The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Day 12

Day 11 was an off day, but I did walk 1.16 miles at work. Something is better than nothing.

So, after an off day, my legs felt good and I was ready to ride. I jumped on and settled into a brisk, steady pace. But something wasn't right. I had only been going for about 10-12 minutes and my legs were aching something hurtful. I checked the stats on the onboard computer and zoinks! I was clipping along at 15 mph!

Wrong gear!

I didn't notice at the start because I had the fresh legs, but it didn't take long to make me look like a fool.

I knew I was screwed, so I decided to turn it into a mini time trial, and see if I could tough it out for 30 minutes. I managed, but I am spent.

Time: 30:07

Distance: 7.23 miles

Avg. speed: 14.6 mph

Max. speed: 24.5

Music: Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine

Relevant lyric: "Just a fading fucking reminder of who I used to be"

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Cumulative Experiment stats:

Time: 5:05:23

Miles: 65.63 miles

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I also clipped off 2.32 miles walking at work, so that may have had something to do with the early ass kicking. Still working on that whole "balance" thing . . .

I'm out-
KWass

The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Day 10

Day 10 of the Experiment was a double bonus.

I took a snow day from work today, so I had a little extra time on my hands. And, since yesterday was an off day, I had a little extra energy as well. As I descended the basement steps, I wondered if I could squeeze out 15 miles. The result:

Time: 1:13:32

Distance: 15.15 miles

Avg. speed: 12.3 mph

Max. speed: 23.5 mph

Music: Book of Love - Lullaby and Erasure - Erasure

Relevant lyric: "Just look at the state of you . . ."

____________________

Cumulative Experiment stats:

Time: 4:35:16

Distance: 58.4 miles

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I also stepped on the scale again, and the results were encouraging.

Previous weight: 222 lbs

Current weight: 218 lbs

That 4 pound drop is all sweat equity too, because other than cutting out sodas, I'm still eating the same kind of crap I was before. And since I haven't eaten yet today, I am probably going to eat some crap tonight as well. All in due time . . .

I am halfway to my goal of 50 miles this week and have 4 more days to reach it. Things are going well.

I'm out-
KWass

The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Day 8

Longer. Faster. Farther.

Today was a great session, although the muscle fatigue was pretty pronounced. I started out strong, and then the pain set in and lingered between the 10 and 20 minute marks. It eventually faded, and I finished the last 25 minutes pretty well. Hopefully it's a sign of improvement that I was able to push through it.

Time: 48:30

Distance: 10.63 miles

Avg. speed: 13.1 mph

Max. speed: 25.1 mph

Music: Stars - In Our Bedroom After the War

Relevant lyric: "Sorry to be so heavy, but heavy is the cost"

____________________

Cumulative Experiment stats:

Time: 3:21:40

Distance: 43.25 miles

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Week 2 is off to a great start. Day 9 is likely an off day because Alex has another diving meet pretty far from home and the weather report is not promising, but you never know . . .

I'm out-
KWass

The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Day 7

What a difference a day makes. I felt great on the bike today. In fact, the only real reason I stopped was because I couldn't sit in the saddle anymore. Yes - my ass hurt. Fat ass - skinny bike seat. I'll let you figure it out. It was by far the longest and farthest ride of the experiment, and hopefully it is a sign of things to come.

Time: 49:34

Distance: 10.13 miles

Avg. speed: 12.2 mph

Max. speed: 24.7 mph

Music: Owl City - Maybe I'm Dreaming

Relevant lyric: "It's cheap transportation to a new destination"
_____________________

Cumulative Experiment stats:

Time: 2:33:10

Distance: 32.62 miles

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After week 1, I am pretty happy overall, and I look forward the mileage numbers increasing.

I'm out-
KWass

The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Day 5

I fully intended on riding tonight, but ultimately decided that I had to listen to the screams of agony coming from my quadriceps. I have to get out of the mindset that rest is a bad thing.

I like the idea of a two-pronged attack (walking and riding), but I need to figure out the right mix. I cranked out some great distance walking today, but then I nixed the ride. Maybe I have to decide each day where the bulk of the effort is going to go and back off on the other. Either that, or I just need to keep hammering and wait it out until I am actually in shape again.

Pedometer count: 10,500

Another nice round number. I should start playing the lotto.

Day 6 is a scheduled off day. See you Sunday.

I'm out-
KWass

The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Day 4

Day 4 was a semi-scheduled day off from the bike (Alex had a diving meet tonight that was a scant 90 miles from my condo), but I did manage to get in some decent distance in the walking department.

Pedometer count: 11,149

I got a long, brisk walk in at lunch (4828 steps), and another decent one (2578) later in the afternoon.

As I was saying yesterday, it's hard to balance the need to rest and recover with the need to maintain focus and momentum, but I have to be sensible. Riding in the morning instead of the evening was possible, but not feasible. It would have been less than 10 hours between rides, and I was already pushing it physically. I like the fact that I was able to replace one exercise (biking) with additional work in another (walking), and I am happy with my overall effort so far.

Like Depeche Mode said over 25 years ago - get the balance right. 25 years? Damn.

Cumulative stats have been compiled and will be included in tomorrow's blog post.

I'm out-
KWass

The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Day 3

Stubborn pride is all that got me through tonight, because this one kicked my ass.

Maybe I should have taken a night off instead of forcing the issue, but after 2 years (more than that, really) of taking nights off, I am afraid I will lose this momentum if I do that.

Suck it up, buttercup. What do we love? PAIN!

Time: 36:08

Distance: 7.77 miles

Avg. speed: 12.9 mph

Max. speed: 18.3 mph

Music: Nik Kershaw - You've Got to Laugh

Relevant lyric: "That's the limit, that's enough"

I did manage to squeeze in a few steps today as well. Not great, but better than none, and more than I ever used to do.

Pedometer count: 7873

And, as promised, I stepped on the scale this morning. I was naked. I bought it several years ago and it's not even digital, but it will suffice until I get one of those high tech baddies that measure you down to the ounce.

Weight: 222 lbs

Weight will be more of a weekly stat. Sadly, 222 is actually the lightest I've been in a while. I am Fat Bastard.

Tomorrow I will begin calculating cumulative stats and averages, because how cool will it be to look at this a few months from now and see a big ass number for total miles?

I'm out-
KWass

The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Day 2

A little bit slower today, but also a little longer and a little farther. Given that my legs were sore all day from last night's ride, I'll take it.

Time: 35:02

Distance: 7.53 miles

Avg. speed: 12.7 mph

Music: Vox Acerbus Best of 2009

Pedometer count: 6393

I had 2 long staff meetings today so I didn't walk during the breaks, but that was probably a good thing. I'm sure I couldn't have gone as long or as far as I did on the bike tonight if I had.

Tomorrow morning I will weigh myself and I'll start posting that as a stat as well. It's embarrassing, but sometimes that's what it takes. A little humiliation goes a long way.

I'm out-
KWass

The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Day 1

And so it begins.

I didn't start off all crazy - I wanted to be able to walk tomorrow, and it's been a good 20 months since I've been on a bike. But, I may have already overdone it, because walking back up the stairs was an adventure. We'll see how bad it is in the morning when I try to get out of bed.

Time: 32:26

Distance: 7.19 miles

Avg. speed: 13.3 mph

Music: Ellis Paul - Translucent Soul

Relevant lyric: "I'm letting go because holding on's killing me . . ."

It probably didn't help that I also walked about 2 miles during my work breaks today.

Pedometer count: 10,000

Yes - exactly 10,000, the recommended daily allowance. I couldn't hit that bulls eye again if I tried.

Day 1 is in the books, and most times, just getting started is the hardest part. Overall, I am humbled yet encouraged, and I certainly look forward to these numbers increasing.

I'm out-
KWass

The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Introduction

After much soul searching (in the form of standing on a scale, renewing 7 (yes, 7) medications at the pharmacy, turning 40, and getting my ass chewed by my physician), I am ready to begin the Basement Bike Experiment of 2010.

About 4 years ago, I spent about $250 on an indoor fluid trainer. It's pretty bad ass. And it's still in brand new condition, because I practically never used it. Check it out below:


I mounted my road bike in it and I was ready to hit the ground running (OK, rolling).



But alas, the wireless computer set up on the rear wheel was nonfunctional. Dead battery!



OK, a trip to the store and a new battery later, I was ready to ride. WTF? Bike computer still didn't work. I Googled the user manual for the Specialized Elite Turbo and discovered there is also a battery in the transmitter.



One more trip to the store for another different kind of battery, and now, I was ready to log some miles. Still - no dice. I re-Googled (I am copyrighting that term and I want a nickel every time someone says it) the user manual and read all the specs on the alignment between the transmitter and the magnet sensor on the wheel screw, and got it all lined up.



Cash money! It works!

And what better time to begin than. . . tomorrow!

Each day's performance (or lack thereof) will be documented here. One - it holds me accountable, and two - it gives me something to blog about. I only posted once in 2009 because I suck.

Also, for additional motivation, I am rereading "Heft on Wheels: A Field Guide to Doing a 180" by Mike Magnuson. He and I can't get more similar in our circumstances than we are (or were).

Stay tuned . . .

I'm out-
KWass