Increasing distance in FL

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Ocala

Monday 15^rd April, 2019

 

Location: Withlacoochee Rails-to-Trails bikeway.

Distance: 41 miles
Average speed: 10.8 mph

In Ocala for 4 days biking the 46-mile Withlacoochee Rails-to-Trails bikeway.

 

Our four-day objective is four consecutive training days with progressively longer distances of 40, 100, 70 and then 20+ miles.  This will be our first 100-mile day and first time with 4 consecutively longer distance days.  Additional objective is to increase our average speed, mainly by decreasing the time at each rest stop, as our typical biking speed is about 14 mph.

 

 

First 100-mile day

Wednesday 17^rd April, 2019

 

Location: Withlacoochee Rails-to-Trails bikeway.

Temp:  83 F
Dew point:  58 F
Distance:  100 miles
Ave speed:  10.1 mph
Cumulative vertical distance 1150 ft

 

Met today's goal which was to ride 100 miles and to maintain at least a 10 mph ave. speed (including rest stops).  Judi achieved 80 miles.  The greatest issues:

- butt conditioning as we sit differently than on our spinning bikes.
- nutrition and hydration management.

Photo at end of 100 miles.

Last biking day

Thursday 18^rd April, 2019

 

T-24 days to start of bike trip

 Location: Withlacoochee Rails-to-Trails bikeway

Temp: 89 F
Dew point: 62 F
Distance: 36 miles 
Ave Speed:  10.4 mph 

 

Last biking day in FL.  We achieved our 4-day goal and were able to bike 240 miles.  And increased our average speed to always >10 mph.  We were averaging only 9 mph one month earlier.

 

During the trip we achieved our major biking objectives.

- Met our goal of at least 1000 miles as we biked a total distance of 1060 miles.
- Met goal our of one 100-mile day.
- We biked on 18 of the 36 days in FL. 
- Learned much about our equipment and especially the Garmin model 1030 bike GPS cycling computer.
- Relearned the importance of pacing.
- Learned effective use of bike clothes (and which shorts and tops function better than others) and effective layering for cooler and/or changing conditions.
-Nutrition: 
    -daily use of energy and electrolyte drinks, energy bars.
    -not too eat large lunches (which we already knew but had forgotten).

 

-Biggest surprises:  

  -unfortunately, what happens if we are not adequately fueled and hydrated.
  -continuing sore butts.