40 Goals

Since getting back on the bike in August I've been tracking my FTP in wko+. Mostly by using a full bore 40k ride as my benchmark, a ride I call the "Billingshurst Loop". When I started in August it took me 1:27, my latest best is 1:15.  I use the NP for this ride because it is a little lumpy (which is unavoidable where I live). The results tend to stack up very, very well with 20min turbo tests as well. Whilst my target for FTP is basically "as high as I can get it" I still like to set targets and track progress towards them. Hence the graph. The linear and curved trend lines are based upon the data collected. I tend to believe that future progress will not be as dramatic as past progress so believe the end FTP of 290 is a reasonable target. However, the linear target of 320 is not impossible. I'd be delighted with anything approaching 300w, and unlike in 2007, this time I know EXACTLY how many watts I do day to day. In 2007 I hit an FTP of 294w for an outdo...

Less than 2,128 calories per day leads to 80kg in Lanzarote (!?) As time ticks by the average weekly weight loss needed to hit 75kg on July 3rd is going up. I think the long term targets are making me complacent so I’m setting myself an aggressive and short-term target – I’m going to get to 80kg before the training week in Lanzarote on January 18th . So thats 4.18lbs in exactly 1 month of 31 days, since its the 18th today. That makes a total calorie deficit of 14,630 or 472 calories a day. Since my training is mostly Zone 3 in January I need to be very careful with fatty food - I’m going to be burning carbohydrate for the month. yeah, I know about increased heart rate and fat burning, but in my experience eating less fat to begin with is a better approach. According to this my basal metabolic rate is about 1850 calories per day (not including exercise) which takes care of my calorie intake on a rest day. If we throw in 750 calories for a typical daily turbo session (the rowing machine...

Lest there be any doubt ... I need to lose between 8 and 10 kilos before July and continue to build sustainable power. Perhaps in future I'll keep my shirt on, especially now I've got a fan to keep me cool (but alas no stand, but its amazing what you can do with junk from the kids play room)! Watching the Colts squeak the Broncos 34-31 at Mile High.

On my 40th Birthday I will climb the infamous Alpe D'Huez in under one hour. Well, thats the mission statement out of the way... just a small matter of developing my fitness levels, getting the trip sorted out and then completing the task. Perhaps its the mid-life crisis, or perhaps a throwback from giving up smoking 4 years ago and wanting to do something outstanding. Perhaps I need a goal to stop me from going insane. Whatever the underlying motivation I am determined to complete this mission. Since I only took up cycling in 2003 I'm not in the greatest of shape. For sure, I skiffed down the River Thames with a close buddy in 2002 and have run quite a few 10ks (Goring, Christs Hospital, Woking 1010 ...) I've even cycled an Audax event (Tour of the Surrey Hills). I am in relatively good shape. But I'm no Marco Pantani and certainly come July 3rd 2007 if I am able to take less than an hour to traverse the 21 switchbacks along the D211 north of Bourg d'Oisans, past ...