My intentions was to ride easy because my right lower back was killing me, both knees were not feeling well and legs were sore... I took out my Scott Foil Premium Di2 Race bike for the first time in 6 months! Heading out into the wind was not helping me, I was feeling slow and the speed was proving it! The bike was feeling good and I decided to push it and let the bike do what it is supposed to. Being windy and cool I needed to warm-up so after 1.5 miles I started to rev up the engine once I got to 4 miles and turned out of the direct headwind I was able to really get moving. My breathing was a little out of control. So I worked on controlling that and at the same time getting my power up. A few more miles I was starting to feel pretty good, so I decided to continue the effort. At this point the wind was at my side so I was not hurting so much. I could feel the pressure I was putting on myself but the bike was feeling so good I kept going. I wanted to see how my legs would feel going up Pointville Rd. I did this same ride last week on the TT Bike and was able to fly up it to my surprise! Well, I wasn't able to fly up it this time but I didn't go as hard as I could, mainly because my lower back and knees started to hurt really bad about 3 miles back when I started back into a headwind for the last 9 miles... I think I could have hit it much harder if the pain wasn't so intense. After this hill I backed off my effort for the rest of the ride 6 miles.
***********
What I found out yesterday after the race, I can use a road bike, so I will be using this bike for the High Point Mountain Climbing TT Race in 2 weeks, I will change the cassette for my Wednesday Hill Training ride on Hill Rd in Chesterfield, NJ, my goal is to do 2 complete down and back loops. I will put on a 11-32 cassette with a 52/36 chainrings if this isn't enough to climb those hills without going all out I will change to a 50/34 chainrings which I also have. I want to be able climb these hills seated and only stand if my speed becomes to slow or need a boost in speed. So, I will do these hills for a total of 3 different workouts, ( this coming Wednesday, Saturday and following Monday) to determine which will be the best setup and training. I've done it with the same current set up on my Specialized Tarmac Di2 and I know I can't stay seated on any of those climbs and nor do I think if put all those hills together as one could I stay standing the whole way, not this early in the season! Hey Albert, are you or anyone else game for these hill training rides? We can work out the logistics later, let me know! Today's ride was another fun adventure, the great adventure continues...