So big time slacking on this thread, which I pretty much stopped on purpose and just didn’t say so. I think I will start it back up in September and here is an update of things lately:
During the summer, every-other week I am able to work a 4, 10 hour day schedule and have Friday off. While I participate in this, I have to say I am not a fan. Sure I have off on Friday, but the rest of the week just kills me. I hate working after 5, so I work 5:30 – 4:30, which is my normal leaving time. So even though I am getting up at the same time, my morning rides are squashed or limited to just a commute. Sometimes I gain time at lunch, but that is frowned upon by the manager, so if you do it too often, questions start to be asked. The assumption that you aren’t working the 10 hours is stressful too since everyone is under the microscope with their time. I am usually fairly honest with it, but if I take a long lunch of come in late for whatever, there just isn’t much time to make that up. Anyways, this week is my 4-10 and the last one is the week before labor, which is nice. I just can’t wait to get off this schedule and get back to “normal”.
In June, I slacked on the road bike and used time for the BMX. In July, I got back on the mileage wagon a bit and got in a bunch of rides over the 2 hour mark, but nothing more than 2.5. I knew I was either doing the Philly Fondo or the Mooch race, so I have been trying to whip my ass into shape for some more distance. Still not managing over 2 hours, but 2 hours at a higher intensity so hopefully it is doing something. I am satisfied with the averages I have been seeing on a consistent basis this year and feel stronger on flat section and actually think I got slower on your average hill section and can’t say I have seen much improvement there. Since I don’t use anything but a garmin with no HRM or power data, it is really hard to judge “improvement” because average speeds mean nothing unless you are doing the same loop with the same conditions. Still, I have seen 20 mph averages more often than not and I will take that as improvement. In any case, I am happy with my time for the Zion TT and glad I am on the upper quarter with some of the faster guys posting times.
Mountain Bike
Mountain what? No mountain bike. None, nada, zilch! Last time I rode it for XC was at the 6 pack. Last time I rode it at the dirt jumps was back in June before I got back on a 20”. So my skills probably went to shit, unless the place I am riding has real jumps, which doesn’t really exist outside of the mtb parks. My bike in bad need of fork maintenance and a brake bleed, which is being fixed right now at Bicycle Pro. Turns out the enduro fork seals trashed my stanchions and also let all sorts of mud into my fork leg, so I needed a new fork or pay a bunch to get that one repaired. Then it turns out my caliper is frozen and my lever is leaking, so some new parts required there, although SRAM came through (and a shout out to Colin for making that happen) with some new stuff on that end.
So the mooch race is a week away, I have not ridden my mountain bike in a few months and I have a new fork that I will likely not be able to ride on a trail beforehand, so not sure what to expect. I feel good on my road bike, but we all know that doesn’t translate to feeling good on a mountain bike. Should be interesting at the mooch race and hopefully lead to some more ass chapage.
This week’s rides:
Sunday: Raining like a mofo all day. Ride the sysnapse on my zion loop and do the TT and get the same exact time as my fastest time, so maybe I am maxed out there. The rain was a “perfect rain” where it wasn’t cold and it wasn’t really windy, so the rain was a nice change to riding in 90* weather. I felt super good on the bike and managed a 20 mph average.
Tuesday: After resting Monday, I did my normal morning loop in the evening and managed over 20 mph here too. As noted, on the climbs I felt slower, but everywhere else felt faster.
Wednesday: Junk miles into work. Lights are on for at least a half hour now. Lunch with client (which I am counting as work time), so time for a ride before work.
Thursday: Ride through Princeton again. Was hungry as a mofo and the granola bar and gel I ate just wasn’t cutting it. Bike got trashed due to light rain too and I lent my cross bike to my wife’s boss so he could try it out, so no rain bike right now. Light rain is much worse for the bike getting covered with junk as heavy rain washes everything away and light rain just makes everything stick to your bike.I think this ride falls into the junk miles category.
Went to the jumps with my son last night and they are in very bad shape from the rain on Sunday. Worked a few lips but just scratched the surface. On a positive note, my son had his balance bike and went over a bunch of rollers no problem and really loved it, which is such an awesome this to see. However, my wife doesn’t approve of him going there with me ever since I got knocked out there, so even though I wasn’t riding, I got a ration of shit when I got home, which kinda put a damper on things. She also expresses to me “how she feels about that place”, which is not a good kind of feel, so not sure how I am gonna handle that one. I thought the just ignore it would work, but maybe not. Anyways, that’s it for now….