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<p>Just wondering who else (everyone?) has specific workouts that act as a guage of current fitness. In my case, it's a standard bike route, and yet so much more than that, as I realized on my last such attempt. There are rules that must be followed for this particular workout to be a true fitness guage. So I thought I'd air my neurosis and give you the rules and guidelines of a "Ridgefield Ride."</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Not every ride from my house to the town of Ridgefield and back is entered in the training log as a Ridgefield Ride. If I soft pedal to Ridgefield and back it's just a 23.5 mile bike ride - it doesn't provide any indication of my current riding ability, see. The point of a Ridgefield Ride is that it is an all-out effort to see how fast I can get to Ridgefield and back. As such, it must be a best effort every time, with no route deviations. And of course, there are many other rules and guidelines:</p>
<p> </p>
<ul><li>The route if fixed, no deviations. If a deviation is forced (construction, etc) the ride no longer qualifies as a Ridgefield Ride.</li>
<li>Minimizing total ride time is paramount. How this is achieved is irrelevant, subject to the other rules. The point of this rule is that 100% effort is not required if you think that 85% effort might result in an overall faster ride time. Generally, though, you ought to finish feeling totally spent.</li>
<li>The ride may be declassified from a Ridgefield Ride to an ordinary ride if, in the first 4 miles, it becomes apparent the legs don't have it today (4 miles is just after the first hill). After the 4 mile mark, the ride may only be declassified for circumstances out of your control (mechanical, construction, etc). See exception next.</li>
<li>To avoid discouraging riding at greater than 100% effort (i.e. "oops, too hot"), an exception to the above rule may be granted if the legs completely implode with more than 2 miles remaining. In this case, the ride may be declassified, although it is encouraged to mention the original intent of the ride in the training log notes. This exception specifically does NOT apply to a "leg fade." Anything other than a complete and utter ride to failure must still be entered as a Ridgefield Ride.</li>
<li>No warm-up allowed.</li>
<li>Bike computer is set to auto start/stop, only because that's how I always ride.</li>
<li>Stop signs may be rolled when safe (this ride is mostly farm country), stop lights (there are 3) must be obeyed. Timing the lights is highly encouraged.</li>
<li>Equipment and clothing must be USAT legal, otherwise no restrictions.</li>
<li>No unforced stops (rest breaks) allowed. Dropping a water bottle or other "semi-forced" stops are a judgement call, see next rule.</li>
<li>Weather (including wind) is specifically precluded from ever being used as grounds for declassifying a Ridgefield Ride. No excuses, Pansy!!!</li>
<li>A forced stop lasting long enough for the heart rate to drop below Z2 may be grounds for declassifying the ride. Judge makes the call (that's me, but it has to be an "impartial" decision on my part). Stoplights do not qualify.</li>
<li>Vehicular drafting is allowed, but never in the vehicular lane itself (must be in the bike lane or along the fog line). No drafting off other cyclists.</li>
<li>It is not required this be a solo effort, but is highly encouraged. A rabbit or a hunter could provide a mental boost, therefore any PR set with a ride partner would have an asterisk applied.</li>
<li>An ordinary ride may be upgraded to a Ridgefield Ride at any time, including after the clock has stopped, as long as all other rules were met.</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<p>I'm probably leaving out a guideline or two, but that's the bulk of it. Basically, I need to decide at the ride start whether or not this will be an attempt at a new Ridgefield Ride PR. I have 4 miles to change my mind, after that I pretty much have to see it through to the end.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My goal for quite a while has been to average 20 mph for a Ridgefield Ride. Best so far (last summer) was 19.7 mph. So far this year I haven't even come close.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Anyone else do this? I don't really have anything this elaborate for running and nothing even remotely resembling it for swimming. I pretty much leave racing to guage my fitness in those two.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Not every ride from my house to the town of Ridgefield and back is entered in the training log as a Ridgefield Ride. If I soft pedal to Ridgefield and back it's just a 23.5 mile bike ride - it doesn't provide any indication of my current riding ability, see. The point of a Ridgefield Ride is that it is an all-out effort to see how fast I can get to Ridgefield and back. As such, it must be a best effort every time, with no route deviations. And of course, there are many other rules and guidelines:</p>
<p> </p>
<ul><li>The route if fixed, no deviations. If a deviation is forced (construction, etc) the ride no longer qualifies as a Ridgefield Ride.</li>
<li>Minimizing total ride time is paramount. How this is achieved is irrelevant, subject to the other rules. The point of this rule is that 100% effort is not required if you think that 85% effort might result in an overall faster ride time. Generally, though, you ought to finish feeling totally spent.</li>
<li>The ride may be declassified from a Ridgefield Ride to an ordinary ride if, in the first 4 miles, it becomes apparent the legs don't have it today (4 miles is just after the first hill). After the 4 mile mark, the ride may only be declassified for circumstances out of your control (mechanical, construction, etc). See exception next.</li>
<li>To avoid discouraging riding at greater than 100% effort (i.e. "oops, too hot"), an exception to the above rule may be granted if the legs completely implode with more than 2 miles remaining. In this case, the ride may be declassified, although it is encouraged to mention the original intent of the ride in the training log notes. This exception specifically does NOT apply to a "leg fade." Anything other than a complete and utter ride to failure must still be entered as a Ridgefield Ride.</li>
<li>No warm-up allowed.</li>
<li>Bike computer is set to auto start/stop, only because that's how I always ride.</li>
<li>Stop signs may be rolled when safe (this ride is mostly farm country), stop lights (there are 3) must be obeyed. Timing the lights is highly encouraged.</li>
<li>Equipment and clothing must be USAT legal, otherwise no restrictions.</li>
<li>No unforced stops (rest breaks) allowed. Dropping a water bottle or other "semi-forced" stops are a judgement call, see next rule.</li>
<li>Weather (including wind) is specifically precluded from ever being used as grounds for declassifying a Ridgefield Ride. No excuses, Pansy!!!</li>
<li>A forced stop lasting long enough for the heart rate to drop below Z2 may be grounds for declassifying the ride. Judge makes the call (that's me, but it has to be an "impartial" decision on my part). Stoplights do not qualify.</li>
<li>Vehicular drafting is allowed, but never in the vehicular lane itself (must be in the bike lane or along the fog line). No drafting off other cyclists.</li>
<li>It is not required this be a solo effort, but is highly encouraged. A rabbit or a hunter could provide a mental boost, therefore any PR set with a ride partner would have an asterisk applied.</li>
<li>An ordinary ride may be upgraded to a Ridgefield Ride at any time, including after the clock has stopped, as long as all other rules were met.</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<p>I'm probably leaving out a guideline or two, but that's the bulk of it. Basically, I need to decide at the ride start whether or not this will be an attempt at a new Ridgefield Ride PR. I have 4 miles to change my mind, after that I pretty much have to see it through to the end.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My goal for quite a while has been to average 20 mph for a Ridgefield Ride. Best so far (last summer) was 19.7 mph. So far this year I haven't even come close.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Anyone else do this? I don't really have anything this elaborate for running and nothing even remotely resembling it for swimming. I pretty much leave racing to guage my fitness in those two.</p>
<p> </p>
