Monday, 27 November 2017

Queen Adreena (again)

Yet again, I have found myself back listening to Queen Adreena.  This seems to happen every year or so at the moment.  The trigger this time - being directed to "Pull me under" on Youtube.  I am totally captivated by Katie Jane Garside as a performer. 

I wonder what she is up to now - nothing on the internet when I last looked



Lars Mytting's Norwegian Wood

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This year's log pile




Indie Film Season - I don't feel at home in the world anymore

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Indie Films Season - Martha Marcy May Marlene

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Wind River

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Current Reading - Biography of Jason Molina

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Current Reading - Ott's book on Heidegger

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More Cycling Books

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Recent reading favourite - Nicole Cooke's autobiography

I have been reading Nicole Cooke's autobiography with an increasing anger at the obstacles in her way throughout her cycling career.  It is one of the most evocative description of sexism I have come across (though I don't really read much else that does address sexism)

I was particularly struck by the comparison between the support for the men and women athletes

The worst thing about the book is the cover which I think it awful!


But I do like the picture of her ascending Mont Ventoux when there was still a women's Tour de France


And the proper-coloured pic of her winning the road race gold in the Beijing Olympics is pretty good too


Alpe d'Huez training programme at Nov 27th 2017

I have filmed myself doing some indoor training and have some grandiose plans to publish two Alpe d'Huez-related films on Youtube next year.  The first will be a film of my actually ascent which I plan to do as a film that people can do as a turbo session.  Secondly, I am thinking about doing a film called something like "How I trained at 55 years old, to climb Alp d'Huez in 65 minutes" - that is assuming I can do it in 65 minutes, which is 25 minutes faster than my current PB!

The key is going to be losing enough weight to really get to a decent power-to-weight ratio.  I read an article that suggested that a 65 minute ascent requires an FTP to weight ratio of above 3.  For instance, an FTP of 230 watts and and a weight of 75 kgs.  My FTP is about 195 at the moment and my weight is quite a bit above 75 kgs, so my current ratio is about 2 and a bit.  A pro ratio has a ratio of around 5 or 6!

So along way to go then!


I do look like I am building up a good sweat though


The goal - Alpe d'Huez.  Rumours are that it is in next year's Tour de France route