Virtual Riding Game Across the U.S.

As we come into the holiday season I can't help but reflect on this year and how many great miles I rode. I kept a daily log of all my rides showing how far I rode each day. What was the weather like? How I felt during each ride and what was my time and distance. Based on what I have already done for 2009, I should finish the year with a little over 4,100 miles logged. So as a fun little "Virtual Riding Game", I can map out a course across the U.S. to put things into perspective.

My 4,100 miles is like riding from Charleston, SC to Atlanta, Ga. From Atlanta I continue to ride northwest to Memphis, TN. After checking out Graceland I head to Little Rock, AR. Next stop, Oklahoma City, OK. Then on to Amarillo, TX where I can store up on some good solid protein (Steak!). After some good cowboy meals I ride to Albuquerque, NM for some local Margaretta's. Then I ride by the south rim of the Grand Canyon being careful not to get a flat tire. Then it's a straight shot to Los Angeles,CA where I check out the Pacific Ocean and say hello to Hollywood. Sign a few autographs and I head Northeast to Las Vegas, NV. After I lose most of my money I keep heading east to the Rocky Mountains and Grand Junction, CO. Get a small breather and then take off over the mountains to Ogallala, NE. My last leg is to Pierre, SD. This awesome trek is just about 4,100 miles.

Now I'm sure that no one on Lances' Team Radio Shack has to look over their shoulder worrying about losing their spot to me, but it sure has been a fun year. For 2010, my goal is to do 5,000 miles. With that, I will be able to hit Seattle, WA and check out the Great Lakes on my return trip home!

Lets have the Legislators Ride

What a great day to ride in the Lowcountry, just plain awesome! The temperature was in the mid 70's, low humidity, and hardly any ocean breeze to hit you in your face on your return trip back home. Today was a day that allowed you to get into some kind of serious rhythm to hold your speed. A perfect day to set best times for your marked course. Its days like today that make cycling one of the coolest activities that anyone who loves the outdoors can do. Kind of makes you wish that the state had a day set aside just for riding your bike around the countryside.

I figure we have about another month left before these kinds of days are behind us. Then we will have to wait till spring. I should feel fortunate because my fellow riders north of the Mason Dixon line are just about already done for the season. They can go ride, of course, but they have to start loading up on cold weather apparel because with the speed it makes it tough to enjoy the wind you generate, it gets a little chilly. So lets all think about asking our state legislators to set up a law to have one weekend day a month for just riding. It just might clear their heads!

Mother Nature Doesn't Forget

What a weekend for riding, the weather was picture perfect! Blue sky, middle 70's, little breeze, low humidity, even the dogs didn't bark as you rode by they just wagged their tails. The Lowcountry this time of year is the best place to be in the Nation, no question about! But come this Tuesday, we get reminded again of what can happen living here on the Carolina Coast. A little disturbance by the name of "Ida" is going to pay a little visit to our area. The good thing is that Ida won't be a Hurricane when it gets here, just a Tropical Storm. But get ready for some serious rain, and I mean rain. One of the amazing features of these systems is the amount of rain they produce. Unlike big fronts and storms that produce large amounts of rain that will eventually drain their system of water, Hurricanes and Tropical storms are like engines that keep generating and producing rain. The only way that the rain stops is when the storm moves out of the area!

So come Tuesday, better get back inside on your trainer because unless you like riding in nonstop hard rain, it's going to be a mess outside. We just about made it this year. The Hurricane season last from June to November and we had clear sailing (or ridding) this whole season. I guess this is Mother natures way of saying, "And you thought I forgot about you?"

Become a Speed Demon Next Spring

If there is a bright side of coming off of Daylight Saving time (getting dark at 6pm) it is that your training gets into another "mode of workouts". This is the time for some serious inside training on your bike trainer. Forget about jumping on your bike after work to ride a good 20 miler. That won't happen for another 5 or 6 months. You need light from the sun, not car headlights. So, as I mentioned, the bright side of this change with inside training is that you can really build up a spinning base for next season. The trick is to plan out a training schedule based on time spinning to give you long solid days of fast cardio and leg conditioning. One hour a day on your trainer for just 4 or 5 days can really prepare yourself for some serious results in the spring.

Weather permitting, you can still set aside a good ride outside for Saturday or Sunday. But on the weekdays, try to keep a log of your time (instead of miles) that you train. You can log about 120 hours for these off season months putting down some fast pedaling speed. You do this and come next spring you will be the road riding bullet of your town.