Training Log Archive: PGIn the 28 days ending Feb 28, 2019:
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Thursday Feb 28, 2019 #
5 PM
spinning 52:39
ahr:132 max:160 weight:141lbs
At Walter's. Good workout, enjoyed it. Good company too. Included 5x6' harder.
Tuesday Feb 26, 2019 #
5 PM
spinning 55:14
ahr:124 max:142 weight:141lbs
Spinning at Walter's, which I was glad to do, because outside it was cold and very windy. Not as windy as yesterday, but still nothing I wanted to ride in.
The heart of the workout was 3 x (20 x (10" hard, 20" easy), 5 ' easy).
Good to do something. And delighted that my left Achilles, which has been annoying me a bit the last few days, kept very quiet the whole time. It seemed to come out of nowhere. My hope is it will vanish just as mysteriously.
Because, since I stopped running/orienteering, I've gotten quite used to not having the regular litany of aches and pains that those activities seem to cause. Would be a shame if the As and Ps were to start creeping back into my life.
The heart of the workout was 3 x (20 x (10" hard, 20" easy), 5 ' easy).
Good to do something. And delighted that my left Achilles, which has been annoying me a bit the last few days, kept very quiet the whole time. It seemed to come out of nowhere. My hope is it will vanish just as mysteriously.
Because, since I stopped running/orienteering, I've gotten quite used to not having the regular litany of aches and pains that those activities seem to cause. Would be a shame if the As and Ps were to start creeping back into my life.
Saturday Feb 23, 2019 #
3 PM
biking - dark blue bike 1:09:10 16.93 mi (4:05 / mi) +399ft 4:00 / mi
ahr:135 max:160 weight:140.5lbs
Seemed to be moving a lit better today, though that can be attributed to putting some more air in the tires.
40, S 5, overcast. On the west side of the river for a change, with a few little hills heading north through Whately.
40, S 5, overcast. On the west side of the river for a change, with a few little hills heading north through Whately.
Friday Feb 22, 2019 #
1 PM
biking - dark blue bike 1:24:42 19.35 mi (4:23 / mi) +354ft 4:18 / mi
ahr:124 max:149 weight:140.5lbs
42F, NW 10, sunny and quite pleasant, though lots of water on the road with the melting.
Headed north. Didn't get far, like maybe a quarter-mile, before the road was blocked, cars backed up. Rode up past the cars to see what was what. They was in the process of trying to winch a plow truck up onto a wrecker. A friendly cop said three vehicles involved. Watched for a couple of minutes, then asked if it was OK if I went off the road into the snow to get past, and he said fine. So I did that, saw vehicle #2, a SUV with its front bashed in pretty severely. No sign of #3.
Headed on my way. No hurry. Enjoying myself. I guess it helps when you start in a good mood. And that lasted all the way around. :-)
Headed north. Didn't get far, like maybe a quarter-mile, before the road was blocked, cars backed up. Rode up past the cars to see what was what. They was in the process of trying to winch a plow truck up onto a wrecker. A friendly cop said three vehicles involved. Watched for a couple of minutes, then asked if it was OK if I went off the road into the snow to get past, and he said fine. So I did that, saw vehicle #2, a SUV with its front bashed in pretty severely. No sign of #3.
Headed on my way. No hurry. Enjoying myself. I guess it helps when you start in a good mood. And that lasted all the way around. :-)
4 PM
Note
Had a visit today from a claims adjuster, who'd been hired by my insurance company to investigate matters relating to the dump truck crash a year and a half ago and, much more recently, to us getting sued. I was curious how this would go.
Assuming that the primary goal of an insurance company is to collect lots of premiums and deny all claims, then even better than passing off some of a claim to another party is just outright denying the claim in the first place. So there was some anxiety.
The guy was friendly enough. He wanted to talk first about what had happened, and then check out the scene of the accident. And here is where I pulled the ace out of my sleeve, namely, Attackpoint. No, Kenny, if you happen to be reading this, I'm not getting AP involved in a lawsuit. I just mentioned that I keep a diary because my memory isn't very good, and would he like to hear what I wrote that day.
Well, he sure would. So I read it to him. He seemed to think that was real fine.
And then I asked if he would like to see some photos I took.
Well, he sure would. And he really liked the one that showed that the branch, the supposed sign of my negligence because my trees weren't properly trimmed, said branch had some of the greenest leaves on it you could imagine. He really liked that. No way anyone could have expected that to fall, no way that should have been trimmed off.
So then he turned on his tape recorder to get a statement from me, most of which was me reading the AP entry. And then we took a walk down to the road for a bit. And then he headed off, saying as he left, you would make a real good witness. :-)
Though, of course, the insurance company can still deny coverage. Because that is what they do.
Assuming that the primary goal of an insurance company is to collect lots of premiums and deny all claims, then even better than passing off some of a claim to another party is just outright denying the claim in the first place. So there was some anxiety.
The guy was friendly enough. He wanted to talk first about what had happened, and then check out the scene of the accident. And here is where I pulled the ace out of my sleeve, namely, Attackpoint. No, Kenny, if you happen to be reading this, I'm not getting AP involved in a lawsuit. I just mentioned that I keep a diary because my memory isn't very good, and would he like to hear what I wrote that day.
Well, he sure would. So I read it to him. He seemed to think that was real fine.
And then I asked if he would like to see some photos I took.
Well, he sure would. And he really liked the one that showed that the branch, the supposed sign of my negligence because my trees weren't properly trimmed, said branch had some of the greenest leaves on it you could imagine. He really liked that. No way anyone could have expected that to fall, no way that should have been trimmed off.
So then he turned on his tape recorder to get a statement from me, most of which was me reading the AP entry. And then we took a walk down to the road for a bit. And then he headed off, saying as he left, you would make a real good witness. :-)
Though, of course, the insurance company can still deny coverage. Because that is what they do.
Thursday Feb 21, 2019 #
4 PM
biking - dark blue bike 57:19 12.79 mi (4:29 / mi) +391ft 4:21 / mi
ahr:123 max:154 weight:141lbs
Mid-40s, mostly sunny, NW 15 or so. A little slop fell overnight. Warmer today and lots of melting, and so lots of puddles. Also getting some industrial strength potholes along with a large collection of just normal ones. So have to pay attention. Fortunately the bike handles really nicely on the rougher stuff.
No zip in the legs, or the brain. Took it easy for the most part. Though when the legs are tired and the quads are a little sore, there's really no such thing as taking it easy.
No zip in the legs, or the brain. Took it easy for the most part. Though when the legs are tired and the quads are a little sore, there's really no such thing as taking it easy.
Wednesday Feb 20, 2019 #
2 PM
biking - dark blue bike 52:05 12.28 mi (4:14 / mi) +82ft 4:13 / mi
ahr:129 max:146
Tuesday Feb 19, 2019 #
3 PM
biking - dark blue bike 52:28 11.94 mi (4:24 / mi) +250ft 4:19 / mi
ahr:126 max:145 weight:141lbs
Winter continues. Snowed a little yesterday and the roads didn't seem very ride-friendly, so I passed. Today they were fine, so no excuse not to go out. Upper 20s, sunny, wind was N 10-12 when I started, WNW when I finished, so the help I was looking forward to on the way back mostly didn't show up.
Or maybe I was just being lazy.
Or maybe it's just that when you get really old, the rate of decline gets faster and faster, and so every day I lose more and more. And I suppose now that the days are getting longer, the daily decay is even faster.
Ha, happy thoughts. That's OK, takes my mind off the fact that we got sued today, because of this.
Or maybe I was just being lazy.
Or maybe it's just that when you get really old, the rate of decline gets faster and faster, and so every day I lose more and more. And I suppose now that the days are getting longer, the daily decay is even faster.
Ha, happy thoughts. That's OK, takes my mind off the fact that we got sued today, because of this.
Sunday Feb 17, 2019 #
1 PM
biking - dark blue bike 1:14:42 17.96 mi (4:10 / mi) +289ft 4:06 / mi
ahr:128 max:150 weight:140lbs
Low 30s, light breeze from the south, sunny. Seems like for quite a while I had not much energy in the legs or between the ears, but after a while things got at least somewhat better.
Swung by UMass to see if there were any philosophers hard at work -- actually, to see if there were any philosophers out training when they should have been hard at work -- but no observations to report. Though I'm not sure how you tell if a philosopher is hard at work if you do happen to see one. Do they stare off into space particularly vigorously. Do they work up an existential sweat? Is there a special line of Garmins that they wear that records just how hard they are philosophizing?
That last one would be rather useful, wouldn't have to keep updating the CV....
Swung by UMass to see if there were any philosophers hard at work -- actually, to see if there were any philosophers out training when they should have been hard at work -- but no observations to report. Though I'm not sure how you tell if a philosopher is hard at work if you do happen to see one. Do they stare off into space particularly vigorously. Do they work up an existential sweat? Is there a special line of Garmins that they wear that records just how hard they are philosophizing?
That last one would be rather useful, wouldn't have to keep updating the CV....
Saturday Feb 16, 2019 #
2 PM
biking - dark blue bike 1:12:09 16.62 mi (4:20 / mi) +475ft 4:14 / mi
ahr:131 max:158 weight:140lbs
36F, NW 10-15, sunny. Very nice out, especially the first few miles where I was heading towards Amherst and had a nice tailwind. The rest, less so, but still, a sunny day is a sunny day, so no complaints.
Thinking a bit more about yesterday, just as there are those days where I am feeling uncoordinated, or stupid, yesterday was a day when I was just feeling cold. I remember coming in after a morning walk, my feet a little cold, and a couple of hours later my feet were still cold.
I thought about that getting dressed for today's outing. Put an extra shirt on, also a buff around my neck. So, of course, after 10 minutes I was too warm. But that's an easy fix, unzip the jacket partway. And on the way back into the wind, zipped back up and I was glad to have a little more on.
Thinking a bit more about yesterday, just as there are those days where I am feeling uncoordinated, or stupid, yesterday was a day when I was just feeling cold. I remember coming in after a morning walk, my feet a little cold, and a couple of hours later my feet were still cold.
I thought about that getting dressed for today's outing. Put an extra shirt on, also a buff around my neck. So, of course, after 10 minutes I was too warm. But that's an easy fix, unzip the jacket partway. And on the way back into the wind, zipped back up and I was glad to have a little more on.
3 PM
Note
And one more --
Friday Feb 15, 2019 #
3 PM
biking - dark blue bike 57:23 13.46 mi (4:16 / mi) +98ft 4:14 / mi
ahr:120 max:136 weight:140.5lbs
37F, S 5-10, sun and clouds, but the road still wet from freezing rain and then plain rain earlier.
Felt chilly the whole time. I guess that happens when I actually carry through on my intention to go at a relaxed pace, but dress for a normal pace when I would be generating more heat. Or maybe it was just my psyche not behaving, looking at the snow all around and the wet roads and already starting to shiver. At some point I was contemplating, a bit unhappily, how far off spring is.
On the other hand, it's easy to get my psyche feeling positive again. In the old days I would tune in the Boston all-news radio station and within 10 minutes there would be the traffic report, and that would always cheer me up, thinking how fine it was not to live in Boston.
That still works, but why wait up to 10 minutes for a remedy, when I can just click on quite a few of my "favorites" AP logs, stories of this injury or that ailment, usually multiple things going on.
And then I think, Peter, be happy with what you've got. It's not going to last forever, but enjoy it for now.
Felt chilly the whole time. I guess that happens when I actually carry through on my intention to go at a relaxed pace, but dress for a normal pace when I would be generating more heat. Or maybe it was just my psyche not behaving, looking at the snow all around and the wet roads and already starting to shiver. At some point I was contemplating, a bit unhappily, how far off spring is.
On the other hand, it's easy to get my psyche feeling positive again. In the old days I would tune in the Boston all-news radio station and within 10 minutes there would be the traffic report, and that would always cheer me up, thinking how fine it was not to live in Boston.
That still works, but why wait up to 10 minutes for a remedy, when I can just click on quite a few of my "favorites" AP logs, stories of this injury or that ailment, usually multiple things going on.
And then I think, Peter, be happy with what you've got. It's not going to last forever, but enjoy it for now.
Thursday Feb 14, 2019 #
3 PM
biking - dark blue bike 1:07:25 15.9 mi (4:14 / mi) +604ft 4:06 / mi
ahr:133 max:160 weight:141lbs
Leverett loop counter-clockwise. 36F, W 10, sunny. Pretty nice out. A loop with a few hills. Had the right attitude, at least for today -- going along OK but not pushing it. So the time and the miles passed easily.
No owls, no falls, no little ones telling me I am 99.
No owls, no falls, no little ones telling me I am 99.
Wednesday Feb 13, 2019 #
Note
So I asked four first-graders how old they thought I was. One, smart fellow, refused to offer a guess. The answers from the other three, well, the first was 92, the second was 88. At least they're going the right direction, I thought. The third one offered up 99. I was laughing pretty hard, at least internally.
A little while later I was with a few third-graders, 6 of them. Can't remember all the answers, but there was quite a range. On the high side, another 99. What can you do, you just look old? But than out popped a 40. 40? Been 34 years since I passed by there.
All part of a "community appreciation" lunch at the school, organized by an energetic mom, member of the PTO. Superintendent, principal, a couple of us from the school committee, the town library director, the police chief and two officers, the fellow in charge of the ambulance service, a fireman, and our state representative (who lives just down the street from me).
Managed several brief but productive conversations with other adults, but for much of the time we each had a table in the cafeteria, with a rotating assortment of little ones. Something which I have zero experience dealing with. I don't think I made a fool of myself, but if I did, folks were kind enough not to say so.
A little while later I was with a few third-graders, 6 of them. Can't remember all the answers, but there was quite a range. On the high side, another 99. What can you do, you just look old? But than out popped a 40. 40? Been 34 years since I passed by there.
All part of a "community appreciation" lunch at the school, organized by an energetic mom, member of the PTO. Superintendent, principal, a couple of us from the school committee, the town library director, the police chief and two officers, the fellow in charge of the ambulance service, a fireman, and our state representative (who lives just down the street from me).
Managed several brief but productive conversations with other adults, but for much of the time we each had a table in the cafeteria, with a rotating assortment of little ones. Something which I have zero experience dealing with. I don't think I made a fool of myself, but if I did, folks were kind enough not to say so.
Tuesday Feb 12, 2019 #
11 AM
biking - dark blue bike 21:23 4.88 mi (4:23 / mi) +37ft 4:21 / mi
ahr:124 max:139 weight:140.5lbs
Time for another owl, though this one, like all the ones I've seen this winter, was not a Bubo bubo, not even a Bubo something else. A Strix varia, if you must. Just don't expect latin to be making a regular appearance in these pages.
There was a guy who had been watching it move around the field edges for a while. Stopped and had a nice chat with him.
.
There was a guy who had been watching it move around the field edges for a while. Stopped and had a nice chat with him.
.
biking - dark blue bike 41:18 7.79 mi (5:18 / mi) +43ft 5:16 / mi
ahr:115 max:147
Part 2. Continued on a ways, including some along an old farm road just to see what might be there (and the conditions were good, ground frozen but no ice).
And then stopped on the way back, the owl still around. Had another chat with the guy, shorter (the chat, not the guy) this time as my fingers and toes were getting cold. Got home none too soon, as the digits were starting to hurt and 5 minutes later the snow was coming down hard.
20F, light NE breeze, a few snowflakes towards the end.
And then stopped on the way back, the owl still around. Had another chat with the guy, shorter (the chat, not the guy) this time as my fingers and toes were getting cold. Got home none too soon, as the digits were starting to hurt and 5 minutes later the snow was coming down hard.
20F, light NE breeze, a few snowflakes towards the end.
C • owls 8
Monday Feb 11, 2019 #
3 PM
biking - dark blue bike 49:03 12.4 mi (3:57 / mi) +93ft 3:56 / mi
ahr:129 max:158 weight:140lbs
Mid-30s, N 5-10 mph. More effort than usual, at least on the last few miles back into the wind. Not that it was much of a wind, but my headwind sensors are finely tuned. Though it wasn't like I was trying to work harder. It just happened.
Though, once again, I avoided going up any hills... :-)
Supposed to get some sort of snow tomorrow, turning to slop by the time it's done. So I expect a day or two off is coming. Fortunately my carefully crafted training schedule calls for exactly that.
Though, once again, I avoided going up any hills... :-)
Supposed to get some sort of snow tomorrow, turning to slop by the time it's done. So I expect a day or two off is coming. Fortunately my carefully crafted training schedule calls for exactly that.
Sunday Feb 10, 2019 #
3 PM
biking - dark blue bike 51:50 12.47 mi (4:09 / mi) +121ft 4:07 / mi
ahr:133 max:156 weight:140lbs
About 30, WNW 10 mph, more sun than clouds. Made it out, but not without a struggle. Went for a walk on the north side of Quabbin this morning, and even though the wind was much less than yesterday, and the temperature up a little, and the sun out, and I had on lots of layers, I was still struggling to stay warm.
So when the time for a ride came, mid-afternoon, warmest time of the day, it took more than the usual willpower, or mind games, or whatever, to get out the door. And, of course, it wasn't so bad.
It sure seemed to help that my mind was wandering a bit. A section in the middle went by very quickly. I used to do that all the time when running, take along something to listen to, trying not to pay attention to the actual running.
But I have really been resisting that on the bike because biking is just so dangerous, and even more so if you're not paying attention.
Stop paying attention in O' and you're liable to get lost. Stop paying attention on the bike and you're liable to get crunched.
So when the time for a ride came, mid-afternoon, warmest time of the day, it took more than the usual willpower, or mind games, or whatever, to get out the door. And, of course, it wasn't so bad.
It sure seemed to help that my mind was wandering a bit. A section in the middle went by very quickly. I used to do that all the time when running, take along something to listen to, trying not to pay attention to the actual running.
But I have really been resisting that on the bike because biking is just so dangerous, and even more so if you're not paying attention.
Stop paying attention in O' and you're liable to get lost. Stop paying attention on the bike and you're liable to get crunched.
Friday Feb 8, 2019 #
3 PM
biking - dark blue bike 51:58 12.46 mi (4:10 / mi) +125ft 4:08 / mi
ahr:126 max:144 weight:140.5lbs
Sunny but windy, low 40s. Planned to do a loop via Leverett, but when the time came to head up hill, I didn't real feel like doing any hills. So I didn't. Though did have a decent headwind for the last few miles.
Early afternoon, when the sun had come out but before the wind picked up, it was easy to think spring was in the air. But it surely isn't.
Early afternoon, when the sun had come out but before the wind picked up, it was easy to think spring was in the air. But it surely isn't.
Thursday Feb 7, 2019 #
2 PM
biking - dark blue bike 55:40 13.47 mi (4:08 / mi) +113ft 4:06 / mi
ahr:126 max:143 weight:139.5lbs
Got out mid-afternoon. It was supposed to be cloudy and dry, and I figured the roads would have dried out, but it was misty most of the day and it was splish-splash more than I wished. But a day in the 30s certainly beats a day in the 20s, and a day with not much wind sure beats a day with lots of wind, and puddles sure beat snow and ice, so I guess there's not much reason to complain.
So I won't.
So I won't.
Wednesday Feb 6, 2019 #
4 PM
biking - dark blue bike 53:34 12.62 mi (4:15 / mi) +103ft 4:13 / mi
ahr:121 max:134 weight:139.5lbs
Took my brother to the airport, stopped a couple of places on the way home to check out spots along the river I'd never been, then lunch with Dave. And then set to go out for a ride, mid-afternoon, except I had school stuff on my mind.
In particular, the one serious problem I hadn't been fully aware of until Monday, dealing with school choice money. I was going over it in my mind, and I wasn't feeling like I was understanding how it had happened.
An hour and a half later I finally had it straight, not only understanding it myself, but just as important, figuring out how to explain it to others. Because, at least in our local politics, good communication is invaluable, as is a reputation for giving an honest assessment of things. That requires doing your homework.
I looked up at one point, damn, only an hour and a touch more of daylight left. For Phil that would have meant plenty of time for a two-hour ride, but not for me. Got going fast as I could, got home just as I was starting to get nervous as to whether cars could see me.
The ride went by quickly. I spent the whole time mulling over the school situation, not looking forward the next month or two. Usually I have a good sense of how something is going to play out. In this case, I really don't know. I suppose for some that would make it more interesting. For me, it just makes it unsettling. I'm quite sure there's not going to be any good solution.
So even though the ride was fine, my pace gentle, the weather benign, still, my state of mind by the time I got home was rather down. Got off my bike, was heading for the garage door when I heard a noise, very faint, coming from some distance up the the woods behind the house.
Stopped, listened, waited, there it was again, very faint. Off with the helmet and the balaclava so I could hear better. And again, a touch more distinct.
A great horned owl.
Put a real nice smile on my face. So nice when simple things can give such pleasure.
In particular, the one serious problem I hadn't been fully aware of until Monday, dealing with school choice money. I was going over it in my mind, and I wasn't feeling like I was understanding how it had happened.
An hour and a half later I finally had it straight, not only understanding it myself, but just as important, figuring out how to explain it to others. Because, at least in our local politics, good communication is invaluable, as is a reputation for giving an honest assessment of things. That requires doing your homework.
I looked up at one point, damn, only an hour and a touch more of daylight left. For Phil that would have meant plenty of time for a two-hour ride, but not for me. Got going fast as I could, got home just as I was starting to get nervous as to whether cars could see me.
The ride went by quickly. I spent the whole time mulling over the school situation, not looking forward the next month or two. Usually I have a good sense of how something is going to play out. In this case, I really don't know. I suppose for some that would make it more interesting. For me, it just makes it unsettling. I'm quite sure there's not going to be any good solution.
So even though the ride was fine, my pace gentle, the weather benign, still, my state of mind by the time I got home was rather down. Got off my bike, was heading for the garage door when I heard a noise, very faint, coming from some distance up the the woods behind the house.
Stopped, listened, waited, there it was again, very faint. Off with the helmet and the balaclava so I could hear better. And again, a touch more distinct.
A great horned owl.
Put a real nice smile on my face. So nice when simple things can give such pleasure.
Tuesday Feb 5, 2019 #
Note
Gail and I picked up my brother at Bradley and kept heading south, eventually to Southport (CT) for the funeral of my aunt Rose, 93. She'd had bad dementia for many years, way worse than my mom had from what I can gather, so the celebration of her life was more about what she had been a long time ago than what she was near the end.
Her husband, Larry was my mom's brother, and a wonderful man. I saw him regularly when my mom was alive, but not in the last couple of years. So it was great to reconnect, and also to catch up with their four kids, and four spouses, and three of the six grandchildren. Need to make a better effort to keep in touch in the future.
And then it was time to leave, too early, but I had to get home, school committee meeting. Budget time. And it was the disaster I knew it would be. (I knew of most of the problems, and then had gotten a heads-up from the superintendent the day before of one that I wasn't aware of.)
Not a easy meeting. I hadn't changed into my usual casual clothes, still in dark suit and tie, claimed only half joking that I was at my second funeral of the day.
And so not quite two hours was spent trying to wrap our heads around the problem. And then start the process of figuring out what to do. It will not be fun.
But finally back home ot dinner with Gail and my brother. Good food and really good conversation. Visits can be good or not so good. This one was excellent.
Her husband, Larry was my mom's brother, and a wonderful man. I saw him regularly when my mom was alive, but not in the last couple of years. So it was great to reconnect, and also to catch up with their four kids, and four spouses, and three of the six grandchildren. Need to make a better effort to keep in touch in the future.
And then it was time to leave, too early, but I had to get home, school committee meeting. Budget time. And it was the disaster I knew it would be. (I knew of most of the problems, and then had gotten a heads-up from the superintendent the day before of one that I wasn't aware of.)
Not a easy meeting. I hadn't changed into my usual casual clothes, still in dark suit and tie, claimed only half joking that I was at my second funeral of the day.
And so not quite two hours was spent trying to wrap our heads around the problem. And then start the process of figuring out what to do. It will not be fun.
But finally back home ot dinner with Gail and my brother. Good food and really good conversation. Visits can be good or not so good. This one was excellent.
Monday Feb 4, 2019 #
2 PM
biking - dark blue bike 1:20:44 19.63 mi (4:07 / mi) +353ft 4:03 / mi
ahr:125 max:149 weight:139.5lbs
50F, S 5 mph, sunny. Beautiful. Only mistake I made was it would have been a lot drier going late morning instead of mid-afternoon. By the time I got going, the melting had been going on for quite a while and the roads were very sloppy, the most so being go up the hill on Depot Street in Montague which was essentially upstream.
But, hey, the sun was out. No booties, no big mittens, no balaclava, no buff, only one pair of tights (the one with all the holes for ventilation). And dressed just right.
The bike and I are both a little dirtier than when we started, but it doesn't seem that the damage is terminal to either of us. Lived to ride another day, it seems.
But, hey, the sun was out. No booties, no big mittens, no balaclava, no buff, only one pair of tights (the one with all the holes for ventilation). And dressed just right.
The bike and I are both a little dirtier than when we started, but it doesn't seem that the damage is terminal to either of us. Lived to ride another day, it seems.
Sunday Feb 3, 2019 #
2 PM
biking - dark blue bike 1:06:52 15.9 mi (4:12 / mi) +553ft 4:04 / mi
ahr:137 max:158 weight:140lbs
Leverett loop, clockwise. Nice day, 40, S 5-10, and sunny, so I thought I'd go up in the hills just a little. Conditions were fine, and my mood was excellent, glad to be out. Funny thing was, a couple of hours earlier it was still overcast and feeling colder than it was, and I was prepared to pass on a ride. Having the sun out, or not, makes a real difference psychologically.
But then it started clearing up just enough that I figured I better get out. And by the time I was done there was not a cloud in the sky, and I was delighted. It shouldn't make such a difference, but it does.
Pretty decent effort, certainly got the heart going. I think my max is still near 170, but anything in the 150s is definitely working hard (and in the 160s starting to get wobbly). Now that I think of it, I was actually trying to limit the suffering on the ups, ie. one gear lower, only marginally successful.
In any case, good to do something other than flats, though it will be a while before I do any summiting.
But then it started clearing up just enough that I figured I better get out. And by the time I was done there was not a cloud in the sky, and I was delighted. It shouldn't make such a difference, but it does.
Pretty decent effort, certainly got the heart going. I think my max is still near 170, but anything in the 150s is definitely working hard (and in the 160s starting to get wobbly). Now that I think of it, I was actually trying to limit the suffering on the ups, ie. one gear lower, only marginally successful.
In any case, good to do something other than flats, though it will be a while before I do any summiting.
Friday Feb 1, 2019 #
2 PM
biking - dark blue bike 49:56 12.26 mi (4:04 / mi) +84ft 4:03 / mi
ahr:131 max:151 weight:139lbs
21F, but sunny and not much wind, so even though it was the coldest I've ridden in this winter, it didn't feel bad. And no long downhills. Though it only took about 30 minutes for the feet to start getting chilly.
I suppose I could get some industrial-strength booties, though a simpler solution seems to be to just not ride very long, or at all, when it gets really cold. I mean, it's OK to take a day off. Or two. Or three. Or....
I suppose I could get some industrial-strength booties, though a simpler solution seems to be to just not ride very long, or at all, when it gets really cold. I mean, it's OK to take a day off. Or two. Or three. Or....