Today started out like any other... I went to work, I came home, and I did homework. I decided to get out for a ride before dinner and figured, why not try my good 'ol TT route. Remember, I just put a new chain on my bike... having never done this before. I had no idea if I had it right or not, so I was a little worried I'd get stranded again.
Anyway, went out, felt good, didn't quite meet my average speed for the first section, so I figured I'd try to make up for it on the climb and the highway sections. When I got to the end of the highway section, I was right on time. I knew I had to pick up the pace a little to beat my last time. When I was about 6 minutes from home, I was about 6 minutes from my best time. OH NO! SPEED UP! I ended up stopped at a stop light for a few minutes while an ambulance went by with 3 minutes to get home before my time ran out. I wasn't too far away, but there are some pretty tight turns on the way home, so I knew I'd have to push it. Hard. When all was said and done, I beat my best TT time by about 3 seconds, but still only managed a 17.9mph average! DISAPPOINTING! I wanted 18mph in the worst way.... next time. That's my goal before the end of summer.
Stats:
Time: 52 minutes, 44secs
Distance: 15.80 miles
Avg Speed: 17.9mph
Max Speed: 33.8mph
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Can't catch a break...
I cannot seem to catch a break this week with cycling. It's like the god of bicycles has it in for me or something. Yesterday, the spoke on my back wheel breaks. Today? TODAY my chain broke. I was starting a hill 2 miles from my house and my foot dropped mid circle causing me to fall, catching myself with my groin on my saddle. Awesome. I looked back and saw my chain dragging behind me. Awesomer.
I'm about to head over to Performance to see if I can get it replaced for free. If I can, that's sweet. If not, oh well. What can I do? I can't ride the bike without a chain!
I'm about to head over to Performance to see if I can get it replaced for free. If I can, that's sweet. If not, oh well. What can I do? I can't ride the bike without a chain!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Bad start, good finish
Today I took off work because my fiance didn't have class. The plan was to do a 30 mile ride in the early afternoon and then study/do homework. About 3 blocks into the ride, one of the spokes on my rear wheel broke. CRAP!
I took my bike over to Performance and they told me they could fix it for about $15, but they couldn't do it until Wednesday. I figured, that sucks, because I can't ride today or tomorrow, but if I can get it on Wednesday, at least I'll have my bike for vacation to the beach. WRONG! They handed me the slip and it said 8/12/09. NEXT WEDNESDAY. That wasn't going to work for me... but I didn't have any option at the time. I got home, complained to the fiance, and she told me to call other shops to see what I could find out. I called the shop up near my brother's place, they told me to bring it in and they would do it while I wait. So much for waiting a week and a half. I went back to performance, picked up my bike, drove over to Phoenix Cycles and waited while the guy fixed my spoke and did a little tune up... for $10!
I got home, had lunch, and we went for our ride. We did about 22 miles because of the delay and it was so much fun! it was kind of like a date... we stopped and took pictures every so often, looked around at all the farms and really took in the beautiful weather. I really enjoy doing one of my favorite activities with my favorite person in the world... it makes it that much more special for me.
I took my bike over to Performance and they told me they could fix it for about $15, but they couldn't do it until Wednesday. I figured, that sucks, because I can't ride today or tomorrow, but if I can get it on Wednesday, at least I'll have my bike for vacation to the beach. WRONG! They handed me the slip and it said 8/12/09. NEXT WEDNESDAY. That wasn't going to work for me... but I didn't have any option at the time. I got home, complained to the fiance, and she told me to call other shops to see what I could find out. I called the shop up near my brother's place, they told me to bring it in and they would do it while I wait. So much for waiting a week and a half. I went back to performance, picked up my bike, drove over to Phoenix Cycles and waited while the guy fixed my spoke and did a little tune up... for $10!
I got home, had lunch, and we went for our ride. We did about 22 miles because of the delay and it was so much fun! it was kind of like a date... we stopped and took pictures every so often, looked around at all the farms and really took in the beautiful weather. I really enjoy doing one of my favorite activities with my favorite person in the world... it makes it that much more special for me.
I lied
I lied yesterday. I went for a bike ride after all. The rain let up and I got to go out for a short 45 minute ride to take a break from my homework. I tried to hit as many hills as I could while staying close to home so if it started raining I could get home quick. It wasn't the best ride, I took it easy, but it was something... and I got out of the house.
I'm a little disappointed with my weight loss this week. I thought I was lower. I guess that trip the Victory Brewery wasn't such a great idea afterall.
I'm a little disappointed with my weight loss this week. I thought I was lower. I guess that trip the Victory Brewery wasn't such a great idea afterall.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Rain
Today is pretty miserable. It started raining early in the morning and hasn't really stopped all day. It's not supposed to stop until LATE tonight. So, I've spent my whole day sitting on my sofa with my laptop working on graduate school work. This is the first day in a long time that I had the time to ride and haven't gone out. It's pretty sad. I want to get on my bike.
What I learned from this experience is that despite how much I ride, and how many times I climb some miserably long and steep hills, I still LOVE cycling. This is a good sign.
What I learned from this experience is that despite how much I ride, and how many times I climb some miserably long and steep hills, I still LOVE cycling. This is a good sign.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Updates
The weekend has been going very well so far in both cycling and weight loss. Yesterday, my fiance and I went for a 44 mile ride from Valley Forge Park past the Art Museum in Philadelphia along the Schuylkill River Trail. It was a nice slow pace because she'd just ran a half marathon the day before. She loves pain. She's also a great motivator... I certainly wasn't allowed to complain during THAT ride. We took about 3 hours to do it, and got caught in the rain about 4 miles from the car. If my back tire hadn't flatted, we'd have been back in the car and almost home before the rain really started coming down. Oh well.
Today my friend and I went for a short 17 miler with a few nasty hills. One of the hills in Valley Forge Park was pretty steep. I stood for most of it, but stayed right on his wheel. The second hill was probably a mile long, but not quite as steep as the first hill. It was equally as miserable though. I wanted to quit, but wouldn't let myself. I finished it and had to wait at the top. We made it a quick spin back home and now I'm here!
Before the ride today, I'd gone to Performance Bike with my friend to buy my new pedals because they were supposed to be 20% off. They didn't have any in store, so I ended up getting some new tubes (since I've blown two in the last week) and a saddle bag to store my tubes and tools in. I'm tired of having bulging pockets on my jersey. When I got home, I placed the order for Speedplay Zero Stainless pedals. I can't wait for them to get here. To avoid paying the shipping cost, I shipped them to the store, but they're not supposed to get there until August 22nd! AUGH! I want them now!
Today's ride:
Time: 1 hour, 12 minutes, 10secs
Distance: 17.34 miles
Avg Speed: 14.4mph
Max Speed: 33.3mph
Today my friend and I went for a short 17 miler with a few nasty hills. One of the hills in Valley Forge Park was pretty steep. I stood for most of it, but stayed right on his wheel. The second hill was probably a mile long, but not quite as steep as the first hill. It was equally as miserable though. I wanted to quit, but wouldn't let myself. I finished it and had to wait at the top. We made it a quick spin back home and now I'm here!
Before the ride today, I'd gone to Performance Bike with my friend to buy my new pedals because they were supposed to be 20% off. They didn't have any in store, so I ended up getting some new tubes (since I've blown two in the last week) and a saddle bag to store my tubes and tools in. I'm tired of having bulging pockets on my jersey. When I got home, I placed the order for Speedplay Zero Stainless pedals. I can't wait for them to get here. To avoid paying the shipping cost, I shipped them to the store, but they're not supposed to get there until August 22nd! AUGH! I want them now!
Today's ride:
Time: 1 hour, 12 minutes, 10secs
Distance: 17.34 miles
Avg Speed: 14.4mph
Max Speed: 33.3mph
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