| (Long Distance) Ramblings |
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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
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Monday, September 23, 2002
I have earned my pain! I finished! I left at 4:40 am, did 14 miles per hour for 195 miles with 11,500 feet of elevation gain and finished at 10:pm. This was a very hard ride for me. The temperature was well over 90 degrees; I heard over 100 degrees on the longest climb of the day. The support was great! Each reststop (after the first) had ice for waterbottles and camelbacks. This really helped. And the post ride dinner was great; boneless chicken breasts and two(!) kinds of pasta! The only mechanicals I had were one of my tail lights shifting into the spokes of my real wheel. I had no flats and saw only two. Wednesday, September 18, 2002
I have been taking some time off - both from this blog and the bike. Last weekend, I rode on Sunday only. Joanne and I rode the tandem to Mt. Angle and back, a ride of just 40 miles. I intended to keep the pace slow as I was thinking that I was catching the flu, but three other tandem teams show up - Dave and Shirlee, John and Tonya and Kurt and Erica. So, off we went at a blazing speed. We reached Mt. Angle with an average speed of 18 mph and only increased it on the way back. I felt good; it was a good ride for me. Last night, I rode with Kurt and we hit the south Salem hills as hard as we could. By the end of the night our average was 17 mph for 26 miles with over 1500' of elevation gain. These last two rides have given me some confidence. The Konxville Double is this Saturday and I have been feeling some seft doubt. But, with my recent good performance, I'm know I can do this ride. Also, I received the light I ordered two weeks ago. It is a Cygo Lite. I choose this model due to a six(!) hour runtime and it's low cost. Monday, September 09, 2002
Well, I see it has been some time since I have been here. Joanne and I rode our Meridian Tandem on Monday, and we rode as fast as we could for 100 miles. At the end of the day, our average was over 18 miles per hour. Tuesday was not a rest day. Instead, I rode my Trek520 touring bicycle. I took it easy, especially since the Trek is not known for being a light bicycle (30 pounds). Wednesday was more of the same, but I did a few hill sprints, but nothing serious. These two rides were 25 miles each in lenght. Thursday was my first rest day after five straight days of riding. Satuday was day one of a two day credit card tour. Tom Tilque, Keith & Pat Lippy, and Joanne and myself started from Cougar Dam off of HWY 126 to Oakride following the Aufderheidie Scenic Route. Sunday was the return back to our cars at Cougar Dam. Each day was 60 miles with 3000 feet of elevation gain. I'm feeling good about the ride coming up in two weeks. My legs are strong and I'm climbing better than any poing in my life. None the less, the Knoxville Double does have 12,000 feet of elevation gain, an average of 3000 feet for every 50 miles. I have ordered an additional headlight for my bicycle. This will now give me a total of six hours of light. The ride director wants people to start very early in the morning - 4:30 am. To start this early, I need a light. However, I may also need a light to finish after dark, which explains the second light (and battery). This week I will ride hard on Tuesday and Thursday, and then begin to taper so my legs are fresh on Saturday, September 21. Sunday, September 01, 2002
Saturday was indeed a hard ride, but it was not flat. It seems I took every side hill I could find, including Summit Loop. It has been a couple of years since I have ridden Summit Loop, and it was as bad as I remenbered. There is lots of 10% - 14% grades, just the kind of hill that makes you glad you still have a triple! After that joyfull experience, the ride was mostly flat. However, that was that strong North wind to contend with as we returned to Salem. Sunday was suposed to be a recovery ride on the tandem, but Joanne wanted to ride her single today and the tandem tomorrow (on the long ride). So, I did take it easy on the way to Silverton, but I worked really hard on the 16 miles back to Salem. Sometimes, I just can't controll myself!
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