Today I had to ride 15 miles below pace. I did around 8 miles just below pace, and it was all uphill. I should've ridden the 15, but the 8 out was to the family picnic and I was dehydrated with a whanging headache by the end and just couldn't see riding my bike home.
Stats:
Maximum speed: 25.5 mph
Average speed: 14.0 mph
Distance: 7.83 mi
Time: 0.33.35
I rode up to Mendon Ponds Park, where we had a nice picnic. The dogs were there, so was a lot of food (but I still didn't go over my calorie count until I got home and had a fudgsicle, which I do not feel guilty about). I just didn't have enough water while I was there and that, combined with the sun, was just too much. It's a shame, I would've liked the ride home. It's OK, though. There's a parade tomorrow and another on Saturday that I will be marching in, so it's not like it won't be made up for somehow (not to mention the fact that before today I had already ridden my requisite mileage).
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Training Ride - Friday, 28 May
As it is Memorial Day Weekend (really, my favorite weekend of the year), tomorrow through Monday is packed with picnics, parades, and other festivities. Thus, I chose to ride tomorrow's 30 miles today -- for those following on Facebook, I'd thought I would ride it tomorrow morning with my dad, but when he got back from golf the weather was holding so we decided to go for it.
I'd found a good map on mapmyrun.com, and it goes pretty near our house so we didn't have to drive to the start. We started out and I felt really good, even with a light headwind for some of it. Dad's legs, on the other hand, were not doing great and about halfway in he decided to bow out rather than struggle up any more hills. I rode most of the way home with him and then decided to try to add the rest of the distance by going along the canal. I came up a couple of miles short, but it still felt like a good ride.
Stats:
Maximum speed: 31.6 mph
Average speed: 14.5 mph
Distance: 28.37 mi
Time: 1.57.06
I'd found a good map on mapmyrun.com, and it goes pretty near our house so we didn't have to drive to the start. We started out and I felt really good, even with a light headwind for some of it. Dad's legs, on the other hand, were not doing great and about halfway in he decided to bow out rather than struggle up any more hills. I rode most of the way home with him and then decided to try to add the rest of the distance by going along the canal. I came up a couple of miles short, but it still felt like a good ride.
Stats:
Maximum speed: 31.6 mph
Average speed: 14.5 mph
Distance: 28.37 mi
Time: 1.57.06
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Training Ride - Wednesday, 26 May
Tonight I was supposed to do a 10-mile ride at pace. Instead, I did a 30-mile ride below pace. I'm OK with that. It was a pretty easy route, so I should have been able to ride faster without a problem, but I started with two (very friendly) ladies, who (to be fair) had billed themselves as slower, and we quickly fell behind the rest of the (large) group. I didn't initially realize how slow slower was, but it's not like turtles were passing us, it just wasn't the intensity I would've liked: we carried on a pretty easy conversation (for me) the whole time.
Anyway, it was still a good ride, and I think the distance counts for something. There were a few climbs, but it was appropriately advertised as a moderate ride. And, the weather seemed cooler the farther south we went, so that, combined with the beautiful country and sunset, made for an excellent ride.
Stats:
Maximum speed: 29.3 mph
Average speed: 13.2 mph
Distance: 30.38 mi
Time: 2.17.58
Anyway, it was still a good ride, and I think the distance counts for something. There were a few climbs, but it was appropriately advertised as a moderate ride. And, the weather seemed cooler the farther south we went, so that, combined with the beautiful country and sunset, made for an excellent ride.
Stats:
Maximum speed: 29.3 mph
Average speed: 13.2 mph
Distance: 30.38 mi
Time: 2.17.58
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Recovery Ride
It really was a pushover of a ride. I was supposed to ride with my neighbor, but the weather forecast was pretty icky for that time, so I went on my own a few hours earlier (which, really, was a wise decision). This meant that I would only be on the bike for about 10 easy miles as opposed to a couple hours. I could have done the two hours, but I need a new saddle and am grateful for the shorter time today.
Stats:
Maximum speed: 33.5 mph
Average speed: 15.6 mph
Distance: 10.07 mi
Time: 0.38.35
I feel a little guilty for not going farther, but I also plan on riding tomorrow with Alex, probably on a similar route but a slower pace, so I'll be getting the time in. AND, Coach Neil said that it was the total weekly mileage that matters, which I will also be getting in.
Stats:
Maximum speed: 33.5 mph
Average speed: 15.6 mph
Distance: 10.07 mi
Time: 0.38.35
I feel a little guilty for not going farther, but I also plan on riding tomorrow with Alex, probably on a similar route but a slower pace, so I'll be getting the time in. AND, Coach Neil said that it was the total weekly mileage that matters, which I will also be getting in.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Training Ride - Friday 21 May
In an effort to ride with others who would challenge me, and to also reduce the number of new routes I need to magic up on my own, I joined the Rochester Bike Club tonight for their Friday ride. They met at a mountain bike park in Victor, so about half the people there rode those trails and the other half (5 men and myself) went on the road. I got there a little late, totally flustered for a variety of stupid reasons, but they held up and waited for me.
I was supposed to ride 25 miles today, and expected to ride around 27. We went on a 29-mile route, with just over 2000 feet of climbing. Well, they weren't lying when they advertised it as hilly. I am so stupid for having forgotten that NY is so contoured. Um, hello glacial formations. Even so, the ride was nice, on country roads in the middle of nowhere (I have no idea what towns we were in, though I think I saw a sign for Bristol). Best of all, there were hardly any stop signs. They have a regular Wednesday ride that leaves from a park a few miles from home (that I know how to get to), so I will probably join them for my Wednesday training rides, too. I love cyclists.
Stats:
Maximum speed: 42.3 mph (I did not look at the computer as we were going down that particular hill)
Average speed: 13.9 mph (I swear it was 14.6 a mile out from the end. I don't know what happened)
Distance: 28.76 mi
Time: 2.03.29
This was a totally killer ride. I forgotten how much I hate hills, and at mile 10 I thought I wasn't going to make it any further. Fortunately, a nice man had hung back with me (either he really was as out of shape as he claimed, or he was being exceedingly nice) and even gave me some good tips (keep the hands loose when climbing, climb in a zig-zag, keep heels down when climbing to help pull, and how to draft... sort of). What's super funny is that it turns out his house is almost right behind ours. He and his family have had a rough go of it the last few years, especially this month, but he was really positive and nice. It's like having a personal coach!
A former racer, he said that I'm still young and that all I do is lay around taking naps and eating all day, so that there's no real reason to take so many recovery days as the TNT coaches say. Armed with that advice, we will ride 20 (easy, slower) miles tomorrow if the weather holds. His philosophy is to ride every day. my philosophy is to not kill myself.
I was supposed to ride 25 miles today, and expected to ride around 27. We went on a 29-mile route, with just over 2000 feet of climbing. Well, they weren't lying when they advertised it as hilly. I am so stupid for having forgotten that NY is so contoured. Um, hello glacial formations. Even so, the ride was nice, on country roads in the middle of nowhere (I have no idea what towns we were in, though I think I saw a sign for Bristol). Best of all, there were hardly any stop signs. They have a regular Wednesday ride that leaves from a park a few miles from home (that I know how to get to), so I will probably join them for my Wednesday training rides, too. I love cyclists.
Stats:
Maximum speed: 42.3 mph (I did not look at the computer as we were going down that particular hill)
Average speed: 13.9 mph (I swear it was 14.6 a mile out from the end. I don't know what happened)
Distance: 28.76 mi
Time: 2.03.29
This was a totally killer ride. I forgotten how much I hate hills, and at mile 10 I thought I wasn't going to make it any further. Fortunately, a nice man had hung back with me (either he really was as out of shape as he claimed, or he was being exceedingly nice) and even gave me some good tips (keep the hands loose when climbing, climb in a zig-zag, keep heels down when climbing to help pull, and how to draft... sort of). What's super funny is that it turns out his house is almost right behind ours. He and his family have had a rough go of it the last few years, especially this month, but he was really positive and nice. It's like having a personal coach!
A former racer, he said that I'm still young and that all I do is lay around taking naps and eating all day, so that there's no real reason to take so many recovery days as the TNT coaches say. Armed with that advice, we will ride 20 (easy, slower) miles tomorrow if the weather holds. His philosophy is to ride every day. my philosophy is to not kill myself.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Quilt - Almost complete
After all the frustration involved in yesterday's quilting debacle, today was a pleasant change of pace. I re-pieced everything that I ripped out yesterday (it looks infinitely better and the blocks actually are aligned) and added the two borders.
All that remains is cutting the batting and backing, tying it up, and then sewing on the binding. Yea!
Sikari likes it, too.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Training Ride - Wednesday
As I am utterly disgusted with the quilt today, I'm glad to be able to report a good ride from tonight. I rode out to Tinker, not remembering that it's not the 7.5 mi that I needed for a 15-mile out and back. It was a good route, though, because of all the rolling hills on Calkins (truly, it's uphill both ways), and I was able to improvise a few extra miles at the end to bring it to nearly 15. I will say, though, that it's really hard to come up with a route on the fly when riding and on a good pace. All told, I'm pleased with myself for adding a hilly route and not just going along the canal again.
Stats:
Maximum speed: 30.6 mph
Average speed: 15.5 mph
Distance: 14.47 mi
Time: 0.55.41
Stats:
Maximum speed: 30.6 mph
Average speed: 15.5 mph
Distance: 14.47 mi
Time: 0.55.41
Unsewing a Quilt
I have just about had it today. I had pieced and blocked the whole quilt and, with a sense of satisfaction, I laid it out on the floor to look at. Immediately, I could see that something was wrong. I could not figure out what or how it had happened. I managed to botch it but good and have spent about 3 times the amount of time ripping out most of the seams as I did sewing the damn thing. I wonder if other, more seasoned quilters, have quilts that they hate so much.
Quilt Progres
OK, so I recognize that blocking a quilt has apparently little to do with cycling but, as it is currently my main plan for generating donations for TNT this year, I figure a post now and then about the progress is worthwhile and justified.
Here are a couple of pictures.
Visit http://pages.teamintraining.org/ga/wils10010/mlutzi to donate or leave a comment here for information on how to buy chances in the raffle for this eventual quilt.
Kickoff and Training
This post is meant to serve two purposes: to kickoff this new blog and to talk about the beginning of training. The reason I've come to blogspot for this journal is because I think it is friendlier for non-members. Lately, lj has been a real pain in the ass, making me watch ads before I open other people's posts. I think blogspot won't do that (and, really, it's probably unlikely that I will be compiling a massive friends' list here). Using this journal, I can keep bike rides and cycling-related thoughts (because I have oh-so many of those) separate from any other assorted thoughts, and provide a place for friends to follow my training, at least for this year. I know this is fascinating for everyone.
Training started this weekend. I was supposed to do 14 and 10 mile rides on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, but because of stupid shingles and a fun bridal shower for Ronnell on Saturday, the rides got pushed to Sunday and Monday instead.
I will say I was pleasantly surprised that my endurance and strength are where they are. Given that, in Atlanta, I only really have been commuting ~5.5 mi round trip for the last few months, and, though hilly, I can never really get up to speed because of all the stop lights and signs. Imagine my surprise, then, when the 15 mile ride on Sunday went so fast, like nothing. I wasn't even out of breath. And, I'll say that it was incredible to just go and ride without having to stop every few yards. This is what cycling is all about.
On Monday I rode with Alex, one of my best friends from high school. We rode the canal again, because our bikes aren't really matched. It was a fun ride and it was nice to ride with someone and to catch up. We will probably ride again throughout this month that I'm home and I look forward to that. Alex has been running a lot (frequency- and distance-wise), but I hate running. It's nice that we can bike together, and that she's so willing to join me. My dad, on the other hand, is supposed to be getting ready for the 15 mi option for the local Tour de Cure for Diabetes. He's been almost impossible to get on the bike. Today is his last final, though, so I hope that means he'll be more eager to ride. It's doubtful, as he's more likely to blow his time playing golf.
Anyway, the stats for this weekend's rides:
Sunday (15 mi):
Maximum speed: 28.9 mph
Average speed: 15.7 mph
Distance: 15.51 mi
Time: 0.59.01
Monday (10 mi):
Maximum speed: 25.3 mph
Average speed: 12.2 mph
Distance: 10.56 mi
Time: 0.51.44
Sunday, especially, is remarkable because, as I said, I haven't really ridden any distances this year. It was nice to see that the little commutes I've made this year have actually built up a suitable base, to the point where I can go out and do (admittedly short, but longer than usual) rides at a good clip. I normally start a season at around 13 mph, so 15 is great.
Training started this weekend. I was supposed to do 14 and 10 mile rides on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, but because of stupid shingles and a fun bridal shower for Ronnell on Saturday, the rides got pushed to Sunday and Monday instead.
I will say I was pleasantly surprised that my endurance and strength are where they are. Given that, in Atlanta, I only really have been commuting ~5.5 mi round trip for the last few months, and, though hilly, I can never really get up to speed because of all the stop lights and signs. Imagine my surprise, then, when the 15 mile ride on Sunday went so fast, like nothing. I wasn't even out of breath. And, I'll say that it was incredible to just go and ride without having to stop every few yards. This is what cycling is all about.
On Monday I rode with Alex, one of my best friends from high school. We rode the canal again, because our bikes aren't really matched. It was a fun ride and it was nice to ride with someone and to catch up. We will probably ride again throughout this month that I'm home and I look forward to that. Alex has been running a lot (frequency- and distance-wise), but I hate running. It's nice that we can bike together, and that she's so willing to join me. My dad, on the other hand, is supposed to be getting ready for the 15 mi option for the local Tour de Cure for Diabetes. He's been almost impossible to get on the bike. Today is his last final, though, so I hope that means he'll be more eager to ride. It's doubtful, as he's more likely to blow his time playing golf.
Anyway, the stats for this weekend's rides:
Sunday (15 mi):
Maximum speed: 28.9 mph
Average speed: 15.7 mph
Distance: 15.51 mi
Time: 0.59.01
Monday (10 mi):
Maximum speed: 25.3 mph
Average speed: 12.2 mph
Distance: 10.56 mi
Time: 0.51.44
Sunday, especially, is remarkable because, as I said, I haven't really ridden any distances this year. It was nice to see that the little commutes I've made this year have actually built up a suitable base, to the point where I can go out and do (admittedly short, but longer than usual) rides at a good clip. I normally start a season at around 13 mph, so 15 is great.
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