Since it's cold and raining this morning, we had our team ride at Breakaway Bikes as an RPM class. Charlie Zamastil organized the ride and created a custom course that he thought would be fun.
Let me tell you, when someone who is 5'10" tall and 134 pounds makes a course that he thinks is fun, it will have a lot of climbing in it. Long, steep climbing. For example, he put in a 3 mile, 6% climb, which took us about 20 minutes to climb. He also had a couple climbs at 9% and 13.5%. It was brutal. My legs were dying, especially after yesterday's ride.
Half the group didn't even finish the course. Of course, the funny part is that our group did the course that Charlie designed. The group that Charlie was riding in did a much easier course (the one that we did yesterday, actually).
My legs are freaking killing me. Good job, Charlie :-)
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Life is like a box of chocolates....
You never know what you're going to get.
This morning was my first RPM class in 3 weeks. Two weeks ago I was in Colorado, last week I locked myself out of my apartment, so this week I was back. I didn't know what to expect.
I haven't been riding much the last few weeks. I was in Colorado for 5 days and Vegas for 4 days, and got no exercise short of walking the whole time. I just got back in the gym this week once for the first time in almost a month. I rode the trainer a few times this week and was generally winded and felt like crap. I didn't expect much in today's ride, so I planned on going easy. Yeah, right.
We had seven people in class. Within the first few miles, we saw how the groups would form. We had 3 higher category riders who took off fast early. The second group of 3 riders held back a little. One guy was good and actually rode a steady base ride pace.
I was in the second group of three, with my teammates Steve and John. Steve and I took off pretty fast and had a little gap on John. On the first couple climbs, I pulled away from Steve and got a decent gap on him. About 40 minutes into the ride, Steve and John got together on the course and were able to start working together. The Computrainer software allows drafting, so they could benefit from working together to bring me back. Anything within 40 feet is considered drafting (it sounds like a lot, but I guess it makes sense for riding indoors). I held them off for about a half hour, but I knew they were gaining and I was getting tired.
I had to make a decision. Do I try to hold them off on my own or do I let them catch up? Each one had risks. If I tried to stay on my own and they did catch me, I might be too tired to stay with them. If I let them catch up, I might not be able to get away in the end. I decided that letting them catch up was less of a risk.
With about 8 miles to go in a 38 mile course, they caught me. I stayed with them, trying to stay in the draft as much as I could. A couple times I tried to the front and get away, but they immediately followed. I knew this was going to come down to the finish.
The end of the course was a steep 4.5% climb that lasted about 4 minutes. I felt terrible already and that climb would hurt like hell at an easy pace. Now I was counting on it to get me away.
When we hit the base of the climb, I gave it everything I had. My heart rate was already at 170 BPM, so I was already breathing hard and sweating like crazy when I made my move. My heart rate spiked to 180 BPM. I was pulling away... 10 feet....20...30... 40.... they weren't in my draft anymore. I shifted up and jumped out of the saddle. I was only doing 13 mph, but it was enough. My power was at 350 watts. I knew that was a little too high, so I sat back down. I looked across the screen. Steve was trying really hard, but he was losing ground to me quickly at about 11 mph. I had 200 feet on him. John was 200 feet behind him doing 10 mph. All I have to do it hang on....
What the hell kind of thinking is that?!?! I jumped out of the saddle again, giving it everything I had. My speed surged a little to 14 mph... then I hit the change in grade where it levels out. I gritted my teeth and pushed as hard as I could. I could barely see or breath, but I could see the distance numbers between me and Steve still ticking upward.
I cross the finish line and thought I was going to pass out. I finished in 1:51:10 (1 hour, 51 minutes, 10 seconds). I shifted into a lighter gear, took a drink, and grabbed my towel to wipe my face. I saw Steve cross the finish line, 40 seconds behind me. John finished about 40 seconds behind him. My gamble had paid off.
By comparison, the faster guys finished like 8 minutes ahead of us!
As my heart rate came down, I noticed my power numbers. I had averaged 241 watts, the best power I've ever held that this duration. By comparison, a month ago I held 247 watts, but for 20 minutes less.
Of course, my weight is still more of less plateaued. I was 174.8 this morning. Hopefully I can be a little more consistent this week and burn off a pound or two.
This morning was my first RPM class in 3 weeks. Two weeks ago I was in Colorado, last week I locked myself out of my apartment, so this week I was back. I didn't know what to expect.
I haven't been riding much the last few weeks. I was in Colorado for 5 days and Vegas for 4 days, and got no exercise short of walking the whole time. I just got back in the gym this week once for the first time in almost a month. I rode the trainer a few times this week and was generally winded and felt like crap. I didn't expect much in today's ride, so I planned on going easy. Yeah, right.
We had seven people in class. Within the first few miles, we saw how the groups would form. We had 3 higher category riders who took off fast early. The second group of 3 riders held back a little. One guy was good and actually rode a steady base ride pace.
I was in the second group of three, with my teammates Steve and John. Steve and I took off pretty fast and had a little gap on John. On the first couple climbs, I pulled away from Steve and got a decent gap on him. About 40 minutes into the ride, Steve and John got together on the course and were able to start working together. The Computrainer software allows drafting, so they could benefit from working together to bring me back. Anything within 40 feet is considered drafting (it sounds like a lot, but I guess it makes sense for riding indoors). I held them off for about a half hour, but I knew they were gaining and I was getting tired.
I had to make a decision. Do I try to hold them off on my own or do I let them catch up? Each one had risks. If I tried to stay on my own and they did catch me, I might be too tired to stay with them. If I let them catch up, I might not be able to get away in the end. I decided that letting them catch up was less of a risk.
With about 8 miles to go in a 38 mile course, they caught me. I stayed with them, trying to stay in the draft as much as I could. A couple times I tried to the front and get away, but they immediately followed. I knew this was going to come down to the finish.
The end of the course was a steep 4.5% climb that lasted about 4 minutes. I felt terrible already and that climb would hurt like hell at an easy pace. Now I was counting on it to get me away.
When we hit the base of the climb, I gave it everything I had. My heart rate was already at 170 BPM, so I was already breathing hard and sweating like crazy when I made my move. My heart rate spiked to 180 BPM. I was pulling away... 10 feet....20...30... 40.... they weren't in my draft anymore. I shifted up and jumped out of the saddle. I was only doing 13 mph, but it was enough. My power was at 350 watts. I knew that was a little too high, so I sat back down. I looked across the screen. Steve was trying really hard, but he was losing ground to me quickly at about 11 mph. I had 200 feet on him. John was 200 feet behind him doing 10 mph. All I have to do it hang on....
What the hell kind of thinking is that?!?! I jumped out of the saddle again, giving it everything I had. My speed surged a little to 14 mph... then I hit the change in grade where it levels out. I gritted my teeth and pushed as hard as I could. I could barely see or breath, but I could see the distance numbers between me and Steve still ticking upward.
I cross the finish line and thought I was going to pass out. I finished in 1:51:10 (1 hour, 51 minutes, 10 seconds). I shifted into a lighter gear, took a drink, and grabbed my towel to wipe my face. I saw Steve cross the finish line, 40 seconds behind me. John finished about 40 seconds behind him. My gamble had paid off.
By comparison, the faster guys finished like 8 minutes ahead of us!
As my heart rate came down, I noticed my power numbers. I had averaged 241 watts, the best power I've ever held that this duration. By comparison, a month ago I held 247 watts, but for 20 minutes less.
Of course, my weight is still more of less plateaued. I was 174.8 this morning. Hopefully I can be a little more consistent this week and burn off a pound or two.
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