30 Apr
Timing Is Everything
After two rest days, one planned, one unplanned, I headed out to work on my regular commute on Thursday morning.I made it exactly 2.64 miles before things fell apart.
Literally.
Archive for April, 2009
27 Apr
Changes in Latitudes
Monday was quite the switch. We had spent the previous three days in the mountains (and hills) of northern Georgia, followed by a 9 hour drive back to Ohio. With the gorgeous weather and relatively light traffic, the cars were flying. We drove through Tennesee and Kentucky hitting speeds up over 90mph. Even the slow lanes were doing 80+.
Ohio sucks.
26 Apr
Helen Day 3: Rolling Recovery Ride
Not much to mention about Sunday, except that we headed out for what had now become the traditional pre-drive recovery ride on Highway 356. We go past Unicoi State Park and hit some rolling terrain. None of it is real steep nor real long, and although it does take a little bit of work, compared to the previous days rides, it always seems quite easy. We rolled out 15 miles then made a U-turn and headed back. Crilli was feeling some knee strain from all the riding in big gears and found it was easier to stand up and go over the bumps a bit harder.
25 Apr
Helen Day 2: Eastern Loop
After going over the ‘easy’ stuff on Friday, Saturday was the big day. No more messin’ around, no more waiting. After two years, I was headed up Brasstown Bald again. Although I joked about my distinct lack of preparation in lieu of other priorities, I did want to give it my best effort and see what I could do. We opted for the usual loop. Counterclockwise from Helen: Unicoi the smallest of the three climbs, then Jack’s Gap and up Brasstown, then the ‘backside’ of Hogpen, which we have decided is just about as hard as Brasstown by virtue of coming afterward.
Just to make things interesting, we added a little twist to the loop to crank it up to eleven.
25 Apr
Sure Fire Training Methods To Prepare For Riding Up Mountains
While they might not be ‘easy’, the “western” loop (Wolfpen/Woody/Neals) of the six climbs that make up the Six Gap Challenge are much ‘easy-er’ than the “eastern” loop (Unicoi/Jack’s+Brasstown/Hogpen). Especially when you implement the latest, greatest edition of Dobo’s Sure Fire Training Methods To Prepare For Riding Up Mountains.
What’s this? There are sure fire methods to prepare for riding up mountains?
Read more on Sure Fire Training Methods To Prepare For Riding Up Mountains…
24 Apr
Helen Day 1: Western Loop
On our trips down to Helen GA, there are basically six “gaps”, aka climbs, that we ride. They are the same six gaps that, perhaps not coincidentally, make up the Six Gap Challenge out of Dalonegha in the fall. And it’s the same six gaps that I would like to someday put together into one ride, with two differences. First, ride from Helen and reverse the order of the climbs to make the going up harder and the descending more enjoyable. And second, add in the challenge of climbing Brasstown Bald instead of simply going over Jack’s Gap without making the turn. After riding this weekend, I have decided that this ride plan will definitely have to be saved for a fall weekend, not the spring.
Multiple reasons for this, but I’m getting ahead of myself. This is about Friday.
23 Apr
I Found The Road To Nowhere On The Road To Helen
Crilli and I are about halfway to Helen. Which I suppose is a lot better than being halfway to Hell? Had to leave late on Thursday, so we’re crashing overnight in Knoxville so we can get there early and get the pain ridin’ started. First thing I do when I get to the room is fire up the Internet, which brings up my Twitter feed. First thing I notice is Andrew signed up for a century. Fat Cyclist Century. It’s indoors. On trainers.
In May.
Read more on I Found The Road To Nowhere On The Road To Helen…
22 Apr
Earth Day? Ditch the Bike and Drive the Car!
Couldn’t figure out how to ride to Vandalia, have a session with a physical therapist, and ride back to Troy. So I had to drive today. So much for being “green”.
My car is red.
20 Apr
How Many Seasons Can It Be In One Ride?
On my ride home on Monday, in the space of 10 miles and just a little over a half an hour, I got a dose of winter, spring and summer. Started out springlike. Temp in lower 50s and breezy, with a temporary clearing in the rain and a hint of sun. Halfway home I got caught in a ferocious blast of crosswind that took my flighty Raleigh into the grass at the edge of the road on three separate occasions. The rain was so cold it felt like sleet and I think there may have been a bit of hail in there. It only lasted about five minutes. During that time I was trying to get to the shelter of the I-75 underpass before I got completely soaked. I failed. I hung out there for a minute but as soon as I got shelter I didn’t need it. The cell had blown through and the sun came back out. Not only that, but the wind died down to barely a whisper. The rest of the way home it felt like summer, if only by contrast.
19 Apr
How Many Rules Can I Break In One Ride?
Hmm… let’s see. Today I rode. Today = Sunday. I never rarely ride on Sundays. I rode indoors. Indoors = on a Trainer. I hate riding indoors on a trainer. On a Sunday = in April (when it was 60 degrees outside… and before it rained). Not many things are more stupid than riding indoors in good weather. I rode a TT bike. TT bike = aero bars. Aero bars are devil’s work. I used a Spinervals DVD. Spinervals = Pain (when I should have been taking it easy). Spinervals are also the devil’s work. And Coach Troy is the Devil.
To summarize: I rode an all-out Spinervals 2.0 Time Trial Special on a borrowed bike with aero bars on a perfectly dry, warm, April Sunday when I should have been resting. So I pretty much broke every personal rule about riding that I have, all at one time.
19 Apr
Now I Know Why I Never Did Short TTs Before
They call the time trial the “race of truth”. I was always pretty convinced that I knew the truth about short distance time trials, despite never having done one. I never showed up for the Fred’s Ride series. I never did Blue Streak. Until last month I never did the Colavita series. And on that one I didn’t really commit to it. This time I committed to it. And here’s the truth:
Short time trials suck.
17 Apr
RambleHD: the Makeup
No, HD isn’t for “High Def”. It’s “Half Distance”. Half Dose? Half Dead? Hellishly Difficult? Happily Dropped?
That last one probably hits closest to the mark.
