NEW PERSONAL RECORD (PR) ON STRAVA SEGMENT

Other than setting a new PR on Strava’s “Salute the Flag” segment, which is a one-mile straight shot along
Flamingo Road, today’s ride was typical of most of our weekday rides.

For anyone that is interested in knowing, the segment acquired its name because of a huge American flag that flies just east of the service road. Today I thought it wise not take my hands off the handlebar to pay tribute to Old Glory.

My average speed for the segment was 23.1 mph. Average speed for the entire half metric century was 13.2, but that included four and a half miles of sidewalk riding at 8 mph.

We had one individual that discovered a very slow leak in his rear tire. Instead of patching or changing the tube while on the road, we stopped at one of our LBS for a quick tube change.

The weather was beautiful this morning, starting out with the temp at 57F and ending the ride when the temp was at 71F. Our forecasted high for the day is 76F.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/290291741

CHILLY BIKE RIDE IN THE SUB-TROPICS

I don’t understand it! Several bikers in our weekday cycling group regularly complain of the heat during the summer. And then come winter when the temp drops to a pleasant 46F, they end up being no-shows. WTF is that all about!?

Anyhow, one other fellow and I enjoyed our 25-mile ride without sweating our butts off. It became a bit breezy prior to arriving at the coffee shop, but the wind was really no big deal. All the wind did was to insure us a quicker ride back.

I forgot to bring along a snack, so I bought a Dutch Apple Bagel to go with my hot coffee. I was tempted to buy two of them!

The route itself was an out and back route, basically the same one we ride most every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. They say that variety is the spice of life. If that is true, then we need to come up with a list of different traffic-approved routes.

Did I mention that today’s route included 136 feet of climbing? I know, I know, you all are impressed!

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1201570

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/289509238

FIELD DAY/SPRING CLEANING

In the US Navy we called it “Field Day.” In civilian life it’s called “Spring Cleaning.” Whatever we wish to call it, I’m giving our place a thorough cleaning today from the laminate flooring all the way to the popcorn ceiling.

Yep, it’s rub-a-dub-dub day in our humble home. And the sad part is, our Garmins don’t register distance or calories for such a menial task.

Sad part number two is that our two cats are fast asleep and are not helping. When they do awaken, they will undoubtedly meow at their walking can opener for more feline nourishment.

I’m the walking can opener!

MEDICAL APPOINTMENT AND SHORT BIKE RIDE

As lame as today’s zero blaster may be, my slow walk to and from the medical offices for an early morning

med. appointment will simply have to suffice.

Total time indicates time walking to and fro plus time in the doctor's office. (29 minutes walking versus 2 hours and 7 minutes in doctor's office) What's wrong with this picture?

http://www.mapmywalk.com/workout/248428198

Early afternoon ride in our county park. While my wife ran and walked, I rode alongside her on my road bike with the water bottle at the ready. I love my water boy duties.

80 degrees F.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/288892329

HEAT WAVE, WALKING AND LIFTING

We are having record heat today in South Florida, and it’s even windier than yesterday. Not a good day to be on the road bike.

Good day for a slow stroll, though. And it’s a good day to be inside the fitness center pushing and pulling on those shiny resistance machines.

That’s 29 minutes of walking and 35 minutes of lifting. I’ll take it on a day that is supposed to be a recovery day.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/288423915

GRANFONDO GARNEAU, DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA

With a pedal’s-up time of 7:30 AM and the possibility that several cyclists

would be picking up their ride packets and/or registering minutes before the advertised departure time, I was afraid that parking would be a major issue. With that in mind, I arrived shortly after 6 in the morning only to learn that I was one of few that predicted a bottle-neck at the entrance to the parking garage. Pleasant surprises are always welcome.

 

A quick cell phone call connected me with Rosemary B. who had just picked up her ride packet and was as ready as I was to roll.

 

Our ride group left at 7:39 AM. And even though I carried the cue sheet in one of my jersey’s back pockets, I failed to correct the group when we missed the first turn by a good ½ mile. I should have known better! Talk about being brain dead, I was - as well as everyone else in our group of around 100 bikers.

 

Anyway, once we got going on A1A heading south from George Bush Avenue, we cruised at a moderate speed into the morning breeze until the turnaround point at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. The far-south turnaround point was at mile 9. http://www.gumbolimbo.org/

 

From there it was easy pedaling with the wind at our backs. But even though we enjoyed the aid of the wind, Rosemary and I still kept our pace between 16-17 mph. We were very mindful of the return trip, which would have us struggling for 22 straight miles into the developing ocean wind.

 

At the far-north turnaround point, we joined forced with two young ladies. Our plan was for the four of us to stay together and switch the lead often. I’m not quite sure what happened, because five or six miles from the finish line the two young ladies were far behind Rosemary and me.

 

According to my Garmin Edge 500, we crossed the finish line right at 4 hours and 28 minutes, giving us an overall riding pace of 14.0 mph for the 62.55 mile ride. We were pleased with our overall pace considering what we had to endure the last 22 miles. The ocean wind had picked up to well over 20 mph. The average temperature was 83F.

 

After finishing our ride, we were not very pleased when we were forced to search for our finisher’s medals. In my opinion, no one should have to search for what they earned after riding a bike for nearly 63 miles.

 

After asking several riders and volunteers where we collect our medals, a knowledgeable passerby that was wearing a medal around his neck advised us that the medals were being handed out at the entrance to the food and beer tent. Next time we will know, should there be a next time.

 

As expected, the course was beautiful. What’s not to like about riding along the Atlantic Ocean on A1A! But the course was poorly marked. And the only cyclists that had police assistance were the super-fast cyclists. I’m learning that this is typical of most cycling events.

 

The food was sub-par and the beer sucked. Worst beer I have ever drunk. I ended up joining my wife for lunch at her work place, which made for a good ending to an enjoyable ride with one of my favorite Daily Mile friends, Rosemary B.

 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/287904968

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1195548

PREP BIKE RIDE

There isn’t a whole lot to say about this morning’s ride other than it was a warm-up ride in preparation for tomorrow’s Granfondo Garneau metric century along beautiful A1A.

 

All five of us kept the speed down today out of respect for my ride tomorrow. No sense in straining my guts today, when tomorrow I’ll need everything in my tank to endure the distance and predicted weather.

 

The weather folks are telling us that the high for tomorrow will be 85F. And when traveling south, the wind will be in our faces at a steady 17 mph, with gusts to 23 mph.

 

When riding along A1A, which runs parallel to the Atlantic Ocean, bikers are impacted 100% by the wind, plus a little more for good measure.

 

I feel that I’m ready for tomorrow. I did a thorough cleaning of the bike yesterday - even put some brand new Conti Ultra Gatorskins on the front and rear. Installing new batteries in the rear and front flashing lights should help motorists see me and my road bike.

 

Rosemary B, my very first Daily Mile friend, and myself will be riding together from start to finish during tomorrow’s A1A ride

 

Anyway, we had a good ride today, as well as a lot of laughs.  http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1193610 http://connect.garmin.com/activity/287379365