Thursday.

Got out for a about an hour-and-a-half zone 2 spin today. A very welcome road ride after my experience in Maryland. I am very fortunate to be able to ride in an area like where I live...minimally traveled back roads that go for miles and miles.

I'm now off tomorrow as I'm travelling to Charlotte N.C. to visit some friends. I'll likely get out for a descent mountain bike ride Saturday morning...with minimal rocks...I'm pretty pumped about that!

I'll report from the road...until then...

Peace!

Rained out.

Patapsco Valley State Park...some great riding just outside Baltimore Maryland...

Unfortunately, my mountain bike never left this position while I was there.

I had to resort to a very forced rainy, cold, and windy road ride which was not fun considering the amount of traffic and limited space on the roads. It was that or nothing...and I rarely take the nothing option. With all that time I needed to spin...so spin I did...for about two-and-a-half hours. It did the job.

I'm bummed that I had two days straight with nothing but time and bikes and I got rained out almost completely. Never-the-less, it was a fun trip, and I'm thankful to have some time in the saddle.

Peace!

Rain.

I'm sitting at Barnes and Noble just outside Baltimore waiting for the rain to stop. It's raining big time out here! Doesn't look like the mountain bike will be coming off the bike rack...way too much water and mud around here. Good thing I brought the road bike for back-up. Should be able to get in a couple wet hours before the end of the day. :-)

Peace!

Sunday.

Manged to get out for a 25 mile zone 2 ride today. Why do I mention zone 2...because now that I have a solid number of base miles on the bike...I'm turning my training toward specific efforts at specific times in specific heart rate zones. This should help me take the next step in my training...well...at least I hope so. I'm a little skeptical about this whole heart rate zone stuff, but according to what I've read it should help.

I'm off tomorrow...then on for two very solid days of riding Tuesday and Wednesday. I'll also use the time off of work to compose a proposal for some local businesses I plan to ask for sponsorship for the LIVESTRONG Challenge Ride.

I'll report on the riding conditions in the Baltimore area after my Tuesday rides.

Peace!

TGIF!

I'm glad it's Friday for a number of reasons...first...I'm now off of work for 10 days. Second, I had a ride planned today. Once again time was not in abundance so I only managed to get out for a 30 miler. I decided to make it a good 30 miles by getting the heart rate up to about 80% effort and keeping it there the entire ride. Legs felt incredibly strong and could have kept going for much longer...but I had to shut it down so we could take the kids to the first carnival of the year...fun stuff I tell you...fun stuff. :-)

I'll take tomorrow off and then be back out for another road ride on Sunday. I'll use the day off to prep the mountain bike for the trip to Maryland. Got the inside scoop on what areas to hit up. Sounds like there is a variety of terrain at my disposal...and multiple hours...needless to say I'm pretty pumped!

Peace!

Easy spin.

Managed to fit in a quick easy spin today. Only went out for about an hour due to time constraints. The legs felt incredible! This past weekend put a hurting to them, and they responded in kind...almost laughing that we only spun for an easy hour. They are hungry for more...and more I will give them...in due time.

Next ride will be Friday...not sure if it will be mountain or road just yet. I have to say...I love having the choice again...not having a mountain bike for a while really sucked. Now I have two fast race machines...all I need to do is get to the level that I can really put a pounding to these bikes...getting there...slow and steady...the goal is to be able to ride 100 miles with ease...the plan is coming together...must be patient. ;-)

Peace!

The details.

Ok, the site is back up and I have a few minutes to update.

This past weekend was flat out awesome!!! There were 8 of us, 4 guys from the North Carolina crew, and 4 from the New England crew...we all came together and had an absolute blast with one another, riding, telling stories, and just overall having fun being with one another.

It was fun to get back out on the mountain bike for sure!! I can honestly say that I missed it. I love the road bike, but there is just something about being out in the woods with nothing but a bike and a few buddies tearing up some great trails. We are already planning another trip for later this year...back to Tsali in North Carolina...a great place to ride with some fast flowy single track!

As for my training...I've been off since Sunday spending time with the family and working. I'll be back on the bike tomorrow morning...the road bike...then switching back and forth between both bikes this weekend as I plan to hit up Allegrippis, as the report is that it's fast and flowy like Tsali. Unfortunately my mountain bike buddies will be out of town...so I'll be solo at Allegrippis. Might be hooking up with a few people for a group road ride though...so that will be cool.

I have a trip to Baltimore with my wife planned for next Tuesday/Wednesday as she has a conference to attend. We will celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary while down there...with plans for a killer seafood dinner together...it should be awesome!! In addition to our anniversary celebration...is the celebration of having two entire days to be in the saddle...that's right...two full days of riding!! While Jeanine is at her conference...I'm taking to the saddle for as long as my body will let me. I will be contacting a local bike shop for some good road and mountain routes as I'll likely take both bikes with me. I can't wait!!!

Updates to follow...

Peace!