Set out to do 40 or 50 miles yesterday, repeating a 50 mile round trip to Woodside (or maybe a 40 mile round trip to the Pulgas Water Temple). I felt good, head was in a good place. I chomped at the bit all mornign because, summer being what it is out here, it was socked in, drizzly, cold and miserable. I finally let up a bit but 650 feet up -where I was going- was completely lost from view.

2.5 miles in, I get to Sharp Park Road and the climb begins. Will I ever beat this climb? I'm beginning to think not. I set a good, easy pace but still had to fight some to keep my HR down to 165. And when I get to that last 30 feet of 12% at the .8 mile mark, I was going at a 171BPM and had to stop to let it come back down. I just can't get past this .8 mile mark and it's frustrating me. Once I pushed on for the top, I really didn't have the heart to go for 40... and yet, I just kept pushing on and eventually found my rhythm. Saw a doe and her 2 fawns running and hopping the bushes along the reservoir (saw them again coming back, too). I finally found some sun about 15 miles in and was really sorry I was wearing that UA top but looking back at the hills, I knew I'd need it as I got closer to home on the return.

Got to the Temple and found them setting up for a wedding. They -The San Francisco Water District- rent the place out twice a month. Who knew? My neighbor, who's a water district ranger assigned to the watershed had guard duty... was he surprised when he saw me. "Where'd you start?", he asked. "My house", I answered. His eyes got huge, his jaw went slack... "That's a long ride", he said. "20.26 miles", said I, "and 20.26 back again" I love when people are so stunned that an "old dude" is out doing these things. So, there!.

Coming back is just all up-down, up-down and for the last 10 miles, mostly up. As I started the 1/2 mile climb up from the dam, I noticed I was pretty easily pulling a 39/25. The last time I did this, I needed a 30/27. Progress.

The end was brutal as I hit Skyline for the home stretch. Skyline? HA! There wasn't even a road to be seen, let alone the sky... brutally, cold, wet and windy. I just fought it the whole way back.

Still, when I got home again, I was sad that my ride was over -as I am at the end of every ride, no matter how hard- but I was pretty knackered. So, if 40 miles beats me up this much, how do I ever get to 62? I am committed to my employer to ride a metric by year's end. I don't think I can do it :(

http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/Pulgas.jpg

So that ride felt hard today- It will just as hard tomorrow aswell. SO-- do it again next week and see how much easier it is when you know whats coming and you can prepare for it. Best training for metric is a 40 miler. But when you start doing those- even they are hard. Especially if gravity keeps taking over and putting those hills in front of you. Then on top of that- the weather may have affected you- The Energy loading may not have been right- and you may just had an off day. With more miles- the Metric will become a certainty and not a perhaps.

So, if 40 miles beats me up this much, how do I ever get to 62? I am committed to my employer to ride a metric by year's end. I don't think I can do it :(


Go find some flat terrain. I suspect you put in a full century's worth of effort into that 40 miler.

Why don't you just leave your HRM at home so you won't have to stop on the hill? Seriously, just go out and ride, unless there is a medical reason to not let your HR get above a certain level. I see riders that let the data rule the ride and while it's cool to have it after the fact, during the ride just listen to your body and RPE.

Why don't you just leave your HRM at home so you won't have to stop on the hill? Seriously, just go out and ride, unless there is a medical reason to not let your HR get above a certain level. I see riders that let the data rule the ride and while it's cool to have it after the fact, during the ride just listen to your body and RPE.

YEP---Medical Reason.- and Like Tom- I was going to say find a flat route- but SKT doesn't have any where he lives. And if he went to flat country- His bike wouldn't know how to ride it.

Seriously, you have *got* to find some flat terrain.

I ride in the hills all the time and sometimes feel intimidated because my average speeds are "so low." But once in a while I get in my car and take my bike out to some valley where it's flat....suddenly I'm Superman. As noted above, the 40-mile ride you posted above would make a flat 60-miler look like a piece of cake.

I don't think I can do it :(

There is your problem in a nut shell .... Most people can do a whole lot more than they think they can. As long as they don't give up in their head first.

Just echoing what stapfam said above: yep, medical reason though I wonder how arbitrary that is at this point. During a stress/echo year ago, I hit 165 and my BP reached "dangerous levels". However, when I was retested 3 months ago, I was able to push beyond for a full two minutes over what I could do last year so, maybe, 165 isn't my limit anymore. The doctor did say "Just keep doing what you're doing because you are in great shape" Still, when there is a history of strokes in your family history and the cardiologist bandies that word about you, it does cause some moments of concern. I know that once I crest that .8 mile mark that my HR will come down as I continue because it does flatten out some. But, yeah, I'm intimidated :\

As for finding flat ground, I had some thoughts about the "equivalent amount of effort" I'm putting out to do these 40 miles... it's a shame my employer doesn't count moral victories. Goodness, I just strayed a bit, there, didn't I? :lol: I don't know how far I'd have to drive to find totally flat ground but may be I can come up with something or fall back to Plan B: Ride 4 loops in town from end-to-end. Boring as all get out after the third time, I'm sure but it's a means to an end...

I'm sure there are some 62 mile routes you could lay out that, while not flat, are less hilly than others. Maybe something with a good flat section in the middle of the ride.
But hilly or not, you'll be able to do it if you keep working at it. Don't worry about your speed or time when you do the first metric. Increasing the miles is a big step. You can always work on doing it faster later.

I've always found the best way for me to prepare for long rides is to introduce structured speed and power training. My wife is now back on a road bike after a year (crash damage & surgery), so we'll start this in a week or two.

I used to do this, mostly at lunch:

Day 1: 15 minute warmup, 2 or 3 sprints 5 minutes apart. I'd do a mix of speed (start fast spin and shift up steadily) and power (start high gear and spin it out - like a track sprint). Once I was in shape, these would go full anaerobic with excellent burn and sometimes a hint of tunnel vision.

Day 2: Warmup, then 2 or 3 5 minute intervals at aerobic limit.

Day 3: Bit longer, less intense, but some hills. I'd usually do an out of the saddle hard hill if I felt good.

Day 4: Longer semi-recovery ride. Often 45 minutes at work and 90 minutes after work. Spinning up the hills. Not a lot of power.

Day 5: Short ride, warmup plus a sprint, a hill, an interval, and long cool down. To bed early.

Day 6: 2 or 3 hour hard ride with hills done hard, racing pace. Aiming to end up really spent.

Day 7: Rest.

Repeat.

Sometimes I'd compress this if I was getting worn out during the week.

Then I could coast for a couple of days and do a century without blinking, easy. A little bit of rest riding would unleash lots of power.

I still tend to put a mix of power usage into riding. This year has been difficult - training partner not riding, and I've had a twitchy knee on the left and a tumor removed from my right foot. And my nuts have a persistent infection. Difficult!!!

Might also consider getting some position and pedaling coaching. Can do wonders on a long ride.