After discussing the route for the MS ride and the hills it includes, I decided to add two more teeth to my largest cog on my bikes rear cassette. It doesn't sound like much but it will help. Unfortunately I had to replace the entire set of 10 cogs to get the one that had 27 teeth instead of 25 that I have now. Not cheap!
I can't wait to try it out! I'll report back after I've installed and rode the local hills since I have a good idea of the hills that we will be climbing on October 10th. I also found out that the first day of riding will be about 105-106 miles. We won't even hit the hills until about mile 65, so I have not only committed myself to getting, installing and training with the new cog set; I am also committed to losing 15-20 more pounds before October 10th. That may be my biggest challenge yet without losing any muscle mass...
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Great ride and new MS ride buddy source
Yesterday I started my day early, once again, at 5am to be on the bike path by 6am. There's nothing better from my perspective to start your day this way. This early the breeze that is typical on the first 7-8 miles of my ride are non-existent and really gives you an idea what your top cruising speed is without a head wind and doesn't drain me before my ride has even really begun. I ended up riding all the way down to Torrey Pines and up the hill to the state park, which was more difficult than I thought but rewarding nonetheless.
I did have one issue with a peddle cleat mating correctly, but I figured that out after two or three attempts to fix them incorrectly. Once I got that corrected I found some serious speed, which I will be trying to implement with the other side of the crankset.
I ended up meeting up with another rider that will be in his fifth MS ride this October. He rode with me all the way to the end of my ride and we discussed routes and prep and a ride that 8-10 of us will be riding on September 12th that entails the northern route from Huntington Beach to Solana Beach. This will cover about 80 miles of the MS bike route. I'm grateful for meeting up with riders that have this perspective of the ride and how to prepare. We are less than two months away and I feel confident but a little intrepid about my first century ride. Im hoping that I can ride with these guys during the MS ride to help with the moral support and pacing, but if not Im sure I'll be surrounded by others who are just as supportive. I'm really looking forward to it...
Oh yeah, almost forgot. I rode 61 miles yesterday.
Donate to help finish MS: http://www.biketofinishms.com/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=304333&supid=259559506
I did have one issue with a peddle cleat mating correctly, but I figured that out after two or three attempts to fix them incorrectly. Once I got that corrected I found some serious speed, which I will be trying to implement with the other side of the crankset.
I ended up meeting up with another rider that will be in his fifth MS ride this October. He rode with me all the way to the end of my ride and we discussed routes and prep and a ride that 8-10 of us will be riding on September 12th that entails the northern route from Huntington Beach to Solana Beach. This will cover about 80 miles of the MS bike route. I'm grateful for meeting up with riders that have this perspective of the ride and how to prepare. We are less than two months away and I feel confident but a little intrepid about my first century ride. Im hoping that I can ride with these guys during the MS ride to help with the moral support and pacing, but if not Im sure I'll be surrounded by others who are just as supportive. I'm really looking forward to it...
Oh yeah, almost forgot. I rode 61 miles yesterday.
Donate to help finish MS: http://www.biketofinishms.com/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=304333&supid=259559506
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