Training Log Archive: PGIn the 31 days ending Aug 31, 2018:
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| We | Th | Fr | Sa | Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa | Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa | Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa | Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Friday Aug 31, 2018 #
3 PM
biking - dark blue bike 1:41:57 20.35 mi (5:01 / mi) +1707ft 4:38 / mi
ahr:130 max:166 weight:137lbs
Another go at the B17 climb on Mt. Tom. Just really hard. That's the first steep section. The second steep section is probably about the same pitch, also probably a little shorter, but it feels worse.
Usually almost immediately after a hard climb there is a sense of exhilaration. After this one today I'd say the lingering thought was -- don't do it again, it's just too hard.
Time for the climb (0.95 miles, 711' climb) was 16:25 last time (last September), 15:19 this time.
Not even going to pretend it was fun.
And then back to the car with no sense of urgency, but not dogging it either.
Usually almost immediately after a hard climb there is a sense of exhilaration. After this one today I'd say the lingering thought was -- don't do it again, it's just too hard.
Time for the climb (0.95 miles, 711' climb) was 16:25 last time (last September), 15:19 this time.
Not even going to pretend it was fun.
And then back to the car with no sense of urgency, but not dogging it either.
Thursday Aug 30, 2018 #
5 PM
biking - dark blue bike 52:18 13.57 mi (3:51 / mi) +378ft 3:45 / mi
ahr:122 max:153 weight:137.5lbs
Whately loop just before dinner. Rather pleasant.
Wednesday Aug 29, 2018 #
Note
It's getting late in life but better late than never, time to get with the program and get a proper toy. Seems like I'm not the only one who was having a good time....
8 AM
biking - dark blue bike 1:04:23 15.52 mi (4:09 / mi) +62ft 4:08 / mi
ahr:110 max:127 weight:137lbs
Very relaxed outing. Including a stop at the maze, chatted for a while with Dave, then when his dad showed up, a while longer with Mike. Also a stop to look around at the east end of Lake Warner. Still pretty soupy weather.
Tuesday Aug 28, 2018 #
7 AM
biking - dark blue bike 1:03:01 16.44 mi (3:50 / mi) +353ft 3:45 / mi
ahr:130 max:161 weight:136.5lbs
Early outing, a few harder efforts.
Monday Aug 27, 2018 #
10 AM
biking - dark blue bike 57:56 15.33 mi (3:47 / mi) +678ft 3:38 / mi
ahr:132 max:161 weight:137lbs
Leverett loop counter-clockwise. Sure felt hot. Still put out a pretty good effort.
Sunday Aug 26, 2018 #
9 AM
biking - dark blue bike 2:26:30 38.14 mi (3:50 / mi) +1668ft 3:41 / mi
ahr:132 max:160 weight:136.5lbs
With Phil. My choice of route as long as it was paved and not too hilly and started no more than 30-40 minutes from Northampton and took us 2-3 hours. So with the miracle of RidewithGPS (for the route, mileage, climb, gradients, etc.) and Google street view to make sure the roads were paved, it only took a few minutes to design a route that was mostly south of the Holyoke Range and about 50% on roads I hadn't ridden on.
And it turned out just fine.
Phil is stronger than I am, plus he has a featherweight road bike, plus he likes to get competitive. The only factors in my favor were having no shame about latching on to his wheel, and, might as well say it, he's getting old.
When he seemed to be feeling a bit too energetic I didn't hesitate to use plan A (draft), knowing that plan B was always available in case he tried to bust me -- he didn't know where we were going. So it was a pretty good balance. And I certainly enjoyed it.
And it turned out just fine.
Phil is stronger than I am, plus he has a featherweight road bike, plus he likes to get competitive. The only factors in my favor were having no shame about latching on to his wheel, and, might as well say it, he's getting old.
When he seemed to be feeling a bit too energetic I didn't hesitate to use plan A (draft), knowing that plan B was always available in case he tried to bust me -- he didn't know where we were going. So it was a pretty good balance. And I certainly enjoyed it.
Friday Aug 24, 2018 #
5 PM
biking - dark blue bike 54:40 13.02 mi (4:12 / mi) +347ft 4:06 / mi
ahr:108 max:134
It was warm, and I had no ambitions other than to do a short loop with the expenditure of as little energy as possible.
Mostly successful. :-)
Mostly successful. :-)
Thursday Aug 23, 2018 #
1 PM
biking - dark blue bike 3:23:59 36.54 mi (5:35 / mi) +4581ft 4:59 / mi
ahr:132 max:162 weight:137lbs
I wanted to revisit a few spots from Saturday's D2R2 ride, and this seemed like a good day to do it -- temps in the 70s and much lower humidity, and if I wasn't recovered from Saturday, well, I probably never would be. And the fact that there was a brisk breeze from the NW didn't really matter, what with all the hills, the woods, the narrow roads.
Drove up to Colrain and then a little further. First on the agenda was another go at Stark Mt. Road, what had felt like the hardest hill on Saturday, pretty steep, dirt, and with 75 miles already in the legs. Saturday it took me 20:36, next to slowest time of the roughly 70 folks who put times on Strava. Today, with only 0.5 miles already in my legs, and perfect weather, it was 14:37.
Certainly better, as one would hope. Also certainly more painful (physically, Saturday was more painful psychologically). And still real slow, best were taking about 9 minutes. But I ignore that. I was up, I could relax, just 3,500' of climbing still to go. :-)
A couple of miles later I picked up Saturday's course at an earlier spot, now heading the opposite direction. Time to revisit the mudhole, and the bit of jeep track in its vicinity. This time I was going down the track, and it certainly was drier, no stream flowing down the middle. First 100 yards was fine, then it got steeper and much rockier, maybe a couple hundred more yards. Made it down, but I could see why I'd struggled coming up. And then around a sharp corner and there was the mudhole, looking now like a small version of what I had remembered. Which it was, water probably a foot lower, and even now no room to ride around either side. Not wanting to have another go at it -- the odds of getting through seemed very low -- I happily dragged my bike through the trees and moved on.
Some more miles and a bunch more hills, now well into Vermont. Then the other jeep track I wanted to revisit. This one Saturday had been downhill, somewhat steep, somewhat rocky, very wet. Also short, only a couple hundred yards. I'd made it down, but remember bouncing all over the place and having to avoid a bunch of mud. Certainly drier today, less mud, still lots of rocks. But I zipped right up, picked a good line and got the power up just when I needed to. If I hadn't still had a long ways to go, I might have turned around and done it again.
Then a few more miles and a few more hills and I was back at Saturday's lunch spot. Nothing there now, of course, just a quiet spot along the edge of a field.
What was left, back to my car, 9 miles, was the way the short version of the mystery ride had gone Saturday. Oh was that nice. Three miles down. Three miles rolling. Three miles seriously down. And a hundred yards flat to the car.
Why didn't I do the short version?
Drove up to Colrain and then a little further. First on the agenda was another go at Stark Mt. Road, what had felt like the hardest hill on Saturday, pretty steep, dirt, and with 75 miles already in the legs. Saturday it took me 20:36, next to slowest time of the roughly 70 folks who put times on Strava. Today, with only 0.5 miles already in my legs, and perfect weather, it was 14:37.
Certainly better, as one would hope. Also certainly more painful (physically, Saturday was more painful psychologically). And still real slow, best were taking about 9 minutes. But I ignore that. I was up, I could relax, just 3,500' of climbing still to go. :-)
A couple of miles later I picked up Saturday's course at an earlier spot, now heading the opposite direction. Time to revisit the mudhole, and the bit of jeep track in its vicinity. This time I was going down the track, and it certainly was drier, no stream flowing down the middle. First 100 yards was fine, then it got steeper and much rockier, maybe a couple hundred more yards. Made it down, but I could see why I'd struggled coming up. And then around a sharp corner and there was the mudhole, looking now like a small version of what I had remembered. Which it was, water probably a foot lower, and even now no room to ride around either side. Not wanting to have another go at it -- the odds of getting through seemed very low -- I happily dragged my bike through the trees and moved on.
Some more miles and a bunch more hills, now well into Vermont. Then the other jeep track I wanted to revisit. This one Saturday had been downhill, somewhat steep, somewhat rocky, very wet. Also short, only a couple hundred yards. I'd made it down, but remember bouncing all over the place and having to avoid a bunch of mud. Certainly drier today, less mud, still lots of rocks. But I zipped right up, picked a good line and got the power up just when I needed to. If I hadn't still had a long ways to go, I might have turned around and done it again.
Then a few more miles and a few more hills and I was back at Saturday's lunch spot. Nothing there now, of course, just a quiet spot along the edge of a field.
What was left, back to my car, 9 miles, was the way the short version of the mystery ride had gone Saturday. Oh was that nice. Three miles down. Three miles rolling. Three miles seriously down. And a hundred yards flat to the car.
Why didn't I do the short version?
Wednesday Aug 22, 2018 #
4 PM
biking - dark blue bike 54:29 14.18 mi (3:51 / mi) +112ft 3:49 / mi
ahr:112 max:131
Another corn ride.
Tuesday Aug 21, 2018 #
4 PM
biking - dark blue bike 58:00 14.62 mi (3:58 / mi) +141ft 3:56 / mi
ahr:109 max:138 weight:136.5lbs
Corn ride again, nice and flat.
No ambitions again, partly because I'd been on my feet all morning tromping around the NW side of Quabbin and so was feeling rather tired when ride time came. But the legs actually felt like they had some life in them. :-)
No ambitions again, partly because I'd been on my feet all morning tromping around the NW side of Quabbin and so was feeling rather tired when ride time came. But the legs actually felt like they had some life in them. :-)
Monday Aug 20, 2018 #
4 PM
biking - dark blue bike 51:33 12.46 mi (4:08 / mi) +151ft 4:05 / mi
ahr:106 max:127 weight:136lbs
Needed a bit of maintenance today. Not me, I just needed more rest, but the bike.
Saturday after my long ride I tossed the bike in the back of the car and didn't look at it again until midday Sunday. When I did, well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised that it hadn't somehow cleaned itself. So I spent about an hour removing the worst of the mud and grime and gunk, feeling quite pleased with myself. The only hiccup was I also found that the rear tire was flat. Well, not totally flat, but getting there. The same tire that flatted a couple of weeks ago, that I'd fixed, that I'd ridden on several times, and that, obviously, I'd been out for 10 hours on the day before.
Seems like I finished yesterday's ride none too soon.
So I finished cleaning the bike, best as I could, and adjusted the gears a little, and then pumped the rear tire back up, thought what the hell, and went out for my corn ride. Tire seemed OK. But this morning it was definitely flattish, maybe even more so.
So off to the bike shop after lunch. Sprung for two new tires, figured 6,700 miles was enough for them to be retired. Plus a new tube. Plus, it turned out, the brake pads were just about at the end of their useful life, so new sets of them both front and rear. All fixed quite quickly while I watched how things were done.
And also with me feeling glad that I had cleaned the bike enough to be presentable enough to take it in for repairs, sort of the way I gather some folks who have someone clean their living quarters feel the need to do a bit of pre-cleaning, just so things don't look too bad.
That done, back home, still time for a ride so why not. Flat (the route, not the tire) again, easy pace again. Will keep that up until some life returns to this old body.
--------------
Spent a good bit of the morning out with my binoculars (which have gotten almost no use this summer except for the week we went to Costa Rica). Wasn't expecting much, always the best way to start out, so quite surprised to see a good assortment of winged creatures, including a collection of young Wood Ducks, a Northern Harrier, a Green Heron, and a group of Solitary Sandpipers. Nothing rare, but all a pleasure, especially when they pose well for the camera.
Saturday after my long ride I tossed the bike in the back of the car and didn't look at it again until midday Sunday. When I did, well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised that it hadn't somehow cleaned itself. So I spent about an hour removing the worst of the mud and grime and gunk, feeling quite pleased with myself. The only hiccup was I also found that the rear tire was flat. Well, not totally flat, but getting there. The same tire that flatted a couple of weeks ago, that I'd fixed, that I'd ridden on several times, and that, obviously, I'd been out for 10 hours on the day before.
Seems like I finished yesterday's ride none too soon.
So I finished cleaning the bike, best as I could, and adjusted the gears a little, and then pumped the rear tire back up, thought what the hell, and went out for my corn ride. Tire seemed OK. But this morning it was definitely flattish, maybe even more so.
So off to the bike shop after lunch. Sprung for two new tires, figured 6,700 miles was enough for them to be retired. Plus a new tube. Plus, it turned out, the brake pads were just about at the end of their useful life, so new sets of them both front and rear. All fixed quite quickly while I watched how things were done.
And also with me feeling glad that I had cleaned the bike enough to be presentable enough to take it in for repairs, sort of the way I gather some folks who have someone clean their living quarters feel the need to do a bit of pre-cleaning, just so things don't look too bad.
That done, back home, still time for a ride so why not. Flat (the route, not the tire) again, easy pace again. Will keep that up until some life returns to this old body.
--------------
Spent a good bit of the morning out with my binoculars (which have gotten almost no use this summer except for the week we went to Costa Rica). Wasn't expecting much, always the best way to start out, so quite surprised to see a good assortment of winged creatures, including a collection of young Wood Ducks, a Northern Harrier, a Green Heron, and a group of Solitary Sandpipers. Nothing rare, but all a pleasure, especially when they pose well for the camera.
Sunday Aug 19, 2018 #
3 PM
biking - dark blue bike 58:44 13.28 mi (4:25 / mi) +128ft 4:23 / mi
ahr:104 max:120 weight:136.5lbs
Corn ride plus a couple other errands. Quite tired from yesterday's adventure, but figured I might as well go for an easy ride on the FLATS. :-)
Legs had no zip, as expected. Had me thinking about how long it will be when this is how I feel on a good day. Won't be long.
-------------
A few other notes from yesterday.
-- I had three unplanned dismounts yesterday, all in the space of about 200 yards, where the dirt road we were on changed to a very wet and rough jeep track. Emphasis on wet and rough. Came around a corner and there was obstacle number one, a mud hole of unknown depth. No room at all to skirt it on the left. Maybe a foot on the right, but it was wet and looked very soft and muddy and I feared I would just bog down in it. So I opted for the unknown and hoped for a firm bottom underneath the muddy water.
Picked a spot on the right side and tried to get some speed up, but it was either not enough speed, or the wrong spot, or both. Ground a a halt about halfway across, the water right up to the axles. The only saving grace was that I managed to unclip and get a foot down. Ended up with both shoes full of water and mud, the lower parts of the bike coated with mud, but that was still better than all of me going in, which certainly was a possibility.
Pulled the bike out, hopped back on, around the corner and now the trail headed uphill, and upstream. The only possibility was right along the edge, managed that for maybe 50 yards before hitting something that stopped me dead. Again, managed to unclip, no harm done.
Hike a few yards past that obstacle, hopped back on, was making progress, all of a sudden my rear wheel just slid out to the right. No chance to save it. And didn't get out of the pedal this time, so I went down with the bike. I remember something hurt, but I can't remember what, so I guess it wasn't real bad.
Hopped back on again, couple hundred more yards of this stuff, handled it nicely, actually felt I was getting the hang of it, through one last ditch, did that well, which was just as good because I had about 6 spectators. They couldn't care about what I was doing, but did I have a 1.8 mm Allen wrench?
I'm supposed to know? I had a set of Allen wrenches, and I was about to stop and pull them out, when one guy said, "Nobody carries a 1.8." That was good enough for me, so I just moseyed on.
This section was on the loop that was on the long Mystery but not the short, so Phil and Jeff missed it. Just as good, and I don't think they would have cared for it. Actually, I rather enjoyed it.
-- Not too long after that was a dirt road section, Stark Mountain Road, that I had been thinking about from time to time during the day. A little over a mile, 11% average but getting steep towards the top, and coming 75 miles into the ride. Hand't done it before. And I really was not looking forward to it.
So my plan was to just go up as slowly as I could, just fast enough to keep me from falling over, and see what happens. The first half was easy enough, grade varied but averaged maybe 5%. The second half made up for it, but I just kept grinding away and eventually the top came. I'm sure I had the worst, or close to the worst, time all day on that section. But it got done.
-- When I was done, I looked around for Phil, and Jeff and Judy, but they had already split. So I tossed my bike in the car and was about to head home when Bill Haines walked by, said Ceil (his wife) had just come in, said I should come on over to the big tent and have a beer. So I did (come over) and I didn't (have a beer), but I certainly had a good time, saw several folks I knew. A nice way to finish up what was, hard as it might be for some to believe, a very fun day.
Legs had no zip, as expected. Had me thinking about how long it will be when this is how I feel on a good day. Won't be long.
-------------
A few other notes from yesterday.
-- I had three unplanned dismounts yesterday, all in the space of about 200 yards, where the dirt road we were on changed to a very wet and rough jeep track. Emphasis on wet and rough. Came around a corner and there was obstacle number one, a mud hole of unknown depth. No room at all to skirt it on the left. Maybe a foot on the right, but it was wet and looked very soft and muddy and I feared I would just bog down in it. So I opted for the unknown and hoped for a firm bottom underneath the muddy water.
Picked a spot on the right side and tried to get some speed up, but it was either not enough speed, or the wrong spot, or both. Ground a a halt about halfway across, the water right up to the axles. The only saving grace was that I managed to unclip and get a foot down. Ended up with both shoes full of water and mud, the lower parts of the bike coated with mud, but that was still better than all of me going in, which certainly was a possibility.
Pulled the bike out, hopped back on, around the corner and now the trail headed uphill, and upstream. The only possibility was right along the edge, managed that for maybe 50 yards before hitting something that stopped me dead. Again, managed to unclip, no harm done.
Hike a few yards past that obstacle, hopped back on, was making progress, all of a sudden my rear wheel just slid out to the right. No chance to save it. And didn't get out of the pedal this time, so I went down with the bike. I remember something hurt, but I can't remember what, so I guess it wasn't real bad.
Hopped back on again, couple hundred more yards of this stuff, handled it nicely, actually felt I was getting the hang of it, through one last ditch, did that well, which was just as good because I had about 6 spectators. They couldn't care about what I was doing, but did I have a 1.8 mm Allen wrench?
I'm supposed to know? I had a set of Allen wrenches, and I was about to stop and pull them out, when one guy said, "Nobody carries a 1.8." That was good enough for me, so I just moseyed on.
This section was on the loop that was on the long Mystery but not the short, so Phil and Jeff missed it. Just as good, and I don't think they would have cared for it. Actually, I rather enjoyed it.
-- Not too long after that was a dirt road section, Stark Mountain Road, that I had been thinking about from time to time during the day. A little over a mile, 11% average but getting steep towards the top, and coming 75 miles into the ride. Hand't done it before. And I really was not looking forward to it.
So my plan was to just go up as slowly as I could, just fast enough to keep me from falling over, and see what happens. The first half was easy enough, grade varied but averaged maybe 5%. The second half made up for it, but I just kept grinding away and eventually the top came. I'm sure I had the worst, or close to the worst, time all day on that section. But it got done.
-- When I was done, I looked around for Phil, and Jeff and Judy, but they had already split. So I tossed my bike in the car and was about to head home when Bill Haines walked by, said Ceil (his wife) had just come in, said I should come on over to the big tent and have a beer. So I did (come over) and I didn't (have a beer), but I certainly had a good time, saw several folks I knew. A nice way to finish up what was, hard as it might be for some to believe, a very fun day.
Saturday Aug 18, 2018 #
7 AM
biking - dark blue bike 8:21:26 82.68 mi (6:04 / mi) +10806ft 5:24 / mi
ahr:136 max:157 weight:137lbs
The first 82.5 miles of the D2R2 Long Mystery Ride, at which point my Garmin ran out of juice. I still had a ways to go, and fortunately had some juice left in my legs.
biking - dark blue bike 1:16:00 [3] 15.5 mi (4:54 / mi) +900ft 4:39 / mi
And the last 15.5 miles.
Quite the adventure. Here's the route. And here are all the possible routes. Most are the same year to year, but the mystery routes (short and long) are new each year.
Did the first 25 miles with Phil. But then we got to an aid station, and he likes to take a few minutes, whereas I prefer to refill bottles and then keep moving. So after that I was on my own, and totally happy. Lots of other riders around, almost always zipping past me. Pretty much the only ones I passed were at the aid stations.
I think I did a good job of pacing. It was really really humid, not that hot but I was still soaked. And that was before it rained. Rain some but not too much, and never hard. I would have been happy with more as it made it cooler. Fortunately no sun, also no thunderstorms.
Riding time was about 9:35 to 9:40. Time in aid stations totalled about 14 minutes (including lunch)
And no ailments other than a touch of chafing (only aware of it afterwards). Otherwise things felt fine, though my legs will take a few days to recover.
And a really fine day.
Quite the adventure. Here's the route. And here are all the possible routes. Most are the same year to year, but the mystery routes (short and long) are new each year.
Did the first 25 miles with Phil. But then we got to an aid station, and he likes to take a few minutes, whereas I prefer to refill bottles and then keep moving. So after that I was on my own, and totally happy. Lots of other riders around, almost always zipping past me. Pretty much the only ones I passed were at the aid stations.
I think I did a good job of pacing. It was really really humid, not that hot but I was still soaked. And that was before it rained. Rain some but not too much, and never hard. I would have been happy with more as it made it cooler. Fortunately no sun, also no thunderstorms.
Riding time was about 9:35 to 9:40. Time in aid stations totalled about 14 minutes (including lunch)
And no ailments other than a touch of chafing (only aware of it afterwards). Otherwise things felt fine, though my legs will take a few days to recover.
And a really fine day.
Thursday Aug 16, 2018 #
10 AM
biking - dark blue bike 1:24:39 21.35 mi (3:58 / mi) +458ft 3:53 / mi
ahr:112 max:138 weight:136.5lbs
Very easy ride in the flats.
Wednesday Aug 15, 2018 #
9 AM
biking - dark blue bike 1:35:55 18.33 mi (5:14 / mi) +1725ft 4:48 / mi
ahr:130 max:156 weight:137lbs
With Phil, lower hills in Conway and Deerfield.
Several times, as I was riding along, the thought popped into my mind -- it can't get any better than this. :-)
Several times, as I was riding along, the thought popped into my mind -- it can't get any better than this. :-)
Monday Aug 13, 2018 #
1 PM
biking - dark blue bike 55:54 14.68 mi (3:48 / mi) +232ft 3:45 / mi
ahr:116 max:140 weight:135.5lbs
Up the river staying on this side. Occasional sprinkles, a little more so the last few minutes.
Sunday Aug 12, 2018 #
10 AM
biking - dark blue bike 3:29:01 39.56 mi (5:17 / mi) +4289ft 4:47 / mi
ahr:136 max:163 weight:136.5lbs
With Phil, in the hills, including a visit to Vermont for a few miles.
One of those days where it would have been easy to pass, rain predicted on and off, but fortunately I've been out in the wet stuff enough that that wasn't enough of a hinderance. Plus, more important, another outing with Professor Phil. So wimping out would have been really hard.
As it was, conditions were remarkably good. Light rain for about an hour, no big deal, and the plus side was the temps stayed in the 70s the whole time. And that was a blessing. Even got a little chilly on a couple of downhills, and it's been a while since that was the case.
Road conditions were also excellent. I thought there might be erosion in places, but all the rain recently has mainly served to pack down the dirt roads real well.
And so off we went, up and down and up and down. I never had to worry about keeping up on the downs, because I'd been on all the roads before and knew the hills and knew when it was OK to just let it go.
The ups were another matter. Let's see, I struggled a little to keep up on Cooper Lane (2.0 miles, 6%). I struggled a little more to keep up on Franklin Hill (1.0 miles, 8%). Amidon Road (.75 miles, 8%) seemed OK. On Nelson/Colrain Roads (1.8 miles 5%) I struggled early on but not towards the end. And up to Apex Orchards (.65 miles, 9%) felt good.
Was I toying with him? Surely he jests.
Actually, the question needs to be redirected back at him. What was it with his habit of riding on the left side of the road? Was he toying with fate? Only one close call when a pick-up almost had him for lunch.
Overall, in case it's not clear, a fine outing with once again excellent company. :-)
One of those days where it would have been easy to pass, rain predicted on and off, but fortunately I've been out in the wet stuff enough that that wasn't enough of a hinderance. Plus, more important, another outing with Professor Phil. So wimping out would have been really hard.
As it was, conditions were remarkably good. Light rain for about an hour, no big deal, and the plus side was the temps stayed in the 70s the whole time. And that was a blessing. Even got a little chilly on a couple of downhills, and it's been a while since that was the case.
Road conditions were also excellent. I thought there might be erosion in places, but all the rain recently has mainly served to pack down the dirt roads real well.
And so off we went, up and down and up and down. I never had to worry about keeping up on the downs, because I'd been on all the roads before and knew the hills and knew when it was OK to just let it go.
The ups were another matter. Let's see, I struggled a little to keep up on Cooper Lane (2.0 miles, 6%). I struggled a little more to keep up on Franklin Hill (1.0 miles, 8%). Amidon Road (.75 miles, 8%) seemed OK. On Nelson/Colrain Roads (1.8 miles 5%) I struggled early on but not towards the end. And up to Apex Orchards (.65 miles, 9%) felt good.
Was I toying with him? Surely he jests.
Actually, the question needs to be redirected back at him. What was it with his habit of riding on the left side of the road? Was he toying with fate? Only one close call when a pick-up almost had him for lunch.
Overall, in case it's not clear, a fine outing with once again excellent company. :-)
Saturday Aug 11, 2018 #
9 AM
biking - dark blue bike 54:12 13.77 mi (3:56 / mi) +207ft 3:53 / mi
ahr:112 max:130 weight:135lbs
Cloudy and cool, very pleasant. A short outing on the flats in Whately and Hatfield.
Friday Aug 10, 2018 #
1 PM
biking - dark blue bike 1:39:16 18.49 mi (5:22 / mi) +2494ft 4:46 / mi
ahr:136 max:162 weight:135.5lbs
A hilly loop up in Shelburne and Colrain, trying to get up the hills without working too hard.
Mostly succeeded. Cooper Lane was the first, right off the bat, and it seemed difficult, quads sore, but I think they just hadn't loosened up yet.
Then several small but sharp ups, keeping as mellow as I could, before the steep downhill into Colrain, scene of numerous truck/house collisions over the years. Doing OK so far, not great but not awful, except my butt was hurting, wasn't doing my usual bits out of the saddle because that's not how you stay mellow. But several bits of standing on the gentle road heading south out of Colrain seemed to rectify that.
Just as good, because still left was Patten Hill, about 25 minutes expected for the climb, maybe more in mellow mood. The first third is steep but paved, the middle a gentle graed but dirt, the last third steeper again and dirt and not so good traction in places. Put it in a low gear and eventually found myself at the top in a little under 23 minutes without having really suffered.
And then all that was left was a fast downhill back to the car.
I haven't had much zip since the Wachusett ride a couple of weeks ago and I've been thinking that may have just taken a lot out of me. When I was running I would occasional have something similar, a day when the legs were really good, and I took advantage of it, and then I ended up taking a long time to fully recover. Such as Stu's 30K, hilly course, early March, often run as a prep for Boston. My legs were great one year, did 1:57. Still not recovered a month later when Boston came around. But when you get opportunities, it's hard to resist grabbing them.
And I've been wondering if the Wachusett ride was something similar. With that in mind, today was certainly encouraging.
Mostly succeeded. Cooper Lane was the first, right off the bat, and it seemed difficult, quads sore, but I think they just hadn't loosened up yet.
Then several small but sharp ups, keeping as mellow as I could, before the steep downhill into Colrain, scene of numerous truck/house collisions over the years. Doing OK so far, not great but not awful, except my butt was hurting, wasn't doing my usual bits out of the saddle because that's not how you stay mellow. But several bits of standing on the gentle road heading south out of Colrain seemed to rectify that.
Just as good, because still left was Patten Hill, about 25 minutes expected for the climb, maybe more in mellow mood. The first third is steep but paved, the middle a gentle graed but dirt, the last third steeper again and dirt and not so good traction in places. Put it in a low gear and eventually found myself at the top in a little under 23 minutes without having really suffered.
And then all that was left was a fast downhill back to the car.
I haven't had much zip since the Wachusett ride a couple of weeks ago and I've been thinking that may have just taken a lot out of me. When I was running I would occasional have something similar, a day when the legs were really good, and I took advantage of it, and then I ended up taking a long time to fully recover. Such as Stu's 30K, hilly course, early March, often run as a prep for Boston. My legs were great one year, did 1:57. Still not recovered a month later when Boston came around. But when you get opportunities, it's hard to resist grabbing them.
And I've been wondering if the Wachusett ride was something similar. With that in mind, today was certainly encouraging.
Thursday Aug 9, 2018 #
10 AM
biking - dark blue bike 1:16:17 20.3 mi (3:45 / mi) +640ft 3:39 / mi
ahr:128 max:159 weight:135.5lbs
River Road - Old Deerfield. Worked on the uphills, not so much on the rest.
Wednesday Aug 8, 2018 #
Note
Hmm, seems I had my first flat, rear tire. Must say that it's convenient when it happens, or at least when you notice that it has happened, when the bike is in the garage.
So is this Phil's karma rubbing off on me? Will this be the first of six?
My assumption this morning was that I'd go to the bike shop and just get new tires and tubes for both wheels, since they had 6,400 miles on them and it was probably time to retire them. But then I thought I should at least have a go at fixing it.
And it went reasonably smoothly. Got things apart, figured out where the leak was so I could check the tire especially carefully at the same spot, but there was nothing I could see that could have caused it. In fact the whole tire looked in good shape. So put everything back together with a new tube.
And now we'll see if flat #2 follows in short order.
So is this Phil's karma rubbing off on me? Will this be the first of six?
My assumption this morning was that I'd go to the bike shop and just get new tires and tubes for both wheels, since they had 6,400 miles on them and it was probably time to retire them. But then I thought I should at least have a go at fixing it.
And it went reasonably smoothly. Got things apart, figured out where the leak was so I could check the tire especially carefully at the same spot, but there was nothing I could see that could have caused it. In fact the whole tire looked in good shape. So put everything back together with a new tube.
And now we'll see if flat #2 follows in short order.
C • #2 3
12 PM
biking - dark blue bike 1:24:43 22.96 mi (3:41 / mi) +241ft 3:39 / mi
ahr:126 max:150 weight:135.5lbs
On the flats south of town, steady effort. And no flats. :-)
Tuesday Aug 7, 2018 #
9 AM
biking - dark blue bike 1:16:48 13.02 mi (5:54 / mi) +793ft 5:35 / mi
ahr:130 max:160 weight:135lbs
Warm and humid again. Up on the mountain, about 4 miles in mountain bike mode, climb up South Mountain Road, then across and down to pick up North Mountain and then down.
Had my usual fail, more accurately 4x fail, going up. The last quarter-mile or so is very rocky/rooty. Most I can manage, but there are several short sections that are just steep enough and r/r enough that I think maybe I can do them, but then I can't. Run out of momentum, put a foot down, hoof it to the next flatter spot, remount. Repeat 4 times. I thought maybe I had magically gotten better, but apparently not.
And the section over to N. Mt. is rather nasty too, no steep ups, but very r/r, plus going down a section with lots of wet rock slabs covered with algae, got to pay attention to keep traction. Made it through this OK, just slowly. Which is not a bad thing.
And then a few flat miles, no longer in the shade, to remind myself how hot it was.
Had my usual fail, more accurately 4x fail, going up. The last quarter-mile or so is very rocky/rooty. Most I can manage, but there are several short sections that are just steep enough and r/r enough that I think maybe I can do them, but then I can't. Run out of momentum, put a foot down, hoof it to the next flatter spot, remount. Repeat 4 times. I thought maybe I had magically gotten better, but apparently not.
And the section over to N. Mt. is rather nasty too, no steep ups, but very r/r, plus going down a section with lots of wet rock slabs covered with algae, got to pay attention to keep traction. Made it through this OK, just slowly. Which is not a bad thing.
And then a few flat miles, no longer in the shade, to remind myself how hot it was.
Monday Aug 6, 2018 #
9 AM
biking - dark blue bike 1:06:17 17.14 mi (3:52 / mi) +489ft 3:46 / mi
ahr:118 max:150 weight:136lbs
Nice ride north along the back roads, checking out where new paving has been done. Surprised to see both Fosters and Smiarowski roads both now totally paved. Each had had a dirt section on which there were no houses. And South Ferry Road was repaved all the way down to the dead end at the river, just two houses there, otherwise farmland, but not up the hill where it gets more traffic. Maybe that's still to come. Montague must have some money to burn in their highway budget.
Legs felt OK, but it was mostly flat. Did do a couple hills towards the end, felt OK, but little confidence that that feeling would have lasted if there had been a few more hills.
Got out before the heat, but still should have been an hour earlier. Then could have had the whole ride in the cool wispy fog, not just the first couple of miles.
Legs felt OK, but it was mostly flat. Did do a couple hills towards the end, felt OK, but little confidence that that feeling would have lasted if there had been a few more hills.
Got out before the heat, but still should have been an hour earlier. Then could have had the whole ride in the cool wispy fog, not just the first couple of miles.
Sunday Aug 5, 2018 #
9 AM
biking - dark blue bike 3:11:39 43.52 mi (4:24 / mi) +3625ft 4:05 / mi
ahr:138 max:166 weight:137lbs
With Phil from his house in Northampton. Easthampton, Southampton, then it got hilly to Westhampton and Chesterfield, then some altitude in the bank to enjoy to Williamsburg and back to Northampton.
Feeling the heat today. Or maybe just one of those days. Seemed to be working too hard going up the hills. Pretty sure I wasn't drinking enough, but I wasn't really feeling like it. Who knows. Didn't seem to have much power in the legs. But maybe seeing Phil a ways out front on the last climb just meant he was having a good day. Which is a good thing.
Stopped for fluids in Williamsburg. It wasn't far from Northampton, but I was really parched, and we sat in the shade for 10 minutes refueling. I was thinking as we got back to Northampton that my legs were doing a little better, but now back home and a while later, they just feel trashed. Well, we'll see what tomorrow brings. :-)
And a delight, of course, to have such good company. He gave me a tour of a bunch of roads, a few dirt, that I hadn't been on before. I gave him a suggestion that in this part of the world there is really no reason to ride close enough to a parked car to ever get doored. He also should get a rear-view mirror, if for no other reason to be able to watch me falling farther behind, but somehow I doubt that will happen. I will keep my fingers crossed that neither of us gets doored.
And no matter how much I am dragging my ass right now, and was dragging it at times out there today, it is still wonderful to be able to get out.
I was reflecting yesterday on my decision a couple of years ago -- or maybe it's now three years ago -- to stop activities (O', running, golf) that seemed likely to cause me serious back problems. And thinking how lucky I was to make that choice before my back got really f-ked up. I don't know what lies ahead, but it's real nice to look back and not have regrets.
And I was thinking maybe I should have a go at the corn maze this year. Though that quickly reminded me of about this time last year, when I had such a thought, took a slow test jog down the driveway, and decided that running no longer suited me. We'll see if I try that experiment again.
Feeling the heat today. Or maybe just one of those days. Seemed to be working too hard going up the hills. Pretty sure I wasn't drinking enough, but I wasn't really feeling like it. Who knows. Didn't seem to have much power in the legs. But maybe seeing Phil a ways out front on the last climb just meant he was having a good day. Which is a good thing.
Stopped for fluids in Williamsburg. It wasn't far from Northampton, but I was really parched, and we sat in the shade for 10 minutes refueling. I was thinking as we got back to Northampton that my legs were doing a little better, but now back home and a while later, they just feel trashed. Well, we'll see what tomorrow brings. :-)
And a delight, of course, to have such good company. He gave me a tour of a bunch of roads, a few dirt, that I hadn't been on before. I gave him a suggestion that in this part of the world there is really no reason to ride close enough to a parked car to ever get doored. He also should get a rear-view mirror, if for no other reason to be able to watch me falling farther behind, but somehow I doubt that will happen. I will keep my fingers crossed that neither of us gets doored.
And no matter how much I am dragging my ass right now, and was dragging it at times out there today, it is still wonderful to be able to get out.
I was reflecting yesterday on my decision a couple of years ago -- or maybe it's now three years ago -- to stop activities (O', running, golf) that seemed likely to cause me serious back problems. And thinking how lucky I was to make that choice before my back got really f-ked up. I don't know what lies ahead, but it's real nice to look back and not have regrets.
And I was thinking maybe I should have a go at the corn maze this year. Though that quickly reminded me of about this time last year, when I had such a thought, took a slow test jog down the driveway, and decided that running no longer suited me. We'll see if I try that experiment again.
Saturday Aug 4, 2018 #
biking - dark blue bike 1:00:00 [1] 10.0 mi (6:00 / mi) +300ft 5:50 / mi
With Gail, Rhonda and Charlie.
Friday Aug 3, 2018 #
Note
Got a new chain for the bike. Next time will need a new chain ring (the large ring is getting worn, don't know if just that gets replaced or if both rings are a package). And before then should replace the cables.
And forgot to ask for an opinion on the tires.
And forgot to ask for an opinion on the tires.
10 AM
biking - dark blue bike 1:16:43 19.34 mi (3:58 / mi) +540ft 3:52 / mi
ahr:113 max:139 weight:137lbs
Well, that felt better. I guess all it takes is just going at a no hurry pace. And drop a gear whenever there's a little wind. And just mosey up what few little ups there are. Probably should do this more often.
Gail will be happy (and me too) that they're paving the section about 5 miles north of here (Ferry, South Ferry, Old Greenfield). Don't know if they'll get it all done this year but maybe, there's only about a mile and a half that needs it. Will be nice for us old folks.
Gail will be happy (and me too) that they're paving the section about 5 miles north of here (Ferry, South Ferry, Old Greenfield). Don't know if they'll get it all done this year but maybe, there's only about a mile and a half that needs it. Will be nice for us old folks.
Thursday Aug 2, 2018 #
9 AM
biking - dark blue bike 1:16:07 20.3 mi (3:45 / mi) +493ft 3:40 / mi
ahr:131 max:165 weight:136.5lbs
Formerly standard loop done rarely these days, north and mostly flat to Old Deerfield, back via River Road with a few hills. A light breeze from the south, so at best a moderate effort going north, but working pretty hard coming back.
Another soupy day. Got home and the only thing I had the energy for was a nap.
Another soupy day. Got home and the only thing I had the energy for was a nap.
Wednesday Aug 1, 2018 #
8 AM
biking - dark blue bike 1:20:47 14.99 mi (5:23 / mi) +958ft 5:05 / mi
ahr:126 max:164 weight:136lbs
Short outing before the rain comes, about 3 miles in mountain bike mode along the top of Pocumtuck Ridge, plus getting over there and back.
Seemed tired when I started, plus pretty much trashed myself getting excited going up Hillside Road, so the first part of the ridge felt rather awful. But the legs slowly came back on the last few ups and the rest of the way was fine.
I was thinking some about my minimal mountain bike skills. My assumption has been that it's just a general lack of skills, plus lack of nerve, plus maybe equipment. I think I should add to the list just pure power. Because I noticed today that there were a couple of spots that I've had trouble with before which today were no problem, just made sure I had some speed. My legs have gotten a little stronger this summer and it's nice to notice it every once in a while.
Seemed tired when I started, plus pretty much trashed myself getting excited going up Hillside Road, so the first part of the ridge felt rather awful. But the legs slowly came back on the last few ups and the rest of the way was fine.
I was thinking some about my minimal mountain bike skills. My assumption has been that it's just a general lack of skills, plus lack of nerve, plus maybe equipment. I think I should add to the list just pure power. Because I noticed today that there were a couple of spots that I've had trouble with before which today were no problem, just made sure I had some speed. My legs have gotten a little stronger this summer and it's nice to notice it every once in a while.