It's Wednesday. Which I am finding is a great day for me to ride my bike fast. I wasn't really into it as I pulled out of the driveway, though. I tooled out and came up behind a truck at the light. He took off on green and I followed, hitting 21 mph before he pulled away about 100 feet later. At that point I had to decide, do I keep it at 21 mph and shoot for the TWTT record or just soft-pedal in to work?
My new PR is 9:55.72! Yeah, I chose correctly. After yesterday's big effort I was unsure about my abilities. I pulled up the the first split about 5 seconds slower than yesterday. The confirmation came as I turned south and hit Nemesis Hill. I hit 42 mph and held my top gears as long as possible in the flat. I knew I was close, and maybe...just maybe could go sub-10! Through the last traffic signal I looked down to see 9:18, which is a few second's slower than last week, so I really drilled it! I didn't consider breathing...everything was on auto as I concentrated on spinning circles of power. It all paid off when I looked down at the new record. Sweet success!
What made me faster today over yesterday? Perhaps a slight favorable wind, and possible good timing on the traffic signals. Those are the main factors that come to mind. Whatever the case, I'm pleased with the result!
July 21, 2010
July 20, 2010
Pain Tunnel
Today's TWTT went pretty well. No new records, but a valiant effort. I can honestly say I left nothing out there. I pushed it all the way in. Time: 10:11.
Then while at work I took a moment to check up on the Tour de France. They had been riding for 5 hours at that point and were 3.5 miles from the finish. One man had been going at it alone for more than half the day. He still had a chance to win the stage. My pain tunnel was an overpass compared to what he must have been going through!
Then while at work I took a moment to check up on the Tour de France. They had been riding for 5 hours at that point and were 3.5 miles from the finish. One man had been going at it alone for more than half the day. He still had a chance to win the stage. My pain tunnel was an overpass compared to what he must have been going through!
July 19, 2010
Respect the Saddle
I love my saddle. I haven't always loved my saddle. When I first began riding longer distances a few years ago I found that my saddle was no good. I was always sore. I figured I just needed to callous, but after a season of riding, my first cetury ride was accompanied by plenty of discomfort! After that I set out to replace that saddle and relieve the anxiety that tainted my ride.
I quickly discovered that there are a great variety of saddles, and for the most part...they don't come cheap. I looked at all kinds of shapes and sizes and wondered how much I would end up spending before I found THE saddle for me. At that time I discovered that a friend of mine, Jon had been blogging about his experiences building bicycles over at Sabrosa Cycles. When I zoomed in on pics of his bikes I saw the same saddle repeated over and over. The brand was Brooks.
Looking further into that brand I found a legacy of simple comfort. The thought of a one piece leather saddle suspended front to back over steel rails eased my anxieties and opened my pocketbook. I signed up as soon as I'd saved my pennies (maybe even before I'd saved 'em)! Sitting on that newly installed saddle was a liberating moment. Even in its stiff, un-broken state, that leather was MUCH better than the foam-over-plastic number that had come with the bike.
So when a friend was over last night, and he admired that saddle...I gushed with excitement. I love that saddle.
I quickly discovered that there are a great variety of saddles, and for the most part...they don't come cheap. I looked at all kinds of shapes and sizes and wondered how much I would end up spending before I found THE saddle for me. At that time I discovered that a friend of mine, Jon had been blogging about his experiences building bicycles over at Sabrosa Cycles. When I zoomed in on pics of his bikes I saw the same saddle repeated over and over. The brand was Brooks.
Looking further into that brand I found a legacy of simple comfort. The thought of a one piece leather saddle suspended front to back over steel rails eased my anxieties and opened my pocketbook. I signed up as soon as I'd saved my pennies (maybe even before I'd saved 'em)! Sitting on that newly installed saddle was a liberating moment. Even in its stiff, un-broken state, that leather was MUCH better than the foam-over-plastic number that had come with the bike.
So when a friend was over last night, and he admired that saddle...I gushed with excitement. I love that saddle.
July 16, 2010
Riding Position
There are two benefits of cycling that I really love: Fitness and Thrills.
The thrills come with speed and technical requirements. I love bombing a road descent, and I love bombing a mountain trail descent. I love short technical trail climbs. I love and hate long road and trail climbs.
Fitness plays into the thrills I love. For instance, three years ago I did not love any climbing. A missionary once told me he loved climbing on his road bike. I didn't believe him. (Those guys are often too exuberent to believe everything they say.) I now believe that a person can love climbing. But I reserve the right to hate climbing as much - and at the same time - as I love climbing.
This Spring I rode the Slickrock trail in Moab with friends and family. I can honestly say that I enjoyed every climb on that route. They were short and technical, and my fitness level was high enough that I could ride every one...but some of them challenged my technical abilities. On the other hand...my brother nearly disowned me for dragging his butt around that hellish loop.
Anyway, while riding in for work this morning I practiced riding in the drops most of the way. I am amazed how good that position feels now. When I started ernestly riding - 3 summers ago - I only got down in the drops experimentally for very short periods. Each time I wondered how in the world anyone ever rode in that position. Of course the position was completely foreign, but more dramatically...my lungs were being squished left and right by my plump legs that, although pumping up and down, never left contact with my bulging middle.
Now, about 35 pounds lighter and 3 years more experienced, I find myself enjoying the great benefit of fitness every day. That's why I ride. That's why I commute.
The thrills come with speed and technical requirements. I love bombing a road descent, and I love bombing a mountain trail descent. I love short technical trail climbs. I love and hate long road and trail climbs.
Fitness plays into the thrills I love. For instance, three years ago I did not love any climbing. A missionary once told me he loved climbing on his road bike. I didn't believe him. (Those guys are often too exuberent to believe everything they say.) I now believe that a person can love climbing. But I reserve the right to hate climbing as much - and at the same time - as I love climbing.
This Spring I rode the Slickrock trail in Moab with friends and family. I can honestly say that I enjoyed every climb on that route. They were short and technical, and my fitness level was high enough that I could ride every one...but some of them challenged my technical abilities. On the other hand...my brother nearly disowned me for dragging his butt around that hellish loop.
Anyway, while riding in for work this morning I practiced riding in the drops most of the way. I am amazed how good that position feels now. When I started ernestly riding - 3 summers ago - I only got down in the drops experimentally for very short periods. Each time I wondered how in the world anyone ever rode in that position. Of course the position was completely foreign, but more dramatically...my lungs were being squished left and right by my plump legs that, although pumping up and down, never left contact with my bulging middle.
Now, about 35 pounds lighter and 3 years more experienced, I find myself enjoying the great benefit of fitness every day. That's why I ride. That's why I commute.
July 15, 2010
65 Days
Yesterday a co-worker came in and asked if I had ridden in. "Of course!", I replied.
To which she responded, "Right, becuase you wouldn't want to give up the good days. With 300 days of the year being unridable you've got to take advantage of the 65 good days."
"Yup." I said. Then I turned back to my work...done with that conversation.
Last year I made a committment to ride year-round. I'm not perfectly equipped to ride in all weather, but I gave it a good go, and you know what? There are a few more than 65 rideable days. Even the day I snapped my chain pushing through 6 inches of snow I saw 2 other cyclists cutting snake-like tracks.
65 days...pfshhh!
To which she responded, "Right, becuase you wouldn't want to give up the good days. With 300 days of the year being unridable you've got to take advantage of the 65 good days."
"Yup." I said. Then I turned back to my work...done with that conversation.
Last year I made a committment to ride year-round. I'm not perfectly equipped to ride in all weather, but I gave it a good go, and you know what? There are a few more than 65 rideable days. Even the day I snapped my chain pushing through 6 inches of snow I saw 2 other cyclists cutting snake-like tracks.
65 days...pfshhh!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)