Finally went for a long ride

I'm working 6 days a week now, 13-14 hours per day Monday-Friday and only about 5 hours on Saturday. I've been trying to ride both Saturday and Sunday and run twice during the week, but sometimes I don't get in both rides on the weekend. I was tired from the week I guess when I got home on Saturday, after work and a haircut (had to get it cut before my promotion ceremony next week) I didn't have a ride in me.

Cezanne and I watched the last hour and a half of the Mont Ventoux stage in the Tour de France (yeah, she's the best) and then watched a movie.

Today I was able to get in a 47 mile ride out to Berryville Rd before my Mom drove out and visited from Annapolis. I felt alright, but kept the pace pretty easy the whole time so I would be certain it wouldn't be painful to finish the ride given I haven't ridden much lately and when I do it's usually between 20-30 miles. The only thing is that I was a little dehydrated by the end and should have stopped half-way through to refill my water bottles.

I took the above pics out on Berryville Rd. It's beautiful out there. The below pic is of my "arm coolers." It was 85 degrees today and is late July in Washington D.C. so it wasn't a cool day. I mainly use these for sun protection, they are SPF 30 and allegedly they are supposed to keep you cooler than your own skin, but that's up for debate.



Here is the ride: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/9842836

New Rock Creek Park Loop World Record

Or so I thought...

It's not exactly a "World" record, or a National record, or State or City or Neighborhood or Street or Apartment building record. It's my own personal record time on a loop I like in Rock Creek Park (RCP), and I thought I set my new record last Sunday.

This year has been interesting, from what I think was really good cycling form and being part of a cycling team and riding with some great people to falling off the face of the cycling earth.

Although I've identified the testosterone problem, my temporary assignment to Capitol Hill has relegated all of my riding to just the weekend and given that sometimes we have other things to do on the weekends, sometimes no cycling at all. I'm ashamed to admit (to fellow cyclists) that I've actually started running during the week because it's the only way to get a cardio workout in given the 7am to 8or9pm work schedule (which means I'm not home or able to work out from about 6:30am to about 8:30pm on average). I've not only started running because it is more convenient than cycling, but my younger bro has challenged me to do a half-ironman triathlon next year. If it weren't for the swimming and running it would be right up my alley. Nevertheless, it's a good challenge.

Back to my attempt at the "World" (Chris) Record. I used to usually only ride in RCP during the week because I would typically ride around rush hour and the area I bike in RCP is pretty light on traffic. I've found that it's too convenient to pass up on the weekends and again, you just don't have to deal with many cars. The loop starts at the bottom of the hill near the intersection of Broad Branch Rd NW and Ridge Rd NW. From Ridge Rd you go right onto Ross Dr NW and then at the stop sign make a right then another right onto Beach Dr NW. On the weekend, Beach Dr NW is blocked coming onto Broad Branch Rd NW, so you have to take the little paved path back to the start.

This weekend I decided to give the loop a hard go, even though my legs didn't feel all that great and I had been biking once, twice or no times over the preceeding weekends and running during the week. I turned in a 10:33. I was surprised. I thought I had beat my old record of 10:45, which I would have if that had been my record. Looking back at my data, my record was 10:29 back in early April. Ugh! Well, still surprising I came that close after my lack of riding for the past few months. I did another loop in 10:37 which I was happy with too. During the 10:33 lap my heart rate averaged 172 bpm and topped out at 180 bpm. I didn't wear a heart rate monitor on the ride I did a 10:29, but in March I rode a 10:54 with an average heart rate of 158 bpm. That's kind of interesting.

So, I had a good ride and it made me miss riding.

Here is the ride: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/9178619

New Giro Helmets at the TdF

Giro debuted some new helmets in Stage 7 of the Tour de France. Not cool. The actually look goofy and old school. Is it a joke? Maybe they have some other advantage. Weight? Cooling airflow? Incredibly strong?

I think Lance figured they looked goofy and switched back to his Giro Ionos model for Stage 8. How's that for an endorsement? The Ionos is a sweet helmet.

Here is Lance and Levi on Stage 8, Lance switched back to the Ionos, Levi with the new model:

http://tour-de-france.velonews.com/photo/94947

Here is Astana with the new helmets on Stage 7, including Lance. Garmin was also in the new helmets.

http://velonews.com/photo/94888

And here is a single shot of Alberto in the new helmet:

http://velonews.com/photo/94876

And no, I haven't designed anything better, just my opinion that the Ionos is a better looking helmet, that's it.