Got on the bike at right around 1pm. In Japan, most of the folks celebrate the new year with a trip to "someplace" - whether a shrine, the top of a mountain, or the like. I figured I'd bring in the new year with a run up my favorite mountain to despise - Zenitsuboyama - 7.8km, avg grade 7%ish.
[img]cycleiwakuni.comtom thumb zenitsuboprofile.jpgOpen ↗[/img]
For the Nov 26th race that was supposed to go up that mountain, my goal was to get under a 30 minute climb. My best so far had been just under 31 minutes. The race was cancelled due to weather but I went up the mountain anyway later that day and got it done in 29 min 54 secs.
Ride stats for November 26th: Avg Power 323. Pnorm 339. I planned a peak for that event and it hurt like heck, but I made my goal of breaking the 30 minute mark.
Today I actually debated how hard I was going to go up the mountain as I neared its base. I knew I could sorta motor up it. I hadn't changed my cassette last night, so I was stuck going up in a 12x23 (standard 52x39 in the front). I got to the bottom of the climb and figured - what they heck.
I climbed the first segment pretty comfortably and would look down at the power meter thinking - I should back off, or I'm gonna be in trouble in 5 km. But the legs were telling me they were feeling good so just keep going. I descended the small section before the climb goes to the top and once the road turned uphill at 14%, I started to feel it. With the 12x23 I was on my feet for most of the climb from here until it levels off around the 4.4km mark on the profile.
On my previous pacing chart I should have done right at threshold wattage (320) from the time it tipped uphill at 2.4 km to the 6.5km spot where it tips up at 15% for the last 800 meters. Today... 348.
I passed some children as I started the last 800 meters of pain. They were on top of the mountain to fly kites as part of the celebration of new years. They cheered for me briefly - I think they saw the pain on my face. The last 800 meters was a 376 watt push to the top.
Overall for todays climb:
Time: 28 min 51 sec (1 minute and 5 seconds faster than my previous PB)
Average Watts: 351
Pnorm: 362
ATL: 128.7
CTL: 111.8
TSB: -17.2
I'm debating if I should shift my FTP based on these numbers. It would be a 10 point increase if I took the .95 x 351. I definitely didn't plan a "peak" for today, and I honestly didn't really expect one.
Things that make you go hmmmm.....
Hope you all had as good a ride as I did!
VW