Mock time trial

Cycling class last night was brutal. Is was on turbo trainers, and started off with a warm up, followed by a series of one-leg drills. Those weren't as bad as most they've made us do. Typically we have to go a minute or even two on each leg, yesterday was just 20 and then 30 seconds. I guess they didn't want to break us too early.

Here's where everyone got sweaty. We did 2 minutes on the big front gear at the highest intensity we could handle, then a short break. This was followed by 15 minutes on the big gear, also at the highest intensity we could handle, and about 90-100 rpm. I had to adjust my back gears to survive, holding a harder gear as long as I could and just before my breathing went ragged, switch it to a lower gear, then upping the gear again when I had things under control.

There was another break where everyone drained their water bottles, and then we did a "mock time trial." They had us all come to a complete stop, and then stand up. When they said go, we started pedaling as if it really was a time trial. For the next 15 minutes, they took us through a mental course. The coach would say "we are approaching a big hill," and we would all switch to a harder gear to simulate the extra effort a hill takes. Then there would be the blessed "downhill" where we could drop the gear and pedal easy for a bit. Alternating between flats and hills, the time went by quickly.

What I really liked about it was that they told us where on the island we would be traveling through mentally, so as they described the ups, downs, and flats, you could picture it in your head. It doesn't hurt that it's along some very scenic areas, so it helps keep you entertained.

We ended the class with a cool down and some stretches, and then I went for a 10 minute run with some of the others. It's suprisingly hard to get off a bike and immediately go running, but I think I'm starting to adjust to it. It doesn't seem as difficult as it used to. Don't get me wrong, I'm still happy to let it be so short.