48 bpm

Well well. 48 beats per min at rest. I am amazed.
I've always been a bit interested in my heart rate, and have been quietly pleased when it's been low.
"Could I lower the rate if I held my breath?"
"What if I took little breaths?"
I occasionally measured my heart rate and for a while a couple of years a go I recorded it on my Polar HR monitor.
But 48! It's never been that low before.
I had been up for 10 mins or so then went and laid back on the bed. So it wasn't as if I was still asleep.
But why?
I did the big 100 two weeks ago, I have been doing short rides since - three this week - but with high HR. I've also done a few hill sessions concentrating on the muscles.
Maybe that's done it.
Or maybe I'm ill. Don't think so

10th

So apparently I came 10th in last week's Sportive ride. Not bad but it's no the Tour de.
My chest has been awfull today. It might be an infection I suppose. It's a shame as it will undo a lot of my good fitness work.

I'm thinking of doing the Tour of Wessex next weekend. Only day one though. I want to do the three days next year so that's on my list of targets I suppose.

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Castle ride was a success

Yeah it went really well. 20 mins faster than last year and I still had energy in the tank. Over 2 km of climbing and 160 km (100 mile).
I'm now thinking of doing some time trials and a couple more sportives. I feel quite strong. Very good for a 50 yr old. We probably came around 6th at a guess.


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Graeme Obree

Oh it's good. He's double good. An inspiration on many levels. I loved it.
Does his illness give him an ability to push himself to extraordinary lengths I wonder. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Htmuti0Htk

Hailstones sting

I really struggle choosing what to wear on the bike if the weather changes. Or, I really struggle choosing what to wear on the bike because I live in England. Last week was short sleeve. Today, temperature was 9C, wind was 30 mph and northerly. So, gilet, longsleeve thick jersey, and a thin base layer (HH). It rained a bit but the hail was thefirst lesson. At 40 km/ h down hill it really stings. Lesson two, my feet were so numb they needed a soak in hot water to bring them round. Don't forget the boots even in spring and even if it was 20C last week.

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How not to feed for race day

A good lesson for me in taking positives from what seems a big negative. Yesterday I planned to do a 100 mile ride (160 km) but couldn't. The night before I hardly slept and in the morning I felt very out of sorts. But why? Did I do something wrong or was it just one of those things.
The week before I had two lots of porridge two hours before. I also had juice and a gel. I think it's best to have food 3 hours before really but yesterday was an early start so I moved some to the night before.
Lesson 1 Rolled oats + banana + protein powder + water in the blender is great, but not three lots in the 4 hours before bed. Convenient, healthy and tasty it may be but it isn't good for the system. Pasta next time.
I'm sure that was the basis of my tummy part of the problem.
My sleepless night must have been due to all that energy quickly getting into my system.
The other mental problem I had to solve was that I have been sucessfully losing weight over the past month or so. I feared a lack of energy because of that so I over compensated. I messed it up.
Lesson 2 Consume a good level of carbs the week before. Probably around 400-500 grams.
Anyway, I felt like a fraud. Emma Pooley over came sickness to win the GP Suisse time trial - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/8655066.stm
And Graham Obre kept himself up all night (on and off) so his legs would seize up for his second attempt at the 1 hour record. Me, I'm just riding around Kent.