Sweet spot success?

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!

Pelmewash Parkway "Tempo Formation"

April 2/23 - Adam, Brett, Mark, Peter, Paul. 
A sunny, yet nippy Sunday ride heading north through Oyama/Okanagan Centre. Nice to see other groups and cyclists out on the roads and trails. Oyama climb didn't feel great, but coming out of OK Centre felt tremendous. It must've been that magical oat choco cookie from our cafe stop (Salty Caramel). Another well-deserved PR! We're riding a lot more efficiently as a group. Despite the headwind, Pelmewash was quick with rotating 60 second pulls. Until of course Breezy's earbuds fill his ego with a jolt of Taylor Swift's "Shake it off" - then he disappears in a mirage  of dreams, literally shaking me off... I blame the segment notification alerts on his bike computer. Always taunting him to take the crown. These other guys are no slouch either - just a little more humble. With nearly 800m of climbing, we still managed to average over 30kph. I never could have imagined this last year. Again - kudos to Sweet Spot.

I'm far from a pro cyclist and know that many of my Tempo Compadres could put me in a dark hole pretty quickly. But I'm happy. I feel good. Making progress. Getting better every time I clip in.
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-pppuma out.

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