The Wilson 100 (km) - Sunday, 28 August

Yesterday, G and I went down to lovely Senoia, GA for the Wilson 100. We wisely decided a few days ago that the metric distance would be best, as we haven't been putting long hours in on the bike in a while. We met C at the start (and a few other TNT folk) and headed off.

The weather was great to start, sunny but cool and dry. By the end of the ride, it had climbed into the low- to mid-90s and was getting pretty gross (and all the shade had disappeared at noon), but it was still, mercifully, dry. I decided that I was not going to kill myself riding and that I would simply go the pace that felt good. Going into mile 50 that meant averaging around 17.3mph. After mile 50 (we had stopped to visit with fellow TNT alumni, and my former mentees, M & A), we hit a constant headwind and something of a wall. We limped in (C dropped G and me) and were finally, happily, finished. Again, it was wise not to have tried the full distance, however good we felt in the morning. I would have eaten better, but it still would have been uncomfortable.

At around mile 52, the peloton of riders attempting a sub-four full blew past us. I did not care to join them (I was comfortably tootling along at around 16-17), but C and G hopped on for a few miles. The riders passed too closely to me for comfort. I concentrated on going straight.

Stats:

Maximum speed: 37.3 mph
Average speed: 16.4 mph
Distance: 65.85 mi
Time: 3.59.53

A sub-four metric! (I've already done this season,  and faster, but whatever)

All told, it was a good ride. And, it helped bring into focus how out of shape I am (a lot) and how unprepared I am for Nation's Tri (incredibly).

Total mileage this year: 2133.04 Goooo Me!

ADK and Brookhaven

Last week was about as lovely as can be. True, I didn't read the usual 3 books or spend oodles of time skiing or on the boat (or even in a kayak) and I slept on the floor for half of it, but it was an excellent vacation. G proved his mettle by meeting the whole family in an intense week of full-on Lutzness and coming out relatively unscathed.

During that time, I "trained" for this weekend's sprint tri by way of hiking almost daily, going on one morning run of 2.7 miles, doing two open-water swims (of approximately 550-600m and 1100-1200m in length), and wrapping it all up with one ~26.66-mile bike ride (in two parts) two and from Old Forge.

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This reminds me: I need to get my cyclocomputer from school before the race tomorrow.

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Anyway, I don't have stats on that ride, because neither of us were clipped in, and it was just a pleasant outing to Old Forge, where we had pop with the boat people (the cousins leaving that day) and failed to meet up with A,R, R, and M for Nutty Putty. We must have just missed them, as we were out there for a couple hours before riding back.

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Last night was the first group ride I've been on in weeks, when I rejoined the usual Thursday night Brookhaven ride. It was an eventful ride for J, who broke his collarbone on the wet roads. Hope you get better soon, Coach!

Otherwise, V and I decided we would "taper", and so we rode only 1.5 loops and got in extra pizza waiting for everyone else (we didn't know until heading home that J had been hurt).

Stats:

Maximum speed: 27.01 mph
Average speed: 14.83 mph
Distance: 14.66 mi
Time: 00.59.16

Two Rides - Thursday, 28 July and Sunday, 29 July

I really need to get better about updating this immediately after a ride, and not days after. In any event, this Thursday H was unable to join us at the Brookhaven ride because of a sprained ankle. I took the opportunity to ride with V a little bit and then, at her urging, really stretched the legs and pushed. Didn't get a full-out PR, but it was a tie from earlier in the season.

Thursday was also notable for the arrival of the Aflac tri tank V got for my birthday. I wore it on the ride, and I LOVED it. It fit great, felt great, and I felt fast. Looked great, too, I'm told, but no mirrors in parking lots.

Stats:
Maximum speed: 29.2 mph
Average speed: 15.5 mph
Distance: 20.03 mi
Time: 1.16.59


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I took Saturday off because of the housewarming the night before. I woke up on time, but we didn't have it in us to drive up to Cville for a ride. Laziness, pure laziness. And I packed. Instead, I rode with KSR on Sunday and it was good. I took the first 8 miles slowly with a lady who has just come back to cycling this season (and was new to clipless pedals) and then rode the rest of the way to the mountain by myself. I did NOT loop around the mountain, and just sat on my ass for a while. Rode back to brunch with the B group, and about midway back I felt great and just pushed the rest of the way. Great ride, great people, and good brunch (too much egg).

Stats:

I don't know. They got lost in my phone somewhere, so this is by memory.

Maximum speed: 29 ish
Average speed: 14.5 mph
Distance: 30.01 mi
Time: 2.04.00 roughly

Good memory.

I've commute uneventfully this week, with the notable exception that every route to campus from the south (North Ave, W Peachtree, Luckie) has road construction with massive plates now. Add to the that general pittiness of Atlanta roads and you have one frustrated Urban Cyclist.

I'll conclude this post with the interesting note that, by the end of my commute today I will have surpassed 2000 miles for the year. Best Year Evar!