cycling

I had two great commutes this week. Both of them started with me taking the long way to work. Instead of just heading out the goose to Colwood, I went along the water by Esquimalt Lagoon. Lagoon Rd is such a nice hill to tackle, I had to throw it in my commute. Tuesday after Lagoon Rd hill, I turned right and headed in to work. Wednesday though, I had more time and turned left. This way took me to My Chosin Cafe, where I turned onto Happy Valley Rd and took that to work.

Tuesday's route home took me home along the Old Island Highway, then I turned onto Admirals and went straight home. Wednesday I thought I would try taking the Goose all the way to the trestle, and go home that way. Neither way is all that enjoyable really. Not sure which one I will take in the future.

View Commute 05/06/2012 7:47 AM in a larger map

Tuesday Commute to work Stats:
Total distance: 22.68 km (14.1 mi)
Total time: 1:04:06
Moving time: 57:39
Average speed: 21.23 km/h (13.2 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 23.61 km/h (14.7 mi/h)
Max speed: 54.04 km/h (33.6 mi/h)
Average pace: 2.83 min/km (4.5 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 2.54 min/km (4.1 min/mi)
Min pace: 1.11 min/km (1.8 min/mi)
Max elevation: 122 m (399 ft)
Min elevation: -38 m (-126 ft)
Elevation gain: 565 m (1854 ft)
Max grade: 43 %
Min grade: -25 %
Recorded: 05/06/2012 7:47 AM

Tuesday Commute home stats:
Total distance: 12.63 km (7.9 mi)
Total time: 32:06
Moving time: 27:13
Average speed: 23.61 km/h (14.7 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 27.85 km/h (17.3 mi/h)
Max speed: 58.32 km/h (36.2 mi/h)
Average pace: 2.54 min/km (4.1 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 2.15 min/km (3.5 min/mi)
Min pace: 1.03 min/km (1.7 min/mi)
Max elevation: 72 m (237 ft)
Min elevation: -7 m (-24 ft)
Elevation gain: 193 m (632 ft)
Max grade: 12 %
Min grade: -11 %

View Longer Commute 06/06/2012 in a larger map

Wednesday Commute to work stats:
Total distance: 31.28 km (19.4 mi)
Total time: 1:15:39
Moving time: 1:12:23
Average speed: 24.80 km/h (15.4 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 25.93 km/h (16.1 mi/h)
Max speed: 54.04 km/h (33.6 mi/h)
Average pace: 2.42 min/km (3.9 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 2.31 min/km (3.7 min/mi)
Min pace: 1.11 min/km (1.8 min/mi)
Max elevation: 103 m (339 ft)
Min elevation: -28 m (-91 ft)
Elevation gain: 593 m (1944 ft)
Max grade: 22 %
Min grade: -21 %

Wednesday Commute home stats:
Total distance: 19.30 km (12.0 mi)
Total time: 48:57
Moving time: 42:44
Average speed: 23.66 km/h (14.7 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 27.10 km/h (16.8 mi/h)
Max speed: 51.57 km/h (32.0 mi/h)
Average pace: 2.54 min/km (4.1 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 2.21 min/km (3.6 min/mi)
Min pace: 1.16 min/km (1.9 min/mi)
Max elevation: 121 m (398 ft)
Min elevation: -14 m (-46 ft)
Elevation gain: 231 m (757 ft)
Max grade: 11 %
Min grade: -10 %

I had lofty goals today. I wanted to get out for at least 4 hours, and I wanted to get close to 120km. Did I do this? I don't know. I was disappointed by my ride until I saw my ride stats on my phone, which didn't match my bike computer.

Of course I was sick that last month, and haven't even ridden since May 19th.

Anyway, no more excuses. I ran out of steam before my goal, and it got me to thinking. Can I really do the distance the day of the ride? I've got 18 more days until the ride, can I get in more miles so that I can finish without bonking, or hurting myself? Should I drop down to the 100KM distance? The mind is a terrible beast at times.

My route was a good one though. From my place out to Munn's Rd, then Wallace, to West Saanich. I wanted to follow the Tour de Victoria route as much as possible from here, but I missed a turn off West Saanich, and ended up on Lands End Rd. Not my intention. I flubbed my way through Sidney, then got on the water and headed back. Yikes, was it windy today!

Before I got to Mt Doug though, I had decided to call it quits on my ride. I took Blenkinsop back until I could get onto the Lochside Trail. While spinning along here I was mad at myself for giving up. I decided to try and extend my route a bit and headed through downtown, watched about 30 seconds of the Bastin Square Grand Prix, then headed for home.

My bike computer registered 4 hours, and just under 100KM. My phone though told a different story. Which do I believe more? At this point I don't know.

View Tour de Victoria June 03, 2012 in a larger map

View Tour de Victoria June 03, 2012 in a larger map

Total distance: 109.86 km (68.3 mi)
Total time: 4:15:26
Moving time: 4:08:59
Average speed: 25.80 km/h (16.0 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 26.47 km/h (16.4 mi/h)
Max speed: 76.11 km/h (47.3 mi/h)
Average pace: 2.33 min/km (3.7 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 2.27 min/km (3.6 min/mi)
Min pace: 0.79 min/km (1.3 min/mi)
Max elevation: 367 m (1202 ft)
Min elevation: -103 m (-337 ft)
Elevation gain: 6926 m (22724 ft)
Max grade: 213 %
Min grade: -114 %

With Sue away, training for the Tour is more difficult. I ended up going to Nanaimo for the long weekend, which allowed me to head out for a ride.

This was not a stellar ride for me though. I hadn't slept well the previous couple nights so I was not feeling fresh. I hadn't eaten very well before the ride, I started my ride later in the day than normal, and it was warmer than I was used to, so I wasn't sure what to wear. I also don't know the roads in Nanaimo very well, so choosing a route was more difficult. I used a web page to help me measure out a route on Google Maps, and the route I chose was around 65 km according to the page.

I started off on the ride, and immediately I could feel my heart rate rise and my legs felt dead. Interesting. I kept going though and followed my route up Doumont Rd and climbed my first big hill. Uggh. Horrible. Once at the top there was a wonderful downhill stretch. I rode past the detention centre which was interesting though. I could see the "inmates" lounging in the sun on deck chairs.

I then hit Jingle Pot Rd, before making my way over to Nanaimo Lakes Rd. This road had a great, long climb that wasn't too steep. Slow going, but hard work. The reward? A long, long downhill stretch. Lovely.

Once I got back onto the Parkway Trail though I was feeling pretty bad. No energy left, legs dead, nothing in the tank. I couldn't understand what was going on. I had a ways to go to get home, and I briefly contemplated calling for help. Instead I took an extra long gulp of my Infinit nutrition drink and proceeded to spin for a while.

This worked out the issues I was having. I started feeling better and my legs recovered enough to get me home.

In all, close to three hours, and around 70KM. Not too bad I suppose.

View Tour de Victoria May 19, 2012 in a larger map
Total distance: 69.47 km (43.2 mi)
Total time: 2:55:28
Moving time: 2:49:08
Average speed: 23.75 km/h (14.8 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 24.64 km/h (15.3 mi/h)
Max speed: 63.73 km/h (39.6 mi/h)
Average pace: 2.53 min/km (4.1 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 2.43 min/km (3.9 min/mi)
Min pace: 0.94 min/km (1.5 min/mi)
Max elevation: 397 m (1301 ft)
Min elevation: -13 m (-41 ft)
Elevation gain: 1767 m (5798 ft)
Max grade: 209 %
Min grade: -242 %
Recorded: 19/05/2012 11:49 AM

I've gotten a bit behind on my training log. No swimming lately, which is a little unfortunate, but I still have this odd cough/cold thing. I feel fine, except I have a cough, and a bit of phlegm.

Anyway, last Wednesday I did a 45 minute trainer ride with my new pedals and shoes. I had wanted to get outside and hit the roads, but it was extremely windy that day, and I didn't want to risk my life battling the winds, just to break in some shoes.

The trainer ride was fine, and the shoes didn't bother my feet at all. I did a short warmup, then did repeats of 5 minute hard gear, slow RPM followed by lower gear high RPM, follow by medium gear, normal RPM. The last cool down session felt good too.

On Saturday I ended up riding alone. I had wanted to get a 4 hour ride in and I wanted to get on Munns. Munns hurt more than normal due to my cold, but I still managed a good time from the Burnside Rd turn onto Prospect Lake Rd, all the way to the Ross Durance Lk Rd turn onto Willis Pt Rd (44 minutes).

From there I headed out around the airport, then back along the water (with a slightly modified route to avoid a few hills).

I was ecstatic with the ride. This was the first time I had done a solo 100 KM ride. I felt pretty strong the entire way, and I managed to maintain a pretty decent average speed. Also, my feet felt great the entire time. The shoes didn't cause any discomfort, in fact, I could feel a difference in power going up some of the steeper hills. Good decision to get the new shoes when I did.

The one odd thing that happened on the ride was along Central Saanich Rd I was passing a field when something caught my eye. I glanced at it, but it took a couple seconds to register. I hit the brakes and turned around to go back and see two hawks on the grass in a field. I wanted to get a picture, but as soon as I stopped they took off.

This weekend I will have a bit shorter of a ride, then the weekend after will be a recovery weekend. I will get in a couple more long rides in June before the big day. It feels so close now. I can't wait for the ride now.

View Tour de Victoria May 12, 2012 in a larger map

Total distance: 101.10 km (62.8 mi)
Total time: 4:14:22
Moving time: 4:06:44
Average speed: 23.85 km/h (14.8 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 24.59 km/h (15.3 mi/h)
Max speed: 68.68 km/h (42.7 mi/h)
Average pace: 2.52 min/km (4.0 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 2.44 min/km (3.9 min/mi)
Min pace: 0.87 min/km (1.4 min/mi)
Max elevation: 250 m (820 ft)
Min elevation: -19 m (-62 ft)
Elevation gain: 1748 m (5734 ft)
Max grade: 39 %
Min grade: -23 %

This past week has been a little off for me. I've developed a strange cold that has only been in my lungs. If I breathe deeply, then I cough, but otherwise I feel fine. I decided to take it easy on the training this week to try and recoup.

There was no trainer ride this week, but I did do a 800M swim while the kids were in their final swim lesson.

Saturday morning was time for my long ride. I decided to do 4 hours again, and this time I had two riding buddies with me. As I left the house, it was a little chilly, and rather windy. My buddies and I went out and did the Metchosin route.

Gotta say I wasn't feeling awful, but I wasn't feeling great. I was gasping for air on some of the hills, and I think that was likely due to my cold. Also my legs never felt limber; they felt strong, but my quads felt very tight. In the end we decided not to tackle Munns. Instead we went around Munns, headed over to Royal Oak, then back through Mt Doug, then along the water home. For pretty much the whole route it seemed like we had a head wind.

Sure enough I got in my four hours which was great. Hard to imagine that I am going to have to step up my training to get closer to 5 hours of saddle time. Yipes.

I can remember coming along one hill way out near Kangaroo road thinking that the time had flown by already. I still find it amazing that I can ride 100KM in a few hours.

After getting home I had a good lunch, then it was back outside for some yardwork.

View Tour de Victoria May 5, 2012 in a larger map
Total distance: 102.32 km (63.6 mi)
Total time: 4:28:59
Moving time: 4:19:26
Average speed: 22.82 km/h (14.2 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 23.66 km/h (14.7 mi/h)
Max speed: 60.80 km/h (37.8 mi/h)
Average pace: 2.63 min/km (4.2 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 2.54 min/km (4.1 min/mi)
Min pace: 0.99 min/km (1.6 min/mi)
Max elevation: 160 m (526 ft)
Min elevation: -22 m (-71 ft)
Elevation gain: 2167 m (7109 ft)
Max grade: 42 %
Min grade: -32 %