My Winter Cycling Training Programed called for a 2 and 1/2 long indoor trainer ride, or I could do a long ride outdoors. Since this was a rare rainless weekend in Oregon, so I choose the long ride outside.

And to challenge myself, I decided to ride 200 kilometer Randonneurs USA Permanent, but not just any Perm, but the one I broke my leg on two years ago. I also decided to ride it alone as I intended to hit it hard and fast for as long as I could. This was a training ride after all.

The route starts in Hillsboro, west of Portland and north of where I live. It was an hour’s drive to the starting location. I drove through lots of cold, freezing fog but in Hillsboro the fog had lifted into low clouds. It was still cold as I started the ride.

I wore all of my winter cycling clothing – two base layers (one long sleeve), a long sleeve jersey and then a neoprene cycling jacket I call the “super soaker” because it does not breath. The sweat just runs down the sleeves. I wore two layers on my legs along with my winter cycling shoes. None the less, I was cold before I started, but the four layers kept me warm during the ride.

Elevation

The route was a simple out and back – Hillsboro to Dallas and back with a stop in Dayton each direction.

As you can see, the route is mostly flat with a few minor hills. After a few warm up miles riding out of Hillsboro, I increased my effort and rode very hard all of the way to Dayton, a “control” where I had to stop and have my RUSA card signed. Along the way, I came upon the only other bicycle rider I saw during the day. Too bad I had set my mind to ride hard as I passed and dropped him. After Dayton, the route is very flat until Perrydate. From there all of the way to Dallas are some nasty rolling hills.

Power

Heart Rate

I did very well on the first leg to Dayton – my average speed with 17.7 miles per hour, my average power was 158 watts and my average heart rate was 132 beats per minute. Leaving Dayton, I attempted to keep the same effort, but I did drop just bit. The last leg back to Hillsboro is where I really suffered. My power dropped, but my heart rate remained the same. To be honest, I was very glad to see the end of the ride.