Several of us are planning  a 7:30 am start for the Solvang Double Century this Saturday. I took a look at my training log to see what happened last year. The following chart shows my heart rate, speed and altitude during the first 35 miles. I was doing fine riding with the group of 42 riders who started together. We lost some of them on the first real hill at mile 18. Going down the first real descent at mile 19 was difficult because I had a very hard time keeping up with the two tandems. It took considerable effort on my part to latch back on. I thought I would solve that with the second climb at mile 20 by going out ahead of the pack. I did not get enough of a lead because the tandems and fast riders passed me on the descent and even though I was driving my heart rate into the red zone I could not get connected to them after they passed by. I finally gave up trying because I was getting totally wasted. It is clear that I gave up the chase by looking at my heart rate.

By mile 35 I had averaged 21 mph. For the whole event I averaged 19.6 mph.

My plan for 2008 is to go ahead on the first hill so I don’t have to chase them on the first decline. It is not possible for me to jump on a train that passes me going downhill, so my only chance is to be near the front on the 2nd climb and hug a wheel. The problem is I just don’t have the weight to be able to keep up on the longer descent. It might be another lonely ride.

Click this graph to view enlarged.

Categories: Ultra Cycling Events
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