I might be trying too hard to make up for lost training time, but it really seems to be paying off anyway.

Tuesday was the first time I stepped into the gym since last November. My membership card had expired in February and I hadn't renewed it at all. There was still the same instructor in my spin class, but I only recognized one person in the class. I went at it pretty hard from the get go.

It took me a while to get settled in my seat. There were a lot of adjustments that I needed to make to reflect my new position on my road bike. A lot of the music stayed the same, so I knew what to expect, and I was able to push myself hard without going over the edge.

I went spinning again on Wednesday and Thursday. I had a cramping problem halfway through the Wednesday class. I don't know why, I was probably malnourished since I dropped down to 2000 calories per day on workout days again. It started in my back and it really started hurting. I straightened it out, and then my calves cramped up completely. I kept lightly spinning with one while trying to massage the other until I did them both. I was able to finish the class. I found it interesting that my average heart rate dropped in the second and third classes. I didn't know if that was progress or that I'm getting tired.

After taking Friday off I got back to the training on Saturday with a 120 km ride to Uxbridge. I got to the ride late, about ten to fifteen minutes after everybody had left, so I had a lot of catching up to do. I pushed reasonably hard until I caught the first group of riders at Kingston Rd. and Meadowvale. From there on all I wanted to do was hunt down riders and pass them, so I started pushing really hard.

It was a really nice route. Very hilly, but I've become a lot more efficient at riding them lately. Probably had a lot to do with all the spinning I was doing. It's like it took no time to get back up to speed with my training (literally). I got to the halfway point with another nice barbeque organized by Todd and... I forget the other rubbermaid guy's name. I chilled out long enough to eat, and got right back on my bike.

I could see Geoff and a few other riders about 1 1/2 kilometers in front of me, leading the ride. I knew I wouldn't be able to catch them, so I started taking it easy, conserving myself for the next day. I did have a bit of a side stitch after eating and drinking as much gatorade as I did, so that helped me slow down. My average heart rate dropped to 120 for most of the rest of the ride. To put that in perspective, that was often my resting heart rate before I started cleaning up my life, and now I'm riding at 23 km/h. Awesome.

Somehow I managed to catch them, I think they stopped for a while. They were going fairly slow at this point in the ride too... probably for the same reason. I think they stopped a bit too. I know it's not competitive (I keep saying that), but it still felt great to be in the first pack making it back, especially after starting late.

I passed out really hard, really early that night. I needed that.

Sunday's ride was just as hard and just as long. I've never done back to back 100k rides before, so I was a little concerned. I knew I had to keep my calorie intake really high to make it through. I did the day before, but I didn't know if I'd have enough to make it through the second day. So I ate. And ate. Plates of pasta for breakfast, litres of gatorade, bagels, olive oil, brownies, cookies, ice cream. Insane. But it worked.

I managed to keep up with Geoff and Luis for most of the ride. We were the first group of riders at the break (assuming the guy who passed us got lost or broke down—we didn't see him at all). I had trouble keeping up with them and dropped back a kilometre or two after the break. I had given up on catching them until I got passed by a group of three random riders. The first two flew by me, but the third was a chick (which huge honkin' legs). I think my ego kicked in, because I caught up to and passed two of them. I lost them quick.

The lead guy, Geoff, and Luis were all stopped at a stop sign when I approached. Luis chased down the lead while Geoff was adjusting his pedals. Luis was gone. The whole time I felt like I was struggling to keep up with the two of them, but the rest of the ride was a lot more chilled out.

I had an hour and a half before Cycle Therapy was closing. All weekend they were offering a special to FFLBR riders, so I had little time to look for another good pair of shorts. I subway'd it to Coxwell and managed to pick up some super comfy grey Suogi shorts and an Adidas rain jacket. Another 13 km for the ride there and then to home.

250 km isn't a bad total for one weekend. I'm glad to be having a day off today.

Click here or on the map for detailed info on Saturday's ride to Uxbridge.


Click here or on the map for detailed info on the ride to Campbellville.


If you haven't had a chance to sponsor me on my ride to benefit People With AIDS yet, you can do so here. I've talked about this a bit last time, so I won't do it again. It's just that I'm very close to reaching the minimum required for this ride, which is now less than two weeks away! I still have just over a thousand to raise to meet my goal, so everything will help. Thanks to the people who have donated so far. It helps a lot. Awesome.