Brewery to Horn Mountain - 80 Mile Training Ride

Garmin Connect Ride Data
Garmin Ride Summary (totals):
Distance: 80.8 mi
Moving Time: 05:05:39
Avg Moving Speed: 15.9 mph
Max Speed: 37.5 mph

Group:
80 Mile Group: Neal, Kit, Glenn, Peter, Richard, Gary, Mike Q., Ron, Rod, Darren and me 
55 Mile Group: Diane, Mike R., Jamie, Nancy, Alan, Edgar, Jack, Tim and Derek

Goal: Rack up some decent time in L3

The Ride:
What an interesting day for me. I was forewarned early in the week by my wife that if I was to do an eighty mile training route not to mess around and get on home. Believe me I did what I could and yet the fate of the day made for some unexpected changes. More of that later.

Eleven of us started from the brewery at 8 am and with the time change the sun was just barely up and yet the temperatures felt nice to me at 51 degrees (F). I was wearing my new Free-Flite Jersey and shorts with no warmers and enjoying the warm up. We kept a moderate to calm pace on our way over to Adairsville to pick up the 55 mile group and then head on toward Horn Mt.

With twenty people in the group it seemed tight and congested to me, but still a great group that I trust to hold their line. Yet it was still difficult to see pot holes and potential hazards. I am not sure of the name of the one road, but it was very rough and had quite a few holes and humps to dodge. At one of the turns the group stopped at a church and I kept on going toward the Horn Mountain climb. Climbing Horn is when some of the stronger caught me and a new guy, Darren, looked like he was breezing up this short steep challenge. On the descent Jamie, me and a few others took off again and once again I ended up in solo mode for a very long time on Everrett Springs Road or better known to cyclists as the "Pocket". Once again a small group caught me and went on by.

I passed the store stop and ate while on the bike and kept as good a pace as I could in some head winds. I messed up when the route on the Garmin map crossed itself and instead of going straight I turned and headed back on a road that we used coming out. I thought something did not look right and by the time some of the features looked familiar there were too many miles to go back. This also caused me to lose a little time, but then after leaving Adairsville a female cyclist, later found out her name is Jane, yelled to me and asked if she was near the brewery. I knew she was lost in a bad way because she said she was on the marked 31 BBC route. We were no where close to that area.

I was thinking about the my goal to get home quickly, but there was no way I could just abandon Jane. I slowed down on the "75 Hill", which is a long straight climb that parallels I-75 so that she could at least keep me in sight. For the remaining miles I had to keep a watch and not get too far in front of Jane so she would not take a wrong turn. I know when the two of us rolled into the brewery parking lot she was very appreciative and the guys waiting for her were as well.

I did not mind sacrificing some training time to help a fellow cyclist find the way back. It is the right thing to do and I know there have been so many times in my newbie days that have helped me out. It is the least we cyclists can do for each other whether it is strangers or friends.

It all worked out. I rushed home to upload the ride data and jot down my thoughts of the day.
As usual I am blessed to have my cycling friends and the sunny warm day is a blessing. Blessed to be cycling!

Nutrition Intake During and after the Course: ~52 oz.of water with Maltodextrin,Hammer Heed, BCAA and Glutamine, (1) Hammer gel (2) Cliff Bars (1) 40 gram Whey protein post ride recovery drink .

The Weather: Sunny, Start @ 51 degrees, End @ 78 degrees

Bike: LOOK 585, Garmin 705, Powertap wired

Power Summary: (Based on Coogan's Levels)
Summary Table of Minutes of Duration in Each Training Zone
  Level   Minutes       TSS
      1      8.15      2.98
      2    141.33     84.85
      3    104.64    114.20
      4     42.67     53.64
      5      0.00      0.00
      6      2.20      7.83
      7      6.57     21.93

Overall Power Data:
 Entire workout (120 watts):
    Duration:      5:09:30 (5:22:20)
    Work:          2197 kJ
    TSS:           314 (intensity factor 0.791)
    Norm Power:    158
    VI:            1.32
    Distance:      81.254 mi
        Min    Max    Avg
    Power:           0    588    120     watts
    Speed:           0    38    15.7     mph
    Pace             1:35    0:00    3:49     min/mi
    Hub Torque:      0    44    6     lb-in
    Crank Torque:    0    924    138     lb-in

Climbing Horn Mountain
    Duration:      17:04
    Work:          202 kJ
    TSS:           30.5 (intensity factor 1.036)
    Norm Power:    207
    VI:            1.05
    Distance:      1.747 mi
        Min    Max    Avg
    Power:           0    362    198     watts
    Speed:           0    10.1    6.1     mph
    Pace             5:58    0:00    9:46     min/mi
    Hub Torque:      0    44    22     lb-in
    Crank Torque:    0    556    270     lb-in