It's kinda funny, how this can flip. Until now - this year - on every bike group ride I felt for lack of a better word weak.
Today it was a startling feeling difference, its like I bathed in EPO. I am not even kidding. Thats the feeling difference. So what are the "objective" differences ? There can be numerous reasons, and maybe its the perfect storm of all hitting at once:
- actually went the week before three days w/o sports, thereby drifing into the intervals.icu "gray zone"
- did some bike specific strength exercises - first time this year
- the group ride tempo was 3km/h slower than usual
- the temperatur was 23°C instead of 30°C
- knowing that next day would be a rest date (usually isn't)
I remember at my peak fitness last year, I actually added another two hills to my usual ride, just because I had power to spare instead of limping home. And I thought "I can't remember the last time I was that crazy fit."
This is in contrast to my winter form, where I did seven pauses on the regular ride and was completely destroyed coming home. At this point of time, proper form seemed unattainable.
So the actual numbers are still not as good as in comparison to last year. This is not all due to old age, but also because I was really sick for two months, where I couldn't train. I think I can get close again.
Anyway I write this down for myself for next year, where I will probably be back to square one after winter and any kind of "form" seems unattainable.