6/12 Saturday Ride Thread
I did my Sat ride on Friday, as I'm working on Sat. 2 weeks before IM CDA, I planned on 3 hours, incorporating my FTP testing route in the middle, with a few hills in and out. The plan worked fine until 3 miles before the turnaround, when I hit an unseen rock and flatted my front wheel. Usually, this is no problem, but both tubes (spare and the one I flatted) turned out to be unreliable. So I did something I've never done before - rode home about 20 miles on a flat front wheel (the rear would have been impossible). I found I could go 14-16 mph, and was able to hold a 0.7 IF up the hills. I turned the lemon into lemonade by convincing myself that the combination of boredom and a need to constantly be on the lookout for wiping out from the squirelly flat tire was good mental training for an Ironman. THat and the ache in my shoulders from riding on the bullhorns, and not the aerobars for nearly 2 hours.
The route i was on is popular with cyclists (wide shoulders, light traffic, no lights, good scenery), so I assumed I might see someone as I rode home to get some help. But for the first time in years, I saw zero other riders in either direction.
I hope everyone else has better luck.
Comments
@Al
Way to go Al! Wish it could have been better but you fought through it.
Last week, I was seriously questioning my commitment and desire to do long rides on my TT bike and was wondering if I really wanted to do IMLP. I was all road bike through mid May until after theToC. Once I came home, the TT bike came off the shelf and it was game on. Except, I didn't want to play. I sucked it up for two weeks and did the best I could. Each ride, I felt more comfortable and felt as if my body was adapting to the TT position.
Since I have plenty of miles under my belt from ToC, my biggest limiter is time on the TT bike, so instead of a RR this weekend, I'm doing the typical weekend bike wkos. Today, my goal was to do 4hrs. Bumping up from 3 last week. The weather was great. Overcast, a bit humid, and some sprinkles. My friend Rex (also a friend of EN) joined me and he knew what my plan was. It was great to have company.
Also crossed paths with hot dog cop Steve Ford early in the ride. Nice to see another EN kit on the road.
A good solid ride.
4hrs, 86.7 miles, 21.3mph, .8 IF
No run, had to go to my son's soccer game. I'll do it tomorrow.
Dave