This week is flashing by quite rapidly I must say. It’s hard to think that February is all but in the books. I’ve read two books this week, the first being Training and Racing with a Power Meter by Allen and Coggan. This is essentially a great “users manual” for those of you that own power meters. It’s challenged me to use mine even more effectively in training since the there is a seemingly endless number of ways to look at all the data these things collect. I do like numbers and graphs, as much as any other physiologist geek, but I try to keep the training simple and well directed. The SRM only helps me do this. If you want to know how to better use your power meter, or find out what you might be missing out on if you don’t use a power meter, check this book out.
Book number two this week was Maximum Performance for Cyclists, written by Michael J. Ross, M.D. I will admit that I was a bit of a skeptic when first turning through the pages of this one. It is one of those things where if you’ve done something one way for so long, it doesn’t sit so well if someone tells you that could have been doing it better all along. So needless to say this one was a struggle at first, but I learned to appreciate the author’s scientific approach to training. It is a welcome change to a subject that’s so heavily steeped in tradition and myth. I actually have gone back to re-read some of this book because the ideas are just that fresh. I’ll be applying some of the interval recommendations into my next phases of training to see how this unique, scientific approach to interval training really works.
As if you expected a book review here?! Maybe you found it informational… In other news I kind of won an eBay auction by accident the other day. I threw out a low ball bid on a set of Mavic Speed City wheels that came with tires and rotors. Surprisingly I won with a pretty low offer. Hopefully they get here and are in good condition. This ought to be a versatile wheelset for any weird occasions that I might find this season. They’ll be great for any uphill bobsled TT’s I might find or possibly for the super xc event at the Sea Otter which is half done on pavement.
As for the riding scene, the recovery week has been pretty low key. The only thing that’s been in full gear is my appetite. It’s hard to keep any food in the cupboards these days! I’ve really learned to love fresh guacamole. I can eat it on almost every food, not just tortilla chips. Today I discovered that it tastes great on toasted bagels. I am feeling well rested and ready to go again soon. Best of luck to you Birkie skiers out there; Ski hard and ski fast! Until next time, -TJ
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