
High spirits in Veneto, Italy’s north-east
Over the Ascension days, I had a great cycling vacation week as a guest of the RV Bülach in Veneto in the north-eastern part of Italy, location: Bassano del Grappa, at the end of the Po Valley, about 100km northeast of Venice. Great atmosphere among like-minded people, and of course challenging day tours with a lot of elevation gain. A cozy atmosphere with food and drink in the evening.
I usually train a lot on my own with my programs. But I don’t want to develop into a solitary “autist”. That’s why it’s all the nicer to explore the area north of Venice on my bike with other sports enthusiasts, for example. Of course, my training goals are often thrown out of kilter as we ride in a group. No big deal.
Nevertheless, I consistently adhered to Coach Dan’s wattage and heart rate guidelines, especially on the climbs. Maximum heart rate between 140 and 150 and a steady rhythm up the mountain. I managed that quite well. I can feel the improved base, i.e. the effect of winter training on the roller. I’m never really overtired in the evening and have always recovered well overnight.
I feel comfortable in my performance group and never feel overwhelmed. The young and fast members of the Bülach Cycling Club ride their own routes.
Running, swimming and strength training have a ten-day break.
Then I can get back to all the disciplines at home.