| (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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Sunday, February 29, 2004
I enjoyed a very nice ride out in the country north of Salem today. The sky was overcast, but we had no rain while we were on the road. Saturday, February 28, 2004
The last weekend before the first Double of the year. I was still feeling the effects of my cold, so I took it easy and rode with some very good friends of mine. Lando is as old as the hills but knows how to ride. Wayne always has a smile on his face, and Mel is the serious one. Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Sad Link. I have been down with a illness for the last week and one half. I have not done any training at all, no weights, no spinning and no yoga. But I am feeling better each day now, and the forecast for Saturday is looking pretty good. So, I will be able to get one more log ride in before Death Valley. WooHoo. Monday, February 16, 2004
Today was a very good day. Called Martin after the ride. His machine answered the phone. "Hi Martin, I just got back from a 55 mile ride to Dallas and back. I feel great! I was very strong! Life is good." I was very sore last night, and it interfeared with me getting to sleep. In the morning, my legs were still sore, but the sun was shinning and I took the LeMond out. Rode 55 miles with Dave and Shirley impressing the hell our of myself. It has been years since I could hang with these two. I past 1000 miles for the year on this ride. Death Valley looks like it's going to be fun! Saturday, February 14, 2004
Today was a very hard day. Called Martin after the ride. His machine answered the phone. "Hi Martin, I just got back from a 126 mile ride to Brownsville and back. I'm tired. My butt is sore, my legs are sore, my back is sore, and my arms are sore. Like is not good. Don't worry about calling back; I'm just complaining." I left home at 7:00 am and returned at gopt back at 3:30 pm with just 30 minutes off of the bike. My average is better; close to 16 miles per hour, but this was the hardest ride of the year. After 75 miles, I pulled into Brownsville on empty. I headed for the cafe and found a bunch of bikes infront of it. The Santiam Slow Spokes had take all of the good bicycle parking! I ate lunch with them before heading back to Salem. I nearly made it before the rain started too, but got wet with just a few miles to go. Death Valley looks like it going to be very painful. Friday, February 13, 2004
Training went well this week. Monday - Weights & yoga Tuesday - Rest day Wednesday - Weights Thursday - Spinning and yoga Friday - Rest day. Sunday, February 08, 2004
I was very sore this morning. But the weather forecast was the best so far this year, so I let the LeMond come out and play. I did 38 miles today. I saw blue skies today! So nice to see after all of the rain. We headed north to Unionvale before crossing the Wheatland Ferry and returning home. The pace was quick, very quick. I held on for most of the ride, but dropped off with a few miles to go. It also started to shower lightly. Not enough to get wet, but enough to hurry home. Training update: I am doing well. I seem to be able to get in a long ride each weekend. However, they are very hard. I have three more weekends before the Death Valley Spring Double, so I have a reasonable amouth of time to build up my endurance. I hope that the weather cooperates. Saturday, February 07, 2004
Saturday was the best of rides, and the worst of rides. I left Salem at 9:00 am and headed for Sheridan. Winds in the Willamette Valley either blow from the south (Winter) or from the north (Summer), so I was surprised to find myself ride into a strong west wind. This kept my speed down and started to wear me down. After 30 miles, I was passing thro Sheridan. I tenured into the hills onto Rock Creek Rd. Water started to fall from the shy, but it was a light mist. It wasn't even getting me wet, but it foretold of things to come. I climbed up and over the ridge and down into Buck Hollow. Next, I started my climb into the coast range. Bald Mountain Rd has some of the steepest sections I have ever seen. I shifted down a "got in touch with my inner chain ring". I climbed up over 1000', then over 2000'. I started seeing snow in the forest beside the road. At 2300' it started snowing. My computer said 36° F, so I was not worried that the snow would stick. At 2500', the snow stopped. At 2600' the snow now started to creep onto the roadway. At 2700', the snow covered the road except for two bare ruts which grew smaller and smaller as I climbed. At 2800', the ruts were gone. The roadway was now covered with 8 inches of snow, except the ruts were covered with just 2 inches. I believed I was very close to the top, so I started pushing my bike. I walked about 100 yards when I heard something coming up behind me. I picked up my bike and moved off of the roadway. Two ATVs pulled up beside me and stopped. "Are you OK?" one asked. "Yes, but I hope the snow ends soon." "Do you want a ride?" "No, I'll be OK." With that, they took off. I started walking again, and rounded the next corner. There, I saw that the road continued gaining altitude and the snow was just getting deeper. With a heavy sigh, I decided that I should turn around and head back down the way I came. I was not going to do a loop today. In the end, I did 106 miles with 5500' of elevation gain. On the way back, a dog ran out in front of me on Zena Rd. I don't know why, but the dogs are really starting to get to me. In talking with folks, Mace has been suggested. However, I have a better idea. Paint-ball gun. If your dog comes home with orange paint, I guess you can blame me. Friday, February 06, 2004
My training is going OK. I took Monday off (Martin was under the weather). Tuesday, I went to Spinning® and then to yoga. Wendesday, Martin and I worked out. Thursday and Friday were rest days. Tomorrow is a long ride. I plan to do over 100 miles with elevation. The route? Bald Mountain! Lastly, here is the Link of the Day. Monday, February 02, 2004
I have been depressed about the weather. I have not seen a clear blue sky for months, and it is really getting to me. Then, I ran into the Link of the day which put things into perspective. Sunday, February 01, 2004
Sunday should have been a long ride for me, but I was just worn out. Yesterday, I did a very hilly 65 mile ride, then drove to Seattle. This morning, I drove back to Salem and collaspe on the couch. I did manage to do the Salem Bicycle Club afternoon 25 mile ride (On the LeMond!), but it was all I could manage. I could not do a long ride, so I did a hilly ride instead. I headed east out of town toward the foothills. Once there, I did the Fox-Drift Creek-Victor Point loop three times before heading home. I did 65 miles and 4900' of elevation gain. I was cold. My toes got cold each time I travelled south on Victor Point Rd and into the wind. The sky was cloudy most of the ride, and a shower did find me as I headed home. Why did I not have time to do a long ride? Because Joanne and I drove to Seattle to see Willie Wier. He gave a lecture on bicycling in India. After the show, he was nice enough to pose for a picture with us! If you ever get a chace to see Willie live, you will enjoy it!
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