Last Training Ride!!!!

2011 miles to date: 3,834!!!!

I took my last training ride today, just a short 25 miles and it was mainly to check out my new shoes and my new camera set up, both worked out great.  My camera is attached to my handle bars with a quick clamp with a swivel base. The clamp is very light weight and sturdy.  I set my camera to take a picture every minuet, below are a few of the 135 pictures it took during my ride.  They came out pretty good considering the amount of vibration from my handle bars.

 

My bike is on it's way to Astoria, OR and it should get to the starting hotel tomorrow.  All I have left to do before I leave is:

Pack
Get my Truck smog checked.
Pay my bills
Set up my computer
Make a bracket for my rear view camera.
Order prints for the auction at work
Get my new blog together (bob2wheels.blogspot.com)
Get the trash picked up
Take donations to Goodwill
Put supply packages together
Return some stuff I over bought
and a few other things

Ride Like The Wind - NOT

The wind picked up during today's training ride and it was a struggle to get home.  My energy was low and I had to stop for a Power-bar break.  While I waited for my energy to come back I played with my new camera and took the following shot.

Goleta Beach

I started to fell better after about 20 minuets, I made it home and I did put another 40 miles in.  17 days to go!!!

Pedal On!

Another 40 bites the dust

I got off a little late from work but I still managed to log in my scheduled 40 miles.  I had a sweet tail wind on the way out, but a nasty headwind on the way back.  The last 10 miles the wind died down.  This should be my largest mileage week of the year, at least 350 miles.

It's all starting to be somewhat surreal,  it doesn't fell like I'm really going to do this again, but in 18 days I'll be in Astoria, OR meeting the rest of the riders and dipping my wheel in the Pacific Ocean.

Pedal On!

Pic Of The Day

These are some of my rest spots during my training rides.

Butterfly Beach

Henry's Beach

Goleta Beach

Training Update - 19 Days to go!!!!

2011 Miles to date - 3,574
2 Weeks of training left
Last century ride scheduled for 6/4

I had a bad fall a couple of weeks ago, I hit a very slick spot going through some water under a small overpass and my bike just slid from under me.  My left knee hit the pavement and slid for about 15 feet.  I also took out another rider going the opposite direction.   I could have been much worst, my knee just missed a metal grate that would have torn up my knee, all I got was road rash on my left Knee.  My hands were banged up but nothing bad.  The other rider was uninjured.   My bike, however, was a different story, the handle bar snapped, from the collision into the other rider, it was not ride-able.  Fortunately there was a very nice young lady that helped me out.  She witnessed my fall and she stopped to make sure I was OK.  Her name, I believe was Joy.   She is a lifeguard and graduating from UCSB  with a masters degree in education.  Anyway she gave me a lift home.  Now if more people were more like Joy, willing to go out of there way to help a complete stranger, this world would be a much nicer place to live in.

THANK YOU JOY!!!!!!

Other updates:

I had my bike overhauled, I think I found a new saddle, trying out some new bike shorts.

My training will continue for at least two more weeks, will try to hit 4,000 mils!!!!

I plan to ship my bike out next week,  I can't believe I leave in 19 Days!!!!

Pedal On!!

Pic Of The Day

Just a couple of photo's of Goleta Beach - testing out my new camera.

3000 MILES!!!!

Monday I met my training goal of 3000 miles, a month early.  Now to go for 4000 miles!!! by June 12th

Training Update

One month of training left.  This month I will work on increasing my weekly miles to 300+ and add back to back long rides of 70+ miles on the weekend.  So far I'm doing very well except that I'm looking for a new bike saddle and so far no luck, they don't make the model that I like any more.

2011 miles to date: 2,977
Weekly miles: 283
Back to back ride of 71 miles and 71 miles this weekend.

Training Update

4/24/11

Well it’s been a while since I updated my training blog, partially because I was having internet access problems and in part because I got bored writing about my training. So I took a break from it for a while, but now I’m back. The following are highlights of my training so far:

Miles to date: 2,554; goal 3,000 by June 12th

Number of century rides: 5 (goal 8 centuries by 6/12), Stagecoach, Palm Springs, Death Valley, Solvang, and Gold Coast.  The Solvang Century was my personal best century to date; averaged over 15mph and took 6.75 hrs.  Death Valley was my personal worst century to date; did not finish, had to be SAGed in (my first and hopefully only time).  Made it 75 miles, there was a constant 20 to 30+mph, straight on, headwind for the first 40 miles and I struggled to maintain a 5 to 7 mph on the flats and going downhill.   The winds shifted on the return leg and I was hammed with more head wind on the way back, my knee was in terrible pain and I had to stop.

Number of century rides scheduled: 3, Conejo, Ojai, and one of my own.

Number of ridding days per week:  I have been ridding 6 days a week for the past several weeks and have been increasing my weekly miles. 

Monday: 30 miles below pace; flat

Tuesdays: 35 miles at pace; small hills

Wednesday: 25 miles; Hill climb

Thursday: 35 miles at pace with sprints

Friday: Off day

Saturday: 75+ miles with hills

Sunday: 50+ miles flat

Training Update week ending 2/13/11

Date: 2/8/11

Ride: Indoor Spinning

Distance: 19 miles

Ride time: 45 min

Avg. Speed: 

Elevation Gain: 

Avg. Cadence: 

Calories burned: 463

Date: 2/9/11

Ride: Indoor Spinning

Distance: 19 miles

Ride time: 45 min

Avg. Speed: 

Elevation Gain: 

Avg. Cadence: 

Calories burned: 463

Date: 2/12/11

Ride: Tour de Palm Springs

Distance: 107 miles

Ride time: 7 hr 15 min

Avg. Speed: 14.5

Elevation Gain: 3,448

Avg. Cadence: 72

Calories burned: 5,487

Weekly Miles: 147

Miles to date: 722

Training Update week ending 1/30/11

Short week of training, no weekend rides this week.

Date: 1/31/11

Ride: Indoor Spinning

Distance: 19 miles

Ride time: 45 min

Avg. Speed: 

Elevation Gain: 

Avg. Cadence: 

Calories burned: 463

Date: 2/2/11

Ride: Indoor Spinning

Distance: 19 miles

Ride time: 45 min

Avg. Speed: 

Elevation Gain: 

Avg. Cadence: 

Calories burned: 463

Date: 2/3/11

Ride: Indoor Spinning

Distance: 19 miles

Ride time: 45 min

Avg. Speed: 

Elevation Gain: 

Avg. Cadence: 

Calories burned: 463

Weekly miles: 57 :(

Miles to date: 575

Training Update week ending 1/30/11

Increased Spinning sessions to 3 times a week

Date: 1/25/11

Ride: Indoor Spinning

Distance: 19 miles

Ride time: 45 min

Avg. Speed: 

Elevation Gain: 

Avg. Cadence: 

Calories burned: 460

Date: 1/26/11

Ride: Indoor Spinning

Distance: 19 miles

Ride time: 45 min

Avg. Speed: 

Elevation Gain: 

Avg. Cadence: 

Calories burned: 463

Date: 1/27/11

Ride: Indoor Spinning

Distance: 19 miles

Ride time: 45 min

Avg. Speed: 

Elevation Gain: 

Avg. Cadence: 

Calories burned: 463

Date: 1/29/11

Ride: Santa Barbara Loop via Mountain Drive

Distance: 51 miles

Ride time: 3 hr 54 min

Avg. Speed: 13

Elevation Gain:  2,424

Avg. Cadence: 

Calories burned: 2,857

Good ride with good weather, cool and sunny.  Had problems with shifting until my chain snapped going up last small, but steep hill.  I fixed the chain and I found out that I installed it wrong when I put on the new cassette and chain a couple of weeks ago.  No longer having problems with shifting!!

Date: 1/17/11

Ride: Modoc Run

Distance: 25 miles

Ride time: 1 hr 51 min

Avg. Speed: 13.6

Elevation Gain: 566

Avg. Cadence: 

Calories burned: 1,379

Rain rain go away.  It started raining about 1/2 hr into the ride and rained for about an hour.  

Weekly miles: 132

miles to dat: 518

Training Update week ending 1/23/11

Date: 1/17/11

Ride: Indoor Spinning

Distance: 19 miles

Ride time: 45 min

Avg. Speed: 

Elevation Gain: 

Avg. Cadence: 

Calories burned: 463

Date: 1/19/11

Ride: Indoor Spinning

Distance: 19 miles

Ride time: 45 min

Avg. Speed: 

Elevation Gain: 

Avg. Cadence: 

Calories burned: 465

Date: 1/22/11

Ride: Gaviota Run

Distance: 50 miles

Ride time: 3 hr 15 min

Avg. Speed: 15.1

Elevation Gain: 1,637

Avg. Cadence: 

Calories burned: 2692

Date: 1/23/11

Ride: Modoc Run

Distance: 25 miles

Ride time: 1 h2 52 min

Avg. Speed: 14.4

Elevation Gain: 610

Avg. Cadence: 

Calories burned: 1424

Weekly Miles: 113

Miles to date: 386

It was a Great Day For a Ride - Stage Coach Century 2011

Date: 1/9/11

Ride: Indoor Spinning

Distance: 19 miles

Ride time: 45 min

Avg. Speed: 

Elevation Gain: 

Avg. Cadence: 

Calories burned: 463

Good strong training.

Date: 1/11/11

Ride: Indoor Spinning

Distance: 19 miles

Ride time: 46 min

Avg. Speed: 

Elevation Gain: 

Avg. Cadence: 

Calories burned: 466

Good strong training.  Completed all challenges!!

Date: 1/15/11

Ride: Stage Coach Century

Distance: 100 miles

Ride time: 7hrs 46 min

Avg. Speed: 13.8

Elevation Gain: 4,629

Avg. Cadence: 71

Calories burned: 5,135

It was a great day for a ride!!  The Stage Coach Century takes place out of the high desert town of Ocotillo, 80 miles east of San Diego.  The weather was perfect, ~ 45 at the start and a average of 84 during the day.  This is an out and back rout with no turns, 50 miles on S-2 stating in Ocotillo to CA 78 and back.  The ride stats with an 11 mile gradual climb to Carrizo Badlands Overlook were rest stop #1 was.  I did not stop and continued my ride to rest stop 2 at mile 25.  After the the climb to Carrizo Badlands Overlook is a fast down hill run at Sweeney Pass that has a couple of hair pin turns.  The rout continues across the desert floor with a slight up hill grade to rest stop #2.  There is no shade out here and the land is rocky with a variety of plant life.  You can see mountains all around in the distance.  A few miles out of rest stop #2  is the first big climb of the day, Campbell grade about a mile or so long with 7 to 9% grades.  I did real well and felt strong on the bike, I even pasted a couple of rides on the climb.  There is a fantastic view of the desert floor and the old Stage Coach trail from the top of the grade but it was hard to stop safely so I kept on going when I reached the top.

A few miles after Campbell Grade is the climb up Box Canyon,  2 to 3 miles at grades of 6 to 8%, not as steep as Campbell Grade but a much longer climb.  About 3/4 the way to the summit was rest stop #3 at mile 36.  The next 14 miles to the 50 mile turn around started to get a little rough for me, I started to feel  like I was getting overheated and around mile 40 my left calf and thigh stared to cramp.  My energy level dropped and it was a real struggle to ride the last 5 miles to the turn around.  I almost decided to stop, but after drinking electrolytes and cooling myself down by dosing my head and back with water, I started to feel much better.  I filled my cameback with the electrolyte solution and I forced myself to drink it every 5 to 10 minuets, it tasted like sweat. In a short time my energy came back and I felt a lot better.  Lunch was at Shelter Valley at mile 58.  I had a Turkey sandwich and a coke.  I don't eat big during rides, I prefer to eat light, something every hour, to keep my energy up.  If I eat big, all my blood goes to my stomach and I feel like a slug for the next hour or so.

On the return trip, I turned things up a notch and started to push myself.  I was riding 25 to 30 mph on the flats and slight downhill grades.  Everything was going well when, BANG!!, I blew out my rear tire. I changed out the tube and it went flat again.  It tuned out I blew a hole in the side wall of the tire. I just about had it fixed, I booted the hole with a one dollar bill, when the SAG wagon came by.  To be on the safe side, I had them put a new tire on and bought a new tube from them.  All of this took about a half hour.  The rest of the ride went well.  The finale climb back up Sweeney pass at mile 85, was the longest and steepest climb of the day, but I did well, I blew by the last rest stop at mile 89 and pushed on to the finish.

First week of training of 2011IndoorI

Date: 1/1/11
Ride: Gaviota Run
Distance: 42 miles
Ride time: 3 hr 6 min
Avg. Speed: 13.5 mph
Elevation Gain: 1526 ft
Avg. Cadence: 63 rpm
Calories burned: 2,154

The ride out was with a fast pace with little wind.  It was cool and I had on just right amount of clothing.  The return ride was with a stiff headwind the developed.  Stopped at vista point for a short break and to take a couple of pictures.

Date: 1/3/11

Ride: Indoor Spinning

Distance: 18 miles

Ride time: 47 min

Avg. Speed: 

Elevation Gain: 

Avg. Cadence: 

Calories burned: 438

Road strong and completed all the challenges.  Good Spin

Date: 1/5/11

Ride: Indoor Spinning

Distance: 18 miles

Ride time: 46 min

Avg. Speed: 

Elevation Gain: 

Avg. Cadence: 

Calories burned: 425

Road strong and completed all the challenges, but had to stop several times, heart rate up too high.  Good Spin

Date: 1/8/11

Ride: Santa Barbara Run

Distance: 60 miles

Ride time: 4 hr 20 min

Avg. Speed: 13.9

Elevation Gain: 1929

Avg. Cadence: 67

Calories burned: 3383

My goal was to put in 60 miles today.  I intended to drive down to Venture and ride around the Lake, but it was overcast and felt like rain so instead I Rode down to the Biltmore in Montecito.  Cool with overcast skies.  Stopped at shoreline park for a fast break and stopped at Buttery Beach to take a few photos.  Good strong ride.

Date: 1/9/11

Ride: Patterson Run

Distance: 13 miles

Ride time: 54 min

Avg. Speed: 13.9

Elevation Gain: 436

Avg. Cadence: 63

Calories burned: 681

Short recovery ride.  Installed a new rear cassette and chain,  rode well.  

2011 miles to date: 151
Weekly miles: 108

Don't forget and stop and smell the ride.

Finale Ride of 2010!!! Make way for 2011!!

2010 miles to date: 4245 miles!!!!! - Goal 4,000 miles

Weekly miles: Max 210 miles - Goal 200 miles

Number of century rides: 5!!! - Goal 3

Longest ride without stopping for a break: 50 miles (7/4/10) - Goal 30 miles

Body weight: 157 lbs - Goal 155 lbs

Body fat: 20.5% - Goal 20%

The last training ride (12/31/10) of 2010 was a climb up Old San Marcos Pass.  20 mile round trip from my house.  It was my first time climb to the top.  I had to stop briefly three times to let my heart rate drop, the stops were short, a minuet or two.  Great views at the top and along the way up.  I will make this a weekly training ride for 2011.

Goals for 2011:

Training miles before Cross Country Trip, by 6/10/11: 3,000 miles 

Number of planed century rides: 8 - 10

Body Weight: 150 lb 

Body fat: 18%

Stage Coach Century - 1/15/11 - Ocotillo

Tour de Palm Springs Century  - 2/12/11 - Palm Springs

Death Valley Century - 2/26/11 - Death Valley

Solvang Century - 3/12/11 - Solvang

Tierra Bella Century - 4/16/11 - Gilroy

Wildflower Century - 4/30/11 - San Luis Obispo

Cruisn' The Conejo - 5/7/11 - Thousand Oaks

Sunrise Century - 5/14/11 - Lodi

Strawberry Fields Forever - 5/15/11 - Soquel

Tour du Green - 5/14/11 - Ventura

Ojai Valley Century - 6/4/11 - Ojai