All I can say is Oh my gosh I am having fun. These last two days have been very rewarding.
We rode from Tucson to tombstone over a really difficut pass and then from tombstone to willcox
over another difficult pass plus we had massive head winds that even the most expierenced cyclist
found difficult.
So, Sunday on the way to tombstone my legs felt like led from the very first mile. It was not long
before people were passing me and at a speed I could not latch onto. I kept telling myself that it was the
first day and one of the hardest. I did not go mental but slowly kept trudging along. I should mention that
almost all of the first 33 miles are uphill including the sonorria pass. I reach the rest stop 3 miles from the
summit to find that I am 15 min behind the next slowest rider and 30 from the next group. In order to keep
the group within the time limits I am sagged 3 miles to the top of the pass. I am okay with this and it does not
bother me. I know I could have made the climb if there had been no time constraints.
From there we hit a substatial 20 downhill to rolling hills trending downward. Susan r catches up with me and
we play cat and mouse to the lunch stop. There were still many people at lunch so I felt good that I was back up
with the group. The next 10 miles would climb another 1000 ft or so thus I got back on the bike to get to Tombstone
with the group.
The day was beautiful and the temps moderate. If it reached the 70s then it was a cool 70 as I wore my longsleeve
shirt under my jersey and leg warmers allday.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Day 1 Pre Ride to Saguaro Park
Ok I don't know how much blogging I will b getting done this week. The day is very full and I am ready
for bed. Had a good day. The bike came together pretty good thanks to sid from Canada and Eddie from
berkly ca. Cycled to the sagurao national park by myself. I am glad I was alone so I could go easy at my
own pace. I did 38 miles. Well I am falling asleep while typing so I will try to add more later.
for bed. Had a good day. The bike came together pretty good thanks to sid from Canada and Eddie from
berkly ca. Cycled to the sagurao national park by myself. I am glad I was alone so I could go easy at my
own pace. I did 38 miles. Well I am falling asleep while typing so I will try to add more later.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Arrival in Tucson
So, I made it! The first step in my journey to my transcon. I am not
as nervous as I thought I would be. The flight here was uneventful.
It was very nice to step off the plane into warm sunshine. I arrived
too late to get my bike from storage so I will have to put it together
tomorrow. I have already met several riders that will be riding this
week as well as many who have been here for week 3. We belong
to a very tight community. I met several people here that know pam
and Dan from LSR and Matt settle from VA. There are several cyclist
here that have already completed transcons in previous years. I do
intend on learning a bunch from them. I also met Veronica who will
be crewing this week and for the transcon. For whatever reason I find
that comforting.
I am headed to bed but I willtry and keep updating the blog daily.
Btw I am blogging on my iPod so excuse my typos please
as nervous as I thought I would be. The flight here was uneventful.
It was very nice to step off the plane into warm sunshine. I arrived
too late to get my bike from storage so I will have to put it together
tomorrow. I have already met several riders that will be riding this
week as well as many who have been here for week 3. We belong
to a very tight community. I met several people here that know pam
and Dan from LSR and Matt settle from VA. There are several cyclist
here that have already completed transcons in previous years. I do
intend on learning a bunch from them. I also met Veronica who will
be crewing this week and for the transcon. For whatever reason I find
that comforting.
I am headed to bed but I willtry and keep updating the blog daily.
Btw I am blogging on my iPod so excuse my typos please
Thursday, March 4, 2010
My Pretty Blue Bike has started its vacation!
After a cold and dreary winter with lots of sub 45 temps and lots of indoor trainer miles, my pretty blue bike is on its way to Tucson. I sure hope it makes it okay. The bike case is humongous! It is a crateworks tandem case. I decided to ship the bike instead of tryng to fly with it before I saw how big the case was. Boy, was that a good decision. I would hate to try and lug that big boy around an airport.
I was filled with a lot of anxiety when I left Jim's after the case was packed. Jim is in a cast after his surgery, but he has a scooter he can get around on. He was able to direct me in how to pack the bike, but was not able to help get it in the case. So, it was all up to me to get it packed. Boy, I hope and pray I packed it right and it ends up in the disassembled pieces that I know about and not any more! Then a dread came over me about the upcoming ride. I just can't believe that Desert Camp is here! I have been training for over a year now, and I am a completely different person physically today than I was a year ago and even 3 years ago when I attended Desert Camp the first time.
I know I can do this ride. It is scary though. I have no idea how to climb mountains nor do I know how to get down them. But that is what this trip is all about. Training for the mountains. I am just jealous that my pretty blue bike has started the trip without me!
BTW, to see pics of the Desert Camps that are currently going on log on to www.pactour.com. You will see a link for each week. Look for me on week 4!
I was filled with a lot of anxiety when I left Jim's after the case was packed. Jim is in a cast after his surgery, but he has a scooter he can get around on. He was able to direct me in how to pack the bike, but was not able to help get it in the case. So, it was all up to me to get it packed. Boy, I hope and pray I packed it right and it ends up in the disassembled pieces that I know about and not any more! Then a dread came over me about the upcoming ride. I just can't believe that Desert Camp is here! I have been training for over a year now, and I am a completely different person physically today than I was a year ago and even 3 years ago when I attended Desert Camp the first time.
I know I can do this ride. It is scary though. I have no idea how to climb mountains nor do I know how to get down them. But that is what this trip is all about. Training for the mountains. I am just jealous that my pretty blue bike has started the trip without me!
BTW, to see pics of the Desert Camps that are currently going on log on to www.pactour.com. You will see a link for each week. Look for me on week 4!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Knee pain messes up 300k
Well, not the best cycling day.
Pat, Matt, Doug, LeRoy and I all started my Natchez Trace Lil Mountain 300 k in very cold 30 something weather. The forecast was for the temps to reach the low 60s. The start was very cold. I guess I was thinking 60 and not 30 at the ride start!
For whatever reason, I started having knee pain behind my knee at mile 12 of what would end up being a 159 mile ride. I am guessing I have started sitting lower on my seat and thus I am closer to the pedals which would cause pain behind the knee. I am also still having problems with my q-rings. If I am riding alone, I can find a cadence that is smooth. If I try to pace someone, I pedal with a pronounced dead spot.
I made the first 60 miles in 4 hours 10 min. I had thought about turning around at that point, but since I was making really good time, I decided to keep going. The next 30 miles I cycled really strong. I could not always match Pat's accelerations, but I could catch up to him eventually. Legs, minus the knees, felt really good on the hills and I made it up Lil Mtn without a problem even with the knees singing.
The next 30 miles my knees started really hurting all over. I slowed down considerably and decided to quit at mile 126. I knew I could make it in, but I was afraid how bad my knees were going to be if I kept going. Doug and I exchanged some texts that were not well timed. I thought he was picking me up and he thought I was staying in Kosy. He did come and get me and I feel really bad about it. He and his wife were extremely gracious to get me after he had already made it home. As my knees are killing me today, I am glad I did not have to keep riding the final 30 miles.
The bright spots of the ride were seeing many blue birds and a couple turtles. There were several deer that passed between Pat and I on the way out early in the morning. It finally warmed up after about 40 miles and was really nice. I was comfortable in my patagonia underlayer and my yellow vest most of the day.
BTW, Doug and LeRoy now have the course record at 12 hrs 54 min.
I am getting concerned that I can actually accomplish riding across the US. I am glad I still have over 4 months to train.
Pat, Matt, Doug, LeRoy and I all started my Natchez Trace Lil Mountain 300 k in very cold 30 something weather. The forecast was for the temps to reach the low 60s. The start was very cold. I guess I was thinking 60 and not 30 at the ride start!
For whatever reason, I started having knee pain behind my knee at mile 12 of what would end up being a 159 mile ride. I am guessing I have started sitting lower on my seat and thus I am closer to the pedals which would cause pain behind the knee. I am also still having problems with my q-rings. If I am riding alone, I can find a cadence that is smooth. If I try to pace someone, I pedal with a pronounced dead spot.
I made the first 60 miles in 4 hours 10 min. I had thought about turning around at that point, but since I was making really good time, I decided to keep going. The next 30 miles I cycled really strong. I could not always match Pat's accelerations, but I could catch up to him eventually. Legs, minus the knees, felt really good on the hills and I made it up Lil Mtn without a problem even with the knees singing.
The next 30 miles my knees started really hurting all over. I slowed down considerably and decided to quit at mile 126. I knew I could make it in, but I was afraid how bad my knees were going to be if I kept going. Doug and I exchanged some texts that were not well timed. I thought he was picking me up and he thought I was staying in Kosy. He did come and get me and I feel really bad about it. He and his wife were extremely gracious to get me after he had already made it home. As my knees are killing me today, I am glad I did not have to keep riding the final 30 miles.
The bright spots of the ride were seeing many blue birds and a couple turtles. There were several deer that passed between Pat and I on the way out early in the morning. It finally warmed up after about 40 miles and was really nice. I was comfortable in my patagonia underlayer and my yellow vest most of the day.
BTW, Doug and LeRoy now have the course record at 12 hrs 54 min.
I am getting concerned that I can actually accomplish riding across the US. I am glad I still have over 4 months to train.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Olympics
I am an Olympics junkie. I look forward to getting home every night to watch the winter events. Same for the summer Olympics. I admire the athletes that give up normal life to train for years to attempt to be the best at their sport. Congratulations to all of the US Olympians that have achieved their dream by preforming a personal best after working their butt off to get there. I admire you.
Along that line, David and I were eating at my favorite Chinese restaurant the other night and he got this fortune in his cookie "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up".
I am afraid I am not fast enough to be successful on my cross country trip. I am faster and stronger than last year, but I don't know if I am fast enough. Fortunately, I still have just under 5 months to continue to train. I can't give up!
Along that line, David and I were eating at my favorite Chinese restaurant the other night and he got this fortune in his cookie "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up".
I am afraid I am not fast enough to be successful on my cross country trip. I am faster and stronger than last year, but I don't know if I am fast enough. Fortunately, I still have just under 5 months to continue to train. I can't give up!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
What a difference a week makes!
So, after my comical Franklinton ride last weekend, I got my calendar from my coach, Michelle Grainger. She is having me ramp up to my Desert Camp next month. She is wanting me to ride a 200k+ every weekend in February. Plus, the 200k+ can't be an easy flat 200k, it needs to be pretty hilly. So, that means I need to ride either the Franklinton 200k or my Roosevelt Rough Rider this weekend. I posted the fact that I wanted to ride and the guys jumped on the chance to ride Franklinton again.
Friday night I drove to McComb to spend the night with Butch and his parents. His mom made a spectacular vegetarian chili. Saturday, we got a late start towards Franklinton arriving in the parking lot at the start time of 6:30. With Steve's help, I was able to get myself ready to roll in 15 minutes. Pat, Leroy, Butch, Steve and I pulled out ready for a great day of cycling.
The temps were 10 degrees warmer (high 40s) and I wore my wool gloves instead of my gore gloves and I wore toe covers instead of my thermal shoe booties. The rest of my layers stayed the same as last weekend. Within 3 miles, I took off my wool gloves and changed them to my PI gloves and I took off my jacket and buff. After taking the layers off I felt much better and was able to catch back up to the guys.
We rode without incident to the 40 mile point at the Dry goods store to turn into the headwind. I felt the wind was much harder to ride in this week to last week. Leroy disagreed saying that last week had more gusts. I know I was cycling harder, so maybe that was the difference. Anyway, I stopped a mile or so from the store for a bio break and all the guys passed me. With the headwind, I was never able to catch back up with them. This discouraged me. How can I ride in Arizona and across the US when I can't catch up with my friends that typically ride on the flats? I argued with myself trying not to let the fact that I had been dropped like a hot potato bother me. The guys were waiting for me at the turn, but I needed to stop for a bio break again, so I knew that I would get dropped if I did not take care of my business quickly. Alas, all but Butch passed me as I was pulling up my shorts and sprinting to the bike. The worst part of being a girl riding with guys is that I have to march into the woods to pee and they just barely pull off the road to take care of their business. This easily takes me 5 minutes longer than the guys (waaa, waaa). As Pat and Steve pass me, I yell at them and call them names that would get my mouth washed out with soap had I been caught by my parents! But calling them bad words made me laugh and I was able to continue this stretch with a smile on my face and I tried to treat that portion of the ride as a big training ride. Who needs to be pulled? I am strong enough to make it without sucking on someone elses wheel!
We got to Nick's grocery and once again I hurried to get my stuff together before the guys left. It was getting colder so I put my buff and vest on before heading out with Pat. I kept up with him for the most part until we hit the Gillsburg Church and turned out of the wind. I needed to pee again, so I did not wait on the guys at the info control. This time only Leroy passed me as I was taking care of business. Eventually the guys did catch up and we rode together to Kentwood and for the most part, we rode the entire rest of the way together.
So, I really felt like I was riding strong - especially after the turn at Gillsburg Church and even more so after Kentwood. There were no mechanicals or really even anything funny to report.
We finished with a new course PR - 11 hr 13 min - 58 min better than July 4th. However, my average speed was exactly the same. This bothers me as I am not showing any true improvement. I really hope this changes soon. I know I have to be faster for my cross country ride.
Final stats:
127 miles; 9:22 ride time; 11:13 total time; 13.5 mph ave; ave cad 81, max 107; ave HR 147 max 167; spent 8 hrs in HR 135-166; climbing 5001 ft (in July the monitor had 4500).
Friday night I drove to McComb to spend the night with Butch and his parents. His mom made a spectacular vegetarian chili. Saturday, we got a late start towards Franklinton arriving in the parking lot at the start time of 6:30. With Steve's help, I was able to get myself ready to roll in 15 minutes. Pat, Leroy, Butch, Steve and I pulled out ready for a great day of cycling.
The temps were 10 degrees warmer (high 40s) and I wore my wool gloves instead of my gore gloves and I wore toe covers instead of my thermal shoe booties. The rest of my layers stayed the same as last weekend. Within 3 miles, I took off my wool gloves and changed them to my PI gloves and I took off my jacket and buff. After taking the layers off I felt much better and was able to catch back up to the guys.
We rode without incident to the 40 mile point at the Dry goods store to turn into the headwind. I felt the wind was much harder to ride in this week to last week. Leroy disagreed saying that last week had more gusts. I know I was cycling harder, so maybe that was the difference. Anyway, I stopped a mile or so from the store for a bio break and all the guys passed me. With the headwind, I was never able to catch back up with them. This discouraged me. How can I ride in Arizona and across the US when I can't catch up with my friends that typically ride on the flats? I argued with myself trying not to let the fact that I had been dropped like a hot potato bother me. The guys were waiting for me at the turn, but I needed to stop for a bio break again, so I knew that I would get dropped if I did not take care of my business quickly. Alas, all but Butch passed me as I was pulling up my shorts and sprinting to the bike. The worst part of being a girl riding with guys is that I have to march into the woods to pee and they just barely pull off the road to take care of their business. This easily takes me 5 minutes longer than the guys (waaa, waaa). As Pat and Steve pass me, I yell at them and call them names that would get my mouth washed out with soap had I been caught by my parents! But calling them bad words made me laugh and I was able to continue this stretch with a smile on my face and I tried to treat that portion of the ride as a big training ride. Who needs to be pulled? I am strong enough to make it without sucking on someone elses wheel!
We got to Nick's grocery and once again I hurried to get my stuff together before the guys left. It was getting colder so I put my buff and vest on before heading out with Pat. I kept up with him for the most part until we hit the Gillsburg Church and turned out of the wind. I needed to pee again, so I did not wait on the guys at the info control. This time only Leroy passed me as I was taking care of business. Eventually the guys did catch up and we rode together to Kentwood and for the most part, we rode the entire rest of the way together.
So, I really felt like I was riding strong - especially after the turn at Gillsburg Church and even more so after Kentwood. There were no mechanicals or really even anything funny to report.
We finished with a new course PR - 11 hr 13 min - 58 min better than July 4th. However, my average speed was exactly the same. This bothers me as I am not showing any true improvement. I really hope this changes soon. I know I have to be faster for my cross country ride.
Final stats:
127 miles; 9:22 ride time; 11:13 total time; 13.5 mph ave; ave cad 81, max 107; ave HR 147 max 167; spent 8 hrs in HR 135-166; climbing 5001 ft (in July the monitor had 4500).
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