Getting back on the horse

Posted by Mark on January 6, 2011 under training | Be the First to Comment

At last, I think the lurgy is finally passing me by. Yesterday was my first ride, of any kind, since mid December.

The plan was a steady ride North of London, out into the lanes of Hertfordshire, with one of my usual training groups. It was about getting miles back in the legs. My personal aim was to reel in any excitement on climbs, and not to rise to any goading for sprints from stronger riders. I’m not the strongest of riders when I’m en forme, let alone after three weeks off the bike with illness, but like any typically competitive male I can’t help myself when somebody puts the hammer down.

For the most part I stuck to my plan. I even spent a bit of time playing ‘domestique’ to anybody having a rough day. There were a couple of times the pace picked up on the climbs and I decided to dig a little deeper just to see how the engine was running.

One big dig churned out a little over 1200w, only about 80 or 90 short of my early season sprints last year – leg strength and speed bodes well then. However, after only 100km I was utterly battered. Even today my legs are still a little sore.

There’s much work to be done before the racing season starts. Can I get it all done in time, or will the early season races be about racing to get fitter for later in the year?

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