Those Are The Hills We’re Climbing…
Sunday’s ride was needed time in the saddle! I went out with a couple of NC State’s Cycling Team members, Will and Hannah. My usual riding buddy, another NC State Cycling Team member, was unable to join us because he was suffering with a pretty nasty cold (hope you’re feeling better Brian). Will and Hannah were planning for a long ride and pedaled about 15 miles to meet me. We knew we were headed out around Jordan Lake… but I offered up a new route for them called the Lystra Loop. It circles another part of the lake but includes some pretty good climbs. Add the extra miles to get there and the stiff head wind… and I thought these guys would never come out to ride with me again.
At one point, they asked was our turn coming up? I said no… were going over 
there… “see those hills above the water tower on the other side of the lake.” They thought I was kidding… which I do a lot. This time I wasn’t kidding. The rolling climbs were good training. But I still felt kind of bad hoping they were OK with the route choice. So I got on the front and pulled for a few miles on a hilly road with a rough head wind. At one point, we had to ride in an echelon as the wind shifted at an angle. My old legs :) held up and it was a great workout for me and my upcoming mountain century. In the end… it was 60 miles for me and probably a little over 75 for Will and Hannah. Funny thing is… those two are pretty strong and they were probably just letting the old man feel like he was really helping out. :) Look forward to our next ride… Thanks again Will and Hannah!
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Comments
Well done.
Brave to ride with youngsters! 
I must admit, I can never quite tell the exact wind direction - so too dumb (and slow?) to figure out when to do an echelon.
Good luck in the century
STEVE — Thanks for reading. I do not have a specific training plan but I have certainly used the great and detailed information I learned form my Human Performance Lab Test. The heart rate zones and lactic threshhold information was a huge help. If I read about certain training rides I can implement that information I learned easily. I would certainly recommend a test like that if you’ve never done one.
Thanks for reading!
WILL — Howdy bud! Thanks… It was a good ride and a good call on the echelon. I think you were right on with the wind direction … at least it felt like that to me.
Good job out there Donald. Lystra is one a tough climb, the thing that would always get me is that once you think you’re at the top there’s another short climb right before the church. That’s some of the best climbing terrain around the Triangle.
ROB — It is a great area to get your legs going. Good place to go for hill repeats if you want to be able to tune up for a mountian ride.
JEFF — Easy now… I’m not claiming to be on their level… that could get me in trouble! I look at it as just being able to do my part.
SPROCKETBOY — Thanks… that’s a positive “pump up” for my focus… especially going into my last mountain century of the season this weekend.
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Donald,
Good blog, enjoy reading your entries. I been trying to up my speed on the bike so have any advice ?
Just wanted to know if you used the heart rate zones from your visit Human Performance Lab at Meredith College or do you have a training plan you follow?
Thanks
Steve