Bike Log, day 36

I set a new record today, that's right, and I worked hard for it. You can tell. Check out these numbers:

25:14, 6.5mi
50F, Odo 720mi
avg 15.5mph, max 25.2mph

Oh yes, that's right, I've never gone this slow on the road bike before. There may be several factors at work here: not enough to eat last night... not stretching this morning... not having a substantial breakfast... or just a general feeling of laziness. It could be anything!
Let's be honest for a second. I didn't push hard at all. I coasted, pushing just enough to keep a moderate pace, though I never stopped peddling Until the end, where I pushed slightly harder but still at a moderate pace.
This isn't a race, but I'm still setting new records every day! =)

[after work edit]
The ride home was slow, too; I wasn't trying to set any records.

21:03, 6.5mi
75F, Odo 727mi
avg 18.6mph, max 35.0mph

The artists out there may enjoy this site: jenwang.net
And now: a bite to eat, some cello practice, and off to Luke's cello recital!

Zzzz...

No biking today, due to getting home after midnight last night, but the weekend was awesome!

I went to the beach with a good friend yesterday. It was extraordinarily windy. The wind made it cold, even out in the sun. I dove in anyway.
Afterwards was Indiana Jones! We both enjoyed the film very much.

Bike Log Weekend: Forty Miles

My goal was 40 miles in one day. I reached that goal.

To Manchester:

1:05:18, 19.1mi
79F, Odo 688mi
avg 17.5mph, max 33.4mph

Back Home

1:08:22, 21.1mi
68F, Odo 714mi
avg 18.5mph, max 39.2mph

Total time: 2h13m40s, 40.2miles, average speed 18mph, maximum speed 39.2mph.

Notes:
*That max speed was down a very steep hill, toward an intersection. If it had been better lit without potholes and without traffic, I would have a new top speed of fourty-something un-assisted. As is, I'm satisfied with being in one piece, thankyouverymuch.

*Do not eat half a rack of ribs and two bowls of ice cream directly before a 20 mile ride. I can tell you from experience: eat well in advance of a long ride. I was hurting for 18 miles at least.

Now I think a shower is in order. Ta-ta.

Plans

Today I'm planning to ride the 20 miles to Manchester, take a long break while visiting family, etc., then ride home. Should be about 42 miles. I'll update when I get back. Wish me luck.

Bike Log, day 35

This morning I kept to the routine. Relax for the first half then push at the end. It certainly feels like I had a good ride.

23:20, 6.5mi
48F, Odo 662mi
avg 16.8mph, max 27.1mph

I just evaluated my record times and added them to my profile on the left. Now I realize 23m to work is not a bad time at all.

Current Cycling records

Best to-work time: 22m44s, average speed 17.2mph
Best home time: 19m28s, average speed 20.1mph
Best long ride: 1h21m27s, 24.7 miles. Average speed 18.2mph

Crazy records

Top speed: 39.5mph (un-aided)
Fastest draft: 42.3mph! (drafting a car downhill)
Best ride: 22m17s, 6.5mi to work! (drafted a dump truck at 30mph on flat ground)

[After work]
The ride home was epic. I flew down the first hill at a new top speed (non-drafting top speed) and though it killed me, though my legs were screaming, I kept my momentum. I win.

19:22(!), 6.5mi
73F, Odo 669mi
avg 20.3mph, max 39.5mph(!)

Yay!
Once home I did 50 pushups, 50 crunches (cycling legs), some shoulder work with 15lb weights (arms fully extended front and side, 50 lbs for the back of the shoulder) then triceps and biceps. I finished off this workout with a big bowl of ice cream =D
*also, do you like the new theme?

Bike Log, day 34: creative writing

Today's struggle was simply to get out of bed.

A beautiful woman, whom I love dearly, needed my help in banishing the darkness that haunted her. We can never be together, she and I, or so she keeps telling me; but I still love her deeply, regardless. I helped, though it was late and I must wake early. We talked afterwards. Not about inconsequential things, but about important things. We discussed the tragedy of the loss of beauty in our worlds. Our separate worlds. We walk different paths, she tells me. I still have a flicker of hope for us. I know it's foolish, but I refuse to be ashamed of my dreams.

This morning's stats:

23:44, 6.5mi
48F, Odo 649mi
avg 16.5mph, max 27.4mph
*Zzzzz....

I did not give up, I did not succumb to the lazy desire to drive in (or to call in sick and just sleep). That's a win in my book.

[Ride home]

21:54, 6.5mi
61F, Odo 656mi
avg 17.9mph, max 28.8mph
*light rain early on.

I'm going to take a nap.

Bike Log, day 33

I took a nap before my ride, but overslept. I left about 10-15 minutes late, so I took the shortcut and managed to sign in on time.

21:27(!), 6.2mi
50F, Odo 636mi
avg 17.3mph, max 25.1mph
*shortcut

I took a full minute off my previous shortcut time of 22:20 on 4/29. And look at that average speed, 17.3mph. Awesome! Pushed on flat ground and uphill sections, coasted downhill sections.

Last night I covered the black belt prep class for the head teacher. Exciting! Then Mr. White taught our black belt class. It was great! After class ended, he offered to stay and help us with our forms. He gave me some wonderful details on the salutation of form 6, and the first technique of that form. I struggled with his corrections for the rest of the night. Many people seem to think I don't work to be good at karate, that it's a gift or something. That's not true.

Tonight I have to hustle home after work; I'm covering some other classes and need to get there early.

[Night Edit]
I hustled, but I was late anyway, as I had a long call late in my shift that ran over. Regardless, here are my numbers.

20:35, 6.5mi
6?F, Odo 642mi
avg 19.1mph, max 37.2mph
*traffic

I refilled my water bottle three times yesterday, that's about 70oz of water.