Making Up For Lost Miles

Saturday's ride was a good time, but not really what I had in mind, so I needed to make up for lost miles and time on Sunday. The easiest way to do that, especially after sleeping in late, is to hit the dirt and gravel roads. So that's what I did.

Did a 52ish mile ride with an insane 845 feet of elevation gain! By insane, I of course refer to the suckness of the elevation gain and lack there of. Damn.

There is no way I can talk up 845 feet of elevation gain over 52 miles, but I will try. This particular loop/square/lollipop/figure 8 of a ride has many lumps, hills (I hasten to call them "climbs") and slow sandy grinds, including one mapmyride.com issued Cat 5 climb! Ha! Even with the hills and sand, there was never a need to shift out of the big ring up front (although I do have a 44 on it rather than a 46). There were a couple hills that it may have been more efficient to have done so rather than stand and mash through the loose gravel and sand. This technique made for some tired legs, but in the end I think it helps. Where back in PA, I might have shifted into my small ring and spun up a climb, here I take them out of the saddle.

OK, so what did we learn here? There is not much climbing on my gravel rides, but because I pretty much suck, the Isabella County lumps sort of hurt. Also, I think I failed at talking up the ride. Ha!

Having said all that, it was a nice ride and these rides even with their lack of big climbs have helped me stay in fairly good race condition (please note, that "good race condition" for me means that I can still finish in the mid pack!).

Speaking of the gravel roads, etc., This Sunday (September 4th) commemorates my first ride (other than the 2009 Lumberjack) on Michigan soil, which also the last time I rode my road bike on Michigan soil! All the rides I've done here have been on my mountain bikes or my Jake The Snake.

This all has me thinking of ...

A. Selling my road bike.

B. Making some upgrades to the Jake (brakes, pedals, crank, stem a a few other items).

or

C. Doing A. and then upgrading to a more dedicated gravel oriented bike (there are more than a few yummy ones out there). While I wish the Jake had disc brakes, some better stopping pads might help too and keep the weight down. Something that would be harder to do with some of the disc brake gravel rigs out there. Too bad V brakes aren't more cross frame friendly (BTW I have used the Problem Solvers Travel Agent adapter on a cross rig in the past, worked pretty OK, but was sort of a bitch too.

Most likely D. will happen, and D. is I shut up and keep riding the bikes I have.

Today (Monday) I ran, outside. It was stupid and I hate it. There was some walking involved since I am just introducing running back to my 40 year old body. Did I mention it was stupid. Tomorrow I ride.

Later.