I’ve found this winter hard so far. Autumn felt more wet and cold than normal. It has been windy a LOT. It felt as though I’d ridden loads in tough conditions before the clocks even went back. Early November had me in a state of mourning for light evenings and glove free riding. Then December brought ice. I’d put on some weight. I don’t have any tangible goals for next year. And the motivation has really waned.

Combined with that, I’m getting to a point where Strava has stopped giving me QOMs or cups or even PRs. This is partly because there are now more people out on their bikes (which is good!) and I’ve done more riding (which is also good!) but there is no longer quite the feel good factor associated with a load of virtual silverware after a ride.

I’ve done quite a bit of reading about training recently. It is easy to lose sight of improvements made and be too hard on yourself. I’m also a passionate believer in Carol Dweck’s growth mindset and I’m trying to take that on board. I can’t do that...YET! So I thought I’d sit down and try to quantify some (any?!) improvements I’ve made.

• The Kirkby Lonsdale-Kendal hill no longer phases me. A few years ago I would have planned rides to avoid it.
• I can ride up the towpath on to the Halton road from the aqueduct in Lancaster. I ride this regularly on my work commute. A few years ago I rode home with a colleague and couldn’t believe he could ride it without “dabbing”. Now I can, too.
• I can ride Kingsdale both ways. 10 years ago I wouldn’t have been so sure. In fact, I wouldn’t have dreamt of attempting to ride up from the Deepdale side.
• I can ride much further: 50 miles was a really long ride for me a few years ago, whereas last year I rode nearly 150 miles in one day with KVRC (blog here).
• I’m doing more (some!!!) interval sessions, including hill reps, which I hate.
• My TT position is far better than it was originally, thanks to the staff at the Giant Kendal shop.
• I’ve done more group riding (see this blog).
• I've entered some Spocos (see this blog and this one) and some crits.
• I can ride up long climbs faster (not sure I can do steep...yet)
• I definitely recover quicker.
• I can confidently ride my road bike with both hands off the handlebars (work to do if I’m to change a jacket etc, mind...)
• I’ve embraced mindful bike commuting (aka not pedalling very hard).
• I have a much better idea about bike maintenance and the mechanics of a road bike. I completed a Level 1 maintenance course at Mapdec last year and am much more confident about fixing problems now. That said, I’d still prefer to leave the mechanical stuff to my husband where possible (I think he agrees!)
• My TT times are better. Sometimes it feels as though improvement is painfully slow, but it is there. (Milnthorpe 10: 29.55 to 26.02; Levens 10: 29.00 to 24.14; Levens 25: 1:12.00 to 1:05.04)
• I’m trying to avoid getting ill and have been much more sensible about when I ride. No more 6am 50 mile rides through hail and winds only to stand at the side rugby pitch for 2 hours. (Mind you, this has also meant fewer miles!) So far I have been a lot less ill, although this might have more to do with a flu jab and a pneumonia vaccination.
• Hills in Lancaster. Actually, I’m not sure I’m improving at these. East Road in Lancaster still gives me palpitations (metaphorically and literally!) and I think it always will.

I’m going to keep searching for a 2020 goal and in the meantime I’ll try to enjoy getting out on the bike again.

Claire Rushton