This was going to be my second century this year. Going in, I was worried that I would punk out and do the metric distance (66 mi, in this case), as I didn't know if I had it in me to do that last 40 mi (at least) on my own. And, sure enough, I did. It was a nice ride with C, though I slowed him down a lot (this is why we train, folks). I'm glad to have gotten to ride with him -- I hadn't in a long time, and we had a good time.
Anyway, I punked, but it was still a good ride.
Stats:
Maximum speed: 33.9 mph
Average speed: 14.8 mph
Distance: 68.09 mi
Time: 4.33.57
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Ride - Sunday, 12 September
In addition to commuting on the newly chained on Thursday (stats below), M and I had a good training-style ride out and back to Stone Mountain on Sunday. It was a good ride, the weather was great: it was sunny and warm, but not too hot and just a little windy. The ride was easy, too: rolling hills the whole way. I am totally ready for Saturday, though it will be sad and difficult to ride a full 100.
I think the 30 miles yesterday, then, are a good start to my week of tapering (read: commuting, because I'll be at the outlet mall on Wednesday).
Thursday stats:
Maximum speed: 27.4 mph
Average speed: 11.6 mph
Distance: 4.56 mi
Time: 0.23.37
Sunday stats:
Maximum speed: 28.9 mph
Average speed: 13.8 mph
Distance: 30.89 mi
Time: 2.14.08
I'm also looking forward to trying out one of these Android sports trackers... it tracks altitude and plots maps and all of that!
I think the 30 miles yesterday, then, are a good start to my week of tapering (read: commuting, because I'll be at the outlet mall on Wednesday).
Thursday stats:
Maximum speed: 27.4 mph
Average speed: 11.6 mph
Distance: 4.56 mi
Time: 0.23.37
Sunday stats:
Maximum speed: 28.9 mph
Average speed: 13.8 mph
Distance: 30.89 mi
Time: 2.14.08
I'm also looking forward to trying out one of these Android sports trackers... it tracks altitude and plots maps and all of that!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Post-Pre-game
As you, dear readers, may know, I'm planning on riding three more centuries (or so) this season. That requires more training (or at least maintenance) time on the bike. Why, you may ask yourself, have I been so quiet on this blog, if I have to maintain ~100 miles/week to be ready for the next ride in a a few weeks?
Well, to be brief, it's not my fault. Not entirely.
To be less brief, I was stymied by two (three) facts:
1. Tuesday-Friday last week I had a muscle spasm in my upper back, and I could hardly sit, much less ride.
2. My bike needed adjustment (see my previous post, especially the part about ghost shifting).
(3. Although my back has been better for half a week, what with classes and dogsitting and not getting a decent night's sleep, I've been too preoccupied, which is to say lazy, to get to the shop)
However, all that has been remedied. The back, just as suddenly as it struck, got better (OK OK, so there are twinges here and there when I run or walk or carry things, but it's better, all right?). The bike, $70 later, got fixed.
What was wrong with the bike? It was not, as we thought, a cable tension issue (no surprise, since it couldn't be fixed via barrel adjustment). Neither was it a bent hanger (also no surprise, since I hadn't dropped the bike, and the problem struck after 85 miles of nearly constant riding). Instead, as I had initially suspected, I had jacked the chain. Recall: I dropped the chain at about mile 85. Recall again that it got royally jammed up in the crank. And, finally, recall that, immediately after it had gotten unjammed, the chain dropped (and jammed) again. It was then that the problem started. During those two chain drops, I bent at least one link beyond repair, and replacing the most offensive link did not solve the problem. So, I got a new chain (and, with it, adjustment of the front derailleur to avoid chain drops in the future). And, for good measure, they checked the hanger and there wasn't any problem there.
Fabulous!
Now I can ride to school again, though yesterday's walks to and from were quite pleasant, and I can get back to training. Woooooooooohoooo!
Well, to be brief, it's not my fault. Not entirely.
To be less brief, I was stymied by two (three) facts:
1. Tuesday-Friday last week I had a muscle spasm in my upper back, and I could hardly sit, much less ride.
2. My bike needed adjustment (see my previous post, especially the part about ghost shifting).
(3. Although my back has been better for half a week, what with classes and dogsitting and not getting a decent night's sleep, I've been too preoccupied, which is to say lazy, to get to the shop)
However, all that has been remedied. The back, just as suddenly as it struck, got better (OK OK, so there are twinges here and there when I run or walk or carry things, but it's better, all right?). The bike, $70 later, got fixed.
What was wrong with the bike? It was not, as we thought, a cable tension issue (no surprise, since it couldn't be fixed via barrel adjustment). Neither was it a bent hanger (also no surprise, since I hadn't dropped the bike, and the problem struck after 85 miles of nearly constant riding). Instead, as I had initially suspected, I had jacked the chain. Recall: I dropped the chain at about mile 85. Recall again that it got royally jammed up in the crank. And, finally, recall that, immediately after it had gotten unjammed, the chain dropped (and jammed) again. It was then that the problem started. During those two chain drops, I bent at least one link beyond repair, and replacing the most offensive link did not solve the problem. So, I got a new chain (and, with it, adjustment of the front derailleur to avoid chain drops in the future). And, for good measure, they checked the hanger and there wasn't any problem there.
Fabulous!
Now I can ride to school again, though yesterday's walks to and from were quite pleasant, and I can get back to training. Woooooooooohoooo!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)