Liz put out another call for a long ride. This time it was much closer than Raystown Lake. A BikeWashington posted ride along the spine of the mysterious Mount Weather starting and ending in Viriginia's horse country and budding wineries. It was a beautiful 56 miles along some rolling terrain and a 2 mile climb to the top of Mount Weather at a thigh burning 8% grade.
As usual, I made the sacrifices to the bike gods by blowing my front tube "just adding a little extra air." Would not be a good ride with Liz without a "mechanical of some sort." Thank goodness she is patient. It isn't cool to find out that both of us absentmindedly had the wrong CO2 cartridges either. It would really suck to be on top of Mount Weather with a flat and have some men in an SUV pick us up... ain't no bike riding in Guantanamo.
Right on to Rectortown road, heading out of Marshall horse country began. A few short almost insignifcant climbs and the views opened up, the rolling green fields and the miles of stone walls, long driveways, guardhouses, some service entrance driveways, one small paved airport. These rolling green fields were not grass but money, rolling hills of Benjamins. Alot of money out there. We had the roads just about to ourselves which was good because we were trying as hard as we could to check out some of the houses and the little bits we could catch were fantastic. The few cars that came up on us, followed us for a bit before finally pulling out and passing, don't get it when they had a clear view of the road ahead.
In a blink, we entered and exited Bluemont to begin the first part of the climb, a steep straight 1/2 mile climb probably at 7%, a nice switchback into a flat section before we were spit out onto Route 7. A few pedal strokes up 7 and the real climb began. It was intimidating. A long straightaway that went up at 8% for 2 miles. I licked my chops, geared into the easy rings, unzipped the jersey, put my head down and thought about the pedal stroke, just an easy cadence, focus on utilizing the entire stroke and grind. Honestly, it was not as bad as I thought. A good indicator of how I'll handle July's epic climb of Mt. Ventoux in France at this year's Tour. I felt really good and comfortable,. I enjoy climbing in general so I had the mental state of mind to hold out.
Once we got to the top, we saw the fence for the Mount Weather Operations Center. Of course, we went off the cue sheet and took a side road along the fence.... just to see where it would take us. A closed off fence with barriers, perfect spot for a picture, air tower in the background. Back on the main road, we stopped at the main entrance and snapped a few in front of the sign and main gate. While I took Liz's picture, I watched a black SUV drive over the bridge. A bit of panic went through me, afternoon ruined as we are interrogated and probably have our bikes taken... all I could think about was the description of the place having a crematorium and me mysteriously disappearing. Luckily the SUV just kept on going. We were being monitored anyways with the cameras. Not too mention, hard to hide any WMDs in bike clothes. It did get eeriely quiet as we continued down the road with the facility on both sides of us.
The top of Mount Weather isn't flat. We had several miles of rolling hills before a long descent off the mountain. Good roads, good sight lines, nice turns, and we were over 40 mph down the mountain.
We went through Paris, VA pretty quickly and out on Route 17. Liz made a joke about the electronic radar sign up ahead and naturally, I just had to see if it would pick me up. I geared down and began the hard pedal mashing to get some speed. I was getting close and I had speed. And then a car came whizzing by, 50 mph; a second car at 45; I'm almost there knowing I'll be picked up, and a third car at 45 as well. I hit the spot and watch the sign count down to 39 mph. I'd like to think that was me as I did catch the pull of 3 cars go by, but I might have been down at 35 or a bit less. As fun as it was, my legs were burning and it was only mile 38. We had 18 more and alot of undulating road with some climbs.
At Route 66, the ride was pretty much over as we rode parallel to 66 for 10 miles to get back to Marshall. We finally got all the cars that we didn't have for the entire day. That last part seemed the longest, and for some reason, I thought we were rid of all the hills. They weren't bad, I was just a bit tired.
Looking to get out there again and try to do some repeats on the Mount Weather climb in anticipation for Ventoux. Bike gets packed up in two weeks.
Rigs
Monday, June 1, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Lodi - Finished.
12 Hours of Lodi Farms - May 2nd.
Solo Singlespeed class. And to just add more fun to the mix, I rode it rigid - no suspension - just my own body's ability to absorb constant steel chatter.
Can you say you finished in the top 10 if there were only 10 riders in your class? Still waiting on the results to be posted, but I think I definitely did a good job of boosting up anybody who had 6 or more laps. I did 5 laps. As a duo last year, I had four for my team. So that was progress. Could not have done as well as I did without some serious professional, experienced race support, Liz came out and ran my pit. She kept me fed, forced me to eat and drink, and even cleaned my chain in between laps! Could not have asked for better support!
This was my first 12 hour solo event. As many of my riding partners know, I like to hit it fast at the start and then slowly fade into something short of worthless. This time I was focused on pacing myself. I wanted to beat last year's four laps I did with a goal of getting 7 or 8.
I strategically paced myself in the back to help pace myself. All was well until the third climb, I went around a rider to pass and had to go off trail. I think I picked up a stick and dropped my chain. I quickly put it back on only to snap it in one pedal stroke. I was not even a mile in the first lap! I pulled out the extra links and put some on. I was rushing and wasn't sure why since I had 12 hours to go. I had to add another link and adjust the tension screws. Ugh! Not pleasant. I was now comfortably in last place for ALL classes. It sure got quiet out there. Chain held up for another 10 minutes till I dropped it again - this time cresting a small climb and again just at the top of another climb. I made an effort to adjust the tension screws and cinched down the POS bolt-on QR style axle. I torqued it down so well I stripped the threads. Great! I finally reach mile 4 and I can't tighten the rear wheel in the drops. Which way do I walk? I decide to walk on the course heading to the road where I can quickly get to the mechanical support. But I can't really walk without banging my wheel around so I carry it. For some reason, higher powers were feeling sorry for me and no riders passed me.
I get down to the mechanical support and get a quick release. One of the mechanics offered up his wheel but it was a 19 tooth and I was already pushing myself with a 20 tooth rear. He managed to scrounge up a QR axle. I put it in, adjusted it, hopped on the bike and was off for the next half of the course.
I rode the rest of the lap with no problems. Chain stayed solid and I hit some bumpy climbs. I just don't get it. Course slowly started coming back to me, but once I hit the zig zag part of the second half it just twist and turns so much I can't quite figure out how close I am to the drop to the creek section. Finally, down along the creek, I pick it up to try to regain some lost time. This year they added a water crossing, deep and cold, right foot soaked, cross into some nice sand and the gritty, grind of rotors and chain collecting sand starts. I feel good now and am enjoying myself. Just telling myself a long, faster all day ride. The course was rerouted after the junkyard this year. They put about a 1/4 mile of trail in a low lying area that is pertually wet. And the trail was soft. Cleared all the logs crossing it, came up into the field where we were pitted. Liz saw me, and so did our pit neighbors DCMTB, I called out "I'll give you one guess!" She shook her head. Kevin commented that at least I was still smiling. Lap 1 - 1:58.
I came through transition, went right to the pit. Chatted about what happened, ate some food, refilled the Camelbak and headed back out. Lap 2, went way, way better than lap 1. If my math and timing is right that was my fastest lap. I think I turned it in 1:10. Last year my fastest was 1:13. I owe that to the Shed rides I've done with Liz over the winter and trying to follow Paul down a fast descent. I could have done better or faster but I have a problem of not stretching out after a ride or doing recovery rides. My legs still had some lactic junk in them and it started flaring up. I kept it at bay but a few climbs caused the flare up so I backed off. I still had 9 hours to go.
Lap 3 was just as enjoyable as Lap 2 - except I dropped the chain twice. It should have been once but I didn't bother to adjust the QR skewer. Lazy, denial on my part. I know... if I had just did it right the first time or as the haters would say, "If you just rode gears." Bah. Time: Why didn't I just reset the stopwatch at the start of each of my laps?
At the pit, I learned that the hamburger is an awesome fuel especially with pickles and salty chips. Damn that thing tasted so good! And ice cold Coke. I don't know if it was the protein in the burger, the sugar from the Coke, or all the blood in my stomach trying to digest the burger, but I was psyched for Lap 4. A change of clothes, socks, and some fresh chamois butter might have also helped. I was really enjoying this solo SS thing and the riding even as my legs were getting more tired, more frustrated and tried to raise a coup a few times. I'd stop, watch the quivering die down, suck down some Sharkies or Jelly Beans, take in some water, and start riding again. It was now around 6:30, maybe 7? It dawns on me that it is getting dark. I knew it was not time for the sun to set. It was clouds. Storm clouds. The ones the weatherman had been talking about for a few days.
Plop, plop. I hear a few drops hit leaves. I'm in the woods, with some lovely canopy. I think this rain won't be much and the canopy will protect me. So after I fixed my axle during the first lap, the gods moved on to find someone else to take pity on. Because right after I had the denial driven thoughts that these drops would no way amount to the thunderstorms predicted, the sky opened up and down came the rain. I tried to pedal faster because rain and dirt makes mud and that can get slippery. It took me about 20 minutes to finish the lap, the low lying new section was turning into a mud bog. I came into the pit with my legs covered in mud and rest of me spattered in it. The bike was a collection of various soil types.
Soaked but psyched, I had 4 laps and still had time to do another. Even with the rain and trail turning into melted fudge, I was going to go out again. Liz heated up some water, I washed my legs, put on some dry clothes, wolfed down another hamburger and would have had another but I needed to ride more. She asked if I wanted coffee or tea. Knowing what coffee does to me, I asked for tea but turned out she didn't have it so she made some weak coffee. I really can't turn down a cup of coffee anyways and was willing to take the risks. It was good and helped warm me up. I also broke out the embrocation - a little Mad Alchemy mellow heat would also keep me going. I spent a little too long during this transition. Lap time: I ain't winning this race and I can't figure out how I use the lap function.
From the warmth of the pop-up, across the field into the darkness of the forest and the wet trails. First climb, spinning out, I sit back on the wheel and slowly grind up. The rest of the hills were to be similar, I walked a few since my legs were really tired and I could actually get up them faster than spin, spin, slip, spin, slip, grind...
Not sure if it was fatigue I hadn't felt, the twisty course itself, but I was having a hard time getting my eyes to read the trail with my lights. Sure it was my 5th time on it for the day but I was all over the place. I was dropping my head and not looking straight ahead which is usually a sign of fatigue, I was second guessing myself on some climbs and turns because of the mud. Something about sliding from the top of a turn to the bottom without getting through it was a problem and then every other turn had a root in it, climbs were rooty and if you didn't hit them just right, you'd spin out. This lap was getting tough and once again I was living proof that coffee is a diuretic. On the second half, I stopped several times as I pushed my legs to the cramping point and had to let them recover. At the top of a hill before the drop into the creek section, I met up with an solo geared rider who was also resting. We chatted a bit about the conditions and then took off together. It was great to have someone to ride out with. We picked up a third rider before entering the mud bog low section. My legs were fried, I was feeling gritty, tired, and just wet. We all chatted a bit before the mud pulled the guy in front of me off the trail. I managed to get past him and continued to slog my way through. Back up into the field, as I passed Liz and DCMTB, I couldn't help but let out a bit of a 70s classic "If you like pina coladas, riding in the rain..." Luckily, I dropped back into the swamp (trail) because I don't know the rest of that song and it sucks anyways.
Not sure what time I finished when I came into transition. Several riders I know were there and we chatted before I made it back to the pit. Liz said, "Another lap?" I just couldn't. My legs were cooked. I did not like riding in those conditions. I had achieved some objectives, I overcame some major obstacles, I rode better than I did last year, and even better than I did last week. I had a cooler full of beer, some dry clothes, and hanging out to do. This race was done.
Some pics by Liz.
Solo Singlespeed class. And to just add more fun to the mix, I rode it rigid - no suspension - just my own body's ability to absorb constant steel chatter.
Can you say you finished in the top 10 if there were only 10 riders in your class? Still waiting on the results to be posted, but I think I definitely did a good job of boosting up anybody who had 6 or more laps. I did 5 laps. As a duo last year, I had four for my team. So that was progress. Could not have done as well as I did without some serious professional, experienced race support, Liz came out and ran my pit. She kept me fed, forced me to eat and drink, and even cleaned my chain in between laps! Could not have asked for better support!
This was my first 12 hour solo event. As many of my riding partners know, I like to hit it fast at the start and then slowly fade into something short of worthless. This time I was focused on pacing myself. I wanted to beat last year's four laps I did with a goal of getting 7 or 8.
I strategically paced myself in the back to help pace myself. All was well until the third climb, I went around a rider to pass and had to go off trail. I think I picked up a stick and dropped my chain. I quickly put it back on only to snap it in one pedal stroke. I was not even a mile in the first lap! I pulled out the extra links and put some on. I was rushing and wasn't sure why since I had 12 hours to go. I had to add another link and adjust the tension screws. Ugh! Not pleasant. I was now comfortably in last place for ALL classes. It sure got quiet out there. Chain held up for another 10 minutes till I dropped it again - this time cresting a small climb and again just at the top of another climb. I made an effort to adjust the tension screws and cinched down the POS bolt-on QR style axle. I torqued it down so well I stripped the threads. Great! I finally reach mile 4 and I can't tighten the rear wheel in the drops. Which way do I walk? I decide to walk on the course heading to the road where I can quickly get to the mechanical support. But I can't really walk without banging my wheel around so I carry it. For some reason, higher powers were feeling sorry for me and no riders passed me.
I get down to the mechanical support and get a quick release. One of the mechanics offered up his wheel but it was a 19 tooth and I was already pushing myself with a 20 tooth rear. He managed to scrounge up a QR axle. I put it in, adjusted it, hopped on the bike and was off for the next half of the course.
I rode the rest of the lap with no problems. Chain stayed solid and I hit some bumpy climbs. I just don't get it. Course slowly started coming back to me, but once I hit the zig zag part of the second half it just twist and turns so much I can't quite figure out how close I am to the drop to the creek section. Finally, down along the creek, I pick it up to try to regain some lost time. This year they added a water crossing, deep and cold, right foot soaked, cross into some nice sand and the gritty, grind of rotors and chain collecting sand starts. I feel good now and am enjoying myself. Just telling myself a long, faster all day ride. The course was rerouted after the junkyard this year. They put about a 1/4 mile of trail in a low lying area that is pertually wet. And the trail was soft. Cleared all the logs crossing it, came up into the field where we were pitted. Liz saw me, and so did our pit neighbors DCMTB, I called out "I'll give you one guess!" She shook her head. Kevin commented that at least I was still smiling. Lap 1 - 1:58.
I came through transition, went right to the pit. Chatted about what happened, ate some food, refilled the Camelbak and headed back out. Lap 2, went way, way better than lap 1. If my math and timing is right that was my fastest lap. I think I turned it in 1:10. Last year my fastest was 1:13. I owe that to the Shed rides I've done with Liz over the winter and trying to follow Paul down a fast descent. I could have done better or faster but I have a problem of not stretching out after a ride or doing recovery rides. My legs still had some lactic junk in them and it started flaring up. I kept it at bay but a few climbs caused the flare up so I backed off. I still had 9 hours to go.
Lap 3 was just as enjoyable as Lap 2 - except I dropped the chain twice. It should have been once but I didn't bother to adjust the QR skewer. Lazy, denial on my part. I know... if I had just did it right the first time or as the haters would say, "If you just rode gears." Bah. Time: Why didn't I just reset the stopwatch at the start of each of my laps?
At the pit, I learned that the hamburger is an awesome fuel especially with pickles and salty chips. Damn that thing tasted so good! And ice cold Coke. I don't know if it was the protein in the burger, the sugar from the Coke, or all the blood in my stomach trying to digest the burger, but I was psyched for Lap 4. A change of clothes, socks, and some fresh chamois butter might have also helped. I was really enjoying this solo SS thing and the riding even as my legs were getting more tired, more frustrated and tried to raise a coup a few times. I'd stop, watch the quivering die down, suck down some Sharkies or Jelly Beans, take in some water, and start riding again. It was now around 6:30, maybe 7? It dawns on me that it is getting dark. I knew it was not time for the sun to set. It was clouds. Storm clouds. The ones the weatherman had been talking about for a few days.
Plop, plop. I hear a few drops hit leaves. I'm in the woods, with some lovely canopy. I think this rain won't be much and the canopy will protect me. So after I fixed my axle during the first lap, the gods moved on to find someone else to take pity on. Because right after I had the denial driven thoughts that these drops would no way amount to the thunderstorms predicted, the sky opened up and down came the rain. I tried to pedal faster because rain and dirt makes mud and that can get slippery. It took me about 20 minutes to finish the lap, the low lying new section was turning into a mud bog. I came into the pit with my legs covered in mud and rest of me spattered in it. The bike was a collection of various soil types.
Soaked but psyched, I had 4 laps and still had time to do another. Even with the rain and trail turning into melted fudge, I was going to go out again. Liz heated up some water, I washed my legs, put on some dry clothes, wolfed down another hamburger and would have had another but I needed to ride more. She asked if I wanted coffee or tea. Knowing what coffee does to me, I asked for tea but turned out she didn't have it so she made some weak coffee. I really can't turn down a cup of coffee anyways and was willing to take the risks. It was good and helped warm me up. I also broke out the embrocation - a little Mad Alchemy mellow heat would also keep me going. I spent a little too long during this transition. Lap time: I ain't winning this race and I can't figure out how I use the lap function.
From the warmth of the pop-up, across the field into the darkness of the forest and the wet trails. First climb, spinning out, I sit back on the wheel and slowly grind up. The rest of the hills were to be similar, I walked a few since my legs were really tired and I could actually get up them faster than spin, spin, slip, spin, slip, grind...
Not sure if it was fatigue I hadn't felt, the twisty course itself, but I was having a hard time getting my eyes to read the trail with my lights. Sure it was my 5th time on it for the day but I was all over the place. I was dropping my head and not looking straight ahead which is usually a sign of fatigue, I was second guessing myself on some climbs and turns because of the mud. Something about sliding from the top of a turn to the bottom without getting through it was a problem and then every other turn had a root in it, climbs were rooty and if you didn't hit them just right, you'd spin out. This lap was getting tough and once again I was living proof that coffee is a diuretic. On the second half, I stopped several times as I pushed my legs to the cramping point and had to let them recover. At the top of a hill before the drop into the creek section, I met up with an solo geared rider who was also resting. We chatted a bit about the conditions and then took off together. It was great to have someone to ride out with. We picked up a third rider before entering the mud bog low section. My legs were fried, I was feeling gritty, tired, and just wet. We all chatted a bit before the mud pulled the guy in front of me off the trail. I managed to get past him and continued to slog my way through. Back up into the field, as I passed Liz and DCMTB, I couldn't help but let out a bit of a 70s classic "If you like pina coladas, riding in the rain..." Luckily, I dropped back into the swamp (trail) because I don't know the rest of that song and it sucks anyways.
Not sure what time I finished when I came into transition. Several riders I know were there and we chatted before I made it back to the pit. Liz said, "Another lap?" I just couldn't. My legs were cooked. I did not like riding in those conditions. I had achieved some objectives, I overcame some major obstacles, I rode better than I did last year, and even better than I did last week. I had a cooler full of beer, some dry clothes, and hanging out to do. This race was done.
Some pics by Liz.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
12 Hours of Lodi on Saturday
Diving off the deep end this year for Lodi.
Solo. Singlespeed. Riding rigid. Gearing is a little stiff at 34x20. Rode the Shed on Sunday and cleaned Death March, Trail of Tears, Blue Not Blue. Legs felt good. But can I do it consistently over the course of a 12 hour race with shorter but steeper climbs?
Last year I did Duo. I had 4 laps for my team. Had it all last year, cramps, bad lights, fatigue, etc...
Goal is to do 5. Ideally, I'd love to do 8. I just need to keep myself in check and stay steady throughout the day into the evening.
Race day: Saturday, May 2nd @ 12:00pm.
Solo. Singlespeed. Riding rigid. Gearing is a little stiff at 34x20. Rode the Shed on Sunday and cleaned Death March, Trail of Tears, Blue Not Blue. Legs felt good. But can I do it consistently over the course of a 12 hour race with shorter but steeper climbs?
Last year I did Duo. I had 4 laps for my team. Had it all last year, cramps, bad lights, fatigue, etc...
Goal is to do 5. Ideally, I'd love to do 8. I just need to keep myself in check and stay steady throughout the day into the evening.
Race day: Saturday, May 2nd @ 12:00pm.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Big Snow Rides
Two days of snow rides. Absolutely wonderful! Fantastic! One of the best rides I've done! What can you say about a ride where you smile the entire 2 hours on the trail? Both days were so much fun! My legs are very tired from the slow hard pedaling but I just loved it. On last night's RV ride, I turned off my lights and rode with just the moon lighting the trail - indescribable, except for beautiful. The RV trail was also virgin snow, I could just make out the contours of the trail. I loved it!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Recent ride pics
Recent rides
A cursed ride on that I finished on a different bike than the one I intended to ride.
A ride to the Cinema Drafthouse to see Road to Roubaix.
A ride to school and home for a Saturday meeting.
Entering Enchanted Forest in the Shed.
Out on an Arlington Hills ride.
Monday, February 16, 2009
15.180 2.16.09 Charles County, MD 68 miler
Tired from yesterday. Nervous about doing 70 miles. Hid behind Paul and Randy for alot of the ride. Finally, got my legs right when we decided to keep it to 70 and not go for the 80 originally discussed. Pedalled strong for the last 20 miles. Fought the wind the entire ride, and it didn't matter if I was out front or in the draft. But I was on the bike and more or less enjoying it.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
14.180 2.15.09 In the Shed
Some things weren't meant to last,
like my seat today trying a new way to get into Little Canaan.
Or my left cleat which was left in the cleat and the shoe was cleatless.
But even such problems weren't meant to last and I was back on the bike recleated and a seat ziptied to the rails. A few miles remained, mostly climbing and all was well.
6 hours in the Shed. Lots of stops but lots of great riding. Large group of SSers, with a few pros! Even had snow! Some skills developed further. New challenges found. Pushed myself a little bit more and survived.
Another awesome ride this year.
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