The Wed Night Rides. I'm trashed.
Spring has sprung and its time for the Wed night bike shop rides. It's very motivating, only this year I have long run Thursdays, after the Wed night slugfests.
It was quite windy last night and only 5 guys posted for the ride. I rode to the bike shop, which gave me a warm up and an 10ish minute ft interval, one of 4 on my plan. I jumped in with the others and went to the front as it was a flat to uphill rolling stretch and perfect stretch to get some more work in. Small Dave (who would never, ever pass the Socie inspection) plugged in right behind me and never shut up, letting my big ass carry him along to the hills. We hit a stop sign, noodled a hundred yards or so before the next climb, and then off we went. This stretch provided about a 12 minute interval, again into the wind. I took a look at my watts and hr and thought, hmmm, good work going on here. We went all out trying to drop each other all the way back into town.
On it went like this. If we weren't stopped, obeying traffic laws, we were hammering. I forgot about the intervals and just rode as hard as I could, fabricating reasons to hate these guys. We looped back through town, I said thanks, see ya next week, and they went back to the bike shop. I did a cool down circuit around town which takes about 3 minutes (think Mayberry, only no sheriff) and saw the lbs racing team come through, hoping to avoid guys like me. I hopped in and hung on for another 20 minutes or so, allowing fear of humiliation to fuel my ride and practicing my best FNG etiquette which meant being very careful not to ruin anyone's season and taking the straight into the wind pulls until I started heaving. I got home legitimately shattered.
Entire workout (349 watts):
Duration: 1:12:18 (1:28:50)
Work: 1515 kJ
TSS: 159.2 (intensity factor 1.181)
Norm Power: 390
VI: 1.11
Min Max Avg
Power: 0 1044 349 watts
Heart Rate: 0 161 136 bpm
Cadence: 20 115 80 rpm
No way I get that kind of work in without the "race" setting. That was the most intense riding I've done since Fred Velo's summer road racing and really the first time I've seen the off season work manifest itself on the road. I think the pm read high for some reason, though it never has before. I set my post OS ftp at 330 so this would represent a big bounce. I don't remember doping, but the ride had a Floyd's big day quality. I did have lots of caffeine. I also have rested legs, was seriously motivated (as opposed to a solitary trainer workout) and maybe just having a good night all enter into it. I'll take it, but won't be bummed if Saturday's numbers are more down to earth.
Now to "run". 
Comments
LMAO!!!! Great ride Chris- you are gonna be fun to tuck behind at TOC if I can somehow manage to stay on your wheel! But I'm beginning to fear you are getting too damn fast!
Have fun on the run today- I know that's your real nemesis!
What was the peak 60? That is a huge BUMP!
Nice work and enjoy a ice cream cone after that effort!
Chris, that's a great session, I have something similar on Wednesdays, but it won't work with a Thurs long run. How about moving your long run to Tues?
Now we're talking. This is the kind of stuff I LOVE reading about. Way to hammer Chris. There's just no substitute for riding your ass off with others.
I've been doing a similar Wed night ride. Last night was mid to low 40's and rainy. I killed myself and loved it (when it was over
 
Hoping to run ok later.
Looking forward to seeing you in action a a couple of weeks.
Dave
Vince
Ridin' high--literally! Well, not that kinda "high."
Fantastic!!! And a hoot to read!
I've been riding T/Th with one club, and W with another club. Lately my IF has been .93+ (with a low VI too), my legs are thrashed all the time! Just when I think I won't be able to handle the next ride, I get a little warm-up in and I'm able to follow and even pull some. Darn fast-arse roadies!
I'm skipping the Th ride tonight so I can actually run for the first time in three weeks. Hopefully the legs aren't that bad!
Peak 60min (367 watts):
Duration: 1:00:00 (1:13:52)
Work: 1320 kJ
TSS: 140.5 (intensity factor 1.206)
Norm Power: 398
VI: 1.09
@Vince
Peak 20min (403 watts):
Duration: 20:00 (21:02)
Work: 483 kJ
TSS: 56.3 (intensity factor 1.299)
Norm Power: 429
VI: 1.06
Thanks all. Comparing these numbers to last year's similar bleed from the eyes road race numbers, I'm a full 40 points or so stronger.
I'm still skeptical, though. Something is up. We'll see how next week adds up.
@ Nemo, you can be a pilot fish.
@ Rich, Tues for long run it is. I think it's wise to make sure I get quality runs in instead of just stumbling around.
@Dave, put on 20 lbs before Cali.
I'll be pilot fish #2 right behind Nemo for ToC.
Dude... freaking nice work!! I love it, now I know I have you and the Halligan to tuck in behind. I love you big guys with monster watt outputs.
Hey- hands off dude! That's my draft shark!!!!
I'm finally hitting the road this weekend after all the "trainer" riding from the outseason as well as doing the indoor winter race series. Hoping the "road" riding isn't anywhere near as painful as it was during the simulated race series on the computrainer!
awesome...I think I'll be using that "i'm trashed" line the entire week of the TOC!!!
P
Good job, thats impressive power, but I feel you, if you hammer on the Wed PM ride the Thursday long run can be a struggle. We had a few beers afterwards for some 'recovery', then boy getting up at 4:30am this morning am to get my long run in was not what I would describe as pleasant. I did a 12mi out and back and the only thing that kept my pace up was the notion that the faster I ran, the quicker this misery would be over.
Thanks.
Trevor, I hurriedly switched wheels between my tri bike and my road bike and the speedometer skewer magnet didn't line up initially so no speed or distance for most of the ride. I think a lot of the power came from serious headwinds and my trying like hell to stay with skinny guys up short steep hills.
Power is all relative. Your 250 is actually bigger than my 350. I'm 6'5", weight 230, my vdot is about 39, so if any of you guys want to swap watts for vdot points, I'm all ears. My w/kg is not a ticket to moving easily up anything over about an 8% grade.
cm