WonderMonkey

I finally got my bike back from the LBS. It has been in there since last Tuesday and with today being Thursday that is 1 week and 2 days. I've lost days AND conditioning as I just got up to doing 15 miles in an evening ride. Tonight I resisted the urge to go for a 15 miler and instead did a quick 6+ miler.

Distance 6.24 miles
Duration 29m:20s
Avg Speed 12.8 mph
Max Speed 21.9 mph

After my LBS tuneup my bike rides great.

WonderMonkey

It was a bad move, as it turns out. My LBS dude explained the downsides of it and recommended some service to ensure I didn't experience down the road. It ended up costing me but I don't feel like he was just trying to sell me service.

WonderMonkey

With state baseball playoffs and my daughters travel schedule kicking in I'm having trouble getting out. Tonight I was able to do 10.13 miles which is "fair" for a quick night outing. I prefer around 15 but I'll take 10 if that is all I can fit in.

WonderMonkey

NEW PR

I've been off the bike for over a week. Son graduating (party, etc), coaching ball, work, etc.... so tonight I had a rare evening and decided to do at least 20 miles. 16+ was my old PR and that was when I was in a groove so busting out and doing 20 wasn't the smartest thing for me to do. Smart isn't my M.O. I had to ride through town (both ways) and it seemed like each time there was an opportunity for the worst case scenario of traffic and lights it was there. The only reason I care is to have a realistic baseline for time so I can have something to beat the next time I do the route.

I ended up doing 23.29 miles at at 12.2 mph pace. Considering all the stops I'm ok with it. At the half way point my legs were tired and I was reminded that I hadn't been consistently riding. When I finally rolled up to my house I was whupped. Painfully so.

WonderMonkey

Did my first am ride with a guy I know (we coach together, etc.). Picked a 10 mile route with some hills and we set a pace that was "just right". "Just right" means we didn't want anymore by the time we rolled into home. Amazing how I can go 20 and be wiped out and then also be real tired on a 10 miler. Pace, hills, etc. can be manipulated to give a nice workout. We both have the goal of going about an hour in the morning and that's it. The 10 miler didn't take an hour but it was the first time on this route so we were pleased anyway.

WonderMonkey

I'm an idiot. I knew I was being an idiot before doing the idiotic thing but rarely do I let that stop me. I had to do some repairs to my bike, then my daughters softball tourneys then this then that and suddenly it has been two weeks since I rode. I was JUST getting up to where I could go over 20 miles with the pace I like to go at. In that two weeks I lost all kinds of conditioning so I figured I would just go ahead and do a full commute on the way home (I took my bike to work this morning in my truck) and then bike BACK to work tomorrow morning. I knew it was too soon to try that but NNNOOOOOO! I went forward.

My ride from work to home was what I expected. Too far, too high of a pace, etc. When I got home my legs were aching. Tomorrow morning's ride back to work will be further because my shower place is past work. I trying to make sure I re-hydrate and re-fuel up tonight so I'm in the best shape I can before I head out. I normally don't eat before a morning ride because I want to burn the right fuel but tomorrow is about survival (sort of).

WonderMonkey

5/2/2012 - 7:25PM

First entry of 2012! I've been on the bike for just a bit this year and I recently started to commute. Only one way for now due to fitness and time but I'm working towards biking both directions about once a week, maybe twice.

My minimal distance to work is just over 15 miles. That's the route I'll take most of the time. Today I opted to take the scenic route which includes some bike trail that goes through some dense wooded areas. That route is 21 miles. Couple the increase in distance plus the wind and I did not enjoy the last 3 miles. I was wiped out and slowed to about 10 miles an hour. I'm glad I did it but I'll also be glad when I am in better shape and that doesn't destroy me as much.

Here is the route I took. https://www.endomondo.com/workouts/kqepG1HMa54

It says I burned 2131 kcal. If only that was true.

Early into my ride I passed (on the bike path) some dude on a mountain bike, standard WalMart issue type. He hollars as I go by "HEY DO YOU HAVE TO WEAR A HELMET?!?" so I stop and we chat. I show him all the legal gear I have and when you need it, chat about how to use his gears a bit, got into a Pink Floyd conversation, etc. Stood there about 15 minutes and talked with this guy. I hope to see him again so I can wave to him.

tergal

Good to see you are still riding mate,

Just question how do you only commute one way ? i kinda get mental images of a large monkey man sleeping in his office cubical o.O

WonderMonkey

I drive to work with the bike. I ride home and leave my truck at work. Then the next day I ride back into work and take my truck back home.

WonderMonkey

The truck is handy to have at work because when I get there in the morning I can quickly drive a few miles to a rec center that I have a membership and take a shower.

tergal

That is a good idea, Least that gets rid of the idea of you sleeping at work

WonderMonkey

Though not for biking reasons I sleep at work about five times a year due to projects, etc. "Sleep" is an odd term as I usually only get an hour or so of sleep if any.

WonderMonkey

5/3/2012

My recovery is getting better. Last night's ride home wiped me out to the point where I wanted off the bike. A bit of extra distance (I chose the long way), wind in my face most of the way, etc. I was really wondering how I would handle this morning's ride in. Luckily I got on the bike and felt great. .... for the first 10 miles. My energy ran out and the last 5 miles was a bit tougher but not horrible. I was actually happy with my recovery from the day before and the fact I initially felt good. I expect as time goes on my recovery will be faster and the next day will be even better.

WonderMonkey

5/4/2012

Today's ride home was fun. There was a storm brewing and I could have left work 1/2 hour before it hit but I decided to wait and get right in it. The ride home cycled between a heavy downpour, light rain, and sunshine and then all that again. Wash, rinse, repeat. I got home and rinsed myself off with the hose and took a shower. Awesome.

https://www.endomondo.com/workouts/p3AWevSEGyM

WonderMonkey

5/6/2012 - 14.5 mile ride, tried to go as hard as I could so that I was barely alive when I pulled into my home. I ended up barely alive all right but it was more because a goose attached me on the bike trail by the river. On this stretch of river there are geese all over. There were two near the trail with a bunch of babies so I went to the opposite side. For some reason the baby geese thought they needed to panic and run to the other side as I was approaching. As I'm hitting the brakes and swerving to miss them one of the parents (I assume) thought I needed a good thrashing! So now I'm hitting the brakes to avoid the baby geese while fighting a goose. The goose was fighting in the style of the Crane (odd) while I was fighting in the style of cyclo-fu, which primarily uses a "pedal harder and hide, while slapping the air with one arm" approach. In the end I got two whacks from it's wings with one of them actually being somewhat painful.

I wonder how it looked with me beating the snot out of nothing while this goose was kicking my ass?

RoadTire 

Great discipline keeping this thread going-seems to be working for you! And ya, it's supposed to be fun. I just tuned in. Your route doesn't look like a piece of cake either, what with the water, geese, and 900 ft elevation change on a mountain bike. :-)

vesteroid

God that brings back memories. When I was about 20 I lived in a condo that had about a two acre lake in the middle of them with several pairs of swans. I was out walking with the girlfriend around the lake when apparently one of the swans thought I looks tasty. It came at me like there was no tomorrow. I remember kicking it out of fear, as I couldn't imagine a bird attacking a human, but it did.

Apparently it was a draw, the swan left me alone and I escaped with only my pride damaged.

Was funny when I look back on it.

WonderMonkey

Thanks. I have a hybrid now which make it a bit easier. Also a bigger frame which feels better.

WonderMonkey

I'm wondering if they think we are quack dealers?

HELLO?

WonderMonkey

On my rides into and from work I don't always usu the road even though I have the legal right. I edge towards the "what makes sense" rule set. I'll take the sidewalk during certain times of the day when car traffic is very heavy and sidewalk traffic is very light. On the sidewalk I go overboard in yielding to pedestrians, etc. so I feel that even though I am in violation of the law, I am adhering to the reasons the laws exist.

So... I'm on the sidewalk approaching the exit of a popular breakfast restaurant and notice a car coming to the same spot. I always get defensive there and look for the drive to make eye contact before I just go through the exit. This drive did not so I easily stopped as she went into the sidewalk area to pull out. As she looked left she noticed me and she was shocked. She rolled down the window and she was very apologetic and embarrassed. I told her to not worry about it and it was both of our jobs to look for things like that so it all worked out. She again said "I am so so sorry!" so I gave her a little wave and rode off.

Even though she made a mistake rolling forward over the sidewalk and I'm not supposed to be on the sidewalk anyway nobody got hurt and she didn't act like my existence was destroying her hold day, I was ok with the outcome. I've made plenty of mistakes in my life as well.

WonderMonkey

5/9/2012

For the first time that I can remember I've gone over 100 miles for a month. W00t! to me.

I find myself anticipating a long period of time where I can't got on the bike. I do that because that is what usually happens. I let life jump up and bite then I fall out of the habit and before you know it three months have past and I'm starting all over again on fitness and weight. I'm hoping I can keep some focus and if nothing else I take one long ride a week just to get one in. Now I'm commuting (one way) either to or from work about three times a week, sometimes more and that is what is helping my miles. At times I will take the short route (14.5 miles) or my "long route" which is 21.5 miles. I could always go longer but that's pushing it on the time I don't even have now.

WonderMonkey

5/16/2012

Wind in my face on the ride home from work today. Hey wind.... _|_ .

I ran over a groundhog around mile 7. Front wheel went over fine but I bent the back wheel to the point where it did a slight rub on the left brake pad each time the bent area came around. I loosened the brakes a bit but it still got the rub. So the other 14 miles were spent riding as if I was tapping the brakes one each time my wheel turned. Now I have to ride back into work tomorrow (where my truck is) and see if I can get a wheel trued in a reasonable amount of time.

bigfred 

I bet the groundhog is even less please about the situation than you!

WonderMonkey

I would agree. Ran right over his mid-section. I would have rather not hurt that animal but I couldn't avoid it. I'm not sure how I was able to stay on the bike.

Mithrandir

Obviously it's going to be different for everyone, but I find 500 calories per hour to be a much more reasonable figure on average.