The intervals are paying off, I think. Today was Sportsman and the hobbit village.
Sportsman climb - 15:30 (new record)
Total average speed - 16.22 mph
24 August 2010
21 August 2010
Week in Review
Sunday, Jim drove up and we did the Sportsman climb and the hobbit village climb
Wednesday was VO2 Max intervals up Sportsman.
Friday was a three-climb ride. Texter Mountain climb: 16:35. New record! And not bad given the heat and the headwind.
Wednesday was VO2 Max intervals up Sportsman.
Friday was a three-climb ride. Texter Mountain climb: 16:35. New record! And not bad given the heat and the headwind.
13 August 2010
20:23
Myerstown time trial today. Good weather conditions. Overcast, 72 with very little wind.
And I finally broke the 20 mph average speed barrier!!! Hit 20 mph average at Robesonia on the way back and gained speed to the end with a final average of 20:23. Nervous energy trying to hold the 20 all the way to the tuxedo shop.
Average speed: 20:23
Approx time: 1:43:00
Distance: 34 miles
Next goal? Repeat that. The goal after that? 22 mph average.
And I finally broke the 20 mph average speed barrier!!! Hit 20 mph average at Robesonia on the way back and gained speed to the end with a final average of 20:23. Nervous energy trying to hold the 20 all the way to the tuxedo shop.
Average speed: 20:23
Approx time: 1:43:00
Distance: 34 miles
Next goal? Repeat that. The goal after that? 22 mph average.
12 August 2010
VO2 Max
Since I appear to be hitting wall in terms of speed, I'm getting back to intervals. This time, VO2 Max intervals as described here.
Set 1
3 minutes on, 3 minutes off, 3 minutes on
6 minutes off
Set 2
3 minutes on, 3 minutes off, 3 minutes on
I suffered through these beginning on Main Street leading into the mental hospital then all the way up Sportsman.
OUCH.
Set 1
3 minutes on, 3 minutes off, 3 minutes on
6 minutes off
Set 2
3 minutes on, 3 minutes off, 3 minutes on
I suffered through these beginning on Main Street leading into the mental hospital then all the way up Sportsman.
OUCH.
Climbing Update
I've been taking it easy for the last several rides. Or, at least, I intended to take it easy. I've been mainly climbing the usual routes, minus Texter Mountain Rd.
Thursday:
Easy climbing
Uphill time trial on Sportsman (not so easy) - 16:07
Sunday:
Easy climbing (not Texter Mountain Rd.)
Up Sportsman, down to Newmanstown
Back around to Sportsman up and back
Thursday:
Easy climbing
Uphill time trial on Sportsman (not so easy) - 16:07
Sunday:
Easy climbing (not Texter Mountain Rd.)
Up Sportsman, down to Newmanstown
Back around to Sportsman up and back
03 August 2010
Time Trial Issues
I can't figure out why I keep hitting the wall on time trials. Might be the heat or I might not be getting enough calories in me for 33 miles of all-out effort.
There was a crosswind on the way out, and a headwind on the way back. Cracked at around Womelsdorf when I realized that no matter how hard I go, I won't beat a 19:75 mph average speed. So I sat up and soft-pedaled home. Again.
Gotta figure this out.
There was a crosswind on the way out, and a headwind on the way back. Cracked at around Womelsdorf when I realized that no matter how hard I go, I won't beat a 19:75 mph average speed. So I sat up and soft-pedaled home. Again.
Gotta figure this out.
31 July 2010
More Like It
Not a lot of time today, so it was a two-climb ride. Texter and hobbit village.
Began the Texter climb at 23:40 into the ride. Reached the top at 40:25. That's a new personal best by 55 seconds (previous record 17:40).
Texter Mountain climb - 16:45
Split at 1 mile (Focht Rd) - 9:20
Honestly, I was a little shocked at the time. So much so that for the rest of the ride, I was doing the math over and over to make sure I didn't miss something.
Began the Texter climb at 23:40 into the ride. Reached the top at 40:25. That's a new personal best by 55 seconds (previous record 17:40).
Texter Mountain climb - 16:45
Split at 1 mile (Focht Rd) - 9:20
Honestly, I was a little shocked at the time. So much so that for the rest of the ride, I was doing the math over and over to make sure I didn't miss something.
29 July 2010
Easy Ride
I intended to do an "easy ride" today in the mountains (three climb ride). Didn't want to go all out or anything. Just relax and recover from all the hard efforts and heat recently.
Texter Mountain climb - 17:40
Average speed on Texter Mountain - 9.1 mph
Texter Mountain climb - 17:40
Average speed on Texter Mountain - 9.1 mph
27 July 2010
Vomit
A third time trial in five days. Was strong for the first half and my split average speed was 19.4mph at Myerstown. Then I blew up in Robesonia. Soft-pedaled home, feeling like throwing up the whole way. Very exhausted by the time I arrived home.
Temps around 90 and, I think, too many time trials in a row. Just ran out of energy. Part of it had to do with the fact that I wasn't really improving my average speed rapidly enough on the return, and so the math was discouraging. I will break 20 before the end of the season.
Temps around 90 and, I think, too many time trials in a row. Just ran out of energy. Part of it had to do with the fact that I wasn't really improving my average speed rapidly enough on the return, and so the math was discouraging. I will break 20 before the end of the season.
25 July 2010
Another Time Trial
Strongest TT since whenever. Temperatures around 80, which I think helped a lot.
Average speed - 19.6 mph
Had enough energy at the end to drill it up the Redners slope and the final uphill section to the tuxedo shoppe. But then I felt like vomiting.
Average speed - 19.6 mph
Had enough energy at the end to drill it up the Redners slope and the final uphill section to the tuxedo shoppe. But then I felt like vomiting.
22 July 2010
Wasted
Attempting a time trial today. Failed.
Strong 15mph headwind the whole way out to Myerstown. Cracked at Myerstown, and the wind shifted to a crosswind, so no impetus to keep going and make up time on the return. Soft-pedaled home.
Average speed - 17.5mph
Temperature - 95
Strong 15mph headwind the whole way out to Myerstown. Cracked at Myerstown, and the wind shifted to a crosswind, so no impetus to keep going and make up time on the return. Soft-pedaled home.
Average speed - 17.5mph
Temperature - 95
20 July 2010
Going Backwards
Three climb ride today. Head wind on all climbs.
Texter Mountain climb - 18:30 (worst yet!)
Average Speed - 14.45 mph
Not sure if it was the wind, the heat or my fitness going backwards.
New Shimano PD-M150 pedals are outstanding, though!
Texter Mountain climb - 18:30 (worst yet!)
Average Speed - 14.45 mph
Not sure if it was the wind, the heat or my fitness going backwards.
New Shimano PD-M150 pedals are outstanding, though!
19 July 2010
Three Climb Ride
Elevation profile of the "three climb ride."
1) Texter Mountain Rd.
2.9 miles
4.7% average gradient
22% max gradient
Descent on Sportsman
2) Furnace to Galen Hall
2.1 miles
4.7% average gradient
Descent in reverse
3) Sportsman Rd.
2.8 miles
4.3% average gradient
12% max gradient
Descent in reverse
2,600 feet of climbing.
1) Texter Mountain Rd.
2.9 miles
4.7% average gradient
22% max gradient
Descent on Sportsman
2) Furnace to Galen Hall
2.1 miles
4.7% average gradient
Descent in reverse
3) Sportsman Rd.
2.8 miles
4.3% average gradient
12% max gradient
Descent in reverse
2,600 feet of climbing.
13 July 2010
Seized Pedal
I wonder how long I've been riding with my left pedal seized up? It might explain why I've felt like such shit recently.
Three climb ride today again. Felt like hell on lower Texter Mountain Rd.
Texter climb - 17:40 (again -- boo!)
Average speed - 15mph (better than last week)
Not a lot of wind. High humidity. Around 85 degrees.
Three climb ride today again. Felt like hell on lower Texter Mountain Rd.
Texter climb - 17:40 (again -- boo!)
Average speed - 15mph (better than last week)
Not a lot of wind. High humidity. Around 85 degrees.
11 July 2010
Nervous Ride
A new route is always nervous. There were two riders who crashed in Robesonia and were being helped by an ambulance and police officer. The taller, lankier rider had some pretty severe road rash on his face. Not sure what happened. Thought about stopping and asking them if it was a hit-and-run. Either way, it freaked me out -- on top of the untried route.
The route was out to Womelsdorf, then right onto 419 and north to 183 and to the vicinity of the Appalachian Trail. I made it to within a mile of Gobbler's Spur Road and had to turn back. 183 was too dangerous. Narrow shoulder and too many speeding cars.
On the way back, my left pedal broke, but I was able to continue using it.
47 miles
2:52
16.54 average speed
Headwind (NNW) out, tailwind home
Ride profile (half distance to Appalachian Trail):
The route was out to Womelsdorf, then right onto 419 and north to 183 and to the vicinity of the Appalachian Trail. I made it to within a mile of Gobbler's Spur Road and had to turn back. 183 was too dangerous. Narrow shoulder and too many speeding cars.
On the way back, my left pedal broke, but I was able to continue using it.
47 miles
2:52
16.54 average speed
Headwind (NNW) out, tailwind home
Ride profile (half distance to Appalachian Trail):
08 July 2010
Meltdown
95 degrees plus humidity. I opted for the three-climb ride. Texter Mountain Road, Furnace to Galen to the hobbit village, then Sportsman. Mini-climb on Preston.
17:40 on the Texter Mountain climb.
14.4 mph average speed
Wasn't drilling it at all.
17:40 on the Texter Mountain climb.
14.4 mph average speed
Wasn't drilling it at all.
04 July 2010
Intervals
Scorching hot day. Still not recovered from hard effort on Friday's TT. Legs were very weak.
Did seven headwind interval repetitions at the mental hospital, then the easy recovery climb up Sportsman. Consistently hit 27.5 mph on the interval reps despite being exhausted, hot and weak.
I can't remember it being this windy in mid-Summer.
Did seven headwind interval repetitions at the mental hospital, then the easy recovery climb up Sportsman. Consistently hit 27.5 mph on the interval reps despite being exhausted, hot and weak.
I can't remember it being this windy in mid-Summer.
02 July 2010
Almost There
Solid Myerstown TT today. Very minor headwind on the way out. Minor tailwind on the way back. Not much flag movement. Mid- to low-80s.
Average speed: 19.75 mph
Time: 1:50
Distance: 36.71 miles
Cruising speed on the way out: 20.5 mph give or take
Cruising speed on the way back: 23 mph give or take
It's very likely I would've broken the 20 mph average speed threshold, but I had to stop at four different traffic signals. Rare. One of them was the usually empty Richland intersection on the way back. The slowing, stopping then starting up again really impacts the average speed calculations.
Average speed: 19.75 mph
Time: 1:50
Distance: 36.71 miles
Cruising speed on the way out: 20.5 mph give or take
Cruising speed on the way back: 23 mph give or take
It's very likely I would've broken the 20 mph average speed threshold, but I had to stop at four different traffic signals. Rare. One of them was the usually empty Richland intersection on the way back. The slowing, stopping then starting up again really impacts the average speed calculations.
30 June 2010
Two Climbs
Got a late start so I did a shorter 2-climb ride. Texter Mountain Road and Galen Hall to the hobbit village, then home.
Total average speed - 15.5 mph
Texter Mountain Road hill climb - 17:30
Uphill sprint to Redners - Held a solid 23mph
Texter climb was painful at the bottom. But did the first mile to Focht Road in 9:30, which I think is faster that usual.
Total average speed - 15.5 mph
Texter Mountain Road hill climb - 17:30
Uphill sprint to Redners - Held a solid 23mph
Texter climb was painful at the bottom. But did the first mile to Focht Road in 9:30, which I think is faster that usual.
27 June 2010
Mt. Penn Climb
Finally did the climb to the summit of Mt. Penn.
The road was closed for a previous car race, so I had the road to myself.
9.5mph average from the bottom of Duryea to the Fire Tower. Remarkably hot -- around 95 degrees.
The descent was too sketchy, though, so I'll probably avoid this climb for a long while. Bad roads, lots of potholes.
The road was closed for a previous car race, so I had the road to myself.
9.5mph average from the bottom of Duryea to the Fire Tower. Remarkably hot -- around 95 degrees.
The descent was too sketchy, though, so I'll probably avoid this climb for a long while. Bad roads, lots of potholes.
24 June 2010
Catching Up
It's 2010 and a couple of years since the last time I posted, but I certainly haven't stopped training and riding. From here on out, I'll be logging my progress as I ramp up my efforts.
Weight: 185 lbs. (weighed 240 in 2007-2008)
Average speed max on Myerstown TT: 19.7mph
Cruising speed on Myerstown TT: 22mph
Average ride time: 2.5 hours
Currently combining the Eagles Peak climb with the Texter Mountain climb and the Galen climb.
Also, I finally did the South Mountain climb up from Newmanstown.
Working on interval training once a week to increase overall average speed.
Weight: 185 lbs. (weighed 240 in 2007-2008)
Average speed max on Myerstown TT: 19.7mph
Cruising speed on Myerstown TT: 22mph
Average ride time: 2.5 hours
Currently combining the Eagles Peak climb with the Texter Mountain climb and the Galen climb.
Also, I finally did the South Mountain climb up from Newmanstown.
Working on interval training once a week to increase overall average speed.
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