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.

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 . 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 .

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

[snapdragen]

I used to ride...........

[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.

I ride longer distances more fequently than I used to, so I'm about where you were when you started . 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 .

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. )

[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...........

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

[Flybye]

I used to ride...........

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

[maillotpois]

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

Oh - wait a minute.....

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!

[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.