First Ride for Season

Today I got back on the bike for the first time in months.

I did just 1.5 miles on the trainer, then decided to take a short, cold-weather ride outside. I did another 7 miles.

On the way back I decided that I need to keep it in the big gear up front for all these short rides. I want to be ahead of where I was last year as far as strength goes when I start my regular longer rides over the spring, summer and fall.

I’m winded and a little tired, but feel good overall. It was nice to feel the burn in my legs again.

Starting Over

My goals for this year won’t be met. That isn’t to say I didn’t move significantly in the direction I’d hoped to, only that I didn’t make it as far as I wished and won’t.

Some of the goals I’m most proud of reaching:

– Stop falling over at stoplights while adapting to clipless pedals.

– Stop getting humiliated by Badass Old Lady (even if that means avoiding any chance of coming within 50 miles of the old bi . . .dear, sweet woman).

– Using any gear combo other than the easiest on my new CX bike’s double crankset for more than 75% of my riding.

– Don’t cry or shake when GF taunts me with threats of bringing BOL home with her.

– Ride 50 + miles and not feel like I’m an inch away from death’s door when I finish.

–  Ride down a rocky, rutted, heavily root filled hill without screaming like a little girl while my feet are clipped in to the pedals.

So I’m starting on where I want to be next year.

I’m going to back off on the distance, and move up to riding the big chain ring. I’ll be slower and it’ll hurt, but my legs will improve faster (if I avoid over training, unlike last “off season”).

Climbing

A good day climbing, today. Maybe not the best day, but close.

Added another .8 MPH to my avg from last time, nearly topped 32 MPH for my max, overcame most of my fear regarding speed on that final, rutted, loosely graveled but very fast stretch, took that same stretch uphill at my fastest speed and highest cadence since switching from a triple to a double crackset.

Penance

Today’s ride should have been “time / distance”, but gambling on continuing my good fortune with a lack of flats over the past several years turned it into an act of penance.

I ended up with a pinch flat at mile nine (thank, God not mile 20 or 25), so walked back 6.5 miles to a bike shop. I spent a good 2.5 hrs walking. If you guessed that NOW I own a patch kit and a mini-pump, you’re right. DOH!

There were some high points.

My climbing and accelerations rocked. My max speed of 22.5 MPH came going up hill, AND I was still accelerating easily when I was forced to back off because of trail congestion.

Even cooler, three people offered either the use of their patch kits, or tubes. I turned them down for two reasons. 1, I was paying the price for my own stupidity, accepting help would have been like . . . cheating. 2, the thought of accepting help from anyone makes me cringe inside. But the fact of their generosity was just so damned awesome.

BOL may be safe for this season. I was planning today’s ride to be my last out that way, because I want to begin riding and exploring the trails I mentioned in my last post. No, really, that’s why. It has nothing to do with avoiding that section of trail because I’m afraid of her.

Recovery

Actually, it wasn’t so much a recovery ride as an excuse to spend some time with GF between climbing day and time / distance day.

I believe that our tires were actually smoking when we topped out at a mind-numbing 14.5 MPH on the the kind of long, straight flat where some day I’ll ride Mark Cavendish into the pavement.

As an added benefit I was shown a new trail, which leads to another new trail, so I’ll be exploring those areas during upcoming rides.

On the down side, GF is convinced that BOL owns me and that I’ll spare myself (and by extension, GF) a goodly amount of embarrassment if I simply concede defeat and give up on my quest for vengeance.

To that I say, be afraid, Badass Old Lady. Be very afraid.

Climbing

Climbed again yesterday. No rain. Better results. Upped my avg speed over the last ride by 1 mph.

Still not happy with where I’m at, but I think the adjustments I made to my seat are part of the issue.

Today I’ll go with GF to take an easy ride at a trail I’ve never been on before.

Tomorrow? BOL, I got you in my sights, biatch.

Intervals

Lightning this evening changed my mind about climbing today.

Instead I mounted Skanky Ho Bike, Jen, for some intervals.

Where climbing was harder after my rest week (maybe more because of the soggy conditions than the rest week), intervals were actaully easier. Not easy, but less horrifically miserable . . . except for the final 30 seconds.

Still hate them.

 

Really looking forward to some Time / Distance riding this weekend.

Climbing

Great day for a hard ride.

Temps were in the mid 80’s, so the rain was warm and comfortable, no lightning.

The trail softened up and, damn, the ride got hard fast.

I spent most of my energy concentrating on taking the first section of hill at a hard, steady pace, fighting the pain and tiredness in my legs until I slipped around that first, sharp curve.

The rest was not as fast as I’d anticipated. In fact there were times when just keeping my legs pumping was a victory.

Not really happy with this ride. So I’ll do it again on Wednesday evening.

AGAIN my Cateye computer screwed up in the wet, though I attempted to protect it with some packing tape.

Rest Week

Today’s the last day of the rest week. Tomorrow back on the bike.

I was surprised, though I guess I should not have been, at how much my legs hurt for the first half of the week.

I’m not sure if I should climb tomorrow, or start with an easy hour or so on the trainer.

The timing of the universe is interesting, because the rest week came around at exactly a time when I met new GF and needed some extra personal time to spend with her and get to know her. I’m hoping my legs appreciate the break. But they’re pretty ungreatful in general, so I’m not holding my breath while I wait for a “thank you”.

And Badass Old Lady? I’m comin’ for you.

Rest Week

Things seemed to be harder than they should have been yesterday, even considering the changes I made to the ride.  So I’m thinking maybe my body is telling me it’s time for a break.

Since a late season week off is already part of the “training plan” as I’ve read up on things, I figure this is the time for it.

I’m betting that Badass Old Lady is breathing a sigh of relief.