It’s still a month away. You’ve got plenty of base.

If those words were being spoken about an upcoming DJ set, then I’d probably not take them completely with a grain of salt. When they are in reference to a 160km event with a shitload of hills, and the sum total of post-KT riding can be counted on a couple of hands and half a foot, then the magnitude of them becomes a little bit greater. A lot greater, actually.

Having a base of fitness to call on isn’t something to be sneezed at. Years of riding does give you an in-built reserve of muscle memory and hopefully some leftover cardio capacity, but being match-fit will only ever come from actually playing the match. I can comfortably jump back on the bike and into our group with not too much trouble, keep the pace and take my turns. But the false sense of security is quickly wiped out when there’s a rise in the road, or someone decides they want to ride twice as fast and the rest start chasing. I’ll usually be smart enough to sit back and not try to mix it up, and be thankful that at least the head is still operating at acceptable levels. I mean, they have to wait for me anyway. Right? Guys?

FRB‘s are pretty frequent at this time of year (in the lower half of the world at least), and the mix of emotions they cause can be as painful as the riding. You make it through in fairly good shape, not having maxed anything out, and you feel like this is not so hard after all. Then in the middle of the night the cramps hit, legs reminding you that they’ve been criminally neglected as they protest at the shabby treatment they’ve had to endure. The lungs do their best to eject the phlegmy detritus that an almost forgotten dose of clean, fresh air is attempting to overpower. Sweat oozes from pores with an aroma of sweet victory mixed with bitter defeat. The Head has it’s usual “ahh, she’ll be right, couple of weeks you’ll be flying” spiel down pat, and you are duped into the scam with an overly agreeable “damn straight, buddy.”

You know that’s not true, but you persevere, because eventually it does come back. The base has served you well, layed the foundations, poured the concrete around the reo and now only needs the bricks to be placed on top, one at a slow, tedious time. By the end of summer your temple is standing proud once again, yet just waiting to be covered in tarpaulins and plastic over the windows when the skies grey and the cold war is lost once again.

Still a month away, you say?

Brett

Don't blame me

View Comments

  • @piwakawaka

    @brett

    @piwakawaka

    I might have a crack at the gravel race, always wanted to do that one. But Admirals can fuck off!

    if you want a start we have a spot available…

    Cheers, but I'm not gonna be the weak link with you guys! I'll be the weak link with my other less weak links and roll around in pain and hide. If I had KT form, then fuck yeah!

    I might have to work at the shop anyway, dudes are off having children and getting married... WTF is up with that?

  • @TheVid

    Living far up in the northern hemisphere (51N), and still feeling the last remnants of the VVhidbey Island cogal in my guns, I’m not at all about to head into FRB territory.  What I am looking at is my first ride back on the trainer, as I accept the ever looming arrival of sub zero temperatures and snow/ice/sand covered roads which will persist for the next 5-6 months.

    I’ve been trying to increase my fitness over the past couple years with the goal to complete solo 150km rides with ~1500m climbing at an average speed in excess of 30kph.  Two years ago I was at 28kph, this year I was just over 29kph.  With running a business and having a young family, time is sometimes in short supply.  A very understanding VMW goes a long way to letting me get some distance in, but I just can’t crack the 30kph barrier.

    I’d love for there to be a magic solution to getting over that goal based on my time constraints, but as I write this, the voice in the back of my head says ‘Just ride more.  Build the base.  If you must watch TV, watch it while on the trainer.’  I know in my head what I can do to improve, it’s just the execution that fails.

    Well if the two of us were to ride 100mi (upstate) South Carolina, then you would break that barrier. No drafting either. It certainly will happen with more riding. All shapes of riding. Let us know when it happens too! I can only offer this extra reminder, whether dealing with a race or personal goal, "races or won and lost over very small differences." Never give in. Don't give it away. It all counts.

  • @brett

    @EBruner

    I fight off the FRB like it is death. I have not taken more than 2 days in a row off the bike in over 5 years. I absolutely refuse to face that feeling.

    What are you, a Pro? Jobless? Definitely single and no kids… or at least not over 40.

    Hey... I'm full time employed, married with three kids, and just turned 40 and can say the same! My post season break is two weeks off but I do a 1hr recovery ride every third day. What do you think 4am-7am (-8:30 on weekends) is for if not riding guilt free whilst the family sleep?

    Besides... I can't go any longer off the bike, I go batty. Even at the end of two weeks I am chomping at the bit to do a "real ride"! I get all sluggish, bored, fed-up with no activity and lack energy, tired even despite the copious amounts of sleep. This body needs to be active man!

  • As you get older, you lose form faster, and it takes longer to get it back. The result is time off is shorter and the build phase is longer. Just because I ride every third day during my time off doesn't mean I am doing any work on the bike - just keeping a hand in - keeping the system moving to limit any de-training the body decides to do. I'll take it easy again at the end of December before ramping up full and well for the season start in March.

  • @Puffy

    As you get older, you lose form faster, and it takes longer to get it back. The result is time off is shorter and the build phase is longer. Just because I ride every third day during my time off doesn’t mean I am doing any work on the bike – just keeping a hand in – keeping the system moving to limit any de-training the body decides to do. I’ll take it easy again at the end of December before ramping up full and well for the season start in March.

    I hear you. I can roll out at 5am and get 30 miles before shower and opening my store for the day. I just don't feel right without riding. At 46 nothing make me feel more alive than riding 6 days a week.

  • @wilburrox

    Eight days off the bike included 5 rounds of golf, more than a few steak dinners and countless bottles of red wine shared with friends. And a little whiskey. One cigar. A little break smack in middle of CX season and in front of state champ race this w/e. My FRB yesterday for the Tue club ride I quickly thought to myself, heck with this, my season is over… and this w/e I’ll be spectating while the kiddos race and I’m really looking forward to it. And I’ll look forward to some long winter rides. But not just yet… cheers all

    Love that there's more to life than cycling!  Golf and wine are right up there for me too.

  • @Teocalli

    @EBruner

    I remain to be convinced that 5am actually exists.

    As do I. But one should take inspiration from @EBruner's dedication. I need to drag myself out at that time of the morning or there'll be precious little riding between now and March.

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