Texas Hell Week - Day 4: hammer time!

Whoa. Rode today with a group of fasties on a very hilly route. Fortunately, we had no wind early in the ride, and a nice tailwind coming home, so with pacelining and sprinting up the hills we averaged 19.3 for the 80 mile ride. It wasn't a total sausage fest, as two women, including fast Katie, were riding with us. By the end we were down to six people, pretty much all ex- or current racers. The pace was just beyond my comfort zone, so an absolutely perfect ride. The ride in was especially nice, with the tailwind and some nice scenery. By the time we were rolling into town, though, all I could think about was getting home. A few more miles and I think I would have collapsed from exhaustion! But that's the best kind of training ride isn't it? :)

Not sure about the Leakey Death ride tomorrow. The smart plan would be to recover and reap the benefits of this ride. Maybe an easy spin, a nap, and the consumption of food and beer.

Texas Hell Week - Day 3: baby farm animals, cleat fitting

Feeling a bit tired after back to back 70+ mile rides, I decided to do the 'C' ride of 40+ miles, and maybe hammer it a bit more. 'Hammering' ended up being 'rubber malleting' and 40+ miles ended up being even less due to erroneous directions. No big deal, as the route through open ranch land led me past a young white (albino?) calf, and very cute frolicking lambs. The extra time allowed me to stop at the local bike shop and get cleats fitted to my new shoes. I also lowered my bars after realizing that the BMC actually had a taller head tube than my Surly Pacer! There was only one thin spacer remaining, and the stem was already flipped down, so I took the spacer out. That should help a bit in the wind!

Wednesday is the 'Leakey Death Ride' - 100+ miles with two brutal climbs. Bring it!

Texas Hell Week - Day 2

Today was still a bit chilly, in spite of promises of normal weather for the day. Indeed, it is now sunny and warm in the later afternoon, but too late for the ride! Today was a little slower: 73 miles at 17.1 mph due to nearly bonking. Yesterday I only needed two Gus and one bottle of Powerade, so I packed accordingly. In the end I used up both Gus and three bottles of Powerade, and forgot to bring some cash on the ride so I had to ration myself and ride slower.

Highlights: the ride back home on a quiet, scenic ranch road instead of the busy road we went out on, and Katie's story that makes my collarbone surgery look like a boo-boo (maybe not a highlight, but good to share war stories).

Texas Hell Week - Day 1

Yesterday was the first ride of the annual "spring training camp" known as Texas Hell Week. Normslly that means an escape from cold, snowy Minnesota to warm, sunny Fredericksburg, Texas. Yesterday was a bit chilly though, requiring arm warmers, knee warmers and the long-fingered track gloves that I happened to bring along, plus some chemical warmers that I found in the bottom of my tote. The track gloves barely did the job even! Still, much better than studded tires, ice, snow and general yuckiness! It was a good ride though, 16 miles at 17.1 mph.

Highlights: a confused lamb that didn't know whether to try to outrun us or run in the opposite direction along the side of the road, a mean trailer park dog on a collision course with my front wheel (dispatched with a stern "no" but probably responsible for my average speed coming in above 17!), and the usual motley asssortment of riders from all walks and all parts of the country to chat with.

Spring ride!

Took the Surly Pacer out for its maiden voyage (okay, I did a little ride Friday too). Set up with fenders, leather saddle and bar tape, and its downtube shifters all all, the only think that was lacking was a tweed cap! Met up with Tom and Cam for a 60 mile ride that I was apprehensive about keeping up with. Fortunately Tom was on a 'cross bike with 'cross tires, and Cam was rolling on studs, so my 25c road tires were fast by comparison. A zip tie on my fender broke, but we made it to Tonka Cycle and they got me rolling in no time - great service! They even offered towels for our mud-spattered faces. We continued on and stopped at the new Excel Cycle so Tom could get his computer working, to no avail. A nice, high-end shop, very snazzy. Just as I was running out of water, we stopped at Caribou in Minnetonka, where Paula Plant was enjoying a coffee too. The breaks were good, as we had a stiff wind on the way out, in spite of Tom pulling us along. I started bonking just as we hit the Greenway, but a candy bar and Powerade had me feeling like doing it all over again after about 10 minutes. The Greenway still had some packed snow in patches, but it wasn't icy for the most part, so the road tires worked fine. Tom estimates 53 miles at 16.8 mph. A great ride, and great to be outside riding in nice weather!

Last long ride of the year?

A balmy 40 degrees today, no snow, no wet - how can you not ride today? Took off at about 1:30, which was supposed to be the warmest part of the day (and remain so for several hours). Not wanting to overdress, I wore winter tights, Underarmor lightweight base layer, fleeced long sleeve jersey, vest, Gore gloves with polypro liners, and regular shoes with chemical warmers (no shoe covers). It was just about perfect, but I should have worn shoe covers and maybe skipped the toe warmers. Did a good 44 miles through sprawlsville - Eagan, Apple Valley(?), West St. Paul. Rode the BMC, skinny tires and all, and everything was dry for the most part. Saw a few people out within the city limits, but was surprised not to see anyone out for a longer ride. I don't expect we'll be seeing this weather again soon.

Saw a black squirrel. They must be pretty rare, because I don't see them very often. It was pretty plump.

Getting the nine-speed dialed in on the cyclocross bike before Jingle Cross. I'm so going to suck, but at least I'll be able to shift! Looking forward to a good time there. Guess we won't be seeing Chris Horner there again eh?

Southwest Regional Trail

Took the cyclocross bike on the Southwest Regional LRT Trail today. I've only been on it once before, and I've been meaning to explore it again. It's a very pleasant ride on a cyclocross bike, and today was a perfect day for a ride. 11.2 miles out and back = 22.5 miles. With cyclocross tires at 70 psi on a crushed limestone trail, it's a nice way to get a little workout in after work. Until it gets too dark anyway. There were lots of signs indicating upcoming and/or completed construction, but I was lucky today and had a straight shot out and back. I can see myself doing this some more, and exploring the northern route to Victoria too.

Bonk!

It's been a while since I've done that! Went for a 52 mile ride today. I was out of Gatorade, but I had a packet of Perpetuem, which promises to be electrolyte and nutrition in one. It had two tall bottles' worth, so I went with that. I felt good, even though heading out there was a brisk headwind from the usual ESE. As I got to Rosemount, though, the wind switched, becoming a brisk tailwind from the west. I was flying past Dakota Tech! As I headed back north I still had another bottle left, so I figured I was set; worst case I'd get some water at the top of the high bridge for the last leg home. The west wind was actually northwest, so it was against me a bit, but not too bad. I ran out of Perpetuem at the top of the high bridge, so I filled up with water and figured it would get me home. Coming in Summit, though, I could feel the engine running out of gas. By the time I crossed the Mississippi I was really bonking! I barely made it home, scraped the dust from the bottom of a Gatorade jar and a Powerade jar enough to make 8 oz., and dragged my sweaty butt to my bed and promptly fell asleep! After waking up all confused as to where I was, my cupboards were bare, but I did find some chicken soup, which was perfect. Still, after hill repeats yesterday, I can barely walk. Hopefully I'm recovered for TNT on Tuesday.

I <3 my team

Yesterday we had an awesome turnout for our Wednesday team ride. Probably 20 people at points, from regular Cat 6ers to occasional riders to friends of riders and other teams. All abilities from 1/2/3 to newbie. We kept it real though riding easy until the hills and sprints where we kicked it up a few notches and then waited for everyone to catch up. The only true no-drop ride in town! Afterward we invaded the Town Hall for beer and burgers. It was a really good time!

Earn your beer

Here's the ride on Sunday before we sample Belgium's finest and watch the Tour of Flanders. We head out at noon at the Boom Island parking lot and wind up at the Bulldog NE. In the spirit of the "Ronde van Vlaanderen" the Directeur Sportif has prepared a route featuring:

1. Hard ass flanders style ride.
2. Every short steep hill we could find.
3. It might be raining.
4. We stay purposely near the city at all times for folks to jump on or bail out.
5. We include a lap around the State Fair Crit course.
6. Every time you see a Weight icon... hill.

Are you man enough? (Of course you can always just show up at the Bulldog at 3pm.) Get your tickets and more info here, $25 for plenty of awesome Belgian beer and a special glass.

Planting friendly seeds

I like waving while I'm out on the bike. It fosters good will among fellow racers and the general public. Today was a good day for friendly waves, lots of people out riding. Riding with my team, we were heading up to Little Italy, and I waved at a little girl on a kid's bike. It looked like her dad was on the other side of the street, because he smiled as we passed by. The little girl didn't quite seem to know how to respond, but you have to wonder what goes through her head when a friendly group of racers goes by in their matching kits and bling bikes. Maybe she'll think "I want to do that when I grow up" and a little friendliness results in the next Mara Abbott. Or maybe even just a recreational rider that enjoys life from behind handlebars instead of a TV screen. You never know.

What a gorgeous day...

...for a bike ride. Sunny, 40s, pretty dry. Snuck out of work early, as did pretty much everyone else. Did hill repeats on Ohio/Cherokee then did Ramsey, low cadence, high gear, seated drills per the plan. Ouch. The rest was pretty easy riding, warm up on the way out and cool down on the way back. Quite a few people out, racers, hipsters, runners, rednecks in pickups. Don't you love that feeling before your first race when you're feeling fit? You know, before that feeling gets crushed after the first race?

Texas Hell Week 08 - Day 7 and 8

Catching up - day 7 was finally the century, which I rode with Patti. The first 75 miles were fine, but I faded after that. Fortunately we had a tailwind on the way back so it wasn't too bad. Day 8 was an "easy" 60 miles. It felt so short! Both days were gorgeous. Then a two day trip back - Texas to Kansas City, then home via Des Moines where we had coffee with my mom. Went for a quick ride today to stretch out the legs after being cooped up in the car. Certainly not west Texas, but temps in the 40s doesn't suck either.

Belgian beer tasting and Tour of Flanders event!

Texas Hell Week 08 - Day 5 and 6

This was to be the highlight of the week - the famous Leakey Death Ride. I'd intended to do the full 100+ mile ride, but due to road construction that route was closed. The 75 mile option was like last year, and I wanted to do that rather than stay in town and do the 100 mile option that didn't involve driving. Sascha's Birchwood friends Patti and Heather, who've never done Hell Week, came along as well. I was looking forward to riding with Patti, who's a fit rowing and speedskating powerhouse getting into cycling for cross training. We drove out to the start, couldn't find the court house again, and just headed out. Patti and I drove into the headwind for the first five miles before we turned west. She's a very strong rider, so we made good progress and were evenly matched. Watch out Minnesota women - I bet she's going to be ripping some legs off this season! We were caught by a tandem riding group after a while and sat in for a bit while avoiding a sketchy rider with aero bars and a drunken line. I inserted myself between him and Patti to try and make things safer for her, being a relatively new rider. Eventually the tandem riders stopped, and the sketchy rider hitched a ride on our train. Patti later said that he'd told her that he didn't think he was welcome with the tandem crew. We eventually dropped him on the big stand-up-or-fall-over hill (think Ramsey hill, only three times as long!). Due to my crash the day before, I didn't have my loweest gear available (the derailleur was pinging the spokes a bit), so that made it even harder! Patti was right behind me the whole time - amazing for a new rider! Speedskating really does cross over to cycling, as Connie Carpenter proved in 1984. Pics should be coming, as I gave my email address to a lady at the top taking pictures for her husband.

At the store, we found out that the B route was also under construction! The hard core group that was assembled there decided to do it anyway, but Patti and I elected to be safe and just head back the way we came. Heather rolled in not long after we'd discussed our options - she's quite the little triathlete powerhouse herself! So back we went, my hamstrings screaming after yesterday's epic ride and one trip over the nasty hills already, plus getting cold at the store. However, the NNW side wind was slightly at our backs, so the trip back was in the big ring for the most part, and Patti dropped me on the big hill! We met up again later on and rode the rest of the way back into town with a nice tailwind and paceline going - exhilarating!

Back in town we stopped at the bestest BBQ place - Busbee's BBQ in Bandera. Yum! I had a really interesting conversation with Patti about skating and rowing. Seems that they're really not that different from cycling in terms of the core training and competitive principles! Judging from when Heather rolled into the store on the way out, we were expecting her any minute, but she texted me that she'd made a wrong turn! She ended up going about 12 miles out of her way, poor girl. But that was good for 82 miles, plus the ride back was much more pleasant with the tailwind anyway. Afterward, I was beat, so today I'm taking off the bike completely, and considering a century tomorrow.

Texas Hell Week 08 - Day 4

I almost ended up among all the carcasses on the side of the road today. After taking it easy yesterday, I was extra motivated to ride today, even though thunderstorms blew through last night and early this morning, and scattered thunderstorms were in the works for late afternoon. However, according to the forecast, all was good for the time we'd be on the road. I had some doubts when I showed up at the start and no one else was there. In the end, six others showed up. We were on our own, as there would be no official support due to the iffy weather. The rest were doing the 100 mile route, so apparently I was in the "hard core" group. We rode together for a while, but after my rest day I was feeling frisky and went off the front. The day was nice, but soggy. I almost biffed it on a double set of cattle guards, and slowed up to make sure the person behind me made it over them. I think I scared her when I told her about it, but she assured me she'd be extra careful! About halfway into the ride it started sprinkling, then raining, then pouring! Fortunately it was fairly warm (60s), but after a while my fingers were getting pretty numb, and I started getting pretty worried. The others were no where to be seen, even though I stopped at the (closed) BBQ landmark and a couple of other times to put on arm warmers and eat. The wind was worrying me, but I kept up the effort to stay warm. Finally the rain let up, but the roads were still wet, and I slid out on a surprise corner that came up on a little meandering road that must have been a cattle trail at one time. A couple of guys in a pickup who weren't too far behind checked to see if I was okay, and everything seemed to be in order enough to get home. I soldered on imagining I was a racer doing a spring classics race, and eventually made it home and jumped in the tub to soak away my aches. Not the best day on the bike, but I like to think I'm tougher for it!

Texas Hell Week 08 - Day 3

After yesterday's ride I thought it would be best to take an easy day to recover and get ready for another two days of tough rides. Wednesday is the infamous Leakey Death Ride. Even the 60ish mile version is tough, and I'll be doing the 100 mile version. Rode 25 easy miles today, tried to keep the heart rate in the 120s. Hanging out at a coffee shop and catching up on the blogging and a little work. Took a picture of some frolicking lambs with the cell phone camera today. The little lamb on the far left next to its mother was especially cute.

Texas Hell Week 08 - Day 2

Yesterday I was feeling great even after pushing it on the bike, but today was totally different! I hooked up with Fast Katie for the B ride - 65ish miles. I think she got even faster since last year (or I've gotten slower!) because I was trashed by the end of the ride. It was a nice ride - perfect weather, a little windy in parts maybe, lots of happy lambs and calves frolicking in the ranch land. Katie and I pushed each other and were at the front of the B groupers until I missed a turn and we made a 6 mile detour. Near the end of the ride I started getting tired, to the point that when I got home I collapsed in my sweaty kit and snoozed for an hour.

Afterward I met up with the girls and we had a great dinner at a nice cafe with some fun music and good food. Life is good!

Texas Hell Week 08 - Day 1

Currently in Fredericksburg, TX: Sunny and 79 (feels like 79)
Currently in Minneapolis, MN: Cloudy and 31 (feels like 26)

That pretty much sums it up. Although it's been marginally decent in Minneapolis the last few days, it's pretty much impossible for me to get a 60 mile workout in Minnesota when I'm expending my energy trying to stay warm and avoid snow, ice and sprawlsville traffic. Here about the only thing I have to avoid are sheep and cows wandering across the open range! It was a gorgeous day and I was feeling extra frisky, getting some "muscular endurance" drills in as well as 60 miles. No mechanicals, although something's up with the bottom bracket. Rode with a group of fasties for a while, among whom was Fast Katie, although I didn't recognize her until we ran into each other again on the way to the coffee shop. I've committed to making the highlight of the week the infamous "Leakey Death Ride" - a 100 mile epic with some very serious (for Texas) hills! For now I'm sticking to the "B" rides - ususally 60-70 miles. Hopefully I'll have a better base of fitness by the end of the week!

Training with a plan

Well this Friel guy might just know what he's talking about. On the slate today was "E3B" (guy uses so many acronyms it's not funny). That means two hours of "Ride on rolling course. Big chain ring. Most of ride time in heart rate zone 2-3. Seated on most hills." Finally having cadence on a computer for the first time ever, I learned something very interesting. Actually, it wasn't so much that I learned it, but backed up a well-known theory, namely, the inverse relationship between cadence and heart rate. Keeping the heart rate in zone 2-3 was tough in the big chain ring, but as soon as I realized this session was supposed to be training the legs, not the cardio system, it all made sense. As long as I kept my cadence under 80, the heart rate stayed down and my legs were doing the work, not the cardio system. If I stick to this training plan, maybe I'll suck less this year!

On the way home it started drizzling, and I was out of Gu today, so a stop at a coffee shop in St. Paul was perfect for fueling up, warming up and drying out a bit. "Rolling course" is very difficult around here, but between Ohio St., Little Italy and the MN River valley I got a few in, but focused on the intent, namely working the muscular endurance. It was so nice to have a (relatively) warm day! No fingers and toes thawing out, no crawling under the covers shivering when I get home. They say there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear, and that's so true. I've lost my cycling windbreaker shell, and making do without has sucked. Everything else hile either doesn't fit won the bike, doesn't breathe, is too warm, too cold, whatever. Might have to get another.

Time to clean the bike (again!).