East Berlin from Home... by scott_t_ct at Garmin Connect - Details

East Berlin from Home... by scott_t_ct at Garmin Connect - Details

Went on a bit of a medium length ride (31 miles) with a few longer hills through East Berlin today. Stopped at CC on the way out and back, then finished by cruising through the South End of Hartford and Goodwyn Park, which messed with my avg speed a bit. But I felt better about my ride today, as my health was a bit better and there was less wind. I need to stop smoking cigars, as I think that is a major deterrent to getting faster. Have to control my eating as well, which is also very difficult. I have felt like I cannot ride with any group right now, as I am sooo slowwww. But I will just keep my cranks spinning as I see what comes. I wanted a few more miles out of this week off, but got in over 100 miles, which I will take.
Yesterday, the weatherman said there were going to be sunny skies into the weekend, then when I checked back today, it will be raining till Wednesday...Lord hear my prayer.
With a bit more work, I think I can get back to where I was last year, but not sure I can go much beyond that point.

Recovery ride by scott_t_ct at Garmin Connect - Details

Untitled by scott_t_ct at Garmin Connect - Details Road a recovery ride on the flats of Cromwell into Old Wethersfield today, although I really wanted to ride big again, I didn't have it in me. Wanted to ride to Chester today, but when I got on my bike, my body said NO. I had absolutely no legs, wind, or much energy to even ride to the shop and back, but once I got there, I thought I would just as well ride the flats as anything. 20 mile at about 12 MPH isn't very impressive, even on a recovery ride, but was enough to give me a good workout after a hard ride yesterday. The wind and damp raw weather really had an impact on my outlook. I was looking forward to the warm ride, and only put on a thin thermal top under short sleeves and my bib shorts. I was quite cold for most of the ride, but not too cold. I still had my long fingered gloves and beanie so my head and hands were warm, which helped quite a bit. Tomorrow I ride in my old haunts of Essex, and I am excited about that. Love that ride along Cedar Lake down through Ivoryton, and my favorite, River Road! Then I am going to have dinner with Brian, so let the weather be grand.

Lymann orchards and back... by scott_t_ct at Garmin Connect - Details

Lymann orchards and back... by scott_t_ct at Garmin Connect - Details Today I road out to Lymann Orchards and back. Just trying to get a moderately long ride in before the 100K May Day Ride in Glastonbury with Cycling Concepts. I went 38.2 miles up some slightly longer hills in Middletown, but nothing the likes of Marlborough. Kept a slow pace to try to moderate my output. I got lost twice trying to find the right road to take to connect to Lymann and wound up climbing a huge hill for my efforts. I felt pretty good and refused to push the pace except on a few rollers. The wind was pretty strong and was a cross wind most of the time. Man, when I turned into the wind, it was tough going. Actually found myself slowing down on a downhill when I was coasting, wow. Did not really mind the wind too too much, as it was nice to get a longer ride in the books. Stopped by CC on my way back to see the Brakes the guys are going to buy, to see if I wanted to change out my Dura Ace Brakes I have now. They were extremely light, but single pivot. Would have to see them on a bike first before I make the plunge at 400 bucks. The up side is that I can customize the look with anadized alum parts with custom colors that would match my bike white/black/red scheme. I can sell the 7900's for around 300 so that leaves around 100 dollars to swap out the two. Again, I will have to see them on, and how they stop first. Tomorrow I have mapped out a ride through Chester and back, which should be around 60 miles or 100k with some moderately big hills as a test for May 1. Hope I have the legs for it. Since I have the week off, I want to get in as many miles as possible. 38 miles in the books!

Magical mystery tour....CC by scott_t_ct at Garmin Connect - Details

Magical mystery tour....CC by scott_t_ct at Garmin Connect - Details Choose to ride on the Rollers and flats of Berlin, Cromwell, Rocky Hill and Wethersfield totalling 28 miles or so. First part of the ride were roller in Berlin, which I took my time with as I did not feel great this morning. My original plan was to ride with Nick today in the Hills of Marlborough, but I woke up with a bit of a sore throat and did not feel up to an average HR in the 140's. This part of the ride wound up on the flats in Cromwell, where I picked it up a bit, but tried to keep my HR down under 150. Total for first part of the ride was 18 miles or so, not bad at around 14 mph.

Stopped by the CC to have Dan check my fit numbers against my seat angles to see if the seat slipped because I keep slipping forward on the saddle, especially on hills. Dan put the numbers to work and all was fine. I also check my wheel to see if it remained true after Sondre had put spoke freeze on the loose spoke, and it was...NICE!

The second part of the ride was from CC to Old Wethersfield, around the park and past the DMV to Nott Street on the Silas Deane. My average HR was around 134, about the same as the first part of the ride, but I was able to do the 8 miles at 16.5 mph. Mostly down hill with some rollers in between which I cranked over. Felt great during this part of the ride. Hit a deep pot hole near the park with no ill effect, rear tire is still true...NICE!

At the Silas Deane I hit the lap timer again, as I knew it was a short uphill ride home, and wanted to see what I had done the previous part of the ride in. Nott Street is straight uphill, and a tough one at that. I have walked it at times with my sirrus. Tried to think of the Bicycling.com article about hill climbing, and was able to make it up the hill just fine, albeit very slowly. Hit my peak HR at 160 bts/min. Took a bit of recovery upon arrival home, but felt good to get some miles in, about 28 miles or so total, with an average speed of about 14 MPH, AvgHR at 134 or so. Not bad for a lazy day in the saddle.

Side note, it pays to have a good relationship with you bike shops Mechanic, as he or she will provide good service, and put that little bit extra into your bike so that you can roll on. Thanks Sondre!