Going high tech - Peter White's CW5000 March blog

Peter White looks back at the lack of technology when racing as a junior as he takes the plunge and buys some power pedals
I was recently going through an old photo album of my mum’s from my cycling days as a youth and I came across a clipping cut out of Cycling Weekly of me aged 15, doing a spot of Cyclo Cross at the BCF Youth Week.
It was a week-long training camp where a group of between 20-30 Juniors stayed in Woodbridge College in London, at a halls of residence. We spent the days at Eastway Cycling Circuit in East London, training and racing before returning to the halls for a talk on training and tactics.
I must admit I don’t remember a great deal as it was over 35 years ago but I do remember it being pretty basic. But cycling was one of the least scientific sports around, it was all about getting the miles in.
>>>> Donate to Peter White's fundraising page and help him raise £2,000 for Alzheimers Research UK
Back then I was doing up to 300 miles a week. Road racing at the weekend and training and club time trials in the week. Also riding 10 miles each way to work when I was 16. Some of the races would be up to 80 miles, which was quite a lot as a 16 year old. In the winter I’d ride at least 2 months on a fixed wheel as I’d been told it would improve my pedalling style. I never had a milometer or speedometer back then, but I’d have a good idea of the distance of the training circuits I did. I do remember some of the more serious time trialists having a stopwatch mounted on their handlebars, but that’s about as high tech as it got.
It might have been low tech, but I was lucky enough to have a coach. A man called Ed Taylor. He ran Team Haverhill (I was in the Haverhill Wheelers club). Ed’s son Gerry Taylor was a very successful cyclist who had won a stage of The Milk Race. I also remember seeing him ride the Skol six-day with his brother Terry. Myself and a few others would meet up with Ed once a week and do some interval training and discuss tactics for any races that may be coming up. That was about as serious as it got.
Since my last blog I’ve stepped up gear or two. I’m now a member of British Cycling, have joined Brighton Mitre CC and entered my first sportive. I’ve also decided to go a bit more high tech and bought myself a power meter - a set of Garmin pedals. Having been pretty much out of cycling for the past 35 years I was totally unaware of power meters.
>>>> Sign up to the CW5000 and see if you can ride 5,000 miles in one year
I took the plunge as I want to know how much progress I’m making, what sort of power I’m putting out, and how much I’m capable of. I did an FTP test and found it was 3.21 w/kg with a VO2 max of 54. I’m very pleased with that considering I’d not cycled further than 10 miles for 35 years and have been smoking for over 30. I’ve been nicotine free since Jan.
The riding this past month has been great with the feel of spring in the air and the days slowly getting longer. This means I can get out after work for a ride. I’ve managed to ride 100-plus miles every week since October except for last week, which was 94 miles due to the gusty winds and rain we’ve had on the south coast. I even did 10 miles of my turbo trainer whilst watching Paris-Nice; that’s 25 miles indoors this year and over 1100 miles so far.
The fundraising is also going well with over £900 raised so far and I’m pretty confidant of reaching my goal of £2000 by the end of the year.
I’m yet to complete either of this months challenges but plan to by the end of next week although I did take a great photo of the sunset over the Brighton beach but forgot to get my bike in it.
Roll on spring!
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.
-
-
Unreleased Shimano GRX 12-speed spotted at Unbound Gravel
The potentially new groupset was spotted on Taylor Lideen's bike before this Saturday's racing
By Joe Baker • Published
-
Acceptable in the 80s - Specialized reveals heritage-inspired colorway for Unbound Gravel 2023
Ian Boswell, Sofia Villafane and other Specialized athletes will again be racing aboard custom -painted bikes at Unbound Gravel. Here's the story behind this year's paint.
By Joe Baker • Published
-
Come and ride our CW5000 monthly Zwift events
Join fellow CW5000 riders on the final Friday of each month for a ride around one of the Zwift worlds
By Simon Richardson • Last updated
-
Here are your CW5000 May challenges
Can you improve your climbing in one month?
By Simon Richardson • Published
-
How Catherine Allen hit 5,000 miles by March 9
By Simon Richardson • Published
-
Punctures and potholes - Peter White's April blog
Peter logs his biggest weekly mileage and Halfords lend a hand
By Simon Richardson • Published
-
CW5000 April challenges
Pay a visit to your favourite café and get a long ride in
By Simon Richardson • Published
-
From Anchorage to Miami - a CW5000 virtual challenge
Riding 5,000 miles across the US
By Simon Richardson • Published
-
CW5000 March challenges - sunrise and sunset images
By Simon Richardson • Published
-
First three riders complete CW5000 challenge
By Simon Richardson • Published