Rule #1 of any ride over 2 hours --> always bring enough nutrition. I re-learned this one the hard way today. I didn't expect to be out there for much over 2-2.5 hours, as we were only doing 48 miles. Boy was I under-prepared! Much of the ride was climbing in the foothills, which is not only slow going, but a LOT of power output. Add into the mix the fact that I went off course by 6 miles, and you're looking at a round trip of 60 miles instead of 48, and nearly 4 hours in the saddle as opposed to 2.5. Doh!
Looking at the graph, you can see my power levels drop off right around the 3 hour mark... or you could see it if the the green cadence data wasn't in the way. Sorry about that. Anyway, that's a "bonk." I ended up having to stop at a convenience store and pick up a candy bar and a Coke for some quick energy. I was descending Lookout Mountain Road, and could feel my legs shaking with fatigue. On the last couple of climbs, I was in the lowest possible gear, and barely churning out 50 rpms on my cadence. It was miserable. Needless to say, I was cooked.
My training stress score (TSS) for the ride was just over 300 with an intensity factor (IF) of 0.95. That probably means nothing to most of you, but that's a pretty tough workout according to my Cycling Peaks Software. I'm considering taking tomorrow off entirely. Might do an easy run if I feel up to it, and if work permits.
A candy bar and a Coke? Don't be a fattie! (Inside ST joke, folks!) Sounds like a tough ride, man! We'll have to do it sometime when I get up to Big D.
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