Did You Ride Today?

[The Rouge]

I think its some kind of landing strip for alien craft.

[Porter20]

I wanted to ride, but it was suppose to rain today. However, at 4:00 p.m. the sun came out & temps jumped to about 60. As I tried to assemble all my riding crap, I was couldn't find my arm warmers or headphones. I wasted an hour looking for the stuff & got so frustrated, I figured it was just safer for me to stay home. However, lookout tomorrow!

[CycleMagic]

no riding, but running. I'm hopeful that it won't rain on our Tuesday night ride tomorrow...keep fingers crossed!

[wolfpack]

whoa!! where the heck have you been??

[wolfpack]

again, the correct answer is Yes. recovery ride of 19.5mi into the wind just about the whole ride, but for once, it didn't bother me too bad. brief shower about 5-8min into my ride - i took shelter at a small church and took a couple of pics:

of things to come:


rainbow, very shortly after this pic, the rain stopped and i continued on:

[Porter20]

As we sent all the morning rain to Clayton, NC for the afternoon; the sun came out and heated things up nice. I was able to get in 35 miles on a route that I have not ridden before, but enjoyed it and will definitely ride it again. I am prepping for a big ride tomorrow; gonna try to get a metric century in before the next round of rain hits the area. It's suppose to cold and wet the next four days; so I want to make sure I'm sore during that time.

[wolfpack]

dangit, Porter20!! stop sending all the rain this way!! i need to ride too! planning on one or two more rides before saturday or sunday. then a metric on one of those days. no more rain!

[Velo Vol]

I'm starting to yearn for a return of the drought.

I'm kidding . . . mostly.

[cnickgo]

Yes! 23 miles ~1500' climbing in 1:38. Met/rode with a guy who rides collegiate A for the team on the way out and another guy on the App State team on the way back. Got invited to the team meeting this week.

[Porter20]

With the weatherman forecasting a high of 62 & rain, I figured I would sneak in a little ride; but then the weather broke and it was 79 degrees & sunny (got to love the weatherman)! So got in 62 miles, with about 4500 ft of climbing. After my 30 yesterday, my legs were killing me at the 45 mile mark (and still now) but it suppose to be cold & wet tomorrow, so it won't matter. I actually got sunburned & have a nice start on my farmer's tan for the season.

[cnickgo]

Yes.

And I want to say that these rings are a unique-looking landmark.

The NC Art museum shares part of that path I rode, which is where the rings, or alien landing pad, is located along with many other interesting outdoor sculptures. One 20ft tower is made of recycled newspaper

[wolfpack]

good job cnickgo!! you're gonna be leaving me behind in may!!

no ride for me today, rest day. tomorrow is more intervals.

[Velo Vol]

I think I would try to ride through the rings.

30 miles of dry-road riding. 3+ ridges' worth of climbing (whatever that is).

I saw a cat, some dogs, cows, a horse, and a few goats,

[cnickgo]

I think I would try to ride through the rings.

30 miles of dry-road riding. 3+ ridges' worth of climbing (whatever that is).

I saw a cat, some dogs, cows, a horse, and a few goats,

I saw them from a distance and took off in excitement b/c at the angle I saw them at, I thought the path went through them. I was let down.

[wolfpack]

yes. have no idea the distance today. 2 sets of 3x30s intervals, 30s rest between intervals. 3min rest between sets. i do not believe how whipped i feel right now.

[Velo Vol]

You get worn out from six minutes of riding?

It's raining again today . . . and tomorrow.

[wolfpack]

umm, yea, hate to say it, but those intervals kicked my butt. 25min warmup/10min cooldown.

'sides, i was in a hurry to get done as i had to get back to work (early extended lunch 'hour').

[BikeWNC]

You get worn out from six minutes of riding?

It's raining again today . . . and tomorrow.

Actually only 3 minutes of hard work. Funny what lactic acid does to one's muscles.

[wolfpack]

Actually only 3 minutes of hard work. Funny what lactic acid does to one's muscles.

it absolutely kills them. glad i'm not riding tomorrow.

[Porter20]

One of these days, I'm gonna figure out what these intervals things that you keep talking about are.

[wolfpack]

heh....get into a 50/16 (i have compact) or so, get out of the saddle and go as hard as you can for about 8-10s, sit down, get another gear and then pedal that bike like a pack of rabid dogs is on your *** for 30s. recover for 30s, easy pedaling/coasting, repeat. if you don't about fall off your bike after the 6th one or feel like you're gonna puke, you didnt go hard enough.

[Porter20]

heh....get into a 50/16 (i have compact) or so, get out of the saddle and go as hard as you can for about 8-10s, sit down, get another gear and then pedal that bike like a pack of rabid dogs is on your *** for 30s. recover for 30s, easy pedaling/coasting, repeat. if you don't about fall off your bike after the 6th one or feel like you're gonna puke, you didnt go hard enough.

Oh my. You have fun with that. I'm gonna continue with my pointless rides through the countryside. At least I know what it will take to be a better bike rider.

Seriously, thanks for the answer on the interval question bc I have read about them a bunch on the board, but had no idea what they are. Right now, I am still in the early stages where I am just fastinated by riding my bike, but in a little while I am sure I will be looking for ways to be better!

[piper_chuck]

Didn't ride today, but I did get to the gym this morning and ran on the treadmill a bit. I think the bout of flus and colds that have been plaguing me since mid-Feb are finally gone (knock on wood). I plan to take a short ride tomorrow afternoon. This will be my first time on the bike since Feb 9!

Followup. I've ridden exactly twice since Feb 9 and have run on the treadmill 4 times. Within 24-48 hours of each of the treadmill sessions I have come down with sinus and chest congestion. Each of these bouts has required 1-3 weeks of recovery time, during which I couldn't ride. After having the same thing happen last week, the fourth time, and still not being better this morning, I went to the doctor. She concluded that I am having an allergic reaction to something at the gym, probably mold, and suggested I stop going there and find another one. She gave me a bunch of samples and prescriptions to a few other things that should knock down the inflammations within a couple days. I sure hope this puts and end to this mess...

Assuming the meds do their job, I plan to begin riding again on Monday.

[Velo Vol]

In comparison to sinus problems, some unwanted rain doesn't seem so bad.

I've never paid much attention to training techniques. Are intervals an effective means of improving climbing fitness? Or are they primarily useful for increasing speed?

[piper_chuck]

In comparison to sinus problems, some unwanted rain doesn't seem so bad.

I've never paid much attention to training techniques. Are intervals an effective means of improving climbing fitness? Or are they primarily useful for increasing speed?

Considering what the last year was like around here, there's no such thing as unwanted rain, yet. Plus, the rain makes the sinus problems a little less of a hassle, I can't ride anyway.

In my former life, 10-15 years ago when I could hang with the 22 mph group for 40 mile weeknight rides, I used to do intervals. I can't point specifically to them as being the only thing, but I found that they improved both overall speed and climbing.