Road, Gravel, & Mountain - XL-Size Cycling

I always feel guilty about recovery weeks.  I have researched and fully understand the importance and value of the recovery time.  I get it.  But I still feel guilty and uneasy about these. Now that I have surrounded myself with bikes and made cycling a key part of my daily life, I have an hourly visual reminder to go cycle.  So I have to constantly remind myself to not go commute to and from work, to not go ride at the trail, to plan the weekend differently, etc. It's all good though.  This week, I am doing some micro rides, where I am trying to not push at all.  I am doing weights and long walks.  I am also trying to catch up on some sleep.  I am driving to work and back, getting reacquainted with my cars, traffic, satellite radio, and phone calls.  And this experience makes me realize that while I really like mike cars, but I LOVE my bikes!  The more I am staying away from my bike routine, the more I want to do it ne...

When things get busy with the family and work, unfortunately cycling becomes a challenge. Especially on the weekends. Then it becomes a catch 22.  Less cycling.  More fatigue.  More eating.  Less sleeping. And then there is traffic.  In Silicon Valley and generally in San Francisco Bay Area the traffic is pretty bad.  It usually takes between 60 and 100 minutes to drive 35-37 miles to work and the same amount of time to get back home. This is where bike commuting makes a huge difference for me.  I figured out a model where I do a three-stage commute: bike --> train --> bike. Here is how it goes: Stage 1: Bike to a Caltrain station.  After trying several routes, I came up with two most viable options: Option A.  Ride to San Jose Diridon station that is 8 miles away.  It takes about 35 minutes.  It is the first station where the train route originates, so it usually allows me to get a good seat and a bike ...