Well, got back in town on Saturday afternoon after a long week of altitude training, too late to get out on the bike. So, Sunday morning I awoke with a sore neck, a bit of too much wine head and an eagerness to test myself on the Airport ride. The ride started out mellow for the first 10 minutes, then TT1 (mainly Phil) decides to tkae a dig at the front and it's a quick 30 second sprint. I am staying in the top 10 of these hundred odd riders so I am getting a bit of wind. So thirty minutes in, we stop at the nature break, you can see several people going up the road to get a head start of what we all know is soon to come.
We head off, I see Phil and a teammate come by and start picking off singles off the front. Well, I think, I want some of that so I bridge and a few seconds later, Phil puts the hammer down! There are four of us and I am sitting on, heart rate going up as he pushes the first hill and all of the suden we are going by little groups like they are standing still. Phi comes off the front, we slow just slightly and the main closes it upas we approach another climb. Hmm this is hard but I am staying seated as several around me are out of the saddle up these climbs. We start the climb up to the first KOM/sprint, I don't contest it as we have a longgggggg way left to go. Around the corner to the next sprint and I am near the front but again don't contest it, I think I could have but I would have been done for the day. At the split< I am feeling pretty good and fairly confident as we start the hilly section. Through the hills I am hurting but recovering, till we get to the KOM and oh does that hurt (later found out average for that hilly section to include a wait at two stop lights, plus slow to a crawl for two railroady tracks was 24 mph). After the KOM I think okay, I am hurt bad but still here, just stay on!
We make the last climb onto HWy 29 and oh man they are whipping it up! The Garmin says 32 mph and stays there! How in the world are these guys working through on the front? I am just trying to survive! (average for the next 15 miles 29.3 mph). Oh thank god we are slowing down a bit as the last 10 miles is a sedate 24.5 mph. 70 miles in 2 hours and 29 minutes! I get to the car and am whipped but I made it. Woke up this morning slightly leg tired, lower back sore and trying to psych myself into getting on the bike for a couple of hours. I have to keep telling myself that riding with these guys (several pros, 1's 2's and 3's) learning from them, covering the digs of guys like Phil should be giving me confidence that I am getting faster. My numbers sayy I am, I guess we'll see in two weeks. I have a final training block this week from now till Wednesday evening when I head to Nigeria, back on Saturday. Thinking about heading to Albany this weekend to race, not sure if I want that far of a drive after just getting off a long plane ride. Anybody doing that race?
Monday, February 28, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
The End Result
So, Saturday I showed up for the LBS ride, it was cold, around 28 degrees, only one other guys showed up so I waved goodbye and got back in the bed. Around noon, I got out and did 40, not hard but not easy, probably all wrong heart rate wise and I did keep telling myself to slow down but waht ya gonna do?
Sunday I am at the Airport ride, we roll and I am feeling good, my legs are a little tired and actually a little sore but I feel good, about five miles into it, I have moved forward, catching the wind at around 25mph when lo and behold, I have a mechanical. I am frustrated and head home. Fix the bike with a little ingenuity (I hope it's fixed) but while I was waiting for my repair to dry, I could not get on the bike.
So today, I decided to open up the throttle and test myself. End result, 19.8 mph for 25 miles, 1200 feet of climbing, windy (big head wind on the way back in), warm-up time, stop signs included, yes I threw up a little bit from the effort. The funny thing is I did not push the hills really at all until I turned into the wind, then I had to push everything just to keep moving forward. The garmin graph shows peaks and valleys with my heart rate until I got into the wind, then just goes high and stays there. I attribute this to alot of hard work and to Optygen, this stuff does let you work harder longer. I did not blow up, did'nt even come close, was it hard, yes, very hard ride but I had more in the tank Two more days of riding, one plyometric work out left till I go to Milan Italy on Wednesday, kinda psyched about that trip. Now, who's in for the Perry race? I already have a room booked at the Hampton and got two beds. Come on Bike Chain, represent!
Sunday I am at the Airport ride, we roll and I am feeling good, my legs are a little tired and actually a little sore but I feel good, about five miles into it, I have moved forward, catching the wind at around 25mph when lo and behold, I have a mechanical. I am frustrated and head home. Fix the bike with a little ingenuity (I hope it's fixed) but while I was waiting for my repair to dry, I could not get on the bike.
So today, I decided to open up the throttle and test myself. End result, 19.8 mph for 25 miles, 1200 feet of climbing, windy (big head wind on the way back in), warm-up time, stop signs included, yes I threw up a little bit from the effort. The funny thing is I did not push the hills really at all until I turned into the wind, then I had to push everything just to keep moving forward. The garmin graph shows peaks and valleys with my heart rate until I got into the wind, then just goes high and stays there. I attribute this to alot of hard work and to Optygen, this stuff does let you work harder longer. I did not blow up, did'nt even come close, was it hard, yes, very hard ride but I had more in the tank Two more days of riding, one plyometric work out left till I go to Milan Italy on Wednesday, kinda psyched about that trip. Now, who's in for the Perry race? I already have a room booked at the Hampton and got two beds. Come on Bike Chain, represent!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Self Doubts and nervous
Well, I am freshly back from Germany, kinda tired and feeling lazy, I did get a good workout in while I was over there but also feel the legs still need recovery.
So, after last Sundays major bonk, I have had my mind full of doubts and really lacking in confidence in my abilities to keep up on the long ride with the Cat 1 and 2''s that are driving the front of the pack. On the way home i stopped by my LBS and after just that one ride with them two weeks ago, they recognized me and asked me if I was going to come out tomorrow morning AND gave me props by saying how strong I was. That helps a little.
So, the game plan is 40 tomorrow, not hard, well not too hard, come home, eat good food, rest, eat more good food before bed and then Sunday get back out there and prepare mentally to be so strong that on the final 20 miles which is flat but averages 28 to 29 mph, to be in the front and actually pull through or go with a break. That's the plan, look for the report as to what happens Sunday evening. ONly a month till the Perry race, come on guys!
So, after last Sundays major bonk, I have had my mind full of doubts and really lacking in confidence in my abilities to keep up on the long ride with the Cat 1 and 2''s that are driving the front of the pack. On the way home i stopped by my LBS and after just that one ride with them two weeks ago, they recognized me and asked me if I was going to come out tomorrow morning AND gave me props by saying how strong I was. That helps a little.
So, the game plan is 40 tomorrow, not hard, well not too hard, come home, eat good food, rest, eat more good food before bed and then Sunday get back out there and prepare mentally to be so strong that on the final 20 miles which is flat but averages 28 to 29 mph, to be in the front and actually pull through or go with a break. That's the plan, look for the report as to what happens Sunday evening. ONly a month till the Perry race, come on guys!
Monday, February 7, 2011
The Bonk and thanks for the feedback
Since NO ONE commented on my last blog, I guess I am writing this so that I can go back and review it to see how I felt. Oh well, here goes.
So, I had work training all week long, lots of pt, shooting and fighting , plus the trainer two nights meant that Saturday, I awoke drained and somewhat sore. Got a call about meeting one yound dude at the LBS once the rain stopped, so at 5 till one we are pulling out and hear that two guys are heading out themselves from the BMX track which is about two miles away. So, I told the kid to hang on and did a 25 mph TT to meet up with those guys (not smart without a warmup) So we joined them and lo and behold, they are heading South into the hills. After the first two get your heart rate maxed out climbs (about 7 miles in) young dude and I had dropped the other two. So, we spect the remaining 33 miles waiting in between bouts of playing KOM. Needless to say hti swas a bit more than I desired. So, home, eat, rest , make dinner (Thai salad) and sleep.
Sunday morning arose, at start time it ws a blamy 33 degrees and a bit windy. The airport ride started out sedate, I did not mind, cause I was not feeling too good. the legs seemed sluggish and although I had a good breakfast, I was already feeling hungry. After the nature break, I moved way forward, like top 15 in this 100 rider group, up the first climb and I am at the sharp end of the stick, go through the turn into the sprint staight away. I am easily sitting in, working hard but easy enough, decide at the last minute to make the turn to go long and here where it goes bad. The average for the next 15 miles is 24.5, which does not sound bad excpet I started in the back, there were lots of turns (hence sprint back on) and lots of HILLS, I mean big HILLS, I am overheated (too many clothes), not drinking enough and have no food. At around 48 mile, the wheels come off, I slow to a miserable 14 mile per hour average and am looking for a stop and rob, wondering if they will take my watch as collateral. I have blown up before, as a matter of fact, I am kinda known for it. But never have I felt like that , just absolutely no energy, begging for someone to stop and put me in the back of their truck and gice me a ride, scouring the ground for Gu packet remanants maybe someone had left. The horror! Anyway, lesson learned. Today is a rest day, getting ready for work now. Does anybody read this?
So, I had work training all week long, lots of pt, shooting and fighting , plus the trainer two nights meant that Saturday, I awoke drained and somewhat sore. Got a call about meeting one yound dude at the LBS once the rain stopped, so at 5 till one we are pulling out and hear that two guys are heading out themselves from the BMX track which is about two miles away. So, I told the kid to hang on and did a 25 mph TT to meet up with those guys (not smart without a warmup) So we joined them and lo and behold, they are heading South into the hills. After the first two get your heart rate maxed out climbs (about 7 miles in) young dude and I had dropped the other two. So, we spect the remaining 33 miles waiting in between bouts of playing KOM. Needless to say hti swas a bit more than I desired. So, home, eat, rest , make dinner (Thai salad) and sleep.
Sunday morning arose, at start time it ws a blamy 33 degrees and a bit windy. The airport ride started out sedate, I did not mind, cause I was not feeling too good. the legs seemed sluggish and although I had a good breakfast, I was already feeling hungry. After the nature break, I moved way forward, like top 15 in this 100 rider group, up the first climb and I am at the sharp end of the stick, go through the turn into the sprint staight away. I am easily sitting in, working hard but easy enough, decide at the last minute to make the turn to go long and here where it goes bad. The average for the next 15 miles is 24.5, which does not sound bad excpet I started in the back, there were lots of turns (hence sprint back on) and lots of HILLS, I mean big HILLS, I am overheated (too many clothes), not drinking enough and have no food. At around 48 mile, the wheels come off, I slow to a miserable 14 mile per hour average and am looking for a stop and rob, wondering if they will take my watch as collateral. I have blown up before, as a matter of fact, I am kinda known for it. But never have I felt like that , just absolutely no energy, begging for someone to stop and put me in the back of their truck and gice me a ride, scouring the ground for Gu packet remanants maybe someone had left. The horror! Anyway, lesson learned. Today is a rest day, getting ready for work now. Does anybody read this?
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