Reasons to be specific...

I have very sore legs today, more than usual and yet my riding this weekend was, at first glance, nothing more than I am capable. If anything it could have been considered a small weekend for a guy who likes to race offroad for the best part of 24 hours at a time. In total we are talking 8 hours training on the road spread across 3 rides and 2 days and yet the damage caused to my muscles has required a full rest day and possibly 2!

So what's changed? Have I gone soft? Old perhaps? I'm glad to report a negative on both counts (OK, maybe I AM a bit older!) The reason lies in the specifics of the training. Until quite recently I have done all of my training with the use of a heart rate monitor. I've done this since the mid '90's when I got my Elite licence and started working with my first coach. Before that period I had become enveloped in the "more is better" philosophy and was utterly convinced that I had the capacity to train in the region of 20 to 25 hours per week.

Why would I think differently? I was doing the hours and seeing improvements so it had to correct didn't it? Working with a heart rate monitor taught me that my true capacity was much closer to 12 to 14 hours which was a real revelation that I have to be honest and say I was quite reluctant to accept. A few years soon proved the theory correct and my best race seasons have never averaged out at more than 13 hours of training per week.

However... there is now a new kid on the block when it comes to training = Power. Well, I say new but in truth the top pro riders in the world have been using Power meters and Ergo trainers for at least as long as I've been riding a bike, but what I should say is new to me, and perhaps new to the everyday riders serious about performance and with goals to do "this" or "that" event.

I've been training with a PowerTap rear hub and also at home with the Tacx Cosmos Ergo Trainer for the last 6 months and the change in my training is nothing short of amazing. The accuracy of training is such that I ALWAYS get the best bang for my buck when it comes to the time invested in terms of gains in fitness. I'm guessing that when training this accurately that I'll be able to achieve the same sorts of results but with an average training time somewhere below 10 hours per week.

Time, the only thing none of us can buy, and so much of it to be saved. Makes the Tacx and PowerTap the best value for money I've ever found...

Rob

Peterstone Court

A great weekend's cycling in Wales was made even better by our stay at Peterstone Court in Llanhamlach. Many thanks to Sean, Jess and staff for a wonderful stay. The post ride massage was a truly religious experience.

Sean is an experienced cyclist who is more than happy to recommend both on and off-road routes from the door. As the owner and Head Chef his nutritional advice was invaluable - I went for the scallops and duck plus a bottle of Gavi di Gavi. Nice call.

Jerry

The Welsh

Beverly and I spent the weekend cycling from Bristol to Brecon as part of our Étape ambitions (which is altogether another story). And despite the wind, rain, etc. we found Welsh drivers so much more courteous then their counterparts on this side of the bridge. They would pull over in narrow lanes as we approached, they patiently sat behind us to wait to pass and when they did, they did so with a friendly honk.

Same with passers by - despite the weather, everyone had a smile, a greeting or a wave as we cycled past. Whenever we stopped, likewise, everyone seemed happy to chat.

So what's going on in Wales to make them so cyclist-friendly? Could it be the Nicole Cooke effect or simply the pasting they gave the England rugby team a fortnight ago? Dunno. Anyway, thank you Wales for a great weekend!

Jerry 

Getting ready to take on the world

After a cold wet start to the year Mud Dock manager Matt Carr and Rob Lee are preparing to take the World 24 hour solo racing world by storm. This is the time of year to get as many miles in the legs as possible and get down to racing weight aswell as getting used to the new bikes and kit.

Last year ended in disaster for Matt , he was due to fly to the US to compete in the world solo championships in Santa Cruz and was favourite to win the single speed title but due to passport issues was not able to fly.His plan for this year is to finally get his hands on the world championship jersey and hopefully break his own world record at the same time. Matt will once again be riding for the Trek team and competing on the Trek 69er singlespeed.

Rob had a pretty good year, racing wise, with wins at the Bontrager Twentyfour12 and the Nightrider12 but ended his season early due to situations within his personal life. This season he is looking to get back on the winning trail and is slowly rebuilding himself after time off the bike. His move to Bristol in October marked a new chapter for Rob who is keen to intergrate himself into the biking community here whilst continuing his development as one of the UK's premier solo racers.

We are very pleased to have two of the best 24 hour racers working at Mud Dock and both are easily approachable and readily available for advice and any queries you may have regarding the world of bike racing. Why not drop in and have a chat?

Car drivers - more room please

Despite a huge increase in road riding over the past two or three years I'm reluctant to take my kids anywhere near the open road. I want them to enjoy the thrill, freedom and independence riding a bicycle out into the country will give them. But I'm not prepared for them to take on the risks that I and every other recreational rider are exposed to each time we venture onto the road.

Last week one of the UK's top cyclists was killed whilst out training - hit by a van. Last Sunday I was passed on at least 4 occasions by vehicles within half a meter of me. The Highway Code instructs drivers to:

give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car

Funny how this is unfailingly given to horses and ponies but rarely to cyclists. In France drivers are obliged to give a statutory 1.5 meter gap, despite there being a much more positive attitude to cyclists generally.

We are a nation of pretty crap drivers, in most cases completely under qualified or experienced in road use. Often our spatial-temporal faculties are poor or in decline. Cars and vans are getting wider and inevitably there are no bike lanes in which we can seek refuge. Despite the fact that most cyclists are also car owners and therefore contribute to road taxes, the issue of 'safer cycling' is not a high government priority. It is left to independent organisations like Sustrans to create a safer cycling environment and how great it was that in winning the £50 million Big Lottery Fund so comfortably the people recognised the importance of their work.

The American 'Give 3 Feet' campaign is a good example of how a government funded initiative could bring the issue to a wider audience.

 

http://www.cbcef.org/give3feet/

Meanwhile, all we can do is implore drivers to give a little more consideration in passing cyclists and slowly we may all feel a little more comfortable sharing the open road.

Jerry