This review really focusses on  the optical HR data collection with my newly purchased Polar Vantage V3 watch.

Last autumn, I bought a Garmin Vivoactive 5 watch, largely to collect data that was then pulled in by Athletica.ai, such as sleep, resting HR and HRV. Watches have never really been a maor part of my sports data collection - because I almost explusively train on a bike, I generally collect data via a Garmin Edge bike computer (currently an 840), or via trainer software such as Zwift. So, why go back to Polar, specifically the Vantage V3?

I noticed the other day, via the GP Lama YouTube channel that the latest firmware update for the Garmin/Tacx Neo 3M trainer (and, I think, the version 2 and 2T Neo trainers) enables virtual shifting on the Zwift platform.

I run Zwift on an AppleTV in my garage using a Tacx Neo 3M trainer, and I experience some issues. Firstly, the AppleTV bluetooth remote buttons are gradually breaking, presumably an accretion of sweat damage. Replacements aren’t cheap (and might just go the same way). Secondly, I often have a bit of trouble with jumping gears while training, particularly in intense intervals.

I was rather pleased to have more moderate weather for this event - rather than hitting the 30 degree mark, we were in the low 20s. I looked at the weather and decided it was sufficiently blustery that I needed to take care with my front wheel choice. In the end I think that my decision to ride the P3C with its Hed trispokes was wise. In any case, I want to get some rides on on it to do any fine-tuning before the Duo Normand (if they ever open entries).

The opening section along the bumpy University Way ends with a left turn onto the road to North Crawley and Newport Pagnell (we turn just after the 'civic amenity site'. Much of this leg is downhill, but the expected speed didn't really materialise because of the haed wind. Additionally it was quite difficult to see the many road defects in the evening sun. This particularly bad as you approach North Crawley.

This event was moved from the scheduled Brogborough course owing to roadworks. I decided to try the backup Cervelo P3C TT bike for this event, largely because I was interested to see if my recently resolved foot pain issue might move my L-R balance back closer to 50:50. The bike has Favero Assioma power meter pedals and venerable Hed H3 trispokes front and rear. I think it looks the part...here I am just after turning left onto the main road.

I have this set up with SRAM 11-speed Red eTap - there are gear switches on the base bar but I'm using the blip box as switches while on the aero extensions - you can see it by my right hand in the photo. This works well, but I'm going to try and sort out a more rigid way of affixing the blip box. 

A very warm morning for this open event. While it was held on the Astwood circuit, the start and finish were in different locations and I never do well on this version. I finished in 24:53 in the middle of the field. I think having the hardest climb on the course after a mile and then having to race to a T-Junction and along Astwood Hight Street just slows me down a bit.

Full results via CTT.

We had a warm evening for this club '10' on the Astwood course. I was somewhat concerned by a hospital visit the day before, which preyed on my mind through this event.

The warmth was a bit oppressive, but the first section down to Chicheley and the first turn was fairly quick. Once round that turn, I found it a bit harder to keep the power up. Whether that was a lack of focus or the tail wind (or maybe both), I'm not sure. In any case I felt decidedly lacking.

This time trial didn't go according to plan! We did have quite a nice evening - warm but maybe a bit windy out there on the dual carriageway section. Issues began with a missing magnet on my helmet, which meant my visor wouldn't stay attached. I rode with my Bolle sunglasses, which meant I spent a lot of time peering over the top of the frame - plus my helmet was rendered quite non-aero! 

Also the traffic flow out on the course seemed a little odd. This was noticed by a number of other riders, and meant I got a bit held up at three of the roundabouts.

I have long since stopped blogging my progress through the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. I’m doing this through a web site which serves up an album each morning, and an associated plugin for the music server that I use (Lyrion Music Server, or LMS). The plugin links to the album via Qobuz, which I subscribe to. In fact, I can only recall a single album that the plugin couldn’t find, and I ended up playing it on YouTube.

I recently found I’d played half of the albums on the list, so I thought maybe an update was worthwhile.

Another Wednesday, another club ’10’. This time we were back on my favourite course, Astwood, and as usual I prepared the signing on and timing sheets for Dick to use. I’d also reverted to my deep rim front wheel as I didn’t think the wind would too much  for me to handle the wheel.

When I arrived up at the meeting point in Astwood, I discovered to my annoyance that the paperwork had fallen out of my pocket en route. That was easily remedied using Dick’s blank signing on sheets, so no real problem.

When we “almost-formalised” Team Grumpy as a vehicle for our two-up time trialling endeavours, we used an old saying for our byline:

Youth and Talent are no match for Age and Treachery