Monthly Check-in: September 2026
Riding Summary
Riding period: 12–30/09/2026 (18 days) Total distance: 219,8 km September target: ~200 km Achievement: ~110% — target exceeded Ride entries: 15 rides Rides with HR data: 9 rides
Utility rides (short city trips with traffic, signal stops, and effort) are deliberately included in the totals. They are not recovery spins—they represent real-world cycling conditions that will be encountered during the tour.
Weight loss is modest but positive. Muscle mass stability is the priority—loss of lean mass would undermine the training goal. The waist measurement staying flat suggests the weight reduction is coming from non-abdominal sources.
Both resting heart rate and morning blood pressure remain within acceptable ranges. No intervention warranted.
Heart Rate Analysis
Summary of heart rate positioning:
- Monthly average (134,4 bpm): Within endurance band
- 30/09 average (138 bpm): Within endurance band
- 30/09 peak (166 bpm): Above endurance band but within safe limits
HR Zone Recalibration Story
The standard age-based formula predicted HRmax at approximately 160 bpm. However, talk-test evidence from rides revealed a different reality: full sentences were sustainable at 138–142 bpm, while only short phrases were possible at 148 bpm. This indicated real HRmax likely sits between 175 and 180 bpm.
Consequently, the endurance band was revised from 115–128 bpm to 125–142 bpm on 27/09/2026. The 166 bpm peak on 30/09/2026 is consistent with the revised zones and represents effort above endurance but within safe limits for a 69-year-old rider.
Key finding: Under the revised zones, all September rides sat within the endurance band. No assist-level change is warranted or planned.
Test Loop Baseline
Route: TF2027 Test Distance: 22,7 km Elevation: +140 m Time: 59 minutes Average HR: 137 bpm Next retest: 31/10/2026
This establishes the baseline for monthly fitness comparison. Improvement will be measured as reduced time or lower HR for the same route profile.
Hill Test Status
The first hill test attempt on 30/09/2026 was invalid:
- GPS failed to record elevation data
- The selected climb had sections at 10% gradient versus the required steady 3–7%
- Attempt data (1,5 km, 4 minutes, peak HR 164–166 bpm, ~70 m elevation claim by Fit app, 26 °C / 89% humidity) is a curiosity, not a benchmark
A replacement climb has been scouted. First valid benchmark expected in October 2026.
Data sources: Fit e-bike app, Renpho body composition scale, Polar Flow VO2max estimates, blood pressure monitor readings taken pre-rising after emptying bladder.
Medical disclaimer: Training and nutrition recommendations should be confirmed against personal health circumstances and medication status. I have physician confirmation of no heart-rate-affecting medication and no cardiac condition. General advice to readers: consult your doctor before starting any new training program.