Training Jan. 29

Goal: 1 hr. spinning
Rode: 1:10.

Watched the remainder of the Fellowship of the Ring while riding for just over an hour. The battle scenes are definitely much better for training than the gentle canoe trip down the Anduin River. Overall, the movie was good for distraction from the pain and discomfort of being on the trainer.

I really don't like the trainer. I find that real world riding is much more inspiring, comfortable, and fun. I just can't seem to switch positions as well on the trainer, and there is never any coasting. I probably coast more than I should while I ride, but it helps to rest the legs a bit every now and then. Plus, it is just boring to ride for an hour and not move a single inch. I need something to distract me from the boredom. When I am out on the roads, I can be inspired by the changing scenery, or at least from the passing miles.

Hopefully, I will be able to hit the road soon.

Tags: training, bicycle, cycling, bike, LOTR, boredom

Training Goals: Jan. 29 - Feb. 4

Having met my basic goal last week, it is time to amp up the self-flagellation. I also need to get more specific with my goals. All my rides have been primarily spinning on the trainer. It is time to start working on strength as well, by increasing the resistance a notch.

Sunday: Ride 1 hr., spinning
Monday or Tuesday: Ride 45 min., strength
Thursday: 1-2 hrs., spinning
Friday or Saturday: 1-2 hrs., spinning

I need to get in more time on the trainer. In addition to leg strength, I need to regain posterior toughness.

Tags: training, bicycle, cycling, bike, goals

Training Recap: Jan. 22-28

Managed to meet my goal of riding 3-4 times. I rode three times on the trainer for a total of 4hrs. 20min.
I wanted to ride either Friday or Saturday nights, but I had other plans that came up and interfered. Even though I need to train, there are still higher priorities. On Friday, my son and I were home along and watched Star Wars: A New Hope together. Time with him beats training. By the time the movie was over, it was time to call it a day.
On Saturday, I needed to spend time with my wife. Again, there are more important things than riding the bike.

Tags: training, bicycle, cycling, bike, family, kids, wife, Star Wars

Training, Jan. 26

I took Tuesday and Wednesday off from the bike. Tuesday I played basketball with the guys from my basketball team. I guess you can count that as cross training, right? Wednesday night, I had to stay with the kids while my wife was at a meeting for Christ Community Church. When she got home, we spent the rest of the evening talking about the meeting and the exciting things that are in store for the church. More on that will show up in the main blog.

So, Thursday night, I really wanted get some training in. We had some friends kids over for dinner, so I had to wait until after they left and our kids were in bed. I finally got out to ride the trainer.

After we watched TV together while I rode the other night, I have been exiled to the garage again. My son kept coming out the complain about the noise from the trainer, and the fact that the TV was turned up so that we could here it over the trainer. I decided to set up my laptop on a table in the garage where I could see it. I ran the Fellowship of the Rings DVD while I rode. The chase seen as they tried to out run the Nazghul to reach Rivendell made for good riding.

The goal was to ride for 2 hours. I managed to complete the goal, taking two short breaks. Now, I need to expand my goals for next week to ride longer, and to ride longer with fewer breaks. But first, I need to increase my posterior toughness.

I made it to the battle scene in Moria. Tomorrow night I will try to ride for an hour and finish the movie. It makes it much easier to ride for that long with a good distraction.

Tags: cycling, bicycle, training, The Lord of the Rings, Fellowship of the Ring, basketball, church, kids, children, basketball

Training Jan. 23

Tonight the goal was to ride for 30 minutes on the trainer. The idea was just to keep the legs turning and to stay loose.

I rode for 35 minutes.

I was listening to a sermon by John Piper on the mp3 player to fill the time. The sermon was about how God save believers by grace. The crux of the message was that God credits believers with His righteousness.

Tags: training, bicycle, cycling, bike, John Piper, sermon, Christianity

Training Jan. 22

Last night, my goal was to ride for 2 hours on the trainer. My wife and I were watching the season premiere of 24 on video tape (we are way behind on the show this year) and I wanted to ride for the whole show.

I managed to ride for 1:45 before I had to get off. I did ride for the whole show with only one bathroom break, I even rode for a while after the show, but couldn't hold out the last fifteen minutes.

Even though I didn't hit the goal, I did ride longer than my one ride last week of 1:30 on the trainer.

So far, all my rides are on the trainer this year. By the time the kiddos are down for the night, it is too late to ride outside. I need to be helpful around the house, so that pushes my training rides into nighttime.

Goal for week of Jan. 22-28, 2006

This week, my goal is to ride 3-4 times, with a focus on longer rides at a relatively easy pace. The real goal is to get used to being on the bike again. My backside isn't used to sitting on the saddle; my neck isn't used to holding my head up. Time to get back into cycling shape.

Introduction

As I posted in my primary blog, I have signed up to participate in BRAG, a week long cycling tour of Georgia. It starts in the mountains in NW Georgia, and works its way to Augusta, in the East.

As a result, I need to train, and train a lot. This blog is a place for me to post my training goals, my actual training, and thoughts about my progress and preparation for the biggest cycling event I have ever attempted.