Yesterday, I summarized my running year. Today I will cover biking. I was quite surprised by the numbers for 2020. I was expecting them to be below those for 2019, because I never completed a full build for an Ironman race. These Ironman builds includes lots of time in the saddle, covering lots of miles, so I thought the 2019 numbers would be bigger. Anyway, here are the statistics (numbers in parentheses are the equivalent 2019 numbers):
- Total Number of Rides = 160 (143)
- Total Distance = 3,706 miles (3,792 miles)
- Total Elevation Gain = 113,576 feet (113,333 feet)
Essentially, my total numbers were identical from 2019 to 2020. I did slightly more rides to cover the same miles and elevation gain, which again reflects the lack of an Ironman build.
Even though I covered the same distance in 2020 as I did in 2019, my power curve improved quite a bit. I increased my FTP by over 5%. I was very happy with this improvement, considering I am a year older and also a few pounds lighter in weight. My peak power improved at every time interval, with some large gains coming at the shorter time intervals. I am getting stronger on the bike and a winter of big gear work, definitely helped.
My overriding memory of biking in 2020 however, was the decision to go exploring on my bike. I rode a lot of new routes this year. I found some great stretches of road and some very challenging hills, including a Strava segment called the Whitestown Road Wall (grade >25%). That hill is a beast.
On these rides, I also took on the challenge of finding old barns to photograph. I found dozens over the summer, some of which were absolutely beautiful. I found old run-down barns, newly renovated barns and even a barn that had alpacas. Exploring new roads, to find these hidden treasures of Western Pennsylvania, was a highlight of my summer.
Overall, I am very happy with where my bike performance is at. I feel stronger on the bike and also have made improvement to my bike to make it more aerodynamic. I am really looking forward to seeing how all this pays off, in 2021 races.