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Training Up

Training Up 🚴‍♀️

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Want to ride a century? Train up!
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Long rides require adequate nutrition

In late 2011 I began earnest preparation for a 100 mile ride — on an adult tricycle. I had read quite a lot about the importance of proper nutrition and hydration on long rides;

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and I took along various snacks and drinks to try while on my Sunday long rides. I needed to know what tasted good during long rides; and what would work.

For example, I quickly discovered that cold weather does not keep chocolate in any form from getting very messy on a sunny day. Some foods became distasteful late in long rides; and some electrolyte drinks tend to taste too strong as the miles rack up. I also needed to scout out places where I could make pit stops; and buy water and snacks if needed.

With the week-to-week increasing mileage I naturally noticed the wind much more; and the constant battle with it was both frustrating and exhausting. In fact, the wind that season seemed to be unusually strong and persistent. Or maybe I just noticed it more than I ever had because of the wind resistance caused by my “ride”. Whichever it was, I decided I needed some assistance in fighting that wind; especially with a 100-miler coming up.

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A great help when you've got headwinds

Early in 2012, I had the trike fitted with a three-speed hub. No gain without sacrifice, as the saying goes: the three-speed meant no longer having a freewheel; but it gave me a lower gear that let me spin at a higher cadence while working against the wind.

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Although such spinning made me feel out of breath faster, it was easier on my legs. I also had a higher gear that let me push harder and go faster the rare times when it wasn’t windy; or when I had a good tailwind. On occasion I’d manage to hit 15 mph!

Several weeks later I was out riding, and it was another breezy day. It took me almost four hours to cover 31.35 miles. I noted that, at that rate, I’d need at least thirteen hours to complete a century. Prophetic words, as it turned out. It was at about the same time that I was introduced to the concept of interval training. I did what I could in the few weeks remaining before the planned century, which unfortunately wasn’t much.

A week before the century I was out for a practice ride, and again battled stiff (and cold) headwinds almost the entire time. A few miles before the end I finally got a tailwind. I could shift to high gear and really get moving: 13 or even 14 mph! Then a glance in my rearview mirror showed a car coming up from behind. On that wide tricycle and in a narrow street, I felt obliged to pull over as soon as possible to let cars get past, despite the aggravation and inconvenience of losing my hard built-up momentum. This vehicle turned out to be a … police car. The cop had his window down and bellowed at me, YOU’RE SPEEDING!!! before he drove off. It’s my funniest memory out of the 11,500+ miles on three wheels!

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