Two Wheel Blogs

Summer seems to have unofficially begun here. Lately the temperatures have been tickling the 90° mark with the humidity not far behind.

I guess you could say I'm in that transition period where nothing feels quite right until my body acclimates to the season. Everything is affected. I don't make as many watts, and I can't make them for as long. I don't feel much like eating. I don't sleep well. I'm pretty much forced into a steady state recovery mode until I get through it.

Yesterday I went out after work for a bit over an hour's ride. I really thought I was doing well. My pedaling felt smooth and powerful. I was climbing easily. I'd reach the tops ready for more. Every time I'd glance at the powermeter I'd see decent numbers.

Ah, but here's the thing. You tend to look at your powermeter (or whatever bicycle computer you're using) when you're doing well. You do it because you're seeking affirmation. The flip side is you tend not to look when you're not pouring on the coals. After all, why look at the watts you're making when you're just pedaling at an ordinary effort level? Kind of boring.

Bottom line: I'd see decent numbers every time I looked at my SRM Power Control because I wasn't looking at it that often, and I was cherry picking samples - only looking at the good ones. So all I saw was the good. I ignored the vast majority of the other data. Most of that other data turned out to be quite ordinary. Uninspiring even.

When I got home and downloaded the power data the truth came out. I had felt good and smooth because I hadn't been making much power. The few short high-wattage segments I saw gave me the impression I was riding well. It's so easy to deceive one's own self. The numbers, however, always reveal the truth.