Two Wheel Blogs

Some days are better than others. Today was one of those others.

I've been feeling pretty good on the bike lately. My answer to the standard cyclist's "How's your training?" greeting has ranged from "Not bad at all" to "Really well" recently.

One of the things I've come to understand a lot better in the last few years is the need for rest and recovery. A lot of guys I know, and I myself have been a long-time member of this club, don't really get what recovery is about and how to implement it as part of their training plan.

This is what I like best about training with a powermeter on my bike. I can look at where I am now and compare that to where I was last week, last month, or last year. In my case I can go back almost 5 years now.

I keep reading all these cycling news headlines about such-and-so's team training camp. Wouldn't it be nice to up and go to some place warm and dry, just to train with your buddies? OK, maybe some aren't your buddies. Teammates, whatever. Warm, that's the point.

Yesterday I went to a bike race - to spectate. The race started at 11 AM, so the no-brainer plan was to combine the trip to the race with lunch. I almost missed lunch altogether. The race was a 100 miler on rollers. With the competitors constantly in plain sight I found I didn't want to leave. I wanted to stay and watch.

I'm getting used to this late afternoon routine: Finish work. Change clothes. Walk down the stairs. Ride. Towel off. Shower. Done and ready to eat.

That's three good days in a row of that for me this week. Will I ever train outdoors again?