Posts Tagged ‘Road Biking’

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Quick and lightening

Tuesday, August 15th, 2006

Well, I guess I can just throw out today’s ride.

I got off work a little early and came home to grab some time on the bike before going to a meeting this evening. The plan was to ride for about 45 minutes or so, get back to the house in time to shower and get ready for the meeting at 6:30.

Things started out pretty well. I made it to Cleveland Park with a good average speed. I knew I wouldn’t get a lot of miles in, so I was concentrating on trying to get a good time.

Going into Cleveland Park I felt a big drop of rain hit me. No big deal, it had been threatening off and on for several days and nothing drastic had happened. By the time I reached the opposite end of the park, the bottom started to fall out. Rain, rain, rain and more rain! However, there was no lightening, so I kept riding. Might as well learn how to ride in the rain sometime.

Anyway, it destroyed my averages. Just as I turned for home I heard the first peal of thunder. Then the rain came down even more. We’re talking flash flood type of rain. The lightening and thunder was coming more frequent now. I kept telling myself, “As long as I can see the lightening, I’m okay.” Still, it made me duck every time I saw a flash (as if that would help).

Going up Lowndes Hill, I could hardly see. I was about to just pull over and try to find some shelter when I heard a car horn blowing. I looked up and it was the beautiful red head who came looking for me! She turned around and I loaded up the bike and enjoyed the car ride home.

Wow, that was exciting! Though, I think I’ll just stop next time. Even if you don’t hear thunder or see lightening when the rain starts, it probably means that it will be coming. You don’t want to get caught out in one of those things!

Today’s Training Line:

Distance: 12.31 miles / Average Speed: 16.9 mph / Time: 0:43:43
Average Heart Rate: 157 bpm / Level 5: 0:12:48* / Work: 851**

* Level 5 is the time heart beats between 165 and 183 bpm
** Comparative number to measure exertion during different sessions
Data collected by Sports Instruments ECG Pro 7 heart rate monitor and Cat Eye Astrale 8 cyclocomputer

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The route is out

Tuesday, August 15th, 2006

I had been waiting patiently for the route information for the Palmetto Peloton Project Metric Century. The que sheet just came out a day or so ago. While it is helpful, it is hard to visualize the ride by looking at the “turn left here” and “turn right there” directions.

So, I went over to my trusty Wayfaring site and created a map of the ride. Now, I had to go out and do some exploring as well because you can’t always trust these online map services. This is pretty close though. Maybe I’ll put up some pictures of the route a little later.

The blue line shows the route for the Palmetto Peloton Project Metric Century ride. Click here to expand the map. Once you have expanded the map, click on it to be able to view more detail.

If you’re planning to make the ride, I hope this little map will be a help to you! Now, go hit the road.

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Time flies when you’re with a friend

Monday, August 14th, 2006

Tonight I rode down to Cleveland Park in a friend’s car. We had the bikes on a rack. That meant that we did all 22 miles in the Park. Thursday night we have plans to do Altamont Road — up one side and down the other turning around and doing it the other direction. It makes all the difference in the world when you ride with someone.

Today’s Training Line:

Distance: 22.87 miles / Average Speed: 18.3 mph / Time: 1:14:53
Average Heart Rate: 165 bpm / Level 5: 0:50:07* / Work: 1424**

* Level 5 is the time heart beats between 165 and 183 bpm
** Comparative number to measure exertion during different sessions
Data collected by Sports Instruments ECG Pro 7 heart rate monitor and Cat Eye Astrale 8 cyclocomputer

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How many miles in an hour?

Thursday, August 10th, 2006

I’ve been riding nearly everyday now since July 22. For the first time something different happened. I didn’t want to go out. Regardless I suited up and headed out. I decided to try something different. Instead of setting a distance goal, I set a time goal. I wanted to see how far I could go in one hour.

As I pushed through the laps, I started to realize I could potentially average 19 mph. Near the end of the hour I hit 18.9, but as the hour ticked to a conclusion the average speed on my Cat Eye read 18.8. Still, I was able to cover 18.8 miles in one hour. Someday, I hope I can cover 20 miles in an hour, but I was happy with this for a start.

After finishing the hour I still had to ride home. That ended up making my entire route a nearly 22.5 mile ride. I even managed to maintain a 17.9 mph average with all the climbing I had to do on the way to the house.

You guessed it. Now I’m glad I did it. Tomorrow I think I’ll back off a little so that I can be fresh for the group ride Saturday morning. I’d like to pull in thirty miles that day.

Oh, today’s ride also put me over 300 miles on my Allez. I could potentially end up with 150 miles this week.

Today’s Training Line:

Distance: 22.46 miles / Average Speed: 17.9 mph / Time: 1:15:06
Average Heart Rate: 168 bpm / Level 5: 0:53:57* / Work: 1494**

* Level 5 is the time heart beats between 165 and 183 bpm
** Comparative number to measure exertion during different sessions
Data collected by Sports Instruments ECG Pro 7 heart rate monitor and Cat Eye Astrale 8 cyclocomputer

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Specialized Allez

Sunday, August 6th, 2006

There is no training line today. I took the day off. However, I will include a picture of my bike. It is a simple entry level rider for someone who wants to begin riding seriously. It isn’t something you would go out racing!

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Now I’ve gone and done it!

Wednesday, August 2nd, 2006

I’ve always enjoyed the energy that comes from a regular exercise routine. However, it has been hard to find a sport that I could do that would fit into my lifestyle. I don’t like “stationary” exercise. I want to be out doing something. Running is okay and I have run extensively in the past, but it just doesn’t have that element that keeps me coming back for more.

Mountain biking has been more my speed and riding gives me a workout while at the same time allowing me to incorporate the technical sides of riding and the social side of thrashing a trail with other pedal pushers. The only problem is that with a family and all the work responsibilities it has become harder and harder to load up the bike and find a trail. The trail that was once behind my house has basically be destroyed, so I would have to drive to the nearest trails.

Enter road biking. I have recently worked out a deal so I could get a Specialized Allez Elite Triple. It isn’t a fancy bike, but is a solid beginners bike. Now, my rides begin at the end of my driveway! I’ve been able to work out a system of riding Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. After my first full week of riding, I have logged over 100 miles.

That’s me second in line.

Where I have gotten myself in trouble is that I have signed up for my first Metric Century ride on September 1st! That means I have only a month to prepare to ride over 62 miles. So far the longest I have ridden is 30 miles. I hope I’ll be able to do it. But really, a goal like that is what I need to keep me in the saddle and pushing for improvement. It is what turns exercise into a sport – a game where I play against myself to go farther than I thought I could.

I’ll be using this space as a journal of my training along with the other little tidbits I keep track of – like Trent Mayo, NASCAR and UNC sports.

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