{"id":187,"date":"2025-08-10T13:06:57","date_gmt":"2025-08-10T20:06:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/?p=187"},"modified":"2025-08-10T15:42:54","modified_gmt":"2025-08-10T22:42:54","slug":"back-in-the-saddle-20-rides-2-bikes-and-a-clear-direction-forward","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/2025\/08\/10\/back-in-the-saddle-20-rides-2-bikes-and-a-clear-direction-forward\/","title":{"rendered":"Back in the Saddle: 19 Rides this Summer and a Clear Direction Forward"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Building off the momentum from \u201cStill Climbing\u201d (May 20, 2025), this post picks up where I left off &#8211; 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.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back on May 20, 2025, I wrote <a href=\"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/2025\/05\/20\/still-here-still-climbing\/\">Still Climbing<\/a> \u2014 a post about rebuilding momentum through better nutrition, discipline, and small, daily wins. While I can&#8217;t say that my nutrition has been on point, I have tried to keep my serving sizes reasonable &#8211; 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&#8217;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&#8217;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>From Commitment to Momentum<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BluIvdHhNbg\/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BluIvdHhNbg\/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==\">2011 Trek Speed Concept<\/a> &#8211; a <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Time_trial_bicycle\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Time_trial_bicycle\">time trial bike<\/a>. The last 9 rides have been on the 2012 Specialized Roubaix that I inherited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"735\" src=\"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_6173-1024x735.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-196\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_6173-1024x735.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_6173-300x215.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_6173-768x551.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_6173-1536x1103.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_6173-2048x1471.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_6173-418x300.jpg 418w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since the Roubaix entered the scene &#8211; mind you I had not ridden a road bike in at least 36 years &#8211; it\u2019s a whole different world. It&#8217;s not as aerodynamic, it definitely makes me work a bit harder &#8211; while I get stronger, and it&#8217;s a fun way to get back into enjoying something that is healthy for me to do!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Breaking Down the Numbers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Metric<\/th><th>TT Era Avg<\/th><th>Roubaix Era Avg<\/th><th>Change<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Speed (km\/h)<\/td><td>28.58<\/td><td>28.72<\/td><td>0.5%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Distance (km)<\/td><td>17.34<\/td><td>21.73<\/td><td>25.3%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Elevation Gain (m)<\/td><td>102.37<\/td><td>104.91<\/td><td>2.5%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Moving Time (min)<\/td><td>36.44<\/td><td>46.21<\/td><td>26.8%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"614\" src=\"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/speed-over-time-1024x614.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-185\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/speed-over-time-1024x614.png 1024w, https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/speed-over-time-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/speed-over-time-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/speed-over-time-1536x922.png 1536w, https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/speed-over-time-500x300.png 500w, https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/speed-over-time.png 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"614\" src=\"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/distance-over-time-1024x614.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-180\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/distance-over-time-1024x614.png 1024w, https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/distance-over-time-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/distance-over-time-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/distance-over-time-1536x922.png 1536w, https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/distance-over-time-500x300.png 500w, https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/distance-over-time.png 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"614\" src=\"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/elevation-over-time-1024x614.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-181\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/elevation-over-time-1024x614.png 1024w, https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/elevation-over-time-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/elevation-over-time-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/elevation-over-time-1536x922.png 1536w, https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/elevation-over-time-500x300.png 500w, https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/elevation-over-time.png 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"614\" src=\"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rolling-speed-3ride-1024x614.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-184\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rolling-speed-3ride-1024x614.png 1024w, https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rolling-speed-3ride-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rolling-speed-3ride-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rolling-speed-3ride-1536x922.png 1536w, https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rolling-speed-3ride-500x300.png 500w, https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rolling-speed-3ride.png 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019ve enjoyed following this comeback journey, you can ride along in real time by following me on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.strava.com\/athletes\/612973\">Strava<\/a>. Every mile, every climb, and every small victory gets logged there \u2014 and the story continues beyond the blog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Data downloads:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-4c7cab46-865d-43b1-a238-07b78f46225f\" href=\"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ride_summary_20.csv\">ride_summary_20<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ride_summary_20.csv\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-4c7cab46-865d-43b1-a238-07b78f46225f\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-562b6a30-eaa2-4cad-b026-efe897195b4f\" href=\"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/era_means.csv\">era_means<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/era_means.csv\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-562b6a30-eaa2-4cad-b026-efe897195b4f\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Building off the momentum from \u201cStill Climbing\u201d (May 20, 2025), this post picks up where I left off &#8211; towards the end of the school year. I ended up tracking 19 bike rides this summer. It may not seem like &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/2025\/08\/10\/back-in-the-saddle-20-rides-2-bikes-and-a-clear-direction-forward\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":185,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34,35],"tags":[7,5,6],"class_list":["post-187","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cycling","category-training-log","tag-blog","tag-fitness","tag-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=187"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/185"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=187"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=187"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fityak.com\/fityak\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}