Training Gets Real

With just 6 weeks to get ready, my training had to get turned up to 8. I'm too old for 10 and besides, I was already putting in about 100 miles a week with these "rolling" hills we have.

The first week I did 3 50 mile rides. I'm slow, so each one took 4-5 hours but Peggy accompanied me on at least one. She's gotten fast which encouraged me to pedal a bit more quickly- but it's really no use. I can go as many miles as you want- I just can't do it quickly.

This week I've done 3 60 mile rides. I've experimented with different ways to do it. One was just a flat out 60 mile loop all at once. One was a morning ride of 30, lunch with my school buddies at State Lunch (such a good cheeseburger), and 30 miles that afternoon, and today I did a 30 mile loop, stopped at home to make a sandwich, and rode the loop the other way. I have to say I am not a huge fan of the big break in between. I'm better doing it all at once. I did like the double loop as it kept me closer to home, but I am confused by something. Ride with GPS says I had more downhill than uphill, but I followed exactly the same route. How is this possible?

Riding back to back also showed that my bike seat is not sublime. I wasn't sore, nothing like the 60 mile day on the Erie Canal trip, but I wasn't comfy either. I learned some new skills as I swapped out my seat with my old favorite from the original Trek that 's waiting in Florida. I ship the bike Tuesday and don't like to change equipment at this late date- but the shapes of the seats are pretty different. I'll go for 30 tomorrow morning and see how it goes.

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