Saturday Dec 31 Cish 10 am departure.

[barton bourassa]

Time to get back at this. Going longish and steady, 85 K this weekend with just a bit of elevation. My plan for these rides is to work back up to 100 K, adding 5 K or so each week. Then at the beginning of February continue to increase the distance but add in some higher heart rate, higher intensity sections. We'll determine a 5 K section about 3/4 of the way thru the ride and go at our own pace at high threshold from a predetermined point to a predetermined point. These sections will increase 2 or 3 K each week but will likely always be nearer the end of the ride. We will always regroup and finish together.

I'd like to build up these Saturday rides to something a little less social (just a little!) and a little more training focused so we can work on getting stronger and stronger. This is part of an overall training plan I have in mind (totally unscientific and amateurish but anyway!) to focus on a late season fondo. I'll build in hill repeats and speed during the week.

So, for the next four or five Saturdays, LSD.

This weekend's route: https://www.strava.com/routes/6729476

Start at 7 AM from Discovery Coffee on Menzies near Michigan.

Barton.

[Mikael]

Thank you for organizing this Barton. It looks like a wonderful ride to finish off the Festive 500 and 2016. I am looking forward to it.

I recognize that it may not mesh with your plan but knowing how supportive you are I hope that you will forgive me:

I wonder if we can be a little extra social on this one ride and hope that our friends who experienced mishaps on their bikes this year ride with us for all or some of it. I think that it would be nice to celebrate their recoveries.

Mikael

[myboys]

I'm in! Maybe not the whole ride but see you dark, and early.

Mary

[barton bourassa]

The rides thru January will be the usual social type all together rides like we have been doing so far. As the rides get longer and we add the 5 K + tempo sections the idea is to still all be together until we hit the designated point to take off then regroup after the designated termination point of the tempo is reached. We'll figure it out and modify as needed! Thanks Mikael.

Barton.

[John D]

I'm in depending on the weather, which is currently calling for an overnight low of zero for Friday night. I'm hoping to make it through to 2017 without my (seemingly) annual Xmas-week crash.

J.

[barton bourassa]

Yes, John. I have been watching the weather also. I am hoping it is pessimistic! Or at least a low dew point.

BB

[barton bourassa]

Change of plan due to inclement weather, that is, anything below 2 C!

Departing Disco on Menzies near Michigan at 10 AM and heading up the Peninsula. 85 K.

The route: https://www.strava.com/routes/6792343

BB

[myboys]

Barton, I've been obsessively checking figbug.com/weather since six a.m. (I didn't see your update until this morning), and it's still -0.7 here, my deck is icy, and there is frost everywhere. I wanted today to be my re-entry into the world beyond my couch where every chocolate is within arm's reach. But unless something changes, soon, I may be forced to go running.

Maybe I'll see you, maybe not.

Mary

[barton bourassa]

Cancelled! I am too old to fall! Like Canadian corporations, risk adverse.

Barton.

[myboys]

Barton, wise decision. Now I'm seriously thinking of that run. But that would require getting off this couch, which is highly questionable.

Cheers

Mary

[barton bourassa]

We are meeting for coffee at Disco at 10. See you there? I am driving there!

Barton.