We did it!

Yesterday was my 65th birthday.

An old friend, Walter Emory, started a tradition many years ago that some of my friends are trying to keep alive.  That is riding your bike a mile for every year you are old on your birthday.  (Walt still did it on his 86th birthday!)

You know I’ve been a couch potato for too many years.  And, hey, my birthday is in February.  It’s cold in February in Denver.  Want any more excuses?

I’d found plenty.  Then I started my Quest for 65.  We didn’t make it to Steamboat Springs as planned… so no more excuses.  I got up yesterday determined to ride my trusty Serotta 65 miles.

My friend Rick Raddatz joined me.  Other friend Tom Trotter and a buddy of his joined us for a while.  Despite getting lost… and a few other things I won’t bother to relate here… I DID IT!  And I have to tell you – I’m damned proud.

So how, you ask, did I treat myself after the ride was over? Ms. J and the Farris’ and I went out to dinner.  Among other things… I had TWO lobsters – and nary a pang of guilt.

Can I talk you into taking up the tradition?  It is a great one!

I often talk with some of you who read this blog. For those I have not talked with… HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The week between Christmas and New Year’s was cold in Denver. We all know Rex is a wimp… So I spent a lot of boring time in my basement riding my bike on a trainer. Then, I went to Steamboat Springs for a couple days. It was only -23° one morning. I took advantage of lots of snow in Steamboat and went snowshoeing rather than sitting on a bike in the gym every day.

Guess what? It’s now gorgeous again in Denver. I’ve ridden outside for the last three days… And it is so nice today I’ll probably ride in only shorts and a short sleeve jersey! I’m so glad that most of the world doesn’t understand how nice the weather is in Denver most of the winter… Or even more Californians would be living here!

I’ve been at this training stuff with Coach Len seriously for a little over two months now. Wow! What a difference a couple of months makes when you are dedicated to a goal.

Probably the hardest part of training for me on my bicycle is intervals. Yesterday was my interval day for the week. I did seven total: 2 for 1 minute each and 5 others for 3 minutes each. Generally what you do is ride as hard as you can until your tongue is being battered by the spokes of the front wheel of your bike!

Well, okay, maybe I exaggerate a little. But if you’ve never done intervals on your bike – trust me, it is hard.

Did I hurt yesterday when I was done? Yes. Could I have done this same ride with the same intensity a month ago? Not even close.

Len Pettyjohn, you are my hero. I won’t lie and tell you that it makes me happy to see in my daily emails that you’re going to work my butt off today… But I will tell you I sure am liking the results that are starting to pile up!

Yesterday was November 7.  I’m in Denver.  I rode my bike in perfect comfort with shorts and a short sleeve jersey!

We know snow and cold is coming… but DAMN, that was great.

Did you take advantage of the spring-like conditions in November?  If yes, tell me about it.

I didn’t get outside yesterday… so instead of watching more election night returns talking heads… I went into the basement and set up an indoor trainer for the first time in YEARS.

Two words: (1) boring, and (2) ouch.

Words from Coach Len from Peaks Training Group: “Get used to it. Snow and cold are coming. Your trainer needs to become your friend”.  Then he went on about how I’ll be REALLY happy when I’m riding the Santa Fe Century next May that I spent winter nights in my basement on this damned thing.

Don’t ya just HATE it when someone says things you NEED to hear, but don’t want to?

Ride on…

Yes!

It’s too soon to tell … but I think I’m in love.

I told you a couple days ago I was going to use a power meter on my bike for the first time in my life.  Power meters have been around for years… but they are expensive and I’m a recreational cyclist and figured a good heart rate monitor was good enough to measure performance, how hard I was working on the bike, etc.

I also told you Len Pettyjohn of Peaks Coaching Group (http://PeaksCoachingGroup.com) decided to take pity on me and take me on as a student.  Trust me… I’m BY FAR the least talented, least fit of all his students… maybe ever!

Coach Len confidently tells me, if I’m a good boy and do what he says, he’ll get me through next May’s Santa Fe Century with flying colors.  He tells me what to do… I do it.  His only demand of me was that I get a power meter.  Peaks Coaching Group believes the only way to maximize a cyclist’s talent – even sorry ass talent like mine – is with great data.  The shortest path to great data is a power meter.

I bitched and moaned and did it.  WOW.  I always thought I was consistent with effort when riding.  I have to admit… I coast too often, especially downhill.  But other than that I thought I was pretty consistently pushing those pedals.  NOT!

After just two rides and watching the watts I’m generating while I ride, I can tell this thing is going to be great helping me get fitter and stronger.  I had NO IDEA that, within a block, I sometimes range from generating 50 watts to, say, 250 watts.  OOOOOOOOooooo this is going to be fun – relearning how this Old Dog can get better on his bike just from feedback from the power meter.

I’ll keep you posted on how deep this love affair is going to be… but I’m thinking it will be serious…

Have YOU ever thought about investing in one of these contraptions?  Or are you using one?  Comments, as always, are encouraged.