I wanted to try for a new 20 minute power PR and this climb looked like a really good candidate. It's an absolute belter. Smooth as butter all the way up (and down, obviously).
Thanks Andrew. Remember that guy you were battling in stage 8, who was at the side of the road towards the end? I came across a post from him on Discord. He had trouble breathing and so had to quit. I guess he gassed himself out. But he also said that he'd had several domestiques helping him throughout. You did brilliantly through the series. Constantly battling against (and beating) people who had much stronger riders towing them around, saving them matches. 💪
Lee you definitely flew over the cuckoo's nest in Ken Kesey's backyard, well done! Unless I'm in workout mode, I get that gambler's dopamine rush when I hit the +250XP on the segment power up wheel of fortune and it gives me something to curse at when I don't get it. I figure both results give me some extra watts. Get the Legs of Steel badge yet? I think I am getting close
😆 dopamine rush? You mean because I just held on to the power up and didn't get rid of it and see if I could get the xp? I did think about that, but my phone was just out of reach. I had to Google that badge. I think I'm probably a way off. I did the initial six climbs when the portal launched, but this is the first one I've done since then. Maybe I should start trying to get it. It's a noble goal!
Thanks JD. Yup. I will pay heed to the data, and I actually held off racing today partly because of it. But still wanted to do something, and figured this wouldn't be a completely bonkers effort.
Nice one Lee, you got some good gains from FRR and 4.2wkg is getting near A-cat territory! If you didn't run out of hill, it may have been even higher - you were just too damn strong for it. Congrats on the FTP increase too - now go and smash some B races before you get upgraded! 👊💪💪💪
Cheers homey. Surprised at how good I was feeling. I don't know if I'll have got the same HR benefits a second time, but a couple of months ago, holding that power, my HR would have been at max after not long. 👊
Wauw! Those long blocks of Yellow and red are so cool. Nicely done! Do you think it helped a bit to pedal on descent as well? Looked like it kind of motivated you with a new gradient, knowing it was the last bit of effort?
👊 Pedalling on the descent was definitely needed. I'd been taking it easy before the climb, so needed to keep it over 4.1wkg for a minute or so after the climb finished. I think the flat part at the top was only about 20-30 seconds. I was keen to finish, but just to see if I'd hit the target.
@@MrPedel honestly, I think I'm probably getting close to my limit. I'll keep trying to improve, but I think my age and previous sedentary lifestyle means there are practical limits on what I can achieve. That's ok with me, too.
@@lee-cycling you have certainly had a crazy year of improvements. Takes a while to find out if you may have plateaued, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there was more in there. You’re still on the backend of a major week-long effort, so all the eggheads might say that keeping a lighter schedule for a few more days would bring even bigger benefits in the longer run
Hey Ryan, I wanted to mention a couple of things to you about the London to Brighton ride. Firstly, when you go to get a bike, I'd look at a Pinnacle Arkose. They're decent bikes, easy to find secondhand, and won't cost much. Secondly, in order to train for Ditching Beacon, do the Radio Tower on 100% trainer difficulty. Ditching Beacon's max gradient, like the RT, is 17%. But, unlike the RT, it keeps easing off a bit. Lots of false flats. If you can get up the RT on 100%, you'll find DB is a little easier. It's a bit longer than the RT, but the flatter bits give you a little bit of rest.
@@lee-cyclingthanks Lee. I appreciate the advice. I'll have a look into the bike you mentioned. Need to buy something. Good advice about TRT. I'll do that. 👍
Nice climb and solid Effort! But for "gaming perspective" you left a lot of potential XP gain and feather PU out by having aero power up hanging there and missing 10x arches bonus boost.
You're right. I was focusing on power and not time or speed, and using the power ups wouldn't have affected that, so I might as well have used them. But I don't really worry about XP anymore. I've got the bikes and wheels I need, so it's not that interesting. I was just there for the PR. It was nice to just zone out and dig in to turning the pedals.
