| (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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Thursday, November 25, 2004
The last few weeks have been very dreay here in the Willamette Valley. We wake up to wet fog that hangs low to the ground. It is not rain, but small wet drops of dew cover your glasses, your bike and your clothes as you ride along. I find it very hard in this kind of mosity, misty weather. So, I have been studing for a certification exam instead. I'm taking a few weeks off of the bike. So, when the sun came out on Thanksgiving morning, I wanted to ride. But, I am the cook of the household and I stated cooking Thanksgiving dinner instead. But I found myself looking out of the window at the blue sky and I heard my bicyle calling me as I rolled the dough for the cranberrry/rasberry we would enjoy for dessert. Then Al D. called, "Let's go for a ride!". Looking at Joanne, I wanted to say "Sure", but I held back. After all, this is Thanksgiving and I had a feast to prepare. Putting Al on hold I explained what Al was proposing. Looking at me with a smile she said "We can always eat later." Woohoo, we get to ride! Saturday, November 13, 2004
Today, the Salem Bicycle Club did litter pick up along the road it has adopted. Joanne filled in for doug Parrow so I got to put up the warning signs and ferry people up and down the road. Once all the litter was picked up, it was time to ride. But, I brought a bike with Shimano road peddles but shoes with Shimano SPD cleats. Oh well, I went home and raked leaves instead. Friday, November 12, 2004
Thursday was veteran's Day so I called up a veteran and we went for a bicycle ride. Al D. flew for the Air Force in the Vietnam War. Now he rides bicycles, and very well. We choose to ride up Larch Mountain. We left from Lewis and Clark State Park and began climbing. After 4000 feet in 23 miles, we reached the top. Along the way, Al asked "John, what's your heart rate? You seem to be breathing hard". It was 158 while his was 131. Of course, I weigh 30 more pounds then he does. Yes, I need to lose them. You learn a lot about someone while you climb a mountain with them. I learned that Al was one of the pilots the flew the transport that carried home first released POWs after the end of the Vietnam War. Sunday, November 07, 2004
73 miles in the cold, fog yesterday. We violated one of Keith Lippy's Laws; Never ride when the temperature is below your age. Last weekend I was riding in 74° weather in Death Valley, and yesterday I was riding in 40 degrees in Oregon. I have got to move! No riding today as I have to go to work. Saturday, November 06, 2004
I'm in a post season, planning for next season, taking a rest period. But, I did go to Rivercity Bicycles yesterday for a Lactate Threshold test performed by Stephenie Sullivan of Vital Fitness. After a lot of spinning, sweating and a minor amount of bleeding the result is a lactate threshold of 153, or thereabouts. What does this mean? Well Edmund R. Burke writes on the Carmichael Training Systems website that lactate threshold "...is defined as the point in which blood lactate begins to accumulate above moderate levels in one's blood during exercise of increasing intensity." Or, as Stephenie put it "Lactate Threshold is the point where your body can no longer cleanse lactate acid." The threshold of 153 was not unexpected, although, was a bit higher than I thought it would be. This means that I should be able to ride with a heart rate of 153 for a very long time, as long as I consume calories that is. Tuesday, November 02, 2004
I did not finish the Death Valley Double. The morning was clear and cool. I left in the second wave of double riders and soon found myself in a nice paceline at 20 mpg. I choose not to stop at the first rest stop - Badwater, as it was just 17 miles down the road. I was feeling good and decided to continue to the Ashford Mills rest stop. I followed a silver Santana tandem all of the way there. I took a short break, and then started the climb up to the pass. I thought I was riding well, but my legs began to cramp! The cramping would continue for another 100 miles until I decided to end the ride at 150 miles. It was cool that day, and I apparently did not drink enough. The cramping was a result of an electrolite imbalance, and once there, you can't recover. I pulled into Furnace Creek twelve hours after I started and choose not to do the northern 50-mile loop. So, my season is over and I finished 7 out of the 8 doubles I attempted.
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