Catching Up

Good morning! Just a quick note to catch up on this side of the blog. I have done a couple of bike rides that aren't posted here - a 25-miler at the end of August and a 10-miler last weekend (the end of September). I figured that was preparation enough for the Seagull Century ... right?

So yesterday was the Seagull Century. In the weeks leading up to it, I had serious doubts about riding. In the end, I decided to go and do the metric. Friday, after work, I headed out to Salisbury, MD, and the Salvation Army "campground" (okay, the football field behind their gymnasium). Also in route were Jane and Martyn, with whom I'd biked to work with several times. After encountering some terrible traffic on the eastern shore, finally arrived about 8 o'clock (it took 4 1/2 hours to make the 2 1/2 hour drive), set up our tents, grabbed a bite to eat, and got some sleep.

Up a bit before 5, we were on our bikes about 5:50 to ride the 2 miles or so to the University. There, Jane registered for the ride and we all had a bite to eat (terrible breakfast that it was). About 7:15, we were in line to start the ride and by 7:30 we were "out the gate." After about 4 1/2 hours of riding (and 2 rest steps), we were back at the start/finish line, having completed 64 miles, riding at an average rate of 13.8 miles per hour. And that is/was my longest ride since the surgery in August 2004...

I also learned that two years ago, Jane couldn't climb a flight of stairs without being winded. But she's lost 77 pounds since then and began bicycling earlier this year (Bike to Work day was her first ride). You go girl! Congratulations times 2.

Other news... Saw my cardiologist in August, had blood and stress tests in September and all is good (well, mostly - my cholesterol level has soared, probably due to my really bad eating habits over the last six months... guess I need to work on that).

Biking to Work: Week 10, day 2

As noted in yesterday's entry, I rode in on Bella. And it was 2 days in a row of riding to work... Even more impressive - today was Jane's third day in a row for riding in!

Took it easy going in, though I didn't feel as tight as I thought I would. And the killer hill on Seven Locks was almost easy. The killer hill coming home (also on Seven Locks and the complement to the one going in) did kick my butt, though I still managed to make a respectable showing overall.

By the way, you may have noticed that my GPS was working with Mertle again (yesterday's ride), though I'm not sure I trust any of the elevation numbers any more.

Anyhow, here're today's numbers:

Weather: about 60 with some humidity going in; mid-80s coming home, again with some humidity.

Location: The tried and true route from Germantown to Bethesda and back.

Biking Companions: Jane.

Trail/Road conditions: Unless something changes, just remember that the neighborhood roads suck, traffic in Montgomery Co. is not friendly to bikers, and there's always *one* out there that's just stupid.

The numbers:
To Bethesda:
Distance: 17.77 miles
Avg Speed: 12.6 mph
Max Speed: 30.6 mph
Riding Time: 1:24:31

To Germantown:
Distance: 18.43 miles
Avg Speed: 13.9 mph
Max Speed: 33.8 mph
Riding Time: 1:19:33

Biking to Work: Week 10, Day 1

Hey, look! I've actually got today's ride posted in a timely manner... w00t!!

I took it easy going in today, knowing that the plan was to also ride tomorrow. Taking it easy is obvious in the numbers (and the "easy" was mostly, if not completely, between home and picking up Jane 8 miles later). Coming home was a different story, however. Martyn, unbeknownst to either Jane or I, also rode in today so we decided we'd all leave together. Well, Martyn was hammering and Jane and I struggled to keep up... so, we had a quick pace going. Even after we split (Martyn heading down Shady Grove Rd towards home), the pace stayed elevated (though we did bring it back to something more manageable).

I *did* forget my water bottles this morning. Made it in without issue and bought a couple of bottles of Aquafina for the ride home.

Tomorrow is going to be an easy day of riding.... I hope. And I'm going to ride Bella, as long as I can figure out how to carry the essentials (the little back pack thing from Ride to Work day is at work and I don't want to carry a full size bag... I'll work something out).

Weather: upper 50s/low 60s going in, low to mid-80s coming home; no humidity either way - really a perfect riding day.

Location: The tried and true route from Germantown to Bethesda and back.

Biking Companions: going in, Jane; coming home, Jane and Martyn.

Trail/Road conditions: Unless something changes, just remember that the neighborhood roads suck, traffic in Montgomery Co. is not friendly to bikers, and there's always *one* out there that's just stupid.

The numbers:
To Bethesda:
Distance: 17.64 miles
Avg Speed: 12.6 mph
Max Speed: 30.6 mph
Riding Time: 1:23:00
GPS Only: overall avg: NA
GPS Only: total ascent: 805 ft.

To Germantown:
Distance: 18.20 miles
Avg Speed: 14.2 mph
Max Speed: 34.4 mph
Riding Time: 1:17:00
GPS Only: overall avg: 12.7 mph
GPS Only: total ascent: 821 ft.

Biking to Work: Week 9, continued

Okay, so I didn't have a chance to post Friday's ride but I *did* ride in to work on Friday morning. Friday afternoon, I put the bike in the car and then headed over to Columbia for the afternoon at MICROS. So even though I rode the bike 2 days for the week, it really only counted as one... One of these weeks I will get up to 3 days though.

Okay, that's it for week 9, almost a week delayed. I *did* ride to work today (Thursday) so will get that posted tonight after riding home (I hope). And the current plan is to ride in again tomorrow. Whoa.... two days in a row!? Well so far it's only a plan :-)

Biking to Work: Week 9, Day .5

Yes, that's a point five. I planned on riding in this morning (on vacation Monday and Tuesday) but my one of my #*R%^ neighbors decided Tuesday was a good night to have a party and it kept me awake... I think I finally dozed off about 12:30 but then woke up again about 2:30. Decided then that I wasn't riding in. But not to fret, dear friends, I sent a note to Jane (yes, at 2:30 in the morning) to go without me but to let her know that I'd still be riding home.

So, I got up at 6:30, loaded the bike in the car, and headed for work (yes, I showered, ate breakfast, all the normal getting ready for work stuff, too). Well, I managed to forget my water bottles so at lunch I drove to REI and bought a couple. And you know what? I'm a lot more rested when I don't ride in in the morning and do ride home in the evening... Amazing, hunh?

So the ride was good - we took our time, chatted, and I got home in about the same amount of time as always. But, since the GPS couldn't pick up any satellite communication, I have no idea what my numbers were. (I tried a couple of times to establish communication, too, so I don't know what was up but, apparently, it wasn't the satellites.)

And now you know why it was only a point five - having ridden only one of the legs. I'll take the motorcycle in tomorrow and then ride the bicycle in on Friday morning; another trip to Columbia Friday afternoon will be in the car with a bicycle in the back (assuming they don't tow it out of the garage over the next 36 hours).

Biking to Work: Week 8, Day 2

Okay, rode in on Wednesday but not today (Friday) because I had to be in Columbia this afternoon (yeah... I *wish* I meant the one in South America). I won't be hitting 3 times next week, either, because I'm taking Monday off. One of these weeks, though...

Anyhow, here is Wednesday's diary entry:

Weather: mid-70s and muggy going in, upper 80s and windy coming home.

Location: The tried and true route from Germantown to Bethesda and back.

Biking Companions: Jane.

Trail/Road conditions: Unless something changes, just remember that the neighborhood roads suck, traffic in Montgomery Co. is not friendly to bikers, and there's always *one* out there that's just stupid.

The numbers:
To Bethesda:
Distance: 17.59 miles
Avg Speed: 13.2 mph
Max Speed: 30.6 mph
Riding Time: 1:20:00
GPS Only: overall avg: 12.4 mph
GPS Only: total ascent: 879 ft.

To Germantown:
Distance: 18.22 miles
Avg Speed: 13.1 mph
Max Speed: 32.0 mph
Riding Time: 1:23:00
GPS Only: overall avg: 12.1 mph
GPS Only: total ascent: 1033 ft.

Biking to Work: Week 8, Day 1

Well, I almost backed out of the ride (Monday) after Jane sent me an email saying she wouldn't be riding in (a dental appt she had forgotten about), especially since I'd spent the day on the eastern shore. But I decided to ride in by myself... and the numbers were better than usual. I *may* have pushed it a little bit but nothing serious (riding time was only 4 minutes faster than usual going in, about average coming home - which is a lot better than Friday :-)).

Weather: upper 60s going in (almost felt cold), low 90s coming home.

Location: The tried and true route from Germantown to Bethesda and back.

Biking Companions: None.

Trail/Road conditions: Unless something changes, just remember that the neighborhood roads suck, traffic in Montgomery Co. is not friendly to bikers, and there's always *one* out there that's just stupid.

The numbers:
To Bethesda:
Distance: 17.56 miles
Avg Speed: 13.7 mph
Max Speed: 33.3 mph
Riding Time: 1:16:00
GPS Only: overall avg: 13.0 mph
GPS Only: total ascent: 912 ft.

To Germantown:
Distance: 18.31 miles
Avg Speed: 13.6 mph
Max Speed: 32.9 mph
Riding Time: 1:20:00
GPS Only: overall avg: 12.7 mph
GPS Only: total ascent: 1041 ft.

Biking to Work: Week 7, Day 2

Quickly... the ride home on Friday was not only slower than the usual ride home, it was slower than the ride in. I suspect there are/were several reasons: 1) the heat, 2) the wind, and 3) my legs. The weather conditions are noted below; my legs - I think they were still a little tired from the ride on Wednesday. I noticed it a bit on the ride in but it didn't affect the ride; I think in combo with the weather, though, it did make a difference on the ride home.

The current plan (as I sit in the comfort of my townhouse :-)) is to ride Monday, Wednesday, and Friday this week. Fingers crossed.

Weather: mid 70s and humid going in, mid 90s and not quite so humid coming home. There was a decent head wind on Great Seneca Hwy, too.

Location: The tried and true route from Germantown to Bethesda and back.

Biking Companions: Jane.

Trail/Road conditions: Unless something changes, just remember that the neighborhood roads suck, traffic in Montgomery Co. is not friendly to bikers, and there's always *one* out there that's just stupid.

The numbers:
To Bethesda:
Distance: 17.60 miles
Avg Speed: 13.1 mph
Max Speed: 30.4 mph
Riding Time: 1:20:00
GPS Only: overall avg: 12.6 mph
GPS Only: total ascent: 899 ft.

To Germantown:
Distance: 18.05 miles
Avg Speed: 13.0 mph
Max Speed: 34.8 mph
Riding Time: 1:23:00
GPS Only: overall avg: 11.9 mph
GPS Only: total ascent: 1046 ft.

(The distance coming home was slightly less because the GPS wasn't able to track on to the satellites very quickly on the ride home; started tracking a bit after leaving the office. I don't have an explanation as to why it says I did an extra 50 ft of ascent.)