Training

Finished another training block and week! It has been a busy and week of redeveloping routines, workouts, work, family and sleep. Unfortunately, sleep gets short changed. I felt strong but tired this week as strength training and workouts are doing their job. B/S ranged from 220- 100 during workouts and Dr. Matt's advice seems to be working as I have begun setting my temp basil rate 60 to 90 minutes before workouts and have increase the amount of insulin of the basil from 50% to 70%. Tweaks like this seem to be helping with recovery,or it is my imagination. Whatever it is, it is working. Got to ride outside yesterday and tried riding a "new" 14.2 mile course with some challenging climbs. Spout Hill is a .5 mile climb that average 6.33 % slope, maxing at 14%. I am setting this course as a benchmark for this season as it has a nice profile of rolling hills, flats, and can be a challenge. First report is 177.7 average watts, max at 494, time 55 minutes, average speed 15.3. Not great but I was happy with the average power output. As it is reported widely, can't fool power training. I will be testing on a longer course (36 miles) in March.

I am using the iBike wireless with the updated iBike 2 analysis software. I am a techno-junkie and was drawn to the iBike as there are continued developments and it is half the cost of other power meters. There are many knocks against the iBike, but recently the developers have done a great job of resolving many of the power spike and inaccurate reading the meter has. Also, with each new advent of software (firmware) is a simple download and not needing to buy a new one. In my use, I have found the power readings on iBike and Computrainer have been within 2 to 4 % of each on the same course. I can live with that!