Quality Time

last year as July ended i was burning out as i attempted to join the 700 club. you know, 700 miles of cycling in one month. the legs were dead. the IT Band was barking. i fell just short, in fact a ride short, since i took a couple days off to recover.

last summer July and August were about quantity.

fast forward to July 2010. i just finished my last ride of the month and have 434 miles for July. these are good miles. some of the best i have ever ridden.

since returning from Colorado i find it hard to trudge out solo on the old flatland routes that i call home. instead, i have been hitting up a couple group rides. the Tuesday Night "Worlds" ride is short and fast. the Saturday LBS ride is longer, but a step below in speed, when compared to Tuesday.

both are challenging and contain several stronger rides than i. i am having fun with them and the obvious progress i am making. endurance has always been my thing on the bike, but my recent tangos with speed have me thinking........

Rewards Program

i think i need one of these. why? well, i recently surpassed 10,000 cycling miles. 10,203 to be exact, which is how i like it. this little cycling obsession started in 2006. i think this milestone deserves a reward. who is with me??

jus sayin.

Looking Back

Looking Back, originally uploaded by aham23.

Still looking back at my Colorado trip. What a great time. I snapped this picture as I neared the summit of Cottonwood Pass at 12,000 feet.

The Return

Family vacation time is over. With only 4 rides in July I am well
rested and ready. Ready for what is the question??

Numbers Game...

First, all the pictures and videos that you could ever want to see of my recent cycling trip to Colorado are HERE in slideshow format.

Second, I love me some numbers.

2009 Bicycle Tour of Colorado Stats:

-553.17 miles (6 days of riding)
-35:24:46 Saddle Time
-15.6 mph average speed with a 49.4 mph max
-132 bpm average HR with a 197 bpm max
-81 rpm for the average cadence
-33,285 feet climbed


Cottonwood Pass

--13.54 miles of dirt road to the top
--2,730 feet climbed on that dirt road
--9.4 mph average
--148 bpm average with 160 bpm max
--79 rpm average cadence
--12,126 feet above sea level

Independence Pass

--17.1 miles of climbing
--3,015 feet climbed (During the 17.1 miles)
--10.5 mph average
--136 bpm average with 156 bpm max
--79 rpm average cadence
--12,095 feet above sea level

My June

--880 miles
--53:41:33 saddle time
--Memories that will last a lifetime

We are still posting pics and ride reports for the trip over at our BTC Blog. Link, "Getting High" is to your right.

Independence Pass

Independence Pass - BTC 2009 Day 7
Originally uploaded by aham23

Early in the climb to 12,000 feet. This is the last day of the 2009 Bicycle Tour of Colorado. The legs already had 450 miles in them. This day was just average 103 mile ride.