Nancy

Movin' Up

I am somewhat getting the hang of this “training with power” gig.  I did a pretty good job with my 30-minute test last Saturday. So much better that my trainer moved my Threshold Power up to 173 from 147.  Now, I know this is so much less then the others involved in this project.  I am so jealous!!  I just have to remind myself that I am old enough to be their mom, maybe even their grand mom!!  My trainer is looking for a really good FTP (functional threshold power) number and testing is the best way to find it.  For the definition of these terms you will have to look elsewhere.  I just try to do what I am told and keep the pedal pressure steady and the RPM around 90.

On the bike front – the shifter locked up on my Trek during the 30-minute test and it will be June before the new part is in.  In the meantime, I transferred my Power Tap to a LeMond TT bike.  I will be doing several Time Trials this summer, so it is probably a good thing to get started getting used to “the position”.  Yes, my dear daughter furnished this bike also.  What a girl!!!!

 

Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling.  ~James E. Starrs

Bike Lust

When you are happy with what you have and do not know of something better to replace it, all is well.  If perchance you try out an upgrade and fall in love with it, then all is not well.  A few evenings ago I met Amy Kipling with a Specialized demo fleet of bikes for women at the new bike shop in town, Joy Ride.  After trying out a Ruby Works 54 for only a few minutes, even I could tell this was a tremendous upgrade from my Trek Cyclcross bike for the open road. If I had the extra several thousand it would take to bring it home and put my Power Tap wheel on the back, I certainly would have.  Well, as a consolation, I brought home a new pair of sox, a Specialized Saddle and a brake job on the Trek. Sigh---

Now back to work.  I did 4, 3 min. intervals @ level 5, then 20 min. @ level 3 in the drops.  I thought my 20 min. interval looked fairly good, but I was pretty much all over the map on the 3 min. intervals.  Coming up is a 30 minute test.  I am excited to see how well I do. Consistency, consistency.