Cycling year 2007 - in review - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

The Borg · 08-22-2007, 04:42 PM

Mikes post got me thinking what I've accomplished this year in cycling.

What rides have you all participated in?

Borg's 2007 Cycling Year-
(1900 miles since April 1)

1) March 31st - Zions Early Century (St. George, Ut)
2) April 12th - Salt Lake Marathon Bike Tour (SLC, Ut)
3) May 5th - Tour de Fire (Las Vegas, NV)
4) May 19th - Salt Lake Century (SLC, Ut)
5) June 23rd - MS 150 (Logan, Ut)
6) August 18th - Sawtooth Century (Sun Valley, ID)

...pretty fun year in all. Love the organized rides. Am looking to do one, maybe squeeze in two more century rides if I can before the snow flies. (Heber, UT...and perhaps one in Oregon or Nevada)

Am going to branch out and do more scenic rides around the Western U.S. What a great way to put a carrot out there to keep you riding.

bluegoose · 08-22-2007, 10:41 PM

I had a decent year - not a great one, but a decent year. My highlights:

- May 6th-ish - Tour of the Unknown Coast - 103 miles
- July 14th - Death Ride - 129 miles
- 2,200 miles since the beginning of May
- Probably 3,500 total miles for 2007 so far.

The sad thing is, I am close to being done for the better part of the year. The weather is approaching a very good season for where I live, but life is getting busy and will likely stay that way into October or November.

I had a lot of fun this year. I wasn't as fast as I've been in the past, and I didn't drop the weight this year like I had hoped, but it was still a good year. I've got some great friends that I ride with which definitely makes it more enjoyable.

fusnik11 · 08-22-2007, 11:23 PM

Hey Borg, you think a beginner like me could do the Heber City Century?

My issue would be the climb from Kamas to Heber, I might be only able to average around 10 MPH until the dam at Jordanelle.

The Borg · 08-23-2007, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fusnik11

Hey Borg, you think a beginner like me could do the Heber City Century?

My issue would be the climb from Kamas to Heber, I might be only able to average around 10 MPH until the dam at Jordanelle.

fus -
Do it. I've found that one can make any climb if you go down to your granny gear (assuming you have a triple). You won't make good time...but you can climb almost anything.

So, yeah. Go for it. I think it would be a beautiful ride.

Archaea · 08-23-2007, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Borg

fus -
Do it. I've found that one can make any climb if you go down to your granny gear (assuming you have a triple). You won't make good time...but you can climb almost anything.

So, yeah. Go for it. I think it would be a beautiful ride.

I'm a terrible climber, but I just grind away, noting the climbers and nonclimbers as they pass me.

MikeWaters · 08-23-2007, 03:24 PM

I can climb rollers ok (but not like the cat4s and cat3s). Never tried a mountain or extended climb. I'd probably be average to below average.

Archaea · 08-23-2007, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

I can climb rollers ok (but not like the cat4s and cat3s). Never tried a mountain or extended climb. I'd probably be average to below average.

What is amazing is the watts which some people can generate up a climb for long periods of time. My wattage drops and wanes and then recovers. When I see a guy up a ten mile climb just cranking away at 13 to 14 mph, I just shake my head. The only people I climb better than are some pure sprinters. In reality, I just need to learn to tolerate greater pain to be better.

bluegoose · 08-23-2007, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

I can climb rollers ok (but not like the cat4s and cat3s). Never tried a mountain or extended climb. I'd probably be average to below average.

I doubt you'd be below average. You've got a better height to weight ratio than I do and appear to be a decent time-trialist, considering the times that you've posted. A couple of months of work on climbing some big hills and you'd do just fine.

Archaea · 08-23-2007, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluegoose

I doubt you'd be below average. You've got a better height to weight ratio than I do and appear to be a decent time-trialist, considering the times that you've posted. A couple of months of work on climbing some big hills and you'd do just fine.

I got to do ninety minutes on the stationary next a fat old woman. If I must keep exercising indoors I submit I may end up looking like a fat old woman. Injuries suck and I'm going crazy. Everybody is getting better and I'm losing fitness.

MikeWaters · 08-23-2007, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archaea

What is amazing is the watts which some people can generate up a climb for long periods of time. My wattage drops and wanes and then recovers. When I see a guy up a ten mile climb just cranking away at 13 to 14 mph, I just shake my head. The only people I climb better than are some pure sprinters. In reality, I just need to learn to tolerate greater pain to be better.

I think my strength is acceleration. I'm mainly fast twitch, although I think 5 years of off and on riding have increased my slow twitch.

I don't have your sustained wattage.

When I'm doing a rally, amongst the not-that-fast recreational riders (because I have stopped at every rest stop for example), I rarely get passed on a hill, and tend to pass a lot of people. That's the reason my dad and I couldn't stay together on our last ride. He couldn't stay with me going uphill. My high cadence helps. Also the fact I probably weigh 15lb less. And that I am a lot younger. And that I didn't break my collarbone last year.

08-22-2007, 04:42 PM	#1
The Borg Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 533	Cycling year 2007 - in review Mikes post got me thinking what I've accomplished this year in cycling. What rides have you all participated in? Borg's 2007 Cycling Year- (1900 miles since April 1) 1) March 31st - Zions Early Century (St. George, Ut) 2) April 12th - Salt Lake Marathon Bike Tour (SLC, Ut) 3) May 5th - Tour de Fire (Las Vegas, NV) 4) May 19th - Salt Lake Century (SLC, Ut) 5) June 23rd - MS 150 (Logan, Ut) 6) August 18th - Sawtooth Century (Sun Valley, ID) ...pretty fun year in all. Love the organized rides. Am looking to do one, maybe squeeze in two more century rides if I can before the snow flies. (Heber, UT...and perhaps one in Oregon or Nevada) Am going to branch out and do more scenic rides around the Western U.S. What a great way to put a carrot out there to keep you riding. __________________ Hello......helloo.......HELLLOOO! Last edited by The Borg; 08-23-2007 at 02:26 PM.

08-22-2007, 10:41 PM	#2
bluegoose Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,919	I had a decent year - not a great one, but a decent year. My highlights: - May 6th-ish - Tour of the Unknown Coast - 103 miles - July 14th - Death Ride - 129 miles - 2,200 miles since the beginning of May - Probably 3,500 total miles for 2007 so far. The sad thing is, I am close to being done for the better part of the year. The weather is approaching a very good season for where I live, but life is getting busy and will likely stay that way into October or November. I had a lot of fun this year. I wasn't as fast as I've been in the past, and I didn't drop the weight this year like I had hoped, but it was still a good year. I've got some great friends that I ride with which definitely makes it more enjoyable.

08-22-2007, 11:23 PM	#3
fusnik11 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 2,506	Hey Borg, you think a beginner like me could do the Heber City Century? My issue would be the climb from Kamas to Heber, I might be only able to average around 10 MPH until the dam at Jordanelle.

08-23-2007, 03:24 PM	#6
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	I can climb rollers ok (but not like the cat4s and cat3s). Never tried a mountain or extended climb. I'd probably be average to below average.