Adairsville to Horn Mountain

 (Gary, Peter and Derek)

Garmin Connect Ride Data
Garmin Ride Summary:
Distance: 55.25 mi
Elevation Gain: 2,683 ft
Moving Time: 03:23:52
Avg Speed: 16.3 mph
Max Speed: 32.6 mph

Group: Gary, Derek, Peter and me

The Ride: Sweet ride because I got to ride with the guys for the full course of miles or should I say they rode down at my new Saturday pace today. The route was also a nice change from weeks of riding at the brewery and today we enjoyed cycling out to Horn Mountain where we each did the ascent at our own climbing pace. The climb is rather short, but it does have some spots at 15% gradient that brought me off the saddle while using my 34 ring/28 cog ratio. Although it was still warm today at least it was not as hot a few weeks ago, but I still unzipped my jersey to let the heat out on the climb up. Gary and Peter were waiting for me and Derek at the top and on the fun descent I did my usual conservative pace down the hill, but still had a good time. Down at the bottom from there until the store stop along Everett Springs Road is a fabulous stretch of road partially through the state park and with a downward trend. The three of us had our turns at the front, but it was one section that paralleled a creek on one side that had slight curves left and right that to me had such an incredible view. It was a cycling thing that I noticed. Gary, Peter and Derek were in a moment of speeding through the curves and me just slightly at the back I noticed how they had they were in perfect unison with how they leaned in the curve, their cadence was the same with their legs in sync. They looked like a team that had worked years together. Oh well it is hard to describe something like this and only a cycling addict could appreciate how great it is to ride with others that know how to control their bikes well.

After the store stop and the weather still feeling great we headed out on a long highway stretch heading back to the cars. As we were just a few miles outside of Adairsville, I was at the front and I noticed a long way in the distance what looked to be a guy walking toward us on the opposite side of the road in a house robe. As we got a little closer I noticed the robe was open and it looked like he had a speedo suit on. As we got a little closer we unfortunately noticed that he was not wearing a speedo at all. Not sure if he had been working in the meth lab all night and needed to get out for some fresh air or if he was in some sort of religious ceremony in his birthday suit and clean white robe. Anyway you just never know what you might encounter out on the back roads of rural Georgia.

This was a very nice ride today. I am glad to have had these guys to ride with and for the past couple months or more I have been off the back of the group riding solo, but today I had company for the whole route and though it may have been conversation paced I still racked up a good bit of time in Level 3, Level 4 and one little sprint (not a full effort sprint - just a fun sprint) with Gary toward the end.


Horn Mountain Climb: A 2+ mile climb with a couple 15% gradient sections that brought me off the saddle.
    Duration:      21:33
    Work:          220 kJ
    TSS:           31.9 (intensity factor 0.942)
    Norm Power:    179
    VI:            1.05
    Distance:      2.542 mi
        Min    Max    Avg
    Power:           38    308    171     watts
    Cadence:         41    152    62     rpm
    Speed:           4    17.6    7.1     mph
    Pace             3:25    15:05    8:29     min/mi
    Hub Torque:      17    411    189     lb-in
    Crank Torque:    23    494    247     lb-in


Sprint with Gary: Just a fun moment toward the end on a straight hill section.
    Duration:      0:20
    Distance:      832 ft
        Min    Max    Avg
    Power:           402    841    701     watts
    Speed:           25.4    29.1    27.9     mph
    Hub Torque:      104    191    165     lb-in
    Crank Torque:    409    879    645     lb-in

Nutrition Intake During and after the Course:(2) 24 oz. bottle of water with Hammer Heed,BCAA and Glutamine, (1) Cliff bar (2) Acel gels (1) 20 gram Whey protein post ride recovery drink

The Weather:  Partly cloudy, 89 (feels like 94 according the Weather Channel), humidity 52%, winds SW 6 mph

Bike: Look 585

Power Summary: (Based on Coogan's Levels)
Summary Table of Minutes of Duration in Each Training Zone
  Level   Minutes       TSS
      1      2.65      0.37
      2     76.17     47.50
      3     81.84     95.58
      4     33.26     41.56
      5      0.00      0.00
      6      1.95      6.97
      7      6.38     42.89

Overall Power Data:
Entire workout (114 watts):
    Duration:      3:23:47 (3:49:51)
    Work:          1388 kJ
    TSS:           235.8 (intensity factor 0.842)
    Norm Power:    160
    VI:            1.4
    Distance:      55.25 mi
        Min    Max    Avg
    Power:           0    841    114     watts
    Speed:           0    33.2    16.1     mph
    Pace             1:48    0:00    3:43     min/mi
    Hub Torque:      0    411    62     lb-in
    Crank Torque:    0    879    137     lb-in