Training Log Archive: PGIn the 1 days ending Aug 11, 2017:
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Friday Aug 11, 2017 #
10 AM
biking - dark blue bike 4:28:54 44.93 mi (5:59 / mi) +6054ft 5:18 / mi
ahr:134 max:160 weight:136.5lbs
One of those days when the legs just aren't there.
Exploring a bunch of back roads I'd never been on north of Route 2 and up just into southern Vermont. Actually there was some thinking behind the choice of route, or perhaps "curiosity" would be a better word. The first 14 miles are part of the D2R2 180K route, the last 23 part of the 160K route, and the miles in between just a way of making a loop while staying on the dirt roads on the ridges.
My expectation from looking at the route profile was that the first 14 would be downright hard, and the rest reasonably mellow (not flat, for sure, but not the kind of hills you wonder if you can get up them). And the plan was to go at whatever pace seemed comfortable, no time goal, no one else I was trying to keep up with.
My expectation was part right, part wrong. The first 14 were definitely hard. But then, given how I was feeling, so was pretty much all the rest except for the last 4.
And my plan, well, might as well just forget about it, because after a while there was no such thing as a comfortable pace, nope, not even in first gear.
But everything wasn't awful. No crashes, no flat tires, no getting lost. And most surprising, didn't have to get off the bike at all, not even on Archambo Road, a very short little hill, maybe 200' climb, but wicked steep, and dirt of course. I got up the first part in second gear, thinking I'd be less likely to spin out there than in first, but about halfway I looked up, saw what was left, and decided I might not make it, and so down to first it was. But I kept a good line, avoiding the loose stuff (sand or gravel) best as I good and before I knew it I was up. (On pavement it would have been no big deal, but loose dirt is quite different.)
Right after that little bump came the long slog up Hillman Road, and by the top of that I was definitely toast. But still 30+ miles to go.
Some days are just meant to test you.
Exploring a bunch of back roads I'd never been on north of Route 2 and up just into southern Vermont. Actually there was some thinking behind the choice of route, or perhaps "curiosity" would be a better word. The first 14 miles are part of the D2R2 180K route, the last 23 part of the 160K route, and the miles in between just a way of making a loop while staying on the dirt roads on the ridges.
My expectation from looking at the route profile was that the first 14 would be downright hard, and the rest reasonably mellow (not flat, for sure, but not the kind of hills you wonder if you can get up them). And the plan was to go at whatever pace seemed comfortable, no time goal, no one else I was trying to keep up with.
My expectation was part right, part wrong. The first 14 were definitely hard. But then, given how I was feeling, so was pretty much all the rest except for the last 4.
And my plan, well, might as well just forget about it, because after a while there was no such thing as a comfortable pace, nope, not even in first gear.
But everything wasn't awful. No crashes, no flat tires, no getting lost. And most surprising, didn't have to get off the bike at all, not even on Archambo Road, a very short little hill, maybe 200' climb, but wicked steep, and dirt of course. I got up the first part in second gear, thinking I'd be less likely to spin out there than in first, but about halfway I looked up, saw what was left, and decided I might not make it, and so down to first it was. But I kept a good line, avoiding the loose stuff (sand or gravel) best as I good and before I knew it I was up. (On pavement it would have been no big deal, but loose dirt is quite different.)
Right after that little bump came the long slog up Hillman Road, and by the top of that I was definitely toast. But still 30+ miles to go.
Some days are just meant to test you.