Hope To Ride More Than A John Deere

It's only been two days since I haven't ridden and really only one day of training that I missed with scheduled rest days, but I feel like a blob! I crave movement, sweat and the feeling of focus that only biking provides me.

What makes it more frustrating is I picked up the Steed last night. Wow! Really pro-looking shifters, light carbon cranks and nickle coated cassette and chain...schweeeet. I hope to swap out the saddle tonight and get in a few miles, then more over the weekend. What is the rest of Team R2Rs ride schedule look like?

BTW, I'm a large on the jersey scale. Nice fit, tight waist-band.

Ride On

Bursitass

Okay, I know I was complaining on Monday, guess I still am. I felt fairly uncomfortable on the trainer Tuesday even after a rest day. I did a little research on "Saddle Sores" and found an in-depth article from a doctor at The Mayo Clinic who detailed four varieties of saddle sores, then confirmed it with the good Docotor T. My discomfort seems to be bursitis of the ischial tuberosities. Treatment: Naproxin plus a regiment of hot, stretching followed by cold. Sit as little as possible and when I do, make sure it is on extra soft chairs.

So, I followed that up with a little yard work, got bitten by fire ants on my hand and between my toes (Ouch!). Yes, still complaining, but I will end that here. I am looking forward to collecting my rebuilt steed tonight and some gingerly rides this weekend to stay ready for Seagull.

Spin On

Pain In The A**

I fear it is time to retire the new saddle. My icials(sp?) are killing me after this weekends rides. Played hookie on Friday afternoon and after picking up a Chimay on the way home I fit in 24 miles. Saturday morning I go a late start but got in another 24. I was feeling okay about the new Bontrager XXLite Carbon saddle after those rides and had hopefully not wasted my money. Sunday I put on my fluffiest chamois and headed out for a 65. After about 27 miles my butt bones were miserable. I was having to stand and coast every .25 miles. Headwinds or harder effort made it worse. I finished 65 in 4:12 about 15.4 average, but I know I could have done better. Plus high humidity and then heat killed my core. I'm pretty sure I ended up with some heat exhaustion based on the rest of my day. Don't want to be lame, but for the good of all of us and our health/training issues we might want to look at the Metric Century at Seagull as an option. But I might feel a lot better about things after I get my original saddle back on.

On the topic of gear and bike porn, my last component came in and I dropped the bike off for the Ultegra upgrade conversion. My favorite mechanic is doing it at his house and should have it done Monday, plenty of time to put it through it's paces before Seagull.

Ride On