the ride, a diary entry

53 x 14 out, 39 x 13 back into the headwind. 9.1 miles for 16.0 a @ 34.12. t. all hoods this time.

Drove bike to W. Airport @ Hwy 6 and parked in the Krogers parking lot, swcc Fulshear route in mind but screwed that up royally as i missed a good 20 + miles but whatever, it's been some many months for that route and i didn't want to kill myself, just spin for the most part.

Headed out on W. Airport to Harlem where i hooked a left, turned right onto Plantation Dr., headed through the neigborhood Pecan Grove to 359 , made a right and headed out towards Fulshear. Made a right on Wood Creek Head? that took me back to Mimosa to McCrary to Holmes to Skinner to Madden to Clodine to 1464 to W. Airport to back to truck. Nice seeing some cyclists out, a few single riders and a few small groups. Waved at all of them as they did to me and just seeing them riding gave me energy, not that I desperately needed it but it's always good to see other riders while out.

Headwind all the way out west and some while heading south, strong too.

Focused mainly on pushing over the top and instantly felt pain with each push high up on the thighs, by the hips and thought to myself, "Eureka! There's actually something to this!" Bike felt good after awhile, more control than i've had in a long while, really connected to the bike pushing over the top and not waisting as much energy 'mashing' as i eased up on the downstroke, more of a follow through from the push over the top but it hurt like hell as i've never known hurt like hell before.

39 x 13 entire ride, spinning at around 80-88 for the most part but did hit 97 @ about 23-24 mph for a few minutes and i instantly envisioned that I was Big Lance for those minutes. :eek: Good daydreaming.

Good to be back on the open road with fast moving vehicles everywhere, speed limits from 35-60 mph on these roads for the motorized.

17.3 ave, 24.51 miles, 1.24.52 time. eh.

nothing. nothing at all. headwind all the way out heading east by north east for over an hour while i twist and turned and made my made through River Oaks, following the West End route for about thirty of those minute, tons and tons of red lights along the way, some of which i just blew through. spidey senses, ladies and gentlemen. ended up on West Gray @ Shepard with an average of 15.3 and thought, "Damn, I'm not gonna be able to get that number up and over 17.3 with the amount of time left on this ride." while pondering that thought, i crossed paths with the most adorable tattooed single speed roadie chick i have ever seen here in Houston and practically fainted as i watched her beautiful shoulder length jet black hair and firmness of her backside in her short shorts head south while i was still facing east. she could ride a bike, naturaly athletic. lucky bike. she went her way, i went mine.

39 x 13 entire ride. lots of lights, lots of headwind, all road.

30.74 dist, 16.4 ave, 1.52.18 time. next time, i think i'll eat breakfast first.

Is there a reason you're giving the 39x13 such a workout. Seems like an odd gear choice for any occasion.

frenchyge said:

Is there a reason you're giving the 39x13 such a workout. Seems like an odd gear choice for any occasion.

yes, higher cadence. only working on the spin for now.

roadhouse said:

yes, higher cadence. only working on the spin for now.

Ahhhh. Wouldn't 53x17 give a better chainline and same gear ratio?

i'm not worried about gear ratio and as soon as it feels right that's where i stay. and chainline is good on 39x13, no problems and i honestly have never ridden in 17, only 53x11 through 14 but if not for the rain right now, i might have given it a shot.

I ORIGINALLY DIDN'T WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS BUT ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, I'M NATIONWIDE IF NOT WORLDWIDE AS THAT'S HOW I ROLL AND SO NOW I MUST COMMENT AS EVERYONE IS MY ***** AS DIGGLER RECENTLY PROVED HE IS BY SAYING HI TO ME TRANSINTERNETALLY AND THE WORLD IS MY OYSTER AND WHO CAN RESIST MY CHARM ANYWHO?

Team Smack • View topic - WHEN OUT RIDING, I ONLY SMILE/ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE WHO I DEEM

some things never change, freakin' dumbass's. 😄

head out 30 minutes, head back in. thought the minute headwind heading out would satisfy for a good tailwind on the way back in but who knew there could be Kona conditions right here in Houston? oh yeah, i did. Houston; Headwind, Heat , Humidity.
Good 4 mile jog before hand too. 1:00:59 time, 18.04 miles, 17.7 ave, 53 x 14.

after thoughts? seats too low, possibly needing to be raised a good 1/4" total in the next few weeks to a month and needs to move back a hair but not just yet and it's about damn time i wash this Orange Colonel's Jersey which, btw, i'm starting to fill out quite nicely, fitting like a glove. thanks WB, still my favorite.

roadhouse said:

Focused mainly on pushing over the top and instantly felt pain with each push high up on the thighs, by the hips and thought to myself, "Eureka! There's actually something to this!" Bike felt good after awhile, more control than i've had in a long while, really connected to the bike pushing over the top and not waisting as much energy 'mashing' as i eased up on the downstroke, more of a follow through from the push over the top but it hurt like hell as i've never known hurt like hell before.

Why would you feel more in control when you're pedalling different?

roadhouse said:

39 x 13 entire ride, spinning at around 80-88 for the most part but did hit 97 @ about 23-24 mph for a few minutes and i instantly envisioned that I was Big Lance for those minutes. :eek: Good daydreaming.

Yeah... big Lance riding easy and eating lunch. Tack on another 5 to 7 mph and you'll get up towards race pace.

[ame=[MEDIA=youtube]MqrlH70nqI0[/MEDIA]]YouTube - ACDC Back in black lyrics[/ame]

Raised seat about 1/4" a few days ago, still needs some adjusting but good for now.
Four cities in total, Houston/ Sugarland through Richmond,Tx through Fulshear to Brookshire, turnaround and back the same way.
W. Airport to 99 to Mason which turned into Farmer to F.M. 359 to Winner Forrest which turned into Boic de Arc to whatever the road is that I made a left on which connected me back to FM 359 , made a right to Interstate I-10/ Brookshire to eat a banana that I shoved in my Orange Colonels jersey that I tossed the skin away in the trash can at Jack in the Box to turnaround.
No stops other than for three lights in total , no more than one minute in total non pedaling time.
Average at halftime was 19.7 but severe headwind took it out of me on the way back in and I struggled a lot here and there.
Thought I hit the 'mode' button but ended up hitting the 'off' button and realized it after a few miles on the way out. No biggy.
57.06 miles, 3:28:57 time, weak ass 16.4 ending average in 53 x 15.

If you struggle badly on return legs of training rides then maybe you should plan routes with a tailwind return.

53x15 for 16mph. Dude, no... just no.

swampy1970 said:

If you struggle badly on return legs of training rides then maybe you should plan routes with a tailwind return.

53x15 for 16mph. Dude, no... just no.

that's kinda weak, don't you think? I want more headwind, it's not it's fault, it's mine, something to overcome and work towards and not something to be afraid of and I've only just got back onto the bike, thank you very much.

roadhouse said:

that's kinda weak, don't you think? I want more headwind, it's not it's fault, it's mine, something to overcome and work towards and not something to be afraid of and I've only just got back onto the bike, thank you very much.

Did you end up getting a new bike?

steve said:

Did you end up getting a new bike?

the c-dale ironman? nope, couldn't afford it.

steve said:

Did you end up getting a new bike?

[ame="[MEDIA=youtube]g6A6pMO_WKM[/MEDIA]]YouTube - Pointer Sisters - I'm So Excited.[/ame]

I talked to the guy this morning (Saturday) and he still has it, the '03 C-Dale Ironman-dura ace crnkset and spinergy something wheels) and he is holding it for me and on Monday ( if i get finished with this job by then and get paid) it's mine.He's tossing in two pumps and a helmet all for $800. This thing was close to $4000 new. No scratches and very well kept. Blue.

See song above.