I doubled up this weekend for rides. At first I thought I was going to get a nice and long ride in on Saturday, but realized that I needed to be someplace earlier then I thought. So, my ride Saturday was cut short and I only put in 60 miles. Only 60 miles? It is crazy to hear me say that! Last year that would have been one of the longer rides.
I actually didn't feel too bad after Saturdays ride and decided to join another rider on their Sunday ride. The way it sounded the selected route was very hilly. I talked them in to doing something easier so I would join them. My legs were dead for most of the ride, but I was still moving fairly good. We ended up with just under 50 miles. So, I guess there is nothing wrong with 110 miles in for a weekend. My legs sure did hurt after that ride and the next day. That is the most that they have hurt for a while. I supposed it is a good thing and I hope that means they are getting stronger.
I guess I will have to see on the Wed. night ride. Speaking of a lot of miles, it is hard to believe that after tonights ride I will have over 900 miles in for he year. That is one good year for me and it is not even July!!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Time is ticking away
I have officially signed up for the Rain Ride. Now I can not come up with numerous silly reasons to back out. Our sag driver just said that they will not be able to drive this year, so I guess a sag support is still needed. I am trying to work some stuff out for that.
This last weekend I stepped back my riding some. I have had some knee pain on and off for the last month or so. I am sure that my riding is part of the problem and lack of sleep is probably the other part. The problem is with the Rain right around the corner I can't back off too much.
I finally got the wife out on her bike last night. We went out on a 20 mile loop. I think she had a good time and was not too sore this morning. I hope to get her out a lot more this year. She would be a very good rider if she got back in to it. At one time she raced for the Proflex regional mountain bike team in the expert class. Maybe we both were not exactly top of the class expert racers, but we held our own compared to the number of fast riders at that time. I don't think I will ever get to that point, but that really does not matter to me anymore. I just hope to get to a cat 5 or even 4 level some day.
This last weekend I stepped back my riding some. I have had some knee pain on and off for the last month or so. I am sure that my riding is part of the problem and lack of sleep is probably the other part. The problem is with the Rain right around the corner I can't back off too much.
I finally got the wife out on her bike last night. We went out on a 20 mile loop. I think she had a good time and was not too sore this morning. I hope to get her out a lot more this year. She would be a very good rider if she got back in to it. At one time she raced for the Proflex regional mountain bike team in the expert class. Maybe we both were not exactly top of the class expert racers, but we held our own compared to the number of fast riders at that time. I don't think I will ever get to that point, but that really does not matter to me anymore. I just hope to get to a cat 5 or even 4 level some day.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
My first century
Sunday morning we headed out early for a long ride. We were planning on heading out at 6 for a 100 miler. One ride had an issue on time. So, after some debate our plans were changed to accommodate everyone. The train left at 5:00 in the dark. We took some back roads toward our desired direction. By the time we needed to hit the main roads, it was getting light enough for the cars to see us better. There were a few bikes with headlights on and everyone had tail lights just to be safe. The route was changed with the plan to get us back near home for the one rider to break off when he needed.
The ride started out a little slower then I thought it would, but I knew it would be a big day so I was not that worried. Two of the riders were starting to fall off the back. After we re-grouped it was decided for the front group to go out on their own. After this, our pace picked up some. We were making real good time and then one rider had a flat tire. It took us a little bit to get it changed because we were really needing a short break. I had to make adjustments to my seat. Side note: I forgot to mention that the day before this ride I put a new seat on my bike, new pedals and cleats on new shoes!! Not the smartest thing to do before a long ride.
After we fixed the flat, we were back on the road and moving good again. We made a short rest stop at the designated spot. Time was being estimated and it was decided to call for a ride to meet down the road. So off we went trying to hit the check point before the driver made it there. We made it there in plenty of time, so as we waited the riders who were continuing filled up bottles and were getting ready to head out. The 2 riders we left early in the day came rolling in. So the group was back to 4 riders to head toward home.
Close to home I started looking at my mileage and we decided that we needed a little more to make the 100. One rider bailed off with a good day in the seat. I can tell you I was really starting to hurt by then. Legs were getting weak and my body was just tired of pedaling. Those last 10 miles were horrible. Good thing we headed out for flatter road because I would have really struggled if there would have been too much elevation gain.
When I got home and out of the shower I was tired, but the feeling of accomplishment was worth more then the pain. As I laid there for 10 min. I rememberd that I needed to finish packing because I was driving 6 hours to Chicago for work in less then 1 hour!! Silly me!
The ride started out a little slower then I thought it would, but I knew it would be a big day so I was not that worried. Two of the riders were starting to fall off the back. After we re-grouped it was decided for the front group to go out on their own. After this, our pace picked up some. We were making real good time and then one rider had a flat tire. It took us a little bit to get it changed because we were really needing a short break. I had to make adjustments to my seat. Side note: I forgot to mention that the day before this ride I put a new seat on my bike, new pedals and cleats on new shoes!! Not the smartest thing to do before a long ride.
After we fixed the flat, we were back on the road and moving good again. We made a short rest stop at the designated spot. Time was being estimated and it was decided to call for a ride to meet down the road. So off we went trying to hit the check point before the driver made it there. We made it there in plenty of time, so as we waited the riders who were continuing filled up bottles and were getting ready to head out. The 2 riders we left early in the day came rolling in. So the group was back to 4 riders to head toward home.
Close to home I started looking at my mileage and we decided that we needed a little more to make the 100. One rider bailed off with a good day in the seat. I can tell you I was really starting to hurt by then. Legs were getting weak and my body was just tired of pedaling. Those last 10 miles were horrible. Good thing we headed out for flatter road because I would have really struggled if there would have been too much elevation gain.
When I got home and out of the shower I was tired, but the feeling of accomplishment was worth more then the pain. As I laid there for 10 min. I rememberd that I needed to finish packing because I was driving 6 hours to Chicago for work in less then 1 hour!! Silly me!
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
After work stress relief
Well I actually made it out during the week again. I need to keep that up if I want my legs to keep improving. We went out in to wind and a cloud filled sky. We only had a few drops fall on us so it was all good. I actually could have used a little rain to help wash off all those nasty worms that are stuck all over my bike from Sunday's ride.
We ended up going out for right at 40 miles. The average was a little slow for how hard it felt like we went. We did do a few hard efforts that really took a toll on my legs, so that might have something to do with my lower average. It really does not matter, it was just good to get out.
I just hope to recover some before Sunday's 100 miler. That should be an interesting ride. I am thinking about riding to the starting point in stead of driving. I hate driving to a ride, but it depends a little on how light it is. I do not like riding in the dark during the morning hours on a road just up from my house. If I can make it past there it is all good. The only problem with riding to the start point is that it will make the ride more like 110 miles and end climbing back toward home. I guess we will have to see.
To make matters even more interesting, after our ride I have to head home, clean up and then load up to drive 5-6 hours to Chicago for work. That should be a fun drive!! Good thing is the food and stuff will be on the company.
We ended up going out for right at 40 miles. The average was a little slow for how hard it felt like we went. We did do a few hard efforts that really took a toll on my legs, so that might have something to do with my lower average. It really does not matter, it was just good to get out.
I just hope to recover some before Sunday's 100 miler. That should be an interesting ride. I am thinking about riding to the starting point in stead of driving. I hate driving to a ride, but it depends a little on how light it is. I do not like riding in the dark during the morning hours on a road just up from my house. If I can make it past there it is all good. The only problem with riding to the start point is that it will make the ride more like 110 miles and end climbing back toward home. I guess we will have to see.
To make matters even more interesting, after our ride I have to head home, clean up and then load up to drive 5-6 hours to Chicago for work. That should be a fun drive!! Good thing is the food and stuff will be on the company.
Monday, June 02, 2008
The wheel turns around and around
Another weekend of riding down that road. Well, this weekend was a road less traveled this year. The group of guys that I have been riding with tend to do some different routes then I would pick by myself. There is nothing wrong with them, just different. This weekend we did a version of a route that I would normally do. I thought it would have been a lot more hills then it was. Don't get be wrong, it was not an easy ride, but the elevation gain was not what I thought it would have been. We only ended up with 1,815 ft for 58 miles. It was more then several of the routes that we normally take, but we have also taken routes that end up with much more gain. Two weeks ago with did a 60 mile ride or so and was over 2,200 ft gain.
Overall it was still a good ride. My legs did not feel as good the last two weeks as they have several weeks before. I still managed to ride good enough for the group. Some of the hills didn't seem to hurt as bad as previous times on the same roads. I guess that is showing my that I am actually getting somewhere this year. I know I am down 8 lbs and a pants size smaller, but I am still not where I want to be.
Work has been crazy and I am been busy with other stuff too lately, so I am sure that has effected my recovery. I just hope to continue to improve and be able to ride the Rain Ride strong. That will keep my confidence up for the rest of the year. I still have a few things on my mind that I want to work in. The hundie for the Brown County Breakdown and I want to redeem myself at the Tour de London. If that all works out and I can hold some strength through the winter, I want to try the 3 State/3 Mountain race. I hear that is one heck of a nice ride. That is all yet to be seen. The only thing I know for sure, well as sure as I can be is the Rain Ride. My personal goal is under 9 hours, but not sure if the rest of the group is up for that. 18 mph average should be a possibility by then.
Well, this weekend we are supposed to get in that century. We will have to see if that happens. We are leaving early and I hope to get done as early as we can because I have to drive to Chicago that afternoon for work. That should be a fun drive!! NOT.
Overall it was still a good ride. My legs did not feel as good the last two weeks as they have several weeks before. I still managed to ride good enough for the group. Some of the hills didn't seem to hurt as bad as previous times on the same roads. I guess that is showing my that I am actually getting somewhere this year. I know I am down 8 lbs and a pants size smaller, but I am still not where I want to be.
Work has been crazy and I am been busy with other stuff too lately, so I am sure that has effected my recovery. I just hope to continue to improve and be able to ride the Rain Ride strong. That will keep my confidence up for the rest of the year. I still have a few things on my mind that I want to work in. The hundie for the Brown County Breakdown and I want to redeem myself at the Tour de London. If that all works out and I can hold some strength through the winter, I want to try the 3 State/3 Mountain race. I hear that is one heck of a nice ride. That is all yet to be seen. The only thing I know for sure, well as sure as I can be is the Rain Ride. My personal goal is under 9 hours, but not sure if the rest of the group is up for that. 18 mph average should be a possibility by then.
Well, this weekend we are supposed to get in that century. We will have to see if that happens. We are leaving early and I hope to get done as early as we can because I have to drive to Chicago that afternoon for work. That should be a fun drive!! NOT.
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