First Half Recap

Here is a recap of the first half of the year:

January: 7:45:00 total time
February: 5:15:00 total time
March: 14:55:42 total time, 144.0 miles
April: 25:00:55 total time, 310.10 miles
May: 18:30:11 total time, 267.96 miles
June: 27:33:24 total time, 386.34 miles

Cumulative: 99:01:02 total time, 1108.40 miles --- wow!

Total time includes time on the trainer and time on the road. The miles are only on the road.

Riding, July 6, 2006 - Thursday Night

I decided that this Thursday night, I was going to test myself and see if I had actually gotten faster or stronger. I was very pleased with the results.

I stayed with the A group until almost halfway out to the school. I then stayed with an A- group most of the rest of the way. I reached the school just before the B+ group came in. The A group had already left the school. I left with a small group, and we kept a good tempo all the way back. I averaged almost 19 mph on the way to the school. When we reached the back of the trail, I had an average of 19.3 mph. I then eased up most of the way through the trail, so my average dropped again.

I was impressed with my riding, so were several of the others.

Stats:
1:28:24
27.39 mi.
18.5 mph avg.
32.5 mph max.

HRM Stats:
1:36:23
162 avg. hr
188 max. hr

Now, I just need to work on getting a little faster, with a little more endurance. It is at least possible that I might be able to get strong enough to hang with the A group.

Riding, July 4, 2006 - Gainesville to Ocala

Well, I reversed the route on my typical ride from Ocala to Gainesville. We had spent the night before with my mother-in-law and were going home. I had intended to get up early and ride, but I was too tired. When I did get up, around 8, it was almost time for the Tour de France to start on TV. I decided to watch the coverage.

I finally decided to ride home, so that I got some riding in. I didn't leave until about 2:45 in the afternoon. I would suffer with the heat. I drank lots of fluids, but still felt dehydrated when I got finished, several hours later.

49.91 mi.
3:30:25
14.2 mph avg.
29.8 mph max.

HRM Stats:
4:13:48
150 avg. hr
179 max. hr

It was a long, hot, hard ride. But, I felt stronger than I had before BRAG. And, it was good to be on the bike again.

Riding, July 3, 2006 - Blockbuster ride

Well, I got back from BRAG, and did not have time to ride for the first two weeks. I was either too busy get caught up at work, or still recovering, or the weather wasn't good.

On Monday, July 3, I rode again. I had to return a video to Blockbuster, so I did it by bicycle. Sadly, I forgot my water bottles at the house. Otherwise, I would have ridden a little further.

14.18 mi.
0:55:03
15.4 mph avg.
24.2 mph max.

No HRM.

BRAG, June 17, 2006 - Day 7

64.23 mi.
4:07:38
15.5 mph avg.
34.2 mph max.

I seem to have not saved my HRM data for this ride.

BRAG, June 16, 2006 - Day 6

Once again, I was on a demo bike. Therefore, I don't have complete stats.

Here is what I have:
HRM Stats:
6:29:10
132 hr avg.
171 hr max.
69 mi.

As usual, the HRM includes all the rest stops, and finding my luggage before I remembered to turn it off. I probably averaged around 14.5 mph, maybe 15 mph.

BRAG, June 15, 2006 - Day 5

For more details on this ride, click here.

Today's stats:
46.19 mi.
3:28:17
38.1 max.
13.2 avg.

HRM
5:37:59 (includes setting up camp)
131 avg. Hr
205 max. Hr

BRAG, June 13, 2006 - Day 3

For more details on this ride, click here.

61.92 mi.
5:01:13
38.6 max.
12.3 avg.

HRM
7:56:33
133 avg. Hr
182 max. Hr

BRAG, June 12, 2006, Day 2

For more details on this ride, click here.

With no computer on the demo bike, I do not have complete stats.

45.5 mi.
Avg spd, approx. 14-14.5 (est.)

5:25:19 (HRM Time, includes rest and starting to set up camp)
135 avg. Hr
204 max. Hr

BRAG, June 11, 2006 - Day 1

For more details on this ride, click here.

Stats:
73.86 mi
5:25:12
13.6 mph avg.
37.8 mph max.

HRM (includes setting up camp)
8:30:58
141 hr avg.
180 hr max.

Riding, June 1, 2006 - Thursday Night

Still trying to get caught up here.

I rode the Thursday night ride on June 1.

Stats:
1:36:35
25.64 mi.
15.9 mph avg.
30.6 mph max.

Riding, May 29, 2006 - Clermont, Hills, and Dehydration

I am way behind on posting my rides. I did put up summaries of most of the BRAG rides over on the main blog. It is time to get caught up.

On Memorial Day, I drove down to Clermont to ride a route down there that is used for some of the longer triathlons. It includes several good hills. I figured that it would make for good training to prepare for BRAG. I brought along several bottles and tried to drink regularly. I thought that I was doing well, as I had to stop and relieve myself several times during the day. However, before I got back to the car, the hills and the heat got to me. I was either dehydrated, suffering mild heat exhaustion, or some combination of the two. I wound up getting off the bike to walk up one short hill, stopping frequently, then finally, I just laid down in the grass in somebody's yard, under the shade of a small tree. I finally got up the energy to finish the ride, and I was glad that it was over.

Along the way, I did see some very beautiful scenery, including the Monteverde school, Howey in the Hills, and some nice lakes and hills.

Stats:
4:31:22
56.01 mi.
12.3 mph avg.
39.3 mph max.

I have a GPS file with the hills and the map. Maybe I will create the images and post them in a few days.