Winterfold Hill, March 21st
Posted by Mark on March 21, 2010 under training | 
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Peak 5 min: 308 watts
Winterfold Hill, March 13th
Posted by Mark on March 13, 2010 under training | Be the First to Comment
Peak 5 min: 299 watts
RPCC ride, Sunday August 2nd
Posted by Mark on August 2, 2009 under training | Be the First to Comment
Post Ventoux I seem to have found a bit of extra strength. So it’s time to drop the distances and up the pace. A fast group ride out into the Surrey Hills should sort it nicely. Read more of this article »
RPCC Surrey Hills, 27th June 2009
Posted by Mark on June 27, 2009 under training | Be the First to Comment
Nice outing. Hit Box Hill with 90km in the legs and thought I’d go for a PB. Read more of this article »
Training with a power meter
Posted by Mark on March 14, 2009 under training | Be the First to Comment
Having taken part in a PhD student’s study of VO2max and power I’ve recently had a series (four, to be precise) of VO2max tests. Coupled up with two more tests I had done last year, I’ve come to the conclusion my fitness has plateaued out. Time to do something different, rather than just ride my bike. Read more of this article »
RPCC Surrey Hills, Saturday March 14th
Posted by Mark on under training | Be the First to Comment
No tea at Box Hill Shocker
102km, no incidents, manic effort on Box Hill to generate new PB – 7:06. Still coughing up lung by late afternoon. Read more of this article »
RPCC Surrey Hills, Saturday March 7th
Posted by Mark on March 8, 2009 under training | Be the First to Comment
Good outing. No punctures. A few too many sprints and big hill efforts to have much left for Box Hill! Hence, a strained 7:49. Read more of this article »
Tacx Trainer software
Posted by Mark on February 14, 2009 under training | 2 Comments to Read
I’ve owned a Tacx Fortius trainer for over a year now. I like it, the Catalyst training software, virtual reality training and live video training all help to reduce the boredom of turbo training.
However, I’ve still been a bit slack at using it. Just recently Tacx finally released their updated software, “Tacx Trainer“.
It looked good on paper [the screen] so I bought a copy. Installing it doesn’t overwrite the old Fortius software, it complements it. Presumably this is due to the fact the 1.0 release doesn’t yet support multiplayer. Tacx state on their website that a later release this year will do though.
So I had a bit of a play with some of the new functionality. The smartest new thing to come along with this update is the Real Life Training – or loading of GPS routes. Take a past ride, or one you might be riding, and import into Tacx Trainer as a GPX file. TT then links to Google Earth and lets you ride the route on the map, even setting up the contours of the route!
This single feature is worth the €59 price in my mind, it’s simply fantastic. Recce a race or Sportive route beforehand, getting used to how the road contour changes. Superb!
I’ll post some screenshots later.
RPCC Surrey Hills, Sunday 11th January
Posted by Mark on January 11, 2009 under training | Be the First to Comment
First Sunday ride out of the new year. It was a good start, with seven of us turning up at Richmond Park. Wilf had the first puncture of the day before we’d even reached Kingston!
As we got out into the countryside we lost the two new comers – one considering it a bit fast, the other too slow. Can’t please all the people all the time, eh?
Next bit of drama for the day was Wilf, again, as he caught his front wheel on some ice in the lanes. A somewhat spectacular off ensued, with him going over the handlebars, legs in the air, and diving head first into a puddle [pool!] in the opposite lane. Luckily the knee injury turned out to not be a ride stopper, so after some banter and bike checking, we carried on.
Then I punctured. Bugger. Not had a puncture on the ‘good bike’ in years – so many in fact, I can’t remember when I last did have on! Had a couple commuting last winter, but that doesn’t count (for some reason).
Five minutes later it was James’ turn to puncture. Bloody hell, talk about bad luck. This was the slowest ride we’d ever had with way too much faffing. That caused us to cut the route slightly shorted than normal (skipping out Leith Hill) and heading straight for Box Hill.
Rubbish time up Box Hill this week – thanks mainly to cold muscles I reckon.
Still, all miles in the legs eh?
Christmas day ride
Posted by Mark on December 25, 2008 under training | Be the First to Comment
Got out for a nice spin on Christmas day. Whilst visiting the In Laws up North it was nice to take the opportunity to get some proper hills in.
A bit on the foggy side and rather chilly when I set out, I was above the clouds by the highest part on the ride – this set out a spectacular view over the rolling Yorkshire Dales, with low, bright orange sunshine in the distance and a couple of dark and moody clouds above the higher peaks around. And the roads mostly to myself. Smashing stuff!
Route…
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/1619578
Stats…
