Nice solid day or training today. One of the more solid ones since Ironman. A good few hours or riding out in the hills which is never a task to be scoffed at. Particularly in my current state of fitness, which isn't too bad, but is a step down on what it was a month ago.
For today's ride my plan was to head out for a solo ride in the hills. As I have discussed before I don't mind riding with a group, but when I am starting to think about some more serious training I often like heading out alone. Sounds anti-social of me, and perhaps it is, but riding solo means I can do the session I want, at the intensity that I need. There is no waiting around, no riding to another person's pace etc. Training solo means I can train more effectively and more efficiently. That was the plan this morning.
Last minute though I changed plans and ended up riding with super duathlete Thomas Bruins. I have done some riding with Thomas before and he is a bit of a cycling weapon, so I knew by riding with him there was unlikely to be much waiting around. As it turns out Thomas has a cycling philosophy very similar to my own. Over four and a half hours I think we stopped three times. Once to pee, once to fill up bottles and once to fix a loose brake lever (mine). No stopping for coffee, no waiting for the group to reform, just solid, continuous riding. Good training. A nice way to return to riding long. A first step in building some of the strength that I need to find for 2017.
As well as the ride in the hills this morning being a good bit of training, it was also a fun morning out with new toys. Specifically these toys.
These toys are a new set of training wheels from Caden Wheels. I have been using Caden wheels for quite some time and have been really impressed with them. I have raced on them and trained on them for well over 12 months (actually I can't remember when I started using them) and they have never missed a beat. They are great quality, lightweight, stiff and amazingly good value for what you are getting. I train on a 50mm set and race on 88mm rims, but for a while I have been coveting a set of 38mm wheels to use for training on my roady. When Ben from Caden announced the new line of 2017 rims I knew I must have them and so after having a chat to him earlier in the month, these wheels arrived on Thursday ready for a play.
When I got my first set of carbon clinchers way back in the day I was a little sceptical, that was one of the reasons that I only got one training set (plus I only got financial approval for the one set). I wasn't sure the carbon clincher would stand up to the abuses of training. Plus I wasn't convinced about using a carbon braking surface all the time. Part of me thought it would be nice to have a reliable set of low profile alloy wheels to use when the weather gets nasty and the wind picks up. Having used the 50mm carbon wheels for a while I no longer have any fears about longevity. However, 50mm is a bit deep to be using comfortably in the big winds in training. No problem in racing, but it wears a bit thin day in, day out. I particularly remember one of two very uncomfortable descents out of the hills when you are pushing up to 70km/h and having a few wind induced wobbles. Not great. Hence the 38mm wheels this time around.
There is something about a good set of wheels. They can take an already good bike and set it a light. The lighter weight, the extra stiffness, you take off and you can feel it straight away. These new wheels are like that. From the first pedal stroke they felt like something special.
1500m of climbing and descending later and I am even more impressed. If I had been blindfolded then I would have crashed and died, but in the moment before my untimely demise I wouldn't have been able to tell you I was riding carbon rims. The braking was rock solid. I know braking has been one of the areas Caden has been working very hard on for 2017 and I would have to say I think they have nailed it. Ben will tell you that he thinks Caden's are some of the best braking carbon wheels on the market, and I don't think it is an idle boast.
I was impressed at the start and 140km later and that feeling hadn't gone away. I finished my ride and my wife asked how the wheels were, I was able to answer without a moment's hesitation that they are very, very good. Very happy with the choice.
With the training done the rest of the day has been spent chilling, holiday style with the family. A bit of a visit to the maritime museum, a bit of ice cream. Lovely afternoon on the whole. Now it is time to crawl into bed so we can wake up tomorrow reading and raring for 2017.
Speaking of 2017, I am sure many of you are wondering where my 2016 summary is, shouldn't this blog be all about 2016, what happened in the year, a bit of reflection etc? That certainly seems to be what all the cool kids are doing today after all. Not to worry, I haven't forgotten about doing a bit of a look back over the past 12 months, I just think I will do it tomorrow, before I turn to look forward.
Stay tuned.
No comments:
Post a Comment