30 min. indoor ride

Just another boring, sore rear, sweat poring Bushido training ride. I really, really need/want the upgrade PC software for the Tacx 1990.03 to allow virtual rides anywhere, e.g., the "olde country", lessoning the boredom associated with training indoors.

Hey, is there a Flanders cobblestone attachment?

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 Tow Path to Grand Rapids Breakfast Ride

"9 snow ninjas showed up for yesterday's mild temperature (34 degree average while we rode) Tow Path ride.  Friday night's light snow and brisk wind made for treacherous conditions as we had to deal with deep drifts several times.  The drifts resulted in 7 unintentional snow angels in the deep soft snow and more than a few chuckles.  The Tow Path was rideable only as far as the boat launch.  We then rode into Waterville for an enjoyable breakfast at Koral... " -Rick Metcalf

I suck!  I have no power and got dropped at every hill.

That said, Hubert and Dirk were kind enough to ride with me.  While the Tow Path was challenging, I had a good time.  We encountered lots of ice under the snow in route to River Road which itself was clear.  Most of the Tow Path was covered in light snow and many areas as deep as 3 or more inches deep.  I quickly realized that I was better off breaking trail than following someone else's track.  But alas I too fell to the risk of this winter madness resulting in my first "snow angle."  Rode with Jimmie, Chris, Hubert, Rick, Matt, Dirk, Todd, and one other.  We ended the ride pushing Matt and his truck out of the deep snow where he had parked on the side of Jerome Rd where he met up with us for the ride.

Weather Conditions: 0901 hours. Cold, overcast and some partial cloudiness with strong winds from 9.2 to 17.3 mph mostly from the west. Wet road spray.
Min: 30 Max: 32 ºF

MXS: 23.9 mph.

30 min. indoor ride

Just a 30 min. ride to see whether my sit bone could handle an in door ride after yesterday's ride. Similar numbers to yesterday's numbers.

It occurred to me that a lower cadence due to a larger gear and thus a faster speed would equate to a higher power output (high 160s to low 170s today) which should probably leads to a higher consumption of calories burned.,

So why then did my calories burned go down (1,151C vs 1,360C)?

My pass was faster; 03:02 vs 03:07 min/mi.
My distance was greater; 10.00 vs 9.64 miles.
My time was longer; 00:30:27 vs 00:30:09.
My avg speed was greater; 19.7 vs 19.2 mph.
My avg HR was higher; 136 vs 148 bpm.

Also, how does the Garmin calculate calories whether on an inside ride without the wind's resistance or help or on an outside ride?  And is there a consideration for elevation gained/lossed during a ride? Or does it even matter?

Perhaps, this is why training with power levels the field because watts produced isn't affected by these various data fields.

And more importantly, why does Jimmie not comment and fill in these seemingly endless questions?

MXS: 22.0 mph.

Maiden Voyage on the Tacx Bushido

 This was the trial use of the Tacx Bushido T1980 ver 2011. Slight learning curve but overall not to bad. After calibrating the brake (power) unit to the Cervélo I started riding. Jimmie is correct. The ride is different in that the bicycle does not rock as one rides. Also, a lack of wind results in a faster ride.

The Garmin did not connect with the Bushido to monitor power but the Bushido did pickup the Garmin's HRM strap. Thus, the power meter was in the range of 150-165 watts. Unfortuately the unit stores but does not allow review without the use of a PC and therefore will require the T1990 Upgrade PC Bushido toggle and software.

That said, a power range this high seems high for someone like myself; what base I may have had surely has suffered over the past three or four months with few miles logged. However, with a 30 min. ride, a distance just under 10 miles and no wind, I would not have expected the consumption of 1,360 calories. This equates to a 30 mile ride in 90 min. consuming almost 4000 calories. That's not possible.

MXS: 21.0.

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

Peanut shows Papa how the Bushido assembles