CycleFit

I had to use a different bike today in CycleFit. I didn't like it. I didn't feel like the resistance ever changed, but I supposedly burned almost twice as many kJ as I normally do (meter said 585 kJ). The power output was constantly in the 190-250 range, mostly hanging out at about 230 Watts, no matter how I adjusted the knob. My 100% is 180 according to Monday's power challenge. So, yeah. CycleFit workout not as awesome as normal today. I worked and sweated, but don't have an accurate measure of how I did.

Daily Commute

No numbers today... I left my computer at home. :(

I took it pretty slow today. My left knee was a little sore and it's pretty chilly out. I also didn't pay much attention to time, but I think it was about 6 miles in about 25 minutes or so.

I've been using one of my Ortlieb Back Roller Classic panniers.

I'm just not sure I like this for commuting. I only use one and it's really uneven, which I don't think is very good. I feel as though I can't handle my bike as well. However, I don't want to even it out by carrying two. That's a hassle and I just don't need that much stuff.

I'm considering switching to the REI Novara brand rack trunk.

Also, my bike was making a weird clicking sound today, but I couldn't really figure out what was causing it. I guess today was just kind of a meh commute day.

CycleFit and Commute

Commute Numbers:

Time: 29:41

Distance: 6.094 miles

Average Speed: 12.2 mph

Max Speed: 25.8 mph

Calories Burned: 200.4

Fat Burned: 20.2 g

I went home using the new route I discovered Saturday. I like it. It's hillier than the other way. I also took one of my new panniers to carry my junk. I think my bike was a little more lopsided than I want it to be. I'll have to work on that system.

I don't have CycleFit numbers because today was a power challenge day. Power challenge involves resetting your computer, working as hard as you can for four minutes, and recording your average power output. Twice (with a bit of a rest in between). The last time we did this, about six weeks ago, I averaged a 150. Today I averaged 180! I feel like that's a great improvement! Although now I'm going to have to work harder in class since I've apparently been taking it easy. :)

"Training" Ride

I decided I wanted to do some longer rides on Saturdays to start prepping for my tour this summer. And to get out and explore more of Bloomington and be a better rider in general. I did my very first one today.

Time: 1:05:14

Distance: 14.500 miles

Average Speed: 13.3 mph

Max Speed: 31.7 mph

Calories Burned: 484.3

Fat Burned: 54.2 g

I did a variation of the Bloomington Bicycle Club's Nice and Easy Tramway route. Although there aren't a lot of street signs out that way and I think I actually passed Tramway.

I saw a lot of birds and although it was pretty chilly (37*F, feels like 29*, with winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph), it was fun. I still think I need to work on climbing. I don't think I prep for the hill well enough which makes it harder to get up them. Or maybe hills are just hard... But I think I handled the little traffic I encountered well.

Now to thaw out my toes. :)

CycleFit and Commute

I accidentally cleared my computer before I got all the data from it. Not a bad day for it though as I got lost on campus and decided to have Seth pick me up before the B Line Trail turned to gravel. I just couldn't take it today (see below for bad mood inducer).

Distance: 3.861 miles

Max Speed: 21.6 mph

Calories Burned: 126.4

Fat Burned: 11.1 g

CycleFit Calories Burned: 342 kJ

Today was my first day of Wednesday CycleFit class. The instructor is a super cute guy named Brandon. He told a lot of jokes that made it slightly less painful. We did some cadence work and a little bit of climbing. The climbing was easier for me today than the cadence stuff. I *think* that's a good thing.

However, when I got out of class, my bike had fallen over on the rack (wind?). I may have some small scratches on my top tube now. :( I'm trying to figure out if they're scratches or just scuffs. They seemed to be getting a little better when I rubbed them with cloth, but I don't know that they're going to go away completely. So maybe a combination of the two. So sad. :(

But from now on, I'm sticking to the roads. No more trying to cruise through campus on crappy walkways (which I ended up walking most of because you're not really supposed to bike on the sidewalk) and getting lost and all that nonsense. I'm just going to hang out with the cars.

Daily Commute

Time: 21:03

Distance: 4.366 miles

Average Speed: 12.3 mph

Max Speed: 23.6 mph

Calories Burned: 138.9

Fat Burned: 15.4 g

Holy headwind, Batman! It was so windy out today (and possibly about to rain), I opted for the crazy hill instead of the extra two miles. My crosscheck did so much better up it than my mountain bike. I'm hoping to start doing that hill at least once a week. I need to learn to embrace them with a can-do attitude opposed to an oh-no one.

Also, I learned about the Bloomington Bicycle Club today. I'm thinking of doing one of their easier group rides.

CycleFit and Commute

Time: 48:23

Distance: 9.410 miles

Average Speed: 11.6 mph

Max Speed: 22.7 mph

Calories Burned: 300.1

Fat Burned: 30.1 g

CycleFit Calories Burned: 338 kJ

First commute on my new ride! Not too bad since it was after my 45 min CycleFit class and I'm recovering from a nasty head/chest cold thing. I was easily riding 16-17 mph through town, but the gravel really takes it out of me and I never like to go too crazy on the B Line trail when there are people and dogs around. You just never know when one of those kids is going to jut in front of you. They are so cute on their little bikes though. And I feel like a role model because I always wear my helmet. They probably don't even notice, but I like to tell myself that they do. Although, I may look into alternate (longer?!?!) routes home that don't utilize the B Line trail so I can work on my road riding. I'm not quite comfortable riding with traffic. Not hard to imagine since one of them almost ran over me in the bike lane today.

Anyway, I'm exhausted, but pumped at how much better I've gotten at this. I'm seriously in love. :)

New Bike

Picked up my new bike today. I am in love. It rides so much better. I went so much faster (or at least it feels faster. I don't have the computer set up for it yet.) And I didn't even break a sweat. I do have to get used to lack of suspension and therefore feeling everything I roll over. My hands sort of took a beating on the gravel. Now I'm even more looking forward to a completely paved B Line Trail.

In other bike news, I finally watched Breaking Away last night. I'm like a real Hoosier now.

Daily Commute

Time: 36:13

Distance: 7.294 miles

Average Speed: 12.0 mph

Max Speed: 22.9 mph

Calories Burned: 226.0

Fat Burned: 24.8 g

Holy cow it was a great day for a bike ride. About 60 degrees, a little breezy at times, but nice. I even took a tiny detour to do that fun hill again. I might just add that little loop into my commute from now on, since I would like to be able to tackle hills and the only way to do that is to ride up them!

Lots of people out on the rail trail today so I had to take it slow around the crowds, but was keeping a pretty good clip in the non-busy sections (about 16 mph). Gravel really slows you down though. I can't wait until they pave the remaining portion. I'll probably be able to bike home as fast as I can drive home.

Also, I should be able to pick up my new bike tomorrow or Friday. SO EXCITED!

Rain

"A man on a bicycle will see more, feel more, enjoy more in one mile than the motorized tourist can in a hundred miles."

-Edward Abbey

I wish it weren't raining.

Sunday Ride

Time: 25:28

Distance: 4.497 miles

Average Speed: 10.6 mph

Max Speed: 25.2 mph

Calories Burned: 132.0

Fat Burned: 10.3 g

Leisurely Sunday ride. Got the husband to go out with me! Now if I could convince him that cycling is fun and not just an activity to do because your wife likes it.

I actually did a hill today that was fun. I never thought I'd use the word "fun" to describe the word "hill". :)

New Bike

I just bought a new bike. Surly Cross Check. Should be here next week. I'm so excited. :)

CycleFit

Today was the last day of CycleFit for this session. I have next week "off" due to spring break. But Daylight Savings Time is this weekend so I officially have no excuse to not ride home everyday. Yay!

I need to decide if I want to bump up to two CycleFit classes for the rest of the semester. I'm seriously thinking about it. I really enjoy it and I think it will help for my tour this summer. However, if you buy THREE classes, you get a 10% discount. It's quite the conundrum for me.

I didn't write down my numbers from class today. I know I reached a 200 Watt power output and a 118 cadence, but my overall energy was only around 250 kJ. I think my bike today was weird though.

Daily Commute

Time: 23:42

Distance: 4.380 miles

Average Speed: 11.0 mph

Max Speed: 22.5 mph

Calories Burned: 144.8

Fat Burned: 14.3 g

My goal was to start commuting in March. First day of March... so far, so good.

You maybe noticed I took a shortcut today. I went to a deep water exercise class after work (I joined the gym... I'm getting the most of it!) with a friend and it was a little darker than I really hoped for after we got toweled off and whatnot. However, this shortcut has a monster hill that so far I've tried to do a couple times and ended up on the sidewalk pushing my bike and just hoping to keep breathing. I figured an extra 2.5 miles was worth it not to go up this hill. Plus, it's right by a school and there's typically more traffic on it than I really like.

Today I decided to try the hill. And... I MADE IT!!!

Break out the Hallelujah chorus. I'm like a real cyclist.