50 Mile EM

This 50 mile EM started in the rain. I was disappointed that it had been raining but I decided that I had no choice; MS Bike could be a rain day so I had better know how to ride in the rain. Actually, the worse part was that brief time between uncomfortably wet and now soaked. Soaked is better; you no longer are waiting to get there. It's kinda like Chinese water torture; the worse part is waiting for the next drop.

Anyways, I decided to make the first trip around the loop as a measure of progress and the second as a slower ride to complete my required 50 miles. A previously fast 50 mile ride at 03:09:56 was Sept.11, 2010. (see: Hilly 50 in the rain.) All together this was a faster ride. That said, the fastest ride around this loop was August 13, 2010, the first time I used the Garmin. I started late, after work, at 7:30 PM and with little light to monitor the Garmin and lots of flies in the air, I rode like the wind at an average of 17.6 mph. It remains to be my fastest pace even while the wind may not have been much an influence. Today's first trip resulted in an average of 17.0 mph. Close but no cigar. Wet rims and thus longer braking distances and care may have contributed to a lightly slower overall pace.

Today, I realized that a ride in a hard rain is not that big a deal. It can be novel, relaxing, enjoyable, even cathartic.

In an interview found in the 21st cycling issue of Rouleur published in 2010, Team Sky rider and Spaniard Juan Antonio Flecha, one of the greats in racing the cobbles shared, that when most cyclists escape the winter months and seek warmer climates he would spend weekends in the Pyrenees, unafraid of the cold and wet to sustain and improve his climbing ability.

Flecha learned to persist through inclement weather to condition his mind and body to become accustom to and embrace this cold and wet weather for it is wet roads that separate the skilled riders from the hopeful.





Weather Conditions: 0752 hours. Cool and raining. Light winds mostly from the NNE from 3.5 to 4.6 mph.
Min: 63 Avg: 64 Max: 66 ºF

Heller/Bailey/County Rd U/County Rd 6/County Rd A/South Trail

Wanted to go on a different route and figured I would take a ride by Ron and Phyllis.  Stopped by BikeWorks to get a mirror for my helmet.  Pulled up at the Knot's farm and bam; did a turttle!  Man, that gravel hurts.

Got back on the road after a short visit, however, I found most of Bailey Rd pretty ruff as I rode out towards Colton.  The rest of the ride was uneventful as I looked forward to hitting the newer payed County Rd A.

While it took a while to adjust and find the "sweet-spot" on the mirror, I found it useful and now prefer keeping an eye on passing autos.

Weather Conditions: 1038 hours. Overcast and cool. Light winds mostly from the ESE 3.5 to 6.9 mph.
Min: 45 Avg: 48 Max: 49 ºF

Wabash Cannonball - Long Loop

Weather Conditions: 1506 hours. Clear skies. Winds mostly out of the WNW 8.1 to 12.7 mph.

Min: 55 Avg: 57 Max: 57 ºF

MXS: 22.0 mph.

Wabash Cannonball - Long Loop

Just the usual: NOT!

OK...same ride but with real roadie shoes locked into real roadie pedals.  Actually, they are a mountain style pedal and shoe for more comfortable walks in town during long-distance cross-county rides.

That said, the clip-less bindings are a little difficult to get used to for several reasons in the short run.  Firstly, I found that there is an amount of float (or play).  Secondly, I am not used to pedaling with a more forward position from the ball of the foot.  This changes the mechanics and thus the muscles used in pedaling versus those used with standard petals.  Thirdly, and more importantly, I found it tricky to think ahead and dismount the shoes from the petal in a timely manner.  The alternative to a timely dismount is falling over stuck to the petals.

The benefits of this system is more efficient pedaling allowing for burst of power as in sprints.

Needless to say, I was nervous about stopping at cross-roads or other instances and not dismounting a shoe before falling over.  The ride went well, however, when I rode to the end of the south trail at County Rd 1, I forgot that my left shoe was still mounted and started leaning to the left.  There, I realized my error as I started going down.  Amazingly, as I braced myself for falling, my left shoe popped out of the petal and slipped to the pavement and preventing me from a most embarrassing moment.

The rest of the ride was uneventful although very windy.

MXS: 24.4 mph.



Weather Conditions: 1619 hours. Overcast. Winds 9.2 to 12.7 mph mostly from the WSW.
Min: 37 Avg: 37 Max: 37 ºF

Wabash Cannonball - Long Loop

This was just a get out and ride the old route ride for the sake of riding. The sun was warm but the gusts a bit much!

Anyhow, it felt good but man have I lost what little speed I had by the end of last fall. I need to start running intervals again to boost my output.

I posted laps with the Garmin as a benchmark for the start of this season.

MXS: 19.4 mph.



Weather conditions:  Cold and clear.  Winds mostly from the NW from 8.1 to 10.4 mph.  Gusts to 18.4 mph.

Wabash Cannonball - Long Loop

Was eager to go for a ride in the spring like weather that was so unlike the past few days, venturing out in the Hincappy short bibs.  (See lame pic, below.)

Road conditions were mostly dry and so I pushed pretty hard to see what I may have lost over the past several months of few rides. My pace was OK I guess.  The westward winds were extremely brutal. My fastest ride for this route was about 1:26 hours averaging 17.6 mph during a ride August 13th.

Weather Conditions:  Cool, dry and partly cloudy. Very high winds mostly out of the west at 27.6 mph gusting to 35.7 mph.

Saturday Breakfast (Lunch) Ride

This Saturday was to be the ride to Tony Packo's for lunch via the recently opened trail across the old 280 bridge (Craig Bridge).  If it snowed Friday night, the plan was to do a MTB ride instead.  However, while it had only snowed a skiff, the general consensus was to ride within Monclova.

Matt was in need of warm toes so I gave him a spare set of chemical toe warmers.  Hubert was ever present as was Rick.  Chris was there too along with Jimmie and I.  And  so the six of us set off for our winter adventure westward down the Wabash Cannonball - North Fork.  While it was moderately cold and quite cloudy there was little wind and I found myself able to "run with the pack."  For that I was grateful! The plan was to ride a similar route as two weeks ago but to capture 25 miles or greater without the need to run circles in the Monclova School parking lot.  I am impressed with how well Rick and Hubert know the various roads and possible routes to reach a 25 mile ride.

We then went south into Oak Openings and proceeded with the real fun where we hit a trail deep with soft snow.  Past petal and fast shifts into granny gears ensued but to no avail.  We all scrambled but failed to stay seated and had to dismount.  Rick, however, made it to the end of the soft snow only to get shanghaied by his petal and a pile of hard snow left from a snow plow weeks earlier causing him to "snow angel."  The rest of us walked out until we got to the firmer ground.

The remainder of the ride proved mostly uneventful; lots of fun zipping around on the loose but less than deep snow.  At a couple of points we crossed pasts with Cathy walking Duke and Sugar.  As we blew past she remarked on our nerd-like appearance.    We continued out of the park to east bound Obee Road and then south to N. Texas into town for a toe warmer at Cycle Works.   Then west on the South Fork to Yawber Rd to Archbold Whitehouse Rd to Jeffers Rd back into the park.  The path to the route out of the park was missed by all except myself due to me drafting the others and being able to turn in time and thus I led the way out.  The last major turn to the last section required a hard left threw some soft snow.  I was ahead so I could turn with some ease but the rest of the guys had more difficulty due to a tighter pact.  Later, Jimmie said he would send pics of his road-rash having taken a spill at that way point.

The route back to Monclova via the North Fork was as usual; a faster pace.  Matt and I led most of the way until the rest of the guys pushed ahead where I was dropped (per usual) just after Weckerly Rd within 2 miles of the end of the ride.

It was a fun ride and while a little faster and wetter thanks to warmer temperatures causing road spray, I was warmer and am already looking towards the next one. 

MXS: 17.5 mph.

Weather Conditions: 0911 hours. Cold and Overcast. Mostly westerly winds light around 3.5 mph starting out increasing steadily to around 13.8 mph.

Min: 27 Avg: 28 Max: 30 ºF

Wabash Cannonball - Long Loop with TAB

The ride followed the Wabash Cannonball to the east from Monclova Elementary School consisting of Mike and Jacqueline, Hubert, Chris, Jim and myself. Hubert road his recumbent trike.

It was my first ride of the year and it was a good ride. While the pace was a little slow it was also my first ride in over 2 months and I was more than a little curious as to how well (or poorly) I might ride.

That said, the warm sun help against the cold breeze. I dressed as best I could and included my balaclava. Feet and hands were cold but I felt ok elsewhere. After about 20 minuets or so my hands and feet warmed up perhaps due to my core having warmed up sufficiently.

Once on County Rd 1 the ride got colder mostly due to less sun. The same going east on Reed and through Oak Opening to the North Fork; "frozen toezen".

Anyway, given a 24 ºF ride, I found it not all that bad and am looking forward to more.

MXS: 20.4 mph.



Weather Conditions: 1300 hours. Partly to mostly cloudy and cold. Winds mostly WNW from 3.5 to 6.9 mph.
Min: 24 Avg: 25 Max: 27 ºF

Wabash Cannonball - Long Loop

OK.

So, having few rides in during the past 30 days due in part to seasonal changes, i.e., less daylight and colder temps, I decided to just take a fast ride around the block as it were.

OK, now for the truth.

I was so discussed with the previous ride's attempt to push the envelope with faster HR SS intervals that I felt like a slug or damaged goods and should just stick with what I know; the Wabash Cannonball - Long Loop.

That said, I push hard through each section recording the usual average lap speeds as follows: 17.0 / 18.1 / 16.8 / 17.0 mph.

Surprisingly, this was my second best time for this route; the previous best of Aug. 13th may have had an easterly wind advantage.

Curiously, is the average HR of 152 bpm versus 142 bpm for the same previous ride, Aug. 13th as is the average speed of 17.1 versus 17.6 mph and a faster cadence, 85 versus 83 bpm.

So am I to conclude that the fewer rides of late has hurt my efforts till now? What is the reason for a 10 bpm faster HR? Was I less hydrated?

MXS: 24.8 mph.

Weather Conditions: Clear and cool. Light wind around 3.5 to 4.6 mph mostly from the ESE.
Min: 54 Avg: 60 Max: 63 ºF

Wabash Cannonball - Long Loop

Grey, very grey. Rode the long loop for a quick jaunt "as it were". Lapped the journey in Garmin to see my progress from months ago. Lap speeds for the four sections of the loop are as follows: 14.7, 17.7, 17.8, and 15.4 mph.

The westward section was difficult due to the wind. For a 5.8 mph wind, it was harder than it should have been. Why? Perhaps the report wind speed via KTOL (Toledo Express) was not accurate.

Weather Conditions: Cool and mostly cloudy. Winds out of the SW at 5.8 mph.
Min: 56 Avg: 59 Max: 60 ºF

Ride from Sidecut Park to Grand Rapids

Jimmie and I rode to the Stitts/Jerome hills, unto Sidecut Park following with Waterville, then 64 south to 65 west to Grand Rapids, then north to the Wabash Cannonball South Fork and home.

What began as a cloudy very cool afternoon turned into sunny comfortable ride to Grand Rapids. The hills along the way on 65 were fun but at times very challenging for this weak cyclist. Jimmie was kind in not to dropping me to far back. Found myself belly breathing often but riding to Grand Rapids was too cool.
Hitting a small town with good eats can be very rewarding. Hitting these kinds of towns during a ride across a state would make the ride more enjoyable.

Finally, two other issues. The HRM was squirrely again at the beginning of our ride. Also, I forgot to start the lap on the Garmin when leaving Grand Rapids; should add about 2 more miles.

MXS: 28.0 mph.

Weather Conditions: Cool and cloudy, later, sunny. Wind mostly out of the north at 10.4 to 11.5 mph with gusts of 18.4 mph.  Min: 61 Avg: 61 Max: 63 ºF.

Wabash Cannon Ball Long Loop

Garmin battery krapped out; the info may be in question although the numbers seem fine. Also, the max HR was reported incorrectly at 203 bph. Weak Garmin battery?

MXS: 22.1 mph.

Weather Conditions: 1616 hours. Partly cloudy with winds mostly out of the NW 8.1 to 13.8 mph.   Min: 700 Avg: 70 Max: 70 ºF.

Wabash Cannon Ball Long Loop

From the get-go, the HR was way off @ 229 bpm. Could this be the result of low power from the battery?

Weather Conditions: 1537 hours. Mostly cloudy; low humidity. Wind out of the west from 19.7 to 21.9 mph; gusts from 27.6 to 31.1 mph.  Min: 65 Max: 67 ºF.

60-90 min EM 4x6 min SS Interval Training

MXS: 20.0.

Weather Conditions: 1143 hours. Warm and mostly cloudy. Started out with 11.8 mph NE winds. The rest of the ride had lesser winds 5.8 to 6.9 mph.
Min: 75 Avg: 75 Max: 75 ºF

30 min ride just in case of a rain out for TAB Monday evening group ride

Was feeling the need to ride that morning even though I had to wait later in the day for a group ride which in the end I did not take part.

MXS: 20.8.
Weather Conditions: 10:03 hours. Warm and overcast. Northernly winds from 8.1 to 10.4 mph; gusts up to 17.3 mph.
Min: 70 Max: 72 ºF

60-90 min EM 4x6 min SS intervals.

60-90 min EM 4x6 min SS intervals.

MXS: 21.1



Weather Conditions: 18:51 hours. Warm and clear. Wind falling from 8.1 mph westerly to 3.5 SW.
Min: 76 Avg: 83 Max: 86 ºF

45-60 min. EM ride to Jerome Rd

45-60 min. EM ride to Jerome and a spin around the Fallen Timbers Mall

45-60 min. EM @ HR between 130 - 148 with cadence between 85 - 95 rpm. Had to shift often to keep within HR zone and cadence range. Not sure if this HR was correct. A HR between 50 and 91 percent is suggested for an EM workout per CTS. Given a max HR suggest by Garmin, my top HR, according to CTS, would lie somewhere between 93 and 168 bpm and that would be colnsidered a HR Zone #1. ??



Weather Conditions: 1957 hours. Warm and clear. Northernly and westerly winds at 4.6 mph.
Min: 73 Avg: 76 Max: 77 ºF

Wabash Cannonball Trail - Long Loop

25 mile clockwise route of both the South and the North Fork.

Maiden voyage with the Garmin "705".

It was great to have the feedback of a HR monitor again. I had really missed the Ironman Timex borrow from Jimmie.

This was my first time monitoring my pedal cadence. While I had been working on a light cadence all along, I was not very aware of just how light I may have been. Turns out that I had not been quite as light as I thought. An avg cadence of 83 rpm is not to bad, though.

MXS: 20.9 mph.



Weather Conditions: 1930 hours. Warm and clear. Winds started out easternly at 11.5 mph falling throughout the ride to 5.8.
Min: 78 Avg: 81 Max: 83 ºF

Wabash Cannonball Trail - Long Loop

Miles: 25.22
Average Speed: 16.60 mph
Ride Time: 01:31:18
Calories Burned: 1,107 kcal

Didn't push very hard. Just too humid.

Did try not to loose any speed from the 16.7 mph; managed to avg 16.6 overall.

16.6 / 16.7 / 16.7 / 16.6

MXS: 21.1
142.3 calF.

Weather Conditions: 1000 hours. Quite warm and humid, 84 percent. Wind, mostly calm.
Avg: 79 ºF

3.20 Mile Recovery Ride to S Berkley Southern Rd.: Wabash Cannonball-South Fork

Felt pretty good Sunday evening but as the night wore on my legs started tighten up and my rear felt pretty sore. When I got home from shift I forced myself out to try and stretch out my legs. Also wanted to further condition the gluts et al. I took it real easy with only the above in mind. Didn't even take the comp with me. Tried a few standing sprints as Jimmie suggested but could only mannage about a fourth of the distance between the utility poles. The pins are just too weak right now. Will follow Jimmie's othe suggestion to sprint in the saddle, e.g., a mile or so faster.

The humidity made breathing more difficult and my neck was tight.
Weather Conditions: Cool and humid, overcast. 0745 hours

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