PCSD 40K Update

I completed 3 of the 4 scheduled TTs. The last one, #3, I finished in 65:05.  That's about 10 min. faster than the first one, and about 9 min. faster than the second.  The training is obvious, and that we have a TT bike also makes a huge difference.

I had planned to do the last one but confused the date, and scheduled a buyer signing that night.  Yes, I was very cranky! I had to take a couple moments to get my attitude adjusted.

Overall, I'm happy that I've shown improvement on this series.  I hope it pays off on Sunday.

Racing Again (Finally)

Saturday was the Winters Road Race. 48.5 or so miles with 1990+ feet of climbing. It's flat, rollery, big hill, flat, repeat -- a 24 mi. loop. The 5s &4s did 2 loops, the 3s 3 loops, the P/1/2 4 loops.

During my warm up I identified my goal for the race (to bring honor and glory to the team as I was the only W4 racing), identified who I wanted to be ahead of, and at the very least to finish (two years ago I flatted).

I was comfortable in the pack from the start, and stuck with them, reeling in the few breaks that were attempted before the hill. When we were in the rollers before the serious climbing, where the road narrows, twists and turns, a moto neutralized us so the P/1/2s could pass. We went into single-file mode, and when I came around the corner found that a group had made a breakaway, and there was no way to catch them without killing myself.

So I hit the feed zone, grabbed a bottle from Chris, enjoyed the chalk messages & verbal shout-outs, and pressed on. I dropped more of my group on the steep parts and got pretty reckless on the downhill -- I ride these roads all the time and know them intimately. My thought was to take it faster than usual, since uphill traffic was controlled.  It was scary and thrilling to use the entire road for a change.

On the flats again I caught a couple women from my group, and the group of 4 of us worked well together, cheerleading, encouraging, taking strong pulls and keeping a steady wheel. One of my targets was in the group -- the other got off with the fast group.

Not surprisingly the rollers again separated us, and I rode about 5 miles on my own, including the feed zone and beyond and over the hill again. Screamed downhill again without holding back, emboldened by my desire to be ahead of everyone behind me.

I passed a lot of casual riders, some of whom didn't understand "on your left." So I hollered, "Don't move!" and that helped a lot to keep people in their places. One of the 3 of my previous group caught me and we worked together and she said she'd pull me for the sprint.

So suffering, speeding, feeling quad muscles trying to cramp, eating, drinking a 5-hr. energy drink, racing, we come to the 200 k sign, she does her best lead-out and I stand to sprint and voila! Legs got nothing! So I sat down and road across for I think 25th place of 50 riders. Still haven't seen official results.

I averaged over 19 mph for this ride, a PB for me. I knew I'd worked but wasn't so blown that I could ride 4 mi. for a warm-down and then attend a wedding and birthday party afterwards. Between events the compression tights and foam roller were my best friends.

I finished well ahead of my target, and 2 min. behind my other target (one of my TTT members), so I was pleased. That I finished ahead of some of the CAT 4 & 5 men was a bonus. *cheesy grin*

Unexpected Delights and Distractions

Friday night I came home to find Chris taking apart our television, and Meave telling him what to do via the Internet.

We had a party to attend in about 2 hrs., we didn't know what food we were taking, and as the tv was a mere 6 yrs. old, I wasn't prepared for it to die.

Evidently the heat-sync was going out, and as this tv is no longer made, there was no replacing it.  Good thing I won it and didn't pay for it -- I'd be pretty peeved about that.

So with the back off we watched the last 3 stages of the Tour de France. This morning the picture started to go -- indicating the heat sync's imminent demise -- we watched the end of the Tour (and what a fine ending it was) and decided not to try to keep it alive. We did some research, set a budget, and shopped.

If only it was as easy as unplugging the old and plugging in the new.

The roller stand needed to be cut down by nearly 3".  Chris figured it out and completed the task (with a little help from yours truly).  Then we tried several ways to connect it, all ending in a big fat fail.  We had to buy a special cord.  And voila!  It worked!

We still have to figure out how to hook up the stereo; in the meantime the tv stereo sound system works really well.  The picture is amazing.  I loved that we had that free tv for so long.  And I'm glad we upgraded.

That was the distraction.

The delight was having two challenging, fun rides with Chris this weekend.  Saturday we did a Gordon Valley loop on the tandem -- the headwind on the way out cut our speed down, but the tailwind on the way back made it worthwhile.  Our first tandem ride since July 4th; I'm out of practice -- that 42 mph downhill on new pavement on Gibson Cyn. Rd. reminded me of that.

Today we did the shop ride; 48+ miles in the small chainring, spinning and loving the company, the weather, the newly-resurfaced roads, all of it.

I chose to focus on the delights of the day, and use the distractions to reinforce why the delights are so vital to life.

A promise unfufilled

A couple weeks ago we met with some bikeforums.net and Twitter friends at Hellyer Velodrome, to participate in a Livestrong fundraiser. For $30 we could ride our road bikes on the track. I rode the Diva for the 200 m, the 500m, the kilo, the 2K, and finished well.  Then I rode the TT Fuji for the 3K. There were some issues with the lap counters that confused me but I managed to finish in 2nd place on the last ride.

I never thought I'd enjoy riding an oval over and over again, but the concentration suited me. I had a blast. I loved going from 110 bpm to 160 bpm, loved the focus, loved the result, and cannot wait to do it again. I got a rush from the track unlike any other.

This week I was elected to be my local Association of Realtors (TM) President Elect for 2012.  And I totally feel as though I deserve it now.  I'm fit to be the leader.

As long as I can continue competing and stretching my boundaries I can lead this group into new greatness. I can only  hope this group is ready for me.

Hello, Mojo, I've missed you

Thanks to the long weekend I had some amazing rides.

Friday I handled Internet -based real estate stuff early and squeezed in a ride, then wine-tasting at Nugget later/

Saturday I  drove to Auburn to ride with dauphin97, who had a challenging but not undoable ride in Auburn, Folsom, Auburn.  What a great ride!  I enjoyed the company and the climbing.  We rode to Folsom and experienced the holiday crowds w/o having to share the roads.

Sunday I rode with a couple relay team GFs as well as a couple non -running friends to the top of Cardiac Hill, a climb featured in the Amgen Tour of California. I got the QOM for the dam but not Cardiac.  I was happy feeling as though I had helium balloons attached to my bike (thanks for that, Jen!).

My problem was hanging on in the flats.  I need to work up to hanging on during the long, fast rides. Goal defined.

Speed Demon

Wednesday the 25th was the 2nd  40km Putah Creek Time Trial.  Most of them are 10 miles but this year they added 4-40kms for those of us who favor the longer distance.

The first 40km featured wicked wind and unusually cool weather.  Last night was very similar; the rain had come through earlier but by 4 pm the roads were dry.  I had no excuse.

I ride these TTs w/no aero equipment; I don't have a TT bike or aerobars, so I don't see the point in wearing the aero helmet.  Old School Eddy Merckxx, that's how I roll.

So legs 1 & 3 were into the wind with a couple short crosswind segments.  Legs 2&4 were downwind with a couple crosswind segments.  No matter which way I went there was pain to be found.

The last leg I kept gaining speed, esp. the last 3kms.  I crossed the line at 26 mph.  Once I stood up, like a jockey on a racehorse, I realized how much I hurt.

I met Chris Phipps (aka PizzaMan, aka@CPBike) who is even nicer in person than he is on the Internet.  He didn't even blink when I told him my time (a new PR for me BTW), although he was many minutes faster than I. Props to him for that.

I finished in 1:14:39, vs. 1:15:29 in April.  I'm happy for that time, happy to be stronger than a month ago (proof that I'm getting faster and training is paying off), and anticipate a new PR next month.

Catching Up

The week after the marathon relay I rested Mon.; TRX Tues., bike ride Wed.; TRX+run home after (3.5 uphill miles), rode Fri. and got a flat 3 mi. into it.  That hurt; I had only 2 tubes but nothing else with me.  I had to walk home. In my cycling shoes. The ego was bruised more than the feet.

Saturday I managed a 40 mi. solo ride with a headwind for 1/2 of it. Then things took a turn...

Via Facebook I discovered our newest favorite band, Dgiin, was playing at the Davis Whole Earth Festival on Saturday evening, from 8:30-10:00. We took the dogs and off we went.

We found the tent under which they were playing; it was sparsely populated and we went right up front; got recognition from the guitar player and started dancing...I called out "Porque le Vas" and 3 of the band smiled and nodded.  We danced between the leashes, and as the band heated up more people came in.  Oliver freaked out as he's not used to crowds+noise so we went to the back of the tent.

Ollie settled down on a hay bale and I stood in front of it.  Out of nowhere I felt a hand on my butt.  I turned around and  saw some people more than an arm's length away.  I turned back to enjoy the music and felt the hand again. Turned around, saw the same people, turned back.  The 3rd time I was groped I was ready for it and when I turned I saw a young lady tucking her hand away and looking aside. I'd seen her dancing; she was on something.  When she realized she'd been caught she blurted "I love you!  You're so sexy!  You're beautiful!"  I smiled and said thank you...it was the drugs talking. Hers, not mine.

Dgiin played a hot set and we left before they were done.

Sunday dawned and I made a mean pot of oatmeal; we got the tandem ready for the shop ride, with intentions of brunch in Davis, rather than Winters.

We were the only people to show up for the shop ride. Rob was not riding so we took the long route to Davis; enjoyed a tasty brunch at Cafe Bernardo (where our daughter took us for Mother's Day '01,'02,'03,'04) followed by the Whole Earth Festival (see previous parenthetical note).  Just like old times, but without the kids...a different kind of fun.

I bought a red cotton corduroy houndstooth cycling cap made of recycled cotton.  It matches my kit. My OCP rules.

We rode home without incident.  Chris cooked an amazing dinner.  He spoiled me rotten.  On past Mother's Days I've felt overwhelmed.  This year, despite our lack of kids (who checked in) I felt worthy of the indulgence. Like I told Chris, if it weren't for him I wouldn't be a mother.

So all was right for a moment.  I sucked it up like a milkshake through a straw.