Intensity Week 1/3

This was an intensity week. Goal was to ride hard, and keep the HR at tempo the majority of time, and occasionally jamming it on hills and flats. Started off Sunday with a brisk ride up to Redding. Then rode over to Tarrytown and back on Wed/Thu (7/20-21), going faster on Wed. It was just too hot the next morning. Kept up the pace but did not go all out.

Saturday 7/23 got some hills in around Tarrytown. Tempo pace. Blazing heat near end of ride. A lot of the riding was mercifully in the shade. The next day was a big ride up north. Wandered around a bit up to Mt. Kisco. Found some dirt roads, wound up on Rt. 22. Rode up along the Titicus resevoir route. My plan was to loop back through Ridgefield, but wound up getting a little lost. Found my way back to Rt. 35 eventually then cut back along some of the WNR route through Pound Ridge. The last hour of this epic five hours was spent getting sprinkled then dumped on by some cool rain. Felt good! Pretty shot from the ride, spent more than half the ride at tempo.

Rest week rides to Tarrytown and work

This week is a rest week. I managed to get a easy paced roundtrip in from Norwalk to Tarrytown on Mon 7/11 and Tue 7/12. What beautiful weather! Then a great work commute in on Thursday, Bastille Day. Plan is to get a few days rest then a 3hr+ ride with intervals in on Sunday.

PBP is less than 40 days away. I've made a decision of no more races or group rides like Gimbel's or WNR. Not going to risk breaking anything. I'm feeling pretty strong on the bike, need to watch the eating and weight till the ride. Planning on a few 6-8 hour rides, at a brisk pace, with intervals as well. Three weeks of training left. The majority has been done, what is remaining is to polish up my power output, and get the miles in the saddle in for my head.

Tarrytown roundtrips, up to Redding, and gym intervals

6/29 and 6/30 were roundtrips from Norwalk to Tarrytown. Got some nice sprints and short SMSP intervals in on the way over. Great weather. Then a nice 3hr ride up to Redding on Saturday 7/2. Rain the following day took us to the gym, for another nice 3 sets of 20 min intervals on the bike. Another ride back from Tarrytown on Tue 7/5, a roundtrip from work on Thu 7/7, then another 3hrs up to Redding on Sun, 7/10. PBP is rapidly approaching. Planning on doing a few more races, most likely CRCA on 7/24 and 7/30. Also like to do a few 8hr+ rides. Want to keep doing intervals to keep power output high. Having a few equipment issues, namely wheels. Trashed my FSA wheel. Looking at getting a sturdy 36 hole rear wheel for Paris and winter training. Still need some good race wheels. May hold off on those till next season.