Cycling is a beautiful thing
It is a form of expression of style and character, it is a form of exercise, it is a medium for social opportunity, it is even just a way to get around places faster than walking.
In a rural farming community, we were a long way from any networks of bike lanes or paved shoulders and spotting a cyclist was about as rare as seeing any racial minority.
Both would be met with the same look of confusion that read "You're not from around here, are you?"
Like many other endurance sports, pro moto riders often use cycling for off-the-track fitness training. In 'behind the scenes' series I would always see the obligatory 'cycling training ride' scene (often in the rain for some reason) and would always wonder what that would be like. Captivated by the premium 'S-Works' model bikes they all almost exclusively seemed to possess.
In University, now living in an urban environment, cycling was much more practical with the paved-surface-prevalence. I initially bought a rocky mountain flat-bar hybrid for getting to & fro campus but with Ottawa's well equipped bike path network I couldn't help but dabble in some longer, 'fitness exploration rides'. The pinnacle of this culminated with a 17km out and back on one of the flattest roads imaginable near my house, I was absolutely spent afterwards yet I was grinning ear to ear. It was clear that I was onto something and a change of equipment was necessary. 2016 Totals: 17km // ~100m // 0.75h Oh yeah, it's all coming together.
In comparison, all the other bikes I previously rode may as well could've been made out of pool noodles. To people yet to try a road bike, I cannot recommend more this experience . The efficiency of the energy transfer is just *chefs kiss*.
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Rather than following one of the convenient, yet basic, Zwift training plans this past off-season, I decided to try something a little different. After working with a coach for several months last year, I became intrigued with TrainingPeaks, mainly due to due its signature "Fitness", "Fatigue", and "Form" metrics. It's easy to use, and integrates nicely with my Apple TV/Zwift setup. For a mere twenty bucks, I purchased a three month Sweet Spot training plan, which pre-filled my calendar for the weeks to come.
Sweet Spot involves training intervals between 88-94% of FTP. Although spinning Z2 for hours is easier to approach, riding 10+ hours a week on a trainer all winter just wasn't going to be feasible for me. Sweet Spot was the alternative. It's tough, short, but gets the job done in a jiffy. I stuck with it for most of the winter, and didn't think much of it. Until now. Sweet Spot became my new norm
Everything feels easier out on the road this spring. I feel faster. More nimble. There's more air to breathe, more power to burn. So many achievements. Overall weight is relatively unchanged. Yet I feel like a Power Ranger. Achievements galore! Gosh darn does it ever feel good floating up a climb only to reach the top and steam roll through the valley. Maybe I'll give my racehorse TCR a bit of credit? Sure, my technique is better than it was. I've got some cool new Tempo swag - that certainly helps too. But overall, I think I have to credit that winter of Sweet Spot.
Achievements Galore!
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