Your ride today.... (part 1)

[zacklaws]

Could not make a decision what to do today, fancied a 100 miler as I had the time but I had jobs to do as well and also could not get my head round a short one either. Then remembered that I had loaded the 60km route into my Garmin from the following webpage

http://www.eastyorkshireclassic.co.uk/cyclosportive/route.aspx

As I am unsure whether to enter or not (probably working anyway), based on the fact that I cannot climb Nunburnholme hill, spent about 9 months trying, I gave it a go. Putting everything into it I had, I managed to get to the top in one go, only having to stand up once, and sprinting the last 20 metres at the top, I was chuffed.

In total 38 mile, 2 hours 37 minutes, averaging 14.51 mph, with a maximum speed of 41 mph. (crawled up Nunburnholme at 4 mph)

Good day, another hill conquered.

 

[willhub]

Well I did another 47 miles today, but before that I went and got an SKS Raceblade mudguard set, the Met Office said it was going to rain, well clearly me buying the mudguard changed the time line and somehow stopped it raining until 10 mins after I got back to the flat

I did Swiss Hill again, and it was quite tough today, not to get up was easy on myself but I found it hard keeping on the bike, I had to stop about 4 times, twice for cars coming down, I was going up and then my wheel just span no matter how much pressure I put on it, was so slippy, but I'm suspecting my Krylions might be abit worn out . I'm not replacing them yet thought, they have plenty of tread left, I just have to take it steady round corners.

Despite the lower level of wind today I only managed to achieve 18.5 mph until I hit traffic then it went down to about 18.3 mph.

 

[yello]

A landmark ride for me. I've not ridden consecutive 200km rides before (100s yes but not further) so knew I had to; LEL will require at least 4 consecutive big rides! So with yesterday's 200 dispatched with minimum fuss, I set about today's instalment. Getting out of bed was difficult as I SO wanted to stay put for more sleep but needs must. The first 100km where hard; I'd plotted a far hillier route than yesterday but even so that didn't explain the feeling of heavy and empty legs. I dragged myself up climbs and could easily have packed at any time. I had to tough it out and was averaging only around 21kph.

At 100km I decided to stop for a decent break and something to eat. So I diverted to a cafe I knew (Chez Aileene) for a grande creme and a pate sandwich. It meant 10 or 15km off my planned route but it turned out to be an incredibly wise call!

In the afternoon, I joined the club ride and I was a different rider. The legs were still tired but they were at least answering the calls for power. And I seemed to be feeling stronger as the afternoon wore on. I have no idea if it was the coffee (Aileene makes a good coffee, but not that good!) or the pate sandwich (a fave on French rides) but I tend to think it was the rest. I can't believe a 40 minute break can make so much difference but it has made me re-think my LEL tactics. I also now know that I can 'tough out' the difficult times. A watershed ride for me. Mileage and speed mean nothing today.

 

[peanut]

blimey my measly 10 miles tonight seems very insignificant when I read what you lot are doing.

I have been off the bike for a week due to feeling unwell and it came to a head today well actually strictly speaking it was a lower part of my anatomy


Anyway I had decided to do a new 10mile TT loop just to get some idea of form occasionally. There was a cross wind tonight in fact it was bluddy livid every change in direction there it was again. No relief and it was a hilly loop to boot. I was down to 9mph at times on the slightest gradient.

I shan't tell you my time ,needless to say it looked more like a jolly good 25 mile TT time

 

[Chonker]

Took my trike out on the roads today in london, was a bit nervous about mixing it up with the traffic but it went pretty well, having mirrors on is a big help, I had a better awareness of the traffic than I would usually have cycling and people definately seem to give the trike a wide birth.

Did feel a little selfconcious at times though going through town centres.

Only 15miles but enough for me, still finding my recumbent legs. Had to call it short anyway to go into work

 

[HLaB]

I think very wet describes my ride to day. I went one of my usual route and left in the glorious sunshine averaged 16.2mph for the 16.5 miles despite the wind and 1106ft of climbing (according to Bikely The GPS is still to wet to connect the download cable). I stopped at parents for a while and made myself a cup of tea and a sandwich, thinking at least I have that wind behind me on the way back to the flat. I never factored the rain though and it rained solid for about 13 miles. I managed to up the average to 16.7mph (with a 17.2mph ride back) but I'm sure I could of went faster but I had to be very careful on the corners. At the start of the rain, I thought it was only going to be a shower so never bothered with the waterproof At least I found out that my CC gilet is good at keeping my back dry and although my CC armwamers were soked on the outside they kept me warm.

 

[Hollyhillian]

Really pleased with myself.
35 miles after work with 3300 feet of climbing.
Hardest ,longest ride I've done but still had enough at the end to finish with the hill to my house that you have to drive in 1st gear.

Stiff today though

 

[gbb]

Bugger...i'm beginning to feel inadequate in my own thread

As a mere mortal....extended commute tonight, 20 to 25 miles, probably my stock 16 mph (that doesnt change whether i do 10, 20 or 45 miles...wierd innit)...blowy on the outward leg, nice homeward tho...nothing to report really. Quiet uneventful ride.....perfik.

 

[ianrauk]

13 mile commute on my new bike...
(one of the very few commutes she will ever do)

 

[willhub]

Do people find they are loads slower on there commute compared to on a normal ride? I commute like 3miles to college and it feels harder and slower than if I'm on my main bike doing a ride. Don't know if its the bike or just my head

 

[gbb]

Do people find they are loads slower on there commute compared to on a normal ride? I commute like 3miles to college and it feels harder and slower than if I'm on my main bike doing a ride. Don't know if its the bike or just my head

I 'feel' slower, but dont think i actually am. Its because you dont really get warmed up in such a short distance. I find on a longer ride, i dont really settle in till i've done about 5 miles...then it just flows.

 

[peanut]

I 'feel' slower, but dont think i actually am. Its because you dont really get warmed up in such a short distance. I find on a longer ride, i dont really settle in till i've done about 5 miles...then it just flows.

yeah I agree. I used to have a much better ride when I used to stop at a shop after 3-4 miles . Now that I have moved I no longer stop and get that short break to recover my breath and lower my heart rate.

In your case Its probably because you sub-conciously don't want to arrive at work

 

[Auntie Helen]

Today's ride was to Walton-on-the-Naze, 15 flattish miles with a brill tailwind in bright sunshine.

Went to the marina at Walton to watch our boat being hauled out for cleaning/antifouling over the next month. Couldn't resist the chance for some photography of a trike in the world of boats...

Ride home, despite having a tailwind, was still reasonably fast. Changing from Marathon Plus to standard Marathon tyres on the front wheels seems to have made quite a difference.

On Sunday I should be able to get the trike beside the car ferry from Harwich to the Hook of Holland... which will make the trike seem VERY small!

 

[BigonaBianchi]

Just a steady ride along the coast into Brighton...hung out on the beach terrorising seagulls and rode back against the headwind

 

[dellzeqq]

up with the lark, and out through Clapham South, Kennington, Westminster Bridge, Trafalgar Square, Oxford Circus for two laps of Regents Park with the Babe. Tremendous speed at one point on the first lap - 20mph on the flat, which, for her is brilliant. All that shouting 'wheeeeeeeeeee!' is a bit embarrasing as we are overtaken by people with tri-bars, but I remained admirably cool (or attempted to) until somebody passed us and complemented the bike. She read the signs and said 'go on Simon, do a fast lap', which was sweet of her, and so I did. And we then met up, and went south across Hyde Park - the Serpentine looking lovely, through South Ken, and down to Sloane Square for brekky (oeufs florentine, yummy) and then across Clapham Common which is just beginning to dry out a fraction, and home.

Went down to Brixton Cycles to pick up groovy saddle and new matching BC caps (we're sooooo Mr. and Mrs.). And now the car to Waitrose and the garden centre. Dull, but you can't have everything.