What is my current motivation for cycling training and racing? Crazy as…
What is my current motivation for cycling training and racing? Crazy as is … After having the broken hip/leg plus issues with blood circulations and proper surgeries I got an ok from all my doctors to do my training. In addition, we got the announcement that lots of ultra-distance races are on pause until end 2027. OK ... I started training on my HPV an on stationary trainer bike. It’s seriously tough to stay motivated since I still have muscle issues in left thigh and it’s hard to get up early morning for a training ride on weekends. I had to consider stopping racing completely or find proper motivation. Cool thing … a few weeks ago I did sign up for a bit race in 2027 … Race Around Poland. It’s over 2200 miles and I will do it again solo self-supported … That’s a good way to stay cost efficient for me. As many may have realized since November 2024, I do all my racing self-supported since I am not wealthy enough to cover cost for support crew and I want to show it’s doable. I hope some of the adjustments on races going forward will include also self-supported options. Having signed up for Poland in 2027 means I have a new target to work for. It’s almost like 2022 after the hit and run putting me down a while and I start training for RAAM Solo 2023. I can reflect a bit to my training I have done in 2022 and 2023. In addition, I start signing up for some races to use them as training races. Funny about it … I purchased an HPV (Human Powered Vehicle) - the Velomobile Bulk Distance. Did a 12-hour race with it to test my condition. Cool thing with the HPV … it has 3 wheels and is safer for me to ride since I am laying in it and cannot fall. So funny as is for 2026 I have 2 races scheduled for the HPV and one for my regular race bike. Right now, training is on regular race bike since I am planning to do 24 hours on it in September. It means full focus on that. In addition, I made a few adjustments on the HPV and tested those. Once the September race is done, I am planning to shift training mostly to the HPV. My bicycle fleet may get reduced this year. Main reason is to keep an eye on the bikes I am using. Most likely I will use my Madone allrounder and my backup Emonda bike. The Emonda setup for climbing and my Speed concept may have to go. Self-supported racing does not offer much of an option sitting bikes since there is no crew handing it to me at specific spots. Poland in 2025 I dod on the Madone and plan to do the same again. If participating in 12/24 hour racing the Madone shall be ok even it’s not perfect in flat land routes. With reduced fleet and focus on Poland I am sure it will be an exciting time for 2026 and 2027. Not getting younger means I may have to re-adjust my goals ongoing anyway … and the goal for June/July is far out already. What training races are planned for 2026? I am signed up for the 24 hours Georgia TT on my regular race bike. In October I will try the Psycho48 on my HPV and in November the Sebring 24 hours on my HPV as well. Also 2027 is tough since I like to use the Longhorn500 race as preparation race … That’s not happening now, so I have plans to possibly move myself for a few weeks to Helen GA area and stay at the campground there for good climbing preparation for Poland. I may have to see to get to Europe a few weeks before the race in Poland to train those climbing sections because some of them as seriously tough (up to 20% steep). Ohhhh … I added last weekend training pictures … my biggest issue now is to get up earlier morning and get on the road for endurance training. Must work on that myself a bit. Issue is not to do the ride on the road by itself. Issue is because after the rides I may get a bit dizzy and need to lay down for recovery, so I still mix a bit road and stationary trainer rides to keep it safe … and if I feel odd in a training ride … I just stop and sit down a while.
