Riding, Riding, and some more riding

My bike training camp is over on Sunday. I can't wait. I am getting really tired of not feeling my legs, or when I do, they ache. Same with my butt.

I will be close to 1,500km in the time I have been in Florida, and although it is nice and flat, it is also windy at times. Since I am doing all the riding alone, and some of the roads go straight for hours, literally, it can be rough on the body.

I got a profile from the elevation, but I figured I'd save the time from putting it here. To give you an idea, it was very similar to this:

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It is going up to 80F here today. In the dead of winter. I had forgotten what "winter" here was like. Nice, I must say.

Winter Training Camp

I spent over 20 hours on my bicycle last week. Needless to say, my body is not happy about how acquainted I've gotten with my saddle. 

Riding in Florida has been really nice. Although every mile has been done alone, it sure beats the cold weather back home in Alabama. This week's training has been a little tougher to get done. I am tired, I am sore, it's Christmas, it always seems like there is always a good excuse to stay indoors. Yesterday it was Christmas. After opening some gifts in the morning,  left and spend 4 hours riding in the flatlands of Alachua, Levy and Marion Counties. It seemed I was the only one out there: very little cars or cyclists out. I got home just before it got dark.

The goal for this week is to repeat what I did the past 7 days, plus 10%. It sure is going to be a tough goal, but so far I am on track. 

Gotta go to the pool now.

Ciao,

Felipe

Update

Training is going well. I have managed a solid first week back, and although I am tired, I am not destroyed. It is a good sign.

There is a loop I do that goes into a town called Pea Ridge. It's a tough climb up there, and I did it twice, for the first time, today.This is what it looks like:


I will be using this route often in my training throughout 2008. Ever since I moved to Florida in 2001, my once good climbing abilities went down the drain. Now living in Alabama, there are some hilly routes I can use that have barely any traffic at all. It's a lot more fun, too, to go up and down then to remain on the same 30 ft. window of altitude for a 4 hour ride.

Enjoy your training,

Felipe

2008 for me started today. It was the first "official" day of training for the upcoming season. It was a short day, only 2 1/2 hours, but after a month of doing basically nothing, it took a toll on my body. I am sure I will adapt quickly, though, no worries.

I am to do 2 weeks of solid work here in Alabama before heading to Gainesville for a self imposed Bike Training Camp. I want to try to get 1,000k in my legs in a week, on top of running and swimming. It also gives me the opportunity to spend Christmas and New Year's with Leland's family - they are always a fun bunch.

Soon I will have out the roster of 2008 sponsors. I am working with some tremendous people and companies this year and am very excited to make it public, so stay tuned.

And for those of you who have started thinking about your New Year's resolution, i leave you with this:

The Resolution shall not be televised: http://www.ironguides.net/news/31/65.html

Ciao,

Felipe