Building off the momentum from “Still Climbing” (May 20, 2025), this post picks up where I left off – towards the end of the school year. I ended up tracking 19 bike rides this summer. It may not seem like much but it is about 1000% improvement over the past 2 years.
Back on May 20, 2025, I wrote Still Climbing — a post about rebuilding momentum through better nutrition, discipline, and small, daily wins. While I can’t say that my nutrition has been on point, I have tried to keep my serving sizes reasonable – even though it is Summer Vacation. (At least until tomorrow.) That mindset has carried me to start riding my bike again on June 17th. It wasn’t pretty, and frankly hurts quite a bit getting used to sitting on a saddle, but here I am. I am working out at least a few days every week and I’m getting back into something that I enjoy doing! So for those of you who like to geek out on data, its gotten to a point where the numbers tell their own story. This is the next chapter in my climb to take back control of my health.
From Commitment to Momentum
In May, the goal was simple: rebuild the habits that had once made me feel unstoppable. I logged in 19 rides Summer. The first 10 rides were ridden on my 2011 Trek Speed Concept – a time trial bike. The last 9 rides have been on the 2012 Specialized Roubaix that I inherited.
Since the Roubaix entered the scene – mind you I had not ridden a road bike in at least 36 years – it’s a whole different world. It’s not as aerodynamic, it definitely makes me work a bit harder – while I get stronger, and it’s a fun way to get back into enjoying something that is healthy for me to do!
Breaking Down the Numbers
| Metric | TT Era Avg | Roubaix Era Avg | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed (km/h) | 28.58 | 28.72 | 0.5% |
| Distance (km) | 17.34 | 21.73 | 25.3% |
| Elevation Gain (m) | 102.37 | 104.91 | 2.5% |
| Moving Time (min) | 36.44 | 46.21 | 26.8% |
If you’ve enjoyed following this comeback journey, you can ride along in real time by following me on Strava. Every mile, every climb, and every small victory gets logged there — and the story continues beyond the blog.
Data downloads: