So I have not posted anything for a few days, the blog was being updated by Driven and The Drawing Room with some tech stuff. So if you have visited this blog before, please could you refresh the page (click the C type symbol, far right on the address bar) this will update the site and make it work properly. Thanks.
So this week started with me getting Irma (bike) in a box all ready for her trip to LA with BikeFlights on a FedEx plane. TriBikeRun had taken her apart, wrapped her up and carefully packed her into a box for me, so I hope Irma is now safe and ready for her first trip across America, this time by Air and van.
Monday I started my final 3 day volume rides. I was scheduled to ride 4 hours so I didn’t rush that much in the morning, thinking I had plenty of time. So after my now usual, beet juice, coffee, cereal and toast I got into my Lycra ready for the ride. After filling my water bottles, loading my pockets with gels and snacks I was ready for off. However off didn’t work, as I sat on the bike and attempted to ride off I realized that my road bike shoes had the wrong cleats for these pedals on my Felt Z85 bike. Ok so now what, do I get changed, get in the car and go and buy new cleats or new pedals that fit the shoes I am doing the ride in. I texted Coach Julie and we decided not to chance anything and ride the peloton. Big Mistake!!! After three hours on this indoor bike I was brain dead, bored and so hot looking down at a pool of sweat below me. I hated to bag a ride an hour short but I did.
Tuesday I went and got new cleats for my road shoes, fitted them and repeated the preparations for a 4 1/2 hour ride. This time I got onto the bike and clipped in, perfect, and off I went. After a mile or so I tried to change my gear into the small front ring (the one that helps you go uphill) and nothing? Ok so after a few tries I realized that my old bike was in need of some attention. Was this payback for not using her for the cross country ride? Well luckily Florida is pretty flat so I just rode with half the gears, no problem. After about 2 hours I reached a t raffia light and stopped. At this point I should tell you that the shoes and clips (pedals) are designed to be able ride the bike and be able to walk at stops (for lunch, sight seeing etc) the ones I had today and up until I get to LA are road cleats, designed for just riding. I tell you this as they are different and I forgot this. So when the light changed to green, I stamped down on the pedals as usual, my unclipped right shoe slipped off the road pedal, the pedal flew around without a counterbalance of two feet and smacked my shin with a crack. I looked down, clipped in slowly and road off trying not to register the throbbing pain in my right shin. The quiet roads allowed for some choice words to be expressed without the fear of offending anyone around. I cycled around for the rest of my allotted time for the day and got home. Not the best of days but the 4 1/2 hours and 62.5 miles were in the books. Later FedEx arrived at the house and we waved Irma off as she set off ahead of me to Manhattan Beach CA.
Wednesday and the final volume day of 5 hours. The usual preparations and off again. This time I decided to head north towards Hutchinson Island and Fort Pierce. I was also testing a new toy, a GoPro, for the XUSA ride. All was great today and the ride felt relaxed. I took a couple of small detours to places I thought I could film and then headed along the nice road of Hutchinson Island. After a couple of hours or so I decided to take a 10 minute break to change my bottles around (put the empties in my pockets and full ones on the bike) and have some food. Seeing a nature trail to the Inland Waterway I turned onto the path. As I slowed I also hit sand and my bike stopped. Again the different pedals and clips got me again. This time I couldn’t unclip so I did a stationary, comedy fall onto the sandy path. After laughing and dusting the sand off I walked the bike to the water for my break.
I saw this guy just hanging out, I love Pelicans, they are actually pretty big but fly with such grace. Anyway after a few minutes off the saddle watching this guy floating about on the water it was time to return home. Gladly I had no more pedal or bike problems and finished after 5 hours and 65 miles. My mileage was low due to a few slow pedaling miles trying to get some good film on my new toy.
So that was it, Irma off to California, an egg of a bruise on my right shin, and all of my volume days of training finally completed. I think I am ready to test myself physically and mentally for 48 days.