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 %

Mmmm, tacos! The other night I made some tacos that were awesome. The kids loved them too. Simple, easy to make, and easy to clean up. Excellent dinner option.

Such a good dog. Heart had a good retrieving session at a Nanaimo park on the weekend. Here she is taking a breather.

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