Training Log Archive: PG

Montague Center, Cave Hill, North Amherst. Low 70s, S10, caught some rain for about 20 minutes while I was in the hills, but not enough to be unpleasant. And certainly had a nice tailwind the last few miles.

It seems like a good percentage of my rides have some sort of purpose, with the possibilities including:

-- just get out and do it because when it's over you'll be glad you did.
-- go as easy as possible because you're tired (but it's too nice out to just skip the day).
-- go someplace I haven't been, or rarely go.
-- go for more than the usual distance/duration.
-- do something hard (steep/rough/long), just to see if you can do it.
-- go as hard as you can, just to see what you can do.
-- do a certain section (or sections) as hard as you can, with the rest at a lesser effort.

I suppose many of these could be called "competitive" goals, but at the most they are just competitive with myself. Because I am, and there's no avoiding it, really slow. :-)

But being competitive just with myself is rather nice. I don't have to worry that my bike may be a bit of a clunker. I don't have to worry about who else is going to show up. I just do my thing.

But I do like to know how I'm doing.

There's a website, Strava, I've looked at it a bit over the years. These days I look at it a bit more, because it has these things called segments, where it figures out what your data are -- time, speed, heart rate, watts, distance, climb -- and then shows you how you stack up against others. It's rather interesting. I assume the data are somewhat accurate. They certainly are plenty accurate enough for me, because all I'm looking for is entertainment.

The data certainly confirms that I am really slow. On most climbs I will be about twice the best time. That is just the reality, so no reason to get depressed about it since, after all, I'm 73 and still out doing this stuff.

On the positive side, I have not yet seen a segment where I am dead last. Pretty good. Got to take pleasure where you can.

And more seriously, it gives me little targets to occasionally test myself against. And that is not a bad thing.

So today it was the north side of Cave Hill. Best time before today was 6:54. Today was 6:22. Am I supposed to feel bad because the best time is 3:10? Because I don't. I'm actually feeling quite delighted. :-)

Gears (just so I remember), all in big chain ring: started in 5th, changed to 4th before long, changed to 3rd on the steeper bit before the crossroads, kept that the rest of the way, though that took some effort. Equivalent to 8th/7th/6th in the small chain ring. I think last time I'd used 5th in the small ring all the way, so this was clearly better. Better meaning that I could push a bigger gear at an OK cadence.

C • If you use Garmin Connect, ... 2

C • delighted 4

C • A couple of things 3

Fun and games, got a letter from the IRS, we've been audited. Again. Actually it's 4th time. So far the IRS is 0 for 3.

Took a look at their proposed changes. Looks like they're going to be 0 for 4. :-)

Time for one of my standard tests, up South Sugarloaf. 9:05 for the climb last year, 9:13 about a month ago, but I thought I ought to be able to beat the latter at least. But it takes some willpower to actually do it, as it's not exactly fun.

Thought I'd try a little more of a warm-up than I usually do, so did did the short climb over Hillside Road (from the east), steady tempo, got the blood flowing. And then pedaled easily over to the Sugarloaf road and headed up.

Splits were good as I went up. One quick look at the heartrate a minute or two below the top and it was 167 (I think my max is about 170), so clearly I wasn't dogging it. And the time at the top was a very pleasing 8:49.

Coasted down, did a few gentle miles on the way home, legs feeling quite empty. A good outing.

Splits: 2:34, 5:17, 6:19, 7:28, 8:12, 8:49. Gears: 4th the first pitch, 3rd the part below the hairpin, 2nd the rest. Cadence seemed OK.

Lingering headache, but I thought a ride might be a good diversion, and it was. Very easy pace, mostly flat. Another nice day, upper 70s, not much wind.

Celebrated our 45th yesterday. There was a Triple Crown winner this year, just as there was the day we got married, Secretariat back then. When I start hearing chatter about the Belmont Stakes coming up, it's a good reminder that we've got an anniversary coming up too. Otherwise we would quite likely forget.

Went to dinner at the Blue Heron in town. An upscale place, former Sunderland town hall, sold to them for a dollar when it was in bad need of repair and we had moved the town offices to the old elementary school. It's a beautiful spot now. Highlight of the meal was an appetizer I tried on a whim, dates and some blue cheese wrapped in bacon. Delicious, and enough to share. :-)

C • Congrats 3

Too nice a day not to get out, even though the legs were a little tired. Mostly an easy pace, but I did occasionally push on the pedals a bit harder.

It seems my legs are getting a little stronger, since I seem to be able to ride about a gear higher than a month or two ago. Time to do a little test. Also time to head off on some more adventurous outings.

With Walter and Ciel, in the hills to the east at a relaxed pace with a good bit on dirt roads. Beautiful morning, good company, and just the right pace as my legs were definitely tired.

Felt like something different, so off to the Berkshires for a loop from West Stockbridge south just into CT and back. Another nice day though a touch warm, wind was light and variable.

Plan was just a modest effort as the legs didn't feel too spry. It turned out they felt not so bad as long as the road was flat (or down), which much of the route was. The first hilly bit was in the south end of the loop, just before halfway, and I sure felt that. The second bit of hills was towards the end and I was crawling up them.

But it was nice to see some new terrain, including quite a few mansions with immaculate landscaping. And the only congested area was Great Barrington, but there was a nice bike lane and every light was green. Seriously. :-)

What used to be my standard loop (Old Deerfield - River Road), until I got more adventurous. But it seemed like what I felt like doing today. Good breeze out of the south, 10-15 mph.

Had a good tailwind the first half, so didn't have to work very hard. But then on the way back along River Road and over the rollers, kept my head down and put out a real good effort. Pleasantly surprised at the progress I seemed to be making into the wind. And the overall pace was better than expected.