First time this year on the Darmstadt-Ludwigshoehe-Frankenstein-Felsberg-Melibokus-Jugenheim-Darmstadt circuit - with Brendan. 50km, at least 1050 hm
Brendan said he wanted to break his 54min record from Eumetsat to Frankenstein. He rode like the clappers through the woods to HeidelbergLandstr and I tried to sit on his wheel. He's difficult to follow 'cos you can't see anything in front and he makes kamikaze attacks on pedestrians :-) Had to sprint to get back on his wheel after turns and pedestrians. I was wondering how/if I could keep up on the climbs then, just after sprinting over the bridge over the B3, I heard heavy breathing in front and knew he was starting to blow, hoho. Crossed Hdlbrgstr and started to climb towards Ludwigshohe and he grunted something and eased up. I moved to the front and rode up at a more comfortable pace - phew, that was relief! So I then made him suffer a bit the usual way through Bollenfaltor woods and down to the Mill. There are a few trees down so you have to jump off the bike, hoist it over the tree and jump back on as quick as poss, just like the old mtb races in the UK.
Riding up above the mill, met another mtber who was clearing the path - some tosser had tossed Sperrmull - a pram and furniture in the middle of nowehere. Unbelievable how thoughtless and stupid some people are.
Rode the pussy's route up Frankers (i.e. the schotterweg, instead of the steeper short-cut trail) and left B well behind. Got to the castle to find it had been invaded and occupied by the US army so couldn't get water. Time from Eumetsat was 56 mins, so no record broken. Waited 3m30s for Brendan - he must learn to pace himself! On the other hand I felt pretty strong all the way up, despite the tedium of the schottertrail. I prefer the shorter harder way - there are more changes in terrain to keep my mind occupied.
We set off from the castle at a more leisurely pace up to the top of the stony path. Now the fun begins! A bit uncomfortable on the stony path - first time this year - but no crashes or dabs for either of us. Then down the great downhill to Ober Beerbach. Path is quite tricky at speed at the top 'cos you have to ride on a 10cm ridge above the ruts. Shortcuts have been blocked. Then had to take avoiding action for a dropped bottle (now Brendan's) and a suicidal red squirrel, which luckily (for me and the squirrel) I didn't hit. If it had taken me out and I'd survived I would have had to finish it off with my bare hands in revenge - sometimes you've gotta show nature who's boss :-)
Chain-off as usual down-shifting and turning right for the short steep climb in Ober Beerbach.
Stopped at the restaurant at Steigerts (or is it Stettbach?) for water but they were closed and the outside tap was off. Onwards to Kuralp where we got water.
Then up the nasty climb to Felsberg. It's severely washed out now so requires concentration most of the way up. Slowed right down and took some deep breathes before the final push (metaphorically of course!) up the steep bit at the end. This had a nice solid surface and is now quite wide next to the steps so not so bad as it used to be. And now, big fun number two as we blasted along and down the singletrail towards Melibokus. I had two moments on this. First, I sensed a stick flick into my front wheel, but luckily the loud crack was the stick breaking as it was pushed onto the forks - so no high-speed over-the-bars exit. Second, as usual, overran the corners on the lower part into the loose sticks and stones and had to let B past. The final section to the bridge is now v scary because last summer's wash out has been replaced with loose stones, like a railway track, and my back wheel was skittering all over the place as I rode down as fast as poss. I seriously wondered if I'd punctured but it was just the loose stones.
Now a nice gentle cruise up Melibokus, quick water refill at the spring, and then the steep path to the top. Felt a bit wasted and dizzy on the path but did it ok. Noted that I felt much worse on this at heart-rate less than 90% than on Frankers with heartrate more than 90%. Presume I was on my fat metabolism by this time.
Had a look at the new steep path of the top and decided to take the wimpy way out - B crashed on it last time and I've not done it yet and we were just feeling wimpy anyway. Headed down the usual steep trail and I wimped out on this eventually. Brendan showed me how to do it with a great out-of-control run down the final 10m which he brilliantly and triumphantly survived while I grovelled about with foot out and finally walked the last bit - oh dear, I must practice and get good at this again. It seems that I find these v steep bits harder since I changed my fork and put the bars up. It doesn't make sense.
Next, down the N ridge at hyperspeed but Brendan left me behind until he had to stop quickly after running off the path. I'm always nervous on this bit - the semi-loose rocks and rubble are so unpredictable and a crash would be extremely painful. Onto the high-speed schotter, with the usual moments and then the nice single trail again and my Polar beeped at me furiously to remind me that it was full and I should have deleted old files - damn! So the profile and graphs stop near the end of the Melibokus downhill and omit the slog home.
We kept a pretty stiff pace down to Jugenheim, traverse to Seeheim and then hit the Bergstr for home. Lots of cute girls in Seeheim this eve! Brendan split for home at Malchen and I rode back to DA on the road at highish-speed - I still felt strong all the way.
Felt strong all the way round. Spinning and Saturday's training must have paid off. I think that I do really need to train hard (i.e. at high intensity) to get fast. The low/medium intensity stuff doesn't really work for me apart from burning fat maybe. But I did this ride on a bottle of weak long-energy and a cheese roll an hour beforehand without needing to feed so must be burning fat anyway.
A great ride, Brendan and I always have fun on this route.
Total distance approx 50km, at least 1050 hm, total time approx 3h40m. Not bad for an evening ride.
57km, 1300HM
Usual spinning group with Ricardo. Running (@120rpm) pyramid intervals 3m, 4m, 5, 6, 7m. Then slow pedaling up to >90%, then straight back to running. Finished with 30s all-out speed/power intervals. Phew! Not feeling as tired as usual after, but sore legs, so must have been doing something right. Also surprised that I could run (i.e. pedal standing with no resistance) for 7 mins. Pedal technique must be improving but cadence was relatively low (120!!) and music was even better than most of the excellent music he uses; the final running interval was at more than 130 and much harder.
