Sunday, July 09, 2006

Great ride today!

My training buddy David and I started on the road at FIVE-FRICKIN'-THIRTY this morning and had a beautiful day for a long ride! We ended up with 78 miles with a 16.1 mph moving average (14.3 mph including all stops) deposited in the Bank of Ironman. Our route took us mostly around the Bay Hundred peninsula to the small waterfront towns of Claiborne and Tilghman and Neavitt. My back cooperated and didn't get too cranky on me, and David flagellated me unmercifully when I started slacking, which was entirely appropriate. :-) Actually he was very encouraging and kept me moving much more briskly than I would have on my own. Good job, pardner!!

Then we headed around the edge of Easton over to the road to Oxford.

Toward the end of our ride we had a nice rest break taking the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry across the Tred Avon River. It's the nation's oldest privately operated ferry service. Bicyclists crossing pay $3. It's a popular scenic cycling route around here, but this is the first time I've done it other than in a car.



Buttercup wants me to buy a boat now.

Ride notes: 4 large-size 24-ounce bottles of water, 3-4 Succeed capsules, and a truckload of food (apricots, cashews, and a Powerbar) kept me pretty well hydrated and fueled for that distance, without negative side-effects. Powerbars suck to try to eat when you're thirsty, though. I would have needed more water on a hotter day, probably, about a bottle per hour in that case. A couple of pre-ride ibuprofen helped too, although I don't want to make a habit of that unless I need to. Keep the watch timer set on 10-minute intervals for a reminder to stretch and hydrate - that seems to help me a lot when I pay attention to it and do it.

16 comments:

TriBoomer a.k.a. Brian said...

What, you didn't swim across the Tred Avon river while the bikes crossed on the ferry? ;-)

Great job on the 78 miler and keeping up with you nutrition.

Nancy Toby said...

Well, it's true it's only 3/4 mile ... but it's thick with jellyfish. Ugh. Actually near the ferry landing was the original site of the Eagleman half ironman!

Jonah Holland said...

awesome nancy! questions: how did you carry all that water? did you have a camelback? i think you should teach buttercup to swim, then you won't have to bother with the ferry at all.

Ellie Hamilton said...

Steve and I took that ferry last fall when we were in your area for ChesapeakeMan. It was great. Something really different.

Comm's said...

very cool ride today. Makes my 50 seem so puny. You are making such great gains Nancy.

Nancy Toby said...

Triathlonmom:

I have an aerobottle, 1 bottle in the frame, and 2 bottles on the back (which you can see in the photos).

Fortunately the bike gets lighter during the ride!!!

I don't think Buttercup likes stinging jellyfish. I know I don't.

Bolder said...

beauty ride, eh!

(workin' the canadian accent)

nancy, nancy, nancy.

bike porn AND boats. i can only handle so much. these posts may need to come with a warning.

Iron Pol said...

Nancy, how does that tube mounted water-bottle work for you? I've avoided mounting anything on The Pol-R Express and just use the dual seat-post mount. I'm fine for about 60 miles, than have to find a source of liquids. A 3rd bottle would get me another hour or so.

Awesome job on the ride. Of course, I can't do that on Sunday, unless I go to church in my cycling clothes.

Shaun said...

Wow. Great Ride.

On long rides, I always have a problem with the fluids actually getting hot in their bottles. Do you freeze your bottles the night before, or do you use any kind of thermal bottles?

Nancy Toby said...

Pol:

It works fine! I find it's a lot easier to get that one in and out than the one behind the seat. I especially love my aero bottle - I should have gotten one ages ago. Much more convenient than juggling bottles, and pretty easy to squirt into it to refill.

You just need to find a little more liberal church!! :-)

Nancy Toby said...

Shaun:
No, not at all! In fact I put my bottles on the bike the night before.

I actually almost always drink room-temperature fluids (except my morning coffee!). Train like you race, race like you train, and all that. Plus it uses more energy to cool down cold drinks to body temperature! I need every bit of my energy for pedaling!

Dawn - Pink Chick Tris said...

Great stuff. Keep going lady!

the Dread Pirate Rackham said...

lucky you -- a ride and a ferry? Can I come to your house?

Herself, the GeekGirl said...

Gawd, you live in SUCH a beautiful place. How lucky are you?

Chris said...

Yikes, that's an EARLY start for a long ride but you can't beat those deposits in the IM bank account!

Love the pictures. I've said it before, but the area where you live in gorgeous!

Fe-lady said...

Yeah! Makes me hungry for water...I saw lots of it back in Ohio...even wanted to swim in Lake Erie...!
You are going to do SO well!!!