May Cycling Challenge 2014

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There is some sage advice in this thread. If all you do is ride around the neighborhood, then an inexpensive bike is all that is necessary. On the other hand, if you enjoy cycling and ride regularly in a semi-serious manner then by all means visit a good bike shop, have them fit you and purchase a bike which fits you. It will make a world of difference. Cycling is a bit like any other sport--the more serious you become the better equipment you will need and therefore demand. It is like golf however; a really fine set of clubs in the hands of a novice is an expensive waste and can be counter productive. The people best suited to advise you are the people who operate a good local bike shop (LBS). I would avoid buying a bike at a warehouse store or general sporting goods outlet. I am at the other end of the spectrum--I have done a great deal of cycling over the years and ride a bicycle that was custom fabricated for me. I visited a professional bike fitter, submitted the fit specs to the manufacturer, chose the actual frame maker and selected the parts that suited my needs. I will not disclose how much all of this cost me but suffice it to say, for me (because of the level of my involvement in cycling over the years) it is well worth it. My bike fits me like a glove and is a dream to ride.

May 1: 12.70mi spinning
May 4: 25.00 mi road
May 7: 12.50mi spinning
May 9: 12.70mi spinning
May 11:41.50mi road (corrected)
May 13:31.60mi road

5.2.14 - 11.3 @ 14.6
5.4.14 - 15.9 @ 13.8 (stupid traffic lights)
5.9.14 - 4.73 @ 16.8

I ride a hybrid style bike (Giant Escape 3) that I got as a gift. Its been a great starter bike as I get more into road cycling but has wider 700x32 tires on it. I now ride with two friends with full road bikes and I can still hang but that wont last as they get better. Love my bike though and love riding.

May 1 - rode 26.9 miles for a duration of 1:29:58
May 2 - rode 21.58 miles for a duration of 1:46:48
May 3 - rode 6.41 miles for a duration of 52:55
May 4 - rode 16.4 miles for a duration of 1:47:03 (MTB race)
May 6 - rode 20.1 miles for a duration of 1:17:05
May 7 - rode 25.4 miles for a duration of 1:51:38
May 8 - rode 28.8 miles for a duration of 1:48:56
May 10 - rdoe 14.55 miles for a duration of 1:38:38 (MTB race)
May 11 - rode 34.5 miles for a duration of 2:00:58
May 13 - rode 17.3 miles for a duration of 1:27:15

May totals: 211.94 miles - 16:01:14 hours

May 1 - 22.00mi @10.74mph
May 5 - 30.00mi @10.57mph
May 6 - 20.04mi @13.57mph
May 9 - 11.08mi @11.52mph
May 10- 22.48mi @13.90mph
May 11- 21.80mi @13.40mph
May 13- 22.08mi @12.57mph

149.48mi for the month so far

May 2: 13.6 mi
May 3: 7.59 mi
May 4: 14.78 mi
May 5: 4.05 mi
May 6: 18.83 mi
May 9: 10.95
May 10: 13.74
May 13: 29.37
May 14: 10.94

Total. 122.96

Goal is a bit optimistic at 250 mi.
127.04 to go.

5/1 - 0 miles.
5/2 - 1.5 miles.
5/3 - 2.4 miles at 9.5mph listening to Haim on the Walkman (totally safe cuz I don't use headphones/earbuds).
5/3 - 2.5 additional miles at 9.5mph listening to a variety.
5/4 - 3.6 miles at 9.9mph listening to B.B. King and Badfinger.
5/5 - 1.1 miles at 8.4mph.
5/6 - 1.7 miles at 8.5mph.
5/7 - 3.5 miles at 10.6mph listening to The Black Keys.
5/8 - 4.0 miles at 10.4mph listening to Trombone Shorty & others. Need more days like this to reach my goal.
5/8 - 1.2 more miles at 9.1mph.
5/9 - 1.7 miles at 10.5mph.
5/10 - 4.0 miles at 9.7mph listening to MGMT and others.
5/10 - another 1.4 miles.
5/11 - 3.1 miles at 10.2mph listening to Fitz & the Tantrums and others.
5/12 - 3.3 miles at 9.7mph listening to Grouplove.
5/14 - 2.8 miles at a lazy pace. Puts me at halfway to month's goal. Woot.



Goal for May is 75.0 miles.
MTD = 37.8 miles.
Yet to Ride = 37.2 miles.

May 3 - 68 miles - 3:42:31 - 18.3mph
May 6 - 18.9 miles - 1:03:12 - 18mph
May 7 - 19 miles - 1:02:18 - 18.3mph
May 8 - 28.5 miles - 1:33:38 - 18.3mph
May 9 - 37.2 miles - 2:16:21 - 16.4mph
May 11 - 19.1 miles - 1:04:53 - 17.6mph
May 13 - 19 miles - 59:26 - 19.2mph
May 14 - 19 miles - 59:10 - 19.2mph

228.7 miles total so far.

Just got a bike for Mother's Day!

5/11/2014 5.14 miles in 36 mins average 8.5mph
5/13/2014 5.40 miles in 40 mins average 8.0mph

May 2: 13.6 mi
May 3: 7.59 mi
May 4: 14.78 mi
May 5: 4.05 mi
May 6: 18.83 mi
May 9: 10.95
May 10: 13.74
May 13: 29.37
May 14: 10.94
May 15: 25.17

Total. 148.13

Goal is a bit optimistic at 250 mi.
101.37 to go.

My May total is 61 miles. 2014 total 268. I use an app on my phone called Runtastic road bike pro. Pro version just means I paid for it and I get no pop up advertising. I really like the app. It is a GPS app that tracks your ride, calories, climbs, average speed, max speed, etc. I know that are lots of apps out there. This was the first one I tried and I just stayed with it because it worked.

I have a Felt Z85 bike (aluminum) and I am hoping to do a 50 miles ride soon. Longest ride has been 43 miles.

5/1 - 0 miles.
5/2 - 1.5 miles.
5/3 - 2.4 miles at 9.5mph listening to Haim on the Walkman (totally safe cuz I don't use headphones/earbuds).
5/3 - 2.5 additional miles at 9.5mph listening to a variety.
5/4 - 3.6 miles at 9.9mph listening to B.B. King and Badfinger.
5/5 - 1.1 miles at 8.4mph.
5/6 - 1.7 miles at 8.5mph.
5/7 - 3.5 miles at 10.6mph listening to The Black Keys.
5/8 - 4.0 miles at 10.4mph listening to Trombone Shorty & others. Need more days like this to reach my goal.
5/8 - 1.2 more miles at 9.1mph.
5/9 - 1.7 miles at 10.5mph.
5/10 - 4.0 miles at 9.7mph listening to MGMT and others.
5/10 - another 1.4 miles.
5/11 - 3.1 miles at 10.2mph listening to Fitz & the Tantrums and others.
5/12 - 3.3 miles at 9.7mph listening to Grouplove.
5/14 - 2.8 miles at a lazy pace. Puts me at halfway to month's goal. Woot.
5/15 - 3.1 miles at 10.3mph listening to 30 Seconds to Mars.



Goal for May is 75.0 miles.
MTD = 40.9 miles.
Yet to Ride = 34.1 miles.

May 1 - rode 26.9 miles for a duration of 1:29:58
May 2 - rode 21.58 miles for a duration of 1:46:48
May 3 - rode 6.41 miles for a duration of 52:55
May 4 - rode 16.4 miles for a duration of 1:47:03 (MTB race)
May 6 - rode 20.1 miles for a duration of 1:17:05
May 7 - rode 25.4 miles for a duration of 1:51:38
May 8 - rode 28.8 miles for a duration of 1:48:56
May 10 - rdoe 14.55 miles for a duration of 1:38:38 (MTB race)
May 11 - rode 34.5 miles for a duration of 2:00:58
May 13 - rode 17.3 miles for a duration of 1:27:15
May 15 - rode 17.3 miles for a duration of 1:17:54

May totals: 229.24 miles - 17:19:08 hours

Monthly goal 100
Total so far 30.0

5/10 - 13.0
5/11 - 6.4
5/15 - 3.6
5/16 - 7.0