Into it

Well next week I am back into a program and looking forward to it. I have had a good break from the bike and the last couple of weeks I have been easing myself back in, even with a head cold.

I have been, like I always seem to do between training blocks, I really get set up for the next one.
So I have taken the opportunity to re calibrate my ibike, which was making me look a lot better than I really was. So hopefully a ride with Jase will confirm its accuracy, if not I will be able to make it all match pretty closely. For the first time I should have an almost accurate power meter. The ibike does work really well and it continues to improve and the latest firmware update is encouraging. Just a cal this time and I can tell it is pretty close to accurate, but the only way to confirm that it is a good calibration is to give it a run with a meter that is accurate. The ibke is always consistent and reliable, just hard to get right in the way that “is that really a 380W 20min FTP test” nah can’t be.
I went out and did a 20min FTP test on Thursday night and these things hurt. I usually go out a little hard then settle down after 4-5 minutes and hold a solid level at 165 bpm. This time I struggled after 10min and dropped 10%, but I am still happy with the result I averaged 171 bpm, even after nearly a month off the bike.
My new trek which is a fantastic bike and love riding it, has a problem with it’s free hub, so hopefully a warranty fix will happen. But I have some new XTR wheels on there way, which I found at a great price (I guess the 2010 stuff will be out soon) so it should be back on the tracks very soon. My Anthem developed a leak in the forks during the plane trip home so I am planning a service for them very soon. So mountain biking is out this weekend unless that little postal slip from yesterday is actually my wheels.

I have entered into the Scott, as a 2 man team. For some stupid reason John Howell was interested, so I booked him in before he could change his mind. I think it will be a pretty relaxed ride around Stromlo this year.

The Angry Doc has crept up on me once again, and it should be a good one. I plan to just have fun out there and enjoy the great tracks. I hope they get some rain down that way soon, otherwise get the dust masks ready ;).

The Worlds is almost here, can’t wait it watch the best do there thing, hopefully pick up on some little tricks. Last year we did the marshalling thing, for the downhill and watched the 4x. This year we will head out for the XC, no doubt it is going to be big. I’ll have to get onto eBay and try to get myself a cow bell. Last year I think there was a competition going for who had the most annoying and loud cheer of encouragement. I gave that prize to a girl who continually just screamed as loud as she could “get off the brakes, go harder, get off the brakes, don’t be a girl” it was pretty repetitive, even when she was losing her voice she was still screaming. So get out there, if the riders don’t keep you entertained the crowd will ;), it is all good stuff.

Kendra is getting back out there preparing for the Scott; she has a few events to work towards. She has also entered into the Fitz’s challenge which is 110k’s, and entering us into the Polaris. After being off the bike of a while she is gaining confidence with every ride, and really getting into it again. She is even trying to talk me into doing a double RPM class at Club Lime tomorrow, please don’t rain please no rain and it’s a bunch ride, rain and she’s got me cornered ;).