Gettin' BIG In January

After hearing and reading about many locals and other east coasters getting out for rides this week during this mild January weather I was FINALLY able to get in the saddle. Temps were crisp and cool mid 40s, but with some nice sun.

I have not been on a road bike in a couple months. As you many know my Trek's Bontrager Race Fork was f*cked, so I avoided riding it and then I was without it whilst it was at Dirty Harry's getting a warrantied fork etc., I've been riding the Mamasita on the rail trails and roads. I really got used to the Mamasita, and MORE used to being able to spin up most hills in my 44t ring.

Well, today I was back on the Trek. It was nice to put force to the pedals and find myself going MUCH faster than on the 29er. Some of the initial small climbs felt great. Then I hit some of the energy sucking, high grade ones. DOH! It got hard fast. My muscles seemed to forget what it takes to get up some of my local climbs with this gearing. Plus I had pushed pretty hard with some on the bike strength intervals through the week and I sure was paying for it now.

I had it my mind that I would do 2 hours and about 35 miles and then call it a day. But when things started getting rough I decided that the only way to reintroduce my legs to the road bike was to push myself. And push I did.

I ended up doing 55 miles and was on the bike for about 3:30. I could have used some more food and drink though. I went with 2 gels, 1 bottle of Hammer Perpetuem and a bottle of GhettoAde™. I ran out at about mile 50 and pretty much suffered on every climb in the last 5 or 10 miles.

Even in the cooler temps it was sooooo freaking nice to be getting some big miles in January. It was good to shock my legs with a ride this length at this time of year. I usually don't do anything over 50 until about March. But I want to try to step up a bit this race season, so what better way than getting some as much time in on the bike whenever I can. Plus weather is freaky and it we could get snow or ice dumped on us anytime now, so I'm getting miles whenever I can.

After today I'm thinking HARD about ordering up that compact crank. Not once today did I wish I had could have gone faster, but I wished I had some extra help getting up the hills without my HR going to shit about a hundred times.

No pics today. It was all "bidness". Well time to start replenishing the nearly 3,000 calories I burnt today and relax with Wifey.

Later.

6:47 p.m. UPDATE: Should it hurt to wiz? Me thinks my taint did NOT expect today!! HA! (using Will Ferrell voice) "Oh... sweet post ride urethra pain! You feel so damn good!" HA! HA!

Sorry. BUT HA!