Tuesday, March 16, 2010

It’s the most wonderful time of the year

Wanna know why it’s the most wonderful time of the year? Because in spring we get nice big storms that drop plentiful powder in the mountains. But on the days it’s not storming, it’s nice enough to go for a ride. As an added bonus, what with the time change and all, it’s light enough outside to ride after work.

So yesterday, that’s what I did. I started from the zoo and rode up Emigration to the top of Little Mountain. I like to try and do this in the big ring. I don’t necessarily think it’s faster to do it all in the big ring, but it makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something, especially when my kneecaps are about to pop off coming up that last pitch before the summit. I continue to feel like I’ve accomplished something (not sure what) for the next 36 hours whenever I try to perform difficult tasks such as walking up stairs, pressing the brake pedal in my car, and standing.

My time wouldn’t win any Emigration TTs, but it wasn’t a complete disaster, either. And frankly, since my objective on any climb is simply not to get dropped, I’m happy with that. Not so happy that I won’t still try and lose some winter weight and continue to improve my form, but at least hopeful that I won’t get shelled in the first race of the season.

This reminds me of the same phenomenon I’ve observed in the past: that the transition from skiing to biking always seems easy, and I feel good on the bike from the outset. During the winter, I get in 2-3 solid workouts per week when I ski, but the off days are either an easy spin, a short run, or nothing at all. Makes me wonder if building more recovery time into my cycling training would yield better results.

8 comments:

  1. Big ring up Emigration? That is just sick.

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  2. Jube, thanks, but it's nothing compared to Brad Keyes. He did big ring up American Fork.

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  3. mark check this out and tell me if your interested.http://www.xaxdesign.com/Site/YETI.html

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  4. Big ring up EMI is standard fair, no compacts allowed....

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  5. Way to look on the bright side - the ski/bike overlap is a good thing.

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  6. Pat: have plans for bikes for kids that day.

    Bob: I run a compact, but I also run 11-23 in back and never cross chain. Your rule is silly.

    Kris: it's a very good thing, especially days like today when we have goldilocks weather--not too cold, not too hot, just right.

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  7. all rules are silly except rest days rule, I need one after multiple days shredding Shoreline one track.

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  8. hey. I rode up emi yesterday after work as well. We should have hooked up. I always drop out of the big ring just before the hairpin though.

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