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Ah ****.. The final 2 races of Beastway tomorrow & Saturday and MSG on Sunday and...
...I've woken up with a bad cold. Blocked nose, stream nose & eyes, headache...
If only it had waited one more week!
[i]I'm interested to see how much of a time penalty the B line around the ruddy massive rock garden will be, I don't even fancy trying to mince down that! [/i]
Use a dropper?
In an out of the doldrums / no good at XCO kinda thing, I rode my way round to 9th overall at Mountain Mayhem in the Solo category in rather grippy muddy conditions, 19 laps, 213.5km & 6200m of climbing 
I now have my first cold of the year and a whacking great Coldstream on my top lip, bloody hard work this 24 hours solo stuff.
Nice work Steve. I'm currently prepping for my own - 3rd - solo attempt at the Bonty at the end of July.
oh god, I just went for a pootle with Mrs K on the school run, as a pretext to tomorrows race with no intensity due to my cold.
I'm aching all over, this isn't going to go well is it?
🙁
My racing plans have been ruined this year, the southern enduro series which I had pre-entered all rounds + a handful of local dh races.
Damaged knee at bpw at the beginning of may. Waiting for a date for the op still.
Additionally my 1st ever morzine trip in july has had to be cancelled also.
Use a dropper
Unless he has one that's quite an expense for one section of one race, and it's not that likely to revolutionise his riding of said section!
I've still not done a proper XC race this year, which means I have no points, which I think means I lose my expert licence. No great loss - not like I'm racing anyway! Bit shit though. That's my last memento of the times when I won races. **sigh**
Well, the new plastic bike has arrived, and Lemsip Cold & Flu max is in full effect.
So for the sake of a) my new shiny bike and b) me do I race/pootle my first ride on it in wet muddy conditions?
*drums fingers*
a) I would, but
b) trumps it - give it a miss and get better. Nothing good comes of racing with colds/aches.
Njee - you were right about Pippingford. Great venue with lots of elevation. But it was muddy - proper muddy. Running up hills muddy. Still enjoyed it though and definitely rate it as a good venue. Just needs some dry weather - none of this 'month-of-rain-in-a-day' business the day before.
Njee, I thought that you kept your expert licence regardless of what points you get. I know elites can get demoted back down to expert.
You're right about the dropper as well, I definitely think my next race bike will have a dropper (will probably be full suss as well) but for now I don't want to put a dropper on my hardtail, it really doesn't help that I've got no provision for internal routing and that all the 27.2 droppers look terrible! (Gravity dropper I'm looking at you)
[i]Unless he has one that's quite an expense for one section of one race, and it's not that likely to revolutionise his riding of said section![/I]
True and tbh I've not done any XC-racing since leaving the SE and the Gorricks but I did the GT7 last month and had a dropper on the HT. It meant I could keep up with folk far more skilled than me on the descents, especially the steep gulley that many walked down, probably was worth 30 seconds. Also meant I could ride the drop-off bombhole which was worth about 5 places compared to the chicken-run.
This one, my HT is 27.2 and I just use the underseat lever - it just works, not as ergonomic as a remote, but no cables so easy to swap etc.
Or get some coaching I guess.
Or get some coaching I guess.
I was strongly considering this but I just haven't got the cash!
Well, the new plastic bike has arrived, and Lemsip Cold & Flu max is in full effect.So for the sake of a) my new shiny bike and b) me do I race/pootle my first ride on it in wet muddy conditions?
*drums fingers*
Unless it's going to lose you a series podium the honest answer is don't bother. You'll get wet, cold and make yourself ill.
I'm not going - torrential rain, mudbath 130mile round trip blah blah
My Epic remains unridden...........
I'm still tempted as its on 18miles round trip for me looky looky
[url= https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7523/27902412461_649a3c86ce.jp g" target="_blank">https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7523/27902412461_649a3c86ce.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/JvDa7V ]image[/url]
Very nice - looks like you need flat bars or stem slammage.
Ill is ill regardless of new bike.........
Don't ride. The longer you can put off finding out that buying a new bike had made no difference, the happier you will be.
Lol!
I am aware. But I NEED the latest geometry 😉
Well I'm still alive, and faster on that ^^. I'm amazed by how much more spritely and better handling it is over the Anthem, excellent. Surprisingly comfy too.
ADSH, it was amazingly dry - a couple of puddles that was it. Took me 5 min to spray down the bike & re-lube.
Kryton, did I miss a new bike thread? What you got?
Thinking of pulling the plug on my racing season here, which is pretty galling given the winters efforts. It was all going well in March. Just didn't race enough early season and then lost about a month to illness then immediately after lost a couple of more weeks of proper training to a holiday (which should have been a nice mid season break.) Just nowhere near to where I should be right now. Balls 🙁
Not sure I have the motivation to crack on with the racing for probable mediocre results. Maybe time to think about some winter cross 😕
Kryton, sorry, I should have looked at the previous page! Nice.
Know the feeling - similar here but luckily no holiday. I'm trying to be positive and target late season events.
My first Z4 session after a month off showed I've not lost much if any power but need to build some more aerobic fitness. As for skill...
One thing I'll say - going into events with no expectations and a gameplan just to utterly beast yourself or conversely enjoy yourself can give surprising results.
luckily no holiday
Was actually a really good holiday, and I did get to do a lot of riding, too hot for decent training though (35+ degrees each day.) Would have been a nicely timed easing off had May and June gone to plan. Unfortunately given what actually happened it ended up being very inconveniently timed.
One thing I'll say - going into events with no expectations and a gameplan just to utterly beast yourself or conversely enjoy yourself can give surprising results.
I think that's true for some events but not for testing. It's not called the race of truth for nothing! Lost a big chunk of mid season, not nearly enough racing, gained a couple of kilos, down on power, and crucially about 6 weeks mid season of not riding the TT bike. It's not going to to end well 🙁
I'm trying to be positive and target late season events.
Can't really do much else 😉
Trying to work out if I'm still not 100% since being ill 2 months ago.
Did this on Sunday after a week's rest from a tough 3 week block. It was a pretty hard effort (40minutes over threshold)possibly verging on race pace
[url= https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7582/28453384145_3c6fb34d03_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7582/28453384145_3c6fb34d03_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Kmk2NH ]Ivinghoe[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/68424083@N07/ ][/url], on Flickr
Rested a couple of days then some Z2 yesterday which was surprisingly tough and ended up feeling a bit nauseous and now really tired.
Just a bit much and effect of heat or something more underlying? I have this nagging feeling I'm more susceptible to fatigue
I'd go with age, its affecting your memory as well (bike pics) 😉
@adsh
Don't know whose zones you are using to end up with 6, but i'm seeing a 6.5hr ride with 40mins well over LT power and 2hrs of Tempo/Sweetspot. It would be pretty normal to need a full week to recover fully from a ride like that. 40mins of z6 is a fairly tough workout that should take a couple of easy days to recover from all by itself.
Bvggar! after not having raced since early June and having got some decent training in, feeling pretty good and last xc races lined up Sunday and the week after, I now have a stomach bug/food poisoning 🙁
In bed with a bottle of high five zero for medicine. Gutted - in many ways literally 🙁
Pffft, back in the doldrums 🙁
How so?
My shoulder feels like someone kicked the shit out of it, luckily August for me is "rest" month coinciding with Summer term and the family hols - although I have a 10m & 25m TT and the Torque 12 solo scheduled 🙂
I have a session with my physio tonight but I am expecting a "stay off the bike" diagnosis so will be firmly back in here if that happens.
Ah just a bit of "disappointing not to plan season" grumpiness. Partly compounded by team mates doing well just hammering home that I'm not where I want to be right now. Crap ride last night too, evenings getting colder and darker. Am getting quicker now as I'm getting back on track with racing but not really as quick as I'd hoped to be going at the start of the season. Also a bit of family and work pressure on time. Wondering if it's time to just stop and re-think 😕
Edit... I've also had to finished up with the coach i've been working with for training plans (mostly pressure from Mrs B on the amount of money spent.) I've got enough experience to probably do most of it myself now but I'm already building my plan around other commitments rather than being given a plan and then working out how to make that work given the commitments I have... if that makes sense! It's quite a significant difference and I do suspect my training will not be at the same level as it was last winter.
although I have a 10m & 25m TT and the Torque 12 solo scheduled
Sounds very restful 🙂 Where's your 10 and 25?
The course is F1B/25 on 14th - Finsbury Park CC. The course profile suits me (mostly flat) so I'm hoping it won't be a complete disaster. If I can get under 1:15 I'd be happy.
Conversely I feel pleased with myself. Two huge "training camp" weeks culminating in a 7day TSS of just under 1,300. Final ride was 6hrs of tempo intervals (20hill ride)which required as much mental strength as racing to complete. Beyond pain was gain.
I hope to recover, taper with some fun but intense XC/Strava hunting and be ready for a busy racing August..
Two huge "training camp" weeks culminating in a 7day TSS of just under 1,300.
Good effort there!
Conversely I feel pleased with myself.
adsh, you have no business posting on this thread, please take your smugness elsewhere 😉
Rewind a month and I was the main contributor! Still haven't raced yet mind....
Adsh, what's the racing? XC? CX?
I am officially banned for rides over 6h of any kind for 12 months. Its all to do with duration & vibration. The release of my knotted shoulder muscle (using dry needling) was so powerful my shoulder involuntarily leapt off the physio table - thats a muscle under tension alright. Naturally it hurt - a lot.
Oh well, focusing on XCO and TT only now then for a bit, and try to move/cancel/sell my two 12hr solo entries for this year.
12hrs on a unicycle? No vibration reaching shoulder that way 🙂
XC for me. May also try to do an ITT in September.
Now I've got a patellar compression injury 😥 350 hours training for TIYS and I'm going to have to withdraw. 2017 - the season where racing never happened. Think I may make 2018 the season where training doesn't happen in the hope I might actually do some racing.
adsh, that sucks. What's the prognosis?
the season where racing never happened
Feel much the same about this season. A couple of results I'm reasonably pleased with but really not enough racing for the work put in. Can't even be arsed with what's left of this season's racing now, just want to crack on with winter plans and get to the next season 😕
Are you living in a parallel future universe?
Bad luck though, what happened? expected healing time?
Are you living in a parallel future universe?
Was awaiting a ninja edit that never happened 🙂
Getting ahead of myself.
Physio tomorrow. Don't know prognosis at the moment. On line seems to think ice, ibuprofen, rest, stretching and exercises should see a good chance of sorting it quickly but I can't see how a 12hr race fits in with that.
I've got the same injury (I think). Spitting. Meant to be starting a hard 3 week training block prior to cx season but no chance. Even with no riding for a few days and stretching, an hours spin caused issues yesterday. Booked physio for this eve.
How are you getting on?
Well into the doldrums here. Over a month since I last actually managed a week of riding/training as planned. Third weekend in a row where I've spent the majority of it ill in bed (In retrospect racing last w/e was probably stupid as it allowed the germs to entrench themselves). Haemoraghing fitness. Only had one race so far this cx season where I've gone into it feeling fit and felt i rode to the best of my ability. Am within a whisker of pulling the plug on the season and sacking it all off. Gutted as Welsh Champs being hosted by my club but i feel so far from fit I can't envisage racing well.
Have a feeling the years just been too hectic, All the british xc series, all the welsh xc series, three random races, 5 cx races so far, lots of working away/abroad, loads of other stuff going on. Just feel exhausted. So fvck£d off.
Sounds crap. Though that's a pretty heavy schedule.
I'd love to do a full season of time trialling, road racing, a bunch of crits, an XC series, then race cross in the winter and do some XC marathon stuff too. I often have to remind myself that picking one and sticking to it is the only realistic option 🙁
Yeah I think it was too much, been trying to cram everything in before child no. 1 arrives early next year. And obviouslt that in itself means lots of extra courses, DIY, shopping trips etc.
Everyone keeps telling me to forget about racing after kids arrive but actually I think it will be a blessing in that respect, have made a conscious descision to forget about 'training' for the first 6 months of mini-me's life, just race nearby mtb races for fun and then only focus on cx season next year.
Haha, yes, two mini Blobby's is the main reason for my limited time and racing. First kid felt like a huge change, hardly did any riding for about a year. Second came along and I think I took maybe two days off training 🙂 Racing is a tricky one though as it's tough to disappear for a days racing on a weekend.
Do wish I was racing a bit over winter. Trying to get lots of steady miles and long tempo blocks in the bank, but it's cold, dark and damp and I do find myself wondering if it's worth the bother when racing is so far off. What chance of a week off somewhere sunny with the bike 🙂
1. Set reasonable goals/aims that you have a chance of achieving
2. Get over your sickness and revitalise - a week of warmth, rest and taking it easy should do both.
3. Substitute quality for quantity - 2 really high quality sessions a week eg 5/6x 5minutes Z5 and 4/5 x15minutes Z4/high sweetspot will give surprisingly good results.
4. Don't give up racing - just do the ones you can and modify expectations and approach
It's what I'm having to do and it's worked so far - I even beat Kryton last weekend 🙂
Haemoraghing fitness
No, you're not. Though it's easy to worry and think you are (and it sounds more like you overdid it and burned out).
http://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/1618/do-you-lose-fitness-faster-than-you-gain-it
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/fitness/training/detraining-the-truth-about-losing-fitness-22330
Personal experience this year: hit by a car in June. 4 weeks not just off the bike but sofa-bound and immobile. Back on it in July (still recovering with a swollen leg), obviously not at my fitness/strength peak but felt surprisingly good, raced some local summer CX races for fun and finished at the pointy end, and by August was climbing the Stelvio twice in one day 8)
Look at it as enforced rest and remember form is a mixture of fitness and fatigue.
+1 for adsh; when you are back to health race for fun and to improve your craft rather than finishing position. One of our mates who regularly got on the podium in CX last year is placing mid-field this year, she's shaken off the frustration and realised half the fun of racing (especially CX) is the social side and the bantz afterwards.
I started this year hoping for a top 10 overall CX league position. It's still a 'goal', but I find riding every day is good for my mental health so I'd rather come, say, 12th due to occasionally being fatigued than sacrifice a few days miles for peak form and be going stir crazy.
it sounds more like you overdid it
Yeah probably... though you sound suspiciously like my wife 😆 😳
The last weeks I've been going over-the top with training as soon as I feel half ok trying to make up for lost sessions and just ploughing into a big hole.
Will avoid looking at bike until feel 100% hopefully be ok to race next Sunday without worrying about position then get back into it. Only 3 weeks to go to the champs anyway which is my last planned race so not much i can do now apart from keep what form I've got ticking over.
ast weeks I've been going over-the top with training as soon as I feel half ok trying to make up for lost sessions and just ploughing into a big hole.
Worst thing you can do. Missed training is history.
Starting to begin to feel human again 😀
Despite cravings to get home and jump back on turbo I'm going to follow advice and keep resting for another day or two. Should be able to race on w/e, will do my standard openers on Sat and see.
Thinking if feel OK by thurs will do a taper vo2 max interval on tainerroad. something like: [url= https://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/workouts/87916-scott-peak ]Scott peak[/url]
Good idea? I figure dont want to do much, but after over a week of zero exercise need to slowly build my legs back up to it before actually racing
^ Step away from the VO2 max.
You need something to ease you gently back. 45-60 minutes Z2 watching Netflix while monitoring how you feel.
A week of Cold here, first impacted when I couldn't complete a Thursday Turbo session properly, and my body is telling me to eat, eat, eat. So I've stayed off the bike/turbo.
Hoping to get back on it tomorrow night!
Ok, its very boring now. Great weather, trails up the road, weight increasing and my head not not helped by taking junior to a race and hanging around the race scene last night.
Bloody quad strain, i just want to get on a bike and its just about the only thing i cant do at the moment!
Look on the bright side - you can do other things.
I have a viral infection that mirror of this time last year. Glands like cannon balls, completely washed out and nauseous. End of week 1 and getting worse not better, same as last year.
Bloody quad strain, i just want to get on a bike and its just about the only thing i cant do at the moment!
Pfft! Had something similar that's ruined the first half of the season. Seems to be ok now but still not raced due to weather and cancelled races, then some holiday. Season starts now though very much on the back foot and short of time!
I have a viral infection that mirror of this time last year. Glands like cannon balls, completely washed out and nauseous. End of week 1 and getting worse not better, same as last year.
Have my sympathy. Had glandular fever about this time last year, wiped out a good month.
Went racing last night. Only third of the year (so far a win and an injured DNF) and in desperate need of race miles. Got there in time. Nice and relaxed prep. Legs feel good. Jump on the bike. Press the gear shift buttons.... nothing. Frantically start pressing them... nothing. Flat Di2 battery. Arse! Handed my number back in and drove home in a sulk 🙁
Oh shit that's annoying.
+1 sorry to hear that.
Seems my leg has improved - ramping up my XC rides to some early week intervals and a race on the 18th. Depending on how that goes I now may do a dual carriageway F2/25 on the 24th also.
Loving my two bikes btw ADSH 😉 😀
Bugger, had flu last week and now developed a chest infection.
Just when things were getting good...
Feeling like binning my racing season already, what an utter waste of time that solid winter of work has been.
Why's that? Thought you were flying based upon other threads?
Come to Thruxton and TT off the front for 10 points- that will make you feel better MrB 🙂
Seriously though, sorry to hear that. What's wrong? Your training rides are still solid.
Thanks Weeksy, if I ever got to race I might well be! Between being injured, ill, away, cancelled races, sick kids or wife, or work commitments, I've hardly raced. I did manage to finish a race a couple of weeks ago but I've had a long string of DNS and DNF.
Going to rethink the sort of racing i do for next season.
Crosshair, you've not seen today's 😳
Awww crap. I think that's the issue when you get to a level of racing, you need to be properly on your game. That's why it's simple at my level, 30th or 35th, who cares lol. But when being healthy and on form can be the difference between a podium or 7th, that must be hard.
MrBlobby- Hmmm. The fact you didn't make it private must be a call for help 😉
Focus on the positives. You're kicking out 5w/kg. You are super aero. You live in an area where every type of racing is available in spades within an hour's drive. The competitive scene is your oyster.
If nothing else, jump on to one of the proper Zwift races (none of these mid day Asian races 😆 ). A KISS EU, ZTR, PRS, TFC etc evening race with a good sized field and just enjoy flashing your Watts.
Or just smash some more local segments!
Is it fair to say that it seems to be largely Mojo related?
I'm pretty sure we had this discussion last year.. but there is salvation: cyclocross!
Three months to go! Plenty of time to hone your shouldering ad get amongst it!
@blobby, need to get the priorities straight is all.
Stick the wife and kids on ebay, and make sure to always wear a hazmat suit whenever leaving the house for anything other than a bike ride. Still a good few months of races to get some results yet.
What about some social rides? Training and racing (or not racing) can get a bit demotivating at times. Lots of options for you round here.
You are all right and have cheered me up somewhat 😆
Is it fair to say that it seems to be largely Mojo related?
Probably. Partly a lack of proper goals to maintain focus too.
I'm pretty sure we had this discussion last year.. but there is salvation: cyclocross!
Yes, and told myself I'd learn from it and not be in this situation again! Cross is increasingly tempting, would be a good challenge too as I'm probably not well suited to it.
@blobby, need to get the priorities straight is all.
Is a bit of that too. Recent new job with associated stress not helping (+ stress from closing down my old company). I'd not swap Mrs B and kids though, my riding might be in the doldrums but watched my boy properly get to grips riding his frog bike around Greenham today, swiftly followed by daughter on her balance bike, both bloody brilliant 🙂 Makes up for the latest cold and sore throat my daughter brought back from nursery!
Summer CX at Abingdon coming up so you could dip your toe.
What about some social rides? Training and racing (or not racing) can get a bit demotivating at times. Lots of options for you round here.
Yes, need to get back to mates rides on the mtb again. Might gatecrash some of the VF Friday rides too.
Summer CX at Abingdon coming up so you could dip your toe.
Entered 🙂
Awesome!! I'm returning to base training for my new goals or else I'd have joined you.
Yes, need to get back to mates rides on the mtb again
All you need to do is shout 🙂
I went past the bottom of your road yesterday, then onto Donington, then Snelsmore etc, i could have linked up a bucket load more trails but ended up meeting Mrs Weeksy for a beer 🙂
Friday evening we did 38km and barely touched a road.
Sounds great Weeksy, not ridden the mtb much over the past few years, need to get back on it before I lose all my rad skillz 🙂
Unfortunate consequence of limited time and the need to train properly is that mates rides have been sacrificed. I'm surprised I still occasionally get invited!
Kind of in my own self inflicted non-racing doldrums at the moment.
Signed up for a charity NC500 this summer at the end of last year, and decided to not race this year so I could organise group rides etc and try to help the novice cyclists through their training.
Unfortunately, June seems to have rolled around, i'm on great form, but no racing planned to take advantage of it. Just itching to really go deep at a race/event, but nothing planned.
Even the local Tuesday APR keeps getting rained off so can't use that as an outlet, and with rain forecast all day again tomorrow looks like another week of frustration.
Almost just want to get NC500 out of the way, then onto a new challenge of an 'iron' distance duathlon next year.
Kind of in my own self inflicted non-racing doldrums at the moment.
Kind of the opposite to mine really. I've not got any big goals, just lots of little ones that are too easy to write off. There is probably a happy medium 🙂
Back for another whinge. Racing tally so far this season...
3 x 10 mile TT
1 x 25 mile TT
1 early season crit
Only another month left of the TT season to get some racing in, looking at our calendar I might manage another couple of races. That is it. Some wins, some cash and a few PB but really doesn't feel worth all the time and effort put into training 😡
Had wanted to do wessex cross league but the first I could race would be round 6, and the rest would be pretty patchy. How do other folks manage busy family commitments?
How many do you need to do for a series position though? In our league think there are 12 events but only need to do 7 for a placing.
Still worth doing a few anyway.
I'm just wishing I put more effort in earlier in the year now. Got 6 weeks of trying to build high intensity stuff but I know I'm building on sand.