Tags
Another year complete and another Rapha 500 complete (despite declaring that I would not do one again).
I went into the Rapha very uncommitted and with the thought that I might do a couple of big days of downhill rides only – it was only for my own benefit anyway.
In the end I found it quite easy, and I ended up with very similar stats to the previous years. Of course, doing 100K on the 24th and then another one on the 27th helped.
I also managed 15 new Fulgaz rides, which was a bonus. Everything on Fulgaz bar the final ride which was a Rouvy race. That was something new to me but I enjoyed it.
This year I was considering doing 10,000 metres of climbing in the 8 day period and I might do that next year instead of 500Km.
Overall I thought I had completed a very good cycling year. I was happy with most things I had done, and I felt that I had ridden a lot. However, I was very surprised to find that my numbers were down across the board (30 hours light, 2000Km short (although I don’t bother with distance now as I monitor hours) and maybe 20,000 metres of climbing less than I wanted.
One nagging thought is that I would like to go outside more but a combination of laziness, ease of indoor training, safety and weather conditions and a nagging wife (who is only concerned about my safety) mean that I only went outside twice, both times with my local cycling group, Wetherby Velo. I found myself hanging on for dear life on their tempo Tuesdays but I did enjoy the social aspect afterwards (beers). They have set up a steady Thursday ride for (mostly) us retired folks and I do intend joining that occasionally – but we shall see.
I am still running the weekly challenge on Fulgaz – over 4 years now – and it is promoted by Fulgaz in their weekly newsletter and they are very supportive to me. I really do think that app goes from strength to strength, and it is my goto app. I use Rouvy through winter if I can get a half-price deal which I normally do. I do like the gaining XP points for completing challenges (groups of selected rides) and the occasional race. Although I treat those as I used to do with Zwift, as a solo TT at whatever pace I feel like on the day, so not really a race.
Last week I logged into Zwift for the first time for about a year and I did not recognize the front end. I had watched a You Tube video about a guy completing the longest 30 routes in 30 days and I wanted to see how many of the big routes I had left to do. It looks like maybe 5 of top 10. I might join for a month and try and get those ticked off. I am at level 33 and I have used it about 4 times (using the free 25Km per month) in the last three years.
Please subscribe using the ‘Follow’ link on the home page (bottom R/H corner)
Follow me on Strava https://www.strava.com/athletes/1621968
Comments and input welcome
tempocyclist.com said:
Well done! Some great FulGaz rides on that list! The 10,000 metres of climbing in the 8 days sounds tough. A good way to challenge yourself instead of distance though. I completed the Festive 500 (it helps living in The Land of Ridiculous Sunshine) so perhaps a “Festive 5000m” elevation challenge is in order?
LikeLike
John Hallas said:
Thanks Klem. Have a great 2024.
LikeLike