Got a strength training session planned for later but no idea which week or day I’m supposed to follow on the plan. Any ideas

Hi guys so this is my latest idea for a mini series. To be honest this could be my first and last diary if my symptoms flare up but I reckon that most people could take something away from it. I will just share a few thoughts on coming back to cycling and how it is different now compared to before. A lot has changed. So I was racing on the road since I was 11 and was with Trinity Racing for the 2021 and 2022 seasons when I came into the u23 ranks. In 2022 I had 2 pretty bad crashes and whacked my head hard both times - the second crash was 6 weeks after the first so they were fairly close together and although physically I was in the best place I had ever been, my brain was probably still not ready for another big impact. During this period after my concussions I rushed back and did as much as I could. Some days I could do a 6 hour ride at 4.5 w/kg cruising around for the day, and I did one ride where I broke my 5 min pb in the first hour and then broke it again in the 6th hour, and broke my 1 min power after that (465 for 5 I think it was - I was in good nick). But other days I couldn’t leave the bed. It was one extreme to the next. I got diagnosed with POTS finally last December 2025 which explains how I could be in such good shape one day and such bad shape the next. I was 19 at the time so I have forgiven myself for getting too carried away - but life would have gone more smoothly if I had known better. Fast forward a few years to now and I generally haven’t been able to exercise. But since Christmas time my symptoms have eased off and over the last week I have done a few rides on the rollers. My last outdoor ride was at the start of June which is the longest I’ve been off the bike since my accident. I probably could have done a few rides on the rollers before now - but to be honest the act of turning the pedals inside at 100 watts doesn’t particularly interest me. Going outside, clearing my head, riding up mountains, getting lost when miles from home, discovering new roads, and all that kind of thing is what I love about cycling. Pedalling in circles inside doesn’t really do it for me on its own.

Another great reflection from The Grip. Replace "triathlon" with your favorite endurance sport... Return the Cart The Smallest Test of a Triathlete’s Character Mark Allen Feb 5 READ IN APP Triathlon has a funny way of revealing who we are. Not just on race day when the cannon goes off and our heart rate spikes, but in the thousands of quiet moments when no one is watching. The moments when the course marshals aren’t there, the medal isn’t waiting, and the result won’t show up on a leaderboard. That’s where the real athlete lives. And lately I’ve been thinking about a place that has nothing to do with swim-bike-run… and everything to do with who we become because of it: The grocery store parking lot. Specifically: the shopping cart. There’s a popular idea called the “shopping cart theory.” The basic premise is simple: returning your cart is a tiny act of responsibility that comes with almost no reward and almost no punishment. Nobody gives you a trophy for it. Nobody times you. Nobody hands you a coupon. And most of the time, nobody even notices whether you do it or not. That’s the point. It’s one of those rare, everyday moments where your behavior is guided purely by one thing: self-governance. Do you do the right thing because it’s right… or do you only do it when someone’s watching? If you’ve done triathlon long enough, you already know why this matters. Because endurance sport is nothing but a series of shopping cart moments. ⸻ Triathlon Is Built on Small Decisions

This is worth a listen and they mention most bike brands including the chinese brands. What Is The Best Race Bike Of 2026?

Folks, I've just added a new community resource. A descending & cornering Masterclass. A special thanks to @Sherwick Min & @Matthew Devins for their help in recording these modules. There are over 3.5 hours of content, which I am hopeful will help riders at all levels. You'll find it in classrooms - academy - descending & cornering or using this link https://www.skool.com/roadmancycling/classroom/b8fb514e?md=f44bd445966f405f8eabe44d989ca611