Spring has arrive in St Thomas! What makes it official is the fact that I was riding on a road, instead of in the basement. And whoever said that once you learn to ride a bike you never forget, didn't spend 6 months with their bike in a stand. When you sit in the basement you never have to think about accidentally hitting the shoulder, or compensating for gusts of wind from passing trucks. Not to mention the vultures! There's something just a wee bit disconcerting about huge, winged shadows passing over you unexpectedly.
But I knew all this in advance and so I was actually a wee bit nervous heading out. I also didn't quite know how to dress for 13 degree weather. That part worked out fine.
There was also some nervous excitement around 'real' riding with my new pedals for the first time. Sure enough they worked great indoors, but the big test was still to come. Would I be disappointed?
I am glad to report that they were a smashing success! Where do I start? To be able to ignore the speedometer eliminated so much stress. Speed is irrelevant when you're riding with or against the wind, or when you're going uphill or down. And you're always doing one of those things, ain't ya? It was so cool just to be able to focus on maintaining a steady work load, which is of course reported in watts. The average for my entire ride was a satisfactory 162.
For the first time in my riding life I also had cadence numbers (pedaling rpm). How gratifying to watch the power meter inch up when I focused on keeping my cadence up. In the end I averaged 85, which I still need to get up a bit. Over 90 would be best.
And then, there was left/right power balance. I was pleased to see that it was much closer to even than it was when riding inside. The final average was 52/48...not bad really.
And the last bit of useful information that my technology gave me was my heart rate. I came in at nice, easy, 123 bpm average. Perfect!!
And as I report all that stuff I'm amazed all over again by the technology. Fascinating!
So overall, a glorious, gratifying 60 kilometres around Elgin County. My average speed wasn't that great (28.4) but I don't really care. I want to ride steady and pain free, and really learn to save myself for the run. I no longer have any doubt that my investment will help me do that. Game on!
ride, 60 kms
"For every person who has ever lived there has come, at last, a spring he will never see. Glory then in the springs that are yours."---Pam Brown
Love
Peter
But I knew all this in advance and so I was actually a wee bit nervous heading out. I also didn't quite know how to dress for 13 degree weather. That part worked out fine.
There was also some nervous excitement around 'real' riding with my new pedals for the first time. Sure enough they worked great indoors, but the big test was still to come. Would I be disappointed?
I am glad to report that they were a smashing success! Where do I start? To be able to ignore the speedometer eliminated so much stress. Speed is irrelevant when you're riding with or against the wind, or when you're going uphill or down. And you're always doing one of those things, ain't ya? It was so cool just to be able to focus on maintaining a steady work load, which is of course reported in watts. The average for my entire ride was a satisfactory 162.
For the first time in my riding life I also had cadence numbers (pedaling rpm). How gratifying to watch the power meter inch up when I focused on keeping my cadence up. In the end I averaged 85, which I still need to get up a bit. Over 90 would be best.
And then, there was left/right power balance. I was pleased to see that it was much closer to even than it was when riding inside. The final average was 52/48...not bad really.
And the last bit of useful information that my technology gave me was my heart rate. I came in at nice, easy, 123 bpm average. Perfect!!
And as I report all that stuff I'm amazed all over again by the technology. Fascinating!
So overall, a glorious, gratifying 60 kilometres around Elgin County. My average speed wasn't that great (28.4) but I don't really care. I want to ride steady and pain free, and really learn to save myself for the run. I no longer have any doubt that my investment will help me do that. Game on!
ride, 60 kms
"For every person who has ever lived there has come, at last, a spring he will never see. Glory then in the springs that are yours."---Pam Brown
Love
Peter
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