Finished up at work around 1:00p and headed home - not feeling great, I've picked up a bug this week and I've been fighting it, but I needed to get in a ride today. If I didn't, there's probably not much of a chance I would have been able to ride 55 miles on Saturday. I suppose I would have tried though....
Headed out at 1:30p and just did the regular loop from the house, out to Old Baucom, then back into/through town, Ranch Road & back. Lots of wind in my face, yet again, from the 10mi point near Old Baucom. The wind, plus not feeling well took it's toll on me, slowing me down considerably. Oh well, I'm not really concerned about the time, but more on how much time I get in the saddle and miles in the legs. The speed will come later....
Finished up with 25mi in a very slow 1:45hr. See? Told you the wind was tough. :)
Supposed to ride with Dallas (& probably some of the other guys) in the morning...not sure if I will be able to keep up with them, as they've been doing a bit of mountain bike riding and I'm slow right now. Guess I can always go out and try! :)
70/6000 miles
4:45hr/500hr (I think the hours will be whatever they will be based on the mileage - I'm more concerned with getting 6000 miles ridden this year than I am on ride time).
Friday, January 6, 2012
Monday, January 2, 2012
45/6000
Wasn't feeling too great this morning, like I might be coming down with a cold; didn't feel much better after lunch either. But, I surely wasn't feeling bad enough not to get out for a short ride this afternoon. :)
The Fuji seemed to be having some shifting problems the last time I rode it on the trainer, so I talked with Dallas and we decided to bring it over around 2pm. While out at his place, I wavered on riding - the wind!! It was biting and I really didn't want another ride in the wind. But. I want to get the miles/time in this year and I'm not going to get that accomplished sitting on my ass inside. Sitting on my ass inside just makes my ass get bigger and I want it to get smaller. :D
So, I left Dallas' and headed on home to change into the warmer cycling clothing. Just a little short jaunt from the house, through downtown Clayton and out to Guy Road. Wind. Wind in my face pretty much all the way until I reached Guy Road. The last 7.5 miles wasn't too bad - a bit of cross/tail wind.
Finished up with 15mi/1hr of riding. Tomorrow is a run day and the next ride isn't supposed to be until Thursday. The run tomorrow will be pretty dang cold, as the temps are barely going to get above 38F and it's going to be pretty windy....
The Fuji seemed to be having some shifting problems the last time I rode it on the trainer, so I talked with Dallas and we decided to bring it over around 2pm. While out at his place, I wavered on riding - the wind!! It was biting and I really didn't want another ride in the wind. But. I want to get the miles/time in this year and I'm not going to get that accomplished sitting on my ass inside. Sitting on my ass inside just makes my ass get bigger and I want it to get smaller. :D
So, I left Dallas' and headed on home to change into the warmer cycling clothing. Just a little short jaunt from the house, through downtown Clayton and out to Guy Road. Wind. Wind in my face pretty much all the way until I reached Guy Road. The last 7.5 miles wasn't too bad - a bit of cross/tail wind.
Finished up with 15mi/1hr of riding. Tomorrow is a run day and the next ride isn't supposed to be until Thursday. The run tomorrow will be pretty dang cold, as the temps are barely going to get above 38F and it's going to be pretty windy....
Sunday, January 1, 2012
31/6000 miles today
Yes, it's true. I got outside and rode my BMC for 31 miles today. The temps were actually pretty nice - mid 60's, but the wind!!! The wind was brutal, at least on the return leg of the ride. I had a nice tailwind for the first hour and managed to average 17.5mph. When I turned to head back towards home, though, I of course hit the headwind, all 17+ mph of it. The return leg was also mostly uphill, on average, so uphill and into a brutal headwind. :)
Finished up the ride with a 2mi bit of tailwind to the house. A bit tired this evening, but I really feel pretty good about starting 2012 with a ride. I'll ride again 2 or 3 days this week plus a long ride on Saturday (2.5-3hr). Yes, 2.5-3 hour rides are "long" rides for me at this time. I'd like to up to around 5-6hr for long rides by the end of the month so that I might be able to get my first century ridden by the end of the month. :)
That's all for tonight!
Finished up the ride with a 2mi bit of tailwind to the house. A bit tired this evening, but I really feel pretty good about starting 2012 with a ride. I'll ride again 2 or 3 days this week plus a long ride on Saturday (2.5-3hr). Yes, 2.5-3 hour rides are "long" rides for me at this time. I'd like to up to around 5-6hr for long rides by the end of the month so that I might be able to get my first century ridden by the end of the month. :)
That's all for tonight!
What to do?
Do I sit here and write about how awful my year has been with regards to cycling or just in general? Do I write about all the troubles that have filled my life over the last 1.5yr, with regards to my Dad? Na, but maybe a Readers Digest version. :)
Decided to train for AoMM Feb 15, 2011, worked out the training plan, based on previous training schedule and was ready to tackle it head on. Feb 16, 2011, Dad fell and broke his hip. Surgery, rehab, moving him to Greenville, SC, give up on AoMM (as far as any actual training), decide to do AoMM 3 weeks prior. Completed 80mi of AoMM with a handful of rides in my legs.
Dad does well in Greenville. I hire a cycling coach to help me get to Blue Ridge Breakaway in August. Ride Roan Moan in July - have the worst cramps ever at the top of Carver's Gap. Finished 75mi of Blue Ridge Breakaway - skipping the last 27mi of riding on the BRP. I haven't ridden on the BRP or in the mountains since probably July 2009. I miss the friend and riding I used to do in the mtns.
I adopted another dog (Miniature Pinscher) who made my life hell for about 2.5 months. His name is Tucker and he's turning out to be a pretty good doggeh. :) Taylor (my first Miniature Pinscher) had knee surgery in September. She's all better now, thankfully. :) She & Tucker get along just fine.
Oh, and back in May, I adopted a cat. Crazy. Got the cat for my Dad, who couldn't take care of her, so I had to take her. She, also, has turned out to be a pretty good kitteh. But a mean girl at times...Siamese can be that way, though. Her name is Evie.
Dad moves back to Raleigh area in November, but is moving back to Greenville this month. It's just way too much for me to do and I have no one here to help me. I have help in Greenville from a very good friend, one that really likes/cares about Dad and Dad likes him. Hopefully, that will work out.
Not much cycling to mention - tried to do all that the coach gave me but when the days got shorter and rides needed to be on the trainer...I hate that thing, so I didn't and haven't done all I'm supposed to do. I guess this is where I write down what I want for next year, eh?
I have 5 rides I want to do this year: AoMM, Cherohala Challenge, Roan Moan, Blue Ridge Breakaway, Six Gap Century. All freaking mountain rides of 100+ miles. This means I must get my ass in gear, starting today and do the riding I'm supposed to do (and maybe a little more). I'm looking for 125+ miles a week to start with, working up to 150mi, then maybe 200 in the summer. Hopefully, I'll be ready for each of those rides with that kind of mileage. Hopefully, that kind of mileage and eating properly, will help me drop this weight I have regained.
I suppose that's about it...maybe go hiking over a long weekend with a good friend from Georgia, maybe try a few TTs at Charlotte, maybe have a love life that's local instead of 4hr away....
Can't say that I'll write here a lot, but maybe I will. Maybe I'll use this venue, once again, as a means to record my training for the various rides I want to do this year. Maybe it will help, who knows. :)
Decided to train for AoMM Feb 15, 2011, worked out the training plan, based on previous training schedule and was ready to tackle it head on. Feb 16, 2011, Dad fell and broke his hip. Surgery, rehab, moving him to Greenville, SC, give up on AoMM (as far as any actual training), decide to do AoMM 3 weeks prior. Completed 80mi of AoMM with a handful of rides in my legs.
Dad does well in Greenville. I hire a cycling coach to help me get to Blue Ridge Breakaway in August. Ride Roan Moan in July - have the worst cramps ever at the top of Carver's Gap. Finished 75mi of Blue Ridge Breakaway - skipping the last 27mi of riding on the BRP. I haven't ridden on the BRP or in the mountains since probably July 2009. I miss the friend and riding I used to do in the mtns.
I adopted another dog (Miniature Pinscher) who made my life hell for about 2.5 months. His name is Tucker and he's turning out to be a pretty good doggeh. :) Taylor (my first Miniature Pinscher) had knee surgery in September. She's all better now, thankfully. :) She & Tucker get along just fine.
Oh, and back in May, I adopted a cat. Crazy. Got the cat for my Dad, who couldn't take care of her, so I had to take her. She, also, has turned out to be a pretty good kitteh. But a mean girl at times...Siamese can be that way, though. Her name is Evie.
Dad moves back to Raleigh area in November, but is moving back to Greenville this month. It's just way too much for me to do and I have no one here to help me. I have help in Greenville from a very good friend, one that really likes/cares about Dad and Dad likes him. Hopefully, that will work out.
Not much cycling to mention - tried to do all that the coach gave me but when the days got shorter and rides needed to be on the trainer...I hate that thing, so I didn't and haven't done all I'm supposed to do. I guess this is where I write down what I want for next year, eh?
I have 5 rides I want to do this year: AoMM, Cherohala Challenge, Roan Moan, Blue Ridge Breakaway, Six Gap Century. All freaking mountain rides of 100+ miles. This means I must get my ass in gear, starting today and do the riding I'm supposed to do (and maybe a little more). I'm looking for 125+ miles a week to start with, working up to 150mi, then maybe 200 in the summer. Hopefully, I'll be ready for each of those rides with that kind of mileage. Hopefully, that kind of mileage and eating properly, will help me drop this weight I have regained.
I suppose that's about it...maybe go hiking over a long weekend with a good friend from Georgia, maybe try a few TTs at Charlotte, maybe have a love life that's local instead of 4hr away....
Can't say that I'll write here a lot, but maybe I will. Maybe I'll use this venue, once again, as a means to record my training for the various rides I want to do this year. Maybe it will help, who knows. :)
Sunday, May 15, 2011
The Little Train That Could
That is me.
I had to take care of some family things in Valdese yesterday and upon finishing, I drove on up to Marion. I had hoped to leave my car at the campground and to have Hank come get me and then I stay in Greenville overnight. That just didn't work out - I ended up staying in Marion.
While there for the evening and after a light dinner, I had wanted to ride my bike some, but the weather up on the mountains looked rainy and I really didn't want to get caught out in that. So, instead of riding, I drove. From Hwy70/80 all the way up to the BRP. As I drove, I tried to visualize myself actually riding, where I'd be on the bike as I went around the twisty/curvy last 3.5 miles of Hwy80. As I drove up 80, I felt confident because I have climbed that section at least 4 times, and I kept repeating out loud - "I CAN DO IT!".
I can do this. Yes, it's going to be a bitchin' hard day for me, especially since the forecast is now for rain, but somehow, someway, I have to dig down deep, keep the eye on the prize - The Patch. I want this thing very bad. I've told my Dad what I'm doing and I want to get this & show it to him. I want a picture of me crossing the finish line to give to him. I want it. And, I want it bad enough to endure 27 miles of rain soaked roads to get it. There. I said it. I want it bad enough that I'm willing to ride in the pouring rains to get it.
I'm not really sure what it is going to take to prevent me from giving it everything to get to the top. I just don't know. I do know that I have to stay focused and keep all the rain soaked negative mental thoughts out of my head. Must stay positive. Cause, once you check out of the ride mentally, it's really hard to keep going, even if you still have it physically.....
I can do this. I will give it all I have plus some to finish this ride. Pray to the cycling gods to keep my legs strong and cramp-free!!
I had to take care of some family things in Valdese yesterday and upon finishing, I drove on up to Marion. I had hoped to leave my car at the campground and to have Hank come get me and then I stay in Greenville overnight. That just didn't work out - I ended up staying in Marion.
While there for the evening and after a light dinner, I had wanted to ride my bike some, but the weather up on the mountains looked rainy and I really didn't want to get caught out in that. So, instead of riding, I drove. From Hwy70/80 all the way up to the BRP. As I drove, I tried to visualize myself actually riding, where I'd be on the bike as I went around the twisty/curvy last 3.5 miles of Hwy80. As I drove up 80, I felt confident because I have climbed that section at least 4 times, and I kept repeating out loud - "I CAN DO IT!".
I can do this. Yes, it's going to be a bitchin' hard day for me, especially since the forecast is now for rain, but somehow, someway, I have to dig down deep, keep the eye on the prize - The Patch. I want this thing very bad. I've told my Dad what I'm doing and I want to get this & show it to him. I want a picture of me crossing the finish line to give to him. I want it. And, I want it bad enough to endure 27 miles of rain soaked roads to get it. There. I said it. I want it bad enough that I'm willing to ride in the pouring rains to get it.
I can do this. I will give it all I have plus some to finish this ride. Pray to the cycling gods to keep my legs strong and cramp-free!!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
It will be epic, one way or another.
What the hell am I talking about, you ask? I'm talking about Assault on Mt Mitchell. I have decided, after all, to take on the challenge. The challenge of riding my bike 103 miles & over 11,000 feet of climbing. The worst climbing to come in the last 27mi or so. The worst climbing from Marion, up brutal Hwy 80 (the last 3 miles are the hardest) to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The brutal climb up Hwy 128 to the top of Mt Mitchell.
No one would save me from this - no one wanted to buy my ticket this year. I bought the full kit (bibs & jersey) and had already mapped out & started my training plan when I registered on 2/15. Ah...but Life. Life has it's way of changing your best laid plans. That's ok...I still have my Dad here, he's not pushing the daisies up.
So, since I couldn't get anyone to buy the ticket (and there are takers posting on Facebook who want a ticket) I just decided to go on and do the ride. I won't plan on breaking my time in 2009, I won't plan on a specific time to complete. All I wish to do IS complete the ride. I have a dozen or more rides under my belt since the middle of February, I'm riding well now (early/mid May) and I guess the one big thing I have going for me - I have done this ride before. I know what to expect. I might know what to expect, but it's sure as hell going to hurt worse than it did in 2009.
Epic. This is what it will be. And, make it to the top or not, I will know that I gave everything I had to do this ride with no training what-so-ever when I am done. I know, that if my Dad really truly understood what I was trying to do, he would be so very proud of me. And, he'd tell me what a crazy fool I was for attempting and/or doing such a ride!
Oh bugger....the forecast for Sunday & Monday (5/15-16) is calling for rain. 60% showers. Great. Do I let that get into my head and deter me? I can't. I have to have the proper clothing and perhaps embrace the showers. I guess it beats the hell out of 90+ temps and humidity. And, the forecast is 7 days out....it could change by then, but if not. So be it.
So, that's it. I'm going to see how far my legs can take me. Use anyone and everyone to get me to Marion without expending all of my energy. I need all the energy left to climb a Mountain. :)
Wish me luck and on Monday, May 16, send all the strong climbing vibes my way!!
No one would save me from this - no one wanted to buy my ticket this year. I bought the full kit (bibs & jersey) and had already mapped out & started my training plan when I registered on 2/15. Ah...but Life. Life has it's way of changing your best laid plans. That's ok...I still have my Dad here, he's not pushing the daisies up.
So, since I couldn't get anyone to buy the ticket (and there are takers posting on Facebook who want a ticket) I just decided to go on and do the ride. I won't plan on breaking my time in 2009, I won't plan on a specific time to complete. All I wish to do IS complete the ride. I have a dozen or more rides under my belt since the middle of February, I'm riding well now (early/mid May) and I guess the one big thing I have going for me - I have done this ride before. I know what to expect. I might know what to expect, but it's sure as hell going to hurt worse than it did in 2009.
Epic. This is what it will be. And, make it to the top or not, I will know that I gave everything I had to do this ride with no training what-so-ever when I am done. I know, that if my Dad really truly understood what I was trying to do, he would be so very proud of me. And, he'd tell me what a crazy fool I was for attempting and/or doing such a ride!
Oh bugger....the forecast for Sunday & Monday (5/15-16) is calling for rain. 60% showers. Great. Do I let that get into my head and deter me? I can't. I have to have the proper clothing and perhaps embrace the showers. I guess it beats the hell out of 90+ temps and humidity. And, the forecast is 7 days out....it could change by then, but if not. So be it.
So, that's it. I'm going to see how far my legs can take me. Use anyone and everyone to get me to Marion without expending all of my energy. I need all the energy left to climb a Mountain. :)
Wish me luck and on Monday, May 16, send all the strong climbing vibes my way!!
Monday, April 11, 2011
It's Just Not Going to Happen
AoMM, Caesars Head, Roan Moan, and if I can't start riding with regularity, The Blue Ridge Breakaway, aren't going to be ridden by me. A month ago, I was encouraged to go on and give AoMM a shot, but since that time, I've ridden all of once a week, on average. That kind of riding wont' get me to Marion, let alone up Mt Mitchell. Oh well...the mountain will be there tomorrow. Will I?
So, this year, just like last year, I'm going to be "Enjoy the Ride, Ride for the Enjoyment" until I gain some of my fitness back. It sucks. But, instead of letting it keep getting me down, I'm trying to stay positive and do what I can, when I can.....
No rides planned for now except The Blue Ridge Breakaway in August. I've started walking too and will continue to do that - need to build the legs up for hiking later on this month and next month. It's been almost a year since I went to South Mountains and hiked in 4 long, steep, hard miles to the campsite. I don't know if I'll go to South Mountains this time, but I'd like to go somewhere to get in a 4-6mi hike to campsite and then back out in the next day or so. I might look about taking the dog, but not sure on that one yet....
For now...that's all. :)
So, this year, just like last year, I'm going to be "Enjoy the Ride, Ride for the Enjoyment" until I gain some of my fitness back. It sucks. But, instead of letting it keep getting me down, I'm trying to stay positive and do what I can, when I can.....
No rides planned for now except The Blue Ridge Breakaway in August. I've started walking too and will continue to do that - need to build the legs up for hiking later on this month and next month. It's been almost a year since I went to South Mountains and hiked in 4 long, steep, hard miles to the campsite. I don't know if I'll go to South Mountains this time, but I'd like to go somewhere to get in a 4-6mi hike to campsite and then back out in the next day or so. I might look about taking the dog, but not sure on that one yet....
For now...that's all. :)
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