April Cycling Challenge - Team 1 (Lefty)

[Mark57]

April total: 136.5

Here was my goal from the challenge thread:

I'm on a family road trip all next week but will try to shoot for 25 miles/week for the rest of the month.

There was a little more than three weeks left, so 80 miles was the original goal. Looks like a guessed a little on the low side, eh?

I couldn't have possibly done this without the challenge, so thanks for allowing me to participate. I think I actually had more road miles in March than this month, largely because of the weather. I absolutely detest riding the trainer, so without the challenge there's just no way I would have had the motivation to put in that many garage miles. I'd never done it with an iPod before, and that helped a lot, too.

[Mark57]

I forgot to mention the best ride of the month. Two years ago I bought my daughter her first "big" bike, a 24" Trek mtn bike. At first it was a little too big and she got intimidated. Then she wrecked a few times and that destroyed her confidence. It was hard to get her to even try to ride it.

Sunday morning I took her to a school parking lot and got her to ride back and forth on there a few times. She had to stop once because she was hyperventilating and getting dizzy. She eventually gained some confidence and we took off on a nearby bike path. By the time we got back to the car she was riding like a pro! Then she had to go to a cousin's b-day party in Laramie, so she took her bike along and rode up and down the street over there too.

To top it all off, my wife has been the one working with her to try and get her riding, running up and down the road beside her bike and catching her when she fell. Yesterday she said "Dad, thanks for finally teaching me to ride my bike." Haha, boy did that tick her Mom off!

[ODBSGIRL]

11.5 miles in the dirt-still short of the goal but dang it was fun. Could NOT bring myself to do a road ride in hot humid arkansas weather. ick.

[Kaiser]

Lisa, it ain't hot yet! And your avatar still scares me. What the heck is that??

April 30: 10 equivalent spin miles

April Goal: 416 miles
April final: 429 miles (103% of goal)

[ODBSGIRL]

Originally Posted by Kaiser

Lisa, it ain't hot yet! And your avatar still scares me. What the heck is that??

April 30: 10 equivalent spin miles

April Goal: 416 miles
April final: 429 miles (103% of goal)

You're right, it's only in the low-mid 80's but Sunday was SUNNY and I was already sunburned from the ball field Saturday. Not into any more sun. Plus, I like getting muddy. I'd rather ride dirt than road any day. That's my excuse.
What?? don't you recognize me? ODB took that picture of me on our 3rd date.

[Kaiser]

Wow - you've really grown up from a troll to a hottie then.

I'd rather ride dirt, but since the dirt here is boring or nonexistent, the quest for speed on the paved is more satisfying.

Sorry about the heat comment - last night I saw hot hot and muggy it was in AR while watching the weather on the news. We were in the 40s and 50s where we were, while 40 miles south, they were at 80.

[Kaiser]

BTW, going out for my 'fine tuning' refit on the bike with the USAC coach today. Wish me luck - he's kinda ornery, but has great stores to listen and learn from. How serious am I about getting faster and better that I am shelling out bucks for a custom fit, computrainer analysis and program review?

[FishrCutB8]

I'd say pretty serious...have fun!

You need to write articles about everything you're learning...or at least bullet points.

[Kaiser]

Today, in the stories section, I learned:

-if you don't clean off your bike from sweat (from indoor trainer riding) and drinks, it can corrode stuff badly

-if you have problems with numb hands a lot, a carbon fiber bar would be worth the invesment


On the bike in the shop, I learned:

-my wattage is seriously deficient (OK, he never said that, but I noticed it on the computrainer)

-my hamstrings DO fatigue way quicker if I use them - need to strengthen those puppies up!

-I shouldn't be allowed into bike shops with money or a credit card because I can't walk out without buying something I 'need'

-I like talking to wrenches

Otherwise, I just had my handlebars tilted a bit and tweaked the cleat position today. Need to go out and ride this weekend and then come back and THEN we can finally look at my training/deficiencies, etc.

[emartin10]

Alrighty folks, the results are in. Team 1 wins 'er. It looked like everyone had a tough time getting all the mileage in, myself included. Let's do it again in May, and kick some arse!

April Cycling Challenge.xls

E

[FishrCutB8]

THANKS E, FOR PUTTING THIS BAD BOY TOGETHER!