September Cycling Challenge - 150 + Miles, 1 month

carbonboy

Nothing today, rain's been coming down in stair-rods all day. I may be mad, but I'm not stupid - fortunately, I did have some bike-related stuff to do, Needed a new chain on the road-bike, and decided it was high time to retire the ancient Shimano 600 (yes, 600 - not Ultegra!!) rear mechanism at the same time. Well - as the weather was so miserable, I ended up doing a full strip-down clean and refit on the whole set of oily bits, and even took the opportunity while the chainset was off to clean the frame up and give everything a bit of a wax and polish. It looks pretty good now, apart from the wheels - I'm toying with the idea of getting a pair of Fulcrum Racing 7CX's as winter wheels, and take the Racing 5's off for a good clean and polish, treat them to a new set of bearings, then mothball 'em until the salt's off the roads next year. Who know's - by next summer I may be light enough to risk swapping to a pair of the Racing 3's :laugh:

It's looking like I need to do a full drivetrain cleaning as well. I've replaced the chain, cassette, and big chainring, and it's still noisy as hell. I think the rear mech might need some new jockey wheels, or maybe just a good scrub. I miss the quiet hum of all that carbon fiber.

dothompson

Goal 300 miles
Through 9/20 135.09 miles (Yikes! not even half way)

I'd better get peddling.

Nikkie_too

Lotsa work and bad weather and a closed gym gave me (poor) excuses to not ride for a week. I'm still gonna try for 150 miles though!

TheBigYin

(snip)...I miss the quiet hum of all that carbon fiber.

Ahh, carbon fibre will have to wait for a while for me, I'm afraid - most of the carbon bikes I like are subject to a rider weight limit... at around 160kg, i'm a bit heavy for most manufacturers... (Cannondale,Trek 125kg, Specialized 113kg, Scott 110kg - and Bianchi just replied to my email by suggesting their Reparto Corse Ti could be custom produced for someone my size, though at a price rapidly approaching the Greek National Debt!) Only light at the end of the tunnel is Cervelo (no weight limits!) - I came within a gnats-whisker of buying a 2009 RS frame last week, and I've spent the last 5 days regretting not doing so!

TDSeest

21 miles tonight; 310 miles for the month.

Pam3

week 1 42.2

week 2:143.4

week 3: 134.1
september:319.7

week 4:
9/19 --22.4
9/20 --27.4
9/21 --16.5
9/22
9/23
9/24
9/25

TDSeest

16 miles tonight; 326 miles for the month.

jimmacdonald

308.88 miles so far this month.

You got to love getting fit and not being 260 lbs.

Trying to prep for a century in October.

Keep you mind on the life change, go do great things.


Cheers
Jim

mattellis2

16 slow miles for me tonight. knee has been bugging me...hope it is nothing serious. been enjoying this riding thing, but the last few rides haven't been much fun. going to see about getting it checked out.

225.5 so far. 75 miles to go this month.

arikag

I'm in! So far I've done 70 miles, 80 more to go! Have you guys been counting Spinning classes? If so, how many miles does it count for?

henney16

16 Miles tonight (stationary bike). This will be the way I get my miles over the next few months. Based on my schedule as well as the weather changing - this is what I need to do in order to keep moving. Initial goal for the month was for 250 - but based on everything, I'm down grading to 150 and hope I make it! Keep on moving guys!

Dave

carbonboy

Added some extra mileage to my commute home tonight to ride with a friend...but it was slooooooow.

TheBigYin

1/9/2011 - 24.39Km - (15.16 miles) - local loop out of the front door, warm, sunny, gentle breeze
2/9/2011 - 24.39Km - total 48.78Km (30.32 miles) - as above to the metre!
4/9/2011 - 17.96Km - total 66.74Km (41.48 miles) - short local loop in the rain before dinner.
5/9/2011 - 24.42Km - total 91.19Km (56.65 miles) - blowing a hoolie out there think my extra 30m was side to side in the wind!
6/9/2011 - 24.45km - total 115.64Km (71.84 miles) - horrible, horrible static bike stress testing for my knee injury at hospital - 5 minute warmup and warmdown, with a 10 mile "Keep it at 400+watts" in the middle... Yuk! Then, just for good measure, they stick 3 big needles in my knee, and can't give me any results for a couple of days... I've been happier :grumble:
8/9/2011 - 24.42Km - total 140.06Km (87.01 miles) - normal local loop taking it steady to break my knee in gently
9/9/2011 - 17.96Km - total 158.02km (98.17 miles) - short loop - Dad's birthday today, & need to buy a present for him
10/9/2011 - 24.38Km - total 182.40km (113.32 miles) - normal loop - fiendishly windy.
16/9/2011 - 17.65Km - total 200.05km (124.29 miles) - local ride on MTB
18/9/2011 - 21.14Km - total 221.19km (134.42 miles) - normal loop with a short errand on the end of it!
19/9/2011 - 18.01km - total 239.30Km (145.61 miles) - normal short loop
22/9/2011 - 17.88km - total 257.18km (156.72 miles) - normal short loop

And as a by-product, hit my 1000 miles total for the year today!

gwenmf

I want to participate the next challenge you all have...........but I need to know how to add a second ticker to my profile. Can anyone help me with instructions? My current one is in my signature but it won't show when I paste an additional code from ticker.com.

When will your next challenge start?

Pam3

week 1 42.2

week 2:143.4

week 3: 134.1
september:319.7

week 4:
9/19 --22.4
9/20 --27.4
9/21 --16.5
9/22 --27.3
9/23
9/24
9/25

carbonboy

I want to participate the next challenge you all have...........but I need to know how to add a second ticker to my profile. Can anyone help me with instructions? My current one is in my signature but it won't show when I paste an additional code from ticker.com.

When will your next challenge start?

The next challenge will most likely be for the month of October. We've been doing it by calendar month. Set your own mileage goals.

I tried two tickers in my signature and it works fine.

TDSeest

16 miles this afternoon; 342 miles for September.

henney16

17 Miles last night on the stationary bike. Puts my monthly miles at 109. If I go a few more times I'll hit my goal of 150, but am shooting more towards 200 (since my initial goal was 250). Keep the pedals moving.

Let me add that I would MUCH rather be on my bike than on one at the gym. I actually perfer the smaller seat on my bike versus the bike ol' ones on the gym bikes. Oh well, I am getting exercise and continuing to log miles during the colder months!

Dave

TheBigYin

1/9/2011 - 24.39Km - (15.16 miles) - local loop out of the front door, warm, sunny, gentle breeze
2/9/2011 - 24.39Km - total 48.78Km (30.32 miles) - as above to the metre!
4/9/2011 - 17.96Km - total 66.74Km (41.48 miles) - short local loop in the rain before dinner.
5/9/2011 - 24.42Km - total 91.19Km (56.65 miles) - blowing a hoolie out there think my extra 30m was side to side in the wind!
6/9/2011 - 24.45km - total 115.64Km (71.84 miles) - horrible, horrible static bike stress testing for my knee injury at hospital - 5 minute warmup and warmdown, with a 10 mile "Keep it at 400+watts" in the middle... Yuk! Then, just for good measure, they stick 3 big needles in my knee, and can't give me any results for a couple of days... I've been happier :grumble:
8/9/2011 - 24.42Km - total 140.06Km (87.01 miles) - normal local loop taking it steady to break my knee in gently
9/9/2011 - 17.96Km - total 158.02km (98.17 miles) - short loop - Dad's birthday today, & need to buy a present for him
10/9/2011 - 24.38Km - total 182.40km (113.32 miles) - normal loop - fiendishly windy.
16/9/2011 - 17.65Km - total 200.05km (124.29 miles) - local ride on MTB
18/9/2011 - 21.14Km - total 221.19km (134.42 miles) - normal loop with a short errand on the end of it!
19/9/2011 - 18.01km - total 239.30Km (145.61 miles) - normal short loop
22/9/2011 - 17.88km - total 257.18km (156.72 miles) - normal short loop
23/9/2011 - 27.61km - total 284.79km (173.87 miles) - extended local loop

Pam3

week 1 42.2

week 2:143.4

week 3: 134.1
september:319.7

week 4:
9/19 --22.4
9/20 --27.4
9/21 --16.5
9/22 --27.3
9/23 --22.4
9/24
9/25

mattellis2

28 miles down this afternoon. nice day out, so i took the afternoon off, did a little shopping and then hopped on the bike.

i learned something interesting this afternoon. when i started riding about 4 months ago, i swore i would never wear those goofy little bike shorts with the cushioning built in. i bought a cheap pair at academy this afternoon, and completed my ride averaging 18 mph, which is about 0.5 mph faster than anything I have previously completely. some of it was mindset, and i had to really push the last 3 miles to keep the average over 18 mph, but i could tell a difference. coincidentally, my knee felt better today too..and i rode almost 2x as far as i rode on wednesday.

253.6 miles done. with some more good weather i should meet my goal by monday.

carbonboy

Lots of miles this M-F...just under 200. This weekend should bring my total for the week to about 320. Getting close.

wbgolden

I'm at 271 now for the month. As a fairly new cyclist, and you kind folks being my only cycling contacts, I have a question:

How do I prevent the elbow pain on "long" rides? I have a pretty strong upper body, I think. But when I get finished with a 2+ hour ride, my elbows and (sometimes) wrists ache.

I think I'm gripping too tight and causing unnecessary stress on my tendons. Usually anything I am doing wrong exercise related is due to tensing up lol. I try to relax. But those damned cars!

Sound right?

carbonboy

I'm at 271 now for the month. As a fairly new cyclist, and you kind folks being my only cycling contacts, I have a question:

How do I prevent the elbow pain on "long" rides? I have a pretty strong upper body, I think. But when I get finished with a 2+ hour ride, my elbows and (sometimes) wrists ache.

I think I'm gripping too tight and causing unnecessary stress on my tendons. Usually anything I am doing wrong exercise related is due to tensing up lol. I try to relax. But those damned cars!

Sound right?

Yes. First of all, relax your upper body, arms, shoulders, and hands. And the reason road bikes have those funny looking handlebars is so you can change positions often. Alternate between hands on the brake hoods, on the drops, and on the tops...always keeping your arms slightly bent inward toward your body, not pointed outward like you're trying to knock your neighbor of his bike. Sometimes when people get tired they tend to lockout their elbows, which works for some and not for others. Also, wear padded gloves if you aren't already. I don't wear gloves at all, but I've been doing this for 30 years so I know what works for me. Just keep at it and you'll find out what works for you. But relax.

TheBigYin

Yep - the secret's definitely in relaxing on the bars - one of the big mistakes is to think that you need to hold the bars in a kind of "DEATH GRIP" white knuckle fashion, whereas most of the time, you really only need to rest your hands on the bars - either on the tops or with the thumbs over the hoods and the rest of the hand down the side. Okay - when climbing something mahoosive and steep, you'll be pulling at the bars a bit more, and on bad surfaces it makes sense to firm up your grip, but otherwise, just relax and chill with it

TheBigYin

1/9/2011 - 24.39Km - (15.16 miles) - local loop out of the front door, warm, sunny, gentle breeze
2/9/2011 - 24.39Km - total 48.78Km (30.32 miles) - as above to the metre!
4/9/2011 - 17.96Km - total 66.74Km (41.48 miles) - short local loop in the rain before dinner.
5/9/2011 - 24.42Km - total 91.19Km (56.65 miles) - blowing a hoolie out there think my extra 30m was side to side in the wind!
6/9/2011 - 24.45km - total 115.64Km (71.84 miles) - horrible, horrible static bike stress testing for my knee injury at hospital - 5 minute warmup and warmdown, with a 10 mile "Keep it at 400+watts" in the middle... Yuk! Then, just for good measure, they stick 3 big needles in my knee, and can't give me any results for a couple of days... I've been happier :grumble:
8/9/2011 - 24.42Km - total 140.06Km (87.01 miles) - normal local loop taking it steady to break my knee in gently
9/9/2011 - 17.96Km - total 158.02km (98.17 miles) - short loop - Dad's birthday today, & need to buy a present for him
10/9/2011 - 24.38Km - total 182.40km (113.32 miles) - normal loop - fiendishly windy.
16/9/2011 - 17.65Km - total 200.05km (124.29 miles) - local ride on MTB
18/9/2011 - 21.14Km - total 221.19km (134.42 miles) - normal loop with a short errand on the end of it!
19/9/2011 - 18.01km - total 239.30Km (145.61 miles) - normal short loop
22/9/2011 - 17.88km - total 257.18km (156.72 miles) - normal short loop
23/9/2011 - 27.61km - total 284.79km (173.87 miles) - extended local loop
24/9/2011 - 17.93km - total 302.72km (185.01 miles) - short loop

mattellis2

25 more miles this morning. 279.2 for septemeber.

dancingj2

Back riding after several days traveling. 5 miles bring me to 136.

Pam3

week 1 42.2

week 2:143.4

week 3: 134.1
september:319.7

week 4:
9/19 --22.4
9/20 --27.4
9/21 --16.5
9/22 --27.3
9/23 --22.4
9/24 --11.5
9/25

carbonboy

57 miles this morning and I feel one of those rest days coming on. Maybe I'll take Monday off...I need it.