Fortnighly Update - Ravaged by illness

 Last fortnight Summary:

Distance: 273.3 Km (longest ride 61 Km)

# of Rides: 10 rides 

Weight: 99.7 Kg

I was off the bike Friday, Saturday & Sunday. I've gotten some heavy cold/flu/COVID which has really knocked me about. I'm typing this on Monday, and I still feel naff. Didn't ride this morning and doubt I'll ride tomorrow either.

Bloody annoying. I'd gotten myself into a good rhythm of morning rides. I was also hoping to ride 80+ on Saturday.

Big dogs cock.

Fortnightly update - Post of truth

Much like I'm keeping a check on my kilojoule intake, I'm also hoping a fortnightly blog post will keep me honest.

Last fortnight Summary:

Distance: 349.1 km (longest ride 67 Km)

# of Rides: 11 rides 

Weight:100.3kg

So I'm aiming to ride 7 days a week. Monday to Friday will be 60 minute rides, Saturdays a long ride (approaching 3 hrs), and Sundays a 90 minute ride.

I'm aiming for a kilojoule intake of 9473/day (That's a number the Medibank Private calculator spat out for me for a male my age and weight trying to lose weight, off a base of light exercise). If I'm hitting that number, and riding hard, the weight should come off.

Other things I'm also trying/doing:

* Riding fasted. Other than a quick short black, I don't eat before I ride in the morning (except on the Saturday long rides). There's some decent science behind this actually.  The human body has evolved to be rather good at defending calories (a throwback to caveman / spearing a mammoth days). So the thinking is one need to have these mini fasts in order to crack those calorie defenses. It's the same science that's behind the 16:8 diet

* Going to the gym. My son was keen to join a gym, and the local Planet Fitness has a duel membership offer that was too good to refuse. I'm not down there smashing the machines 6 days a week, rather doing a couple of 40 minute free weight/stretching sessions. That's can't hurt. 

Tough Love from Dangles

Dangles (aka Dave) is a great cycling mate I know from way back. Probably the best cyclist I know. 

To say Dave rides a lot would be one of the world's great understatements. Here's his Strava profile. Keep in mind he was a relative latecomer to Strava, so that 110000 km he's racked up short sells his experience.

He's also a veteran of big one day rides like the Alpine Classic & the 3 Peaks. I'm planning to ride with Dangles at the alpine classic next year actually. Anyhow after my latest blog update, Dangles provided some tough love:

"The way I see it, if you can’t manage an average approaching 200 km/wk (i.e. EVERY week), then making real progress will be difficult.

If you head to Vic at 100 kg you’ll struggle getting beyond the first major climb of the day, regardless of what route you choose. That weight handicap is a huge ask for heart, lungs and legs.

I think you’ve got to aim to be well under 90 kgs (lets say 85) come the start of December, with the knowledge that Xmas tends to throw a spanner in the works.

But if you can be around 85 then at least you’ll be in the riding groove, which will making it easier to keep Xmas in check.

 Otherwise I don't see the point of heading to Vic In Jan. Those hills aren’t kind to big fellas (even little fellas), regardless of their romantic allure - it’s a long way to go for a DNF"

Consider my arse firmly kicked Dangles. To be honest, it needed a shoeing. I'm a gold medalist in excuses. 

 200 km/week minimum from now on.