Century Bike Ride - Oh Hell No
A blog about my trials and tribulations in preparing for a 100 mile bike ride. From now till September 17th
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Ride Summary
Monday, June 13, 2011
Sunday June 12th - Cog Snob - Single Anyone
This was a good route that Ive ridden before. Was good to get out and get legs stretched out.
Total Miles Ridden: 373.79
This Ride: 29.83
Ascended: 845
Descended: 478
Calories: 1429
Saturday Jun 11 - Oh My
I got up on Saturday morning after getting back from California at midnight on Friday to find that I didn't have the message on where we would be meeting. Its now 7:00am and the ride meets at 8:00am leaving at 8:30am. Sent a quick message to the coach and team, luckily got a response and found out where to go.
This was one of the better rides I have been on. Went from Baseline Rd to Hygiene,CO. Had a lot of great rolling hills along with what some of the veterans we were riding with called "the three bitches". This was an out and back path. So we would be riding the same path out and back. Well on the way out there was one fairly large hill that needed to be climbed, was good but not too bad. then some rolling hills down the other side. Nothing registered in my head...
Finished up to the mid point and well on my way back. Well hit those same "rolling hills" but from this side they weren't so rolling. Coach was yelling at us to get into lower gears prior to the light at the bottom of the hill turning green. I thought I could handle it. The guy I was riding with most of the day turned and looked at me.... the gauntlet had been thrown.
Lights on the opposite traffic turned yellow.
We waited for green
And waited.... damn it seems like a long time...
GREEN.
He takes off. I'm close behind.. one stroke.. no second pedal. DAMN I cant get my foot to click into the damn pedal.. he is pulling away.. Finally I land the foot in the right spot.
I start sprinting across the intersection, he is already 1/2 way up the first hill. I press hard putting everything I had into catching him before the top of the first hill. Success. As I pull abreast of him I hear him yell in agony. His legs decided they were done and cramped up on him.. I pulled ahead an crested the top first, as tired as I have ever been.
Problem....
There were 2 more just like that..... what bitches!!!!
Total Miles Ridden: 343.96 miles
This Ride: 39.72 miles
Ascended: 1113 feet
Descended: 567 feet
Calories: 2467 feet
Sunday June 5th - Cog Snob
Guess their legs were a bit tired. I'm OK with that! Stayed up with the leader group and picked up my pace to 17.78 miles per hour.
Total Miles Ridden: 304.24
This Ride 33.49 miles
Ascended:634 feet
Descended:624 feet
Calories Burned: 1895
Saturday June 4th - Coach Lies
Started out on a nice easy bike path along the Platte river in downtown Cherry Creek. Before too long, left the comfort of the bike path. Crossed a bridge and headed out on to the open road. This is the first time that the team will hit 30 miles.
Was a great flattish ride, had some rolling hills, false flat hills, and one steepish hill. Was a great day for a ride. We were able to go directly behind the Coors brewing company before hitting downtown Golden. At the midpoint of this ride some sort of food would have been nice. Unfortunately I didn't carry anything.
Way back seemed much quicker perhaps because there seemed to be more downhills than up. When we rolled up to the cars I immediately checked the bike computer and low and behold we did almost 37 miles. The coach LIES!!! That's 7 more than planned.
Total Miles Ridden: 270.75
This Ride: 36.76 miles
Ascended: 1059 feet
Descended: 1023 feet
Calories Burned: 2156
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Mid Week Hell
Went out for quick mid-week ride. But incorrectly picked the hottest day of the week, went out at 10:30, wind gusts at 21mph. Not a good mix of factors to create a successful ride.
The ride out was great, wind at back and cruzing along. However the once I made the turn it was full on wind in my face trying to force me to stop.. and stop I did a few times. I have never ridden in the wind nor wind and heat. It's a different animal all together. It just seems to zap your strength trying to push the pedals down while the wind tries to keep you back. Now if you add a hill into the equation = disaster. At one point was in gear 3 for a 21 speed. Haven't been in that gear since i got the bike.
All I can say is WOW.... WOW.... WOW
But hey now total miles is 233+ :)
Total Miles Ridden: 233.99
This Ride: 27.04
Ascended: 1035 ft
Descended: 482 ft
Calories: 1552
Memorial Day Ride - Country Road
Memorial Day Ride.. yes I went out on Memorial Day and slogged it out on my own. Was the trail that Cog Snobs did on Sunday but it looked like rain so I begged out.
The ride was challenging in that it had so many rolling hills along the way, but I was able to keep my pace throughout which was nice. The unfortunate thing was that I had my iPod playing that was synced with the wife's songs..... not a good thing some times. When i was climbing a hill, pushing hard to Metallic and all of a sudden some other music kicks in.. can kill the motivation.
I need to start thinking about food on the bike. Ive gotten so far with just two water bottles filled with water. I should start to figure out what nutrients I should start taking. Ive gotten close to "bonking" or "hitting the wall" when not riding with Cog Snobs.
Total Miles Ridden: 206.95This Ride: 31.23
Ascended: 845 ft
Decended: 638 ft
Calories: 1847