There are some of us who don't really like going for a bike ride. I mean, just toodling around enjoying the freedom and pleasure of bicycling. I certainly don't.
I don't have the patience for it. I start building `to do' lists in my head. I get stuck in that `I need to do something PRODUCTIVE' trap.
Paradoxically, I am almost never bored when I cycle. Numbers running through my head. Assessing how much effort I can afford to put into a training session so that it isn't too much or too little.
Not many cyclists will agree as to what constitutes `ultra' cycling. For some it is getting in a fast thirty miles before church. Some consider anything more than one hundred miles in a day `ultra.' And then some push the pedals for a specific number of hours before they consider it `ultra.'
The term `time trial' is equally elastic. How fast can you cover 10 miles? How far can you go in 1 hour? "A road race set over a specified distance with the riders being timed. Also known as a race against the watch." Individual time trials. Team time trials. You are your own competition.
Below is a fairly standard description of an `ultra' cycling time trial.
Ultra 12 Hour
This is an Ultra-Marathon Cycling Association sanctioned 12 hour event. Competitors ride as many miles as they can in 12 hours.
24 Hour Option
This is a non-drafting RAAM qualifying event, open to the public. This event starts at the same time and place as our Ultra 12 Hour event, but doesn't end until the next morning.
Here are a links to just a few of the `ultra' time trial events:
I'll be participating in the Sebring event in February of this (2016) year. And for the first time I'll be doing an `ultra' event without taking it `gravely.' That is, I'm `serious' about it but not to the point of being my usual grim, gruesome self.
You should try it. It's more than a `ride.' It's a challenge. It's a social experience. And it's probably got some discovery in it for you.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Another Learning Experience
Among the myriad cycling diversions of late I swapped out the front 700cc wheel on my CA2 with a 650cc wheel. I had to change the fork but that was the only real `mechanical' change.
Today I tested it out. The 650cc wheel up front and a 700cc wheel in back. I don't think it is of any benefit or advantage except for the fact that I am a smidgen lower to the ground when mounting and dismounting the bike.
Steering is twitchy. Imagine that your front wheel is the size of a dinner plate. Every turn of the handlebar results in a dramatic change in balance and steering. You get the idea. A small change, but significant enough if you're screaming downhill or negotiating a pace line.
(Note: I'm linking to one of my regular training rides on the White Spars near my home in Prescott. An out and back course up, through, over and back again on a series of mountain switchbacks. At mile 10.3 you'll note a steep 5% descent and a 180 degree turn ... that keeps descending. If you drill down into the RWGPS ride you'll find many similar descents and switchbacks. I LOVE this course and it really tests my bike handling skills when I'm pushing it at speed. Just the slightest miscalculation in steering would put me in the oncoming lane or into the rock face. http://ridewithgps.com/trips/4658466)
Being lower to the ground is not worth the increase in twitchy.
So ... that was interesting. I'm glad I did that. I know more about the `dynamics' of movement on recumbents.
My `guess' would be that a smaller wheel upfront would be less problematic on a long wheel base recumbent.
Today I tested it out. The 650cc wheel up front and a 700cc wheel in back. I don't think it is of any benefit or advantage except for the fact that I am a smidgen lower to the ground when mounting and dismounting the bike.
Steering is twitchy. Imagine that your front wheel is the size of a dinner plate. Every turn of the handlebar results in a dramatic change in balance and steering. You get the idea. A small change, but significant enough if you're screaming downhill or negotiating a pace line.
(Note: I'm linking to one of my regular training rides on the White Spars near my home in Prescott. An out and back course up, through, over and back again on a series of mountain switchbacks. At mile 10.3 you'll note a steep 5% descent and a 180 degree turn ... that keeps descending. If you drill down into the RWGPS ride you'll find many similar descents and switchbacks. I LOVE this course and it really tests my bike handling skills when I'm pushing it at speed. Just the slightest miscalculation in steering would put me in the oncoming lane or into the rock face. http://ridewithgps.com/trips/4658466)
Being lower to the ground is not worth the increase in twitchy.
So ... that was interesting. I'm glad I did that. I know more about the `dynamics' of movement on recumbents.
My `guess' would be that a smaller wheel upfront would be less problematic on a long wheel base recumbent.
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Latest Pics of the Bacchetta CA2 - Jan 16 2016
With:
- Tiller
- Mini Bull Bars
- Garmin 500 on tiller
- Zipp R2C Levers
- Railgun Seat
- Angle of recline `about 10 degrees'
- Modified headrest (foam and PVC pipe ... and, of course, cable ties)
- Three Planet Bike lights in rear
- One Planet Bike light in front (not shown)
- Three bottle cages
- Two FastBack TerraCycle zip bags under seat
- 58/42 double up front
- 11/27 10 spd in back
Going Fast -- Time Trialing and The Rest
A caveat: I am not fast on the bike. What I am noting below is `relative' to my cycling in the past.
I've identified a really great training course about 35 miles west of Phoenix and 65 miles south of my home, Prescott.
Vulture Mine and Aguila Road Training Course.
As my note on the RWGPS link indicates: "Excellent training route. Almost no traffic. Very good road. Both flat and rolling sections. Decent climbing without having to `grind' up 7% + grades. Good weather almost always. Many `sections' that can be used as Time Trial courses."
Over the last two weeks I've been making the twice weekly trek south to this course. I park, typically, at the intersection where Vulture Mine Road transitions to Aguila Road, equidistant between both end points.
Yesterday I combined Time Trial training with Long Slow Distance training, comprising a total of 5 hours or cycling. Below is an Excel chart of one of the 15 mile TT course results:
RWGPS: 15 Mile Descending
RWGPS: 15 Mile Ascending
I've made several `distance' sections to this course that allows me to tailor my training. Some sections are `Time Trial' sections. Others are just mileage and elevation sections. For example, yesterday I did two 12.5 mile TTs. A 12.5 mile ascending TT and, on the return, a 12.5 mile descending TT. As well, I added a solid 55 mile section to round out an 80 mile training event.
To give you an idea of the road quality and natural beauty of this training course:
So, the twice weekly drive to this training location has been well worth it.
I've identified a really great training course about 35 miles west of Phoenix and 65 miles south of my home, Prescott.
Vulture Mine and Aguila Road Training Course.
As my note on the RWGPS link indicates: "Excellent training route. Almost no traffic. Very good road. Both flat and rolling sections. Decent climbing without having to `grind' up 7% + grades. Good weather almost always. Many `sections' that can be used as Time Trial courses."
Over the last two weeks I've been making the twice weekly trek south to this course. I park, typically, at the intersection where Vulture Mine Road transitions to Aguila Road, equidistant between both end points.
Yesterday I combined Time Trial training with Long Slow Distance training, comprising a total of 5 hours or cycling. Below is an Excel chart of one of the 15 mile TT course results:
SOUTH - Descending
|
01/08/16
|
01/14/16
|
|
TIME
|
0:51:36
|
0:40:16
|
|
AVG SPD
|
17.4
|
22.4
|
|
MAX SPD
|
24.5
|
na
|
|
ELEV GAIN
|
13
|
20
|
|
ELEV LOSS
|
-541
|
-537
|
|
MAX HR
|
139
|
153
|
|
AVG HR
|
93
|
133.9
|
|
MOVING PACE
|
0:03:29
|
0:02:41
|
|
NORTH - Ascending
|
01/08/16
|
01/14/16
|
|
TIME
|
1:22:57
|
1:08:12
|
|
AVG SPD
|
10.9
|
13.2
|
|
MAX SPD
|
20.6
|
22.6
|
|
ELEV GAIN
|
558
|
539
|
|
ELEV LOSS
|
-20
|
-14
|
|
MAX HR
|
129
|
139
|
|
AVG HR
|
119.4
|
129
|
|
MOVING PACE
|
0:05:32
|
0:04:34
|
RWGPS: 15 Mile Descending
RWGPS: 15 Mile Ascending
I've made several `distance' sections to this course that allows me to tailor my training. Some sections are `Time Trial' sections. Others are just mileage and elevation sections. For example, yesterday I did two 12.5 mile TTs. A 12.5 mile ascending TT and, on the return, a 12.5 mile descending TT. As well, I added a solid 55 mile section to round out an 80 mile training event.
To give you an idea of the road quality and natural beauty of this training course:
So, the twice weekly drive to this training location has been well worth it.
|
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