January Stats

January Totals 185.73 Miles, 14.7 mph average 33.4mph max, 12:34:21 Hours, 13142 Calories, 182 heart rate max (average) 165 heart rate overall average.

I am well on my way to my goal of 1500 miles this year.

2011 Ride #9 - Finish January Strong ride

Today's goal was to ride 36 miles, and I mustered 36.1 according to the bike computer. Today's ride took me from Main Street in Dunedin to 22nd Avenue north in St. Pete. This equates to right at 18 miles each way. Today was warm, the sun was out, and the wind was nowhere nearly as bad as they had been.

Ride Stats and Maps:
Started: Jan 30, 2011 11:49:58 AM
Ride Time: 2:19:42
Distance: 35.28 miles
Distance bike computer: 36.1 miles
Average: 15.15 miles/h
Fastest Speed: 25.47 miles/h
Fastest Speed (bike computer): 33.4mph
Climb: 348 feet
Calories: 2435



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2011 Ride #8 - Day Off Swap Ride

Well, I have to work Saturday so the bossman said I could swap a day during the week. I chose today because it was going to be the warmest it would be all week, even though there was a huge chance of severe weather. It was windy as hell, but the temperature was good and the park was a ghost town. While there was a threat of rain in the afternoon, I didn't see anything but clearing skies while I was out there.

You always worry about deer running out in front of you in more rural areas when driving. I never really worried about it while riding until today. I had about 3 deer dart out in front of me on the southern loop, which since it was so windy I wasn't going terribly fast on anyway. I again came across another group a little further down the trail that was foraging near the side of the trail.

I was hoping to do more, but the winds and my ride on Sunday were working against me. I did manage to post my highest average speed, which was 16.11 overall and I am 1/4 mile short of doing 150 miles this month.

Ride Stats and Map:

Ride Time: 1:37:06
Stopped Time: 17:10
Distance: 26.07 miles
Average: 16.11 miles/h
Fastest Speed: 21.86 miles/h
Climb: 99 feet
Calories: 1800


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2011 Ride #7 - First dirt ride of 2011

Finally got a chance to ride my mountain bike on the dirt, it seems like it's been ages since I have. I almost forgot what have some suspension and tires with any sort of volume felt like. Riding the road bike you learn really quickly to adapt to a stiff ride and stiff elbows. As crappy as the fork on my bike is, it does at least absorb roots and bumps, and with the 29x2.2's with about 30psi in them, absorb way more than the little 700c x 23mm tires on the roadie.

At any rate, this was my first experience riding with my mtb pedals on my mtb (took almost a month!) I can say that it was an awesome ride and I feel like if you are already a decent rider, going clipless offroad will make you an even better (and probably faster) rider.

The weather, while much cooler was actually pretty refreshing since I had the right attire and we occaisionally got out into stretches of sun. This worked out great because you didn't feel like you were going to die as a result of being out in the heat.

The distance we rode today was short compared to some of my other rides, but felt as invigorating because of the effort required to climb up and over things and the inefficiancy of the bigger tires and heavier bike. Being a mountain biker and a road biker is very complimentary in my opinion. The amount of effort is different though - on the road you push constantly, stopping only for red lights or other similar kinds of things, on the mountain bike you are slowing to prevent sliding out in leaf filled loose pack corner, tight confines or other perils of the trail.

I also tried out Gatorade G1 Pro today, I drank 1/2 before the ride and the other at the halfway point. I also supplimented with Endurolytes which prevents cramping, that which it did very well. The G1 Pro tastes nearly identical to G1 Prime that you get at the grocery store, except that it's almost twice as expensive, has 33% more calories and 4 times the carbs per serving. For me, that means I can split it in half since I don't believe you need to preload that much, and from the reading I have done, there is only so much you can replenish or add before you exercise.

At any rate, another stellar ride!

Ride Stats and Maps:

Started: Jan 23, 2011 1:51:45 PM
Ride Time: 1:27:33
Distance: 14.21 miles
Average: 9.74 miles/h
Fastest Speed: 19.88 miles/h
Climb: 243 feet
Calories: 1600


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2011 MS 150 "Citrus Tour"

Last night I signed up to ride the 2011 MS Citrus Tour, a two day even in Central Florida in May that raise money for Multiple Sclerosis research. MS is an awful condition, causing blurred vision, muscle loss, memory loss, and in a lot of cases, death. I am also charged to raise $250 for the cause, and you can donate to the cause here.

The route runs from Bok Tower to the Hotel Carribe in Orlando, on a wonderfully hilly and (very green) during the month of May. I am a bit concerned with the building heat that time of year, but I hope to be aclimitized by the time the race comes.

Stay tuned for more!

2011 Ride #6 - Evening Ride before !@!@# weather!

Well, I have wanted to get into a Sun, Tue, Thurs, Sat, ride pattern and it worked out well that crappy weather will be here tomorrow. After we put Alana down to bed, I kitted up and headed out. This loop has proved to be great for an under hour route that has ups, downs, headwinds, tailwinds, and apparantly, due to cold water near parts of the trail, hot and cold zones. Tonight I added on another 2 miles to the loop just to get some saddle time in.

At any rate another great ride.

Ride Stats:
Started: Jan 20, 2011 8:36:26 PM
Ride Time: 52:19
Stopped Time: 4:36
Distance: 13.29 miles
Average: 15.24 miles/h
Fastest Speed: 21.93 miles/h
Average Heart Rate: 153
Max Heart Rate: 185

2011 Ride #5 Lunchtime Ride

Another beautiful day, nice and warm but WIIIINNNNDDDY!!! My splits show how I was riding against the wind until about mile 5, then I turned East and I was blessed with dead air. Of course I had to turn around which meant I had to ride back through it so mile 6 slowed me down, but on the way back North and then East - hammerfest!

Splits:
Distance (miles)/Average Speed (miles/h)
1 - 13.63
2 - 13.46
3 - 12.99
4 - 13.9
5 - 14.12
6 - 13.35
7 - 18.11
8 - 19.96
9 - 18.03
10 - 20.86
10.63 - 15.75

Ride Stats:
Started: Jan 18, 2011 1:23:42 PM
Ride Time: 41:27
Distance: 10.63 miles
Average: 15.38 miles/h
Fastest Speed: 26.7 miles/h
Calories: 727

2011 Ride #4 - Largo to Pasadena

Today started out gorgeous - temp was around 70F, nothing but blue skies. After dropping Alana of at Ana's parents, we decided to park at a different spot then normal (Ana had never ridden south of Clearwater) so we parked at Taylor Park, which is off 8th Avenue in Largo. This is in a pretty decent location and has easy access to the trail. Unfortunately, we had a few things working against us today. For one, I was hungry, I ate a zone bar and drank a G1. Two, I was feeling the effects of the antibiotic that I have been takingm which cramped me up around mile 10, which was about Tyrone Square Mall. At that point do I suck it up and finish going the next 2.5 miles, or do I just turn around. Hell NO I kept going! Three, I had worked on our condo for about 8 hours and then working on Shawn's bike replacing all his major components, till about 2am and woke up around 7:30, so I was tired. Despite these minor annoyances, I had a great ride. On the way down, there was a crosswind which fought me, but it was sunny and warm. Heading south from Largo really maximizes the amount of overpasses that you ride, some of them are pretty challenging (the one over Park St is one of the longest climbs in the system, and it is followed by another climb less than 1/10 of a mile away.

When I reached the 12.5 mile point, I did get to witness the first drug deal I had seen on the trail, followed by watching the purchasers begin to use their goods. All from the comfort of a nice park bench that let me rest a few minutes, pop some sports beans and a G1.

I got back on the bike and headed North. It only took about 5 cranks to discover that the north wind had cooled significantly and suddenly clouds rolled in and the temperature cooled off almost 15F from where it was when I started. Oye.

I finally made it back to the car, hungry and tired. I felt great and Ana and I headed off O'Keefe's for some tasty burgers.

Ride Stats and Map:
Started: Jan 15, 2011 12:20:24 PM
Ride Time: 1:35:43
Stopped Time: 11:53
Distance: 24.83 miles
Distance Bike Computer: 25.12 miles
Average: 15.56 miles/h
Fastest Speed: 22.76 miles/h
Fastest Speed Bike Computer: 26.5 mph
Climb: 99 feet (this number is a joke, Ulmerton's overpass alone is nearly 60 feet high)
Calories: 1714
Average Heart Rate: 163 bpm
Maximum Heart Rate: 185 bpm


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2011 - Fitness Goals

Well, I haven't had a chance to put finger to keys and actually memorialize my goals for this year, so since it was a sleepy Saturday evening and Ana and Alana were asleep, what better time than now...

For 2011:

Biking:
Average 30 miles a week, so that by year end, I hit at least 1500 miles
Ride a Century (100 miles) by the end of summer.
Ride in the MS150

Running:
Since I am really getting away from running, but still want to keep in shape, I plan on at least 5 5K's in 2011. At least one of these should be dualthon (1/2 bike 1/2 run)

Health-wise:
Get back into my 32/32s comfortably (plus if I can get into my 30/32
Weight down to 190 again (Currently 204) under 200 by March, under 195 by June

2011 Ride #3 - Lunchtime ride

Well, my boss offered to let me work from home one day a week, which works out great since that means I can throw a leg over and get out for an hour or so.

Today's ride was perfect in terms of temp, but the Northwest wind really sucked. At any rate, I have ridden this same course on my mountain bike and it took 58 minutes. On the road bike it took 43. What a difference, and I can tell you that fast time on the mtb, was on a non windy summer day. It is of course mixed blessings that I long for our spring weather (because our spring is just summer "lite").

Ride Stats:
Started: Jan 11, 2011 12:46:27 PM
Ride Time: 43:05
Distance: 10.96 miles
Average: 15.26 miles/h
Fastest Speed: 20.64 miles/h
Fastest Speed Bike Computer: 24.6 miles/h
Climb: 110 feet
Calories: 890
Calories HRM: 763
Max Heart Rate: 181 bpm
Average Heart Rate: 155 bpm

2011 Ride #2

So off to the Pinellas Trails again this week, but it wasn't with out it's pain points. For starters, it was 53F in Dunedin when we got on the bikes. It was also very windy with an 18mph ENE wind, which meant we'd catch a headwind on the way up, and a solid crosswind on the way back.

Again I was on the TREK, which still helped me fly along even in the wind. Ana was on her mountain bike, and was hating life because of the wind and the cold. My goal today was to ride the Pinellas trail from Curlew to the northern terminus. I had never ridden the section from Safford Avenue, to what I thought was the northern terminus. I found out when I pulled the maps up, that the trail actually turned right at US19 and went down a few more side streets until it ends at Keystone Road. Sadly, the trail is VERY POORLY marked and looks to dead end right under the US19 overpass. Quite honestly, the trail runs through some sketchy looking areas in Tarpon Springs (not that I felt worried about my security, but I certainly wouldn't be caught there after hours for sure!). Probably the scariest sections as far as physical safety concerns (i.e. cars crossing the trail) was to be found in this section too. In the section between Safford avenue and the other side of downtown Tarpon Springs it is bordered by one way traffic on each side. When you come to a cross street this becomes very scary, with the most frightening section at Tarpon avenue because it is very poorly labeled for all sides. At least the other sections have flashing lights (or even stoplights for that matter). The other fun factor is that after you get past the sketchy 'hood and dangerous intersections, you get to pass the sewage treatment plant. What a nice touch in the winter, I can only imagine what this will be like in the summer. Needless to say, I plan on avoiding the section north of Safford in the future, as it really wasn't a fun section.

Ride Stats and Maps:
Started: Jan 9, 2011 11:35:47 AM
Ride Time: 1:13:42
Stopped Time: 16:02
Distance: 17.97 miles (bike computer said 18.02)
Average: 14.63 miles/h
Fastest Speed: 23.40 miles/h
Fastest Speed according to Bike computer: 26.2mph
Climb: 16 feet
Calories: 452
Calories according to HRM: 1162
Max Heart Rate: 212bpm (this has got to be a sensor error)
Avg Heart Rate: 176bpm



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New Years Road Ride

So I am about a week late posting this, but at any rate, Alex let me borrow his TREK road bike, a 1994 2200 Carbon/Aluminum with Campagnello components. To say this bike is light is an understatement - my scale says its about 17lbs. Alex lent me the bike so I could decide if I could adjust to riding a road bike, having ridden only mountain bikes before. This also gave me the opportunity to get some miles in riding with clipless pedals (these have cleats that attach your shoe to the pedal). My goals for today were to ride from Dunedin (just south of Main Street) to the end of the bridge over Bay Pines causeway.

I loaded up the bike, camelbak, and put some gatorade in the frame bottle. The weather was pretty steller today except for the 15mph wind out of the south (which was due to a cold front that was to come through later that night). I stretched out a bit in the parking lot, downed a Gatorade G1 and clipped in. I headed south on the Pinellas trail, adjusting to using the brakes and shifters, and trying to remember to unclip before I stop. The headwind/crosswind absolutely sucked, I couldn't beat 20mph even pedaling hard in top gear. This left me wondering if I was missing something, since Alex and his dad mentioned being able to sprint to nearly 30mph and ride at or near 20 mph.

While riding I remember why I like riding the Pinellas trail so much - rarely having to worry about cars, going over the bars on some drop or wrecking out in the middle of nowhere. I put on some tunes and just blast down the trail.

The trail:
After having ridden the norther section quite a bit, I did long to ride the southern end. I haven't ridden the section from 38th Ave North past Seminole Blvd since I was about 23, and have never ridden the section between Seminole Blvd and the south end of Clearwater. That being said, the section that winds through downtown Clearwater had been under construction for quite some time, but I was happy to find that it was finally completed when I rolled through. One thing you won't find a lot of north of Dunedin is overpasses - there is only one just north of Curlew. It's an entirely different story south of Clearwater. There are overpasses at East Bay, Ulmerton, 113th, Park Blvd, Seminole Blvd and several more south of Park Street. This makes for some fun times as some of the grades you must climb are a bit steep, and the gear set on this bike aren't nearly as low as that you find on the mountain bike (and thankfully so...) so you really need to be moving your feet to get up, with the upshot of hitting the gears hard on the way down, resulting in 25-30mph downhill blasts (even when the wind is blowing pretty solidly)...

There really wasn't much traffic this day, probably because it was January 1st. That being said when I got down to the St. Pete side, I did see an uptick in the number of people out and about.

The Midpoint:
I finally reached my goal which was just a bit more than 15 miles down from where I started. I was thankful to take a break, as the wind was just crazy. I took some pictures and found I had to wedge my helmet under the front wheel to keep the wind from blowing it backwards down the trail. I rested my feet and downed a G1, and lamented that I forgot an additional food source. You really do need energy when you ride like this.



The ride back:

Ok, so I was worried I just didn't have the legs to see 25+ on this bike, and I was happy that as soon as I was pedalling with the wind to my back, that I could with effort reach those speeds. My personal best according to the bike computer was about 31.4mph (GPS says it was about 25.92mph so perhaps I just didnt pedal that fast for long enough). At any rate, I started to run out of gas around mile 26 (you can see my speed drop for a bit before I got my second wind).

Overall I was very happy with this ride, and have decided that instead of buying a new mountain bike, I am going to be looking at a new road bike hopefully after taxes are done for 2010.

Ride Stats and Maps:
Started: Jan 1, 2011 9:09:17 AM
Ride Time: 2:03:54
Stopped Time: 16:40
Distance: 30.84 miles
Average: 14.93 miles/h
Fastest Speed: 25.92 miles/h
Fastest Speed according to bike computer: 30.3 mph
Climb: 241 feet
Calories: 1722
Calories according to HRM: 2116
Max Heart Rate: 199bpm
Average Heart Rate: 168bpm


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2010 Year in Review

In 2010 I found that I preferred biking to running - in our climate it is much easier on the body and my knees don't hate me (as long as I don't fall off the bike!)

I am finding that I am much more in tune with riding on the road than on the dirt - but I like doing both. A month ago I was considering buying a full suspension mountain bike, but now I am thinking about the Specialized Roubaix road bike. With a road bike, I can still ride no matter the weather or the time of day, where as a trail bike is pretty much relagated to that duty.

Distance:
I got my mountain bike in May of 2009 and split my riding between road and dirt as follows:
Road: 315.99 miles
Dirt: 263.90 mile (although, admittedly I would suspect there is about 30 miles missing because I did not keep accurate stats until late August)

5K Races run: 8
Gasparilla 5K, Race for Sight 5K, Picnic Island Adventure Race #1, Secret Service 5K, Picnic Island #2, Breast Cancer 5K, Tampa Police 5K, Fishhawk Ranch Turkey Trot.

Races missed due to illness or it being too cold: Race for Homes (sick), Picnic Island #3 (sick), Richard's Run for Life (hurt), Bell Creek Preserve Jingle Bell Run (too cold)