| (Long Distance) Ramblings |
|
I like to ride my bicycle - for long distances. I have earned the California Triple Crown and finished the Furnace Creek 508. My goals include qualifying for RAAM and ...(read the blog to find out). "The bicycle has a soul. If you are able to love it as it deserves, it will give you emotions you will never forget." "Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride."
"The important decisions in my life I make while out riding my bike."
"Pain is temporary, quitting lasts forever.” Lance Armstrong
|
Friday, August 30, 2002
Well, I was working on totalling my mileage for the year, when I discovered that I have ridden over 5000 miles as of last weekend! I have completed three double centuries, with Knoxville coming up on September 21. After Knoxville, I will be doing the Death Valley Double. This will be my second Death Valley Double. You can see a picture of me at the finnish line of last year's ride here. I'm on the far right. But, this weekend is a three day weekend. On Saturday, I plan a hard and fast 75 miles, Sunday will be a 50 mile recovery ride, and on Labor Day I will do a hard century. This will give me 225 miles for the weekend. Thursday, August 29, 2002
On Wendesday night I had a very good training ride. I rode with Craig Beavers. We did 20 miles at 18.5 mph into a stiff north wind. My heart rate was above 85% for the majority of the ride. Monday, August 26, 2002
I had a very good weekend of traning. On Saturday, I did the Torture 10,000. My average was just 13 mph, but there was 10150 feet of gain in 105 miles. The worst part was going out toward the George Loop. While not steep, it was a climb and my legs were very tired. The best part was the last ten miles. This section was flat and I feft strong. I pasted many riders and was only passed by one at the very end of the ride. On Sunday, my wife and I brought out our Meridan tandem and did 60 slow miles. Today will be a rest day. Tuesday is the Salem Bicycle Club meeting so I will ride on Wednesday and Thursday. Thursday will be hill night. This weekend is Labor Day weekend. I'm not sure where I will ride on Saturday. I'm thinking about a long, mostly flat but with hills at the end ride. Sunday will be a recovery ride and Monday will be a flat century at speed. Friday, August 23, 2002
Well, I'm feeling better today, so the Torture 10,000 is a go! Woohoo, I get to climb Larch Mountain! Thursday, August 22, 2002
Saturday was a very good ride. I left my house at 6:30 am and headed toward Corvallis. It was a bit cool, but a wind breaker was all that I needed to keep warm. By the time I reached the base of Mary's Peak, I had already gained 1300'. In the next 11 miles, I gained an additional 4000'. I felt I was climbing well, at least better than the last time that I did this climb (in May). With four miles to go, a mountain biker came down a gravel road and said "Hi, John". I was suprised to see Pat on his one speed mountain bike. I stopped and we talked for a while. I decided to do some addition hills on my way back to Salem, so I took King's Valley Rd. I ended up with 132 miles and 7800 feet of gain. When I got home, I took my lovey wife out to dinner as I was to tired to cook! On Sunday, we broke out the tandem add did 54 miles with more hills! I took Monday off as a rest day. I did not ride on Tuesday as I was still tired and my Cannondale was still in the shop. On Wednesday, we rode the tandem again, but very slowly. I maybe getting ill. If I'm feeling well, I will do the Torture 10,000 Century on Saturday. (Please forgive the webmaster, the intend is there.) Friday, August 16, 2002
Thursday was much cooler than earlier in the week. When I left on the ride at 5:30 pm, it was just 90 degrees F. I did the same route as last Thursday - 30 miles and 2800 feet of gain. This was the first ride with my new Look pedals (which replaced some SPD pedals). The new pedals are lighter and have a larger platform. However, they did not solve my hot spot problem on my left foot. I am amazed by the amount of float these new pedals have. It will take some getting use to. Wednesday, August 14, 2002
Monday was a hard ride. First of all, the temperature was in the upper 90's. Secondly, I chose a very hilly route in West Salem, And lastly, I worked as hard as I could. Remenber, the hills will make you strong. On Tuesday, it was hotter but I took it easiler. I did the same mileage as Monday (27 miles) but instead of 1600' of elevation gain, I gained only 644'. I can not ride on Wednesday as I must attend the Salem Bicycle Club Board meeting. But, it back to the hills on Thursday. As to this weekend ride, I have decided to do Marys Peak and it should take me all day. I am glad that the temperatures will be much lower than the last few days. Sunday, August 11, 2002
I took it easy on Sunday, August 11. I did just over 45 miles with less than 1000 feet of elevation gain. I got my Knoxville rider comfirmation e-mail today. It pointed me to an un-linked URL which Mozilla did not render correctly as the page was composed with M$ Word. I had to open it with IE. Anyway, there is lots to read and understand. This week I plan on riding Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with Tuesday and Wednesday being recovery rides. This weekend is open. Perhaps I will climb Mary's Peak again. Friday was another one of those rest day. I went to dinner with Martin and Carol. Saturday, I did not ride. There was a family wedding I attended that took place in Seattle. Seattle is one of those towns that proves you can not build your way out of gridlock! I was back on the bike on Thursday, and I choose the West Salem hills! I did 30 miles with 2800 feet of elevation gain. You know, even when you thing you are improving, the hills will always put you in your place! Wednesday, August 07, 2002
Monday was a scheduled rest day. Tuesday was to be a Salem Bicycle Club ride, but as we let the starting location, I got a migraine headacke - a strong one. I sat on the side of the road for 25 minutes, and then slowly rode back to my car. The next morning, it prevented me from going to work. It maybe August, and it maybe California, but it can still rain when you travel from Oregon. My wife Joanne Heilinger, Pete Richards and I drove down to Mt. Shasta on Saturday. The weather was clear and warm, except for the smoke from the forest fires in southern Oregon. At Mt. Shasta, the wind was blowing from the south, keeping the smoke at bay. However, when we awoke on Sunday, the wind had changed and was from the north, where the forest fires were. I started at 6:00 am and headed north to the first pass - Parks Creek Summit. I had climbed this pass last year so I knew that it was steep, rough and long. The smoke was not a problem, execpt that it obscured the view. The next pass was Mumbo Summit. This was the first time that I have climbed this hill and I was impressed. It was the steepest and longest climb I have ever done! But, I made it to the top! But, on the desent, it started to rain! It was just a few drops at first, but soon a full-fledge summer rain was comming down. By the time I had decended back into Shasta City, it was comming down hard. So, I had to leave the third climb - Mt. Shasta - for another day. None the less, I got in 96 miles and 9600 feet of elevation gain, but only at 12.5 miles per hour. This was my second ride of the Mt. Shasta Summit Century, and I must say that the ride was well supported, the routes were challenging, and the after ride feed was great! Friday, August 02, 2002
This weekend I will be travelling to MT. Shasta for the Mt. Shasta Summit Century. I will be doing as much climbing as I can. My goal is for three passes of the Super Century. This week I rode on Tuesday and Wednesday, both hilly routes (each with 1000' of elevation gain). Remember, the hills are your friends!
|