After I spent a couple of days in Eureka I hit a two week period of self doubt and inactivity. My bike went in the shop and is still in the shop, but when I get it back it will be refurbished and ready to go. And, the idea of driving to Weaverville to ride my bike during winter rain and cold and snow is not an idea I want to pursue. The cost is prohibitive as is an extra hour on the road in the van to exercise is in my opinion, too much wasted time and money.
So, I bought a Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike through Amazon. I set it up (and only had to take one day off due to injuring my back). As I rested my body to start using it, I looked up winter training for bicyclists and found the concept of Base Training.
Base training is to increase a bicyclist’s aerobic capacity by doing gentle rides at 65 to 75 percent of maximum heart rate (MHR). A thousand miles was the goal I found on one web site (at 10 to 15 hours per week). Several authors stated that Base Training is wasted time as a bicycling enthusiast is already conditioned after their summer season so they don’t get the benefits of Base training. However, since I’m in such poor conditioning that walking 100 feet and back from my mail box is considered a workout, I think base training will benefit me.
I have done 3 sessions in a row: 30, 45, and 60 minutes. This week I will do 5 60-minute sessions. Next week I’ll do 5 60-minute sessions and add 30 minute sessions in the evening when I feel strong. Within a couple of weeks I should be in the 7.5 to 10 hour per week zone. Fifteen hours per week seems too crazy for me!
Fishing and working out and tying flies and making FLURS should keep me occupied this winter. It should be an exciting Spring should everything work out as hoped.
Tight Lines!