3rd sprint session

I raised the saddle another half-inch this past week. I did two max-effort sprints in a 40x18 gear. The first one was 1168 watts which was disappointing but the next one was 1201 watts which is acceptable. With the higher position there is less muscular fatigue which the higher wattage on the second attempt attests to. My second sprint is usually lower wattage.

I did four sub-max efforts in a 40x14, which is my planned racing gear. I did these in relatively rapid succession. This is where I really felt the benefit of the higher saddle. Even though the puke factor increased with each effort my power output increased on each attempt as well and I ranged from 1048 watts to 1094 watts. Much better than last week's sub-max high of 956 watts. Again, these are sub-max efforts done with no sense of urgency.

Today is probably the last time I'll do maximum effort sprints on a regular basis. I fear if I do them every week I will burn out my nervous system. Besides, the lower-effort sprints in a bigger gear are a much better workout.

I did squats for the first time in years. I did Olympic style (the hard way) for three sets of twelve with 205lbs. My spine sure wasn't used to being compressed under a load but all in all they went pretty good. This is a better exercise for sprinting than the Romanian deadlifts I have been doing which center around the hips and hamstrings more. I'll probably limit squats to once every three weeks and doing step-ups the other two weeks.

Cutting back my base-riding intensity to under 100 watts has had a profound effect on my strength. Before, the weights felt dead in my hands. Last week's upperbody session was like a night and day's difference. My muscles felt like springs and my strength increased easily by 20%. Mind you, I'm talking about upper body muscles. That just goes to show the systemic effect more intense aerobic exercise has. I definitely feel like I'm producing more testosterone and I have the callouses to prove it (kidding). Okay, that was sick, even for me. Seriously though, I can tell because I start thinking that having a girlfriend wouldn't be a total pain in the ass and that maybe, just maybe, I can afford to have a bit of my life sucked out of me. That's testosterone clouding my judgement.

I don't want to give the impression that I'm a misogynist or anything. I love women and consider them by far our better half. It's a human and nature thing. I just don't have the extra energy on a day-to-day basis to play the game, is all. I don't want to bite off more than I can eschew.