Fall/Winter 2010/2011 Commuter Challenge!

[Rebecca19804]

I'm in. I haven't quite formulated my goals for the season. Had arthroscopy on left knee yesterday, not allowed on the bike at least until I see the surgeon 8th Nov to get stitches removed. Then I'm starting physiotherapy at a place that specialises in cycling.

I've got an invitation to start riding out with a south London road cycling club, as soon as the knee is okay. The only group I've been out with before is a social one - about 30 miles over 8 hours with lots of stops. That's becoming frustratingly slow for me. The club I'll be joining has several group levels, are no-drop and sound very supportive - well respected and recommended club. So I'm feeling very optimistic about improving my strength and endurance and generally 'raising my game', as I'd like to have a serious go at audaxing next year.

So - no firm pledges yet on what or how I'll do this winter. But I wanted to get a note down on this thread now, so at least I've committed myself TO SOMETHING -- haha -- and will be sure to come back in a couple of weeks and set out a PLAN. Yay!

You ladies rock and are a constant inspiration. Thank you!

EDIT - and our clocks don't go back til this coming Sunday... which buys me a little time til the TE Challenge starts properly, right?

[girlsubobscura]

It's starting to get cold and dark here, so it's scarf and mittens time, but it's not as rainy as I remember from last october, so looks like the waterproof panniers are working as intended: a city wide weather shield

[Melalvai]

...so looks like the waterproof panniers are working as intended: a city wide weather shield

Yes! That is how my magical goretex rain gear works! I bought it during the rainy fall 3 years ago, and after it arrived? I did not have another rainy bike ride for 3 months!

[colorisnt]

Gah! I bought rain gear, too (it was on sale), but I have yet to have a rainy day in months!

[Melalvai]

The week's not quite over yet but I wanted to report on it because I got really philosophical when considering how this week counts on the continuum between success and failure. I concluded that in some ways, it is more of a success than last week when I was really gung-ho and accomplished all kinds of things, like lifting tall buildings and leaping speeding bullets.

Specifically I want to swim MWF, go to the gym for weights and then run T/Th, do my core exercises every day, go for a bike ride on weekends, and of course bike commute during the week. Technically I did all that except Monday, when we were traveling, I did not swim (although I could have) or do my core exercises.

The problem is, the rest of the week I did a half-hearted job of the running and swimming. The reason I decided this was more of a success than last week's accomplishments is because it is harder to get out there AT ALL when you are having a rough week for whatever reason (I think I was having trouble because it got cold), than it is to do well when you are feeling really motivated.

So I gave myself credit for doing it at all.

I also gave myself credit for doing the core exercises every day. They count for more, to me, because I follow them up with my jaw and neck stretches, and so the whole thing counts more as "taking care of myself" instead of "training for the triathlon". (One is less selfish than the other in my head.)

Finally I gave myself credit for commuting. Not that that is difficult. In fact it is the easiest thing which is why I continued to do it. Each time I might think "It's cold, maybe DH will give me a ride", the next thought is "How will I get home?" and the logistics of that are so complicated that immediately I say "Screw it, I'll just ride, that's easiest". So this 'credit' was earned by the years of bicycle commuting that has made it a habit, and by the investment of ~$500 in cold weather gear three years ago (a lot of money but how much have you spent on your car over three years?), and by the fact that we never did buy that second car.

We're riding out to the corn maze this afternoon, and tomorrow I plan to run again.

Overall, this week was strongly on the "success" side of the continuum. And that makes me feel more motivated for next week's swimming & running.