MORE STRAVA

First, a little history.  I've been racing since 2005 and Old Settlers Park has been my training venue from the beginning.  It is a huge parcel of land and in keeping with Round Rock's self-proclaimed "Sports Capital of Texas" slogan, they keep adding fields.  Several years ago, in adding a slew of soccer fields, they also laid out a new road.  Part of that road is a pan-flat, .19 mile section that someone, not me, designated a Strava Segment.  As an aside, I happen to have the fastest time, not just age group, on this segment.  In any case, this was the only segment in the park until this year.  

Besides training in the park, I also start and finish my long rides in the county from there.  Several weeks ago, upon posting my ride, I discovered I had a PR on a segment.  I'd never seen this before, and my twelve minutes plus for a 2.35 mile distance was unimpressive.  Of course, it included a potty stop, so really wasn't a true reflection of my riding.  Naturally, the first thing I did was check the 75+ age category to see who held the fastest time, and what it was.  Turns out my old riding associate from the Georgetown Cyclopaths held that title, at 7:35.  I wasn't about to let him keep it if I could help it.  I won't go chasing Local Legend Laureates, but age-category championships are another story.

Rationally, there was no way could I mount a challenge after a sixty-mile ride.  I would need to wait for one of my short training days.  As it turned out, I did my long ride this Monday and my Tuesday exercises called for upper-body work at the Y early and a recovery ride mid-morning.  Usually my recovery ride is two eight-mile loops, each loop covering all of the road surface in the park, plus most of the parking lots.  But I changed that up to do a warm-up on the Strava segment, then a serious push on the second time. 

The legs were still feeling the effects of my long ride, but the warm-up only took 8:50 so I felt pretty good about coming close to 7:35.  To be clear, I didn't know my actual time until posting the results, but I estimated nine minutes.  It took twelve to get back to the start.  I replaced the cold weather jacket with my very nice ZFG wind jacket (thanks Todd) and prepared to get serious.  

When your legs are dead, or when they are "race-ready" you know it.  Mine were mid-way.  That is, they were feeling good, but not super good.  I focused on the time to beat of 18.7 mph, and saw 21-22 for the first part.  That gave incentive to keep pushing.  The one slight two-tenths uphill only slowed to 17.1 mph, and reinforced my confidence.  The last hundred meters or so is a 4% uphill and the legs didn't have a lot of power, so it became necessary to gear down and up cadence.  When I got home and posted the ride I was pleased to see 6:44 and 21 mph.

Because this segment goes from one end of the park to the other, I don't see it as anything other than a "thru" route, so suspect my time will stand for quite awhile.  Meanwhile, there are two more segments that have cropped up, and I have them on my agenda.

STUPID STRAVA!

I guess I'd describe myself as a semi-serious cyclist, or maybe a serious cyclist with caveats.  That is, even though I ride a lot and race some, I still don't do what is necessary to become really good.  Don't get me wrong, in the last eleven years I held a state championship eight times, with the other three being silver, and was national silver medalist a few years ago, and manage to get on the podium at USAC when I participate.  But I don't come close to challenging for gold.  And so far, I haven't been training to achieve it.  That's too much like work.  I have my sights set on 2022 Nationals, when I'll be the youngest in my age group.  2021 will see me getting more serious.  None of this has anything to do with today's post.

I resisted joining Strava for years, finally giving in so that Marilane could track me as I cycled about Williamson County by myself.  I find one of the features, the fastest riders doing a segment, useful.  It wasn't useful until they added age categories, specifically 75+.  Now I can see how I stack up against folks my own age.  Like anything else, you take these with a grain of salt.  

The latest innovation from Strava is Local Legend.  This gives a laureate to the person who completes a segment the most times in the past 90 days, speed not being a factor.  This is nothing I aspire to attain, it just happens when cycling routes become less varied.  For instance, when I practice 15 second accelerating, I use one of two sections in Old Settlers Park.  One of them is a Strava Segment.  That's 20 or so times it's completed per practice.  When I do cadence drills I prefer to run up and down Great Northern, a straight, flat 1.4 miles with a bike lane.  Because the drills are mainly three sets of fifteen minutes each, I do go out-back-out and rest one section, three times.  Someone, not me, created Strava Segments consisting of one out/back, two out/back, three out/back rides.  So, my practice resulted in becoming a Local Legend.  And we finally get around to today's post.

On Thursday I received an email from Strava saying that I had lost my Local Legend on Great Northern.  Since I really don't care, that didn't bother me, but I was curious about the person who overtook me.  The email included a link to his page.  He had completed 25 (I had 23) segments, or 70 miles in the last 90 days.  More power to him.  Then I saw that in the last four months he had only cycled 152 miles.  That got my dander up (it shouldn't have, my reaction was completely irrational).   I had completed my "hill" route on Thursday and Friday called for a heavy leg workout at the Y in the early morning and an easy hour spinning on the bike mid-morning.  It could have been at Old Settlers Park, but I decided to return to Great Northern and get my laureate back.  So silly, competing for something I didn't care about.  I hadn't been on my TT bike in awhile, so on Friday morning I loaded it up and cycled Great Northern, completing seven segments.

I'm not doing that again.  That is, competing to be a stupid Local Legend.  A deeper dive into his Strava showed he rarely does anything other than Great Northern and close environs.  This is what the Local Legend was designed for and he deserves the recognition.  Of  course, I'm not abandoning my cadence drills, so will continue to increase my segments.  I blame this all on Strava.  The email created a false competition.  I fell for it once, shame on me.  Not twice.

JEFFERSON, TEXAS

 Marilane wanted to spend a few days in the tourist town of Jefferson, TX.  I'm not much for wandering around in and out of shops exploring and getting the history of old towns, so I brought my bike.  Before going, I managed to pull up the local information and they had four routes listed, each heading out of Jefferson in the four compass points.  Two of them had significant mileage on US 59 which normally had a wide shoulder but is currently repaving and had one side shut down.  So those two routes were immediately nixed.  I previewed the other two and didn't like one of them.  The one toward Caddo Lake had a wide shoulder but was really rough.  But traffic was minimal.  The suggested route was a triangle of thirty-six miles, more or less the distance I was willing to ride.

For various reasons it took longer to get ready, so my first decision was to just do an out-and-back to Caddo Lake.  That would be twenty-six miles and an estimated two hours.  The sun shone brightly in a clear sky, temperature 68-73, a slight wind from the SE that would be at my back on the return.

Leaving Jefferson included several blocks of brick streets, but within a mile and a half I was headed east toward the lake.  I had assumed that cycling enthusiasts in the area were few and far between, and sure enough, my morning ride netted me two Strava Local Legends crowns plus being the fastest in the 75+ age category.  The right-of-way was even rougher than what I imagined and my shoulders were getting quite a workout.  But once I determined that traffic was minimal, I moved out into the much smoother road and spent most of the ride looking in my mirrors.  I'd move onto the shoulder when I saw a vehicle, but surprisingly 90% gave me lots of room.

I hate logging trucks.  That goes back to Cycle Montana (1998) and one scary day without shoulders and logging trucks that were overly aggressive.  Each subsequent encounter has only reinforced that first one.  Therefore I was disturbed to see logging trucks barreling toward me every five to seven minutes on my way east.  Already I dreaded to return.  As estimated, an hour of heading east, really SE, and I hit my turn-around spot.

Fortune favored my return.  I picked up the very slight wind at my back, was able to spend most of the ride in the roadway and not on the shoulder, and apparently the logging truck drivers were on a lunch break.  Only one passed me and that was just before I turned toward town and he was nice enough to drive the other lane.  The return took ten minutes less.  

My second ride consisted of two legs of the triangle ending at Caddo Lake, with the third leg being the same as yesterday's return.  Same weather as the previous ride, same rough shoulder, but a bit more traffic since this was Saturday morning.  Not to belabor the point, but the first two legs of this ride have NO Strava segments.  Once again I monitored the mirrors and more assiduously in that the 75 mph speed limit left little time to get on the shoulder.  But again, the drivers were quite courteous.

As I approached the first right turn I heard some guy yelling "Y'all come back here" multiple times.  There may have been a few expletives thrown in.  I looked over and saw about a half dozen Chihuahuas (or similar breed) running out a gate and chasing after me.  I could still hear yelling, and about a quarter mile down the road, two little guys were still coming for me.  They weren't close, I turned the corner, and assume they finally gave up.

The first and third sections of the ride were macadam (interesting sidenote: macadam roads were introduced by Scotish inventor John McAdam.) but the second one was the roughest chip-seal you can imagine.  I probably lost 100 miles of rubber in those nine miles.  It was also a block headwind, thankfully not very stiff.  Traffic increased.

I make it a point to carry nutrition, generally Clif Bars, on any ride over two hours.  For this trip, I forgot my Clif Bars, and also forgot to pack any nutrition.  When I made the right turn onto the last leg, I was beginning to feel the loss of energy.  I had Nuun, so electrolytes were good.  I husbanded the remaining energy and cruised on back into town.  Again, no logging trucks.

All in all, these were good workouts.  Not much scenery, rough roads, but good weather.

SKYLINE DRIVE AND BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY, 2020 EDITION, PART III

     The only real reason to have Strava is to record your data so that you have a history to which you can refer.  Or your coach can review and plan your training.  I also have it so my wife can track where I am in real time in case she needs to find me.  That has happened in the past.  In this post I'll be focusing on the statistics of cycling the most difficult 545 miles I've ever encountered.  Before you scoff at the stats, please bear in mind that yes, age matters.  Of course, if you are old, then this is what you should expect.

     Based on past mountain results, I estimated an average of 10 mph for the whole ride, including stops.  The full mileage is 105.5 miles for Skyline Drive and 470 miles for the Blue Ridge Parkway.  It wasn't until a few days into the ride did we discover the parkway was closed for twenty-three miles. I didn't do the first mile of Skyline Drive.  Perhaps we returned to the wrong overlook and cut off another six miles.  I thought it might have just been three.  In any case, Garmin has me at 545 and that's what we'll use.

     I subscribe to both Strava and Training Peaks and will refer to both. There are thirteen entries on the table because of the one day I had to split my riding.   I didn't include a short ride on the eleventh day because it was only three additional miles.  That was the day we mis-communicated and I got tired of waiting and put in some more saddle time.  

Miles	Spd     Avg.	Spd Max	Total Time	Moving Time	Ascent	HR  Avg.	HR   Max	Pw
34.4	8.6	39.7	4:00	3:36	4,793	127	142	134
54.9	12.1	38.6	4:31	4:12	4,341	115	135	124
50.1	10.2	37.0	4:54	4:29	4,573	110	125	118
43.3	10.9	38.8	3:59	3:41	4.193	110	135	126
27	12.5	37.9	2:09	1:56	1,781	99	123	121
23.5	13.2	36.9	1:53	1:47	1.942	109	129	129
43.5	10.8	34.9	4:01	3:46	3,973	107	132	120
45.5	12.6	37.3	3:36	3:30	3.720	110	128	121
43.7	10.3	42.7	4:14	3:54	4,967	109	131	128
43	10.7	40.7	4:00	3:45	4,291	110	131	121
43.2	10.4	38.6	4:09	3:54	4,787	106	125	123
44.2	8.8	36.5	5:00	4:16	5,712	107	128	124
44.9	10.4	38.3	4:19	3:44	4,475	105	128	122

  

     It is easy to see by the speeds that these roads are mostly climbs and descents.  I was looking at 4-5 mph going up (when I expected to be 7-8 mph).  That is also reflected in the average HR, in that it didn't take much effort going downhill.  After the first day, I was mostly in the 115-120 range climbing.  I'm still perplexed that I wasn't getting a bit more power. The Pw numbers are the Weighted Average from Strava.  Minimum and Maximum didn't seem to indicate what I was doing most of the time.  But it is quite clear that I used significantly more power, with a higher heart rate, on the first day, and my legs loudly attest to that.  In retrospect, one additional gear, higher cadence, less power and lower heart rate might have allowed me to go the extra seventeen miles.  In any case, it's a lesson learned.  Training Peaks gave me two gold medals for Heart Rate on the first day and no medals for anything following.  I couldn't fit the TSS numbers in the chart above, but they range from 232 to 97 and track with the Pw numbers.

     What the chart doesn't show is the manipulation of the mileage.  You cannot replicate this if you are just riding between lodgings.  On some days I'd ride to a specific mile post, put the bike in the car and drive to the hotel and then drive back to the mile post the next day.  But by doing this I managed my effort and wasn't so beat up each day.  Day one excepted.

     Perhaps one day I'll do a spreadsheet on how I placed in the Strava Segments.  I know I was 1st on one climb and 2nd on the downhill into Asheville.  Most of what I looked at had me in the top 5 of my age category.  But those of us doing the whole parkway versus locals who ride it multiple times is not a fair comparison.  Footnote: I just  went through Strava and charted some of the longer segments, 57 to be precise.  I was first in 15% of those segments, doing my best on the downhills.  Although I was quite pleased with a ten-mile mostly climb in the 3-4% range.

SKYLINE DRIVE AND BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY, 2020 EDITION, Part II

     This is my third try at doing the Blue Ridge Parkway.  See my Sept 28, 2011 blog for the first, ill-fated adventure followed by a better June 28, 2014 sojourn (paid tour, Black Bear Adventures).  The first one had rain, mist, or fog every day plus a host of other issues.  The second did not include Skyline Drive, I was the slowest member, plus had a medical situation so was not a complete route.  

     I've taken multiple paid tours and highly recommend them.  But there are drawbacks.  They run on a schedule.  You are expected to ride, but they probably have flexibility in the sag wagon for contingencies.  Weather becomes a factor.  Rain or light fog is not an excuse to pack it in.  And if there is a situation, then you move on to the next day's ride, missing out a day.  Self-sagging, with cyclists taking their turns as driver, means some part of the ride is foregone.  Having a designated, dedicated sag driver is optimal (I don't even discuss going without a sag of some sort, that's for the serious cyclists). 

     Last year, or maybe the year before, I mentioned to Marilane I'd like to try it again.  I had in mind she being my sag driver and also enjoying time in the mountains.  It is a very scenic drive and several of the lodges were excellent places to stay.  Our complete 2020 travel agenda, worked out last year, included a trip to France and England, Marilane taking a course at Notre Dame University, the Blue Ridge, and a Christmas trip to England.  Covid knocked out overseas and Notre Dame, and put the Blue Ridge in serious doubt.

     As July crept closer and cabin-fever started closing in around us, we explored getting out of the house with a weekend trip to College Station.  That went well. We decided we could safely undertake the trip.  First to Maryland to see family, then start in Front Royal, Virginia on Skyline Drive.  Let me get Covid out of the way first.  Except where noted, everywhere we went folks were wearing masks and taking all the proper precautions.  All accommodations were following prescribed procedures.  All in all, we were satisfied that exposure was minimal.

     We're not strangers to just me doing a solo with Marilane as sag driver.  And if it's one thing we learned about cycling in the mountains, it's that the weather is variable, or perhaps perverse would be the more apt description.  We packed rain gear and chilly weather gear along with anticipated nice weather clothes.  My plan called for ten biking days so I packed eleven kits in a separate bag.  While I have thirty jerseys, any more than eleven shorts would take me into skin suits or threadbare shorts that I only wear on the trainer in the kitchen.  We packed five days stuff into small suitcases to make it easier going into our lodging and would replace periodically.  Speaking of lodging, previously we would book all our stays in advance.  With so much up in the air, we took it a day or two at a time.  

      A big change in transportation involved my bike.  We'd purchased the Rav4 specifically so that I could remove the front wheel of the bike, then utilize a bike rack inside to stand the bike up.  Marilane's new car did not accommodate this arrangement.  I purchased a bike covering and removed both wheels and installed the bike in the back seat.

      While we were willing to expose ourselves to the outside world, we were going to take as many precautions as we could.  The plan called for lunch picnics in rest areas while traveling and in our rooms or outside when in lodging.  Marilane brought along our small rice cooker to prepare some dinners in our room.  We've found that rice, black beans, and Rotel tomatoes cook up a very satisfying meal.  Soup or some leftovers can also be heated up when a microwave isn't available. 

     It took two and a half days to get to Maryland and one and a half days to visit.  This was a Covid visit: short, social distanced or masked, not staying too long.  On Friday morning we left Frederick, Maryland for Front Royal, Virginia and the beginning of this adventure.

     Skyline Drive is 105.5 miles long and Big Meadow Lodge is halfway.  Marilane probably would have enjoyed the Harry F. Byrd Visitor Center, but it was closed due to Covid, as were most of the tourist stops.   Here in the mountains I had 72° with a slight wind behind me.  That was good, because the first thirteen miles climbed up hill.  I saw a lot of 5-6% to start, then it moved to a lot of 8%.  My plan of holding 80 rpm went out the window in a hurry.  I was working hard, and breathing got ragged at 125 bpm even though at home I could hold that for hours. The myriad overlooks provided a safe stop and a view.  Occasionally I'd snap a picture.  

     My plan of doing 52 miles went out the window; I was out of gas at 34.4, only three and a half hours of riding.  This came as a total shock to me.  Even though I held to the plan of averaging 10 mph, not having the energy to pedal for five hours never crossed my mind.  Again, I refer to my palmares as outlined in Gotta Go!  Cycling Vacations in Fantastic Locations.  Marilane was at an overlook at the top of the hill and transported me to Big Meadows.  The lodge was built in 1939 and has rooms in the main building as well as detached small cabins.  I categorize our cabin as rustic, with average amenities.  By the way, there is no television and no internet here.  I slept well. We had lunch and Marilane gave me a needed pep talk as we relaxed on the veranda.  We had a nice dinner with seating outside. 

     It became readily apparent that we would be doing extra driving and extra lodging since I couldn't hit my mileage marks.  The plan was to cycle ten days, with a day off in Little Switzerland.  But that had two 70-mile days and four 60+mile days.  I wasn't able to make up mileage on day two (but I didn't lose any additional), so we extended our stay in Waynesboro an extra day.  That meant Marilane had to drive me back seventeen miles to where I stopped, and for day three I finished off Skyline Drive and started Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP).  I made up four of the seventeen miles and was transported back to Waynesboro.  We utilize Hilton properties whenever possible to keep all our points in one place.  In Waynesboro stayed at the Hampton Inn.  The motel right off the parkway had closed.

     On day four I made up another four miles, mainly because I'd only planned on doing forty.  That brought us to the Peaks of Otter Lodge.  Our room had a balcony overlooking a pretty lake, as did the dining room where we had lunch as our main meal.  While relaxing in the afternoon we contemplated the next day.  The BRP had a road closure that detoured us off the parkway for twenty-three miles.  This was a bother, but because it cut off another thirteen mile climb on a busy road, I was pleased as punch.  I did twenty-seven miles early, put the bike in the car for the portage to Adney Gap, and then did an additional twenty-three miles to arrive at the Stonewall B&B.  We were early and caught our hostess as she was picking up her mail.  She easily made us feel at home.  Being somewhat secluded, I just leaned my bike against a wall until the next morning.

     Generally, we avoid B&Bs.  However Stonewall is quite exceptional with good accommodations and a superior breakfast.  It is right on the parkway so eliminates driving into Floyd to stay at the Floyd Hotel.  When I went with Black Bear Adventures we stayed at the hotel.  It is rather modern in an otherwise not-so-modern  town.  After settling in at the B&B, Marilane and I drove into Floyd to wander the downtown and find a place for dinner.  Eating options were limited, like El Charro was the only one open.  In the past I'd avoid Mexican food before heavy exercise because I never performed well.  Be that as it may, I enjoyed the meal and had no ill-effects the next day.

      B&Bs hardly ever have breakfast early enough for me to get out on the road at 7:30.  However, it was a very nice breakfast at 8:00.  The Covid requirements really taxed the hostess.  There was one other couple staying here and they served themselves first, then the utensils they touched were replaced with clean ones for Marilane and me, and replaced again for the hostess.  The other couple went back for seconds and used "their" utensils.  We were seated maybe ten feet apart.  Without rushing through it, I was still on the road at 8:45.  Five miles into the ride I hit the only real climb, five-miles.  I had no difficulty, although there were a couple of 9-10% ramps.  The rest of the forty-three miles were minor rollers and I rolled on up to the Fancy Gap Motel.  This facility has campgrounds, trailer hook-ups, cabins, and the eight-room motel buildings.

     My adjusted daily mileage resulted in us having some trepidation on booking this lodging.  We reserved it for one night and the Stations Inn in Laurel Springs for the following night.  The Stations Inn caters to motorcyclists, but is the only place to stay in the vicinity.  As it turned out, Fancy Gap was very clean, had a microwave and refrigerator, and we could relax on the porch and have a view of the parkway and mountains in the distance.  The owners were most accommodating.  This was a very pleasant surprise.  Marilane went out foraging for dinner and found the Pit Stop, a very nice Italian restaurant with a varied menu.  The calzone she brought me was excellent and we sat on the porch and enjoyed our dinner.  There were no others at the motel.

     An unpleasant surprise came the next morning.  I looked out early and could barely see the parkway a hundred yards away.  I looked out a little later and could barely see to the end of the porch.  After much discussion, plus the fog lifting around noon, we decided to stay here two nights, cancel the Stations Inn, and I'd ride to Laurel Springs in the afternoon.  Marilane picked me up and drove back to Fancy Gap.  The next morning we drove to Laurel Springs and I continued my cycling.

     My afternoon ride to Laurel Springs brought me into North Carolina and some smoother road surface.  For the whole ride I had a slight wind at my back; each afternoon was a chance of thunderstorms that as yet hadn't materialized.  The next day the smooth asphalt ran out and the climbing returned.  ~Forty-four miles, four hours, and just shy of 5,000 feet of ascent in six climbs.  We once again altered the original plan.  I'd wanted to book the upscale Chetola Lodge in Blowing Rock but it was full, so we opted for the Hampton Inn in Boone (home of Appalachian State for those familiar with small college football).  And, since I was on adjusted mileage, we were there for two nights.

 I took the next day off, giving my legs a much needed rest.  We took advantage of their laundry facilities and washed some clothes.  We washed bike kits since it was turning out that I'd be cycling twelve days rather than ten.

     Again, because of the adjusted daily mileage, I had a relatively easy day getting to the Little Switzerland Inn. One of the most scenic vistas is from the Linn Cove Viaduct.  The first time I rode across it, I took a quick glance, saw it was spectacular, and decided to stop at the overlook.  Surprise!!  There is no overlook.  But there are signs indicating it is illegal to stop on the Viaduct.  Bummer.  This time it was overcast so I just kept cruising.  There is also a Linn Cove Visitors Center.  Covid closed.  This two-day stop was actually planned.  My legs had been suffering since day one, and I had a massage scheduled for my off-day.  The inn has a really nice view, outside seating, and really good food.  Our room had a balcony with the same view, just from a higher vantage point.  

   

 From Little Switzerland to the end at Cherokee is 124 miles (not counting the ten mile side trip up and down Mount Mitchell).  What is usually quite doable is riding sixty-four to the Pisgah Inn then sixty-two to the end.  Alternatively you could do a shorter ride into Asheville and a longer ride to the end.  What we did upon leaving Little Switzerland was do forty-three miles and stayed in Asheville, this time at a Hilton Garden Inn.  This particular day's riding included the best ever downhill.  Brand new, smooth asphalt for ten miles.  No need to touch the brakes on the curves.  Over 30 mph in the tuck position, high 20's when sitting up, no need to pedal other than to keep the legs loose.

     The Pisgah Inn was booked solid, so we held our breath and booked the Grand Old Lady Hotel, which recently changed its name from Balsam Mountain Inn.  This worked out better for me.  The next day I had another ten miles of smooth asphalt getting around Asheville.  But soon enough I was back on chip seal and facing another thirteen mile climb.  This was followed shortly thereafter by a four mile climb.  I ended up climbing just three feet short of 6,000.  Scattered thunderstorms were forecast and I could see dark clouds forming.  As it turned out, as I was climbing the four mile ascent, about a mile behind me folks were getting drenched in a downpour.  Marilane picked me up and we drove to the Grand Old Lady Hotel in Balsam.

     The hotel was a pleasant surprise.  While there were few guests here mid-week, and truthfully we were again in the middle of nowhere, we had a nice stay.  The hosts greeted us, had us sign in with a lot of Covid paperwork, and showed us to our room.  Once we settled in we returned to the front porch to rock and enjoyed a complimentary glass of wine.  The glass was also complimentary.  We again utilized the rice cooker for dinner.

     The last day.  Scattered storms forecast for the afternoon, but it looked like I'd escaped without getting wet the entire ride.  This hardly ever happens on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  I wanted to get an early start, so Marilane drove me back to the overlook before returning to the hotel for a really nice, above average grab-and-go breakfast and to leisurely make her departure.  We can easily recommend staying here, a convenient stopping point for cyclists and half the price of the Pisgah Inn.

     Meanwhile, I donned my rain jacket to ward off the early morning chill and occasional fog.  I had a bit of climbing to start, then an eleven-mile mostly downhill (where the rain jacket came in handy), followed by an eight-mile climb, five-mile descent, and a three-mile climb before finishing with a ten-mile descent.  Once done with the first downhill I pocketed the rain jacket and proceeded upwards.  The final ten miles were similar to Asheville in speed (30+mph), but this descent was on a rough road that demanded a sharp lookout for breaks in the chip seal and not near as much fun.  Unlike finishing a group ride, there wasn't anyone to high-five.  While I am justly proud of my accomplishment, it's not a jubilation sort of feeling.  More like really glad to be done with it.

     I had the opportunity to briefly discuss my inability to sustain longer distances with my friend Dan, including the low heart-rate and power numbers.  He asked about my on-board nutrition.  I carried water in the Camelbak, Nuun in a water bottle, and consumed Clif Bars every hour or so.  This is what I do on my long rides here at home without any loss of energy.  He opined that that seemed insufficient given my output and after thinking about it, I agree with him.  I think I should have been taking Gu or similar in addition and perhaps inserting a longer break at some mid-point.

     Most folks undertaking this ride won't have the same flexibility we had in terms of days and mileage.  Sorry.  And you should always plan to encounter rain and/or fog.  It is best if there are several of you to commiserate with on the climbs and challenge on the downhills. And, like me, it may take you several attempts before you complete it to your satisfaction.  Here are all the pictures Marilane and I took.  Lots of Overlook pictures, and only a few are duplicates: https://www.flickr.com/photos/acyclistpublishing/albums/72157715360498106

    

SKYLINE DRIVE AND THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY, 2020 EDITION, PART I

     I am finding it difficult to cogently put together the various parts that went into this Covid adventure.  Therefore, I'm doing it in three iterations: The Road; Logistics and Feelings; Statistics.  This one is just the ups and downs of the riding.  Anyone contemplating cycling these iconic roads should consult Elizabeth & Charlie Skinner's book Bicycling the Blue Ridge.  I did, on all three of my rides.
     Half way through the ride someone sent me a write-up that I will paraphrase, and unfortunately cannot give credit to because I can't remember.  In any case, the up-shot of it was that this is a difficult undertaking and you should use this criteria for planning: if you can ride one hundred miles in a day on flat ground, plan to go thirty; if you can ride one hundred hilly miles, plan on forty, and if you can do it without strain, plan on fifty.  He wasn't wrong.  Both Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway have precious few sections of flat road.  Mostly you are climbing or going down hill.
     All of my rides started from the north.  Skyline Drive begins in Front Royal, Virginia.  If you start at mile post (mp) 0, be prepared to stop at the ranger station about a mile up the road.  Not being a purist, I just drove to the ranger station, showed my pass, then pulled over and prepared to ride.  In any case, the first eight miles are up.  I started by seeing 4-5% on the Garmin and after a few miles it seemed I was seeing a lot of 6-8% ramps.  Skinner says you climb 2,800 feet in the first 22 miles, and most of the first thirteen are climbing.  
     I started at 9:00 am and it was cloudy, some fog, and a slight breeze at my back.  The plan was to cycle fifty-two miles to Big Meadow Lodge and then fifty-three to Rockfish Gap which is where Skyline Drive ends and The Blue Ridge Parkway begins, seamlessly.  At mile 34 I had just climbed my fifth hill and was out of energy.  In front of me I had a short downhill then a climb to the highest point on Skyline Drive so I decided not to kill myself and called it a day.  Fortunately my wife, Marilane, was doing sag duty, and had parked at the overlook.  We drove to the lodge and checked in and I recuperated with a lunch and beer and enjoyed their view.
     The next morning she drove me back to the overlook and I started from there.  It wasn't like yesterday wasn't difficult, I climbed 4,793 feet in those 34.4 miles.  Today, aside from the first climb up to Skyland, the rest of the riding appeared less strenuous.  I got out early, 7:30 ish, with cool weather and still the breeze at my back.  Most of the climbing was 4-5% and lots more descents.  I managed to get in fifty-five miles in four hours, fifteen minutes.  That included 4,341 feet of climbing.  And once again, I ran out of steam.  The remaining fifteen miles would have to wait for day three.
     Another 7:30ish start and I was doing ok.  The grades were 2-3% and a lot of downhill for the first fifteen miles.  As I approached one down grade I saw a road sign indicating loose gravel.  Dang!  Good news/ bad news.  It really was loose gravel; fifteen miles of loose gravel!  Going downhill increased my pucker factor and decreased my speed considerably.  Going uphill probably didn't affect much difference from the regular chip seal road, although I was constantly searching for the beaten down car tracks.  The good news is because I couldn't push hard, I took it easy and my legs thanked me.  There were other miles listed as loose gravel, but had seen enough traffic that the gravel was no longer loose.  I did fifty miles in four and a half hours.
     Let me digress.  My original agenda called for me to ride 7-8 hours, which included a stop for refreshment.  This was based on my past history of epic cycling (refer to Gotta Go! Cycling Vacations in Fantastic Locations).  But I think age is becoming a factor.  After three days of strenuous cycling, I realistically didn't want to exceed fifty miles or five hours.  This called for a change in lodging plans, which happened and which will be included in Part II.
     Day four started out downhill and only included one uphill.  Unfortunately, it ran for thirteen miles.  Thirteen miles of unrelenting up.  I saw multiple 9% grades and a few in double-digits.  Not only was I stopping at overlooks, I'd stop on the road in some shade for a quick breather.  This was the famed James River climb up to Apple Orchard. So far the weather cooperated with mid-60's and a north breeze.  Forty-three miles in under four hours, so it wasn't all a big strain.
     Day five gave me a break.  The parkway had heavy rain earlier this year and part of the road collapsed.  The road was closed and we had to drive around it.  This cut out about twenty-three miles of parkway.  It also eliminated another thirteen mile unrelenting climb.  Hallelujah!  This is probably the worse section on the whole parkway.  Not only is it a difficult climb, it is also around Roanoke and is heavily trafficked.  So I managed the first part of twenty-seven miles in under two hours, mostly small rollers and downhill.  We then drove to Adney Gap and proceeded for the second part.  This was a tad more hilly, but still twenty-three miles in an hour and forty-five minutes.  Both sections added up to 3,723 feet of climbing.
     Day six had a climb that showed some 9-10% numbers, but for the most part the ups were short and it was an easy day.  If you can call 3,973 feet of climbing easy.  Mabry Mill is the most photographed place on the Blue Ridge.  It was also one of the very few places that was open.  Covid heavily affected the tourist spots, including those with rest rooms.  Marilane was hard-pressed to find conveniences; I didn't have that problem, just riding off on a forest road for a few yards.  We stayed the night in Fancy Gap at https://fancygapcabinsandcampground.com/.  This wasn't on the original agenda, but was a very pleasant surprise.  Both of us highly recommend staying, if you are so inclined.
     Day seven brought a change of routine.  Heavy fog, like couldn't see twenty yards, lasted all morning.  This place is restful, but I couldn't see sitting around all day, with only a small lake to walk around.  By noon the fog had lifted and the weather looked good.  So just before 1:00 pm I started out.  Weather couldn't have been better, 73° with a slight breeze out of the SSE.  This was forty-five miles in under four hours, but with another eight-mile climb.  My legs are not happy.  I'm finding that I'm using a slightly different part of my rectus femoris than what I use when climbing hills in Austin.  This is partially an explanation as to why I'm going so slow.  In any case, forty-five miles in three and a half hours brought me into North Carolina and some really smooth asphalt.  Life is good.
     Day eight and I put in another forty-four miles in four hours.  I lost the good asphalt and found an additional 1,200 feet of climbing, 4,967 total. 
     Day nine saw us going to Little Switzerland.  A couple of climbs, lots of descents.  I noticed that the Garmin would record a zero when I knew I'd be on a 6-8% grade.  I suspect it just lost gps and couldn't compute the difference in elevation.  Either that or I was going too slow.  In any case, it was a relatively easy day of forty-three miles in three and three-quarters hours.  Plus, the next day was a day off and I was scheduled for a massage.  I can tell you now, my legs (and the rest of my body) were more responsive when I resumed cycling.
     Day ten.  The original last day of cycling.  Unfortunately, I had two more days after this.  But this took me into Asheville and onto fresh, smooth asphalt and downhill.  First I had to get up a six-mile and a three-mile climb, but I really was bombing down the final eleven miles,
     Day eleven started out of Asheville on still really nice asphalt.  This would be the toughest day, ending with a fourteen mile climb (not so hard as James River) and a three mile climb.  I ended up with 5,997 feet of climbing over forty-seven miles.  The famed Pisgah Inn was booked, so we opted for the Grand Old Lady Hotel (previously the Balsam Mountain Inn).  Not quite the views of Pisgah Inn, but half the price and quite acceptable.  We enjoyed a complimentary glass of wine as we rocked on their veranda overlooking a well-kept lawn.  Recommended.
     Day twelve was uneventful.  I did forty-five miles in three and three-quarters hours.  Don't believe the rapturous finale.  True, the final thirteen of seventeen miles are downhill.  True, the final ten miles are downhill.  True, you can just sit on your saddle and mostly go thirty mph.  More if you tuck.  But the road is rough.  And if you have already traveled 460 or 565 miles, maybe you just want to sit up and get it over with.  Going into Asheville was fun, this is more like work.  In any case, you end up in Cherokee.  We opted to stay here at the Hampton Inn and have dinner at Brios in the casino.

     For those readers who opt out of the other parts, here is a list of where we stayed.

     Big Meadows Lodge

     Hampton Inn in Waynesboro (2 nights)

     Peaks of Otter

     Stonewall B&B

     Fancy Gap Motel (2 nights)

     Hampton Inn in Boone (2 nights)

     Little Switzerland Inn (2 nights)

     Hampton Garden Inn in Asheville

     Grand Old Lady Hotel in Balsam

     Hampton Inn in Cherokee

   

BACK TO THE GYM

     First, some background.  Races for us old guys are divided into five-year categories.  We still like to compete but truthfully cannot against much younger riders.  But unless you are a real stud, the last two years of the category are not likely to garner gold medals (or even podiums in some cases).  Three years ago I was National Silver Medalist, and managed a few podiums the following year.  But my current focus is 2022.  This year I was devoting to getting stronger, spending more time in the gym.  Next year more toward holding strength and honing racing skills.
     I was doing quite well in the gym, working on legs.  Then I decided to add core work, alternating days with legs.  I signed up for ActivTrax, a free, computer generated training program that records what I've done and keeps me progressing, with various weight machines and exercises.  I managed to complete the initial, live-trainer workout to get a baseline but before my first solo workout, Covid closed down the Y.  Bummer!
     Last week I started back at the Y, only doing legs.  I was surprised at how much weight I couldn't do on the leg press.  I'd been doing 320 pounds, with a goal of 400.  Currently I'm hard pressed to push 200.  But that's another story.  Three days ago I did my first upper-body workout.  It was done without ActivTrax, as I just wanted to get familiar with the machines.  Even though I can do lots of push-ups, the rest of my upper body apparently is sadly under-muscled.
     The next day I did a long ride (55 miles) north of Corn Hill.  I hadn't been in the saddle more than fifteen minutes before various muscles started complaining.  Arms, traps, neck all didn't want to contribute to cycling.  Yesterday the lats were still complaining.  Today I skipped the scheduled upper body workout.  Fortunately, ActivTrax doesn't ding you for a missed day.  I hate going to the gym on Saturday, but I guess I'll suck it up and try to find a sparsely attended hour.  During the week, my primary time is 5:00 am.  But 10:00 am and 2:00 pm are good alternatives. 

STRESS TEST, 2020

     I've been going to a succession of cardiologists (they keep retiring on me) for fifty years.  It all started when I began running and after one hard workout thought I had a heart problem.  I didn't, but kept getting tested annually.  Now that I'm old, need a statin to control cholesterol, and continue to stress the heart on an almost daily basis, I continue the annual visits.  Every five years I get an Echo Stress Test.
     Every time I complain that they really aren't stressing me.  And this is why (not the "reason why" because that is grammatically incorrect, even though it is repeated ad infinatum): apparently they use the formula 220 minus your age to determine the maximum heart rate.  For me, that would be 143.    As best I can determine, this year my maximum heart rate is 157 and 90% is 141.  At the Driveway last year my average HR for the 30 minute race was 150.
     I would have preferred a stationary bike, but no, they have a treadmill.  I suggested they invest in a bike, but they pooh-poohed that.  Anyhow my first surprise is that they didn't want 90% but 142.  Plus, I had to keep my mask on.  Actually she said if I were having distress I could take it down, but would have to put it back when I got back on the table.
     I'm not fond of treadmills, and my hamstrings really don't like them.  In conversation with the technicians I mentioned (bragged) that when racing I could hold 150 for an extended time.  What I didn't say was I take a good thirty minutes to warm up properly plus have a good bit of adrenaline running.  Every three minutes the angle and speed increased.  I started out with a 67 HR and it took awhile to get over 100.  Breathing began getting ragged when the angle was fairly steep and the speed was between a fast walk and slow jog.  But they really didn't want me jogging, nor did I.  The hammys were beginning to complain, as were the lungs.  HR approached 142 and when that number showed up I said I'd had enough.  Indeed, I really did have enough.  The kept me going another thirty seconds (having told me earlier that they would).
     The treadmill stopped, I sat back down on the table and turned to my side to get the post-treadmill echo.  This wasn't like the end of a race where you get to cool down.  I was supposed to stop breathing in order to get a picture.  I was gasping for air and couldn't hold my breath on the intake, but was finally able to do it on the exhale.  It's only for a second or two, but it was a challenge.  Another minute and I was back to normal breathing.
     I see the cardiologist next week to review the results.  One thing the technician told me was it took about a minute and a half less time to get to my target HR this year than in 2015.  I get that, I'm five years older.

FINALLY, THE MANDA TIME TRIAL

     As the previous post proclaimed, my intention was to get in several rides around the time trial course.  Things kept getting in the way.  One thing I knew was that this area is extremely exposed and the wind is always stronger than what is forecast for Austin.  Since me and wind are estranged, I kept waiting for a forecast of less than 10 mph.  The last week in May came without another "acceptable" day.  Last week the ten day forecast was for rain and thunderstorms until June.  I despaired that I had squandered my chance.  Then God relented and moved the weather system to the northeast, giving me an opportunity this morning.  Low wind, low temperature.  I prepared the TT bike and set out, prepared for a mid-morning race.
     It is funny, being in a race with only one person.  And truly, since there is no age grouping, I'm only in it to be in it.  Of course, I didn't want to finish last so I gave it my best shot.  And, even though the Manda TT wouldn't give me first place, the Strava age group would.
     As it turned out, I should have been there for a nine o'clock start rather than ten.  As I warmed up on the last leg of the course, I could feel the wind freshen.  It would be in my face on the third leg, which was mostly uphill.  Well, it seemed like it was mostly uphill, Strava disagreed. I knew I wasn't in "race mode."  It's kinda hard to get the adrenaline pumping when there is no one around.  I felt like either one gear short, thirty watts low, or ten rpm's slow. 
     The ride itself was uneventful.  I saw zero vehicles on the road for the whole circuit.  Just as well, I managed to take up quite a bit of my side of the road.  In looking at the results so far, I see that Lawson Craddock is in town, or was last week.  Don Ford recorded a faster time, but apparently he is in the 70-74 age group.  Kosme Ramirez also recorded a faster time.  He didn't sign a waiver.  He shows up in a lot of my Strava segments, mostly ahead of me.  But since I can't track him down, I don't know if he's really in the 75-79 age category.  Speaking of Craddock, I still want to remove Tom Craddock from my age group on the segments he is ahead of me on.  Maybe with their upgrading, Stava will do that rather than giving me a hard time about why they can't.
     If you haven't done Manda, you have three more days to get it in. 

TIME TRIAL MIS-ADVENTURE

     But first, a little background for those not in the Austin area.  The Driveway Series is probably the premier criterium race venue in the US.  Every Thursday from March through October, or, Daylight Savings Time to Standard Time, Kelley puts on a half dozen races and allows up to 75 rabid racers (per race), myself included, to achieve their wildest dreams.  Perhaps that is a tad misleading, but you get the sentiment.  In any case, Covid-19 has put a huge damper on the proceedings.  Like many entrepreneurs, Kelley has made temporary adaptations.  First came the Virtual Driveway in conjunction with Zwift, then the Old Sayers Road Gravel Race.  This was a race where you biked solo and posted your time.  For the month of May we have the Manda Time Trial.   This is on country roads, 8.8 miles and again you bike solo and record your time on Strava.
     Regular readers know that I dearly love my TT bike.  Time trialing is my best event even though there are precious few races during the year.  I had put the Castroville time trials on my calendar this year but they too have been curtailed.  So when Manda was announced it caught my interest.  I haven't been on my TT bike in months. 
     The weather forecasting has been a bit spotty this last week, with the timing of the front moving from Wednesday to Tuesday evening to Tuesday noonish.  As a result, my original Tuesday cycling went from a two hour ride to either cycling in the kitchen or getting in an early cadence drill.  I woke up this morning and checked the weather: overcast, negligible wind, front at 11 am or so.  I really liked the idea of light wind and determined I'd get in a preview of the TT course, about a forty-five minute drive from home.  Quickly I switched the Stages Power Meter crank to the TT bike, had breakfast, and donned my bike kit.
     The start was easy to find, but I figured I'd drive the course first.  Easy enough, three right turns on acceptable asphalt, one minor section excepted.  It didn't take long to get ready and start out.  With the course being square and 8.8 miles, it looked like two miles per side.  Since this was just a preview ride, my plan was to warm up for the first lap then be more serious the second.  And since I haven't been on the bike in awhile, I took several breaks from being in the tuck position to give my neck a break.
     After the second right turn I checked the computer and it had just clicked over three miles.  It took about a minute to register.  That should have been four miles.  Too late now, just carry on.  I made the last turn and enjoyed what wind there was at my back and came to the finish, then back to the car.  Well now, so to speak.  The finish segment was Wells School Road.  I had made a wrong turn onto Wells Lane rather than going on to Wells Road.  As a result, I was two miles short.  But that wasn't the end.
     As I reviewed the posted course I could see where I messed up.  But in going to the website, I was reminded that I hadn't signed up nor signed the waiver.  Of course, that really didn't matter all that much, this was only a preview ride.  I started to do that, but didn't get very far in that I could not, for the life of me, remember my sign in and password for bikereg.  Then it felt like the wind shifted.
     I took it as a sign for me that my activities should be curtailed and I packed up and came home. I'm now signed up and waived and ready to go back and do a serious TT.  But it won't be tomorrow.  Tomorrow is forecast to be a perfect day to get in a long ride.