h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Friday : 41:09 (less wind than previous run).

Saturday was spent poking around in a distressingly unstable boulder choke in N. Wales, and Sunday was rest day. Will try to do 12 or 25 miles on Monday.

Monday didn't happen
Tuesday 42:17/17.0

Wednesday - went digging, but sat around for an hour and a half while scaffolding was put in the wet dig, but by the time the hole was safe for hauling the midges were so bad we had to abandon work. By wearing oversuit with cuff seals, headover and hat, and continually moving, managed to only get 2 bites, but the cloud round the hole was so thick I inhaled quite a few just carrying scaffolding through.

Friday 42:43/16.7
Sunday 42:44/16.6
Monday 42:12/16.9

Roughly every other day for the last couple of weeks.
Speeds: 16.3, 17.3, 16.8, 17.4, 16.8, 17.2, depending on wind level, but never feeling quite on the power.

Then after a few days off and a change of tactics:

Friday: 17.6 (equalling previous PB, and would have been better if I'd turned the speedo on right at the start of the run
Saturday: 17.9 (new PB)
Sunday: 17.5 (*slightly* windier than previous 2 days)

Tactical change: Eat 1 or 2 bars of chocolate about an hour before the ride.
I definitely felt stronger right from the start, and could power round the whole course, including uphill sections where I'd previously usually end up just sitting in a low gear and spinning the pedals. The previous seeming inability to sprint antything like I used to wasn't anything like as apparent. Also, the hand numbness from being in the drops wasn't anything like as much as usual.

I think I'll take a gentle day or two, and then maybe try for a good time in the middle of the week. Might consider doing a mile or so of warm-up before the run rather than diving straight in from a standing start.

On my 17.9 run I ended up keeping pace with a fairly fit looking woman cyclist I've never seen before. However, even if she regularly does the same run as I do, if we both go at pretty much the same speed I suppose I'm not likely to see her again.

A 17.9 mph average is pretty good, find a club that does evening time trials, one that allows non members to try out before joining as our club does,
I think you'll be suprised just how much quicker you will go in an organised event. it's too late now this year but consider planning it for next spring.

I think I should do something like that - once I've got some kind of work sorted out, I'll look for a local club.

I keep telling myself that if I got a rather flatter course to cycle round and/or lost that extra stone of lard and maybe bought a cheapish racing bike rather than my middleweight tourer I *could* be a bit quicker, but I suppose at the moment I can pretend I would be without having to find out it wouldn't make much difference.

Making sure to take some carbohydrate before cycling does seem to be having some effect - went for a less flat-out run on Monday evening and still did 17.3, though I am also making more effort of late to keep lower and more aerodynamic which is probably helping as well.

I think I could probably play with my bike setup a bit as well. I may try raising the saddle a little to make it easier to get flatter without having knees banging my ribcage.
I do wish the bike was a few inches longer - my short leg / long torso build doesn't feel a perfect match for my bike when trying to get low.

PS - Thanks for your support. Not sure I'll ever get to 25/hour, but even having unattainable goals gives something to work for, however slowly.

Correction - Monday was 17.4

Today I tried warming up a bit first (stretching, etc), and since I hadn't eaten for some hours, drank a fairly concentrated sweet drink (some stuff from Slovenia that's basically flavoured sugar with added vitamins) about 20mins before setting off, and managed 17.8, my second fastest time so far.
I think the carbohydrate effect may be *partly* psychological - going up a hill 1/3 of the way round I can keep telling myself that the sugar will be hitting my bloodstream any time now, so there's no need to let up on the steeper sections as I'll be getting a boost pretty soon.

It sounds like your doing every thing right,aerodinamics are important, but if you do adjust
your riding position alter it a little at a time over a few weeks to avoid new aches and pains and as well as eating carbohydrates before your ride
try an isotonic energy drink such as Lucozade Sport or Isostar during your ride, it all helps.

Monday 17.4
Thursday 17.5
Friday 16.8 (bad headwind and no attention to pre-ride nutrition)