Today's Ride

Yeah, so I did this ride today. 102 miles by myself in 5:33. Not bad for a day's work 1 week after Triple T. It was flat to rolling, with most of the rolling in the last 15 miles. GORGEOUS day! There were several times when I wanted to slack, but I wore my HTFU bracelet so that's what I did. The time includes several bottle fumbling events, since I was testing out my Hydro Tail on a big ride.

What's significant about this?

1. I know I can go faster.
2. I rode this tired.
3. My IF was .733 and TSS 299 (NP=136) which is PERFECT for an Ironman ride
4. I don't feel too trashed, other than the fact that I still trained GO HARD OR GO HOME style this week just following Triple T
5. It was my SECOND RIDE on Bitch this year!!!
   

I think my CdA is down. My new rear bottle position helps as does the fact that I'm a bit smaller and leaner. My next move is to get S-bend aerobars. Despite this being only my 2nd ride on Bitch, I was very comfortable in my aero position (except for my poor crotch, but it's coming around). I've noticed in just the last month that I can almost put my palms on the floor when I do a forward bend (i.e., touch your toes). I find it amazing that I've become more flexible in the past year. I'm not stretching any more than I used to--I'm just being consistent about it, now for 3 years, I think.

I LOVE my Bitch. The Nokon cables are just fucking cool. All's I need now is about 5 more 100+ mile rides (which I'll easily get in) before IMLP and I'm fucking all set to go.

I tell ya, riding a road bike makes you strong. And stretching is good for holding a fairly aggressive aero position, which I do. And new bike parts can never hurt.

I made up some new rules today:

1. Beers that you drink after riding but before you shower don't count.
2. Doing a supported ride in a skinsuit is more gay than wearing an aero helmet (I didn't wear mine today because I feared being ridiculed, but I wore it yesterday for a puny 2:40 ride to test it out and it FUCKING ROCKS)
3. Riding a $4,000+ tri bike at 15MPH is very wrong.
4. Tube socks aren't too stylish on a bike. Almost as bad as compression socks on the run! (except for Jamie, who can get away with tube socks any time)
5. If you can't control your appetite while on a supported ride, how the hell do you think you are going to lose weight training for an Ironman? My God, I saw people putting on the feed bag today, and many of them weren't riding 100 miles.

Edit: I just mowed my lawn and ended up hypoglycemic, so I ran...er...stumbled into the house and stuffed my face with some orange slices and am waiting for them to take effect. I LOVE when this happens!