Archive for March, 2007
The season’s first big ride, 200km
Miles rode: 200km brevet (128 miles actually covered)
Time: 8:10 (guessing… I’ll have to check the computer later…)
Avg speed: 16mph (again, guessing…)
HR: 146/186
Perceived effort: 7
Total climbing: 5729 ft (Thanks to Heather for that data. Whew, that’s a lot of climbing!)
Temp: 39 degrees (with ever so brief excursions into the 40’s)
Total mileage this year: (mind you, the YEAR) 160 miles. Funny how I’m not too far away from my total mileage running in just two rides.
This is the first in John Ceceri’s Brevet series. It was also an experiment in seeing how my fitness is after being off the bike for three months. Sure I’ve been running pretty regularly and intensely, but still, one never knows. Turns out my fears were unfounded. The ride was excellent!
It started from John’s new home in Schylerville and proceeded west out to Jockey Street (my least favorite road full of enough rollers to choke a factory assembly line). North to Scanandaga Lake and along South Shore road. Lake Luzerne, Corinth, a spin through my neighborhood… up the climb on Greene Road, Strakos, Parkhurst, Gansevoort Rd, Clarke Road, then it follows the Saratoga 12/24 course. Sadly, the batteries in my GPS gave out in Corinth, AND the bloody spare batteries I carried were dead as well. So much for anticipating problem (what? am I supposed to bring backups for the spares, too?!)
There were 14 or 15 intrepid souls who started out at 7am. I think only one did not finish. Of the group, I knew only a couple, John Ceceri (of course), John Jurczynski, Heather Mosley, and Buck Maille. John, John and I ended up riding the whole course together save for the first leg up to the checkpoint. It was a treat to hear these experienced ultra endurance riders talk about past events and share stories. I also heard my share of opinions concerning the controversies surrounding the UMCA and RAAM events. The three of us finished behind only one other person, much to our surprise. Well, MY surprise. John J. could have dropped John C. and I at any point, but was a gracious and social rider and stuck by us.
Yesterday, I was worried the butt would be a factor in keeping me from finishing, but after the first ten miles of some serious doubts about whether the end was near (pun intended), the uncomfortableness subsided to a low level (pun unintended). It DID help that I applied a generous helping of Assos chamois cream (a name that’s giggle-worthy) to said area before leaving the house.
Again, I’m amazed at how I managed a strong, consistent and comfortable ride. It’s very gratifying to know I can up and bust out a 200km ride (in under 40 degree weather no less), after a three month cycling hiatus. Bonking was a very real possibility, considering I can’t be trusted to monitor my own food and water intake. However, I made it a very high priority and eat and drank quite a bit. If I count correctly, I had 4 Luna bars, 2 Snickers bars, 2 Hammer gels, a bag of (the most God-awful tasting) cashews, 2 bottles of Perpetuum drink, 4 bottles of water or Gatorade, and 1 Red Bull. Actually, not as much as I thought. Actually, that seems like JUST enough.
Before I left John’s house, I registered an application with the Randonneurs USA organization. If I DO happen to complete the brevet series this year, perhaps I’ll be able to add a nifty medal to my cycling memorabilia.
So, what did YOU do with your Sunday?
PS: If you’re a local rider visiting my site (or even not so local…) please post a comment and let me know about your site if you have one. It’s good to build the community!
First day back on the bike
Miles rode: 32.45
Time: 2:01
Avg speed: 16.22
Perceived effort: 8
Temp: 44 degrees
An OK ride. Didn’t feel awesome, but didn’t feel awful. Somewhere in the midst of “pretty OK. ”
Since I’m doing a 200km brevet tomorrow I thought maybe I should take the bike out for a spin and make sure I haven’t forgotten anything. Fixed the flats. The rear had a puncture… patched it with a Slime Scab. Cool product. Much more convenient that the traditional patch kit with the little tube of goo you have to smear on, wait to dry, then apply patch… only to realize you didn’t smear on enough goo and one little edge of the patch is waving at you, snickering that it’s under adhering. I’m definitely sticking with these goo-free patches. The front tire, while it was flat, didn’t actually have a puncture. It was merely one of those mystery flats. You know the kind that just seem to happen for no good reason, bike was sitting in the car and got pissed it wasn’t getting ridden enough… flat. Bike was hanging from hooks in garage and resented being upside down… flat. Bike was propped against workbench after an evening ride, waiting for the early morning ride to follow… so fickle it flatted.
Even though the leg muscles felt, for the most part, good. A couple hours later, many, many muscles started to make their unhappiness know. Chest muscles were sore (from climbing?). Neck and shoulder muscles, a tiny bit sore (from holding my noggin in a position it hasn’t been in for 3 months). Butt? Very sore. This could be the biggest problem tomorrow. Not the legs. Go figure.
This is a derelict couple of cars on West River Road:
