Darn it

Something really weird happened with my bike computer because the numbers from my last endurance test just don't make any sense. I think the problem is with the transmitter because it came with my first Sigma computer. I never bothered to install the new transmitter when I changed to another Sigma. Since they are both 1106-DTS computers, I figured it wouldn't matter. Maybe I was wrong.

By the way, there are 2286 millimeters in 90", right?



Monkey Edit:
There is the very real possibility I may have failed to clear the trip time or some other data before setting off on my ride. In any event, I installed the transmitter that came with this computer.

Dogtown

I just finished watching an episode of Dogtown on the National Geographic Channel about the Michael Vic dogs. I just have to say there must be a special place in Hell for Michael Vic because he deserves the same cruelty these dogs had to endure. I'll spare you the gruesome details, but the story of one dog in particular broke my heart.

Endurance Test #3

My latest endurance test went much better than expected, especially considering I didn’t do anything remotely related to exercise in over a week. Getting myself out of bed this morning was half the battle. The other half was tossing a leg over my bike. I’m apparently motivated in stages.

I set off for the Holly Springs National Forest shortly before noon and made a good pace going out. My focus for this test tide would be comfort and fueling.

The Ritchey WCS grips I put on my bike last week seemed to do the trick since I didn’t experience any hand cramping issues. I may have to tinker with saddle positioning since I did experience some minor discomfort after 4 hours on the bike. The discomfort wasn’t anything too serious and didn’t affect my performance. I also wasn’t wearing my usual shorts, so that could have been a factor.

The fueling aspect of the ride went beyond my expectations. I never once felt sluggish during my outing and actually felt strong for the full 5+ hours I was on the bike. I could have easily broken the 50-mile mark today, but it was getting late. The Hammer Nutrition products I tried have specific dosing instructions based on body weight and weather (temperature), and I used those as my baseline. I also followed the intake recommendations to the best of my ability, which is 20-25 ounces of fluid hourly and Hammer Gels as a part-time fuel. I used Hammer Perpetium beyond two hours on the bike. One thing I will have to address is how to carry Perpetium and Hammer Sustained Energy since they can’t be used in a pack system. For today’s test, I carried plain water in my pack and individual envelopes of Perpetueum in my jersey pockets. I used the water in my pack to mix my Perpetueum once I finished both bottles of Heed. This method probably isn’t practical in a race, but I was mainly concerned with fueling performance over practicality. I will probably carry Heed in my pack and either Perpetium or Sustained Energy in bottles for endurance events.

The Numbers:
Distance - 47.68 miles
Trip Time - 5:14:14
Average Speed - 13.15 mph
Max Speed - 30.63 mph
Items Consumed - Two 21oz. bottles of Heed, One 21oz. bottle of Perpetueum, three gels
Starting Temperature - 47 degrees.
Total Elevation Gain - Enough to hurt


I have the unique ability to dress in full kit while yapping on the phone.


Ritchey WCS Ergo True Grips, 36 grams of endurance comfort.


One thing I discovered is I can’t reach my second bottle while actually riding. Still, I like having that rear suspension system!


A brief stop to check my map and mix some Perpetium.


Bike shorts are a great place to store maps and gels.


The Holly Springs National Forest, home of the Cycle Monkey endurance tests.

The Holidays

I went to visit the folks for the holiday and brought my cat along. He was a little traumatized during the drive over and whined a bit. He’s not one for confinement. He spent most of his time under one bed or another and only came out for brief visits. I’m sure he was just tired from the trip. He really is quite social. On the drive back home, he escaped from his carrier and wandered around the car. He did enjoy looking out the side window like a little dog. He wasn't any trouble and eventually settled down in my lap and took a nap.

It's Hammer Time!

My first shipment of supplies from Hammer Nutrition arrived today. The pieces of the puzzle are coming into place. My next step is to hone my off season training and develop a more balanced diet.

One Mile Per Degree

Yesterday was a complete wash with regard to saddle time and any form of serious training. It rained non-stop from dawn to dusk, and the Pacific Northwest like fog only dampened my motivation further. All I managed to do in the training department is burn half an hour on the step machine. I might as well have eaten a pint of ice cream and a bag of chips.

When I got up this morning, the weeklong period of rain finally subsided, so I was determined to get outside to do something reasonably constructive. I originally thought about continuing my series of mountain bike endurance tests, but decided against it since the ground was so saturated from the constant rain. Instead, I decided to brave the 31-degree temperature and gusting winds for a road ride out to the lake, which, oddly enough, just so happens to be a 31 mile round trip. Discretion being the better part of valor, I donned several layers of cycling gear before heading out.

bib shorts
fleece tights.
wind blocker tights
fleece lined socks
cycling shoe covers
cycling jersey
long-sleeve thermal jersey
regular long sleeve jersey
vest
cycling jacket
ear band
balaclava
cycling cap
helmet
heavy-duty Columbia gloves

It only took about 5 miles before I started to over heat, so I stopped along the side of the road to unzip various layers before finally reaching a reasonable compromise. The hardest part about riding in the cold is finding the right balance of clothing. Once I got going again, I plodded through a gusting headwind at the astonishing speed of 13 mph and one mile traveled for each degree in temperature.

The UPS Man Cometh

My new Camel-Bak Classic arrived today. It replaces an old Performance Monsoon Porter I’ve used for the past 9 years. I didn’t realize until recently, but the Performance pack only holds 64 ounces, which can be a handicap on long, hot, rides. My new Camel-Bak holds 70 ounces, which should be good for about two hours. I considered something larger, but didn’t want to deal with anything too bulky.


I ordered the vest because it was on sale. :)