Training going well here. With extra time on my hands, I’m doing more volume than I have ever tried. CTL is in the mid 90’s and my 6 week average TSS is getting close to 800. I hope I’m not digging a hole, but I’m feeling good and nailing workouts. I’ve done this kind of volume for a month or 2 at a time and I’ve responded well, but I have never done it for an extended period. Time will tell if it’s a good move or not.
My weight has been slowing trending down and power is up. I felt the AIFTP increase after base was a bit stingy and I added some extra watts with a manual override and I still nailed a breakthrough V02max last week and a stretch today (but I’m still only at 6.0 PL since I just started build last week and have not done any v02max training since last summer).
Eager to race, but still protecting my injured hand a bit and just training on the road. I hope to get out and test it off road in the next couple weeks and I have a local race scheduled for April 13.
Also, I just pulled the trigger on some pathfinder 47’s. I’ve already got some 42’s and I plan to choose between the 47’s and the 42’s based on course recon and race week weather. I plan to go pre-ride in late april/early may along with doing the La Grind stage race in emporia first week of may. I did that last year and it was a fun event and there are good group rides during the week in emporia as well. I kind of made it a big volume training camp, good timing for a final push since it’s about a month out from Unbound.
Pumping the brakes on this weeks block of training. This would have been 7th week of going at it, I am also away from home for 3 days figure its great time to take some rest.
Tried vo2 yesterday and legs said that was a really bad idea, pulled back and did a sweetspot 8.0 work out, but def not feeling 100%.
Had to take my buddy to the ER when he got to the second aid station as he was suffering from heat stroke. Borderline conscious, full-on body cramps (stiff as a board) and not sweating despite the stifling heat.
I live in Central TX, so no stranger to training/racing in the heat. But I’ll take mud, rain, cold, or wind over heat/humidity any day. At some point, you just can’t sweat and cool the body enough and the brain switches into “limp mode”. All of my most miserable days on the bike have been heat related. For long gravel races, I can see a 20-30w swing in NP between a nice cool day and a really hot day.
Up until that statement, we have been tracking pretty close to identical…but I thrive in the heat. Love hot & humid conditions because I know they don’t affect near as much as others.
But for Unbound, the timing is tough for those of us in the upper midwest as it pertains to heat adaptation. When I DNF’s in 2019, up until the week before the race, we were still riding in arm / knee warmers (and often a vest).
I will be doing specific heat adaptation training this year in advance of the race…also strongly considering one of those pop-up saunas you can out in your basement. Figured I could do a trainer ride and then head directly into it for 30-60 min. Anyone ever tried one of these?
Riding with the fan off on sessions were I don’t think I would completely cook myself or a hot bath afterwards if I have time.
Unfortunately, with work travel my training schedule is way off and I will be lucky to finish Unbound this year. With 73 days left, I’m just hoping to beat my 2022 time by a little and that was a long day. Time to prioritize my longer weekend rides.
Is there a good alternative to Dynaplugs for fixing flats? I’ve had issues with traditional “strip” plugs or whatever you call them, but the Dynaplugs seem pricey.
Check out James Huang’s or Ben Delaney’s reports from the Taipei Bike Show…they highlighted a company that was doing a Dynaplug-style solution. Can’t remember the name off the top of my head, but I think they are also selling the idea to WTB, IIRC.
Finally got outside for a decent ride…but had to travel to Bentonville to do it!
Just an awesome ride…little over 40 miles with a bit of everything - road, gravel and single track. Some of the single track was a blast with lots of whoops.
We have tomorrow off, so I opted to spend the night here and will hopefully get a slightly longer ride in tomorrow before flying home.
