Clifton CC

It was a bit on windy on Saturday. For some of us (well me) this meant a hard day. Kevin led his team of 7 out through Beningborough and over Aldwark Bridge to Boroughbridge for lunch. We then headed out to Easingwold and back via Alne and Tollerton. 60 miles. I struggled. Last week I appeared to have a bit of a breakthrough after lunch when the pace felt good, I was able to hang onto Elaine’s tail and even had to wait for people a few times (unheard of). This week, after a determined start, I was dropped on a tiny incline and into the wind was unable to fight back. This set the tone for the day. The wind made me uneasy – gusting me sideways whilst trying to sit on a wheel and completely losing me any power when into my face. Lying low on my drops seemed to make little difference and my thighs soon began to burn. New blood in the form of Dan, who gave me hope with his “never cycled so far before” confession, seemed to find the strength of Hercules in his legs whilst Anna and Jamie looked comfortable all day. The route was chosen to avoid the wind in our face on the way home. Sadly the much anticipated “wind behind us” never seemed to arrive and Kevin got me back to York with some relief (his as well as mine I suspect). Why did I find this week so much harder? Was the group stronger? Was it because I swam hard the day before instead of resting in a Jacuzzi as Kevin has suggested? Was it just not my week? Who knows? I’ll keep training and continue to arrive on a Saturday to give it my all. Thanks for all who rode (and waited) for me. See you all in 2 weeks.

Amanda Vipond wrote: Was it because I swam hard the day before instead of resting?

I'd guess that's your likely answer. I found that it was only after I'd been cycling regularly for a while that I could exert myself significantly the day before without there being a price to pay the day after.

Hi Amanda,

Sounds like you are doing great and the best advice I can offer is to keep at it, get some consistency, keep enjoying getting out riding your bike and you will see an improvement.

In my humble opinion it is often the mental side of cycling that riders need to overcome when 'training' at whatever level, when their individual aim is to improve.

For example, you could ride with a group at av spd 15mph and if you are the 'fastest' rider it feels easy, you feel great, you're having a great day, the endorphins are flowing and you feel like you can conquer anything.

Conversely, ride the same route at exactly the same speed, but with a different group, where you are the slowest rider, where you are the one being dropped all the time and now the tendency can be to feel a bit 'gloomy'. 'I'm really rubbish; I can't keep up; I'll never improve; Why am I having a bad day' etc etc.

So it is trying to be analytical about your own performance without getting caught in comparing yourself to others all the time. This could unnecessarily demoralise you or again falsely make you think like you're the next 'Olympic Champion'!

Dig In & Enjoy! Claire

Kevin asked me to post this reply:

Amanda:
In regards to last Saturdays group "K" ride, the big difference to the previous weeks ride was the strength of the Wind. Pedalling directly into the wind,was difficult, on Saturday i decided after Aldwark bridge, it would be wise to have a very early cafe stop at about 20 miles.(Boroughbridge).
Then take a longer route back to York, hoping for it to be mostly wind assisted.
From Boroughbridge to Easingwold ,we had a tail-wind, but after Easingwold, the last 15 miles were cross/head wind.
The previous Saturday when you had not being Swimming on the Friday & you were quite comfortable on the way back from Easingwold, & enjoyed waiting for others.
It made me think that having an hard swim session on a Friday, prior to a 60 mile ride on saturday will have a great effect on your speed/stamina levels for saturdays ride.
If you could have a rest/recuperation day on Friday prior to a saturday Club ride, i believe you will be able to ride to your full capabilities, & it may surprise yourself how your Endurance ability improves.
Remember it is only March, & your in training for an Specific Event in August, & Saturday was a Character Building Day.

Hopefully see you in a couple of weeks, & keep attacking them Railway Flyovers on the BIG-RING

I have just read Amanda's report, I think she really underestimates the improvement she has already made.

Amanda is getting to cope with the increased workload amazingly well. Remember she is training for triathlon not cycling. She needs to make sure she carbs up before, during and after each training session. That is why triathletes need to be more fastidious about nutrition, we don't have the luxury of lazing in a jucuzzi the day before, as we have 3 sports to train for. (says me who has done no running or swimming this year)

Look at the improvement from the first time Amanda went out with the group, where she spent the next day recurperating, whereas now she recovers well enough to do the Sunday sessions.

Onwards and Upwards

Tough days are part of cycling as Dr Dave is about to show me in an hour or so.


ps. Nice poster if you follow this link
http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/userfi ... al_Red.pdf