Month: May 2008

Top three things that make a great ride:
3. Newly paved roads.
2. False uphills.
1. Tail wind on the way home.
These are subject to change without notice.

As I walked out of the office at 5:05 to retrieve my biking clothes I realized there was a northwest wind and knowing how quickly the wind can change I dove into my clothes, onto the bike, and onto the Larkspur loop.

Nothing real earth shattering just a nice ride. I went up Larkspur pass, I know it’s just a hill but pass sounds so much more impressive, 2mph faster than two days ago.

The ride home was so much fun. I settled into a nice rhythm and flew home.

Here are the numbers:
21.42 miles, 15.2 mph avg, 38.5 max, 1:24:15 total time, burned 1573 total calories with an avg hrt of 163.

This weekend is packed so I don’t think I’ll get a ride in. We’ll see.

Today I had an employment law update to attend on the south side of town. Yes it was as exciting as it sounds.

Two weeks ago I met someone who rides about 200 miles a week, that should have been my first clue, he said “you ever ride up to Helen Hunt Falls? It’s a great ride.” so today I decided while I was down there I would experience the great ride up. Oh my goodness…..

I got 1 mile into the climb and had to stop my heart rate was maxed out. I hate stopping on climbs. When my heart rate got back to high I decided to press on. .6 mile ahead the road turned from steep to steeper. I stopped again, did I mention I hate stopping on climbs? only this time when I started I had to go horizontally across the road so I could clip in my second shoe. .2 mile up the road I cashed it in feeling totally defeated and disappointed.

I have decided this will be my barometer. Occasionally I will drive down to the canyon and see if I can go further. I will get to the falls before the end of the summer.

Here are the numbers:
6.92 miles, 12.2 avg mph, 36.8 mph max, 34:05 ride time, 44:51 total time, almost 11 minutes gasping for air hoping my head wouldn’t explode. Burned 796 calories, half of what I burned on a 22 mile ride yesterday, and an average hrt of 156, not sure how that works. I’m down to 164 lbs and 19.5% body fat.

I’m doing the Larkspur loop again tomorrow Lord willing and the creek don’t rise. (for all you John Wayne fans)

The weather finally broke, a bit, and I decided it was time to ride the Larkspur loop for the first time this year.

This little loop has become a staple for me because there is not much traffic, a good climb, and plenty of recovery time. I love it.

Tonight after work I jumped on the Felt F75 and headed up through Palmer Lake to Hwy 105 and down hill for about 7 miles with a 22 mph tail wind. So much fun to go fast. This time however I knew the payback would be substantial because that 22 mph wind would be straight into my face on the way home.

Going up Larkspur pass was good I didn’t fall beneath 9mph at all on the ascent and hit the top of the two mile climb listening to SRV playing Scuttle Buttin. I love it when the iPod chooses a good climbing song for me.

Recovered nicely on the downhill and proceeded through Larkspur dreading the next 10 miles. I hit the top of the hill past Larkspur and settled in for a long ride home. It’s a gentle climb for two miles before you hit the first moderate hill. I was in the same gear going the same speed with the same heart rate that I had on the Larkspur pass climb, Wow!

The rest of the ride was good and after the bacon hill portion of the loop I time trialed it home.

Here are the numbers:
21.29 miles, 15.4mph avg, 45.8 max, 1:22:48, burned 1542 calories and 162 avg hrt.

I know the numbers are not very impressive but it was a good ride for me this early in the year and the ride home was not as bad as I expected. Tomorrow I’m at an employment law update on the south side of town so I’ll look for a new route. I let you know how it goes.

BTW. I like this Flock thing.