It must be that time of year again. I seems that every year around August I start to fade. I have been calling it my August burn out. This year it showed up a little early. It all starts with a few bad outings, being tired and just not having fun. Then I loose motivation to go ride. A few rides skipped and then I loose some fitness and continue down hill.
I know all I need to do is make it a few more rides to get over the hump. It is easier then it sounds. I need to catch up on some sleep. I know I have been eating more and drinking a lot more beer. My weight that has been dropping all year has gone two weeks with a small incline each week. I did hold the same weight the third week, but that is not the trend I need to be going.
I was told to go ride last night or I probably would not have gone. I think it is a good thing too. I actually didn't feel too bad. It helps that they started the ride fairly slow. I picked the pace up after we were out a bit. I wanted to see if my legs really were feeling good and they did good. Not as strong as I want them to be, but better then they had been.
I am doing the big Strassenfest ride this weekend and planning on doing the HMBA century next weekend. Both of those rides should be a good time and help break out of this funk. I guess time will tell.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
Time to start going up
I got out for a ride a few days after the Rain and I felt much better then I imagined. Then I didn't make it out over the weekend so I figured I would hook up with a new group for a Tues. ride. That was a good thing, but a not so good thing at the same time. The good thing is I have found a new group that I need to spend some time with if I want any chance at being in the shape I desire before the Tour de London. The bad thing is that they absolutely killed me! Hell, this is Friday and my legs still hurt!
In all of my years of riding I have never yacked from riding. I have been real close several times, but never actually done it. Tuesday I thought it would be my first time! I was miserable. I never saw my lunch, but it would not have surprised me at all.
The one thing that it did tell me, even though I already knew it, is that I need to do a lot more climbing if I plan on having a chance to improve my ride in the TdL.
In all of my years of riding I have never yacked from riding. I have been real close several times, but never actually done it. Tuesday I thought it would be my first time! I was miserable. I never saw my lunch, but it would not have surprised me at all.
The one thing that it did tell me, even though I already knew it, is that I need to do a lot more climbing if I plan on having a chance to improve my ride in the TdL.
Monday, July 14, 2008
2008 Rain Ride
Well I can finally say that I have done the Rain ride. It was a long day full of interesting moments. Standing at the starting line with clouds as far as you could see and lightning bolts all across the sky, I knew it would be interesting. The rain started a little before the actual ride started. I am not sure how long it really rained, but I was getting wet for the first 70-75 miles. If it was not raining, the road was really wet and all of the tires were making it feel like it was raining.
We started off with a real nice pace and several riders around to always be able to find groups to hang with. Just past the first rest stop (we did not stop), I was feeling the urge to take a natural break. I was not the only one, but not everyone was stopping. I could start to feel the pace taking it toll on my and figured that we better back off a little if we were going to make the whole thing. This was only 45 miles in to the ride. So the two of us let the group pull away and I started looking for the spot that I was going to pull over. After a quick break, our sag vehicle went by and pulled over to make sure if we needed anything.
After being out on our own for a little bit, there were a few guys that came along so we hopped on to help us on our way. Not too far down the road was the second rest stop. After a little stop we were ready to head back out on the road feeling much better. We settled in with a small group and everything was going good. Crossing 67 there was a rider that was almost a squashed bug. If his buddy would not have yelled at him that a car was coming he would have be a goner. Up the road from there a little ways the road was branching off to the right just down a little grade. The guys in front yelled that there was gravel on the road. We were cruising about 23 mph and the road was a little wet yet. The guy two in front of me slowed down too fast or something and the guy behind him got tangled up in his back wheel. This threw him down right in front of me. I was trying to get out of the path, but his bike kept sliding left and I could not miss it. I ran over the back of this bike and hard telling what else. Next thing I knew I was sliding down the hill and then my head smacked the road real good. After all of the sliding was done, I picked myself up and checked everything out. Nothing was broke, just some road rash a few places. My helmet didn't look as good as I did, but it was still in one piece so I put it back on with a few more vents installed. The other guy was good, so I said I needed to get back to riding before the pain settled in and I would really hurt.
Not too much farther we rolled in to the lunch stop. This was a much needed stop to re-group. We did end up staying there a lot longer then I wanted to, but some of it was needed. I changed jerseys and socks and took in a good inventory of the damage. After some food I was ready to get back out there. The section after lunch was not easy. We did not see very many groups, so we were cruising along all on our own. We finally ended up meeting up with a group of 4 and tied in with them as long as we could. Eventually we were split and we were out looking for more riders.
This continued on and off for the rest of the ride. We did stop at the last rest stop to top off the bottles and down some much needed food. From there I knew we had just over 1 1/2 hours to make it under the 10 hour mark. Not exactly where I wanted to be, but that was the point I didn't want to pass. So, we came out of there screaming and tried to make the time. We did hook up with one other guy that we were riding with earlier and we helped each other get to the end. Just before we were at the finish the other guy fell off of the pace that was being put out. Forrest said if he slowed down he just might fall over. So, the hammer was still on and the finish could not come soon enough.
Eventually we did make it up the hills and found the finish. 9 hours and 46 min. after leaving Terre Haute. I was very happy to make it in under the 10 hour mark. I am even happier after looking at some of the stats and seeing that we had an actual ride time of 8 hours and 15 min with an average speed of 20.25 mph. We are now prepared to train a little better, take some time out of the rest stops and finish in the sub 9 hour mark for next year!
Not sure how soon I am ready to get back on the bike, but I better not wait too long with some of the big rides I have planned on the horizon.
See you on the road.
We started off with a real nice pace and several riders around to always be able to find groups to hang with. Just past the first rest stop (we did not stop), I was feeling the urge to take a natural break. I was not the only one, but not everyone was stopping. I could start to feel the pace taking it toll on my and figured that we better back off a little if we were going to make the whole thing. This was only 45 miles in to the ride. So the two of us let the group pull away and I started looking for the spot that I was going to pull over. After a quick break, our sag vehicle went by and pulled over to make sure if we needed anything.
After being out on our own for a little bit, there were a few guys that came along so we hopped on to help us on our way. Not too far down the road was the second rest stop. After a little stop we were ready to head back out on the road feeling much better. We settled in with a small group and everything was going good. Crossing 67 there was a rider that was almost a squashed bug. If his buddy would not have yelled at him that a car was coming he would have be a goner. Up the road from there a little ways the road was branching off to the right just down a little grade. The guys in front yelled that there was gravel on the road. We were cruising about 23 mph and the road was a little wet yet. The guy two in front of me slowed down too fast or something and the guy behind him got tangled up in his back wheel. This threw him down right in front of me. I was trying to get out of the path, but his bike kept sliding left and I could not miss it. I ran over the back of this bike and hard telling what else. Next thing I knew I was sliding down the hill and then my head smacked the road real good. After all of the sliding was done, I picked myself up and checked everything out. Nothing was broke, just some road rash a few places. My helmet didn't look as good as I did, but it was still in one piece so I put it back on with a few more vents installed. The other guy was good, so I said I needed to get back to riding before the pain settled in and I would really hurt.
Not too much farther we rolled in to the lunch stop. This was a much needed stop to re-group. We did end up staying there a lot longer then I wanted to, but some of it was needed. I changed jerseys and socks and took in a good inventory of the damage. After some food I was ready to get back out there. The section after lunch was not easy. We did not see very many groups, so we were cruising along all on our own. We finally ended up meeting up with a group of 4 and tied in with them as long as we could. Eventually we were split and we were out looking for more riders.
This continued on and off for the rest of the ride. We did stop at the last rest stop to top off the bottles and down some much needed food. From there I knew we had just over 1 1/2 hours to make it under the 10 hour mark. Not exactly where I wanted to be, but that was the point I didn't want to pass. So, we came out of there screaming and tried to make the time. We did hook up with one other guy that we were riding with earlier and we helped each other get to the end. Just before we were at the finish the other guy fell off of the pace that was being put out. Forrest said if he slowed down he just might fall over. So, the hammer was still on and the finish could not come soon enough.
Eventually we did make it up the hills and found the finish. 9 hours and 46 min. after leaving Terre Haute. I was very happy to make it in under the 10 hour mark. I am even happier after looking at some of the stats and seeing that we had an actual ride time of 8 hours and 15 min with an average speed of 20.25 mph. We are now prepared to train a little better, take some time out of the rest stops and finish in the sub 9 hour mark for next year!
Not sure how soon I am ready to get back on the bike, but I better not wait too long with some of the big rides I have planned on the horizon.
See you on the road.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Getting close now
Last weekend I made it out for a good ride. When I started my legs were not feeling very good and I thought I was going to have to call it a day early. There were only two of us, so the drafting was minimal. When we made our first stop to decide the route I noticed that we were averaging just a little over 18 mph. I was very happy with that since I felt like I was barley moving. We decided to head back toward home to ride less traveled roads.
Over all it really ended up as a good ride. We put in right at 60 miles and also hit a few hills too. Much better then what I was expecting with my legs feeling bad.
Well this weekend is the big weekend. I am about as ready as I can expect. I could have planned a little better and been ready to really tear it up, but I am happy with my condition. I am not sure how fast we will end up going, but I am fairly confident that I will finish.
I just hope my legs are good. I am busy all week and with the chance of rain, it looks like my chances for miles this week are between slim and none. I guess some rest might be good too.
After this weekend it will not let up either. I have the Strassenfest ride that is a hilly 62 mile route, but that should be easier then previous years. Then I plan on doing the HMBA Century that apparently has a lot of climbing too. All this climbing should lead up to my next section of training. I really need to start hitting the hills to prepare for my revenge on the Tour de London.
After all that is settled, I plan on doing the Brown County Breakdown 100 mile mtb ride. I guess I will have to hit the woods sometime before then.
Over all it really ended up as a good ride. We put in right at 60 miles and also hit a few hills too. Much better then what I was expecting with my legs feeling bad.
Well this weekend is the big weekend. I am about as ready as I can expect. I could have planned a little better and been ready to really tear it up, but I am happy with my condition. I am not sure how fast we will end up going, but I am fairly confident that I will finish.
I just hope my legs are good. I am busy all week and with the chance of rain, it looks like my chances for miles this week are between slim and none. I guess some rest might be good too.
After this weekend it will not let up either. I have the Strassenfest ride that is a hilly 62 mile route, but that should be easier then previous years. Then I plan on doing the HMBA Century that apparently has a lot of climbing too. All this climbing should lead up to my next section of training. I really need to start hitting the hills to prepare for my revenge on the Tour de London.
After all that is settled, I plan on doing the Brown County Breakdown 100 mile mtb ride. I guess I will have to hit the woods sometime before then.
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