Here in the Missoula office we have been tracking the amount of daylight available for post work activities such as bike rides. With daylight-saving time, we received a much-needed boost to our 1 hour and 15 minutes of post work light. Since then, we have been gaining about a minute and a half of extra time in the sun after work each day. (Note: graph not to scale).
Climate Ride California is only two months away which means it is time to get out on some longer rides. The equinox is a perfect time to really shift your training into gear for Climate Ride.
According to our calculations, in Missoula, MT we will have 2 hours and 49 minutes of daylight after our workday ends at 5:00. That is just enough time for a Post Work Ramble. The following are items needed for a Post Work Ramble: at least 2 hours of post work daylight, front and rear bike lights, an extra tube, pump, tire irons, a sandwich, a recycled bottle, the PWR template and an extra layer.
Follow these simple steps to complete a PWR:
Step 1: Get off work
Step 2: Gather your bike stuff and make a sandwich
Step 3: Copy this template, place it on the ground oriented to the north, and spin bottle to determine ride trajectory
Step 4: Ride for one hour in template designated direction
Step 5: After one hour, eat your sandwich
Step 6: Ride home in the opposite direction as designated by template
Next Thursday, my graph shows that I will have 3 hours of post work light so I will add that ten minutes to my riding time. If repeated each week until the ride, I will be comfortably riding for 3 hours and 20 minutes not including the sandwich break. Depending on wind and hills in the direction I go, and the type of sandwich I eat, 3 hours and 20 minutes is enough time to go 40-50 miles.
The California Ride has mileages between 48-80 miles a day. This may seem like a lot of miles if you aren’t an experience cyclist but when you break it up into four 16 mile mini rides, 64 miles is a much more attainable goal. Or you can simply think of it as two Post Work Rambles. As you can see by Blake’s Route Rap of day four, there are plenty of places to stop, rest, and refuel along the way. The PWR is a great way to get used to being on the bike for extended periods of time while incrementally increasing your ability to ride further.
A weekly PWR, daily bike commutes, and a long weekend ride can easily add up to over 100 miles a week without seeming like you are training for the Giro d’Italia. Partaking in a PWR is a great way to enjoy the extra sunshine, enjoy the spring, and enjoy the rides!
Patrick Colleran is Climate Ride’s Logistics and Rider Coordinator. In addition to Climate Ride, he is currently and perpetually training for his next big bike tour, mountain bike season, a double century and his local cyclocross series.