Transcontinental Race No. 7 - TCR7 - #TCRN07 - 2019

Drop the intensity then and ride more. You don't need to be flogging yourself near threshold.

just in case i gave the wrong impression, i'm not riding TCR this year!

all i'm training for is to get faster and to keep up with my pals on a week long bikepacking trip this year. Next year I'll see what's what.

That volume, at this time of year, is not bad at all. Adding in some longer rides at the weekend in a month or two would see you just fine imo - the rest is about being sure of your kit, comfy on your bike. Would definitely reccommend doing plenty of flexibility/conditioning stuff too. Yoga if you can.

How is the training going at the moment?

Going OK!

I've not been very busy at work which has made it more achievable. Am working from home 3-4 days per week, so I can find time for turbo at lunchtime or before nursery pickup.

I'm doing trainerroad, medium volume. That is 5 turbo sessions a week, and I've done virtually all of them. Saturday is a day off so I look after my daughter then and my wife gets a break so she is happy.

I'm also doing a session of yoga once per week.

What I'm not doing is riding outside much. I'm supposed to be allowed one long ride per month, but dns'd my one last weekend and just did turbo. Commute 1 or 2 days per week + errands into town are all the riding I do. On Monday I met a friend for a beer in the west end so that was 40km, which was OK.

I'll ride more when the weather is better, but if I get busy at work the turbo will get harder to fit in, so will just drop some sessions. Might replace some with rides to Richmond Park when weather is better.

I've done 10 years of long distance riding so reasonably relaxed about not doing much volume. But I've not done very much in the last 2.5 years (since tcr 2016), so can't completely rest on my laurels, need to settle my bike fit, etc.

Hard week for me too, the main thing which gets me through is knowing next week is an easy week with an FTP test. Building the base is what lets you increase training volume over time. My personal aim this year was to ride regularly rather than be the weekend warrior (which was somewhat forced as I was living in central Tokyo last year and it was 100km+ of riding to get out).

I know the feeling about increasing your FTP, then suddenly finding your steady state rides are hard work. I don't know what one should do, other than remember that it does get easier over time...

I also think flexibility, core strength and general strength helps with finishing. Flexibility especially as it is of low energy cost during the race, and helps all the other muscles work without being pulled in funny ways.