AT Cycling Log - 100,000 miles done! Next stop ???

[_Rick_]

Which happens to make it terrible for off-roading.

Oh dear, that reminds me of that one time, years ago, when I was caught out in the woods, with only such basic lightning. Having to go fast enough to get any light, and then not being able to see more than 5 meters ahead is one of those truly scary experiences I've had on a bike - only bested by "no lights in a long tunnel, with the car lighting your way pulling away in mid-tunnel".

...also, my knee still hurts today. Definitely need to do something about fit asap. I'll try reduce the toe-in angle on the cleats first, probably, see where that gets me. Having raised the saddle and using more ankle movement to pedal will probably require a more neutral set up, than what worked well for just stomping out of the thighs.

 

[mechBgon]

Oh dear, that reminds me of that one time, years ago, when I was caught out in the woods, with only such basic lightning. Having to go fast enough to get any light, and then not being able to see more than 5 meters ahead is one of those truly scary experiences I've had on a bike - only bested by "no lights in a long tunnel, with the car lighting your way pulling away in mid-tunnel".

The biggest off-road problem with the Luxos, and other "German-spec" lights with a cutoff, is that the cutoff REALLY works. So if my bike's aimed down at all, such as a rolling trail or diving into a gully, I can't see up the other side. I'm currently in line to get a high-end dynamo-powered off-road headlight (~1000 lumens peak, non-cutoff beam pattern) from Klite in Australia. Exposure Lights also has a pretty hot-looking 800-lumen dynamo light, the Revo Mk 1.

So today is supposed to start with rain, then rain harder, then get gusty winds at ~17mph gusting to over 30mph. Definitely a day for the full raingear!

 

[pm]

So how does this work? In the summer, I commute pretty every other day into work by bicycle, plus I ride 1-2 times per week on longer trips up into the mountains in Colorado. I rode 40.1 miles a few days ago, 108 miles last week, and about 2700 miles since I bought my new Trek Madone 5.4 two and a half years ago. I'd have to look at the cycling computer for an accurate number, but I hit 2500 on it back in August.

Do I just count the most recent ride?
http://www.strava.com/activities/93022363

Or can I upload my summer cycling log?

Total: 42192+40 = 42232

 

[RichieZ]

16mi

total=42,248

 

[eng2d2]

amazing

 

[_Rick_]

So how does this work? In the summer, I commute pretty every other day into work by bicycle, plus I ride 1-2 times per week on longer trips up into the mountains in Colorado. I rode 40.1 miles a few days ago, 108 miles last week, and about 2700 miles since I bought my new Trek Madone 5.4 two and a half years ago. I'd have to look at the cycling computer for an accurate number, but I hit 2500 on it back in August.

Do I just count the most recent ride?
http://www.strava.com/activities/93022363

Or can I upload my summer cycling log?

Total: 42192+40 = 42232

Big drops are generally frowned upon - just log as you ride from now on.

 

[mechBgon]

I settled for the 7-mile direct commute today, and gave up on the Strava climbing challenge for this time around.

Total: 42239

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

42275
Add 36 more for me.

 

[pm]

Commuted 8.1 miles roundtrip to work and then left early, went home and did 16.6 miles around the lakes because it's a gorgeous evening here. http://www.strava.com/activities/93953912

42275+25=42300

 

[drteming]

20 miles today.

Total: 42,320

 

[mechBgon]

I took the direct route to work, then climbed some hills on the way home: http://app.strava.com/activities/94188977 Considering that's with the studded-tire mountain bike at 40 pounds, the ~350W-360W estimates on the climbs are probably not far off. I was putting out some good efforts on the ascents, anyway.

I was almost home when I found a lost cell phone, a pair of glasses, and a dollar bill. I was able to drop the cell phone and glasses off with someone who was in the phone's Contacts list, and I kept the dollar bill :sneaky:

So that's 4 + 18 + 1 from me today.

Total: 42,343

 

[mechBgon]

Today I decided to go for a long, relatively mellow ride and climb enough to complete the IMBA challenge on Strava (today's the last day and I needed another 3999ft of ascent). So I did that: http://app.strava.com/activities/94429838 The weather was OK for winter... low 40's Farenheit, dry, and no appreciable wind.

Nothing too exciting there... I started with some off-road and then did a couple long ascents on the road. A few pics:

So that's +39 miles.

Total: 42,382

 

[pm]

Went out with my neighborhood cycling group and had a fun day climbing and descending hills on a beautiful autumn Colorado day with the high above 65F. We pushed the pace hard on the steepest hill in the group (Soldier Hill) and I pulled a "personal record" up the 7.6% grade. Definitely reached deeply into heart zone #5 near the top - there wasn't much more that I could have done. http://www.strava.com/activities/94349149

Add +27 miles.
Total: 42,409 miles

 

[RichieZ]

17mi

Total: 42,426 miles

 

[SociallyChallenged]

I see a lot of you guys use Strava - are there any particular perks to this as opposed to other GPS tracking fitness sites? Other stats provided that you have to pay for on other sites?

 

[mechBgon]

I see a lot of you guys use Strava - are there any particular perks to this as opposed to other GPS tracking fitness sites? Other stats provided that you have to pay for on other sites?

The only other site I've tried myself was Garmin's own (Garmin Connect). I like Strava better for a lot of reasons, including the leaderboard system since I have a competitive streak, the ease of looking up old rides and performances on particular climbs/etc, and I find some of the pay-for features useful too.

For an example, maybe I go for an after-work training ride and tackle the local time-trial course with my studded-tire mountain bike in the winter. I can see "ok, I finished it in 35m 30s today," pull up Strava's Leaderboard for the TT course, then choose "My results" and see that it's my 5th-best performance overall.

But I want to compare just the times I was on studded tires, they make the bike much slower. Since the bike is listed separately in my Gear in its winter configuration, I can eyeball the dates of my better performances. 4th-best was in February? Undoubtedly on studs, let's check... yes.

So in this hypothetical example, I learn that I'm about 45 seconds off my PR with that equipment. MUST. TRAIN.

edit: oh, and another thing I find handy is the Compare function, where I can compare any one of my performances to my own PR and the course record-holder's performance. As I move my mouse across the graph, dots on the map and the graph show our relative positions on the course, along with a readout of my speed, cadence, power and heart rate at that point on the course.

That kind of drill-down granularity is way beyond anything a guy can do on Garmin Connect. Also, many of our local athletes are using Strava, so it's sort of "the place to be" if you want to compete by GPS Bonus: everything described above is available on the free Strava service.

I also find Strava useful for route research. I can use the Explore feature to look for segments in our area, then use the Leaderboards for those segments to view peoples' full rides and learn where to find the trailhead for an off-road area, for example.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Thanks for the info, mech. I was going to use Strava today, but unfortunately forgot my pack for the ride. Didn't want to pocket the phone in case of a fall. Just an easy 7.4mi ride with a small group. I keep wanting to push it, but I don't want to break up the group too much. Will try Strava next time.

Total: 42,433

 

[mechBgon]

Three days of basic commuting to report. 7 miles, 7 miles, and 10 miles, the last being tonight's grocery run after work.

Hopefully tomorrow I can go for a more athletic ride after work; after that, the forecast is calling for snow Friday and Saturday, with high temperatures declining to just above freezing. In those circumstances I usually stay close to home and climb ~400ft hills.

Total: 42,457

 

[pm]

Commuted to work yesterday and went for a ride today in the early evening - but it was cold and getting dark and I cut it short. I miss summer...

+8 (commute), +7 (ride)
Total: 42,472

 

[_Rick_]

20 miles, with a five or six short intervals.
Not my greatest performance, but I was tasting blood from square one. Was below 10 deg, which makes breathing a bit uncomfortable, especially when increasing throughput/intensity.

42492

 

[mechBgon]

Just 7 miles today. I ended up staying late at work, we (meaning me) are rearranging the work area. Ladders, lumber, computers, wood, screws, drills, levels, etc. I was not in a mood for a training ride by the time I was done with that.

Show & tell...



My bench is at the left with the dual Elo 2420L touchscreens Once I get hold of more plywood, all three benches will have an overhead shelf with light fixtures on the undersides.

Total: 42,499

 

[mechBgon]

Another night of puttering at work until 9PM, so just 7 miles again. Now it's raining and getting ready to upgrade to snow.

Total: 42,506

 

[pm]

I also rode a short cold ride about as hard and fast as I could in the winds and got out 9.8 miles in a little over 30 minutes - the clouds are gathering in the mountains west of us and the forecast for the weekend is for things to get colder with snow expected on Sunday. It's fun riding with a 30+ mile per hour wind at your back... I wish there were some west -> east Strava segments I could have ridden. It's gonna be cold, I might try to get out for a ride tomorrow...

+10 miles
Total: 42516

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Rode 11mi at a new trail today. We took our time, but still got our asses kicked by the long hill at the beginning (1,100ft gain). Overall, good fun. The ground on the downhill was bedrock so it was bumpy coming down. Definitely reminded me that I 1) need some disc brakes and 2) would love to have a full suspension rig.

Total: 42,527

 

[drteming]

10 miles on a fun trail today, recovering from a trail race yesterday. This was the view from the trail. Any guesses as to where I was? (Especially those from North Carolina)

Total: 42,537