|
jeffreypratt
|
|
|
| Even more biking fun |
[Feb. 10th, 2007|04:47 pm] |
I discovered today that my odometer has been overstating my mileage for the past two rides, so today was officially the 30-miler. The previous two were closer to 10 and 20 miles, respectively. I rode from home to Matthews Beach, then back to Gasworks and up Stone Way to Greenlake. I rode around Greenlake then back down to Fremont and home. I felt pretty good until the very end, when I started to bonk on the way up the hill.
I got my new shoes and so running starts "for real" next week. |
|
|
| More fun with fitness |
[Feb. 3rd, 2007|03:40 pm] |
I woke up insanely early today and went for a 30-mile bike ride. I wore rain gear but it did not rain, thankfully. However, it was ass cold. By the time I got home, my fingers and toes were numb and I had to stop along the way to buy a headband to keep my ears warm. I probably could have done the ride in ~2 hours without all of the stopping to get warm. Instead, it took closer to 3 hours.
This turned out to be a pretty good week for exercise activities--I managed a 20-minute session on the elliptical each weekday and the long bike ride. At least something went well this week... |
|
|
| Adventures in fitness |
[Jan. 27th, 2007|04:44 pm] |
The odometer on my almost one-year old bike read 327 this morning. I did not ride much last summer because of my elbow, so today, I decided to start the new year of cycling with a 15 mile-ish warm up ride. My elbow held up great, and I actually feel pretty good, fitness-wise. I just need to work on the hills...ugh. The Chilly Hilly is at the end of February...I might give that a try just for fun. I probably should buy some better cranks first.
I also went to the Seattle Running Company. I hate running, but I've been thinking more and more that I should probably be able to represent my fitness level by proving that I can run five miles. Then, if I can do that and I don't feel like slashing my wrists, I might consider training for a half marathon or something. Since I get nasty shin splints and swollen ankles when I run, I decided to start with a nice pair of proper running shoes. The SRC people put you on a treadmill and make a video tape of your feet while you jog. From this, they are able to determine where you require support, padding, extra room, etc. The shoes aren't cheap but an expert tells me they make all the difference. So according to the SRC sales dude (who looked disturbingly like Adam Morrison), my stride is so weird and I'm so tall that they have to special order shoes for me. Hooray! I get to postpone running for at least a week! |
|
|
| Montagnes célèbres |
[Aug. 13th, 2006|11:40 am] |
I rode down to Qwest Field this morning to cheer on my parents, who were doing a 5K walk/run. After dropping my laptop off at work, I rode up to the top of Capitol Hill, down through Interlaken Park and then took the Burke-Gilman Trail to Freeeeeemont. Then home. It sounds like a long ride. It feels like a long ride. So how long is it? About 11 miles. Less than a commute to/from work (including long route home up Thorndyke). Ugh.
I have decided to start naming the hills I ride frequently after female celebrities. For example, the Ruffner/Manor hill immediately outside my house is Rebecca Romijn (i.e. unattainable but you're a pussy if you don't at least TRY). The Thorndyke hill on the route home from work is Madonna, because it seems to be a lot easier for everyone else than it is for me. I know. I'm a lunatic.
On that note, time for ice. |
|
|
| Oh, yeah...THAT headwind |
[Aug. 6th, 2006|07:55 pm] |
I got in short rides on both Saturday and Sunday, including a full trip to and from work on Sunday night to drop off my laptop. I left home at 5:30 and cruised downtown, thinking to myself that it was going much easier than I remembered or expected.
In other words, I forgot about the fact that I had a 15 MPH tailwind. Needless to say, the ride home was not so much fun with a headwind and two huge hills. But I made it, and that's all that counts right now. Total time was exactly two hours, counting 15-20 minutes hanging out at the office checking email and such. Not exactly race-ready but not as bad as I expected.
My elbow is not happy about this at all. I must look like a total freak on the bike because I cannot straighten my left arm or get it into anything resembling a "normal" position. And it took quite a beating over the bumps of Alaskan Way and the cobblestones of Pioneer Square. There is going to be a lot of ice and ibuprofen involved in this stage of recovery, I suspect.
Goal is to start riding to/from work every day beginning tomorrow. Maybe I can get to 500 miles before the summer ends. I might have actually done 1K if not for the injury. Just wait 'til next year! |
|
|
| Floyd! |
[Jul. 22nd, 2006|01:55 pm] |
I think Floyd's spectacular bonk a few days ago was simply his way of ensuring that he is never the subject of doping allegations. But man, what a comeback!
Of course, I was inspired by the comeback to try another 12-miler around Magnoliastan. And...I'm giving in and joining a gym. I can't get my left arm comfortable in any one position for any length of time, and my legs are just dead. I got passed on a really mild uphill section by a jogger, and two different cyclists slowed to ask me if I was okay as they passed me. Some time on a recumbant bike should help me ease back into cycling and I really want to start spinning regularly, even through the winter.
But first, rather than icing my arm, I'm going swimming. |
|
|
| Training, take 2 |
[Jul. 15th, 2006|02:05 pm] |
If all had gone as planned, I'd be riding STP today having cranked out a century ride every week since June. Unfortunately, surgery conspired to slow down my progress.
I have not worked out regularly for almost two months. I've gone for a walk or two, and of course a hike but not much else. So this isn't even starting over, because I'm in worse shape now than I was in back in May when I started riding regularly.
So, yeah...I went for a ride today. Only 11 miles, confined entirely to the greater Magnoliastan area. I took many, many breaks because my left arm is really weak. I didn't realize how much I really do need the physical therapy! I found it very difficult to hold onto the bars with my left hand, and I couldn't apply much force to the left brake lever. Oh, and my elbow hurt like hell for the whole ride. Too soon? Maybe, but I can't sit here and let the summer pass by without a fight.
I'm rooting for Floyd Landis in the Tour de France since he has a busted hip and I feel his pain.
In other news, the fine folks at Apple are replacing my iBooks main logic board again. When I described the problem to the Genius, I heard a guy at the other end of the counter say, "He's got the same problem I have," while pointing to his own iBook. Why does Apple continue to insist that there is not a systematic problem with these things? Oh, well...I shouldn't complain because I'm not paying for it. But if I, er, should happen to come into any money soon (ahem), I'm gonna have a hard time not plunking down $1200 for a Macbook. Those things are sweet! |
|
|
| Crash and burn |
[May. 23rd, 2006|09:03 pm] |
I fell off the bike and spent three hours in the emergency room this morning. I have a fractured left radial head (AKA broken arm) and some scrapes/bruises. I just picked a small piece of rock out of my chin!
Gaps in pavement = dangerous, especially in the rain.
Now we wait to see if I need surgery. |
|
|
| Today's random babbling |
[May. 15th, 2006|08:38 pm] |
Yesterday wasn't an effective rest day. I played baseball with my nephew and moved furniture, so today's ride was pretty low-key. I'll be taking a proper rest day tomorrow so I can attend a post-work function. 12 miles today puts me at 142 for the year. I can't believe that I even considered riding 1000 miles last summer. Talk about setting yourself up for failure!
In other news, I have my iBook back with a fresh new logic board (as well as a new battery). Everything is in order and the hard drive contents are fine. But the best part is that I didn't have to pay for it. I picked up the computer, signed the papers, and then asked the guy if I was supposed to take it to the main register. "What for?" he asked. I told him that I didn't think I'd paid for the service. He looked over the papers for a minute and then said, "Well, I guess you get a free logic board and battery then! Good night!" Then he turned around and started helping the next guy in line.
Oh, karma. |
|
|
| Cycling training tip of the day |
[May. 13th, 2006|03:50 pm] |
I bought a cyclometer this morning, so I can officially track my mileage and time now instead of taking a schwag every day. I bought the exact same model that I have for my mountain bike, which is probably a good thing because I don't have to figure out how to switch up the display in traffic. Then, I went for a ride.
Here's the tip: wear a 20-pound backpack for the first 100 miles or so of your new riding season. You'll feel like a slow, fat slob...but don't give up! Once you've put in your 100 miles of torture, take the backpack off and go for a nice 20-mile ride. That's what I did today, and I found some speed, although that blasted headwind caught me again on the way home. Strength? Check. Speed On the rebound. Endurance? Well...we'll work on that.
Rest day tomorrow in honor of Mom.
Today: 21.2 miles in 1:36
This year: 132 miles in 13:45*
(*132 miles in 13:45 = <10 mph. That's terrible, even with the 20-pound backpack excuse. But if I really do burn 500 calories per hour of cycling, it doesn't look so bad!) |
|
|
| Slow and steady... |
[May. 12th, 2006|10:07 pm] |
Ugh. The headwind today was as bad as ever, but I spun through it and kept a decent cadence. I also managed to make it up the Thorndyke hill in my second-to-lowest gear, which implies that I'm getting stronger (if not faster). I'm planning to crank out a longer (30 miles or so) ride this weekend and see what breaks.
Today:
~1.2 hours
~12 miles
This year:
~12.3 hours
~111 miles
In other news, I finally took my fried iBook to the Apple store. A logic board replacement is only going to cost me $280, which is about the same as AppleCare and significantly less than a new MacBook. I can't wait to get it back...the alternatives around here are pretty scary. |
|
|
| More progress |
[May. 11th, 2006|08:21 pm] |
I felt strong today for the first time all year. Not fast, but strong. I didn't have to shift into my lowest gear to get up the Thorndyke hill and I kept a good cadence in spite of the afternoon headwind. I only got dropped by a handful of people today (whereas last week, I was getting dropped by little kids on Razor scooters).
Today:
~1.2 hours
~12 miles
This year:
~11.1 hours
~99 miles |
|
|
| Have you seen my ego? |
[May. 9th, 2006|08:51 pm] |
As I was riding up to the stoplight at the corner of Gilman and Dravus this morning, I saw Gordon on his way to work, and fortunately for me, he recognized me and I had to ride in with him. This forced me to ride at a pace faster than normal (even though Gordon was rolling on his new single-speed Redline 925).
Then, I managed to leave work at the same time as him so I ended up riding home with him and...damn. I kept the pace up and kept the ride duration low, but I'm not proud of my performance (although I keep telling myself that he a) is in much better shape and b) has been riding all winter).
Just to pour salt in the wound, I was grinding up the Thorndyke hill and two girls passed me, and as they went by, they slowed and asked if I was okay.
These are the things that make me want to ride in the rain.
Today:
~1.2 hours
~12 miles
This year:
~9.9 hours
~87 miles |
|
|
| Progress? |
[May. 8th, 2006|06:55 pm] |
I forgot to buy a cyclometer this weekend--in fact, I didn't do much of anything this weekend. My strict regimen of laziness and sloth resulted in a decent improvement today. The trip to work was slow-going because I was not feeling too hot, but the trip home was a zippy ~40 minutes, even with that blasted headwind. Goal this week is to up both mileage and speed. I'd like to get my normal commute down to ~60 minutes round-trip and then start adding some side trips, etc. to add mileage.
But I'm still fat and slow.
Today:
~1.2 hours
~12 miles
This year:
~8.7 hours
~75 miles |
|
|
| Slight improvement? |
[May. 5th, 2006|07:59 pm] |
Today's commute home was closer to 50 minutes than an hour. And the morning trips seem to be going faster, too. Not bad for a week.
Today:
~1.5 hours
~12 miles
This year:
~7.5 hours
~63 miles |
|
|
| Another ride day |
[May. 4th, 2006|08:45 pm] |
Headwind wasn't so bad today, but I'm sore. Hopefully, I can stick to this routine (and the weather holds).
Today:
~1.5 hours
~12 miles
This year:
~6 hours
~51 miles |
|
|
| Ouch |
[May. 3rd, 2006|08:42 pm] |
No ride yesterday, but my elliptical trainer is fixed so I can burn calories while watching TV again. I busted out 20 minutes on it after the Sears repair guy left just to get some exercise before heading into work yesterday.
Back on the bike for today's commute. The ride in seemed much faster than Monday, but the ride home...damn. I need to buy a cyclometer to track my mileage but I'm afraid of the speedometer. If the weather holds, I'll probably try to get in a longer ride on Saturday. It will be interesting to ride without my backpack and see just how much improvement I've made in a week (if any).
Today:
~1.5 hours
~12 miles
This year:
~4.5 hours
~39 miles |
|
|
| Back to the grind |
[May. 1st, 2006|07:19 pm] |
What a difference a year makes. I commuted to/from work today with my usual 20-pound backpack full of clothes, laptop, etc. The ride to work wasn't bad (except for the part where I got cut off and almost run over by a Metro bus, but that's urban biking for you), but the ride home sucked. There was a decent headwind from the north for almost the whole trip. The only time I face southerly is while grinding up the Thorndyke hill, so of course I couldn't take advantage of nature's little gift. And the backpack was killing me. I'm fat enough as it is without throwing another 20 pounds on for good measure. All I could think about was how fast I'll be in July if I stick to this torture.
Probably no biking tomorrow because I have to work from home in the morning. But I'll be back to it on Wedneday.
Today:
~1.5 hours
~12 miles (no side trip to the marina today)
This year:
~3 hours
~27 miles |
|
|
| First impressions |
[Apr. 30th, 2006|03:13 pm] |
The weather cleared up today, but it was too cold to go out for a ride in a t-shirt and shorts. So I cruised over to Alpine Hut and bought a pair of arm warmers and leg warmers. All I need now is a rain shell and I'm good to commute daily, weather be damned. I busted out the arm warmers and went for a spin.
Initial impressions of the new ride:
- It corners like it is on rails, even at speed. The Ritchey, for all of its handmade glory, does not like tight turns and keeping it on a line is a real challenge. I suppose that is to be expected for a frame that is designed for off-road pounding. But the Poprad is t-i-g-h-t! For example, at the end of my ride, I have to bomb about halfway down the ess-shaped Ruffner St. hill and then make a hard left at speed onto 27th Place West. Before I can even think about braking, I'm swinging around by the park and making a 180-degree turn onto 26th Place West, where I use the incline of our building's driveway to slow to a stop. On the Ritchey, that stretch is plain scary. It's no picnic on the Poprad but those turns are significantly more controlled now!
- It is fast.
- The top-pull brakes are interesting. I just don't trust them yet. I love the dual position brake levers, though! Can't imagine city riding/pedestrian dodging without 'em.
- As someone who disowned Shimano Rapidfire shifters in favor of old-school Deore XT thumbshifters (and don't even ask me about that Gripshift crap), this new road bike system of braking/shifting is going to take some getting used to. I haven't found the right spot on the bars to be comfortable and have both the brake and shifter levers within reach. And the goddammed shifters always seem to go in the opposite direction as I expect, which is no fun when I'm gearing up to pass somebody and I accidentally shift down and suddenly double my cadence and hyperextend my knees.
- Speaking of the gearing, I'm pretty sure it will change by the end of summer. It doesn't have a low enough gear to attack any of the hills around here, and the lowest gear is a real grind even on a moderately long stretch. I don't know...maybe after a few weeks, I'll get my strength back and it won't be an issue but right now, I'm sore from not being able to spin. I wonder if I would have bought a condo in the same location if I had considered that I would be riding a bicycle around here?
On that last point, man...I'm fat and slow. This winter was not kind to me. This month is gonna be rough, fitness-wise. But you gotta start somewhere.
~1.5 hours
~15 miles |
|
|
| navigation |
| [ |
viewing |
| |
most recent entries |
] |
| |
|
|
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
jeffreypratt's journal