Let the 2009 Peadling Begin! - Page 4

Ronin · #46 (**permalink**) 02-09-2009, 01:24 PM

Hey Gordon!

Tandeming takes a bit more coordination than simply climbing aboard the single and heading down the road. You have to keep your partner happy or life gets really miserable really fast.

We got out again today, it was a bit less windy but the west bound leg was still "charachter building."

I regained the riding bonus this morning with a FBG of 87 and a post breakfast of 74! The muscles haven't gotten weak thanks to the indoor training. The old tandem with fenders is a lot heavier than the new tandem so we're a bit slower (not to mention the effect of our cumulative winter weight gain -- every pound hurts). Oh well, this is customary for winter.

Keep peadaling everyone, and tell us your winter pedaling stories. We all need motivation. Speaking of motivation, the Tour of California begins on Saturday so there is a bit of motivation watching the thorobreds come out an play.

Gordonm · #47 (**permalink**) 02-09-2009, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronin

Hey Gordon!

Tandeming takes a bit more coordination than simply climbing aboard the single and heading down the road. You have to keep your partner happy or life gets really miserable really fast.

I can relate to this. My wife just opened and eye when she heard me get my bike stuff out. She said to cold and rolled over.

Ronin · #48 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 01:35 PM

Hi Everyone!

Day three of "Back on the road again" -- the legs are waking up and asking us "are you sure you really want to do this?" Early season has to be moderated so, we took an easier pace on today's 16 mile loop (I did consider the 12 mile alternate as well, but went for the slightly longer loop).

The temperatures were in the low 50's and the winds in the low teens. It was a bit rough but still a whole lot better than any stages of the T-d-G.

As we progress through the week the weather is getting more "iffy" so we'll hope for the best.

Ronin · #49 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 01:57 PM

Hi Everyone!

Ah, what a wonderful day! The temperatures hit the low 60's the winds were not all that strong and our winter gear was too much to wear so it was shorts and long sleve jerseys with base layers.

The roads were really wet as there is still snow and ice melting all over the place so The Enterprise with her fenders made for a reasonable ride (Note: The Enterprise is at least 15 pounds heavier than our newer tandem so its harder to climb the grades)

Unlike yesterday our legs felt great, perhaps it was just the weather effect, but we didn't feel sluggish like yesterday.

Tomorrow is another story, it looks like lots of rain and really strong winds. If I ride at all it will be rollers in the gargage. Perhaps a rest day.

A_Darling · #50 (**permalink**) 02-12-2009, 07:18 PM

Heading out tomorrow for a 50 miles of mountain biking on Saturday. Big yearly event held by a local mountain biking club in the Tampa area of FL. It's gonna be a tough ride though, as I haven't been able to "train" for this ride because I've been sick. I got in a 15 mile road ride yesterday and felt pretty good, and my numbers are back to normal after the craziness when I was sick.

Ronin · #51 (**permalink**) 02-13-2009, 02:04 PM

Hi A Darling!

Good luck with the 50 miler. It's pretty early in the season for really long rides.

Our tandem riding is limited to 16 miles when the temperatures are below 50 or the conditions marginal -- Linda simply will not go for more than 16. Yeah, I could simply turn onto the longer routes, but I'd hear about it for a very long time (I did that once and lived to regret that decision).

Today was much nicer than yesterday although it is still quite windy. We did another 16 as the temps were in the high 30's F and the winds in the teens (mph).

A_Darling · #52 (**permalink**) 02-14-2009, 03:54 PM

OK, I think I underestimated how much my sick-time hurt me. Today's ride turned into a 35 miler after I completely bonked around 20 miles in to it, complete with light-headedness and some vomiting later on (no I was not dehydrated). Trails were sandy and had lots of whoop-de-doos from the dirtbikes that occasionally use them. That combination made for some nasty momentum-sapping mileage.

On the diabetes side, I felt like I didn't have that usual "energy reserve" to fall back on when I'm "in the zone". When I was out of energy my glucose was only down to 96, I thought I was going to test and see < 50. Still trying to piece together what happened because I thought I did a pretty good job of carbo-loading in the morning and night before.

Just checked my email and I may be doing a 12 hr race with some buddies next week.......we'll see if that works out better.

Ronin · #53 (**permalink**) 02-15-2009, 01:46 PM

A Darling, et al.,

OUCH! That doesn't sound like fun, particularly to bonk around 20 miles and an have to ride for an additional 15 miles on top of that -- that has to be painful. The "off-seson" can be a real pain.

I hope your 12 hour race will be easier on your body.

Ronin · #54 (**permalink**) 02-16-2009, 01:32 PM

Hi Everyone!

President's Day was great for cycling here in NJ! The winds were low, and I even convinced Linda to waiver her normal below 40 degree (F) veto on tandeming. The winds were nominal to non-existent, the roads clear and dry, the traffic light and we really worked the pedals and finished our 16.1 mile loop in 1:00:57 -- pretty darn good for the early season.

Today and tomorrow are the two days that seem most likely for riding. Wednesday and Thursday promise (according to NOAA) rain and possibly some snow (yuck).

Gordonm · #55 (**permalink**) 02-16-2009, 04:46 PM

I agree on today. I got in a 20 mile ride in 1H 11M. Sun was shinning so it warmed you up.

paramountz · #56 (**permalink**) 02-18-2009, 12:45 PM

Did Old Pueblo race this last weekend 11 laps 182 miles over 10,000 calories and one broken bike frame I just thought my water bottle was loose but the chainstay cracked in half

and I rode it for 3 laps like that lol...

A_Darling · #57 (**permalink**) 02-18-2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paramountz

Did Old Pueblo race this last weekend 11 laps 182 miles over 10,000 calories and one broken bike frame I just thought my water bottle was loose but the chainstay cracked in half

and I rode it for 3 laps like that lol...

That is absolutely insane. Pretty long race route, most of the races down here are routed to give lap times around 1 hr, so it's mostly in the 10 mile range.

So did you give any insulin over that 24 hour period?

Makes my feeble attempt at a 12 hr race on a 3 man team seem silly.

paramountz · #58 (**permalink**) 02-19-2009, 07:48 AM

I cut out my basel and did bolus I was eating every 45 min on the bike to keep up energy I just preload syringes and carry them in my jersey pocket.

The first year I was on a 4 man team and was done after 4 laps and I have been moving up steady every year getting in good base commuting miles helps, you can do it everybody is at different levels even if you just do 2-3 laps it's better than most people could do go kick some ***!

MJM · #59 (**permalink**) 02-19-2009, 02:59 PM

I cycled around Bavaria last year and enjoyed it immensely. This year I'm hoping to cycle from Vienna to Budapest in one week. It's a wonderful way to see an area, and for me, an enjoyable and healthy way to travel.

Gordonm · #60 (**permalink**) 02-22-2009, 08:07 AM

I took off this morning hoping to get in a few miles. The forecast was for rain/snow later today. Just intermittant stuff but I thought I could beat it. Well I did not. I was as far out as I was going to go and I felt it start to pelt my jacket. On and off sleet but mostly rain the rest of the ride home. I was wet but pretty warm and no wipeouts so it was a good ride. I did get a few "your nuts" and a few looks like what are you doing but I did pass another cyclist so I was not the only one out there. Just part of winter riding I guess.