jschen

Thanks to not riding much so far this year (some good excuses mixed in with some terrible ones) my original goals for the year need to be reconsidered. To keep myself going and to give myself another seemingly far fetched goal to aim for (as far fetched as climbing Baldy seemed back when I first got a bike) to keep me motivated, I'm going to state for the record my goals for the next 3 months. The following are guidelines, meant to be flexible. For example, I obviously won't ride as much on the weekend I visit Boston.

Being healthy
No elevators unless carrying something
Avoid habitual overeating
Alcohol no more than once a week
Non-diet sodas only on big ride days

Riding regularly
5 rides per week
100+ miles per week
10,000+ vertical feet per week

Riding faster
Mt Soledad ride (16.5 miles, about 2000 vertical feet) in 1:10 (PR: 1:17)
Torrey Pines in under 8 minutes (PR: 8:58)

I believe those targets are realistic. I've been adhering to the Being healthy goals for the last two weeks now. The Riding regularly goals are targets I had set in my pre-Baldy days and managed to hit. As for Riding faster, I believe that with a bit of low hanging fruit (ie getting back in shape after having rode too little in recent months) available for the picking, those aren't too unrealistic, either. They'll take some work, but I've got three months. Finally...

Daring to dream
Mt Soledad ride in 1:05
Mt Baldy climb in 1:45 (PR: 1:56)
Torrey Pines Century (never done more than one climb)
Palomar Century (South, East, South, East) (PR: 3 climbs)

If I reach those goals that at the moment seem so far fetched, I'll sign up for Everest Challenge. Ultimately, though, failing at the performance goals is okay if I give it an honest effort. Admitting that I didn't try when someone points out this thread to me in a few months would be the real embarrassment.

bitingduck

10K vertical feet per week is in Vertical Bob territory...that's a lot of vertical.

jschen

That's what I did before I managed to climb Baldy. It's not too bad if four times a week I hit my local training loop, which back then had 1700 feet of climbing but now has 2000 feet of climbing. That's 8000 feet right there. Only 2000 needed in my fifth ride.

Of course, the big difference back then was that I had a big goal that I was passionate about to train for. That's what motivated me to keep climbing that many vertical feet, week in week out.

efficiency

You need a new big goal then.

jschen

That's why Everest Challenge is there. If I hit those other goals, I'll sign up.

ronjon10

That's a pretty tough ride to be doing 4 times a week figuring the 5th ride would actually be the big ride. More power to ya though.

jschen

I hear ya on that... pre-Baldy, my Sunday ride was typically 50 miles, 3000 vertical feet. Nowadays, I'm a bit more ambitious with my Sunday rides, so I'm not too sure how that will work out. We'll see...

vertical bob

I try to aveage at least 12,000ft. a weekend since in a normal year at least some weekends are rained out. This year I've been doing 60,000 a month. No work and no rain ,I've been able to get in a ride during the week . That helps. Keep at it Jason, it's those long rides that get you strong, and in my case, stupid.

Mr. Beanz

Resolution? Heck I just feel that if I ride my bike, I'm doing good!

DaveSANYYZ

Same here. 10k ft per week? I'm too scared of flights to fly every week.

My new year resolution so far is still pretty off. Haven't met my sub-9min TP climb yet, didn't ride every day before work (though that's starting), haven't started running and haven't started to learn how to swim. Oh well.

tprevost

I think you need to sign up first... then you'll really be motivated to keep to your goals and I agree that 10k per week is a lot of elevation and doesn't leave you much room for ride variety.... not that I'm any expert but you may wanna re-think that one or alternate w/a week w/less gain

jschen

Ride variety? I can learn to cruise faster on flat ground or descend faster, but that won't do nearly as much for my overall speed as simply climbing faster.

merider1

I think setting mid year goals is a great idea, Jason. Just striving to meet them is enough to make you feel better (especially the healthy ones). Posting them here is a good sticking post since I'm sure one or two of us will remind you of them from time to time.

tprevost

Yes, but every once in a while you need some variety to keep from burning out or as a recovery ride... that's all I'm sayin'

I, personally look forward to reading you've met every goal and that I need to go cheer you on at the everest challenge!!!

BigSean

Not too tough at all Jason. Ive been doing atleast that when I ride 3 days a week. Being as my shortest weekend ride has 4500 ft in 32 miles, and the longer rides in the 7000ft + range. It leaves my mid week rides at a slower pace while still climbing, and then one ride where I just go out a punish my legs and lungs by pushing as hard as I can. You can do it.

jschen

1:17:10 yesterday
1:11:39 today

I guess most of the low hanging fruit just got picked. Okay, to help keep me motivated, the new target for Riding faster is 1:08. As for Daring to dream, the thought of riding that ride in 1:05 still seems pretty outlandish to me.

Indolent58

Why do you hate your legs and lungs?

BigSean

I dont, but it makes them stronger by pushing em to failure. Well I guess the lungs dont fail.

jschen

That's the idea...

jsigone

just go for the full hr flat That would be a good average speed for that entire ride. Do some intervals on the hills to help your body recover faster while still climbing, it's gonna really hurt the first few time, but it starts to pay off.

voltman

I think I'll try and drop 30 pounds.

merider1

From where? Your earlobe?

GP

Why?

voltman

I do have two earlobes.

I'm heavy for my height.

merider1

I think you look good. And no, I'm not trying to get brownie points so you won't ban me.