Doing all the right things, getting all the wrong results.

My life as a bicycling Time Trialist has slowed down a bit lately. Last year, I decided that I too probably could benefit from a coach, so I hired one. I'm very happy with this and I follow her training plan as best as I can. I respect her (and her advice) highly. After all, she is the world Masters (female) Champion. I don't think one can argue with the rainbow jersey. While I feel I am getting fitter, I still haven't seen my times drop as much as I would like.
My diet has changed dramatically from last year. While my diet was quite healthy, it is now "more healthier". My weight has started to drop again after a few months on hold. So, it isn't what I eat that's holding me back.
I train rather religiously, and it does bother me when I miss a session. (Really...)
The last two TT's I rode, I had hoped to see some "bang for my buck" in a lower time. Last month however, I rode my first TT in the rain. This wasn't just a little rain, but a near cyclone at times. It was raining so hard that I really didn't need my glasses. None the less, I soldiered on. I figured if nothing else, I was going to finish. After all, I was wet, really wet, and I wasn't going to get much wetter.
Now, I'm not the most religious person, fact is I haven't been to church an many years, but I do believe. I learned many years ago, not to pray for "things" and to pray for something, well, meaningful. Not being too selfish, I figured it would be safe to ask God to "help me do my best". Okay, so God wanted me to build my character a bit, maybe a lot even. I figured he/she was just letting me know how bad things could be to ride in, and at the end of the day I was going home to a nice, dry place. Many don't have that luxury. I think God also taught me that it was time to learn some bicycle maintenance.
The last TT I was in, I again asked for "help to do my best". I got my prayers answered pretty much to what I was hoping for. The road had been resurfaced it seemed, and was quite smooth. Should be a nice ride. The torrential rain that woke me in the middle of the night had all but stopped, and by the time I started, it was a gentle drizzle. Wind was almost non-existant. It was all up to me now, and off I rode.
My coach told me to focus on maybe riding two 19 minute laps, in the end, I did two laps in 21 minutes, disappointing.
So, I have done everything I thought I could do, the only thing left is to spend MORE time on the bike. The school holidays are looking pretty good for this. I'll let you know how that works out.

On the road - again

A two and a half hour training/endurance ride. I should be home with my feet up by the fire place where it's warm. Instead, I'm out here pushing my Mountain bike along this damn gravel road. It didn't seem so bad at first, the ride is fairly easy. My first "hill" is easy so I use a lower gear and chalk that time up to "easy spinning". After 20 minutes into my ride, I really wish I had something better to do. Finally, I reach the first bit of paved road, a nice long downhill ride where I can rest a bit and make up some time.
By the time I reach the one hour mark I need to turn around and head back home. I really wanted to go at least another 7 km but it wasn't to be on this trip. It seemed that going home I had the wind at my back so things were a little easier - just.
As I got back on the paved road, I realised that the long down-hill was now a long uphill. Half way up I was struggling. My arse was so sore I couldn't sit. It felt like I had been in a Turkish prison and was butt-raped everyday. Well, that's what I imagined anyway. I was standing, dancing on the pedals, and I was managing about 12 km/h. The sweat was pouring into my eyes. It burned, and as I blinked more ran in and my vision became blurred. I had thought about riding with my eyes closed but staying on the road would have been problematic.
I continued on. The birds seemed to be laughing at me now and my glasses were crusty with salt from the sweat. I had nothing to wipe my eyes with and on I pedaled. The pros would have flew past me, but I was slowly getting there.
Finally, I was at the top and turned back on to the last gravel road home. I had only one long, gentle hill to go. 4 kilometres in fact. Gravel roads can be slow, and this road was VERY slow. It had been recently graded and the stones were loose making pedaling a hard slog. My butt was very sore now, and while I don't normally like to stand, it was a big improvement on sitting.
I completed my ride in two hours and ten minutes and rode a total of 37 km. The shower never felt so good as it did today.
But the sweat, it really burns...

The small chain-ring

Yesterday, 10 April 2011, I found out what the small chain ring is for. In doing a Time Trial at Champion Lakes, I thought I was ready to do a PB. I have a coach now and I have been working at being better. Nothing could have prepared me for the gale force winds though.
The circuit was reversed for this day and we had a strong tail wind going down the long straight. This was nice, but the headwind in the other direction was 37 km/h gusting to 65! Going around the back turn was like running into a brick wall. The speed dropped from over 40 to 20 km/h or less. Intent on doing my best (mainly to impress the coach and my few supporters who braved the weather to watch) I dropped onto the small ring. I had to spin furiously to maintain forward motion. I did manage to ride just above 20 km/h into the wind, but it was real work.
I didn't do any cool down afterwords as I had absolutely nothing left in the tank.
Sprint finish? Not bloody likely. Maybe next time I will appreciate the (less strong) winds that we normally have. A calm day - watch out, the tortoise will get a PB!