Getting from A to Z

Where Z is Zoncolan, and A is my current state of fitness- which I would characterise as "totally untrained".

The Giro are returning to Zoncolan in 2018, in late May (the 19th I believe), I'm going to head over to ride it on the day before the pro's do, just as I did with some friends in 2010.

I've not ridden a bike for a couple of months, gone for a run or indeed done anything more intensive than taking the stairs rather than the lift every now and again, so this could be fun.

As a bit of motivation I'm going to record my progress (or lack thereof), to include power figures (such as they are),weight etc. More as a spur to myself than anything - putting these things out there in the public domain gives you a certain motivation to be less Jabba-esque, plus 10km at over 11% (rising to over 23%) helps to focus the mind somewhat also.

Anyway, I expect many of you will want to put this thread on ignore at this point, but for anyone interested in observing how much suffering a MAMIL can bear, welcome to the fun.

Good luck, Neil. When do you officially start training?

Great project. Subbed.

50 x Canonbie Road laps every morning should see you right.

Monday the 18th, precisely six months before Z

Both sides?

I plan to do a 100km loop, on xmas eve to kick off the festive 500 down towards chiddingstone then up to Enysford, welcome to join if you like

Once is enough, and from Ovaro I think - that's the way we did it last time I believe.

Do col du granon on Big Ring VR, similar to this ..

If you want to share the airbnb let me know.

Any specific goals, regarding your weight, power or time?

Other than 'lose some, gain more, and not take forever' :-)

Weight is a remarkable 84.7kg, I'd like to get back to around 76, and I suspect FTP is probably around 200 or so (will test shortly) and I'd like to get that to 300+

I think my last FTP test around six months ago was 240ish, IIRC.

I'm following this with interest. I was planning on a similar thread myself with the goal of doing some 10-mile TTs next year.

I did a very modest 43km today, it was tough going but fun.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1317099996

Here's me doing the longer version of this ride, in roughly the same time, five years ago:

https://www.strava.com/activities/20560368#369122889

The five years ago me is where I want to get back to.

Baseline set, I'll be doing this test quite regularly to track progress- on the assumption that there is some of course:

https://www.strava.com/activities/1323261019

324 watts for 3 minutes - astonishingly weedy as that figure is it felt like quite hard work.

Unfortunately I discovered that the battery in my HR strap was flat and I had no spares, so MHR will have to wait until after Christmas.

Am I right in saying that based on the above, (20min power ) 148w * 95% = 141w FTP?

Long periods at approx 150 Watts was warm up and warm down.

Ahhh, right - Thought it was a 20min test you were doing.

I’m pathetically weak, but not that pathetically weak.

Why Zwift not TrainerRoad? I have a month trial for the latter if you want it

Best motivation I ever had was to grab the audax calendar, throw the bike in the back of the car and enjoy a new piece of the country every Sunday. Doing a 200 each week will get you into a perfectly good enough condition for Zoncolon. Bin your stats, don’t measure your inadequacies, just enjoy riding your bike and get better each week. Use your own emotion to gauge progress.

I can’t ride 200k, my neck and shoulders hurt too badly.

Watch the fat man suffer.

For those who don't want to (and who can blame them) 351 watts for 3 mins.

This time round I had found my heart rate strap, for the 3 mins I averaged 163 and hit a maximum of 178.

I'm in the US for the next ten days without a bike so will be trying to fit in some time on the hotel treadmills.

I'm in the US for the next ten days without a bike

As you'll be recovered from the festive 500 by the time you get back, that might be a good time to do an ftp test.

#internetcoach