Training Truths

I'd meant to go to a Pilates class at the gym, but for some reason I'd thought it was at 5 instead of 4 - so missed it. That wasn't a problem, because I'd planned to do a bit of cardio work afterwards anyway, so I just went up to the gym, and added a few weights and core work to what I'd been planning to do anyway.

I did ten minutes on one of the exercise bikes at an average power output of 185 watts (effort levels 8/9), but by the end of this I was suffering somewhat and my heart rate was above 170, which sets off alarms on the machine (!). What the whole experience brought home to me was that I have the strength in my legs (I'm leg-pressing 190kg - the highest weight available - fairly comfortably), because they weren't really tired, but my aerobic fitness isn't anywhere near where it needs to be. I'm going to be climbing Mont Ventoux (assuming I get that far) for more than an hour, so I'm going to need to be able to cope with prolonged periods of high effort.

I don't feel too downhearted though - I've got 5 months of training to get to the required level, and hopefully the fitness will come as long as I continue putting the work in.

I emailed the Twickenham Cycling Club yesterday to enquire about joining, because I think that'll be a good way to get used to cycling in groups etc., and they seem to do fairly regular long rides. I'm going to need to do plenty of those and doing them on my own might get a bit tedious.

On their website they had a list of Sportive rides, which are exactly the kind of thing I'll need to do to get in shape - the Etape being regarded as the ultimate Sportive ride. I like the fact that they seem to emphasise that Sportives aren't competetive - they're just challenges to be completed, a bit like doing a marathon. I've already got in mind a few that I might want to do -for instance the Dragon Ride which takes place around Bridgend, which is where my sister's boyfriend is from, so would be a nice weekend away for the whole family.

Having said that the Etape is a bit like doing a marathon and isn't competetive, there are a few crucial differences. Very few marathons are held on mountains for starters, but crucially, there is a functional time limit on the Etape. This is enforced by the dreaded "broom wagon". Riders who fail to keep up a minimum pace are hoovered up by the wagon, and forced to drop out of the event.

On my regular bike, a Specialized Sirrus Comp,  my current "cruising speed" is around 15 mph. I've got a rack and stuff on this bike, so obviously its a bit heavier than a proper road bike would be, but I'm clearly going to have to get this up a bit if I'm going to avoid ending up on the broom wagon. I read an interesting article in today's Sunday Times which amongst other things suggested that the exertion used in cycling as compared to cycling can be figured out by dividing by a factor of 4. Eg. If you're cycling at 16mph, that's the same in energy terms as walking at 4mph. The problem being that 4mph is just that - walking -  and I need to be "running". Hopefully that increase in speed will come with greater aerobic fitness...but today has very much been about getting a handle on how much work I need to do.