| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
46.12 miles
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Altitude Gain:
2,159 ft
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Avg Speed:
16.87 mph
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Route:
Chubb Hollow-Himrod
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Avg Grade: 0 %
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Max Grade: 0 %
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Max HR: 156 bpm
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Avg HR: 119 bpm
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Terrain: Road: Hills
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Bike: custom built Cipollini RB800 Road
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Club: Schuyler County Cycling Club |
| Weather Conditions: Sunny 46 F WNW wind @ 6 mph |
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The groundhog reportedly didn't see his shadow yesterday and that portents an early spring. Today was definitely spring-like with warm sunshine and a light northwest wind that produced temperatures just below fifty degrees. Got in a decent ride which will probably one of my only outside February rides given the forecast calls for ice and snow for the next couple of weeks. But today was a joy as I headed into the light wind for a tour up Chubb Hollow. Legs felt strong starting out, so it appears that the weight lifting and indoor trainer sessions have not been in vain. Opted to start the first climb up Pine Street in Watkins that is steep but fairly short. Thought about starting off the year by attacking the climb like Richie Porte up Wallanga Hill but kept it realistic by shifting to the small chainring and climbing steadily. It was a good decision as reality caught me well before the top of the climb. The lungs were burning and bogged down just a couple of bike lengths before turning off the steep section onto a side street. Had a brief respite on the slight downgrade on the side street before turning back onto the climb to Irelandville via Steuben Street. My rapid breathing had subsided and spun the rest of the climb without too much difficulty though didn't break any records either. Legs had recovered nicely by the time I got through IrelandVille and kept a good pace through Reading Center. Entertained thoughts on pushing the pace to Dundee and thought I would try to maintain a strong effort for the first hour of the ride and scale back on the rest of the miles. Getting to Dundee in under the hour would be an very good effort at a sixteen miles an hour average, but hadn't climbed well enough for that so tried for a decent average of fifteen miles an hour. Things were going well until I turned into a section of direct headwind and bogged down a little and speed dropped considerably. Finally crested the highpoint of the ride and got onto the three mile downgrade to Dundee, but despite pushing the bike into the low thirties was only able to score a fourteen nine average. It wasn't terribly disappointing as it is still winter and fifteen is a decent average for me on a summer ride with the north wind blowing. Kept a steady pace up through the hollow and the second climb at the end of the hollow didn't really even feel much like a climb. Turned out of the headwind north of Himrod and started the ride back home. Had some good bursts of speed on a couple of the sections and life was good. Legs started to lose their snap around mile thirty five and things slowed down quite a bit for the remainder of the forty five mile ride but with a two mile descent into Watkins and a following wind things still were quite pleasant. Didn't push the downhill, as despite the forty degree temperatures, it still gets a little cool on the fast descents. Coasted mostly and stayed warm instead of trying to hammer. Ended up With a sixteen nine average that was a little shy of a decent average of seventeen but didn't feel too bad about it. Had a good ride but didn't see any other bikes out. There were a couple of runners out and several walkers were seen enjoying the spring like weather. Hoping the groundhog's forecast is accurate. Already have registered for a couple races and A Virginia Century in May so it will back onto the trainer for another month.
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