There's always more to ride

On Thursday I was back at Foxboro ready for more.  The weather was amazing and I hit the trail wearing just a bike jersey (rest assured, I had shorts on as well).  As I took off my legs felt a little sluggish from the day before but I hoped that as they got warmed up they would perk up.  Before long I ran into a rider off the side of the trail attending to his wheel.  I stopped to offer help and he explained he had been having tube issues lately - apparently he had not seated his tire and the tube popped out the side??  Haven't witnessed that before but he was happy working (and not too far from his car) so he sent me on my way.

Off I went as I sought the new segments I had come across the day before.  Not only did I hit that section again, but I found even more new stuff!!  This side seemed to see less traffic - but the trails were sweet!!  Came across some nice rollers to play on.

The first one is steep, best ridden from the other direction I'm sure, but I was still able to power up and over.

Next three

 I probably came up from the "wrong" side of this rock formation, but it was fun anyway.  I hit it both ways and it was naturally easier from the other direction... but I kinda liked climbing up the steep face.

A little ways down the trail there was a nice "up and over" built for a fallen tree.  It was around a little turn and caught my off guard, but it was easily ridden (from this side).

There was a little bit of a drop off coming off the back side, making it a little more challenging to cross from this side.  From this side you need to have your momentum up in order to clear it (otherwise you are slamming your crank into a rock/log).

Getting to the trail (after getting out of work at the regular time) I had plenty of time for a ride.  I threw my light in my jersey pocket (with battery and all this time!!) just in case I rode for longer - but didn't need it.  I did manage to hit up the segment I unwittingly rode on Wednesday and I wasn't too confident that my performance would be much better than the day before.  During the climb I felt slower... so I did what I could to gas it on anything level and then on the decline before the final push to, and through, the parking lot.  As I reached the peak I felt blah about it but caught a glimpse of some riders through the woods so I pushed on for the decent (and chase).

The rider ahead of me had a dog with her, so I hung back not to freak the dog out.  As we hit the bottom I paused as a nice stick logged itself between my wheel and derailleur.  Luckily, everything seemed to be fine and I kept on riding... hitting up some more "new" trails.... this time I had a vague recollection of some of the trails I was riding, so I think at one time or another I had explored this section - but it certainly hadn't been on the normal route... Foxboro it freakin big.  Plenty of varied terrain to choose from - and many options as far as stringing together a ride.  Even without a "planned" route the place never fails to keep me entertained, or give me a great ride.

As I got home I anxiously loaded up my data in Strava... what would it show me??  I was interested to see where these new sections were that I had encountered today, but I was also curious as to how I performed on the climb segment.  KOM baby!!  I was psyched!!  Feels like I could have (should have) been able to get up that climb faster - so it will continue to be a measuring point for me as I continue to grow stronger.

A LEGENDary adventure

Media Fridays

We'll posts videos or photos that will hopefully inspire trail shredding weekends.

Beautiful shots

Lights...

...don't work without batteries...  I was all set for my ride after work, excited even!  But in my rush to get everything together in the morning I left the battery pack at home...

The kids had a short day and we had meetings... until 3:30!! ugh (and yes, that is a loooong day for me - typically ending at 2:30).  So I quickly change, hop in the car (spilling my almonds as I drove to the trail) and get my gear set to ride.  I took off as quick as I could and realize I'm not wearing my HR monitor.... go back or just ride?  I ended up turning around to get it (more data to play with!!).

Head back out now tracking HR info to load into Strava (my new favorite toy!!).  I rode over at Foxboro because I had planned on riding into the darkness and know the trails well enough to ride at night there... failed that one.  So without a light I took off with an eye on the falling sun.  Got in a good ride, but a little shorter than I had wanted.

Strava.... what an amazing (yet frustrating) tool!!  I do like the "segments" in there that you can use to challenge yourself to push harder (a little "friendly" competition with any other rider who has ridden that segment).  I know there are a few segments in Foxboro, but I didn't think I was hitting any of them on my ride yesterday so I just rode.  When I loaded my ride I apparently had hit a (newly added) segment...  The unfortunate part was that when I hit the "top" of the climb (entering a parking area) I slowed amd just spun through to the next trail segment... taking a swig from the water bottle as I headed back into the trail.  The "top" according to the segment on Strava was a little ways back into the trail... so I destroyed my time for that segment unwittingly because I didn't 1. know it was a segment and 2. didn't realize where the end point was.  No big deal in the big scheme of things, just kinda hurts knowing I could have just pushed myself that much further before backing off...  there is always today!

And today (with temps in the mid/high 60s!!!) I will be riding.  Likely at Foxboro again.  Trails were in pretty good condition... only a few spots with snow/slush on the trail (which of course then means a few muddy spots) but overall the trail was firm and fast.  And I did find a new-to-me section of trail that was super tight and fun.  There is just so much in Foxboro I haven't gotten a complete loop going, I just kinda ride and ride until I'm done.  I have sections that I string together, but not a complete ride yet. 

Oh, and I made sure to bring my battery today.  May not need it as I'll be out of here at 2:30, but it's always nice to have in case things get extended on the ride.

Hope you are taking advantage of the weather as well!!

Ride time!

This week has been GREAT! (even though today will be my first ride of the week...)

Sunday we got back from Connecticut with the puppies and I absolutely hammered it on the trainer.  I was completely done, but it felt good!!  It has been hard for me to gauge how "hard" I should have been going through each of the segments of the workout and stuff... working with "perceived effort" and a "1 hour power" as my gage for overall effort.  Each workout would leave my legs worked.  And I have certainly felt stronger with each subsequent training... so it's working.  I always wonder if I'm working to my max... 

I do have to remind myself to slow down at times though.  I'm still early in my racing career... hell, I'm even still early in just riding!!  So I have to allow myself time to ramp up, to hone my skills and get faster/stronger.  It's just so much damn fun I want to do it all!!!  But, I guess that isn't really a bad thing.... Fun is the key after all!!

Monday it was freezing, so I hit up the gym.  With the race season upon us I have to look at adjusting my workout routine to ensure I'm not fatiguing myself in the gym and thus deterring from the trails... so reps will increase and weight will decrease.  Tuesday I had School Council after school - so no ride time.  Today...  mid 50s!!  I've got my bike, gear, and my legs are dying to hit the trails.  Just have to figure out where to legally (with some March trail closures in effect) ride.

Tomorrow... mid/high 60s!!!  Ride ride ride ride ride!!!

I'm eager to start getting my roadie on the actual road and off the trainer... in preparation I got this....

yeah, I'm matching my gear with my bike, so what!!?

Season Opener

So last week I took another peek at my race schedule for this year and realized that my season opener was a little over a month away.  This weekend I checked back on the Root 66 site and the EFTA site to check back on their initial "preliminary" schedules and came to find that the first race was moved from April 8th up to April 1st!!

Questions immediately started flooding my head.... am I ready?  WILL I be ready?  I should probably stop the "heavy" lifting soon... but when?  And so forth.  And then comes the fact that my birthday is on April 2nd and Annie had mentioned getting tickets for the Celtics v Heat game at 3:30 on the 1st...

So, do I partake in birthday celebrations - possibly the last Celtics game "on" my birthday...  or do I race?

I think with the big 3 coming to an end sooner than later.... and our impending (probable) move, it will be the Celtics game and a delay to the start of my season.

Hey, I began my career last year at Winding Trails... may as well start season 2 there.

Does someone have a calendar?

Seriously... it's Friday??  Does not at all feel like a Friday, but I'll take it.

Late post, at work, so no video (they block EVERYTHING here).

I did go to the gym yesterday and did my late "official" weigh in... good thing I was a day late.  On Tuesday I did a preliminary weigh in and I was about a pound over my previous weight.  Two days later and I'm .6 under my previous weight.  Yay

(granted - that is .6 over a two week period (my last real weigh in).  BUT this did include a visit with friends including good(bad) food and too much drinking and no real exercise)

So it's a wash and I'm back on track now. 

Really can't believe it's Friday, or that it's March 2nd!!  First race in just over a month.... YAY/YIKES!

Snow in 2012!!

Although parts of New England got dumped on over Halloween, Boston got nothing.  So with the impending snow yesterday and today maybe it was our chance to have a closure on "winter" with some actual snow.  Would I get a snow day the week after vacation??  (I know, I can already hear the boos out there)

No, we got nothing...  Boston, after over spending last year on snow removal, has apparently installed a bubble over the city preventing any snow from reaching the ground.  So the crazy winter continues....

But here we are, March 1st - trail closure day all over the place.  The one positive it many state managed lands have moved to the March ban instead of much longer winter bans that had been present even last year.  There are still a few spots open to ride (when weather appropriate to avoid damaging trails during this wet/thaw cycle) so all is not lost.

Last night I ditched the gym due to prep for painting to be done on the baseboards and trim in our condo and an bit of "stomach fun" that I had going on yesterday.  So, will this delay equal a more favorable weigh in today?? (and by "more favorable" I mean breaking even with my last weigh in...)

Either way... home, paint, gym (heavy leg day), home and maybe paint some more... fun!

This weekend it's going to be in the 50s... tomorrow in the 40s... so trails will be????

I'll be in CT anyway visiting the folks and picking up the dogs... I'll have to call down there to see what conditions are like... maybe I can hit up Case as it's 1. close by and 2. drains well (from what I hear read)