This past Sunday was the final day of the 2010 Tour de France. Watching Lance ride into Paris in his final tour gave me some inspiration to get out and ride. I had plenty of time, so I planned on riding for 2 hours and getting around 30 miles in. That isn't too fierce a pace. I should be able to maintain 15mph for a couple hours. I was doing pretty well until I got to the first few hills. They took quite a bit out of me, but I recovered and continued on my way. After the first hour I started to slow down a bit, and by mile 22 I had basically hit the wall. I was so tired. I pedaled the rest of the way home, but I felt like crap. I ended up finishing 27 miles or so. It was such a disappointing experience. Over the past few years it would be nothing for me to ride 35 or 40 miles on a Saturday, then go out for another 25 on Sunday. In 2008 I was riding 120 miles a week for most of the summer. What has changed this year?
I need motivation. What made me motivated back then that I am lacking now? Most years I start off really strong in the spring. I put in tons of miles just because I am so excited to be able to get outside again and enjoy the warmth. Then when the heat of the summer comes instead of parking my bike I start waking up really early in the morning to ride. This is the first year I have been in my new position at work and it doesn't really allow for me to get up early during the week and do any riding. Some nights it doesn't allow me much time to ride after work either. This is something I have to overcome if I want to finish the year out strong and get myself into good form on the bike. I need structure. When I was best on the bike I would go out for 2 regular rides during the week and 3 training rides. I would alternate training rides between climbing, sprinting, and time trial. I need to have that same structure to get me out there improving. It is a great feeling to be able to get on the bike and bust out 25 miles at 18-20 mph all on your own. That is still not great by serious cycling standards, but that is about the best I have ever been. I would love to get back to that point by the end of the year.
This week it is still really hot here in Arkansas. When I get off of work I still really just want to sit down on the couch and relax. However, I have to start riding a lot more consistently. Tomorrow I am going to do a short ride with sprints. Sprints will still be tolerable in the heat of the evening. Then Saturday morning I am going to drag myself out of bed and do my hill climbing ride. Climbing has always been the worst aspect of my riding, so it will be extra difficult for me to get up. I have already planned out my route, and I am going to try my best to finish it without almost passing out. Wish me luck.
Here is the profile for my hill climbing ride.
