Your Weekend Ride Reports -- Aug 31/Sep 1 & 2
 

Wanted to go cycling today, but Rowan has been having a bad time with his medication (a bit dizzy) so we opted to walk to our beach instead. :)

I'm so glad we've got that beach so close by ... I like the waves. Even if they are just small waves. The sound of the waves, watching the waves ... it's calming.

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I got in a good 18km, (and an ice cream)with my youngest today. It's her longest ride and pretty good for an 8 year old.

Took my 35 year old Centurion LeMans 12 speed out today and washed it at the car wash, and then brought donuts home. It wasn't a long ride, but long enough for me to know I needed to make a couple adjustments (saddle needed to move to the rear). I have had this bike since it was new as it was a Christmas present from my mom in 1985.

So after my first cup of coffee I hopped on the bike, went to the car wash and washed the bike; then off to the little burger joint for donuts, and home... 2.5 miles total https://www.strava.com/activities/2668117931 , but it felt weird to be riding steel instead of carbon as there was no buzz in the handlebars or saddle from the road.

If any of you are on Strava, they're having a challenge in September ... I'm going to give it a go. :) It starts tomorrow.

https://www.strava.com/challenges/the-escape-plan
Get moving 5 days a week for 4 consecutive weeks - all activity types count
(Minimum of 15 minutes of elapsed time per activity)

Pearler of a day for mtbing, consistent overnight rain then a cool sunny day was perfect. Managed 24km in about 3 hours all on awesome single track, it doesn't get any better. Something was right with my body too, I was much faster and able to flow with the track better than the last time here at Fox Creek. The hills are very steep tight and twisty, dangerous in spots also. Love the mud :)

Relive my ride ; https://www.relive.cc/view/rt10007991195

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Overall the slacking continues, but got out for a group ride at moderate pace- suitable for my current (lack of) fitness.

There's a 500' climb in the middle of the loop, so my plan was to go all out on that, and then limp home.

The plan succeeded & I suffered back (heat as well), sometimes only putting out 120 watts.

The group finished off the day by consuming snacks and large amounts of beer.

60, 3,600'

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A 25kms run up in the National Park next to where I live on Saturday.
A 35kms run at the same place today.

Close to 400 meters (1300ft) of elevation. Getting used to my new bike slowly! So far so good. The Elemnt Bolt GPS Computer is really nice for riding stats.

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Did my Mill Valley/Corte Madera/San Rafael/China Camp and back again route. Hot and breezy today, but had good energy all the way through and managed to hydrate and eat more wisely than I usually do. Not as many people out today as I expected. Lots of folks clear out of the Bay Area during Labor Day weekend.

And not just for Burning Man:rolleyes:

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Did 104 mile @ Gorilla Century, Pittsburg KS

75 mile group group ride Saturday, followed by 22 miles with my wife today. Planning on taking advantage of Labor day here in Little Rock, AR and doing 50 mile ride with some friends tomorrow.

Hopefully this is getting me primed for my first Century at the end f this month if the temperature cooperates.

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76 mile Labor Day ride over to La Selva beach and back. Much cooler at the Ocean than it is inland.

Unusually active week of riding for me. I've been trying to get more rest days between workout rides but last week I rode nearly every day. I think part of it was admitting to myself that I'm not a morning person, never have been and at age 61 never will be. So I'm skipping those 7-8 am starts for weekend 50+ mile group rides -- I'd usually be miserable on those rides, lagging behind and either making everyone else wait for me, or I'd wave them on ahead and drag myself home. I'll do the weekday afternoon/evening rides, but otherwise if I'm gonna ride 20-50+ miles, it'll be later in the day when I feel like it. Otherwise I'll keep finding excuses to avoid riding at all.

I also improved my best times on several Strava segments and even significantly on some familiar circuits of 10-30 miles. So modifying my rides to suit my internal clock is showing tangible benefits.

Lessee...

• 30 miles Tuesday night after midnight.
• 37 miles after midnight -- my fastest time on that route, 18 mph overall, a significant boost over my usual 16 mph average.
• 43 miles Thursday, but felt sluggish from the late afternoon heat and humidity. My heart rate was 20 bpm higher than usual so I slowed down with another friend who was feeling the same way and just slogged it home together.
• 30 miles Friday, same -- feeling sluggish, took it easy.
• 21 miles Saturday night, felt much better. Tried some slow cadence, high gear drills on a familiar roller coaster route and improved my times on some climbs.
• 37 miles Sunday night, same as Saturday -- felt much stronger than usual, did some high gear, low cadence work on climbs and felt significantly stronger. Not any faster since I'm still adapting to a new-to-me pedaling style. But I was surprised to find my thighs and calves weren't cooked and burnt.

No riding Monday, Labor Day. Gotta rest whether I want to or not. Neck pain is still my main limitation. But feeling much better overall than I have for the past year.

12 miles today in a new jersey https://www.strava.com/activities/2674845858/#

Good weekend of riding for me. Mixed it up pretty good.

Saturday: 25k of mountain biking
Sunday: 30k of mountain biking
Monday: 115k of road riding.

I went on my longest ride yet yesterday for a Labor Day ride. It was not as enjoyable as planned since I had some stomach issues over a large portion of the ride. My stomach settled enough to stay hydrated in the 96F heat; so I did not need to call for a ride. I had a dry wall screw go all the way through my new rear tire and rim 30 miles in as well. I founds some great new roads to ride at least.

Saturday: 24 easy miles
Sunday: 5 miles of bike fishing a series of ponds
Monday: 109 miles

Monday ride : Another 35kms. Weather was great, but a little chill in the morning. It was my third ride with the new bike - getting used to it slowly. Longer rides already planned for next WE!


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Sunrise Century-Clarksville, TN
 

Completed 100K Saturday at subject ride. Bested my previous 30 mile time only to match for the +62. Flatted the rear as I turned in the drive for the finish line...walked it to my truck.

49 miles. Just about matched my PR on that course, but also found out that I got some rear tire rub against the frame - there was very little clearance with the 28mm tires in the first place, so I really wasn't surprised it happened. Will be replacing a fat 28 with a fat 25 later in the week, hopefully that should cure the tire rub, and hopefully allow for a better time next round...

Thursday evening I did my Davis Is. 27 mile ride. Probably the hottest ride this year. It was 94 degrees when I started and windy too. Did okay though. I was busy doing house stuff on Labor Day weekend. I only went out on Sunday for a lazy ride around the Ocala forest. Went down some side roads and stopped to explore the area. 38 miles total.
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