Hipcycler

Well, the season is young, but now with 845 miles under my belt already by Memorial weekend, the good news keeps coming....here's how I logged it:

This was never supposed to happen today. Nursing a sore groin muscle over the hip transplant area the past couple of days, this was supposed to be a resting Saturday, with an attempt at 50 miles on Memorial Day Monday. Wrong. I couldn't wait. It was eating at my brain.

Our schedule changed...the weather was good this morning and I felt pretty good too. I told myself I could do it, that today was a day to do something special, and I did.

For the first time ever I rode 50 miles, a new record for distance and total ride time. I did it all by myself with no fellow riders to draft from or chase down. And I did it in an unorthodox manner. You see I rode my usual Oak Leaf route twice, back to back. Since my route is not a loop, that means I went out, came back the same way, then went out and back the same way again.

My approach was to go real slow and easy, simply spinning through the entire first out-and-back stretch of 25 miles. It was tough to do because the mind and body were ready to go faster. I knew better. I knew I would be pedaling a lot longer with more miles to come, so I saved my energy.

Two water bottles with a half bottle down the hatch during each stretch. Hammer Gel and a fig bar just past the halfway point. I tried to use my head and do everything right to accomplish this goal today. Headwind nailing me both times on the way back didn't help.

I managed to do 50.5 miles averaging 15.5 mph. The 3:15 time in the saddle was my PR. I needed to go beyond what I normally do to see what 50 miles felt like before I attempt it next week in the Miller Ride for the Arts. Now I know.

It's a great feeling to break through to new turf. At some point in your training you have to try going beyond your normal limits, be it speed, distance or time, just to see if you can.

Today I was lucky because I liked what I found out. I could do it!

Pfoot

Excellent, Hip! Great work!

Next May will you come to NY and do the Montauk Century with me? Tons of fun!

Patriot

HooYahhh!!!

Hipcycler

Heck, maybe I could!

I have found thus far this season that having a little 'wish list' is working well for me.
At the start of the outdoor season this year I wanted to accomplish some things that were "firsts" for me--

--Participate in a real road race (done that now)
--Participate in a time trial event (got at least one on my calendar this summer)
--Ride 50 miles (done that now)
--Do the 50-mile Miller Lite Ride for the Arts this year (coming up next Sunday)
--Do some group rides and paceline work
--Volunteer at a local race (coming up in July)

Who knows, maybe by next year I'll have the guts to say, complete a century....out of state!

Hipcycler

Double HooYahhh. Thanks Patriot. If I could do this all alone today, the next goal should be bringing up the average speed of next Sunday's Miller Ride for the Arts event, since I'll have a couple of buddies and my coach riding (AND PULLING) with/for me!

my58vw

Very good job, it is quite and accomplishment... now a century is not THAT far away!

TheKillerPenguin

Awesome Hip!!!

ajst2duk

That's a great post. YOur excitement is sooo contagious in a very good way. I might just go out and do that ride today that I had mentally written off due to weather.

fishigan

Congrats HC. Hoping to do the same some time this summer.

Doggus

I just have to ask...

Does the new hip hinder you in any way? Or does it work better than a bone hip? Enquiring minds want to know.

I'm in need of a new right shoulder. Fortunately it doesn't impede bike riding any in its current state.

skydive69

Super - way to go. It certainly is even a reasonable speed all things considered!!

samp02

It was a beautiful day for a ride.

Rich22

Congrats!

Mojo GoGo

Outstanding!

Have you added the metric century (or even a full century) to your season's wish list yet? Let us all know how long it takes before the addiction seduces you into a newer and longer goal (think about how slow 10mph feels - a century would only take 10 hours if you ride really slow). My $'s on less than a week.

skinnyone

Congradulations hip.. Stuff like this inspires the wannabe in me...

mstrae

Hipcycler, are you the radio guy?

berny

Well done.
I think sometimes it's better to go alone. You can set your own pace without the worry of either going too hard or holding up companions. Free spinning is very satisfying and although not having someone to draft can make it more difficult, going solo sometimes has it's merits.
Keep on keeping on.

burtonbiker

I too have felt the satisfaction of pushing/being pushed to a new level..... seems like a riding partner will do it to me more than by myself. I think alot of it is mental - we have the physical capacity on many days but are a bit unsure until we do it. Once we do, then NEXT.

Hipcycler

Not at all. So far so good, and this is my fifth season with it.

Hipcycler

That's me.

blandin

Congratulations! As I read your post I could see what I know was a big smile on your face as you were typing.

celticfrost

That sounds like the way to go. Anticipation and adrenaline can sometimes overrule the mind, but you stuck to a smart plan -- congratulations.