Repetitions -- Reverse Fibonacci (DEUX)

(We revisit a profile from six months ago (Nov 26). If you track performance with a fitness tracker, I”d love to compare the two rides. Send me an email or DM)

1) This week, I found inspiration in one of my favorite artists — Vincent Van Gogh.  Van Gogh painted often en plain air (outdoors), a defiant act to the art establishment. Advances in paint (you could now transport it) spurred an artistic movement bringing artists closer to scenes they sought to recreate.  On occasion, Van Gogh would start his paintings outdoors and complete them in his studio.  In some cases, he would redraw the piece entirely.  When seen side by side, there are subtle differences, often aesthetic in nature.  In fact, The Bedroom, one of Van Gogh’s most famous paintings, has three different versions!

Van Gogh: Repetitions,The Phillips Collection in DC (June 2014)

Van Gogh: Repetitions,The Phillips Collection in DC (June 2014) The Postman

2) I pride myself on not repeating playlists. But in true Van Gogh style, we repeat the profile from October 29.  If you tracked your ride (via a fitness tracker) on that date, I’d love to hear/see how the results differed. Playlist, slightly different, here or below:

3) Being fit, or in shape, is a look – based on appearance. Performance is based on quantifiable results, something you can’t see in a mirror. Of the 30,000 people who started the 2018 Marine Core Marathon, 98% finished. Their training is structured to optimize performance. Called periodization, it’s the strategic use of training waves (or phases) to effectively prepare the body for rigorous sporting endeavors.

Periodization typically involves the designed increase or decrease of training duration, intensity and/or frequency in one’s cycling program. [More on Periodization from Training Peaks]

4) So what is a reverse Fibonacci? You remember the Fibonacci numbers? Where find the sum of consecutive counting numbers?
1 + 1 = 2. -> 2+ 1 = 3 -> 3+ 2 = 5. -> 5 + 3 = 8 etc . . .
In our profile, we tackle the sequence backward, with intervals of 8, 5, 3, 2 and 1 minute. The focus is on energy management. Understanding the consequences of doing too much, too soon (zone 3 is your friend) on the longer intervals and not doing enough on the shorter ones — zone 5 anyone?
5) We continue our series on types of cyclists with the all-rounder, or in cycling parlance the rouleur. s the name suggests, this cyclist does everything fairly well, kinda like the swing is a theater ensemble. They learn and can play every role, often without great fanfare. During a three-week stage race, this rider often plays the role of the road captain. They give orders during the race and handle any immediate situations on the road with the blessings of the team director (who rides in a car behind the race)

Coach Dru