Go Dog Go! (In honor of Bastille day)

I had a great ride on my bike this morning, over to the 7th East/9th East artery and then south to the Park in Draper and back. I've done okay so far this year. It's a little hard to gauge since I've been riding half the time with the kids and Lenore on the tandem. Theoretically, we should be faster on the tandem. That is if the passenger,,, er stoker is putting out. So far Ailsa and Jensen haven't really been pulling their weight. But, I look back on when I was that age and I don't think I knew how to push myself physically either. They do seem to like it when we get going fast and put more effort into it then. But, if we aren't going fast enough they are just along for the ride.

Anyway, my best rides since I started paying attention last year have been in the 20-21 mph average range. So far this year I hadn't broken 20 mph average. I started riding later in the year. I'm probably carrying 10 more pounds than I need to be. I set out this morning to make 20 mph (see the workout log link on the left). If there is no wind the first half of this ride is always a little slower than the second half. It might be slightly uphill. If anything, it looks like it should be slightly downhill on the way out.

I'm not really a morning person. But, I've gotten up early enough times to know that it's usually the best time of the day in the hours just after sunrise and just before sunset. In the morning the air is calm and cool. There are fewer cars on the road. This route for the most part has very wide bike lanes on either side and is relatively flat. The flatness of the road and the lack of wind are essential for a big rider such as I am. Any hill or wind makes someone who is 6'4" 200 lbs pay dearly. It is very normal to see lots of riders using this street in the morning. Every once in a while I will pull alongside someone, strike up an acquaintance and ride together for a while.

This morning I just started out by stepping it up a notch. I stood in the pedals a little to accelerate a little faster and then also stayed down in the drops more, so as to present a smaller aerodynamic profile. It always takes a while for my heart rate to get up to speed. But, by 10 minutes into the ride it was over 160 and only dropped below that when I had to stop at a light. I didn't see it go any higher than 179 which is actually 7 points more than my theoretical maximum. But, I've gotten it up to 185 in the recent past. I tried to keep the pace going up the slight rise south of Fort Union. I was making a lot of lights green which is good.

Although my cyclocomputer doesn't count time when the wheels aren't turning it is still inefficient to have to stop and re-accelerate. Last year I did a test where I figured that at a 20 mph pace over one mile stopping and starting "costs" about 7 seconds. I started counting everytime I had to stop and giving myself a 7 second handicap so I could get a better idea of my real pace and effort. After a couple of months using this system I did another study and found that it worked out to be on average 5 seconds per mile of distance when I ride this route. So now I typically don't have to count stops, just factor in the handicap based on my mileage. Since I was making a lot of lights green I decided to count stops this morning so I could be more accurate than normal. I only had to stop nine times for a total handicap of a little over a minute.

I see lots of riders going north on the other side of the street. I see the girl who rollerblades every day to work or the gym. I pass some construction at 78th south. My time is 17 minutes at the 5 mile mark. As I near Dimple Dell creek and the Lone Peak Skate Park around the 20 minute mark, I'm starting to tire. I feel my pedal cadence is maybe too fast. So I try a higher gear. But, I'm still unable to maintain the speed I want. So, I allow myself to back off a notch for a short while. Maybe I should have had some breakfast instead of just a handful of vitamins and chondroitin for my knee.

It's always a little refreshing as you pass the creek in Sandy to feel the cooler air from the respiration of the trees there. I often notice the radiant heat (from the Sun shining on the left side of my body) when I pass the cooler air around the creek. I imagine a space body like the Shuttle or a Satellite being warmed on the one side by the Sun while the other side is -100 degrees. Past the Park now where the road definitely starts a slight decline into Draper. I pass some more construction after 106th South where they have laid some new asphalt and are working on a new strip mall. There is a large flagpole here, not enough wind to cause a furl. Still down in the drops as I maintain 25 mph over the RR tracks and check my time, 27 minutes. "Birds Fly" is the song in my earphone connected to the MP3 player. I pass into the older quiet neighborhood around the Draper Park where I have seen Richard Wenger walking his dog a couple of times recently. He used to live in our ward. I have waved and said "hi." But, I don't think he has figured out it is me.

I check my time again and then turn my computer to distance mode so I can make sure I get a full 10 miles before I turn around. Approaching the 12.5 mile mark I notice a cyclist stopped on the side of the road ahead. He is moving a large rock out of the bike lane. I pass him as he is getting back up to speed. He is riding a Softride Triathlon bike. I have seen him a couple of times on the other side of the road. He is young, maybe 15-20 younger than me, and very fit looking. At the next light we stop and exchange a few words. When the signal changes he accelerates away expecting to leave me completely behind. I grab onto his rear wheel for a ride. I manage to stay in his slipstream for maybe 2 miles at speeds around 27-29 mph. My heart rate goes to 179 and stays for some time. I finally lose contact with him. But, then catch him again at a light. Finally, he pulls away for good and I only have the goal of trying to reel him in again. Still, I am making good time. I get the lights green all the way through Fort Union and also at 6600 south. Fifty three minutes at the 18 mile mark. With my hands on the drops I stand on the pedals up the last little rise over Cottonwood Creek in Murray. I am very tired and winded. But, I know I made my goal because I am well under an hour's time.