My Cycling Ride Streak Update
I’m happy to report I’ve been having great success working toward my 23 day ride streak. Yesterday was the end of day 16 which means that only 7 more days of riding remain.
The first thing you’ll notice when you look at my ride streak data below is that I’m not getting in much any road time. I’ve been doing most of my riding on my trainer in the basement, more on why in a second. Here’s the streak data so far:
- Saturday, 6/30 – 60 minutes on gym spin bike
- Sunday, 7/1 – 60 minutes on basement bike trainer doing Sufferfest
- Monday, 7/2 – 45 minutes on basement bike trainer doing Sufferfest
- Tuesday, 7/3 – 30 minutes on gym spin bike, 10 min elliptical
- Wednesday, 7/4 – 60 minutes on basement bike trainer
- Thursday, 7/5 – 45 minutes on basement bike trainer
- Friday, 7/6 – 45 minutes on gym spin bike
- Saturday, 7/7 – 50 minutes on basement bike trainer
- Sunday, 7/8 – 40 minutes riding bike with Abby
- Monday, 7/9 – 64 minutes on basement bike trainer
- Tuesday, 7/10 – 50 minutes on basement bike trainer
- Wednesday, 7/11 – 40 minutes on gym spin bike, 10 min spin bike
- Thursday, 7/12 – 60 minutes on basement bike trainer
- Friday, 7/13 – 30 minutes on basement bike trainer
- Saturday, 7/14 – 56 minutes on basement bike trainer doing intervals
- Sunday, 7/15 – 62 minutes on basement bike trainer
Some other interesting data from my rides so far include 250+ miles of riding and over 13,000 calories burned.
As I said before I’ve been doing most of my Ride Streak miles on my 9 year old 1up trainer in the basement. Heading into work really early in the morning eliminates the morning for riding (unless I start riding to work soon). When I get home from work it’s usually family, dinner time, family, and then the kids bed time. That leaves only a few evening hours after dark to get in some solid riding mileage.
I’m not really a night rider nor am I yet equipped to do so. Add to that the crazy 100° and above average temperatures and that means I’m in not on the road much. Rather than give up or not even attempt this challenge I decided to make it work with what I have which means using my basement trainer and gym spin equipment.
I can honestly say that I’m really truly enjoying this riding streak. I usually jump on the trainer, maybe throw on the tour, or more than likely throw on The Sufferfest or the Velocast Tour de France podcast and get down to business. I keep the pace high, the heart rate up, and work on different things like intervals, clean pedal strokes, quiet upper body, and high gearing to simulate hills.
Feeling myself getting stronger and my form getting better makes me feel confident in my form for the upcoming 200k ride. My heart rate seems to be staying lower longer and I’m certainly able to sustain longer drives at higher gears before the pain gets unbearable. The more I ride the more my confidence is rising.
It’d be awesome to have a power meter to measure my change in power but I’m not yet ready for that cycling investment nor are they affordable enough. Add to that the fact that I’m sure the computer would say “lose more weight dummy” in bold letters which means I can wait on the power meter.
With 7 more days in the ride streak I’m really going to try to drive it home. I’m pretty sure I’ll break 400 total miles and over 20,000 calories by the end as well. After the streak is over I’m planning on continuing the riding but will likely alternate the riding days with circuit training to build & keep my muscles. While riding is a great way to lose weight, having more muscle is helpful as well.
Has anyone else been getting any riding in this summer?
