May 24th and 25th Training Rides - COMPLETED

Saturday
When: Saturday, May 24th
Starting Location: 296 E. Van Buren, Elmhurst
Starting Time: 7:00am

Sunday
When: Sunday, May 25th
Starting Location: 296 E. Van Buren, Elmhurst
Starting Time: 7:00am

Holiday Rides - Two Weeks Left

It is supposed to be beautiful weather and we need a couple of good rides.

Last week we had two decent rides - 60 miles on Saturday and 50 on Sunday. Sunday was tough - cold and windy. For me, every mile was a chore. Still, it was good to get out and do some significant milage two days in a row.

This week, we shoot for 65 miles. This is, again, a little below the target, but we have one more training week after this. We usually take the last week for a little rest, but we will go for a semi-long ride and we will be more than ready for the double-century ride. See the training schedule for the remaining weeks.

Labels: bike, double century, syscon, training

posted by Web Master at 4:26 PM 0 Comments

May 17th and 18th Training Rides - COMPLETED

Saturday
When: Saturday, May 17th
Starting Location: 296 E. Van Buren, Elmhurst
Starting Time: 7:00am

Sunday
When: Sunday, May 18th
Starting Location: 296 E. Van Buren, Elmhurst
Starting Time: 7:00am

Making Up for Lost Week

55 miles this weekend - each day. I've backed off the target mileage a little bit for this weekend since we missed last week.

I don't remember when we had so much bad weather during the training period. Saturday I was out of town, so hopefully everyone rode when and if they could. Sunday was cold and just a plain old storm. It was not realistically rideable. Personally, I won't be pushing the pace too much because I have 7 days of vacation fat and sloth right now (and it was well worth it!).

This week, we shoot for 55 miles. This is a little below the target, but we need to do some catch up time after this last week. See the training schedule for the remaining weeks.

Labels: bike ride, double century, syscon, training

posted by Web Master at 10:37 AM 0 Comments

May 10th and 11th Training Rides - CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER

Saturday
When: Saturday, May 10th
I will not be available on the 10th. You are on your own. Our target miles for this weekend is 57 miles per day.

Sunday
When: Sunday, May 11th
Starting Location: 296 E. Van Buren, Elmhurst
Starting Time: 7:00am

Getting Close

57 miles this weekend - each day. We are not in a hurry, so we will stop a couple of times to take a break and we won't leave anyone behind.

Last week Saturday still had some good winds, but not nearly as challenging as the prior week. Matt and I were the only riders although Joe stopped by to say hello. His cast is off, but he won't be riding for a few weeks yet. We completed 51 miles - again going through Fermi Lab. An moment of poetic justice was when a car flew by us on the road through Fermi Lab where the speed limit is 35 and shortly after a cop was on his tail. We passed him - pulled over - about a mile further down the road - no doubt getting a ticket from the officer.

Sunday was much a beautiful day and we headed west on the St. Charles road route. Nine miles out, Matt lost the bolt on his crank and he was down for the ride. That is not a field repair within my ability or tools. After getting Matt his car and sending him on his way, I completed 35 miles before I had to leave for the day.

This week, we shoot for 57 miles. See the training schedule for the remaining weeks.

Labels: bike ride, double century, syscon, training

posted by Web Master at 7:51 AM 0 Comments

May 3rd and 4th Training Rides - COMPLETED

Saturday
When: Saturday, May 3rd
Starting Location: 296 E. Van Buren, Elmhurst
Starting Time: 7:00am

Sunday
When: Sunday, May 4th
Starting Location: 296 E. Van Buren, Elmhurst
Starting Time: 7:00am

We Break the 50 mile Mark!

51 miles this weekend - each day. If you can make these rides, you can do the double-century. We will stop a couple of times to take a break and we won't leave anyone behind.

Last week Saturday had very, very challenging 15 to 20mph winds with gusts up to 30mph. Matt and I were the only riders and as we hit Fermi Lab with its wide open plains, we had our heads down pumping as hard was we could to make 10 to 12 miles per hour. My heart was cruising steadily at 150bpm. I cannot believe how hard we had to work.

Sunday was much better and the same ride was more enjoyable. It was still cold (I'm getting sick of this crummy weather), but no rain as was originally predicted. We hit 45.8 miles both days doing the same ride from Elmhurst to Fermi Lab and back.

This week, we break the 50 mile mark. See the training schedule for the remaining weeks.

Labels: bike ride, double century, syscon, training

posted by Web Master at 5:53 AM 0 Comments