Ride logs

[maillotpois]

I have been keeping ride logs on Bike Journal since 2005. It's fun to go back and read about my old rides.

Last night, I was searching for a route sheet for our team ride tomorrow and came across an Excel document in my computer called "ride log". Turns out is is a spreadsheet of my rides from 2001 through early 2003. I had completely forgotten it existed.

What a walk down memory lane that was. :) I rode 2800 miles my first year and 4050 the second. It was fun to see the patterns of my riding and notice how they have shifted over time. I used to do lots of shorter (30 mile) rides, often back to back, with one longer ride on the weekend. I also rode a LOT more during the week. Now I tend to do fewer, longer rides.

Interesting stuff. How have your rides or training changed over time?

[SadieKate]

I used to ride during the winter. :p

Heck, I used to ride during the spring! Back when it wasn't 14 degrees and it got above freezing. Always nice to move to a new area when it decides to set record extremes.

[redrhodie]

I ride longer distances more fequently than I used to, so I'm about where you were when you started :o. A lot of 30 milers now, several times a week. I used to do a lot of 20 milers, and wouldn't ride through winter. I've noticed new muscles forming this year :D.

What effect have the longer distances had on your body? Are you more fit, less fit, or the same?

[snapdragen]

I used to ride...........:o

[SouthernBelle]

Since I upload my Garmin tracks, I can look there. I really should be better about making little notes about rides; there's a spot to do that even.

I also load to BiJou just mostly for TE now.

[maillotpois]

Snap - LOL. :D


I ride longer distances more fequently than I used to, so I'm about where you were when you started :o. A lot of 30 milers now, several times a week. I used to do a lot of 20 milers, and wouldn't ride through winter. I've noticed new muscles forming this year :D.

What effect have the longer distances had on your body? Are you more fit, less fit, or the same?

When I started pushing out to longer event rides (double centuries) and rides with significant amounts of climbing, I noticed my speed dropped precipitously, even when it really didn't need to. I'm working on that.

When I moved to longer training rides (50+ miles), I find I am not riding as regularly and tend not to take advantage of a few hours here and there for a short ride. Whereas when my routine training rides were 20 - 30 miles, I would do them more often. Now doing a ride that short isn't as compelling - even though it would still be GREAT training. So I am a bit less consistent. So in a way, I'm less fit than I used to be. (Of course I'm seriously less fit right now because of the injury, but still. :rolleyes:)

[7rider]

Interesting stuff. How have your rides or training changed over time?

I commute more than I ever did.
Actually, my mileage has gone up quite a bit over the past several years (years shot to heck b/c of injury/surgery and/or moving notwithstanding).
I seem to be living up to my motto "Another year older...another year slower."

[Trekhawk]

I used to ride...........:o

OK snap you made me snort my tea with that one.:D

[Flybye]

I used to ride...........:o


Sheesh, but you DO have a broken neck. Give yourself a break......... snicker, snicker :D:D:D

[maillotpois]

Yeah, seriously. It's a wonder her head's still on straight.

Oh - wait a minute..... :rolleyes:

Well, it explains a lot anyway.

[yellow]

OK, a review of my journals over the years show:


my average speeds are slower now and my total mileage is down
but...I'm doing longer rides earlier in the season each year (stronger but not faster?) and...
my climbing is about the same

My mileage dropped precipitously last year because I ran more and rode less and really just needed to ride for fun...no training goals or anything. However, because of the nature of the running around here (translation: running up and then down mountains), my calves hate riding now, and it takes them about an hour to "give" when I am riding. They are also bigger around now and I get that damn smudge mark on the right calf when I'm in the small chainring (from the end of the cable hitting my calf).

But I expect my riding journal to pick up this year. I'm not running (there, I said it...acceptance is the first step) and once Mr Yellow can ride again, I suspect we'll get out a few days a week. So who knows, my avg speeds might pick back up by the end of the year! :rolleyes:

[maillotpois]

I'm not running (there, I said it...acceptance is the first step)



What's the second step? Drinking? Shouldn't those be reversed?

[Starfish]

It is interesting to look back. I have to say, I'm not all that thrilled with what I'm seeing.

I started training and keeping track in the spring of 2005. I did some riding in 2004, one tour, but not much training.

It looks to me like I've gotten a little stronger...maybe more endurance for all day climbing. But, I sure don't look to have gotten any faster...and slower, actually, I think.

In 2005 I did a lot of little 10 mile rides...3-4 during the week. And then I would do something maybe 45-65 miles on Saturday.

Last year, I was doing long rides on Saturday, building up to 80 miles...but there was a LOT of climbing involved, and I did very little but recover during the week.

I thought I might be encouraged when I looked but, but honestly, it is a little discouraging.

[maillotpois]

Remember, you can't compare your intensive climbing rides with rides that are flattish or rollery. Don't let that discourage you. :) Climbing is always going to bring the averages down. That's a lot of what happened with my logs as I look back over them.

[Starfish]

I've actually been thinking about going back to some of the flatter rides I did a couple years ago...just to see how they feel now. There is one very flat century, for instance, that was my first century (in 2005). I dislike the crowd of it very much...but I am tempted to go do it, just to see how I do now on a flat 100 miler.

And there used to be this one 55 mile ride I did that only had 3000 feet. I am wanting to do it again now to compare...but honestly, our traffic has increased so much in 3 years that, frankly, it is a route I am now a little nervous about. :(