Well since I opted out of the "Running movie" the others went to (in Oxford), I decided to get in a quicky. I was 90 minutes of dirt roads and hills. 19 miles today. I averaged 12.666 mph.
YTD total distance: 856.8 miles
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Barry Roubaix weekend.
For many the Barry Roubaix is not only the start of the season but the start of bike riding for the year. For me it’s just a continuation of something I never planned to stop. With the exception of the 1 week break from training after last fall's Iceman Cometh race for an appendectomy, the ride continues. The cold February rides around the Lake at Stony Creek and more than tolerating the stinging winds and surviving the icy back roads fully prepared me for the cooler temperatures. What I was not quite expecting was the fast pace that was set by the higher numbers of competitors racing with Cyclocross bikes. I chose my 2010 Specialized 29 Comp.
The bike has been a faithful friend all year and was ready to take whatever was thrown at her. As we lined up at the Barry Roubaix start I scoped out other bikes taking note of the gears others were about to take off in. I had already decided that my take off gear was best as I felt strong enough to stay ahead of the group at least until the first sharp turn onto the main road was past. We got the "Go!" and I was off. I was at the front of the pack and intentionally as I did not want to get tied up with another bike. Getting a another derailleur stuck in my front spokes would not have been pretty, its happened before.
After we made our way onto the main road, I was in the big ring and the first 10 or 15 cyclocross equipped racers went past me... I was ok with that since I knew the fastest guys would be passing me soon enough. I was even more surprised that at the first 1 mile I was still among the front as far as other mountain bikes were concerned. As we got to the sandy two track some of the Cyclocross bikes got a little squirrely, but it was smooth sailing with the S-Works FastTrak on the front wheel. The climbs in the two-track were a little too easy for me... I realized as others started to pass, that I needed to get up out of the saddle and give an extra push. Those Cyclocross bikes were great on the straight-aways, but on the sharp climbs they just got in the way. We got to the dirt roads and even more cyclocross bikes passed. I tried to draft a few of those 'cross bikes but they either slow down on the climbs, or they were too fast so most of the next 18 to 20 miles I just went it alone. I noticed that on the downhill sections of the dirt roads that I had more confidence than I had last summer, my bike really did have great traction. Even though I was able to make the turns with very little speed loss, I found that accelerating on the exit of the turns were no match for the skinny tire 'cross bikes, I would use this opportunity to take a few swigs of my electrolyte drink.
The climbs, they kept coming, I thought I was getting to the top of a climb only to be disappointed that I wasn't quite halfway up. I experienced no cramps in my legs, but my heart was maxed on one stand-up climb to catch a guy I swore I had passed just minutes earlier. On the fast sections I learned how to appreciate a few moments of drafting, but they were just moments. At the last 14 miles or so finally got my break as I was really really tired, a cyclocross guy let me draft him for a while, he was pretty consistent with his pace which allowed me to not only catch my breath, but for my heart rate to finally settle down... we talked for awhile, he asked how I felt, I said "dead", but I was lying I felt alive and well, but just spent. At some point I got out of my saddle and sprinted up a hill I thought the guy I was following was right behind me which would have been cool, but when I had the chance to look back he wasn’t there, but I found a whole string of bikers following me... probably taking advantage of the same thing I had minutes earlier, a break from the wind.
At the last 6 miles (on pavement) I saw my good buddy's wife ringing a cow bell, so I knew at that point I was close to being done that gave me a little more motivation (albeit no energy), to get up one more time to feel the last burning as we climbed yet another hill. I saw the entrance to the Yankee Springs Park, WOW! I was relieved. As I made the left turn into the park, I decided I just had to finish on a high note. I got up and peddled past a few more bikers, the last stretch to the finish line sure seemed longer coming in than it did going out, the last few yards finished up in the saddle, I was done for the day. I finished the 35 mile race in 2:04:56, with an average 16.8 mph.
With the recovery ride from Sunday at 18 miles, I would say I had a good weekend.
YTD Distance: 837.8 miles
The bike has been a faithful friend all year and was ready to take whatever was thrown at her. As we lined up at the Barry Roubaix start I scoped out other bikes taking note of the gears others were about to take off in. I had already decided that my take off gear was best as I felt strong enough to stay ahead of the group at least until the first sharp turn onto the main road was past. We got the "Go!" and I was off. I was at the front of the pack and intentionally as I did not want to get tied up with another bike. Getting a another derailleur stuck in my front spokes would not have been pretty, its happened before.
After we made our way onto the main road, I was in the big ring and the first 10 or 15 cyclocross equipped racers went past me... I was ok with that since I knew the fastest guys would be passing me soon enough. I was even more surprised that at the first 1 mile I was still among the front as far as other mountain bikes were concerned. As we got to the sandy two track some of the Cyclocross bikes got a little squirrely, but it was smooth sailing with the S-Works FastTrak on the front wheel. The climbs in the two-track were a little too easy for me... I realized as others started to pass, that I needed to get up out of the saddle and give an extra push. Those Cyclocross bikes were great on the straight-aways, but on the sharp climbs they just got in the way. We got to the dirt roads and even more cyclocross bikes passed. I tried to draft a few of those 'cross bikes but they either slow down on the climbs, or they were too fast so most of the next 18 to 20 miles I just went it alone. I noticed that on the downhill sections of the dirt roads that I had more confidence than I had last summer, my bike really did have great traction. Even though I was able to make the turns with very little speed loss, I found that accelerating on the exit of the turns were no match for the skinny tire 'cross bikes, I would use this opportunity to take a few swigs of my electrolyte drink.
The climbs, they kept coming, I thought I was getting to the top of a climb only to be disappointed that I wasn't quite halfway up. I experienced no cramps in my legs, but my heart was maxed on one stand-up climb to catch a guy I swore I had passed just minutes earlier. On the fast sections I learned how to appreciate a few moments of drafting, but they were just moments. At the last 14 miles or so finally got my break as I was really really tired, a cyclocross guy let me draft him for a while, he was pretty consistent with his pace which allowed me to not only catch my breath, but for my heart rate to finally settle down... we talked for awhile, he asked how I felt, I said "dead", but I was lying I felt alive and well, but just spent. At some point I got out of my saddle and sprinted up a hill I thought the guy I was following was right behind me which would have been cool, but when I had the chance to look back he wasn’t there, but I found a whole string of bikers following me... probably taking advantage of the same thing I had minutes earlier, a break from the wind.
At the last 6 miles (on pavement) I saw my good buddy's wife ringing a cow bell, so I knew at that point I was close to being done that gave me a little more motivation (albeit no energy), to get up one more time to feel the last burning as we climbed yet another hill. I saw the entrance to the Yankee Springs Park, WOW! I was relieved. As I made the left turn into the park, I decided I just had to finish on a high note. I got up and peddled past a few more bikers, the last stretch to the finish line sure seemed longer coming in than it did going out, the last few yards finished up in the saddle, I was done for the day. I finished the 35 mile race in 2:04:56, with an average 16.8 mph.
With the recovery ride from Sunday at 18 miles, I would say I had a good weekend.
YTD Distance: 837.8 miles
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
So I get miles in last weekend
Yes, I did do a short (30 mile) ride on the back roads last Sunday. I was not feeling 100% as my sinuses have been bothering me. I sure hope I get over this before Barry Roubaix http://www.barry-roubaix.com/ race.
YTD distance: 784.8 miles
YTD distance: 784.8 miles
Saturday, March 19, 2011
no miles (technically) today.
I got in no miles, but I still rode my bike. I did 4 hours of spinning with teammates at Cycletherapy today from 11am to 3pm. I hope to get in 35 miles tomorrow.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
My first shorts ride and my first Thursday ride of the year! Also my first ride beating Pauly of some big hills! I got in 27.5 miles and I felt great! Time for a Guinness!
YTD Total: 754.8 miles.
YTD Total: 754.8 miles.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
I hate road riding..
Today was crazy. While we were finishing up the last 16+ miles of our 50 mile ride, a Jeep coming from the opposite direction (while passing a bunch of cars) came within 10 inches of totally destroying me and my riding partner. I hate road riding, but when its all I have for riding what can I do, not ride? I got in almost 80 miles for the weekend.
YTD distance: 727.3 miles.
YTD distance: 727.3 miles.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
29.5 miles on mostly road.
Today wasn't a good day for dirt road riding so we rode on the roads. A lot of climbs and straight-away sprints. The climbs were so steep that we were lucky to get upper single digit speeds, yet the straight-aways we got as much as 24 mph.
just over 2 hours at a 14.7 mph average I got in 29.5 miles.
YTD total distance: 677.3 miles.
Message to the assholes on the older maroon Ford explorer who threw garbage at us today: "Drive your SUV off a cliff, it will be better than me catching up with you!"
just over 2 hours at a 14.7 mph average I got in 29.5 miles.
YTD total distance: 677.3 miles.
Message to the assholes on the older maroon Ford explorer who threw garbage at us today: "Drive your SUV off a cliff, it will be better than me catching up with you!"
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
A modest weekend of riding.
43 miles on Sunday at Stony Creek. We did 4 laps that all included the 3.25 miles towards the nature preserve and other sections with most of the riding in the road and an average speed of 14.6 mph... had to make up for Saturday's rain.
YTD Total: 647.8 miles.
YTD Total: 647.8 miles.
Friday, March 4, 2011
What's up...
Last weekend I got in a 27.5 mile ride with some teammates and Pauly. Pauly and I continued for another 10 miles to round out Saturday for a total of 37.5 miles. Sunday I did 33.25 miles, which includes five 6 mile laps around the lake at Stony Creek with the first lap including a 3.25 mile section towards the nature preserve area. I felt much slower on Sunday than I normally do, I should have had more sleep.
My YTD total: 604.8 miles.
I hope to get in a shorter Saturday ride then a normal Sunday ride this weekend.
My training at Lifetime Fitness includes 3 days a week with running on two of the three days.
My YTD total: 604.8 miles.
I hope to get in a shorter Saturday ride then a normal Sunday ride this weekend.
My training at Lifetime Fitness includes 3 days a week with running on two of the three days.
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