Chafe Adventure

Last weekend Sue and I headed down to Sandpoint to ride in the Chafe 150 Gran Fondo. It was quite an adventure. The drive down was long, and except for the border crossing, uneventful. Sandpoint is a neat little town with lots of great amenities close to where we stayed.

Here are some pics from the drive down.

The day after we arrived, we had a rest day before the ride. We went out for a great breakfast, did a little shopping around looking around in town, and generally relaxed. We also went for a short spin to keep the legs fresh and took in the pre-ride festivites of appies and drinks by the lake.

Early to bed and early to rise. Ride time!

The weather was looking a little iffy. In fact, in the start area it started raining a bit. I had brought them with us to Sandpoint, but hadn’t installed them on either of our bikes. Thankfully that stopped before we headed out.

The first section of the ride was an amazing backcountry road through some gorgeous farms. We got to the ‘big’ climb and I zipped up it with ease. At the top I waited for Sue and we both took off a layer. Soon we turned on the the highway portion of the ride. Overall the ride wasn’t difficult. The riding was gorgeous, but right next to the highway for 90% of the distance. The aid stations were well stocked and the volunteers were awesome.

Nearing the end of the ride I was wondering where we were. I hadn’t seen any signage in quite a while and didn’t really know where we were. After a couple more turns I suddenly recognized the location and how close we were. Woohoo! 130KM in the bag.

Beer, festivities, and Mexican food greeted us at the finish. Unfortunately the wind also kicked up so Sue and I didn’t stick around too long.

A shower, a hot tub, a little rest, then we headed out to find some dinner (yes a second dinner).

Our final day in the area saw us head down to Coeur d’Alene to do some shopping and sightseeing. Another nice little place once we got off the main highway.

Drinks and dinner in Sandpoint that night, then all too soon we had to pack up for the trip home.

Signed Exploring

Sue and I signed up for the Chafe 150 a while ago, so we’ve been doing quite a bit of training for it. The plan was for us to do some rides together, but unfortunately that hasn’t happened very often.

With all the training I did last year, I got a little bored of riding all the same awesome roads over and over again. With this training I’ve concentrated on some hills and on exploring new roads. Victoria has a lot to offer for cycling, and I have taken it for granted in the past.

Breezy Exception

Tonight was a spectacular night for a ride. I started from home and headed downtown to follow the waterfront. It was pretty breezy along Dallas Rd, but the day was still warm enough that I never got a chill. Once I turned away from the wind though it warmed up considerably. Originally I was going to do an out and back totalling two hours. I always enjoy a loop more, so while I was going through Oak Bay and Uplands I started thinking about how to make it a loop. I ended up on Blenkinsop, hit an entrance onto the Lochside Trail, then headed towards home.

I quickly realized that I was still going to be short on time, so I turned out of town towards Thetis, then came back home along the new section of E&N trail.

The longer I live here, the more I love this place. The cycling infrastructure is great, and it seems more often I am running into people I know. Tonight was no exception.

Point Needed

Back on May 1, Sue and I rode in the MEC 100KM ride.

It was a gorgeous day, and the ride itself went smooth. We started a Sea Cider, went North through Sidney, around the peninsula all the way to downtown, along the water, then back out to Sea Cider for some food and cider samples.

The ride itself was just the appetizer on the day. The day before was our anniversary, so I booked us into Point No Point. After getting home, having a shower, loading the car, we headed out on a drive. We managed to get there in time to settle into the room, then head out for dinner.

After dinner a nice soak in the hot tub, and a relaxing nights sleep listening to the waves from the ocean.

The next day we took a stroll on the trails after having some breakfast, and took time to recreate a photo we took over ten years previous.

The getaway was very relaxing and just what I needed.

Bonus Workouts

Saturday the weather wasn’t supposed to be that great, but I wanted to get out on my bike any way. Thankfully the weather cooperated and I didn’t get rained on.

My plan was to get out for 2 hours, and I had hoped to get to Cadboro Bay Village. I hit the time mark, but ended up going past where I thought I was going to get to. Bonus!

My kneed felt pretty good for most of the ride, though for a small section on the return trip I started to feel something that had me worried. I stretched a bit, and it seemed to go away.

It is lovely to be out on my bike these days, and I hope that I can keep it up. I am looking forward to getting on the the hills and doing some hard workouts!

The only downside was that I saw a car turn in front of a cyclist, and the cyclist struck the passenger side of the car. Down the rider went. Yikes. Thankfully she was ok.

View TDV 2013 Training May 11, 2013 in a larger map
Total distance: 52.22 km (32.4 mi)
Total time: 2:04:59
Moving time: 2:03:11
Average speed: 25.07 km/h (15.6 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 25.44 km/h (15.8 mi/h)
Max speed: 61.70 km/h (38.3 mi/h)
Average pace: 2.39 min/km (3.9 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 2.36 min/km (3.8 min/mi)
Fastest pace: 0.97 min/km (1.6 min/mile)
Max elevation: 328 m (1075 ft)
Min elevation: -46 m (-150 ft)
Elevation gain: 1745 m (5727 ft)
Max grade: 102 %
Min grade: -31 %

Noticed Training

Last Wednesday I rode to work. Wow, not a lot of riding has happened since the Tour de Victoria and I sure noticed it. Hills were harder and I felt very slow.

View Sept 26 Commute To Work in a larger map

Name: Sept 26 Commute To Work
Activity type: cycling
Description: –
Total distance: 12.83 km (8.0 mi)
Total time: 36:41
Moving time: 32:55
Average speed: 20.98 km/h (13.0 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 23.38 km/h (14.5 mi/h)
Max speed: 55.17 km/h (34.3 mi/h)
Average pace: 2.86 min/km (4.6 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 2.57 min/km (4.1 min/mi)
Fastest pace: 1.09 min/km (1.8 min/mile)
Max elevation: 67 m (219 ft)
Min elevation: -7 m (-22 ft)
Elevation gain: 166 m (543 ft)

Name: Sept 26 Commute Commute Home
Activity type: cycling
Description: –
Total distance: 13.05 km (8.1 mi)
Total time: 34:07
Moving time: 31:07
Average speed: 22.95 km/h (14.3 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 25.17 km/h (15.6 mi/h)
Max speed: 57.42 km/h (35.7 mi/h)
Average pace: 2.61 min/km (4.2 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 2.38 min/km (3.8 min/mi)
Fastest pace: 1.04 min/km (1.7 min/mile)
Max elevation: 86 m (283 ft)
Min elevation: -7 m (-23 ft)
Elevation gain: 188 m (616 ft)

Looking at the stats, this is definitely slower than my previous rides when I was training.

As the weekend approached, I set up a ride with a friend who is training for Ironman. He was going for a slow ride, and I could join him for as long as I wanted.

We met at the Selkirk trestle then rode along the water to Mitchell Farm. It was a pretty slow pace, and flat, which was nice. I had planned on a 2 hour ride, but as we neared Mitchell, I was feeling pretty good, and I felt like completing a loop instead of an out and back. My friend turned around, and I kept going. I got over to Keating, then came back along Oldfield Rd, Interurban, and Tillicum. I was pretty proud of my ride which ended up being around three hours.

View 29/09/2012 8:31am in a larger map

Total distance: 69.19 km (43.0 mi)
Total time: 3:00:14
Moving time: 2:52:52
Average speed: 23.03 km/h (14.3 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 24.02 km/h (14.9 mi/h)
Max speed: 61.70 km/h (38.3 mi/h)
Average pace: 2.60 min/km (4.2 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 2.50 min/km (4.0 min/mi)
Fastest pace: 0.97 min/km (1.6 min/mile)
Max elevation: 125 m (411 ft)
Min elevation: -23 m (-76 ft)
Elevation gain: 1347 m (4419 ft)

After looking at the stats I was shocked to see I had gone 70km. Not bad!

Misty Speed

Saturday was my last training ride before the event. I had wanted to keep it short, just to keep my legs loose, but a buddy wanted to go for about 100KM as a test to see if he would join the Tour de Victoria. He ended up having to bail on the ride, but I still went along the same route.

What a ride it was too. Slight misty rain falling in a couple places, but otherwise perfect conditions. No rain, not too warm, no wind. My route followed the TdV route for a long way, and I have to admit I felt great. The big hills didn’t feel so bad anymore, and the flats I was flying along. In total I did a little over 110KM solo, and my average speed was slightly higher than normal too.

By the end of my ride I was feeling awesome. I didn’t feel drained at the end either, which was good. I can say with some certainty now that I feel ready for the big day.

View Tour de Victoria June 16, 2012 in a larger map

Total distance: 112.97 km (70.2 mi)
Total time: 4:13:22
Moving time: 4:09:46
Average speed: 26.75 km/h (16.6 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 27.14 km/h (16.9 mi/h)
Max speed: 71.16 km/h (44.2 mi/h)
Average pace: 2.24 min/km (3.6 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 2.21 min/km (3.6 min/mi)
Min pace: 0.84 min/km (1.4 min/mi)
Max elevation: 237 m (778 ft)
Min elevation: -26 m (-85 ft)
Elevation gain: 2748 m (9014 ft)
Max grade: 101 %
Min grade: -44 %

Time Vulture

Today was a good day for commuting. Not too windy, sort of sunny, warm. The only thing I could have used more of was time. I would have loved to have ridden for another hour or more. Alas, I had dinner to get home to, and my route home took a lot less time than I thought it would.

My ride to work was straight there, with no detours. Right out the Goose to Wale Rd, then over to work. Coming home I thought I would do Munns Rd backward from the way I normally do it. The climb to the highest point was pretty hard, and I ended up taking a quick breather at one point. I should have kept pushing, but I wimped out. I didn’t exactly have a good nutrition day at work, and I was huffing pretty hard coming up the hill.

The descent was a lot of fun though. Wow. Makes the hard work worth it for sure.

At one point I was approaching a guy who was standing beside a truck. At first I thought he was breaking into it, then I realized he was watching something. When I looked over to the other side of the road, there was a turkey vulture standing there watching me zip by. Boy, those are big birds!

After Munns I got onto the Goose and zipped home at a pretty good clip.

View Commuting June 13, 2012 in a larger map

Commute to work:
Total distance: 13.20 km (8.2 mi)
Total time: 38:12
Moving time: 33:17
Average speed: 20.73 km/h (12.9 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 23.80 km/h (14.8 mi/h)
Max speed: 51.79 km/h (32.2 mi/h)
Average pace: 2.89 min/km (4.7 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 2.52 min/km (4.1 min/mi)
Min pace: 1.16 min/km (1.9 min/mi)
Max elevation: 83 m (272 ft)
Min elevation: -8 m (-26 ft)
Elevation gain: 206 m (677 ft)
Max grade: 13 %
Min grade: -14 %
Recorded: 13/06/2012 8:07 AM

Commute home from work:
Total distance: 32.70 km (20.3 mi)
Total time: 1:23:41
Moving time: 1:16:01
Average speed: 23.44 km/h (14.6 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 25.81 km/h (16.0 mi/h)
Max speed: 55.39 km/h (34.4 mi/h)
Average pace: 2.56 min/km (4.1 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 2.32 min/km (3.7 min/mi)
Min pace: 1.08 min/km (1.7 min/mi)
Max elevation: 253 m (829 ft)
Min elevation: -17 m (-56 ft)
Elevation gain: 724 m (2375 ft)
Max grade: 46 %
Min grade: -34 %

Peninsula Surprises

Today’s ride was all kinds of awesome. The weather was pretty warm, but not sunny, and there was no wind. I think I ate well before my ride, and drank enough water to hydrate well.

For the ride itself I followed the Tour de Victoria course starting from pretty close to the start, out to Metchosin, back over to Munn’s, then out the peninsula. I turned onto Mount Newton Cross Rd, then made my way over to the other side for the return trip. I did all this solo too.

I paid attention to my nutrition while riding, and was careful with that. I also paid attention to how my legs were feeling, and back off part way through the ride to try and save something for the end. The other thing I did was try to drink more water. This resulted in me having to stop for a pee break, which is a rare occurrence for me.

I think it paid off though. My goal was 4.5 hours, and I was out there for 5 hours and ten minutes in total. I rode a distance of 125 km, and took in around 1000 calories.

Wow, that felt good to get that distance in. I am now confident that I can do 140km on ride day (which is 2 weeks away). During the ride there will be times I can draft off others to rest and recoup. I have ridden all sections of the course now, and there aren’t any surprises hill-wise for me. I was pretty tired at the end of the ride, but not sore, not cramping, and still walking 😉

The only surprises I had were a scrawny fawn that almost bolted in front of me (if it had I would have collided with it), and a dog in the bed of a truck that barked rather loudly when it was right beside my head.

View Tour de Victoria June 10, 2012 in a larger map

View Tour de Victoria June 10, 2012 in a larger map
Total distance: 125.56 km (78.0 mi)
Total time: 5:10:47
Moving time: 5:00:31
Average speed: 24.24 km/h (15.1 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 25.07 km/h (15.6 mi/h)
Max speed: 82.42 km/h (51.2 mi/h)
Average pace: 2.48 min/km (4.0 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 2.39 min/km (3.9 min/mi)
Min pace: 0.73 min/km (1.2 min/mi)
Max elevation: 376 m (1233 ft)
Min elevation: -24 m (-79 ft)
Elevation gain: 3250 m (10664 ft)
Max grade: 118 %
Min grade: -64 %

Commutes Future

I had two great commutes this week. Both of them started with me taking the long way to work. Instead of just heading out the goose to Colwood, I went along the water by Esquimalt Lagoon. Lagoon Rd is such a nice hill to tackle, I had to throw it in my commute. Tuesday after Lagoon Rd hill, I turned right and headed in to work. Wednesday though, I had more time and turned left. This way took me to My Chosin Cafe, where I turned onto Happy Valley Rd and took that to work.

Tuesday’s route home took me home along the Old Island Highway, then I turned onto Admirals and went straight home. Wednesday I thought I would try taking the Goose all the way to the trestle, and go home that way. Neither way is all that enjoyable really. Not sure which one I will take in the future.

View Commute 05/06/2012 7:47 AM in a larger map

Tuesday Commute to work Stats:
Total distance: 22.68 km (14.1 mi)
Total time: 1:04:06
Moving time: 57:39
Average speed: 21.23 km/h (13.2 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 23.61 km/h (14.7 mi/h)
Max speed: 54.04 km/h (33.6 mi/h)
Average pace: 2.83 min/km (4.5 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 2.54 min/km (4.1 min/mi)
Min pace: 1.11 min/km (1.8 min/mi)
Max elevation: 122 m (399 ft)
Min elevation: -38 m (-126 ft)
Elevation gain: 565 m (1854 ft)
Max grade: 43 %
Min grade: -25 %
Recorded: 05/06/2012 7:47 AM

Tuesday Commute home stats:
Total distance: 12.63 km (7.9 mi)
Total time: 32:06
Moving time: 27:13
Average speed: 23.61 km/h (14.7 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 27.85 km/h (17.3 mi/h)
Max speed: 58.32 km/h (36.2 mi/h)
Average pace: 2.54 min/km (4.1 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 2.15 min/km (3.5 min/mi)
Min pace: 1.03 min/km (1.7 min/mi)
Max elevation: 72 m (237 ft)
Min elevation: -7 m (-24 ft)
Elevation gain: 193 m (632 ft)
Max grade: 12 %
Min grade: -11 %

View Longer Commute 06/06/2012 in a larger map

Wednesday Commute to work stats:
Total distance: 31.28 km (19.4 mi)
Total time: 1:15:39
Moving time: 1:12:23
Average speed: 24.80 km/h (15.4 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 25.93 km/h (16.1 mi/h)
Max speed: 54.04 km/h (33.6 mi/h)
Average pace: 2.42 min/km (3.9 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 2.31 min/km (3.7 min/mi)
Min pace: 1.11 min/km (1.8 min/mi)
Max elevation: 103 m (339 ft)
Min elevation: -28 m (-91 ft)
Elevation gain: 593 m (1944 ft)
Max grade: 22 %
Min grade: -21 %

Wednesday Commute home stats:
Total distance: 19.30 km (12.0 mi)
Total time: 48:57
Moving time: 42:44
Average speed: 23.66 km/h (14.7 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 27.10 km/h (16.8 mi/h)
Max speed: 51.57 km/h (32.0 mi/h)
Average pace: 2.54 min/km (4.1 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 2.21 min/km (3.6 min/mi)
Min pace: 1.16 min/km (1.9 min/mi)
Max elevation: 121 m (398 ft)
Min elevation: -14 m (-46 ft)
Elevation gain: 231 m (757 ft)
Max grade: 11 %
Min grade: -10 %

muddylaces

Spreading mud since 1975.

Tag: cycling