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A milestone comes early

06.13.2008 by Ray Niekamp // 7 Comments

When the year began, I tried to predict how many miles I’d ride. Based on my numbers for the last five months of ’07, I guessed I would cover about 1,200 miles in ’08. Looks like that will be inaccurate.

After today’s ride, I found that I have already broken the 1,000 mile barrier. To be precise, 1,008 miles since the beginning of the year. I might be able to hit 1,200 by the end of the month.

So, how far upward should I revise my mileage goal for 2008? A reasonable figure would be 2,000 miles, which would give me six months to duplicate what I’ve already done in the first six months. Or should I set a mileage goal at all? Why not just plan on riding as regularly as possible, and let the chips fall.

I want to get some more long organized rides in this year, and have even been kicking around the idea of going after a century, perhaps in the fall. To do that, I will have to increase my weekly mileage as well as my long ride mileage. That seems a more sensible plan than just trying to hit a big number by year’s end. And by working on the training goals, the year-long mileage will just take care of itself.

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Categories // Records & stats, training Tags // mileage, Rides

Self-imposed bike hiatus (it sucks)

06.05.2008 by Ray Niekamp // 2 Comments

The weather in Central Texas has been unusual lately. Hot temperatures — much higher than normal for this time of year — and for the last week the winds have been strong and without letup. They’ve been averaging in the high teens continuously, but gusts in the 40s have been reported all over the area.

When I get home from work in late afternoon, it’s been too hot for bicycling to be inviting. So I haven’t ridden since the Real Ale Ride on Saturday. That’s my longest layoff since March. But today, the temperature was only 91° when I got home, so I decided it was time to go for a ride.

Three or four times during a one hour ride the wind nearly knocked me and the bike on our sides. I sure got a hill workout in today, even though I rode my flattest route. Traveling south against the wind on a stretch where I typically average about 20 mph, I was only doing 16 or 17.

The upside of that is that the northbound part of the ride was nearly effortless. The wind pushed me along like a dandelion seed. Despite the rough going southbound, my average speed for the ride was the same as it usually is — it all evened out.

I really needed that ride. My body has been telling me it needed some activity, and five days has been too long to go without. But today will be it for awhile. We’re taking off for a golf weekend Friday afternoon. That’ll be a lot of fun, and we’ll stay at a nice hotel, but riding in a golf cart is not exercise. So I suppose my body will be talking to me again Sunday afternoon when we get home, complaining about too little exertion and too much food and adult beverages.

It will have been one ride in eight days. And that’s assuming I’ll be able to get out Sunday afternoon. If it’s not 97. And/or blowing 45. Being off the bike sucks.

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Categories // Rides, training Tags // heat

Smoked the old guy

05.07.2008 by Ray Niekamp // 5 Comments

As I pulled out of the Veloway parking lot to ride home this evening after my weekly three-times-around-the-Veloway ride, I was passed by a familiar-looking bike. It was orange. The rider was tall. Unbelievable. It couldn’t be HIM!

But when I caught up to him at the stoplight at the top of the hill, I saw that it was. Orange Novara Stradas are just not all that common around here. We chatted briefly, although with a bit more substance this time, and once again, I took off first when the light changed.

This time, I was aware of him behind me. He followed me again all the way to the intersection by the supermarket, when we were stopped at another red light. “Man, it’s a hot one today,” he said. It was about 92° F. We were both bathed in sweat. We chatted some more, and it turns out he lives just one neighborhood over from me.

When the light changed, I was ready. I had kept the chain in the large chainring, but my cleat missed the pedal when I jumped forward. He must have seen my trouble and held back, wary of the heavy traffic at that intersection. I finally clicked in, stood on the pedals, and charged up the notorious Mild Suburban Incline.

No cars were turning into the supermarket lot, so I was able to keep accelerating up the grade. This time, he didn’t pass me. When I got to the top of the grade, I looked back to check on traffic, since I have to cross two lanes to make a left turn. He was a good 50 yards behind. I signaled my left, crossed the lanes, and gave him a wave as I turned towards home.

Dang! I smoked the old guy, just three weeks after he got me. Yeah, baby! There’s life in this old dog yet!

What’s that? Huh? Well…I guess you’re right. For there to be a race, both guys need to know they’re racing.

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Categories // Rides, training

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