This Ride: 17.0 mi
Kona Miles: 1057.9 mi
Month to date: 335.2 mi
2010 Total: 1491.8 mi
Have I told you that I hate the trainer? Of course I have. I really do hate it.
The first day of Bike to Work Week was rainy, and I almost went out anyway (just not to work). There were only light sprinkles and I thought it would be more enjoyable than the trainer. But then, some good interval work is always helpful. So I jumped on the trainer and worked it. I hate the trainer.
The plan was a 3 minute warm-up, followed by an interval to a target heart rate … then hold it until the end of the 5 minute interval, followed by a 3 minute cool-down to a target of 120 bpm, and repeat. My targets for this ride were 140, 145, 150, 155, 150, 145, & 140 with a gradual 4 minute cool-down at the end. I wanted to hold flatter tops than before, and typically rode about 3 minutes at the target heart rate.
As you can see, the heart rate graph demonstrates interval work pretty well.
Here is hoping for a dryer tomorrow.
This Ride: 14.2 mi
Kona Miles: 1057.9 mi
Month to date: 318.2 mi
2010 Total: 1474.8 mi
I got out for a short ride late this evening. My goal was to keep my heart rate below 125 as I recover from giving a pint of blood yesterday. It was a nice, easy ride. I was surprised that I could go as quickly as I did at times without increasing my heart rate too much.
I registered this morning for the 2010 Seagull Century. I’ll be sporting #537.
This ride was going to be my major accomplishment this year … to ride 100 miles in one day. In January that seemed like a reasonable goal for October, since I was riding about 8 miles at a stretch at that time. Now, I’m hoping to get a 100 mile day sometime this month (or maybe June 1). I only need the weather to cooperate on the few days in the calendar that look possible.
Having said that, we’ll see how well I recover from this morning. I’m off to donate blood to the Red Cross. That could make riding more of a challenge the next couple of weeks.
This Ride: 53.1 mi
Kona Miles: 1043.6 mi
Month to date: 304.0 mi
2010 Total: 1460.6 mi
After sitting all day yesterday, I was looking forward to getting out this morning. The Friday morning breakfast ride started with 8-10 riders (I really wasn’t paying attention), all in pretty good moods. It really was a nice ride to Annapolis. I do love crossing the bridge in the early morning at the mouth of the Severn River. Rowers are out, and the water is calm. We got out of breakfast a little later than usual, so we focused on simply getting back.
I spotted the fabled speedo runner of Annapolis for the first time. Apparently he runs in a speedo and running shoes, wearing nothing else, and does so in all sorts of weather.
What is happening to me? I was asked if I was going to ride another long one today, and I said, “No. I might add 25 more at the end of this ride, but I’m not going to push it.” Another 25 after the 25 mile breakfast ride? Now a 50 mile morning isn’t doing a long one? Something is changing in my head! (My first 50+ mile ride was 2 months ago and I averaged 13.7 mph on that ride. I’ve ridden only 4 more of those since then, including today’s ride. Today, I rode 53 and averaged 17 mph.) A lot of this is mental. Once the Century Ride seemed like a distant goal. I think I could ride one today without a lot of problems, especially in a group. I’m starting to consider 200k rides in early summer.
The St. Margaret’s Loop was really uneventful. I’m seeing a lot of cardinals. Eastern goldfinches can fly at least 18 mph (I clocked one). I handled 3 phone calls while on this part of the ride. The sun broke through the morning’s heavy overcast at about mile 46. Forecast is for a steamy day. I need to find a solution for the sweat that accumulates in my helmet over my forehead, because it drips into my right eye when I tip my head down a bit.
Tomorrow: Registration for the Seagull Century opens.
Oh, and a milestone for my Kona. I’ve ridden it over 1000 miles since purchasing it in January.
This Ride: 21.8 mi
Kona Miles: 990.5 mi
Month to date: 250.9 mi
2010 Total: 1407.5 mi
When I set out for a mid-day ride, I simply wanted to get out and ride before any more rain started falling. Yesterday, it rained all day. Tomorrow I’ll not be able to ride, and Friday is questionable. Shortly into the ride, I felt myself picking up the pace, using a higher gear than usual and a little slower cadence. The focus is on building leg strength to increase speed. I knew that I had a good fast ride when I finished, but I was completely surprised at the results.
18.3 mph for nearly 22 miles!
That’s a personal best. Most of that was on the B&A Trail, which slows a rider down with all the intersections and others on the trail.
What felt best on the ride was coming up Ritchie Highway from White’s Road to Magothy Bridge Road. On that uphill stretch at about 19 miles in, I was able to keep my speed up pretty well.
These Rides: 36.3 mi
Kona Miles: 968.7 mi
Month to date: 229.1 mi
2010 Total: 1385.7 mi
I had a meeting in Baltimore today, and I figured, “Why not?” I decided to bike in and commute to the meeting. I chose a new route, using www.bikeroutetoaster.com. It actually worked pretty well. I do need to tweek my Garmin course settings. The course typically told me to turn after I was in the intersection. I want more warning than that.
The rides were relatively uneventful. Only 1 driver shouted, “Get off the road!” I managed to miss most of the potholes. Only one vehicle made a right hand turn in front of me, missing me by about 2 feet. It is all part of riding on the road. That’s why the cyclist has to be hyper vigilant. Once I got back on the trail, I breathed a sigh of relief.
The pace was slow, but then I wasn’t trying to win any speed races. Negotiating city traffic has me slowing down frequently. I learned some route nuances watching some other cyclists.
Click on image if you wish to see details.
This Ride: 17.2 mi
Kona Miles: 932.4 mi
Month to date: 192.8 mi
2010 Total: 1349.4 mi
Today was an odd and busy day. Squeezing a ride in was nearly impossible. I managed to find about an hour mid-afternoon, but debated for a little while about whether a nap or a ride would be the thing to do. I decided to ride. It started as an easy ride north on the trail. The wind was vicious … but I planned the headwind for the first part of the ride. There were a lot of parents out with children riding the trail. I really enjoy seeing that. The return trip was a “breeze”. I got back so much more quickly than anticipated, so I rode the loop near home. I’m glad I chose the ride over the nap.
Yesterday, I degreased and oiled my chain. What a difference that makes! I couldn’t believe how quiet the rear cassette was! I’m now watching that maintenance task much more closely.
I talked with a friend today who is intimidated by the Severna Park Peloton. He and his wife take some long rides, including Century rides. They rode a 50 mile ride last weekend. But as he describes it, a 17 mph pace just isn’t possible for him. I appreciate the change in mindset joining the Peloton has made for me … and even more, getting to know some of the people who are riding. It’s a great bunch of folks.
This Ride: 72.6 mi
Kona Miles: 915.2 mi
Month to date: 175.6 mi
2010 Total: 1332.2 mi
The first part of the day’s ride was the 5:45 SPP Breakfast Ride to Annapolis. What a gorgeous morning! Seven of us gathered on the Rusty Bridge and soon were off, picking up one more rider within the first mile. I believe we had a quicker pace than previous rides. Dangerous Dan regaled us with his aborted ride last weekend due to dehydration. This guy is amazing. He was in front leading the pack with Brian, setting a good pace, and telling the story as if he were sitting in a rocking chair. I was having some trouble shifting into lower gears, and that caught up to me on the hill detour. I was able to fine tune the gears later in the morning. At the end of the trail, two riders turned back, leaving six for the ride into Annapolis. We stretched out quite a bit over the Naval Academy Bridge, but soon were at Chick and Ruth’s for breakfast with Nancy as our waitress. Three others joined us for breakfast.
We made quick work of the return after stopping off to see “The Pride of Baltimore” anchored at the City Docks in Annapolis. The Pride of Baltimore is a “tall ship”. Mike got photos.
I stopped back at the house to load up on gatoraide, fig newtons, water, and to drain off some of the coffee consumed earlier, then, back in the saddle for a quick trip to the bank to make a deposit. By then I decided that I would go to Baltimore today by bike. I picked up the B&A trail until it makes a sharp left in Glen Burnie, where I found a McDonald’s for a bathroom break. I overheard many commenting about the guy taking his bike into the bathroom. After a little confusion, I found my way to Rt 2, which is what I had decided to take into Baltimore because I know that route well. I don’t think I’ll take it again. There is no shoulder on most of Rt. 2. Once you are in Baltimore (City or County) the drain grates are not bike friendly. The draw bridge is not conducive to riding at all. Near the Science Center there is a bike path around the Inner Harbor that is convenient, when it is not used for parking by delivery trucks. I then made my way into Fells Point. Note to self: Avoid Thames Street! Cobblestone streets are pretty, but they are tough on a bike. Standing eliminated some of the shock, but I really had to travel slow.
I got to Fells Point too early. Max’s Taphouse was not yet open. The porta-potties were locked with big locks. Downing some carbs and water I then made my way back downtown to the Visitor’s Center to use the restroom. A staff member watched my bike. Outside, a young family admired the bike, and the two young girls (six & eight) coached me on safety. Back on and headed south I thought about taking a different route, but I don’t know another route well enough to be confident, so I braved Rt. 2 again. Back in Glen Burnie, with my brain muddled by so much riding, I turned down Ordinance Road, thinking it was Furnace Branch Road, and it took me a while to get back. I took Furnace Branch to B&A Blvd, then B&A south to Whites Road and got back on the trail so that I could finish with over 70 miles today. I was pretty wiped, so I didn’t finish the trail before resting, refreshing, and turning back home.
This was fun. 25 miles with the group ride, and 48 solo. I consumed 20 fig newtons, 2 bottles of gatoraide, an unknown amount of water, and 1 nutrigrain bar. Now for a shower.
Oh, I almost forgot … I pulled only a small piece of glass out of my new tires, and it was barely imbeded. These tires worked great. I couldn’t tell the difference riding them, but the after effect was noticeable.
Since I’m hoping to do a long ride day tomorrow, I decided to have a rest day today. That doesn’t mean that I didn’t do cycling related tasks.
Frustrated with the number of flats I’ve experienced the past couple of weeks, I did some online research and decided against tire liners. Reviews were terribly mixed. Instead, I learned something about tires and decided to purchase something rated higher in puncture resistance than my stock Continental Ultra Sport. www.livestrong.org had some tires rated, and a quick visit to Bike Doctor in Arnold convinced me that the Continental Grand Prix 4000S was the right tire for me at this time. I had the option of a red tread, but black suits me fine.
So, on this beautiful afternoon, I pulled the bike out on the deck and carefully replaced tires and tubes. I checked and rechecked for pinches and good fit. I’ll be interested on tomorrow’s ride how these tires perform … and if I notice any difference.
These Rides: 32.1 mi
Kona Miles: 842.6 mi
Month to date: 103 mi
2010 Total: 1259.6 mi
This was a day of several rides, and I used it to determine if it makes sense to use the Garmin for a whole day cumulative ride vs. individual rides. (If I don’t use the heart rate monitor on all rides, and only on some, it does not synchronize with the other data points.)
The commute to work was a short easy ride. I encountered the Severna Park High gym class again on the trail. They seemed more alert than other mornings. That’s not a bad start for the morning … a leisurely walk as the day begins … or a ride to work. The ride from work in the early afternoon was uneventful.
For my afternoon longer ride, I took the trail south then to the Naval Academy Bridge. I stopped frequently to adjust my rear derailleur cable. I still don’t quite have it right. Shifts are not smooth, and a gear or two jump and don’t seat properly. I tried to use a larger gear than usual, attempting to strengthen my legs more in order to eventually increase my speed. I was successful. Average cadence was 77 compared to 82-85.
Late afternoon I rode back to work, and returned about 8:15. There was nice color in the sky following the sunset. I do love being in the saddle.
And … no flats!
Tomorrow, to the bike shop to look at tire skins. The ride tomorrow will be an easy pace (or a rest day) to rest some for a possible long ride on Friday. I’ll definitely be doing the Friday 545 breakfast ride.
(I finally discovered that WordPress doesn’t allow the imbedded files from Garmin Connect. The other option for me to post these is to save them as graphic files. Clicking on the image will take you to the Garmin Connect details. I’ll try that for a while.)
Rev Rider 