Training Log Archive: PGIn the 1 days ending Jul 19, 2018:
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Thursday Jul 19, 2018 #
10 AM
biking - dark blue bike 2:04:40 26.26 mi (4:45 / mi) +2785ft 4:19 / mi
ahr:131 max:165 weight:136lbs
Really nice ride up in the hills. Part of the reason was that it was a beautiful day, about 80 and low humidity, bright sunshine. The other reason was, well, you put out some effort and it's nice to get a reward.
Parked at the usual spot just west of Charlemont where the road to Rowe and Monroe Bridge turns off and heads up to Monroe Bridge. Done this 12-mile section a few times as it gets you to the start of several climbs and some beautiful high country in the NW corner of the state.
On today's agenda was Monroe Hill. 800 feet climb in 1.3 miles, about 12%, and since there are places where it is a lot less than 12%, there are also places where it is a good bit more. I'd done the climb twice before. Once in 2003, but no record of the time, and then once last summer just before I got my current bike (so low gear was not as low), 19:40. Thought I ought to be able to do better, because the best time on Strava for the segment is 8:55, and usually I can get under 200%. Though not always. The target was about 18.
Had a good warm-up. The road to Monroe Bridge follows the Deerfield River, climbs about 500 feet, but it has lots of ups and downs as sometimes it is right by the river and sometimes up the hillside a ways. Put out some effort on all the ups, took it easy on the rest. And also determined within the first mile that I needed nourishment, so polished off a Cliff Bar and a bottle of water. By the time I got to Monroe Bridge I was starting to feel much better.
And then up. It's not a steady grade, maybe three breaks where the grade is gentle, less than 5%, but then the rest is just steep. The plan was lowest gear, of course, but to keep up a better cadence than I usually do. Which I did, managing not to croak in the process, and at the top the watch said 17:04. Very pleased.
And then, rather than taking the most direct route back to the car, headed east a bit to pick up a few miles of rolling dirt roads, finished off with a very quick plunge of a couple miles on good pavement back to the car.
Really couldn't have been nicer. And as I've said before. don't know how long I'll be able to do this stuff, but right now it's wonderful.
Parked at the usual spot just west of Charlemont where the road to Rowe and Monroe Bridge turns off and heads up to Monroe Bridge. Done this 12-mile section a few times as it gets you to the start of several climbs and some beautiful high country in the NW corner of the state.
On today's agenda was Monroe Hill. 800 feet climb in 1.3 miles, about 12%, and since there are places where it is a lot less than 12%, there are also places where it is a good bit more. I'd done the climb twice before. Once in 2003, but no record of the time, and then once last summer just before I got my current bike (so low gear was not as low), 19:40. Thought I ought to be able to do better, because the best time on Strava for the segment is 8:55, and usually I can get under 200%. Though not always. The target was about 18.
Had a good warm-up. The road to Monroe Bridge follows the Deerfield River, climbs about 500 feet, but it has lots of ups and downs as sometimes it is right by the river and sometimes up the hillside a ways. Put out some effort on all the ups, took it easy on the rest. And also determined within the first mile that I needed nourishment, so polished off a Cliff Bar and a bottle of water. By the time I got to Monroe Bridge I was starting to feel much better.
And then up. It's not a steady grade, maybe three breaks where the grade is gentle, less than 5%, but then the rest is just steep. The plan was lowest gear, of course, but to keep up a better cadence than I usually do. Which I did, managing not to croak in the process, and at the top the watch said 17:04. Very pleased.
And then, rather than taking the most direct route back to the car, headed east a bit to pick up a few miles of rolling dirt roads, finished off with a very quick plunge of a couple miles on good pavement back to the car.
Really couldn't have been nicer. And as I've said before. don't know how long I'll be able to do this stuff, but right now it's wonderful.