Back-To-Back Rides

In addition to the Zoo Run, I did a lot of cycling this weekend. Today, I completed the second of two fairly long bike rides. I did about 46 miles yesterday and 55 today for a two-day total of about 100 miles.

Saturday's ride started at 9:15 AM on the Trinity Trails. After a 3.5 warm-up ride (and hunt for a bathroom), Jonathan G and I headed south on the trails towards Lake Benbrook. It was the same route as two weeks ago. I was happy to average 16.3 MPH because I had already run the Zoo Run 10K earlier in the morning. I did the nasty hill in Lake Benbrook park twice to get some hill training in.

Sunday's ride was with Plano Cycling's MS150 team. Derek and I thought it would be a good idea to get to know some of our teammates, but in reality there were over a hundred people there representing various MS150 cycling teams (Plano Cycling, Richardson Bike Mart, EDS). It was a nice day - warm, but with some cloud cover - and with all the people it had the feel of an official bike rally.

The route started from Legacy Business Park, went past Stonebriar Country Club, through Main Street in Frisco, down Virginia Parkway through Stonebridge Ranch, then a loop along country roads that took us north of Hwy 380, and then back to Stonebridge Ranch, a pass through Craig Ranch and all the new development there and finally back to EDS.

Route map: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http://pages.andrien.com/2008-04-2087km851m.kml

As you can see below, the course was hilly in spots - with over 2,000 feet of total ascent/descent.


We also had some wind out of the south/southwest, so the first half of the ride was definitely easier and faster than the second. (Note all of the instances of 20+ MPH speeds before Mile 35 and their virtual disappearance in the last 20 miles).


I completed the total distance of 54.6 miles in 3 hours and 17 minutes (a 16.3 MPH average). Derek arrived about 25 minutes later - held up by (yet another :-( ) flat tire and a broken shifter/derailleur cable that caused him to finish the last 7 miles in the highest gear on his rear sprocket. Very good considering the hardships.

With the consecutive rides under my belt, I am pretty confident that the 150 miles should not be complete torture - especially since it will be done at a slower pace and with rest stops and lunch breaks. (However, according to the maps, it looks like the MS150 will actually be closer to 160 miles :-P)