Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Group Ride

Today was the usual Tuesday group ride with CGC. I managed to stay with the group on the hills, but got dropped on the back part of the course. I still managed to average 19.3 mph for 41.1 miles. I did catch one person & the two of us took turns pulling at least till we got inside the Byron city limits. I took my turn pulling and he must have decided to ease up because he kept getting further & further behind. I kept up a steady pace & rode home. My back was a bit sore, but we'll have to work on that later. It felt good being on the bike after taking a couple of days off for other projects. I'm planning on riding to work in the morning, but we'll just have to see how that goes. That's about all for now.

Saturday, May 27, 2006

Saturday Ride

Today I went for a ride & worked hills. I rode into the wind to Ft. Valley and the hills were a work out. It felt pretty good though. I had a tailwind the way home & really hammered it. I even managed to keep it on the big ring during the climbs on the way home. I managed 19.2 mph avereage for 32.1 miles, not bad considering I haven't ridden as much this week as in the past. I plan on going for a long ride on Monday seeing as I'm off for Memorial Day, but we'll just have to see how the weather goes. That's all for now, stay tuned.......

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Tuesday Group Ride

Today was the Tuesday group ride with CGC. I was staying with the lead group as we turned on Bible Camp Rd. I noticed that my rear tire was getting low so I stopped to replace the tube. Charles, Don, Bk, and the other fast guys turned around to lend a hand. After the tube was changed, we got back to riding. I was doing all I could to stay with them, we were hammering it as far as I was concerned. Every time I looked at my computer, it was at least 21 or 22 mph or faster. My legs are feeling it now, wonder how they will feel tomorrow. I managed to average 19.9 mph for 41.3 miles total today. We'll just have to see how things go tomorrow about riding. That's all for now.

Sunday, May 21, 2006

Tour de Cure

Today was the Tour de Cure to raise money for diabetes research. I chose the 100k route as I have for the past 2 years. There were 2 big differences between those rides and this one today. One was that I have ridden more miles at this point in the year than last year and I have a new bike to ride that was much lighter than in the past. I managed to ride with different groups of people for most of the ride. It was really fun riding in a paceline and taking turns in front. Most of the group rides I've been on lately, either I've been on my own or I've been doing most of the pulling. I was with a group on the return to the start, we had a good paceline going and my average speed was about 20 mph. Then I felt something rubbing against my wheel and stopped to find out one rear brake pad was rubbing. I fixed it as fast as I could, but I could never catch the group I was with. I rode about the last 10-12 miles on my own. I still managed to beat last year's time and average speed. I finished in 3:06:50 with an average speed of 19.75 miles for 100k. The Orbea was fanatastic!!!!!! I actually felt like I could have rode longer if I had to. The more I ride that bike, the more I love it. All in all it was a great day and a fun ride.

Friday, May 19, 2006

Last Ride Before Tour de Cure

Today was my last ride before Sunday's Tour de Cure. I just took it easy on the way to and from work today. I kept a steady pace and kept it in one gear. The wind on the way home was a pain, but I managed to survive. I'm going to stay off the bike tomorrow, give my legs a rest then ride on Sunday. I'm hoping to beat my time of 3:25:15 of last year with an average speed of 18.4 mph for 62 miles. If the weather co-operates, I should be able to beat it, but you never know. LOL Here's to a good ride for Tour de Cure!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday, May 18, 2006

I love my new toy

Went on the Thursday group ride and though I couldn't stay with the fast group, I did manage to have a good ride. The wind was a pain on the back side of the route, but the ride in wasn't too bad. I felt pretty good on the climbs, thanks to my new toy. My Orbea climbs great. My legs actually felt good even on the ride home from the stopping point of the group route. I think a lot of it has to do with riding a lighter bike and not having to push as much weight. I'm really looking forward to Sunday and the Tour de Cure. It should be a great ride. Going to take it easy for the rest of the week to be ready. That's about all for now.

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Recovery Day

Today was a recovery ride after kind of pushing it yesterday on the Orbea. It was cool this morning on the ride to work. I pushed the pace up the climbs just to see how the Orbea felt and it felt pretty good. On the way home I had somewhat of a headwind the whole way, but it wasn't that bad. I'm hoping to ride with the CGC on Thursday for one last hard ride then time to take it easy until Tour de Cure. I love riding the Orbea, it's a great bike.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

First Ride with New Toy!!!!!!!!!!

Today I was able to ride my new Orbea frame. I had it taken to Bike Tech to finish adjusting things after swapping parts from my old Raliegh frame last night. It felt awesome!!!!! It's such a difference after riding the same frame for so long to ride something new. I just have to get used to a carbon fork and the sound it makes when it hits a bump. It's different than what I'm used to. I was actually able to catch up to some of the group today. I was surprised about that seeing that I was running late & was behind everyone. My legs felt kind of heavy the first part of the ride, especially on the climbs, but the Orbea climbed really nice. Now all I have to do to climb better is work on losing some of me!!!!!! My legs felt better the last part of the ride and managed to average a bit over 19 mph for 38 miles. I'm planning on doing the Thursday ride to work out the Orbea before Tour de Cure on Sunday. I'll probably ride to work tomorrow easily to recover. Well, that's about all for now.

Friday, May 12, 2006

Recovery ride today

Today I rode to work and it was a bit cool on the way in, but it was a good ride. I took it easy today and just enjoyed things. The wind on the way home was a bear. I just barely managed 18 mph for the ride home. I'm getting the Orbea together little by little. I'm hoping my new stem and bars will be in on Monday so I can swap parts to the Orbea and take it to the bike shop to be adjusted and possibly ride it on the group ride on Tuesday. We'll just have to see how things go. I want to ride it at least once before Tour de Cure. The bike clubs in the area are working a booth at the air show this weekend & I'm working it tomorrow. Sounds like it should be fun.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Recovery day (somewhat)

Today was somewhat of a recovery day. I rode to work this morning and was planning on taking it easy, but the weather had something else in mind for me. I was about 2/3 of the way to work when I started to feel a light mist falling. I was just hoping it wasn't going to get worse before I got to work. I just got a little wet and got to work in plenty of time. I had to push it a bit on the rest of the ride so I didn't get soaked. The rain stopped by the time I got off work so I got to ride home. Not long after I got home and showered, it seemed like the bottom fell out. I looked outside & was glad I was home already & not riding in that. I'm hoping that the weather lets up tomorrow to ride to work and go on a group ride tomorrow night, but we'll just have to wait and see.

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Tuesday Group Ride

Today was the usual Tuesday group ride with CGC. I managed to hang on the first climb, but fell back on the second. The group was still in view the first hour of the ride, then they picked up the pace & I couldn't hang with them. I did ride with a couple of people most of the back part of the ride. We each took turns pulling and had a good small paceline going. The legs actually felt good after yesterday's ride. I'm hoping to ride to work in the morning to work the kinks out of my legs, but we'll just have to see.

Monday, May 08, 2006

Abandoned Husbands Ride

Today I went on the "Abandoned Husbands Ride" with the bike club. It was a good ride, but the hills kind of kicked my butt today. I did manage to get some good pulls in today. I'm looking forward to the group ride tomorrow. I can't wait for the Tour de Cure, it's going to be a great ride as it's been the past 2 years. I just hope I can get the Orbea together & ride it before then, but we'll just have to see. Here's to a good ride tomorrow, weather permitting. LOL

Friday, May 05, 2006

I got a new toy!!!!!!!!!!

Today I finally got my new frame. I received my first check under our new profit sharing program & it was enough to get the frame. I just have to see about getting a new stem, seatpost and clamp for the front derailluer. I'm hoping to get it assembled and get to ride it before Tour de Cure on May 21st, but if not it's ok. We'll just have to see how things go. I did managed to get a ride in to work this morning, but it rained this afternoon so no second ride. I'm hoping to get a ride in tomorrow morning before our men's breakfast at church. I just hope the weather co-operates with me.

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Getting warmer!

The ride into work was pretty good, didn't really try to push it, but the legs were feeling good. I took it easy on the way home because it was almost 90 today & I didn't want to get too overheated. I'm hoping the weather tomorrow isn't bad so I can ride to and from work but we'll just have to see. It's been great riding to and from work this week and it's been a great stress relief.

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Recovery day

Today was kind of a recovery day for me. I rode to work but pretty much kept it in an easy gear the entire ride. After yesterday's insanity, I felt an easy ride was required. I kept it in the same gear the whole ride to work and kept it off the big ring. Legs felt good after the ride. I didn't get to ride home due to some bad weather on the route home, but there is always tomorrow. We'll just have to see how things go.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Long Day!!!!!

Today was a long day on the bike, not only did I ride to work and back home, I had the crazy idea to ride with the Central Georgia Cyclists guys this evening. I thought I would be able to hang a bit further, but my legs just aren't there as of yet. I'm sure riding home from work eventhough I thought I took it easy didn't help. It was a good day to ride and I really needed to get in the miles to get ready for Tour de Cure on May 21st. I'm hoping the legs won't feel too bad in the morning but we'll just have to see how things go. Take care everyone.

Monday, May 01, 2006

New week to begin commuting

Today was the first day I was able to commute to work on the bike. It was a bit rough getting up @ 5 am to get ready, but it'll get easier the more I do it. The ride to work was great, a bit on the cool side, but it felt good. I felt a few drops of rain, but it went by rather quickly. Well work came & went & it was time to start the ride home. The front derailluer was acting up so I decided to head to The Bike Store to get the cable replaced. I also noted that the chain was slap wore out and had that replaced. After getting the bike fixed, the ride home was much more pleasant. I'm hoping to ride to and from work all this week and get in 1 or 2 group rides. We'll just have to see how the legs feel. Here's to a good week commuting and riding in general.