Blown Away!

I knocked off nearly 3 minutes from my 2008 PR on Skyline Drive from entrance station to Dickie Ridge VC. I had intended to go long today in prep for 6 Gaps of VThttp://www.northeastcycling.com/six_gaps.html in a couple of weeks but...wanted a yardstick for my cycling fitness level. Last year I went all out, hit 203 BPM HR and got a little over 27 min. 4 miles, 6% grade, blah blah. I have been calculating my avg power based on this. New numbers: 24:23. My total weight is nearly the same. I am lighter but bike was loaded for an epic Century. I did recently install my XT mountain triple crankset in fear and AWE of the Lincoln Mt 24% grade in VT. I am thinking that the longer 175mm cranks worked better for me that the 170mm compact road double crankset I have been using. Cadence was similar but I went FASTER!!! I have been reading a bit on crank length so it was sorta expected but not to the extent today. Analytic cycling comes up with about 242W average. Peak could be close to 300. Maybe the longer pedal path with a longer crank allows more work to be developed from a human prime mover. This year HR max=194. And that came late in the climb. I knew things were different when I passed landmarks 3 minutes ahead of typical all the way up. I wonder what I can do with a warmup? Got to Hogback Mt fast too at 1:50 but at a muted pace, I did want to ride 100 miles today. There was the price to be paid though. My Century died at 50 miles. I couldn't sustain that hammer pace 100 miles, especially when I forgot my Hammer gel at home. Legs croaked.I think I need some Perpetuem too for the 134 mile sufferfest in Vermont. Felt good at home though and rode around several more miles including towing my 2 year old twins.