Quarantine fitness jam
- Thread starter 2manband
- Start date
Bike is all good to go following a quick trip to the shop but the weather is bogging just now so not going anywhere fast.
Did back and biceps today and lifted heavy, didn't manage the strip set right at the end because I was burst. 10 weeks into lockdown and I've only just had the vision to slip some caramel Bailey's into my protein shake
Did back and biceps today and lifted heavy, didn't manage the strip set right at the end because I was burst. 10 weeks into lockdown and I've only just had the vision to slip some caramel Bailey's into my protein shake
Theodore
I gotta move
It's a wet heat.
yabba
Weird Pick Butt Person
I'm used to running in a hat (trucker hat style thing in warm weather) and sunglasses when it's sunny. Together these do a pretty good job of keeping sweat out of my eyes and stinging, and that's still working in the wet heat, but a new fun thing I've discovered is that when I sweat enough, my eyelashes flick tiny drops of sweat onto the inside of my sunglasses, so I get all these tiny little salt spots obscuring things.
Danhedonia
Noted duckfat enthusiast
Just logged 40 miles on the bike in 99F heat. I'm glad to get in a good ride, and incredibly pleased that I'm not dead after that, but Jesus, how many more miles until I lose a few pounds? A brother seeks positive results.
In related news, I'm this close (puts hands about 8 inches apart) to getting the trainer set up in the garage. That's miles closer than 2 months ago, and there's a fan in there.
In related news, I'm this close (puts hands about 8 inches apart) to getting the trainer set up in the garage. That's miles closer than 2 months ago, and there's a fan in there.
nuke_diver
Riding Solo
You need some elevation (not just altitude)
Seriously, it's been hot here the last few rides (though I ride early in the am before it gets THAT hot) and I honestly don't notice the heat when it's flat. Add a decent climb and you'd drop a few pounds in water weight at least
rickenvox
Animal Psychic
My back rim is cracked at one of the spoke nipples. I have another wheel set on another road bike but can’t get the cog set off, it’s on too tight. And my usual bike shops are out of wheels. New carbon wheelsets start at around $2k and I can’t find Mavic Ksyriums. What a pain!
Only have my mountain bike and fixie to ride now.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Only have my mountain bike and fixie to ride now.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Danhedonia
Noted duckfat enthusiast
My options for climbing are either a) flat as ___; or b) really tough climbs. I have a 13 mile loop near my house where the up/down is about 1,000 feet over 2.7 miles, and that's actually the net of 3 hills. It looks like nothing on Strava and it's brutal.
Part of my problem with that loop is that it forces me to ride on a very sketchy state highway (70mph traffic) for 4 miles. The other options for climbs are ... very hard indeed.
Thoughts?
Part of my problem with that loop is that it forces me to ride on a very sketchy state highway (70mph traffic) for 4 miles. The other options for climbs are ... very hard indeed.
Thoughts?
nuke_diver
Riding Solo
I would likely avoid the highway unless it had a nice wide shoulder. There are a few places I ride where the traffic speeds are high (but not legally 70) but there is no shoulder and I don't like them very much. 1000' for 2.7 miles isn't too bad but of course it depends on how they are. I do a ride that's 1250' for 2.8 miles so it's similar but it is one hill not 3 so I can't really say. If they are 15% grades yeah I'd probably pass too unless they are short but it also depends on your bike's gearing. I only have a 25 as the lowest gear so the really steep stuff is hard on my old knees and me. I looked around your area (Albuquerque New Mexico?) on Strava and saw some really nice climbs that I though would be doable though the altitude would kill me since I live at sea level (nearly). This one would be not too hard if it's near you, 3.6miles 775' 4% grade pretty steady.
Tramway: Casino Stoplight to 333/La Luz Turnoff
Tramway: Casino Stoplight to 333/La Luz Turnoff
Danhedonia
Noted duckfat enthusiast
Tramway is not near me. It's a weird climb - very gentle, but goes on forever-ish. And I find it a bit joyless - it's endless uphill. At least if I do the west Mesa stuff near me, it's integrated into a broken up ride. When you do Tramway, you can either continue along the bike path on Tramway (fun, but narrow and lots of stopping) or turn around and FLY down (you can easily hit 40mph if you don't brake much).
Most unfortunate is that it is one of the places in ABQ where a LOT of cyclists have been hit. The shoulder's wide, but people aren't paying attention and the road has tons of arcing curves.
That said, I usually bike over there from my trailhead (about 5 miles) and do it a few times a year. The views are absolutely epic.
Most unfortunate is that it is one of the places in ABQ where a LOT of cyclists have been hit. The shoulder's wide, but people aren't paying attention and the road has tons of arcing curves.
That said, I usually bike over there from my trailhead (about 5 miles) and do it a few times a year. The views are absolutely epic.
nuke_diver
Riding Solo
Well no idea what is near you. I just found that which seems reasonable to do. I do a 2000' 6 mile climb, not hard but also seems like forever-ish too. I prefer other ones that are shorter though a bit steeper only because the grind can get to you. There is one here that I'll never do because of that, not that hard 4% I think but 20 miles of climbing :P And I don't drive someplace then ride I ride to and from home so it would be another 20 miles just to get there (and there isn't a good way to go)
Love to see some of the views though. I rarely take pictures here since most of my friends live here and showing them the pictures isn't anything new. I do when I'm up north since the views of Mont Baker are stunning and not like anything around here
Danhedonia
Noted duckfat enthusiast
The views all around ABQ are excellent - we have the Sandia Crest immediately abutting the city (10,600 feet) and the Rio Grande Valley is visually emphasized by the preservation of conservation land on either side of the river for it's entire length. Wherever you are, you are looking up at granitic mountain faces, or across a valley with a ribbon of green snaking through the bottom.
The (ultra flat, time trial-ish) bike path where I put up almost all of my miles goes through that conservation land next to the river.
Visually, the ride is a remarkable progression. North to south:
- a super fancy neighborhood of horse corrals, mansions and snooty gentlemen's farms
- a fairly wild area of riparian woodland
- downtown, all of a sudden! bike path passes a beloved and crowded park, the zoo, and the Hispanic Cultural Center and then Bueno Foods (smell of roasting chile kills me in the fall)
- back to woodlands and farmland and then ...
- a junkyard. A huge, massive junkyard. This might suck, except the path follows a culvert (with a fast descent or challenging little climb) that feels like you're riding in a video game for a couple of miles.
Doing that down and back is 33 miles, which is about perfect for me most days.
And due to it being a smaller community, a lot of regulars are out there and we recognize and wave to each other. I've been waving to an old lady I call Grandma Jihad (because she wears a crazy ass red/white checked head scarf) for years. It's New Mexico - we don't talk, really, but we all look out for each other. No one gets a flat without multiple help offers.
The river path connects to a network of other MUPs, and I can go from the trailhead to my friend's brewery downtown (a distance of 22 miles) with only 3 miles in traffic, and in a bike lane.
And while cruising, all you do is look up and there are the mountains. It's very peaceful, and I love it. I used to tell myself "while I ride, I'll think about this particular challenge" only to realize the ride was over and I'd done nothing of the sort. Took me years to realize that was a benefit.
This is one of the best places to cruise on a road bike I've ever seen.
The (ultra flat, time trial-ish) bike path where I put up almost all of my miles goes through that conservation land next to the river.
Visually, the ride is a remarkable progression. North to south:
- a super fancy neighborhood of horse corrals, mansions and snooty gentlemen's farms
- a fairly wild area of riparian woodland
- downtown, all of a sudden! bike path passes a beloved and crowded park, the zoo, and the Hispanic Cultural Center and then Bueno Foods (smell of roasting chile kills me in the fall)
- back to woodlands and farmland and then ...
- a junkyard. A huge, massive junkyard. This might suck, except the path follows a culvert (with a fast descent or challenging little climb) that feels like you're riding in a video game for a couple of miles.
Doing that down and back is 33 miles, which is about perfect for me most days.
And due to it being a smaller community, a lot of regulars are out there and we recognize and wave to each other. I've been waving to an old lady I call Grandma Jihad (because she wears a crazy ass red/white checked head scarf) for years. It's New Mexico - we don't talk, really, but we all look out for each other. No one gets a flat without multiple help offers.
The river path connects to a network of other MUPs, and I can go from the trailhead to my friend's brewery downtown (a distance of 22 miles) with only 3 miles in traffic, and in a bike lane.
And while cruising, all you do is look up and there are the mountains. It's very peaceful, and I love it. I used to tell myself "while I ride, I'll think about this particular challenge" only to realize the ride was over and I'd done nothing of the sort. Took me years to realize that was a benefit.
This is one of the best places to cruise on a road bike I've ever seen.
