So, I have clearly been remiss in my bloggerly duties, which are largely self-imposed based on my readership of one. Rather than try to recreate the last few weeks’ ride reports, let me summarize by saying I have been as lax in my riding as I have been in my blogging. Which is why I have not lost a single pound, and I now have to try a combination of riding and restricting calories (as opposed to just thinking, “well, that sounds healthy” or “I can eat what I want today because I burned 1000 calories riding”).
As much as I take anything associated with Lance Armstrong with a grain of salt, Chris Carmichael has clearly made a success of his training regimen. On the advice of T, I have started slowing my base mile rides (basically all of them) to keep my heart rate at 70% of my maximum heart rate. In my current out of shape, overweight state, this has me pootling along the trail at 12mph, but I don’t feel the effects much at al, which is of course the point. It also allows me to have more energy for those rides when I do expend more effort. Ah, science, where would we be without you?
Saturday, on a partnered ride, T actually hit one of the suicidal ground squirrels that pause when they notice oncoming bicycles and then promptly run across the bike path rather than running to safety away from the bike path. When we turned around to see if the squirrel was all right, it was thrashing in the middle of the bike path. I was wondering how one puts a dying squirrel out of its misery and imagined having to stomp on its head with my biking shoes. Luckily, the thrashing turned out to be the squirrel’s death throes, so all we had to do was drag it to the side of the path. As ground squirrel deaths go, that was pretty smooth compared to the horror stories I’ve been told about squirrels getting caught in front wheels and breaking the fork or stopping the front wheel and pitching off the rider. Naturally, T had to tell me the story about a friend of his who got a squirrel caught in his rear wheel. They had to pull the mauled squirrel out of the bike and finish it off with a river rock.
On a happier note, yesterday I went exploring the bike path on the south side of the river to see where it went. Turns out it only runs between H St and Watt Ave and has two really wicked hills at the Watt Ave access. On my way back to the Guy West Bridge, I made the acquaintance of a very friendly tuxedo kitty that jogged along with me for several yards until a bird or a squirrel distracted it.
The weather has not been cooperating with my brief spurts of good intentions to ride daily. No big deal to get motivated to ride this morning when it’s in the mid-60s and breezy. Very hard when it’s in the 50s, overcast and foggy. Earlier this week I had to dig out my shoe covers, balaclava, and long-fingered gloves. This would have to be one of the few years we have a real spring rather than a couple of weeks of nice weather then summer. At least the cool weather has meant I get to keep my unacceptably short hair hidden under my balaclava or a do-rag.
April 6, 2010
March 6, 2010
A Visit to the Allergist
The weather is not cooperating with riding this weekend. Unfortunately, I have not found the motivation to set the trainer back up. I bought a commuter bike, a Trek 7700, and will hopefully start commuting in a couple of weeks when the weather settles down.
Today, I have my referral visit with an allergist. She goes over my medical history with me, concentrating on October 2009 and the tentative exercise-induced asthma. When she reviews my pulmonary function test results, she agrees that I did not improve as dramatically as they like to see after I was given albuterol, my lung volume improved enough to qualify me as asthmatic. It's still a tentative diagnosis, and the allergist prescribes me a peak flow meter to monitor for several days and get a baseline measurement for my normal value. Apparently, that will be the deciding factor for an asthma diagnosis.
I tell the allergist that I have not been taking the albuterol because of the side effects, but that my biking seems to improve as the weather dries out/warms up. She is not happy about me skipping medications and prescribes a different bronchodilator that will hopefully have the benefits but not the side effects of the albuterol.
I ask about allergy injections, but the allergist tells me she doesn't like to do them with asthmatics. She prescribes a new nasal spray that will hopefully work better than the Flonase, and I get my blood drawn for allergy sensitivity evaluation. I'm pretty sure it will tell me I'm allergic to Northern California.
Today, I have my referral visit with an allergist. She goes over my medical history with me, concentrating on October 2009 and the tentative exercise-induced asthma. When she reviews my pulmonary function test results, she agrees that I did not improve as dramatically as they like to see after I was given albuterol, my lung volume improved enough to qualify me as asthmatic. It's still a tentative diagnosis, and the allergist prescribes me a peak flow meter to monitor for several days and get a baseline measurement for my normal value. Apparently, that will be the deciding factor for an asthma diagnosis.
I tell the allergist that I have not been taking the albuterol because of the side effects, but that my biking seems to improve as the weather dries out/warms up. She is not happy about me skipping medications and prescribes a different bronchodilator that will hopefully have the benefits but not the side effects of the albuterol.
I ask about allergy injections, but the allergist tells me she doesn't like to do them with asthmatics. She prescribes a new nasal spray that will hopefully work better than the Flonase, and I get my blood drawn for allergy sensitivity evaluation. I'm pretty sure it will tell me I'm allergic to Northern California.
Ride Report 2/28
23.4mi in 1:43, Home to Guy West Bridge-Hagan Park & back
Apparently an upset stomach from last night is not the best biking companion. The weather is pretty nice; a little too overcast to consider a truly pretty day. The trail headed east is more crowded than toward Discovery Park, and pretty much everyone is passing me. I have my lowest moment when I am passed by a couple, the male half on a Roadmaster mountain bike. To make up for it, I pass a few recreational cyclist uphill, but overall I'm slow today. I pause at Hagan Park to try not to lose my breakfast. On the way back, the hills have thoroughly kicked my ass, but my time is good so I'll take the beating.
Apparently an upset stomach from last night is not the best biking companion. The weather is pretty nice; a little too overcast to consider a truly pretty day. The trail headed east is more crowded than toward Discovery Park, and pretty much everyone is passing me. I have my lowest moment when I am passed by a couple, the male half on a Roadmaster mountain bike. To make up for it, I pass a few recreational cyclist uphill, but overall I'm slow today. I pause at Hagan Park to try not to lose my breakfast. On the way back, the hills have thoroughly kicked my ass, but my time is good so I'll take the beating.
February 17, 2010
Ride Report 2/17/10
23.3 mi in 1:46, Guy West-Discovery Park & back
I'm beginning to doubt the veracity of the El Dorado Savings time/temperature sign, which says 77 degrees today. It is absolutely gorgeous out, but doesn't feel like it's almost 80. I have to wear my tights today due to wardrobe failure, but it ends up working out fine. I try not to lose my patience with the students that seem to drift aimlessly in the roads at Sac State. I know I was that young and self-absorbed once, but I didn't have the additional distraction of a cell phone or headphones.
A bit of a stiff breeze, but perfect biking weather. On the way back from Discovery Park, I try to catch up with a rider a bit ahead of me. I'm gaining ground until the rider ditches the bike path for Northgate Blvd. I check my speed and find that I am going 15.5-16mph. I keep it up until Northgate, then I slack off to my comfortable cruising speed of 14mph.
I'm beginning to doubt the veracity of the El Dorado Savings time/temperature sign, which says 77 degrees today. It is absolutely gorgeous out, but doesn't feel like it's almost 80. I have to wear my tights today due to wardrobe failure, but it ends up working out fine. I try not to lose my patience with the students that seem to drift aimlessly in the roads at Sac State. I know I was that young and self-absorbed once, but I didn't have the additional distraction of a cell phone or headphones.
A bit of a stiff breeze, but perfect biking weather. On the way back from Discovery Park, I try to catch up with a rider a bit ahead of me. I'm gaining ground until the rider ditches the bike path for Northgate Blvd. I check my speed and find that I am going 15.5-16mph. I keep it up until Northgate, then I slack off to my comfortable cruising speed of 14mph.
Ride Report 2/16/10
23.3 mi in 1:48, Guy West Bridge-Discovery Park & back
Another gorgeous day, if slightly overcast. It's 76 according to El Dorado Savings. On the Guy West Bridge, a pedestrian gives me a thumbs up, then turns his hand sideways. I can't tell if he is assessing my mood, passing judgment, or hitch hiking. As I'm leaving the bridge, I get a "go blue!" (due to my blue jersey, shoes, bike & helmet) from a Rex Cycles rider as he passes me.
Since I'm not wearing my balaclava, I can listen to music in both ears once I'm on the bike path. (I use the ones that hook over the ear and allow for ambient sound to be heard.) I think this has something to do with my improved time, along with the nicer weather.
The sloughs out toward Northgate Blvd are drying up by several inches a day, and I miss seeing the blue heron that hung out at one of them. In consolation, today I get to see a greater egret. Between Northgate and Sac State, I see my first quail of the season. As always, they make me laugh as they run across the trail and into the ivy. And then the strangest sighting of the day: at Discovery Park I see the tatooed shirtless man (still shirtless and jogging today) who yodeled at us yesterday.
Another gorgeous day, if slightly overcast. It's 76 according to El Dorado Savings. On the Guy West Bridge, a pedestrian gives me a thumbs up, then turns his hand sideways. I can't tell if he is assessing my mood, passing judgment, or hitch hiking. As I'm leaving the bridge, I get a "go blue!" (due to my blue jersey, shoes, bike & helmet) from a Rex Cycles rider as he passes me.
Since I'm not wearing my balaclava, I can listen to music in both ears once I'm on the bike path. (I use the ones that hook over the ear and allow for ambient sound to be heard.) I think this has something to do with my improved time, along with the nicer weather.
The sloughs out toward Northgate Blvd are drying up by several inches a day, and I miss seeing the blue heron that hung out at one of them. In consolation, today I get to see a greater egret. Between Northgate and Sac State, I see my first quail of the season. As always, they make me laugh as they run across the trail and into the ivy. And then the strangest sighting of the day: at Discovery Park I see the tatooed shirtless man (still shirtless and jogging today) who yodeled at us yesterday.
Ride Report 2/15/10
Partnered 21.9 mi in 1:49, east on ARP from Guy West Bridge & back via Bella Bru
This is a recovery ride for T (who has the day off, must be nice), but my normal dogged effort. It is officially a gorgeous day and time for shorts, short sleeves and fingerless gloves. It's a holiday for enough people that there is Sunday-level traffic on the bike path: couples and families sprawled across the trail (on bike and on foot) and the occasional team rider. The display at El Dorado Savings says 73 degrees!
Just past Sac State, a pleasant surprise for so early in the year: turkeys on the trail! Later, a tattooed shirtless man on a bicycle yodels/howls when he passes us and anyone else on the bike path. Spring fever?
We head out for 10 miles, then turn around and go to Bella Bru for lunch. The chopped cobb salad is delicious! I try the Naked protein smoothie. It's not bad, but needs to be drunk cold, so not a good ride option. The meal wakes my stomach up, and I'm grateful I have the smoothie in my back pocket for the ride back.
Slow time, but I blame it on having someone to talk to during my ride.
This is a recovery ride for T (who has the day off, must be nice), but my normal dogged effort. It is officially a gorgeous day and time for shorts, short sleeves and fingerless gloves. It's a holiday for enough people that there is Sunday-level traffic on the bike path: couples and families sprawled across the trail (on bike and on foot) and the occasional team rider. The display at El Dorado Savings says 73 degrees!
Just past Sac State, a pleasant surprise for so early in the year: turkeys on the trail! Later, a tattooed shirtless man on a bicycle yodels/howls when he passes us and anyone else on the bike path. Spring fever?
We head out for 10 miles, then turn around and go to Bella Bru for lunch. The chopped cobb salad is delicious! I try the Naked protein smoothie. It's not bad, but needs to be drunk cold, so not a good ride option. The meal wakes my stomach up, and I'm grateful I have the smoothie in my back pocket for the ride back.
Slow time, but I blame it on having someone to talk to during my ride.
February 14, 2010
Ride Report 2/14/10
23.3 miles in 1:53
Today is nice, not quite cloudy and not quite sunny, but nothing compared to yesterday's sunny low 70s. I am albuterol-less, so I'm breathing hard right out of the gate, but I'm happy that I got my new MP3 clip on holder so I can wear t-shirts while I ride. Yes, I said t-shirts. That's how I roll.
I'm disappointed to see that the GI Joe show signs on 58th St have been taken down. Apparently, it was a yesterday only event.
Yesterday on the bike path, I saw a father on a mountain bike towing his (helmetless) 4-5 year old son on a little BMX with a rope. He had the gall to tell his son "Careful, buddy" when his son drifted toward the oncoming lane. Apparently his son's safety wasn't worth buying a $50 tagalong bike on craigslist.
Today was a repeat of random stupidity. A group of young adults on bikes included an asshat disastrously running his (of course) pit bull next to his bike. The dog was a) scared to death of the bike and was doing his best to run as far away as possible from the bike, b) running on the wrong side of the bike (on the left, into oncoming traffic instead of on the right, protected by the owner's bike), c) being run on a collar instead of a harness and miraculously hadn't pulled out of the collar yet, d) being run on far too long a leash (I run my dogs on a 1.5' traffic lead, which doesn't allow them to build enough momentum to pull me over), and e) held only by the owner's hand (this is a big debate due to safety concerns, but I feel much safer with the dog connected to the frame of the bike or at least to my waist, closer to my center of gravity and again not as likely to pull me off balance).
The coup du jour happens as I am leaving the Guy West bridge on the way home and somehow an idiot driving a scooter on the bike path turns onto the bridge! I'm not sure how he even got onto the bike path in the first place, but my dismayed look makes an oncoming pedestrian turn to see what I'm looking at.
Today is nice, not quite cloudy and not quite sunny, but nothing compared to yesterday's sunny low 70s. I am albuterol-less, so I'm breathing hard right out of the gate, but I'm happy that I got my new MP3 clip on holder so I can wear t-shirts while I ride. Yes, I said t-shirts. That's how I roll.
I'm disappointed to see that the GI Joe show signs on 58th St have been taken down. Apparently, it was a yesterday only event.
Yesterday on the bike path, I saw a father on a mountain bike towing his (helmetless) 4-5 year old son on a little BMX with a rope. He had the gall to tell his son "Careful, buddy" when his son drifted toward the oncoming lane. Apparently his son's safety wasn't worth buying a $50 tagalong bike on craigslist.
Today was a repeat of random stupidity. A group of young adults on bikes included an asshat disastrously running his (of course) pit bull next to his bike. The dog was a) scared to death of the bike and was doing his best to run as far away as possible from the bike, b) running on the wrong side of the bike (on the left, into oncoming traffic instead of on the right, protected by the owner's bike), c) being run on a collar instead of a harness and miraculously hadn't pulled out of the collar yet, d) being run on far too long a leash (I run my dogs on a 1.5' traffic lead, which doesn't allow them to build enough momentum to pull me over), and e) held only by the owner's hand (this is a big debate due to safety concerns, but I feel much safer with the dog connected to the frame of the bike or at least to my waist, closer to my center of gravity and again not as likely to pull me off balance).
The coup du jour happens as I am leaving the Guy West bridge on the way home and somehow an idiot driving a scooter on the bike path turns onto the bridge! I'm not sure how he even got onto the bike path in the first place, but my dismayed look makes an oncoming pedestrian turn to see what I'm looking at.
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