Been gone a while!

So after the MS150 it started getting plenty hot and I also started dieting, which adversly affected my cycling performance. I took the month of August off completely, as it was just too hot to make cycling (or anything outdoors) any fun. Since The end of June I have lost 25lbs, and have ridden 215 miles and picked up another mountain bike. Alex and I have decided to shoot for riding the entire lenght of the suncoast trail the last weekend of the year. The entire length up and back is 83 miles, which is the same distance as day one of the MS150. To say we have been amping up the riding would be true.

2011 Ride #39 Trainer ride gets me over 1K miles for the year!

After returning from two days at the Dell storage forums and finally finish up all the tweaks since I swapped the components out, I finally got to get back on the bike. This ride put me at 1010 miles since 1/1/2011.

Ride Stats:

Speed 17.4/24.2
Heart Rate 162/182
Cadence: 85/131
Calories: 343
Time 39:22
Distance 11.4 miles

2011 Ride #38 - Trainer Ride - Sufferfest Video

So I realized I have not been able to get my evening rides in since we moved out to Temple Terrace, so it was time to break out the trainer. If you've ever ridden a training indoors you know it is disturbingly boring. A few weeks back I found a review of these videos called "sufferfest" which is a pretty accurate description if you attempt to ride anything like the video suggests. The video keeps you pumped up, gives you audible cues and shows timers, suggested cadence and effort levels. It is set based on videos from the Tour De Suisse, Tour De France, Tour of Romandie and several other venues. This definitely helps with the monotony of riding stationary.

On a positive note, my current mileage for the year is 998.3 miles, I am 1.7 miles short of hitting 1000 miles for the year. If I'd had realized that, I'd have done another two miles!

2011 Ride #37 - Fast at Flatwoods

As seems to be my typical Sunday morning routine as of late, roll out of bed at 6:30 and aim to be on the trail by 7:30. I started out around 7:30ish and noticed I was a little sore on the saddle - could it be because its new or because I still dont have the position down quite right yet. I'd bet number two, because at one point I damn near felt numb down below. Nothing that some additional tweaks can't fix.

Now I mentioned going faster. Compared to my last ride out there, I not only went a mile further, but I did it in 5 I'd attribute most of this to the group I rode with on mile 11 to 19 - mostly averaging 20mph+. For the most part I could hang, but when it was my turn, naturally the point where we turned into the wind, I knew I had I bit off more than I could chew, but I did my pull and then dropped off.

Ride Map and Stats:
Ride Time: 1:18:46
Stopped Time: 8:28
Distance: 25.81 miles
Average: 19.66 miles/h
Fastest Speed: 48.77 miles/h
Ascent: 627 feet
Descent: 741 feet
Calories: 1431


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2011 Ride #36 - Back to the Pinellas Trail Ride

Life is starting to return to somewhat normal again and I've actually been feeling well for about a week now so out to the trail we went. Winds were about 5-10 mph from out of the ENE, so we headed north to start. I made good time up but was a little sluggish coming back down. The medicine I have been taking warns of stiff tendons, so that is about all I can think would be the cause. I also just recieved my Ultegra components, so I swapped out the rear derailluer last night, along with a 12-25 cassette and the front crank. I won't be able to do the rest until I get my new torque wrench, a necessary evil when you are working with carbon frames. The bike is noticeably lighter, but we'll see when the new bars come in and I can also swap the brakes out.

The wind switched to a more ESE direction on the way back, always a treat to ride into the wind both directions. I waited for Ana to return and we headed over to Cafe Alfresco for a quick lunch.

Ride Stats and map:
Ride Time: 1:29:09
Stopped Time: 16:16
Distance: 24.77 miles
Average: 16.67 miles/h
Fastest Speed: 46.77 miles/h
Ascent: 144 feet
Descent: 148 feet
Calories: 1390


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Year to Date Update

Almost hit that 1000 mile mark, almost burned 60K calories just cycling alone...


Miles Average Max Time Calories HR Avg HR Max Cadence Cadence Max
211 17.23 28.76 12:30:54 12647 158 180 74 107

939.32 15.40 25.51 59:59:31 58278 165 174 75 120

2011 Ride #35 - Flatwoods loop

Well, after taking two weeks off after riding the MS150 (and being sick and the doctor saying to avoid the sun until I was off the meds) I had enough. Finally got back on the horse today and did a quick 25. It probably would have been a quick 32, but I wasnt quick going out the door. Change the routine up a bit and there goes 30 minutes.

The first 10 or 12 miles my left leg cried like a little baby, so when I stopped after the first full loop, I stretched out a bit and that seemed to do the trick. I stopped and chatted with some other roadies and then got back at it. The next two loops just flew by. If it wasn't for the fact I told Ana I'd be back around 9:30, I'd have done at least 1 or 2 more.

At any rate, ride stats and maps:
Ride Time: 1:23:24
Stopped Time: 14:48
Distance: 25.46 miles
Average: 18.32 miles/h
Fastest Speed: 38.08 miles/h
Ascent: 72 feet
Descent: 98 feet
Heart Rate Avg/Max: 171/187
Cadence Avg/Max: 78/98
Calories: 1637


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