pary’s bike blog

RACE BLOG:  http://bcbikerace.wordpress.com/

This is where i will be blogging from the race…  Carol will hopfully also be contributing so that we can tell the strory of what is going on out west!

i am still trianing, i am just not posting my rides…  (in fact today rode 3.25 hrs in the rain today, and did the Scarborough Bluffs hill 12 times…. my legs are dead) as the crunch happens as i get closer to taking off to the BCBR, my work and family life condenses.  So, i am riding and being a good hubby and dad and boss as best i can, but i am failing as a blogger.

On another note.  i think i will set up a temporary blog on worpress or blogger so i can try to do a couple posts through my iPhone while i am out there…

stay tuned…  i will post the URL when i figure out what i want to do.

So i got my bronchioles up good and early and jumped on the Jamis for a little road action. Did a quick 60k before work. Took a while to get warmed up, and my lungs are still very pissed at me, but i made it through.
Did an out and back and rode much harder on the second 30k… felt good to push the legs a little. Didn’t push too hard.

One thing: it was very cold this morning. Note to Paul: i can’t wait for a Hello Vélo Jacket… it will be put to good use!

Workout:
2hrs Road Bike.

Heart Rate Summary:
Average - 146
Maximum - 186

I am not feeling that much better today, but i would say it hurt less to ride.  So not the greatest opening statement, but it’s the best i can say.

I have had some clarity of the difference between this and how i felt when i was becoming aware of the clots in my lungs last fall (Pulmonary embolism, or PE).  With the clots it felt more like I could not catch my breath or get oxygen. Like being at high altitude. I could take deep breaths (in fact i had too as i felt like i couldn’t breathe), but it didn’t matter.

The bronchitis feels like when you are exercising on a very cold day and you take a deep breath in and your lungs scream at you. That’s how I feel right now.

But as i stated at the top, the pain was a little less today.

I purchased a new set of tires for the BC Bike race and i have been itching to try them out:  Schwalbe Racing Ralph’s.  With a fancy red on the shoulders…  they look awesome, they are pretty light and they roll really well too.  So i slapped them on, and decided to do a gentle mountain bike ride in the Don.  First thing i noticed was that my front fork is actually working again thanks to Terry at Cycle Solutions who worked on the seal.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!!  i have basically been riding a freaking rigid bike this year (well, to be truthful, it was about an inch and a half of travel, so not quite rigid) both in BC and for the 8 hour.  No wonder my arms and hands have been so sore!  Anyway, it was a remarkable difference.  Rode with the Talas set at 100mm today, so as not to go too crazy right off the bat!

Loved the tires.  Noticed a big difference right away.  I think they are going to be a great tread for the race.

Did a 2 hour ride in the Don, and had some fun.  I even made a first attempt clean run at Skypilot!  (which got my heart pumping a little higher than i had planned, but everything is ok…)

Workout:
2hrs Mountain Bike.

Heart Rate Summary:
Average - 145
Maximum - 193 (skypilot)

Sigh.

So things didin’t get better.  The week was a write off as i was fighting chills, headaches, coughing, shortness of breath and chest pain…  went to the doctor on Thursday morning and he diagnosed me with a chest cold, Bronchitis, and some Sinusitis…

This in turn has had me feeling a little depressed as i have missed some significant training sessions, and i was planning on going up to Collingwood this weekend to hammer some of the hills up there…  The plans have changed.  In my brain i know i have the miles and the base,  i just was hoping to be improving right now vs maintaining or losing a little… sigh…

MY LUNGS HATE ME!!

We did not go to Collingwood (Carol and Stryder are also under the weather) but nonetheless, i went out for a spin this morning.  It felt good to be out on the bike and it was a beautiful morning.  I really had no idea if i was going to ride for 10 minutes or 2 hours.  It would depend on how i felt.

I did the 2 hours.  Kept the heart rate down as it is not comfortable to take in any deep breaths (feels like when you try to exercise in very cold weather…  you know?) but enjoyed myself.

And although it felt like a “bike ride” vs a “training ride”, i did end up doing 60 km in the 2 hours, so my pace was decent.

Workout:
2hrs Road.

Heart Rate Summary:
Average - 136
Maximum - 168

On Sunday, i started feeling a cold making it’s way in…  Yesterday it dug in a little deeper and today it launched it’s assult.

Headache, cough, congested chest and sinus pain…  lovely.

Paul, Gorge and i did an Urban ride (snaked around the city up to Black Creek Drive) and back down on a very windy day.  Was exactly what i needed.  Mostly a spin of my legs, with a couple of sprints here and there.  A fun ride and a good visit with Paul.

Workout:
2 hrs Road.

Heart Rate Summary:
Average -
Maximum -

Rode with a good group of gentlemen Eastbound and up to Stouffville via the Zoo.  Was a windy day, but we had a good pace and rode pretty hard.  I did 110 km.

Workout:
3hr 30 mins Road.

Heart Rate Summary:
Average -
Maximum -

Did a fairly intense 90 minute Time Trial workout on the trainer early this morning as it was raining and cold at 5am, and i was a bit whimpy…

Did not wear my HR monitor, but know i put in a good effort…  enough of one that i am actually a bit sore at mid day right now!