tt

a pretty worthless result today. since my workouts are relegated to stationary bikes at work (due to it being below zero for the past 2 weeks) I decided to hop on the bike with numbers today, as opposed to my usual seatpost-saddle-bar height-combo bike.

so i get on this recumbent piece, and after warming up for 5 minutes i decided to give it some gas and do a 30 min tt. you know, see how much strength i have accumulated from my 3000+ mile base period over the past several months. i quickly came to realize a few stark factoids

1. my ability to maintain a tt effort with serious power is non-existant
2. while i have been significantly improving my pedal technique with high cadence and powering through the entire pedal stroke, that means nothing when you are pedaling from a recumbent position (it hurts a ton more)
3. the recumbent bike i was on can't calculate accurate power/speed for shit. according to it, i am strong enough to average 24mph for 30 mins at its near-highest level. thats only 4 mph faster than a co-worker who is in significantly worse shape than me.

i felt like my hr was at a decently high level and that i definitely remained outside of my comfort zone. my cadence was anywhere between 85-105rpm. so i dont really understand why i wouldn't have averaged closer to 27mph+ at least? i blame the machine. isn't it supposed to equate to riding a flat road with no wind? i guess part of it may be due to the fact that my 5 minute warmup was included in my total 30min tt. sigh.

i think that the bike and i may need to have a rematch tomorrow at lunchtime. its on like donkey kong!

i am super excited to get down to the ever-wonderful town of harrisonburg, va the weekend after this. a toasty forecast of 40degrees is certainly lifting my spirits (keep in mind that we have been between -15 and 5degrees here in pittsburgh for the past 2 weeks). im not gonna lie, i am probably going to bring my rainbows and work on my thong tan. yeah, i know what you were thinking. perv.

speaking of rainbows, i am making a solemn vow to someday move back to san clemente where we would visit gobby and check out the tide pools of del mar and have mom point out landmarks of her childhood. in my opinion, it really doesn't get much better than that.

2006 Dirty Dozen - 38% gradient Canton Ave. = gnarly