I'll need to get a new speedo before next time - just hurting isn't enough of a guide, speed is the key.
A heart rate monitor would be a better guide, and an (expensive) power meter better still... speed is too dependent on conditions. You can be doing a very good ride (relative to other competitors) and still not going very fast. Or you can be flying along with a tailwind, and not trying hard enough. A HRM tells you if you are slacking.
I have mixed feelings regarding HRMs. They certainly tell you when your not trying, but as you get older and begin to feel less invinciple, they frighten you to death.
The highest maximum HR (using the most opimistic formulae I can find) for may age (64) is 170 BPM. During a "10" my HR will be around 160 - 165 peaking at 175BPM, I have to fight the temptation to throttle back at 170BPM for fear of blowing the engine.
I'm doing my first TT of the season this evening (Old Ports 12.6 mls) - if it's not p*ssing down.
Where do the old portlians run there TT from then?
I'll have to try and get along to that, especially as the Bexley CC West Kingsdown course is still shut until end of May due to roadworks.
Where do the old portlians run there TT from then?
I'll have to try and get along to that, especially as the Bexley CC West Kingsdown course is still shut until end of May due to roadworks.
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Starts at Crowhurst Village hall at 7:00pm on Thursday evenings, See:
http://www.oldportlianscc.co.uk/diary.htmIt's 2 laps of a 6.25 ml road circuit. Not flat, but neither could it be called hilly. The roads were quiet on the most part, with some braking needed in 2 or 3 places only. It cost £2 as a non-member. The guys from The Old Ports were welcoming (I'm not a member) and were going off to the local Pub afterwards for a "quick one" (I was tempted, but the trouble & strife was waiting at home to have dinner with me).
Anyway enough about them - what about me!
It turned out to be lovely sunny evening (after all the rain during the day), a bit chilly with loads of midges.
I did it in 37:30 which equates to 30:00 for a '10' - disappointing but it was the first race of the season and as you might imagine, the extra 2.5 miles were the slowest. (The winning time was 32:00).
As regards HRMs and Max BPM wot we discussed in earlier posts: My Max recorded HR was 175, but generally around 160-165, dropping to 158 on a few occassions when I lost the plot.