FutureCycles Blog » The Basement

Riding update

Matt — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 19:24:22 +0000

We have been putting in the road and turbo hours over the winter months.. Hopefully it will all pay off!
The weekly Turbo Sessions have been a great test of fitness, 12 weeks split into 3 blocks. The first round was strength and endurance work. Starting a 5minutes on and 5 minutes off and then building up to 10minutes in 53 x 12, with 2 minutes of rest inbetween. The idea was to keep a smooth cadence and basically slug it out. Concentrating on rider composure and stability, while trying to pedal in perfect circles.
The next block consists of interval training. A great way to put speed into your legs in a very quick amount of time.
A steady warm up to around 80% of your max heart rate.. Before heading straight into a super fast seated sprint for one minute. Possibly the longest one minute you will ever experience. The aim here is to then get to your maximum heart rate and keep it there. After about 25-30seconds you can really start to feel the burn as the lactic acid builds up in your legs.

Over the next few weeks the rest periods will get shorter, with the idea of speeding up recovery time and conditioning the body.
Apparently just 4 of these sessions over the month, with no other training can knock a minute off a 10mile time trial.

Killer Turbo is happening every Wednesday in Uckfield. It is ok to turn up to the odd session.. Just give John a call in advance.

This is a screen capture from one of my favorite new pieces of kit. The Garmin Edge 500. It has completely changed my training. I still haven’t figured out all of its possible functions, but just the possibility to upload your data and see it on a screen is worlds apart from relying on a little cycle computer.

So where is this training leading to?
Well.. I have already sent off my forms for a weekends worth of pretty hard time trialling being organised by our friends over at Southdowns Bikes. February the 4th sees a 18km ride and the day after is a 34km. Both extreme tests of winter fitness. A good mix of riders to compare against as well. Locals as well as pro calender professionals often take part.

Then in June there is the series of races being promoted by the Lewes Wanderers. Three evening races over the same amount of weeks. Only 50 riders are allowed per race apparently. So get your entries in quickly! A good chance to experience properly executed local racing. Complete with support cars and motorbikes!

George is now almost back on the bike. Hopefully next week he will get the all clear from his doctor to get back on the training rides.

Will update the blog with more racing dates as they start appearing.
For now, i will leave you with this fabulous video promoting Garmins new Edge 800

-Matt

Le Velo

Matt — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:04:32 +0000

Traffic Sham

Matt — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:21:34 +0000

The Onion

Ride Everything

Matt — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:26:24 +0000

Killer Turbo

Matt — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 19:29:01 +0000

Myself and George (if he heels up in time) are doing this. Im looking forward to it!

Killer group turbo training sessions with Fitt4Cyling at The Health Boutique in Uckfield.
12 week intensive turbo training program
Free protein and energy drinks
Including one 15 minute sports massage
Group sessions designed to encourage each other
Run by experienced fitness coaches

Starts on the 30th November at 7:30pm, then every week for 12 weeks.
£65 for all of the above, all ages, clubs and categories welcome. Places limited to 12 people!!
Call John on 07988838479 or Russell 07595900026
fitt4cycling@gmail.com or tweet @fitt4cycling

All you need is yourself, a bike and a turbo trainer.
We will also be giving 20% discount to anyone that signs up and purchases a turbo trainer and matching accessories from us.

Custom Brompton

Matt — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:25:54 +0000

We stripped and rebuilt the bike for one of our customers (He also owns the Velomobil, currently for sale in Forest Row). The Custom paint scheme done by Altamura Concepts, based in Camberley. They do some pretty amazing pieces of art on everything from Motorcycles to Cars, Helmets and obviously now dabbling in Bicycles.

Helle’s Belles Polo Tournament.

Matt — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:43:13 +0000

The tournament was last weekend, but this promo vid is still worth a watch.

Velodrome Scalextric

Matt — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:20:38 +0000

I want this!
Featuring Lee Povey…

More than a folding bike!!

Matt — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:26:09 +0000

Well i think this video just goes to show how well built Brompton Folding Bicycles when they can put up with this much abuse. Extremely proud to say i have some really good friends building, designing and testing them.
We were talking in the shop the other day about how amazing it would be to make a Brompton trick video, couldn’t have done it better than this.

Brompton Dave Fastest Fold

Matt — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 16:10:06 +0000

Dave of Brompton Bicycles showing off his mad skills. Beating my time by over a second. Still doesn’t count, he practices far too much than is normal.