Day 176 - New Average Speed PB

Back on the Roubaix feeling especially good this morning, that was until I hit the first of my 3 hills on my climbing circuit out to Colyford. The Roubaix definitely takes less energy to move forward but I think I've underestimated the gearing quality of the Crosstrail which makes climbing so easy and down hill rides so quick.

The Crosstrail has 3 chain rings to the Roubaix's 2, which means that while there is potentially less gear changing to do on the Roubaix, the Crosstrail is more forgiving if you select the wrong gear .. yes I'm still getting used to the Roubaix's gear ratios as I'm tending to go too far through one chain ring before moving up to the next, leaving me either spinning on the pedals or juddering to a halt!

Setting off in such good spirits, I had expected to beat my Seafront Sprint2 Strava record of 21.8 mph .. this is the one that Andy took from me a month or so ago, putting in an impressive 24.4 mph .. but I could only reach an average of 21.5 mph over the half mile run, a difference of just 1 second over the distance. What is more frustrating, is that my quickest time was on the Crosstrail, I think this may be because as there is a down hill start to this segment, its increased weight adding greater forward momentum to launch me into the level straight .. that's my excuse anyway! 

Seafront Sprint2

What was pleasing on this ride was beating my previous average speed for any circuit (over 5 miles) of 13.5 mph set on Day134 - 16th July, by 0.6 mph. This stat's relevance over such different circuits is probably questionable but when compared to the last time I ran on this exact route, Day 141 - 23rd July, I can see that my average speed is up 2 mph, taking over 4 minutes of the 7 mile circuit. So while a small improvement, it is certainly a move in the right direction!

Stats: 6.95 mi, 29m 29s, Avg 14.1 mph, Max 32.8, 391 kcal