easy recovery week ahead!
8 Likes
For some reason the midweek paceline was moved to today, that saw 5 of us out. It was a similar route to last week (but crossing the level crossing into the Fens rather than going towards town and busier roads to a bridge over the rail line. I must admit I prefer the slightly west route which is more undulating which maybe allows micro breaks on the down hill rather than the constant effort on the flat into a head/side winds. Its also easier to let folk surge through on a hill and close gently when you are exposed I feel I have to match the surge. I’m loving the new wheels though there seemed to be more speed there for less effort and I was sitting at a higher cadence.
9 Likes
more easy recovery week work! Eligible to trigger AI FTP Detection tomorrow. Prior to my 3 weeks off for RAAM, I was sitting at 299 and crushing 8.5 threshold workouts. It’ll be interesting to see how it handles the return from the time off. I feel like I’m back to that point prior to my extended break.
7 Likes
I had Boltinghouse in my Calendar tonight and I just got home in time to do it all, including the extended cooldown, in the light. I headed out as usual down Bullock Road but the rest periods were such that I cut down to the old A1 at Stilton. I would normally cut down to the Old A1 further south but I was conscious (although I had a front light) of not going so far south that the cooldown would be in the dark.
Ignoring one bizarre interval. I think I ran out of legs towards the end.
You can probably see from the power target graph my one bizzare incident. As I was coming to the end of an interval in Stilton I saw a Merc stopped in the middle of the road between parked cars either side, blocking it for a van who wanted to go through. The Merc driver seemed to be determined to get into a space that wasn’t there or maybe she was trying to pull right to block the van driver more. So I held back and let her do whatever she wanted. As I approached easing off the power she still wouldn’t budge or even indicate, despite the van driver being patient and giving her plenty of room to come through. After a bit of track standing, I eventually over took on her right (drivers side). At which point she yells, “don’t undertake” (that would have been her left, the opposite side 
). A which point the van driver said, “Don’t worry mate I saw what she done”. Had she been trying to goad me into undertaking so she could teach me a lesson I didn’t need 
Light was fading fast and I thought about fitting the front light I had in my pocket but I decided not too but it wont be long before I have too.
8 Likes
Sadly the weather on our vacation isn’t great at the moment. Still decided to go out for a long ride because I have an event on Saturday in 2 weeks and it’s the last long ride I want to do before that. Weather started out nice. On the advent to Obersaxen it was pretty warm in the sun. On the long drag up to Vals. Clouds came in and after Vals on t he e way to the reservoir heavy rain started. The end point was nearly 2000m and windy I froze my ass off. At least it stoped raining needed to warm up a bit in Vals. The decent into ilanz was ok but rain startet again and decided to cut the ride a bit short and not climb to another reservoir. Was pretty happy that I was able to hold around 300w for the earlier part of the advent to waltensburg.
Lots of pictures incomming
Garmin elevation stopped working after I got to Vals so elevation is calculated by strava.
The Rhine from the bridge in the valley before Obersaxen.
View to Waltensburg on the other side of the valley.
Obersaxen was a nice climb first part were steep switchbacks around 10% second part is moderate withe around 4-6. And then it gets undulating.
View from Obersaxen.
View on the ascent after Obersaxen
The River Glogn. Further up it is the Vals Rhine.
View up the Vals Valley
More views
Valley including the Vals Rhine
View from the Top to the Zervreila Dam.
There Zervreila lake
Bike on the Dam
The idiot that decided to ride up there during the rain
Down the the Valley, the climb is on the right side and includes some gravel if you don’t want to take the one way tunnel and wait up to 20 min.
The lake from the dam
View of Vals.
18 Likes
Very beautiful!
There is usually more water in the Rhine, isn‘t there?
1 Like
Intervals outside, while on vacation, and on closed roads make them so much more fun 
We are currently in Le Bourg-d’Oisans (where Alpe d’Huez is located). They have a Cols series where they close one climb every Tuesday between 9:00 and 11:00. Only open for cyclists! Magic!
So yesterday Les Deux Alps was closed to motor vehicles. So nice to see all families, kids, etc show up to ride up together! Thats what cycling is all about!
Todays session: 3x8min + 1 hour steady high Z2/low Z3. Ended up being 326w/330w/340w and then 1hr at 250w.
15 Likes
AI FTP Detection came up with 287, I manually changed it to 300. Recovery week continues, this time on the TT bike in probably the most humid weather of the year. Air you can wear! TT bike this time.
7 Likes
I’m not sure it’s the vorder Rhein so im not sure if it always carries more water. But they definitely didn’t get much rain until now about of restriction on fires in the open currently.
1 Like
The Paradigm Cycles Chaingang (Paceline) for me tonight I left the virtual office 5mins early and took it super easy to the start. The first lap was easy, the 2nd one relatively easy too. The 3rd lap however, after circa 8min 40sec at an IF 0.92 (HR 0f 97%Max) I lost the wheel. The paceline goes single line on the last lap and the semi pro female rider wisely only done a seconds turn and dropped back very smoothly. I stupidly done a 20s turn and dropped back and she was still smoothly dropping back which left me hanging exposed too long and it pushed me way into the red and whilst I was able to do a couple of more turns that was the start of my downfall and failed to hold the pace. I did press on at 91-95% MHR but finished way behind the group. I think my downfall is failure to get the carbs in with my chemo damaged and fully gloved hands. I’d got plenty of carb drink in but not other carbs. Although it could be that the majority of riders are half my age 
8 Likes
@mountainrunner have you landed in Boston?
The only ‘mountains’ we have around here are the power graphs on my Garmin:
from the slow group ride last Saturday.
Went and saw Oppenheimer on Sunday morning, the sound system in the theatre was louder than most concerts I’ve attended. Since then I’ve had migraine like headaches, and I don’t get headaches. Took a few days off, and thankfully I felt better yesterday and did the Wed night group ride.
No pics, and outside temps were 95F / 35C! Here is what holding wheels of guys cruising tempo at 30-60W higher than my FTP will do to HR when I’m fresh:
But I held wheels for the first 75 minutes, until we turned at the river and picked up the tailwind. They dropped the hammer and I dropped off 
Too hot for me!
Zoomed out of Strava map so you can see part of the delta region of the San Francisco Bay. We rode out to the river, it curves within the confines of levees but is still somewhat wild and natural. If you look at the straight lines that is the shipping channel of the Sacramento River shipping channel, with some mildly entertaining gravel/dirt riding along those levees.
8 Likes
Yup, I often say, er, said the same when in Switzerland. The views, even from home, often looked fake because they were too nice. When asked if she liked living in Switzerland, my now 15 year-old daughter would reply, “If you’ve seen a postcard of Switzerland, it looks just like that, now you don’t have to visit.”
That ride, like so many others, basically like every other, had stunning views, some of which were captured on “film.” BTW - you may notice a black dot on the trail near the left edge of the frame. That’s an mtb descending the trail I just came up. Further along the trail just beyond the summit was this view:
(A point on the route was just off the trail, apparently, so my garmin wanted me to turn back and hit the point, hence the message on the head unit.)
And this view was on that ride… (at the top of seemingly 5 miles of ascending stairs formed from former rail ties, roots, rocks, etc… though it may have just been 2 miles, either way, I wasn’t expected hoofing such a vertical route).
Ah, memories…
It’s great you got to experience the closed roads. Wasn’t it awesome to see old folks on city bikes climbing along with kids and bikes with trailers? The spirit of cycling!
Nice ride, great pics. The plus side of the rain is fewer weekend drivers cruising the hills and picnicking, of course.
Yup, arrived last Friday evening. I’ve ridden a couple of times, solo to the south (Blue Hills), with a group west (GreenLineVelo Wednesday medium ride). Within the hour I’ll explore north (solo). I haven’t taken pictures, so nothing really to share. This is either because the road surface and/or traffic led me to think grabbing my GoPro from my pocket may not be wise, or there was nothing worthy of capturing. I also picked up a Varia yesterday, something I didn’t feel was needed before.
Word on the 3T gravel bike is no, the frame isn’t repairable. That’s what I expected. My frame, er, former frame is now called the 3T Exploro Primo. I’m not sure if I want to stick with that, or go to the RaceMax. Honestly, I lean heavily toward the Primo as I put nearly 8,000 (often brutal) miles on that geometry and always loved it. The 3T Exploro RaceMax is slightly different. Of course, there’s also the question of availability. I should know more next week. I’m doing the Belgian Waffle ride in Kansas Oct 14 (in between research at the Truman Presidential Library), so I’m hoping to get a bike before then, but I’ll wait if necessary for the right frame. We’ll see.
Edit: @pbase about the photoshop effect, there’s this photo from last week in Switzerland that may reinforce that idea. I took it from near our (now former) apartment.
And this nearby pond I used to do laps around (it’s about 1200m around, so good for “track” work), taken about two weeks ago:
Switzerland is just photogenic.
7 Likes
5 Likes
Maine, USA // 4x 10 min threshold
Vacation!! Quiet, rural roads of western Maine. I put some 31mm Vittoria Dry Torreno tires on my road bike but didn’t feel like tackling some gravel this morning after yesterday’s 5-hour hike, so I stuck to the roads.
Workout called for 3 x 10 @ threshold with 10-minutes of recovery, but I actually felt good and changed it to 4 x 10 / 5 @ threshold. My calves are tight, but I guess that should be expected.
Hike
Since I didn’t take any pictures on the ride, here are some from yesterday’s hike. Total elevation gain was 1900 ft.
This is the lake where we’re staying. It’s a bit humid.
At the top of the mountain is a pond, and in the middle of the pond is an island. The water is ice cold but so refreshing.
This particular trail is one of three that lead to this peak and is aptly named Brook Trail. With a lot of rain the day before the brook was really flowing.
EDIT: Here is a view of the peak from the lake.
11 Likes
Garmin said my recommended workout for the day was ‘Rest’ - oops. 
My first proper ride outside (i.e. not just a local loop) since the early days of Covid. RWGPS did a bang up job of plotting a route that, once past the initial run round the Oxford Ring Road, kept me mostly on back roads and the odd bit of B-road. I’d forgotten how rough the roads are out there, though. Or maybe they’ve got worse in the meantime. Possibly both.
I love cycling up the road towards the entrance to Stowe.
Canon’s Ashby looks interesting - might be a trip out for a visit in future.
Lunch at Mojo in Daventry - fried chicken burger with chipotle mayo 
(hello forbidden meals thread…)
The hedges are all quite overgrown at the moment, so scenic views were a little in short supply, but a lot of the fields look about ready for harvest.
Don’t know what the blue stuff was here - borage or flax maybe - photo doesn’t really do it justice.
Garmin may have had a point - this was a lot slower and harder than anticipated (15 mile run in the legs from Tuesday might not have helped…). Definitely felt I deserved this when I got home.
12 Likes
Finally got to Bormio yesterday, so did the first ride today after the transfer from Alpe d’Huez Climbs here are so much more doable (cadence wise), they almost feel flat! Feels like most of them are 6% ish here where in Huez they were always 10+%…
Started with Passo del Foscagno, Torri di Fraele & Bormio 2000 today!
Some intervals today as well, 20min at LT1 (around 250w), then 6min at 320w, and then a final 28min at 309 watts… which felt pretty good considering this is at 2000m elevation.
14 Likes
It was my usual Saturday morning group ride for me today. Meet at Elton Furze then down to Oundle stopping at a hotel cafe, then round to the pub at Fotheringhay. Lol, you can see those gaps in the chart
To fill you in on the last stop:
Strava reckons it was pretty windy:
It sure felt that way:
9 Likes
Today I did 2 climbs the first one up to Alp Quader was 11km at 9.5%. It starts pretty hard with grades around 12%. Until you hit the first village where it mellows for a few 100m. Then up to Beigels it kicks up again with 10-15% and it doesn’t really drop below it. In Beigels it flattens before it kicks up on a paved road/hiking trail. That for the most part is around 10-12% with some flatter sections of 7-9% top part has really broken pavement. Great view nearly no traffic and pretty hard went a bit to hard on the beginning and paid a bit towards the end.
Second climb was up to a reservoir lag da Pigniu. 8.3km at 8.2% which is probably something Laterne rouge would call a fake news climb. The first 3.9k are 12.5% average. Struggled with it a lot but went through with it and was worth it for the views and satisfaction, all of these were dead ends so little traffic. Will probably add a spacer again when I’m home grinding up the steep climbs at 60-70 RPM was uncomfortable for my lower back.
Really enjoying the riding here, only the valley road isn’t that great since it’s the main road going up from the region center and traffic can be annoying.
Wall of pictures incomming.
Bike on the Alp Quader
View from the Alp Quader
View to Ilanz on the ascent
View on the ascent
Another view from the Ascent
View of the Meadows, the cows are up higher currently.
Rhine in the valley
View up to the Dam of Pigniu lake
View on the ascent to the lake
View of the lake from the Dam
View Down the Mouain from the Dam
Now it will only be some shorter efforts until Tour de stations Next Saturday. May share some pictures of the short family hikes if I share another ride.
@rkoswald looks really nice 
@mountainrunner thanks. Hope to see some pictures soon 
. And a shame with the bike hope everything works out and you get the new one soon.
12 Likes
Headed out with the Donut Warriors:
Joseph’s camera was a little whack:
Fun ride, we were hauling ass around 21mph / 34kph until a tree blocked us along the river:
Lots of lift bridges today, I think we went over 5. Here is the last one:
Beautiful morning, lots of boats and people fishing on the Sacramento River:
New tire day!
Flipping awesome tires! Front: 28c, Rear: 32c. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.
41st out of 2136 riders on Strava. Hauling ass on something that isn’t a GP5000 S TR… its just an endurance tire, or is it?
In the words of Specialized “calling the S-Works Mondo just an endurance tire is an insult”
12 Likes