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April 10, 2006
Still Alive (Again)
I've now officially survived 2 rides on my new bike - I am nearly a pro! Today was much more frightening. I went on the roads around our house which involved traffic and some really significant hills. The uphills aren't bad, it's the downhills that have me biting my nails - that is if I would ever loosen my death grip on the handlebars long enough to get my hand up to my mouth.
Stats: (the bike computer is cooler than words)
14.41 miles riden
1:00:37 total time
14.26 MPH average speed
31.12 MPH fastest speed
Today was really good for me. I needed to get out on the roads and ride and just get to feeling good on my bike. I did better than I thought. The absolute best part was the long, flat (even slightly downhill) 3 mile stretch at the end where the road was really good (not many potholes) and I got down on my bars and flew. I was going around 20-25 MPH, spinning on one of my highest gears and loving life.
Contrast this with going about 8 MPH up some pretty big hills and then about 30 MPH down the other side, fearing for my life. :) I was actually talking to myself at some points, willing myself to stay down on my bars when I really wanted to sit up and hit the brakes. Riding with traffic was a little unsettling at times too. The loop I did is mostly back roads but involved some more heavily traveled areas too.
Some observations:
1) Wind while riding very light bike with very skinny tires = trouble. The wind picked up at one point along a busier road with cars whizzing by and I felt very unstable.
2) Bike built to go fast = unforgiving on the potholes and/or any little bump you encounter. My bike has an aluminum frame with carbon fiber forks. This meant absolutely nothing to me about 2 weeks ago, but as I understand it now, material means a lot. Carbon is the supreme material in that it's the most forgiving on the roads (= more comfort) but is still stiff enough to have some giddy-up and go. Aluminum not as forgiving. This becomes especially important for someone of my size, 5'4'' and 120 pounds, a waif by no means, but also not 6' and 185 pounds. The problem is, all carbon fiber bike = $$$$$ while aluminum frame bike with some carbon elements = only $$$. What I'm trying to say here is, my butt and crotch are not feeling great and Pennsylvania needs to fix their roads STAT! :)
3) I'm getting better with the aerobars and staying down. Things that instantly bring me up with a stranglehold on the brakes: (a) big downhill - if my brakes were in the same place as my shifters, I would likely stay put a little more often, such is not the case (b) unsteady roads with big potholes (c) sharp turns
4) When I was looking at the results of Ironman Arizona (held yesterday) I noticed that age groupers finished the 112 mile bike portion with average speeds of 20 MPH. This blows my mind. That was just about my top speed today (when I was actually pedaling and not just holding on for dear life on a downhill) and I felt like I was flying. The elites probably averaged much faster. Did I mention this was after swimming 2.4 miles and knowing full well you still had a marathon to run? By the way, Leilani's husband is now an Ironman (or maybe he already was?) as he finished in Arizona yesterday!
5) My new bike has me really excited about my new sport. I love running and always will - it has been a defining factor in my life and if I could run full time right now, I probably would be. But I've run for years and I think I was reaching a point where I wasn't sure what else I wanted to do. Triathlon is a whole new experience. I have so much to learn and there are so many ways to improve. I get very excited thinking about it - I could definitely latch onto this sport like I did running. I can't wait to actually do my first triathlon. It shall be quite the experience I'm sure!
Anyway, after all the bike bally-hoo, I drove over to the YMCA and lifted. It was such a nice day outside and there were so many people in there on the ellipticals. UGH! Take a walk outside instead! The good news is tomorrow is supposed to be even nicer! Yeah spring!
Posted by beth at April 10, 2006 8:39 PM
Comments
Thanks for the link to the ironman results. I was trying to find them all day. That is amazing. Now I feel like such a loser for complaining about being sore from WALKING far yesterday. Sheesh. :)
Posted by: Audrey at April 10, 2006 9:39 PM
Your biking is going so well! Just watch, the more you ride, the more your average speed will gradually pick up, both as your biking fitness increases and as your ability to manage your bike betters, too!
Ride on, Beth!
Posted by: Meghan at April 11, 2006 9:42 PM