July 15 rides

So in between staining boards for a headboard I'm making and installing the last of some recessed lighting, I fit in an absolutely glorious 42-mile ride up into southern New Hampshire today. Fitzwilliam actually. Today I tried to ride so that my heart rate stayed in Zone 2, 70-80% of MHR and didn't do any all-out intervals. Staying in Zone 2 was a little difficult since it was very windy and I had windy with hills so obviously I had to slow down to stay in the Zone. If not Zone 2, which I managed 40% of the time, I landed mostly in Zone 3 (I have set at 80-85%) or Zone 5 which I have set for >90%. There is this one stretch of road though at around mile 15, along an open highway that always zaps me. It's only about 7 miles and there is a series of not really steep 4-5% grades where the wind just zips through and just always gets me. The hills on this ride don't really come until the latter 20 miles but they are tucked in along country roads. These hills range between 8 to 13 percent and I tell you they are easier for me than battling wind on lesser grades it seems.

One day last summer for the first time in years I bonked really bad on this route. It was a very hot 90 or so humid day. Apparently I didn't eat well. I reached the 20 mile mark and bonked. So early. I didn't have any electrolytes with me and no money. I wondered why my skin was stinging so - it was all the salt - rubbing my skin anywhere felt like sandpaper. This was new and I never sweated like that before so it caught me by surprise, especially at such low mileage. Hobbling back the last 20 more hilly miles was not fun. Deciding that this is a new and likely continued way my body would react I now am always prepared and bring the right stuff.

Today I was trying a bunch of new things. I just bought some Cytomax and trying that out. I just demoed a new saddle - actually bought the demo saddle for a mere $25 - and wanted to see how it would be for > 32 miles. Believe it or not it's the Bontrager Inform saddle. I hate Bontrager saddles as much as the next person but this one is working pretty well for me. Go figure. No sit bone or soft tissue pain or chafing. So all these new this and that's on this ride that all turned out successful. I feel great.

Sounds like a good day, indeed. I can't believe I found someone who likes a Bontrager saddle. ;)

Woke up planning to do a 40-50 mile ride, but my stomach was not cooperating. Ate breakfast like I would be out for hours, but at 10:00 I knew it would not be happening. It was a perfect summer day, with questionable weather for the next 3 days, so I forced myself to do a short 15 mile ride. Actually it was OK, but I paid for it when I got back.
On the back side of the loop, there was a guy ahead of me, not that close. Every time I climbed, I got a little closer, but not close. Then when i went to turn right and go up a little rise, I passed him. It was an older (well, he had white hair) guy on an older tri bike. He looked a bit confused, I asked him if he needed help, but he just glared at me.
I guess I wasn't meant to climb the hills in Harvard today. Next week.
Mudmucker, I know exactly what you mean about the longer, less steep hills. I would rather climb a steep, short hill any time. I think I wouldn't do well in California.