I had my second session with the Breakaway Performance Centre spin class last night. It's 90 minutes instead of what I'd regard as the more normal 60 minutes, and it's a lot tougher than any spin class I've done. Part of the reason is that it's so much more difficult to cheat. You're all hooked up to Computrainer software so all your numbers are there for everyone to see. I'm using science in order to make up for my reduced training hours, and I'm trying to be efficient, but its making me work!
The first session was a nightmare, because I had my threshold power assessed at an unrealistic 275W. I don't know how I ended up at that, I either had a terrific night when I was assessed, or one of us made a mistake. Whatever, I couldn't maintain the effort for the session based on that threshold value. All your training zones are based around your threshold value, so what should have been easy was hard, what was supposed to be hard was impossible. I simply couldn't push the pedals round at the harder levels, and I had to keep dropping the resistance levels. I got through the night, but it was all over the place and I ended up completely knackered, so much also that I could barely climb my own stairs to bed. Not because they were aching, they were simply empty.
On my second visit, last night, I dropped down to an estimated threshold of 200W, and the whole session was much more effective. I was able to do it all, with what I estimated was a good training effort - not quite racing level, but hard. We ended up the night with a five mile time trial, where the Computrainer dictates the terrain, the effort, and your results. It displays your output on a huge screen. Everyone can see your distance travelled, current wattage output, average wattage output and - crucially - your position against everyone else in the room. You are represented by a coloured blob which tracks along the course profile. Coach Dave disappeared up the virtual road while the rest of us sweated and grunted behind. I was working pretty hard to keep my power output high, and when we reached the bottom of the virtual hill I realised I was lying second. Game on! Green blob started to gain on me up the hill and I had to dig in to stay ahead. Purple blob, red blob and blue blob weren't in contention but green blob was clearly a big threat. There was no way green blob was coming past me, and I started to really wind it on. I started to edge away, and I sensed that green blob was fading. I pushed harder, trying to push my advantage home. My blob had clear pixels between it and the green blob. Nearly there! Push. Bury yourself. Home! My victory over green blob was secure. I collapsed over the bars, I had given all I had. I'm not at all sure any of the other blobs cared that much. It's just possible that I may have taken this a tad too seriously. I said goodbye to all the other blobs and went home for dinner. Slightly ashamed, but victorious.
