SUNNY & WINDY

95 kms | 3 h 47 m | avg speed 25 km/h | 2.416 kcal | avg hr 153
 

Good ride today. 90 kms in 3 hours 30 minutes with the last 5 kms just cooling down. The weather was very good, sunny and not too cold. The wind is still blowing strong. Not as strong as in the last weekends but good enough for strength training.

Bom treino hoje. 90 kms em 3 horas e 30 minutos, com os últimos 5 kms para relaxar. O tempo estava perfeito com sol e não muito frio. O vento ainda está soprando forte mas não tanto quanto nas semanas anteriores mas o suficiente para um brom treino de força.

Waking up today was quite hard. The alarm started at 6:50 am and to get out of bed was hard. Fortunately I had made an appointment with a colleague for this ride and this forces one to get up and ready to ride as quick as possible.

I left home at 7:40 (lost too much time putting all the winter shoe covers) and rode 25 kms towards Hilversum, where I met the colleague. From there we went thru Laage Vuursche, Bilthoven and Martensdijk with some head wind.  I kept the rhythm high with a cadence between 85 and 90 and heart rate as close to 160 as possible. Basically end of zone 2 training.

From there we went thru Oud Maarsseven, Breukelen and follow the Vecht river back to Loenen. I’ve done this road hundred times and it is always nice. In the river we were protected from the wind and it was easy. But after Loenen we face cross wind until Hilversum when we splitted.

From Hilversum I went back home with a strong headwind. The speed went down quite a lot and without someone to keep pace I lost speed. Even if you are not riding behind someone to protect from the wind, riding with company increase your speed as it helps you to keep the pace.

My lower back showed some sings of pain around 70 kms into the ride but after some relaxation and stretching exercise while riding it went away. I’m feeling I’m starting to learn to live with this “condition”. Happy with the result and endurance is slowly increasing.