A slow cold start to 2017

Looking back over my Strava log for January, I can see that most of my rides refer to ice or the dangers of ice.  It was not a great month for riding.  However, the second week of January I had to work North American hours (dialling in to conference calls, late into the evenings) which enabled me to go out for a quick bike ride each morning.  Thoroughly enjoyed those rides, although they weren't entirely work free!

 

But there were suitable coffee stops

 

 

Despite the cold and ice, the rides that we did get out on were beautiful and sunny.  Although, seeing all the ponds frozen solid did make riding on the roads quite nerve wracking!

 

 

January is Stuart's birthday month.  So, after one VCC Sunday ride the Social Inters group came back to our house to have a slice of Stuart's birthday cake.   I had added the appropriate amount of candles!  Everyone soon warmed up after their chilly ride! 

 

 

I may have mentioned Stuart out riding with the girls a few times, but occasionally I get to go and ride with the boys!  I ride with the Sociables group, nice pace and good company.

 

 

 

But there really weren't enough miles being ridden.  Foul weather stopped play far too many times. 

Hence it was time to investigate Zwift!  An interesting talk at club night on the merits of cycling software suitable for indoor turbo trainers had us convinced that Zwift may work for us.  I had always imagined that a really fancy turbo trainer would be needed to use the cycling software.  However, we learnt that it can be used with the most basic indoor turbo trainer. 

That was one barrier removed.  I did try to say that all we needed was a new extension built on the side of the house and then we would have somewhere to ride an indoor turbo, but we both agreed that perhaps I was putting too high a barrier in the way of just getting on the damn turbo.

The cycling software shows an image of you on a bike riding through various locations (including the Ride London route if you chose).  You also see others around you who are on their bikes at the same time.  These can be people from all around the world, which is mind-boggling really.  You can interact with other folks using a chat function on an app on your phone.  All very high tech

There are two ways to use the software, one is to join up with group rides either a social ride or a race.  I've not done this yet!  Or you can work through training programmes, where your wattage and cadence are predefined in training plans.

I have chosen to do a beginners 6 week FTP improver plan.  FTP is a measure of Functional Threshold Power. Or Fully Terrible Pain as I've been told.  I measured mine (via a 45 minute workout) and there is plenty of room for improvement (acres of room for improvement!)

  

 

 

However, I was quite proud to be given the green jersey one morning (fastest sprinter on the course).  Then I realised that it was 5 in the morning and I was probably the only woman rider on the course.  Never mind I have the screen shot as evidence!

 

I'm riding at 5am because that is my "me" time.  I am so busy right now with work that time is incredibly precious, but I really feel that no-one can take my 5am slot from me, that is my time to spend how I chose and it's great to be able to do a workout without going into the cold and rain, or even having to go to the gym.  But maybe some days I will spend my "me" time staying in bed and snoozing!