The winter training studio
Getting ready to ride - Turn on the fans....
Ride profile. This one looks like short high intensity intervals
Gear: preparing for organization
Friday, May 25, 2018.
Welcome. This is my third stab at blogging. I've been asked to chronicle my cycling trip through the Western US from San Francisco to Dodge City, KS. I'm taking time to write now as a bit of avoidance behavior to organizing my gear into two duffle bags. See the pile above...
I'm actually not quite as anxious this year as I've been on previous rides. I've been on supported rides from LA to Boston, and from Portland, OR, to Rapid City, SD. However, I'm older - well I guess so is everyone - and despite knowing the routine of the road, I still have to do all that pedaling. Once we get underway though and the wind is in my face I know I'll settle in and just enjoy the comradery and scenery as it unfolds at street level.
Last year I took a break from long distance cycling and just did rides around local roads in my neck of the woods of Springfield, MA and north central CT. In addition, I did some longer "event rides" and with a buddy from previous tours, I did get out for the Vermont Challenge. It's a four day event in Manchester, VT, around my two favorite ski resorts of Stratton and Okemo. Despite a rain shortened second day, and an abbreviated final day, it lives up to it's name and I'd like to do it again. Overall though, it was still a relatively light year cycling less than 2,000 miles. Ok, Ok, if you must know, 1,991.
Late December I decided I really wanted to do another long tour. Still in contact with former tour-mates, three of us decided on this 1700 mile route through the western states. Once the downpayment was posted, I knew I had best put in some work to get ready. I had worked with Chris, founder of the Velo Legitimo cycling studio prior to my last two tours. His program provides a focus and discipline that works for me. So, I signed on to join his winter/spring program.
Twice a week I drove to his studio in Simsbury, CT and worked out with a half dozen or so other folks. With our bikes in a trainer hooked up to a computer, we watched our power output, heart rate, cadence, and speed, as we went through different drills. The coach would review our performance with us after our 90 minute sessions. It was a strenuous discipline but the training seemed to just fly by!
The winter weather didn't seem eager to give way to spring this year. Finally getting back outdoors again to apply what we learned in studio on real roads was a treat. Riding just this past month has been joyful. Now I'm looking forward to getting back in with the touring gang and hitting the roads. I will know the two other riders already but look forward to meeting the other folks who will be coming with us. Each group has its own dynamics so it'll be interesting to see what comes up. There's always some challenge but we manage to come together and work through it.
Final concern: I'm taking a different bike this year. I sold my long time good friend: a Specialized Roubaix with triple chain ring. It was instrumental in giving me just a skosh more climbing ability over the continental divide. She went to a good home though, someone new to cycling who wants to upgrade from his mountain bike.
The bike I'm taking this year, a Trek Domane 6 series is lighter, has electronic shifting, and a new 11 gear rear cassette. Nice machine! My mild trepidation is with the gearing. I'll only have 2 chainrings and I suspect I won't have that extra "something something" like my Specialized did, to help me out when we go over the Donner Pass. Well, I'll just have to deal with it now, won't I? That ride will come up on Day 4 of the tour so let's see how that all works out.
But before I hop on the plane on Wednesday, June 30, I really need to get all my gear into a couple of 25 pound duffle bags. See (lack of) progress above. I best get cracking...
