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Trainer

Yesterday, a friend of mine dropped off a trainer. I have it on loan until she and her husband either want it back or decide they need money (or I choose to offer to buy it). Today, since my day was a bit wierd and I couldn't take off early and ride in the beautiful sunshine, so I hooked up my trusty steed and tried it out.

I can't say it was a pleasure, but I can say I worked out. I set my tv to SciFi and watched Stargate SG1, then upped the pressure and cadence through the commercials. An hour later, drenched in sweat, I ended my workout. Sure, I could have chosen to make it a two hour ride but the bike doesn't move with me on that thing, and it didn't make for a joyful ride. I think I can handle an hour at a time through the dark and cold days to keep myself sharp though. That regular commercial sprinting is especially good. High intensity interval training... maybe it'll help improve my stamina/recovery rate.

Know Your Limits

Today I went on a ride and... well it hurt. I was doing well riding along with the boys but, well after the climb I was feeling a little rough. Actually, I was feeling dehydrated and didn't have enough liquid with me to keep rolling for long. I thought about it and since I didn't know their plans beyond "they're going further" I bailed.

I caught hell for it from one of the guys who exclaimed "you were doing fine, we were past the hard part..." but I just knew if I tried to hold on I'd bonk hard and painfully. Since I wasn't sure where I was when I ran out of gatoraide, I got directions with a refill at a convenience mart. Nothing has ever tasted as good as that fresh bottle of gatoraide. I wasn't far from the end, but I finished the bottle before getting to my car. Yeah, I was dehydrated enough to have a headache for the rest of the day.

Tomorrow I'm planning to ride with some of the guys again. Hopefully I won't hurt myself again.

Winter Riding

When the temperatures get below freezing, most cyclists stay indoors on trainers. Not I. Todays plan did not include other cyclists since their plans and mine did not mesh. I planned a shorter ride so I would have time to paddle out and about McClellan Island with a stop on the sanctuary itself for the Open House. Since my ride was going to be shorter, I opted for two climbs in 20 miles, a short steep one over Pineville Road, and a 2 mile climb up onto Signal Mountain. For the first I made my best attempt at a sprint, recover, sprint. For the second, I did something like that but not as effectively. Then it was on the mountain. A painful reminder of the cold, seeing the frozen streams and rivulets that normally spill through and over the rock face while climbing the mountain. Still, I knew if I kept moving, I'd keep warm. I also knew the hardest part for cold would be coming down off that climb.

A note about the Velo riders. I seem to have been inducted into a rather good group of guys. They're strong and many are seasoned riders that have been doing local races for many years. A great pack to learn from, and its an honor to be getting invitations to join them. This evening however, I met a man who at least claims to have ridden pro some 20 years ago in Australia. Is he full of it? I can't say, but upon hearing I was interested in racing he launched into an hours worth of training ideas and comments. He was arrogant, though obviously well out of shape, but I suggested he get back out there to rie and come join us, that I was sure the girls currently interested in racing wouldn't mind getting another pespective and training. I can put up with arrogant, if the arrogance is backed up by knowing his shit.

Riding with the Pros

Today I had the opportunity to ride with the pro women's Vantaggio/Specialized bike racing team. They were doing a recovery from some hard training and invited the Cat4 women to join them, and naturally I did just that. The plan was for 3 hours of riding, which was accomplished. We had one half-mountain climb, plenty of rolling hills and excellent company.

I picked the brain of one lady, the team's nutritionist, about my food plans on the ride and off ride. Something she said that really stood out was that most people ride to eat, she has learned its better if you eat to ride. In other words, plan your meals according to what you'll be doing for the next three hours. If you're going for a long bike ride, eat a lot more for breakfast. Then your body won't be needing to eat as much after the ride. One of the biggest mistakes you can make in trying to shed a few pounds while taking up exercise is to eat too few calories and put your body into starvation mode, which is essentially what can happen from not pre-eating for your ride.

Good advice, and a good ride. Yeah, definitely glad I went.

No Knuckleheads

The No Knuckleheads bike ride today was a blast and a half. Or perhaps I should say "I wasn't boring" to explain it? We rode 65miles.

The ride leader Dale chose our route via Google satelite mapping and promised "no dirt" and a possible climb. This was not accurate. There was dirt. About 1.5 miles of it. There were flats, as in tires, there were short, tough climbs, sprints and pacelines and everything a girl could ask for. The pace was just hard enough to be working, but not so hard that I wanted to quit.

I did have a flat tire and was surrounded by men determined to help fix it. I can change a tire. I pulled out the glass, while the boys watched avidly, got it off the rim and pulled out the tube and.... they grabbed the wheel and started searching for the hole the glass had created. They were searching for quite some time, determined to put a patch in there for me so I'd not have another flat while exclaiming "but, that hole was huge!" in disbelief at not finding it. Well, my back tire has kevlar siding, and that puncture hole just closed back in pretty as you please. A larger cut and it would have needed a patch I'm sure, but as it worked out, it was all good. Still, it as a good ten minutes before we could get the tube in. They let me do that part, but cheerfully took my wheel from me again to reseat the tire's bead and pump air in it.

I'm not so stupid as to tell a bunch of good looking men they aren't allowed to help me when their southern brains see "damsel in distress." Helping makes them happy. Its a small price I pay. Heh.

So, for a maiden voyage with my new "pack" in the Velo, I'd say it was a pretty good day. I can see riding with these guys will provide me with challenge and improve my speed, strength and skills over time.

So, 65 miles... I think it was a relaxed 17-18mph average with rolling hills and despite the promises, some dirt.

**There, now there should be comments allowed.