010309 - Bike

Got out this morning for a nice ride in the 35 degree weather.  Thanks to my wife for the cool weather bike clothes because I need to get outside for some riding.  I headed out for 1 hour and went straight to Rock Creek Park for 4 hill repeats and a ride around the Beach Drive, Ross Drive, Ridge Road Loop.  I kept my HR average to 148, but my HR monitor says my max was 205.  I have to say I really like this route, but it takes about 15 min. of stop and go riding to get to a place where I can move consistently.  That is the situation with City riding, I guess...

I noticed that while climbing the hill, my HR was often in the 170-180 range.  The hill I am doing repeats on is Tilden Street between Beach Drive and Connecticut Ave.  The climb is 1/2 mile and the ascent is 200 feet.  Some of the sections are 12% and 18%  grade and it is a bitch to get up seated.  After doing the four repeats, I hit the loop so I could move at a good clip.  I felt really good on the loop and was able to really power over the small rollers in the park.