they don't respond to training.

I'm currently on a downer with training this year. No illnesses (yet) but no time outside the weekends - I'm watching the guys I ride with leaving me behind now.

Not racing tomorrow then? 🙁 Exercise induced asthma can be treated and now you have a TUE for a beta agonist. Take it easy, concentrate on lower intensity - I personally prefer the road for training, and see how it goes.

You've finished in the bunch, and can certainly continue to do so. The road season has barely started and there are races every Tuesday evening at Hillingdon. Reset your short-term goals and stop thrashing yourself (physically and metaphorically). I had a cold over Christmas that turned nasty - didn't sit on a bike for two weeks. No great loss of form when racing restarted. You'll carry that fitness through recovery.

FWIW, It looks like I shall have to bail from the last E123 Imperial Winter Series race (I've raced the previous 8/9) because Mrs Tired can't take Teen 2 to Portsmouth for his open day as she has labarythitis. AND we are a tidily placed fourth overall with all to play for 😕 (except top spot, that's gone already).

Happens to us all, I'm recovering having just had a 30cm chunk taken out of my stomach. My early season plans weren't anywhere near yours but hey I'm focusing on other aspects rather than dwelling on one.

Flippin eck bikebouy, was that a planned op? Hope all is ok and you're back out hacking on the TCX soon.

I guess it depends on your mindset towards your racing. If you can't bare to be out there unless it's the best version of you, then I guess playing it safe and rescheduling your plan is the answer. Otherwise, you could always do the best you can in the meantime and cautiously race your target events regardless but accept you may have to ease off or drop out altogether depending on how you feel?

@ TiREd no, you neither then? I was really pissed off this morning but now - aided with a G&T - ive reset my goals / plan. I'm going to do nothing this weekend 'crept watch the rugby - if I get bored I may dust of the kettlebells Sunday though and use them for some static weight core exercises with some stretches. I'll restart low intensity for two weeks on Tuesday. I have a Powertap G3 on the way so hopefully in 2-3 weeks I'll be able to start Trainerroad / harder rides again with that.

MSG has now become a training race certainly for the 2 in March, and as suggested my peak aim is July at the Bonty 24/12 hasn't changed, but trying to get to Cat3 road might have to wait until next year - there's still plenty of experience to be had this year as you say.

Crosshair it's the former. I'm motivated by success and improvement so turning up and coming last / not finishing is very de motivating for me. I do have a Crit at cyclopark on 28th with lots of our club riders across different cats so I still may go, support them and have a try at my race as I'm there anyway and it's the last of the day - depending on how I feel.

Hard efforts in the cold flared my asthma back up a couple of years ago, it had been largely dormant for years.

Using the preventer/brown inhaler regular has pretty much sorted it all out though, so long term you should get along fine.

Best of luck and take it easy for a while, doubt you'll drop off all that much and there's lots of time left yet.

No race for me. Gutted. But I've had eight good races and finished consistently mid pack to top third (nil points!), not crashed and made one decisive break that set up a win (for a team mate).

I raced Cyclopark a week ago, and I know you have too. Unless you are feeling a lot better, go easy. This is a course that rewards racecraft. Hillingdon is power, but gravesend is made for breakaways (which I managed to get into). So take it easy for two weeks. You have the fitness already.

And come and do the Surrey League, I'm coaching the accreditation sessions for the next few weeks.

my preseason enduro training was going well, done a couple of dh races to keep the skills razor sharp 😉 , some good long rides , even some interval stuff

6 weeks ago after an ace uplift at cwmcarn
went over the bars on a curry run split my head and sprained my thumb

im hoprfully getting my 1st offroad ride in since then on sunday, and im still not sure my head and hand are up to it!

between this and family commitments and a house move that is supposed to have happened last year and will now probably mean I have to miss at least one race (as long as its not EWS!!!) im getting quite wound about it all!

Dont feel too despondent, it is only February.

Traditionally this (and it is still the case for many racers) is the time of year for things like reliability rides rather than road racing, a bit of rest now could do you good a few months down the line.

I will echo everyone else's comments - DON'T START TRAINING AGAIN SOON! There's a reason you've been told to take it easy, so do. Don't think a gentle ride with friends will be that, if you need to ride do so by yourself to avoid picking up the pace. It's better to rest and recover thoroughly now to be able to kick arse later in the season.

Or you could always start pushing yourself before you've recovered and ruin the whole of this year's season with recurrent lung problems....

Be sensible, even Joe Friel says that issues will pop up so stay to your training plan is nigh on impossible. A resilient athlete is one that understands these things happen and changes the training plan to one that is appropriate. There is plenty of time to race - there's still races in September and that's 7 months away - you've got over 30 weeks of racing left on the calendar!

I keep reminding myself that at least there's the cross season to aim for!

Well that's me on antibiotics! Cut my arm quite heavily at work the other day, seems it's become infected, big puffy forearm now with a red streak up it towards the arm pit! It was nice watching the red slowly extend from my forearm to arm pit yesterday!! Riding home was interesting with every bump jolting my arm, I'll join you in the down in the dumpness Kryton!

/hijack

mrblobby - Member
Flippin eck bikebouy, was that a planned op? Hope all is ok and you're back out hacking on the TCX soon.

Awe thanks for the concern, not a planned op no, something happened Thursday Eve and I had to go to A&E, they kept me in and surgery the day after once all the tests had been completed.

Bit sore, glad of the rest though 😆

I will be back out riding soon enough. Bikes have been stripped and cleaned ready, looking rather spotless has to be said. And for once in my life ALL my cycling kit is clean! Even run a second wash over the CX'er stuff I use just to get the embedded grime out of it 😆

/end of hijack/

😀

I had the same in October. I didn't realize what was wrong and thought I needed to work harder.
It turned out I had a chest infection, and at the same time asthma caused by turning on dust old heating system and the introduction of two cats.
I went shit shaped, abandoned a ride the first time ever and hobbled home.
I was told to totally rest.
Missed a huge chunk of my CX season.
Lasted about ten weeks, inhaler and house adjustments have made it disappear. No need for the inhaler now.
Racing again 1st march XC, then the 8th march road. Weight I put on is a problem though.

Preventer inhaler works really well for me, rarely reach for the blue one now.

Racing again 1st march XC

Wishing you a speedy recovery bikebouy and monkeyfudger.

For the first time for a long time I'm having a gin & tonic on a Saturday night.

Southern Series Black Park. I'm not up to scratch, far from it, but I'll do these two to see how much I need to do to be ready for May.

Weight I put on is a problem though.

Toying with doing the southern xc this year or just doing the last of the Gorrick spring ones and picking it up again in the autumn. The weight I put on since last doing any will kill me though. Still time to crash diet? 😕

Nah, you'll only lose muscle. Just race yourself slim 😀

I'm planning on racing Southern XC too 🙂

How is everyone doing?

For me two weeks off the bike has resulted in a 3lb weight gain - not bad - but im going stir crazy. I still have a slight cough/stuffy nose and sore throat but I'm on the way back and feel much better. I've done a 45 min and 1 HR z2 turbo with no ill effects.

Looking good for getting back into it next weekend.

Two weeks... I think that would end in divorce here as I'd be unbearable 😕 Had to have an easy one last week because of a flare up of an old ankle injury and that was bad enough. Since then it's all been on the turbo so I can just hop off if it gets too bad. First ride out today and looking forward to it.

Good to hear things are improving though. Racing next weekend then?

Yep. It's on Sunday afternoon up near Norwich and I just happen to be working there on Monday so the fuel up and back combined with a Sunday night hotel/roast dinner is on company expenses. So even if I feel rough just popping up and riding one slow lap keeps me in the series with two "bye" rounds still spare. Hard not to justify going on that basis.

Based on this weekend though I'm hoping for a speedier recovery over this coming week.

Kryton57 - Member
How is everyone doing?

Awe fan fer askin.

Well I'm back out there, Weds I clicked out 45k's, Thurs 65k's, Fri 75k's, yesterday 45k's and today... 63k's. Early part of the week and I was coughing and spluttering like a good un, legs felt fine and happy to take the pressure off my breathing and stomach area.. as the days rolled by my breathing improved over the length of the rides and legs still have lots of power and feeling really good.
Today, well today was a cracker.. up early and out at 7am, -3C so so frosty and roads covered in black ice meant a good pace for some SHIT's roll on the flats and field run off lanes where the streams were frozen then hack hard up the hills.. Just as I like it really.
Pegged back the HR, upped the cadence to get the breathing back then up the hills dropped a few cogs and did a Bertie style training session.
Such a stunning early morning ride, frozen fields, Ice covered trees and a low hanging milky sun 8) Proper winter Hampshire.

Saw a few lads out too at about 9'ish, totally togged up in what looked like about 15 layers of clothing 😐

Off to London tomorrow for a week, back in the office until Thursday so I'm taking the CX'er up for an early morning Weds ride with a few mates then WFH Fri means the weekend is all mine again and MrsBouy is off to see friends for a week so I'm planning a blokes night(s) in which will include chinese takeaways and whiskey.

Bloody great to be back out on the bike.. 😀

bikebouy...

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A few hours round the roads of west berks this morning, lovely morning for it here, just beat the rain home. And a nice Sunday roast on the table when I got back too 🙂

After doing the hard stuff over the winter, I've fallen off the wagon this week. Partly apathy by finishing 5th so early in the series behind 4 people who were all two minutes + ahead. Partly priorities as work has changed now and I've suddenly got loads to do, including lots of chainsawing that knacker's me out anyway. Partly illness as I caught the tail end of my 2 year olds cold and partly just lack of motivation. I had my Friel plan and I was steadily hitting less and less of my target hours and fudging my workouts by racing cross or just riding with Weeksy when I should have been doing other stuff so it's basically all ground to a halt.

I'm an optimist however, so I'm still going to race Southern XC next weekend and will still race Gorrick spring 3 and 4. It's mainly the thrill of the chase I like so I'm not too worried about where I place.

I've got my whole year on a spreadsheet to target some Autumn stuff after that but I may just scrap it and instead: find a weekly race somewhere doing something- then ride as and when I feel like it in the week. Could be five nights, may be none. If it averages at three non-race rides a week, then i'll do one skills session, one z2 and a mid week TT/Strava buster.

[url= http://respro.com/pg/faqs ]Respro may help?[/url]
I use a collection of buff types to cover my mouth/nose when out, coal/wood burners and diesel fumes on cold mornings/nights burm my auld asthmatic lungs. Have only done a few night rides over the winter which seems to have staved off any problems. Doing long, slow rides on my own rather than with "mates" allowing me to go at my pace :-). Seems to be working.

Crosshair, I fell off the wagon a bit when my peak season started. However, after a couple of weeks in the doldrums, I reassessed a little, and made a few changes to my summer goals. Fact is, by training hard and well all winter it's ok to have few bunk weeks, all those miles don't dissapear.
After have a good think, I did a crit this weekend which was fast and dangerous (1234 handicap) and that strangely reignited my fire (I'm such an adrenaline junkie). Summer plan is to do a road race every month or so, then a few crits as sharpeners, before hitting the cross season full pelt. That'll probably change a bit but it,s good to have a plan.

Racing season is still eight weeks or so away for me. Moved from sweet spot specific period to a more interval based block this week and even managed 80km on the road today, which for me anyway is super early in the year to be outside. Although had a killer headwind for the last hour so I'm utterly busted now.

Yay to no snow!

Had a lovely 120km ride in Gran Canaria last week on a hired Super Six, and felt pretty strong for the 3000+ meters climbing we racked up.

Also almost complete on phase 1 of the MTB weight loss program, so it's now down to a more respectable 9.2kg 😀

@Rollingdoughnut: Cheers for the reply. I guess after a good result at Saddleback but with such a gulf to the four in front, it sort of extinguished the fire that had been lit under me all Winter. It all suddenly seemed a bit pointless! I mean, a midfield battle is a midfield battle so the racing will be no less hard or exciting.
Then I took my foot off of the gas for two weeks and ran out of legs at Cowthorne getting beat by a few guys I had beaten at Saddleback. Then the next week, I got absolutely annihilated at Tidworth at the last Wessex CX race of the season.
I suppose I saw where my volume of training placed me in the pack and I sort of thought Meh! As I say, I'm not too worried now. I'll still turn out and race and then just train when I feel like it.
Then, it's eyes forward towards next Autumn and see how serious I want to take it. If I didn't love XC so much, I would try a bit harder with the Wessex CX league next season as all the races are within an hour and I do love the racing but if it's anything other than a quagmire- I'm in the last 1/4 of the pack lol.

Would still love to try a crit too......

Crossy, you are in exactly the same place mentally as I am. You train hard for months and still are not where you wanted to be. So what to do?

Had a good chat with my coach, set some new goals but most importantly readjusted my mind from achieving a destination to enjoying the journey.

let's face it we're never going to be elite however hard we try so what's the point? Personally, I'm happy when I'm improving, so that's what I'll keep doing. I'll train hard, enjoy my racing and pick up my minor victories along the way.

I raced against a bunch of mainly young 2nd/3rd cats this Sat and whilst I can hang with them I've had no ace to bring out in the final plays. But as I lay in bed that night reliving some of the amazing cornering we did as a pack, the balletic shimmies I had to pull to avoid being taken out by erratic moves during the hour of actual danger in my otherwise predictable life, and I thought; hell, I'm a bike racer. That'll do!

But as I lay in bed that night reliving some of the amazing cornering we did as a pack, the balletic shimmies I had to pull to avoid being taken out by erratic moves during the hour of actual danger in my otherwise predictable life, and I thought; hell, I'm a bike racer. That'll do!

Like that 8)

Seeing as you did a lap, got a puncture, switched classes and still won.......singlespeed!!!......then our dilemmas are subtly different 😆

Don't get me wrong- the feelings I felt at Saddleback as I put in an attack to distance the guy I'd just passed or floored it one final time up the big climb despite bring in the red to make sure the guy closing in didn't get any closer and finally putting in a negative split with my pacing- were all awesome feelings and worth the winters effort.
I just can't justify neglecting other areas of my life to finish 1minute45 behind the leaders rather than 2minutes30 at the moment.

I'll just turn up and enjoy the craic 🙂

Dreading my first two races next month.
Was still racing cross in January, but after a year off racing and a bit of illness they weren't that good.

So XC on the 1st and open road 8th. Not ready for either yet, why I didn't just wait until may and hit it hard?

Oh God

Not ridden in a week now but antibiotics finished and I'm feeling much less blurghhhhhhh so should be back on it tomorrow unless it snows then I might fanny out...

First race will probably be the first SXC at Cathkin Braes then the Tweedlove ENDURO the week after, def not looking at any road races yet but a couple of mates are heading to Croft, it's too damn cold for me! I'm not sure how I'm feeling to be honest, I've not done any turbo work and not as many longer hard miles as last year but smashed my best 15-30 second power before hurting my arm 😕

I'm a bike racer. That'll do!

8)

Gran Canaria last week on a hired Super Six, and felt pretty strong for the 3000+ meters climbing we racked up.

Show off!! I really need that in my life to get away from the kids bugs!

Raced the Imperial Winter Series to mid-pack mediocraty. Nine races so far this season and a median position of 19th. Surrey League starts next Saturday, vets at Cyclopark then Hillingdon Tuesdays. Feeling stronger than last season and doing more in the races.

If you are a 4th cat and want to raceSurrey League this season then you will need to complete two coaching sessions. I've been coaching these at Hillingdon and Cyclopark.

On the asthma thing, +1 for riding with a buff over your mouth on prolonged climbs. It does make a difference if you're not drawing very cold air into your lungs which can make the tiny bronchioles (sic?) start to close up.

After reading a thread on here, and coming back from lake Garda last summer with the first of two chest infections that wouldn't shift (steroids and two different lots of antibiotics), I pressed the docs for montelukast tablets. I cannot explain the difference this has made. I have not used my inhaler for last five months....going from having had to use it on all prolonged climbs.

Asthma nurse also recommended using the inhaler before the start of a ride as it sets the lungs up correctly before putting them under load. I don't do this anymore because it's under control but it did make a difference when I did.

It does take quite a bit of time to sort out asthma when it's first diagnosed as different things work for different people. For most people, asthma symptoms are just excessive coughing triggered by something. Only issue I still get is short coughing fit after I've finished riding and walking into cafe or bike shop where there is a temp change.

How you all doing? Out of the doldrums?

Winter training been a bit of a test of faith here. Also had fair share of coughs and colds. Despite all that things slowly seem to be falling into place. Training going well. Weight is good. The sun is shining once more. First race next week 🙂

Btw, anyone heard from crosshair? Not seen him on here or strava for a month or so.

Better for me now. I've come to terms with where I and am setting PB's all over the place so am definately stronger/faster. Early XC racing has gone well in the overall context, road riding is stronger, climbs PB's and wattage outputs are being exceeded.

I'm using April (as its a gap in the race diary for me) to get miles in at the weekends, rather pleased with a 29.9kmph average over 112k at the weekend - and being asked by my club members to ease of the pace on some false flats after I got my elbows down and pushed out a pace -and I have HONC this Sunday. I return to Crits in May with the Beastway mid week XC series starting in the middle of he month also.

I'm going for a proper Asthma / lung function test at the end of he month as I still get an irritated windpipe / slight cough during and after rides.

I'll be knocking out billat intervals at 7am tomorrow on the Turbo!

Good luck in the race MrBlobby.

Well in the doldrums here! Well I'm not, I don't care, but I'm shit.

Went to the first Southern XC on the back of a cold, rode round at the back. Went to Sherwood, felt strong, was excited. Then it rained. Chain was skipping everywhere, I was riding like a mong, another dire result.

Can't do this Southern, will do the others, may do another national, see how it goes! I'm enjoying myself anyway.

Thanks Kryton, it's just a local 10 on a fairly slow course but it'll be good to be racing again. First crit at Thruxton the week after 🙂

I'll be knocking out billat intervals at 7am tomorrow on the Turbo!

Think that would make me vom!

Went to Sherwood, felt strong, was excited. Then it rained. Chain was skipping everywhere, I was riding like a mong, another dire result.

At least it made for an amusing race report 🙂

Btw, anyone heard from crosshair? Not seen him on here or strava for a month or so.

not posted on his MTBR thread since 8/2/15

Weird. What's his real name? Nick something isn't it?

Edit: no, Andrew, my bad.

Ah I posted something on his Strava feed and got a response. Been busy with other hobbies keeping him off the bike. Temporarily lost interest in bike racing. Mystery solved!

Feeling good now. Road race went well, got another next week but don't start in earnest until May.
Caarying weight which seems great on the flatter stuff, so no rush to loose it. Being careful not to put my best efforts into training.
Racing in Belgium this summer, seems to suit me.

Last really hard weeks training. Might be knocking on 1,000TSS for the week. FTP etc all gone way better than planned but absolutely dreading the pain to come. Trying to get onto XC courses whenever possible and off to Porridgepot tomorrow to see if I can knock out some laps of last years Kawasaki 100. Done enough off road miles that I'm sore and taking the Spearfish for inagural ride.

1000TSS, is that just cycling? (I ask as running gives a higher TSS per time spent training), that's a lot of training.

Yes just cycling. Was on a 7day TSS of 940 yesterday but dropped a session for fear of not being able to train off road today. I enjoy long XC rides which seem to ramp up TSS a lot more than intervals. Rest week next week so want to end this 3 week block feeling wrecked.

That's 200 more than my 7 day Sufferfest tour earlier this year! Nice 8)

Kudos to listening to your body!

Top effort there adsh. Been hovering around the 600 mark here, much more than that and mrs blobby starts to complain!

I continue to go from strength to strength. Piling the miles and sprinting the climbs. Gotten over my surgery good and proper and only change I've made to my plan is to eat and drink more during training.
I suffered with very sore legs last week and put it down to running out of glycogen in my leg muscles (thighs) which was damn sore for 3/4 days.. So ive upped the munchies, 😆 and today's ride from East London (Docklands) to the Hamble saw me hit and take loads of PB's and a couple of KOMs (2015) along the way.

Suitably shattered now and tomorrow will be a short recovery ride then Sunday will be Sofa only whilst blobbing out to Paris - Roubaix.

Next week will be Hills again in and around Harrogate/North Yorkshire in preparation for Raphas 3 Days of Yorkshire route.

Gotta love riding out 8)

Well nice to get the first race of the year out the way, even if it was just a club 10. Predictably went off way too fast and suffered a bit after the turn on a lumpy course into a headwind. Tend to forget how unpleasant testing can be 😕 Still, good training and a course PB, even if the numbers were a bit disappointing. Early days.

Raced for the first proper race this year on Sunday - started brilliantly but ended up finishing 24th, so a bit annoyed with that. A 72 mile road ride a couple of days before probably didn't help to be fair.
Having a look through results I would have finished 7th(ish) in Sport so not too upset. Still got the rest of the season to go yet!

Laid up. Literally! Chest drain out later today, home tomorrow, recovery turbo at the weekend. Have had some reasonable form and been enjoying the coaching too.

Weds evening is vets night at hillingdon. Races are every fortnight and the first was last night. It was tough to gaze over west london knowing what I was missing

Every Tues there is a 3/4 race for fun not points put on by BC West Thames. Again highly recommended. I'll race these instead of the E123 for recovery.

And on another note, as Richie would say...

Godd'im!

Driver has been arrested and out on police bail 😀

Driver has been arrested and out on police bail

Bloody brilliant news! Leaving the scene is a big deal.

Any idea when you might be back racing again?

been enjoying the coaching too.

First ever crit next week, in with the 3/4 at thruxton... any tips? 🙂

Weds Vets at Hillingdon didn't happen last night
Pre race a cycling member of the public crashed into the organisers car.
By the time the police/ambulance etc had sorted it, too late to race and no refunds apparently!

Bloody hell TiRed!! When did this happen? Hope you get better very quickly as that sucks!

Edit - Just seen the thread! FFS!!

That sucks TiRed. Healing vibes to you.

First race next weekend.....

Well, I had a COPD (asthma) test today. Although I dot have standard asthma, I do have "exercise induced asthma) which basically means use of an inhaler before crits and also during long ride. Self inflicted by not resting 100% during the two chest infections I had. I also have been told to get the flu jab.

I've been given a strict warning not to cylce / train during chest infections.

You are in good company. Most professional athletes have a TUE for salbutamol for EIA.

I've been given a strict warning not to cycle / train during chest infections.

And that goes for everyone too. Hard as it seems, you won' exercise yourself better, ad my consultant told me!

Gentle turbo work from this week. Return to racing mid-season (hopefully), shoulder and wrist pending.

shoulder and wrist pending.

Midlands XC on Sunday. Let's see how it all goes at the new venue 🙂