Today I woke with sore legs  and sunburn and I could not be happier. The almost 6 hours in the saddle this weekend just reminded me of how far away I am from where I want to be in terms of bike riding. 

Saturday I hit up the breakfast ride as usual. Its morphed to road bikes now. I know going in that I will struggle to keep up on the hills. I set myself up for failure so that I'm not too upset when it happens. But it was a pretty good ride all in all. I rode from the store and that's about 6 miles to the lot where we start. So really, I have a bit of a bonus on the guys driving out to the lot.

And I knew that with the extra 12 miles tacked on to the entire ride that I would be hurting when done and accepted the inevitable. I was prepared to destroy myself.

Things were rolling normal. I would sit in, then get dropped on the climbs, then they would wait up. Repeat several times. And I was not that far back. Maybe 100 yards at most at times. But I was working hard even in the group and knew that if I did the entire ride I would have almost 65 miles in with a HR average of close to 160. I now religiously wear my monitor.

After talking to SteveD a little we both agreed it was best to cut a bit short. I'm pretty sure I could have hung in with the passive group that day but just thought it would be best to keep my ride around 50 miles. I knew I was going to be sore and wanted to ride Sunday too.

It was a good decision. We broke off and still made it back to town with almost 3 hours in the saddle. Nice ride.

Sunday I was going to call out a ride but decided not to. I was just a bit to tired from the prior day and just wanted to two hour "recovery" ride instead of another balls out group ride. And that was the best call as both SteveD and I got in another 2.5 hours with a much more comfortable pace. Another sunburn kinda ride. Gatta love it.

So today its off the bike as rain is coming in and tomorrow looks to be the warmest day of the week so I will ride in the morning for sure.

I'm feeling better with every ride and its all going according to plan. 

Now, I little weight loss would not hurt.....

Bring that on.

DLD

It Continues. WI Weather Apocalypse.

825am

HP visit was awesome today. Huge sun. Quiet beach. Good times. Why the pic of the dirty snow pile? Every year I believe this is the last remaining snow pile in the entire county.  Its plowed up against a small hilly sand thingie and never gets sun. The sand keeps it cool. Then throw in the tree cover and its very protected.

So I always keep an eye on it to see how long it lasts. Even 70 degree temps only put a small dent in it. Just another stupid thing I do in the HP.

 That and think about things. Today I thought about this crazy warm weather. And what it all means....

A term I hear a lot lately about the weather is that "we are going to pay" for it. "Just wait for that April snow storm". People are almost scared. Like something bad is going to happen. I see people coming in the store with a crazy look in their eyes. "What does this mean? Why is this happening?" they ask. Let me remind you....

This is not the warmest winter on record...

This is not the driest winter on record.....

So calm down. This has all happened before. What was bad for skiing has turned into good for riding. So just do it. And stop looking over your shoulder for the end of the world. That's first in December. Quite a ways off yet.

Being in the weather driven business Im in I always look at forecasts. It helps with deciding inventory levels.

10 day looks like all over 60 degrees....

This morn the National Weather Service released the 90 day:  Above average temps to continue. Below average precipitation to continue.

That's means its going to be an awesome bike riding spring and one that's needed.

Pay for this? We pre paid last spring, remember?

We have been carrying this balance on our account way to long and its about time we cash in. So cash it and stop worrying about the crazy temps and get out side!

Do it for real.

DLD

815am

It feels good to have a bike back on the roof. This mornings HP visit was a bit short as I had to get to the store early. Yesterday was a crazy banner day on the the sales floor. Close to 10 bikes out the door and a nice Madone on order. I ditched the store during the may lay to hit up the WNWSR but left the store in good hands.

However the floor needs a little straighting up after a run like we had yesterday so early to work I go. I'll be here almost 12 hours today and I don't mind for this reason.

So............

Yesterdays WNWSR went well for me as it was for sure an easy one by standards. It was just crazy how only 7 bikes showed. At 70 degrees I was expecting 20.

So off we went heading into a wind than seems to grow just as we left town. One thing I notice as I get older I take much longer to warm up. The kids just jump on their bikes and crank it up to 20+mph. And still seem to be able to talk. I always struggle with this scenario and as I mentioned, some time on a trainer warming up would do me good. I think I will start 20 min early and take a short loop around to maybe get the legs up and running before the next ride starts and see if that helps. 

Anyway, it was just a matter of time before I got spit off the back in a stiff headwind. Soon I was 50 yards off the back. I looked at my garmin. Its was only 13 minutes into the ride. Are you kidding me? I was not even warmed up and I'm done....

One of the riders saw me and came back to get me(thx John H.) Once he pulled me back in the group I hide out in the back for another 20 minutes or so until my legs felt better and I was good to go the rest of the hour and 45 min ride. 

I still suffered on the hills but the guys took it easy as I could stay in contact. They were, however, again amazed at my heart rate. Several times I called out 175 when they were calling out 135. Again, due to the extra work I have to do.

I rolled in with a 16.2 MPH and a 155HR average. And these rides will only get faster.

I realize I will always be working harder then them and hope to take a few pounds off soon. Rides like this can only be doing me good. Its only March.

Just keep telling myself its only March.

DLD

Wednesday Nite Worlds Social Ride (new beginnings)

Tonite starts the summer long WNWSR. This road ride has been going on longer than I have been riding. Its kinda a complement to our Saturday breakfast rides. Kinda the same route. But no stopping for food. Or anything for that matter.

This is not a ride for the average rider. Over the years there has been a Tuesday "recovery" ride for all the fast guys who raced over the weekend. That ride died out and now has morphed into the Wednesday social ride. Speed picking up over time. Just a little at a time but all of a sudden the WNWSR was a game on ride that I ussually missed out. 

I used to make all these rides but since my form took a crap its nearly impossible for me to do nowadays. I think I attended three last summer only to get dropped like a sack of moldly diapers each time as had to solo home.

So now its a new year and I'll try it again. Knowing full well that my weight is up and form is down. But its only March so I'll use this ride for so called training.
Really, I have to treat this "social ride" just like a race. I gatta eat right and warm up properly or I will never even get in the game.
I always tell everyone Im going to come early and warm up on a trainer. But I don't. Cuz that would be silly. But it would help me.

Intervels will come a plenty for me. I'll have to push hard to hang on as long as I can. I will amaze everybody at my heart rate. Most of the time the skinny guys dont belive me when I tell them my rate. But then again, they forget Im pushing 100 more pounds than they are up that damn hill.

Today will be more of a "training" WNWSR as its still March and more than likely snow once or twice, scaring away all the roadies and their carbon machines. Heck, I got mine all dirty yesterday so Im good to go.
So just like the pro guys, its a new year with new hopes and dreams.
At least until 5pm today...... then its back to reality.
Wish me luck.


DLD

Electronic (Iron) Maiden Voyage

925am In the HP

So I did it. I tuned up the Madone and put 17 miles on it this morn. This was my first ride on electronic Ultegra or electronic of any kind for that matter. First impression?

O.M.G. You could not slap the smile off my face.

I left the shop in the small ring and just cruised thru the city. I didn't even shift. I have about 5 blocks of traffic before I can relax a bit on the bike so I didn't shift for that time frame. Its still a bit weird for me to hop on a 9k bike and ride it for the first time. Im always kinda nervous for some reason. I did measure it up for me but I always make a few seat of my pants adjustments and concentrate on what those are right off the bat.

One minute after the first pic was taken. Easton wheels rock.

As I expected, I was real close so no stopping needed. Just need to shim the stem a little lower on the steer tube and I wasn't going to do that till I got back to the store.

I hit the wide open spaces of southern DANOville and my cadence is up so its time to shift.

My first real life electronic shift. Im giddy as a school girl.

So I shift. Right hand shift on the cassette and my cadence speeds up instead of slowing.

I hit the wrong button.

After I figured out the button situation I shift to the proper gear. I know I shifted cuz my cadence slowed. But I didn't hear it. Or even feel it move to the new gear ratio. Its that quiet and that fast. Holy crap.

The young boy in me wanted to grab this new toy and just start shifting up and down and back and forth just because I can but I don't. I only shift when I needed to.

And really. Was amazed.

Now, I know this tech as been here for years and I did shift one on a trainer at Interbike a few years ago but its just so different doing in the real world. On your own bike.

Sure, I own a bike store. I could have DA Di if I wanted too. I did not want to. Way too expensive. I'm sure that stopped many. But now, Ultegra Di is reasonably priced and if you ride your road bike a lot, as most of us do, there is no reason not to do this electric stuff.

Sooner or later you all will have this.

Im not going to bore you with all the tech stuff. We all have read a million reviews on this.

How much do I like it?

I can safely say Im never going back to mechanical. And that just after 17 miles. Its that good.

What do I like the best? Sure it shifts quick and silent but I really like the automatic front derailleur trim as you work your way up and down the cassette. Last year I had Sram Red and I liked it. But the front derailleur was terrible for trim. Now I don't even think about it. Trim? 

Not sure what Shimano has in store for the future. 105 Di ? Maybe even more price friendly?

Everyone is now waiting for XTR Di. MTB electronics are not far away.

And as soon as a normally obsessed cyclist can afford it I will have it.

And not before.

The weather here is crazy warm. Almost 30 degrees over norm. Any bike store who leans on winter sports to get by needs this. I'm not sure who to thank, but... thanks.

Tomorrow I plan on a morning and afternoon ride. Both on the Madone.

Yes, after 17 miles I am spoiled.

DLD

DLD