Schedules rule our lives, don\’t they?

Get up at such and such a time in the morning; and have something to eat; then get ready to ride. After the ride, hustle through breakfast;

Enjoy Life Breakfast Ovals

and then get ready for the ride to work. It\’s pretty monotonous; and I long for the time when my days can be less regimented.

Schedules sometimes aren\’t possible to use. I\’ve seen century training plans that prescribe increasing day-to-day mileage. At my present pace, I don\’t have the time for the distances given; and I can\’t increase my pace fast enough to cover those miles in the time that I do have. I\’m in a double bind; so I have to invent my own plan.

Last July I worked up a training plan for a century ride; and hoped to be ready for October 9. Then, when Love to Ride announced Cycle September, I thought maybe I could do the big ride in September. My day would have been long, and my pace likely slower than I wanted; but I expect I could have done those miles.

Hurricane Ida put paid to that notion. After the storm, I spent a week with no pedaling at all; and an exercise bike is no subs

titute for riding a bicycle. I knew I wasn\’t going to be ready for a century in October; and I don\’t think I\’m ready yet; but, just perhaps, I can do it next month?

A lot depends on the weather. Cold is one thing; but add in rain and wind, and it will be a long, miserable day. I remember too well the conditions I dealt with the day I did my first century. I\’d rather not repeat that!

A Good Plan?

I\’m trying to stick with a regular schedule of different types of rides: work on my pace one day; \”just ride\” the next day; and on the day after that, do force work. The following day is an easy ride. Is that a good plan?

As I already said, schedules sometimes can\’t be followed. In fact, the cyclist in training is advised to allow for flexibility in his or her schedule; and not to panic if something interferes with the plan. Things happen, after all: colds; injuries; or (heaven forbid!) COVID.

If I can\’t do that 100-mile ride next month, it\’s not the end of the world. I\’ll be behind schedule; but that\’s nothing new!

Entrained?

I wish I knew more about the schedules of various railroad companies. Today I left work an hour early, because I needed to take the road bike to the shop. I took my usual route home; or rather, I began that way. I had to wait for a train. I caught up with its tail end; and as I approached the second crossing away from home, that dratted train stopped.

If only it had moved forward about six more cars, the crossing would have been clear; and of course there was no telling how long the train would sit there. I had to backtrack and take a detour home. It turned out to be the right call; but what an aggravation!