Hey there Madcyclists!
Heading home for 12 days this Thursday, and looking forward to some serious saddle-time on the best roads in the world. Hope I can catch a few miles with a few of you.
Hoping as well that that weather cooperates - this has been a weird year out here too - really really cold and very wet, usually on the days I planned to ride. Let's all do a dance for a mild winter - sunny, warm, and lots of tailwinds.
Don't have many riding stories to share at this point, but I want to tag on a bit to Mom (Jane)'s description of the Triply Bypass. That is a long, hard ride, and we finished it in the 2nd worst conditions that anyone remembers. It was an awesome accomplishment. Anyone want to sign up for next year?
Lee
Monday, November 2, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Weirdness
This has been the strangest year:
- The economy crashed & everyone has been on-edge about jobs and such - and with good reason.
- The summer was cool and wet - good, but weird, just the same. We saved a bundle on electricity because I don't think we turned on the A/C all summer.
- See previous post - I accomplished something I truly never thought I would do. Of course, since then I have barely been on the bike between work and shorter days.
- It's COLD this weekend. Warm last. Warm tomorrow. Snow in the forecast? in October in VA? Huh?
- My hip. Turns out I have a mis-aligned pelvis. The therapist is not sure if it was caused by an injury or is something I have had all my life. What we do know is that for years I have been prone to nagging pain and injury on my left side. Now it is going to be at least 2 months before I can hike, walk any distance or run.
- I love to run & this is the best time of year to do it. Waaa.
- Parents who cook up a reality TV show & put their 6 year old kid up to an elaborate hoax...only to get busted by that same 6 year old. Good for him!
- Hate. Is it just me or is there a lot more hate these days? I wish we could all just be nice & respect one another's differences. Chill.
- TV. I'm so glad we aren't wasting $$ on that any more.
- Swine Flu. 'Nuff said.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
My Triple Bypass
"Well, you leave the school parking lot and start climbing...for a very long time." Those words, Lee's answer to my question about what the first ascent would be like in the Triple ByPass, have haunted me for almost a year. While I rode and rode and rode and trained and trained, I still never quite felt like I was up to the task of riding 120 miles in the Rockies. Constant doubt clouded my anticipation and dampened my enthusiasm. Still, I had set this goal and I was damned if my mind was going to screw with me. I was going to do it, doggonnit.
On Thursday, July 9 Godiva, all packed in her case, and I boarded a Frontier Airlines jet in Washington, DC and headed west to Denver. Arriving at Lee's apartment around 11:30 a.m. MT, I unpacked the bike, put her together & then headed out through town to the Cherry Creek bike trail. I rode again twice on Friday in an effort to remind my legs that they had a job to do on Saturday. Amazingly, I felt great and ready to ride. I still had a touch of worry about completing the climbs - but not much. I was proud that I was pushing all the doubting demons aside.
My cell phone alarm was set for 5:15 a.m. Saturday. Lee and I got up, I ate a bowl of oatmeal (with bananas and almonds), drank some coffee and then loaded his car and headed to Bergen Park for the start of the ride. The plan was for me to start riding at 6:30 a.m. but we were running just a little behind (so what else is new!) and I think I actually took the first pedal stroke at 6:45 or so. Lee watched me take off and then he went to a local coffee shop for more caffeine and some breakfast. Even though he was giving me a 90-minute head start, I figured if his original description of the first climb was anywhere near accurate he would catch me as I labored toward the top. Ha! Not only did I make the top of the climb but I was at rest stop #2 (Georgetown) 40 miles into the ride before he caught me.
Saturday had dawned sunny and warm. I think the temperatures were in the upper 50's when I started riding. I used arm warmers but not my knee warmers and was perfectly comfortable. In my jersey pockets I stowed a jacket for the inevitable rain showers that afternoon (I was hoping, since I was prepared, that the sun would shine the entire time). The temperatures eventually got to the low 80's, I am guessing.
"Leave the parking lot and climb for a very long time" was correct, but the climb was nowhere near what I expected. I don't know exactly what the grade was but I would guess it ranged from 3% to 8%, maybe a little steeper in short sections but mostly not bad. Long is what it was - 14 miles to the top of Squaw Pass at 9,708 ft., followed by an all-too-brief downhill and then another climb to the top of Juniper Pass (11,140 ft.). Lee had told me that the ride is very social and it really was. It is easy to talk to folks when there are 3500 participants. Since I was riding solo I spoke to just about everyone who passed me (lots of young whipper-snappers!) and everyone I passed. NOTE: I actually passed people! I was amazed that I was passing folks but I was - and I certainly was not speedy. It felt good to know I was faster than others, especially since I had gambled on arriving just before the ride. Based on past experience I theorized that arriving a week or even 10 days ahead would not give me enough time to acclimate to the altitude, so why bother? Instead, I decided to arrive just before, attempt the ride and then enjoy the rest of my vacation. (The gamble worked - wonder if I can stretch my luck to include the lottery?)
Some conversations involved breathing (or the inability to do so - I passed one poor 30-something guy from Chicago who had arrived a week prior and still could not breathe. I never saw him the rest of the day so I have no idea if he made it or not.) and lots of conversations were of the "where are you from?" variety. Once, a man asked me that question & I found that he had lived in VA for some years and had graduated from UVa ('67). I told him to look at my socks - I was wearing my UVa cycling socks - Wahoowa! I also told him that Lee had graduated from The University as well & that he would be meeting me later. Other conversations involved gear and components. Lots of comments about Godiva's lovely pink hubs and at least one about her manufacturer. Interestingly, all comments about the pink hubs came from men. Wouldn't you think women would notice? Humph!
The first rest stop, just over the top of Juniper Pass, was a welcome sight! Having been warned to pack in the food at every opportunity and to drink constantly, I was ready to get some vittles and refill bottles. I had already consumed a 22 oz. bottle of Heed energy drink & another of plain water. I also ate some freshly baked mini-muffins, half a banana and a small Cliff bar. The first eighteen miles were done; 102 to go! Trying to be as efficient with my stops as possible, I hopped back on the bike and headed down, down, down, past Echo Lake (the entrance to Mt. Evans, one of Colorado's 14'ers and the location of the highest paved road in the country), down, down, down to the town of Idaho Springs.
Idaho Springs marked the beginning of what I consider the toughest part of the ride, not counting the weather later in the day. This mountain town, wedged between Mt. Evans and Oh-My-God Road (really!), and bisected by I-70, marked the beginning of a 25 mile mostly gradual climb to the foot of the next pass, Loveland. Looking at the scenery - steep mountainsides, abandoned mines, old Victorian houses and spotting wildflowers were a helpful diversion. To me, this was much more difficult than climbing an actual pass. The wind was beginning to pick up and was always a headwind because it was blowing down from the Continental Divide straight through this canyon-like split in the Rockies.
As we cycled through Idaho Springs, locals lined the street ringing cowbells and cheering us on, just like in the Tour de France! It was such fun and something we encountered all along the route. Occasionally we would pass some children with a lemonade stand for the riders - and they were giving away the lemonade! (Ahem...didn't see any popsicles though.) The slog up to Loveland started at a low of about 7500 ft. and ended at 10,600 ft. at the base of the pass. Gaining that 3000 ft. in 25 miles was a long, hot, sometimes steep process. The route mostly followed the frontage road (old Route 6), parallelled I-70, and included a 2-mile dirt section near the town of Georgetown.
Georgetown marked the second rest stop and when I arrived (40 miles in, 80 to go) I still had not seen Lee. I stopped, filled bottles, ate more, went to the bathroom and ran into the UVa graduate again. He asked if my son had caught me yet and I said no. He replied, "Good! I hope you stay ahead of him!" Not two minutes later I saw Lee. I was happy to see him and we rode mostly together for the rest of the ride. Leaving the rest stop and after the dirt section, the road turned steeply upward for a short distance, then dumped us onto a bike path that climbed up to the level of I-70 through a series of switchbacks. This 5-mile bike path was probably the steepest of the ride and I was happy when we dropped back down below the interstate onto the frontage road again. Eventually the route ran out of frontage road and the inevitable happened - we rode on the interstate! Yes, on I-70. Oh boy was I not looking forward to this section. Yet again the anticipation was nowhere near the reality. First of all, the paved shoulder is a full lane wide so there is lots of room. Second, CDOT had swept the shoulder as there was no debris, no rocks, nothing. The climb was significant but because the pavement was so good it was not a bad experience. I stayed as far to the right as possible because I am not crazy about hugging tractor-trailers. Lee stayed either just ahead of me or to my left. We exited I-70 at the Loveland Pass exit and stopped there for the lunch rest stop - mile 56 - 64 to go. Almost halfway!
Lee could tell I had been struggling the last few miles and at one point he opened a gel pack and handed it to me & told me to eat it. I sucked it down without stopping and then slugged some water. At the lunch stop I was definitely not hungry - a sure sign of bonk if I didn't eat - so I force-fed myself a turkey sandwich, some oranges and cookies. Lee sent me off ahead while he visited with some friends, telling me that he would catch me before I got to the top of Loveland Pass. Leaving the parking lot at the rest stop (the parking lot for Loveland Ski area), the route joins Rt. 6 to go over the pass. The entire climb is a series of long switchbacks but the grade is only about 5%. I zoom along on temporarily refreshed legs and before I know it, I am almost at the last turn of the last switchback and Lee has not appeared. Minutes later, here he comes and we top the Continental Divide together. Loveland was the ride's highest elevation at 11,990 ft. and marks the halfway point in the ride at 60 miles. The wind was blowing and it was chilly up there, especially since we were sweating from the climb so we did not stop but immediately started down the other side. From here on out I had ridden the route of the Triple many times - in pieces, not all at once. I was familiar with the roads and trails so I was not at all intimidated by what lay ahead, I was just tired!
The switchbacks on the west side of Loveland Pass are much tighter than the east so I spent a great deal of time standing above and behind the saddle and feathering the brakes. Meanwhile, Lee went zooming down around the turns and before long was so far ahead I could not see him any more. It's at those times that I pretend I have no idea who he is because if I think about being his mother he'll scare me to death! The road twists and turns past Arapaho Basin Ski Area and then straightens. At this point I let Godiva go and somewhere along here I hit my top speed of 41.3 mph. We zoom past Keystone Ski Resort and I rejoin Lee just before we get to the Keystone Market. He had told me that he wanted to stop there and have me drink a Coke. I did - he told me to "slam" it because a storm was brewing quickly. I drank it as quickly as possible while trying to avoid a carbonated explosion in my stomach. Three rather large, rather loud, rather un-ladylike belches later I felt great and could ride again. As we approached the stoplight at Swan Mountain Road the raindrops started. I briefly stopped right beside Lee's first house & put my rain jacket on. Putting the jacket on did the trick as we just felt a few drops and nothing more, though the clouds were heavy and dark. We climbed up and over Swan Mountain - it is only about 3 miles to the top and on the topo map of the route it looks like a little bump. My, how that little bump used to get the best of me when I first started riding in the Rockies! Up and over Swan Mtn. we went and down to the intersection at Farmer's Korner (elevation about 9100 ft.), site of a wreck I had in the rain on my mountain bike about nine years ago. It is at this point that the sugar from the Coke kicked in and I was feeling much better. We passed through the light and joined the bike trail to the town of Frisco. There was another rest stop located at Summit County High School right there at the light. Lee stopped but I kept going. I passed the town of Frisco on the bike trail and headed to Copper Mountain. Somewhere between Frisco and Copper the skies opened - the magic of the jacket seemed to have worn off. Not only was it raining hard but my shoes were filling with water! There was so much water coming down that the trail was covered by a fine layer of H2O that found its way into my shoes at each turn of the pedals. Oh yeah, and the temperature dropped considerably. Brrr! I thought it was a good thing I was continually climbing and generating some heat because it would have been really chilly had I been going downhill. I had no idea what was to come.
The downpour lasted probably ten minutes and then things began to dry up and I began to dry off (except for my feet). Lee and I met up once again just as I arrived at Copper Mountain (elevation 9712 ft.). Copper lies at the base of the third of the Triple Bypass passes - Vail Pass. I remember riding through the Copper Mountain Resort with Lee and saying, "I can do this!" It was the first time that I actually said it out loud. His response was, "F**k yeah you can do it, Mom!" One more climb. I was all psyched and ready to climb when Lee threw a monkey wrench into my thoughts. "Hey Mom, you want to see the crit (criterium) course here?" "Uh....sure....", I say. So off the route we go and loop through the resort itself on the crit course. Fortunately, it loops back onto the route and shortly we are headed up Vail Pass once again. The trek up Vail Pass is normally a relatively easy one because it tops out at 10,560 ft. The climb from Copper is about 4 or 5 miles with only 800 ft. of elevation gain. However, that easy climb is usually on fresher legs! The bike trail up the pass is one of the most beautiful in all of the High Country, in my opinion. It climbs through meadows and wetlands covered in wildflowers, nestled between the lanes of I-70. The lanes are so far apart and so much higher than the trail that you can easily forget there is an interstate nearby. This day, with black clouds looming and on dead legs, it was more difficult than usual to enjoy the scenery. Lee had me ride ahead of him up the pass (he says he rides 3 mph faster following me than when I follow him!) and before I knew it I was at the steep, short switchbacks that signal we are almost at the top. A short trip through a tunnel under the eastbound lane of the interstate and out we popped onto the lower lot of the rest area. We circled around to the upper lot where the final aid station for the Triple Bypass was located and I stopped only long enough to call Michael and Carol Schimmer to let them know I had made all the climbs - and to let Carol know to come pick me up at the finish. (I was staying in Avon with Carol for the next couple days.) Ninety-five miles down, 25 to go, all downhill!
Lee and I took off on the bike trail to head down the very steep west side of Vail Pass. Zooming along, the skies kept getting darker and darker. I don't know how far it is down the west side when the trail ends and we rejoin old Rt. 6, but it was right at that point that the rain started once again. It poured and poured and poured all the rest of the way down to Avon. Lee and I flew. I don't know how fast we were going down the steep part of the pass but once we got down to Vail and from there to Avon (about 10 miles), my speed never dropped below 20 mph. and Lee said I was averaging 23 mph. We hammered, mainly because we were frozen and wet and wanted it to be over. At just under 7500 ft. in elevation, we dropped about 3000 ft. in 25 miles; just like the climb between Idaho Springs and Loveland Ski Area. It's easier going down, though scary in a downpour.
Carol met me and I couldn't wait to get to her house for a hot shower! The temperature in Avon when we arrived was 60 degrees. That's cold when you're soaking wet and traveling 23 mph. My feet felt like blocks of ice. Squishy ones.
The finish of the Triple Bypass is usually a big party complete with dinner and live music, prizes and beer. No one was staying because it was so wet and cold so the party was a bust this year. None of you will believe this, but I did NOT want a beer when I got there. The thought of something cold was completely unappealing. (However, after that hot shower...)
The organization of this event is amazing and as far as I can tell went off without a hitch. Since it is a point-to-point ride and not a loop, perks to the riders include trucking 3500 cyclists' gear bags from the start to the finish so they can have clothes to change into. The Colorado State Patrol, local police or volunteers from Team Evergreen (the sponsoring organization) manned every - and I mean every - intersection to ensure that no one got off course. Each cyclist had to wear a wrist band and periodically along the route bands were checked or you could not pass through. There were road closures in places (Squaw & Juniper Passes, Swan Mountain for example) and SAG wagons galore. I cannot imagine what it takes to put on an event such as this but they do a fabulous job.
I am amazed that I actually did this ride. Please bear with me because I think I will be talking about it for a long time. My biggest worry was the air pressure (or lack thereof). It was not an issue. I worked so hard on my deep breathing this spring that it paid off. My butt hurt - as it always does after about 75 miles - but it was not unbearable. My knees and feet were fine. The shoulder pain I usually have on long rides came and went but was no worse than it ever is. Final stats: 120 miles, 12.2 mph average (hey, there are a few big hills along the way!), high of 41.3 mph, 10,310 ft. of climbing, 9 hours, 43 minutes ride time.
Would I do it again? Let me think about that. I know now that I can do it, and to me that is most important.
Now to set the next goal...:)
On Thursday, July 9 Godiva, all packed in her case, and I boarded a Frontier Airlines jet in Washington, DC and headed west to Denver. Arriving at Lee's apartment around 11:30 a.m. MT, I unpacked the bike, put her together & then headed out through town to the Cherry Creek bike trail. I rode again twice on Friday in an effort to remind my legs that they had a job to do on Saturday. Amazingly, I felt great and ready to ride. I still had a touch of worry about completing the climbs - but not much. I was proud that I was pushing all the doubting demons aside.
My cell phone alarm was set for 5:15 a.m. Saturday. Lee and I got up, I ate a bowl of oatmeal (with bananas and almonds), drank some coffee and then loaded his car and headed to Bergen Park for the start of the ride. The plan was for me to start riding at 6:30 a.m. but we were running just a little behind (so what else is new!) and I think I actually took the first pedal stroke at 6:45 or so. Lee watched me take off and then he went to a local coffee shop for more caffeine and some breakfast. Even though he was giving me a 90-minute head start, I figured if his original description of the first climb was anywhere near accurate he would catch me as I labored toward the top. Ha! Not only did I make the top of the climb but I was at rest stop #2 (Georgetown) 40 miles into the ride before he caught me.
Saturday had dawned sunny and warm. I think the temperatures were in the upper 50's when I started riding. I used arm warmers but not my knee warmers and was perfectly comfortable. In my jersey pockets I stowed a jacket for the inevitable rain showers that afternoon (I was hoping, since I was prepared, that the sun would shine the entire time). The temperatures eventually got to the low 80's, I am guessing.
"Leave the parking lot and climb for a very long time" was correct, but the climb was nowhere near what I expected. I don't know exactly what the grade was but I would guess it ranged from 3% to 8%, maybe a little steeper in short sections but mostly not bad. Long is what it was - 14 miles to the top of Squaw Pass at 9,708 ft., followed by an all-too-brief downhill and then another climb to the top of Juniper Pass (11,140 ft.). Lee had told me that the ride is very social and it really was. It is easy to talk to folks when there are 3500 participants. Since I was riding solo I spoke to just about everyone who passed me (lots of young whipper-snappers!) and everyone I passed. NOTE: I actually passed people! I was amazed that I was passing folks but I was - and I certainly was not speedy. It felt good to know I was faster than others, especially since I had gambled on arriving just before the ride. Based on past experience I theorized that arriving a week or even 10 days ahead would not give me enough time to acclimate to the altitude, so why bother? Instead, I decided to arrive just before, attempt the ride and then enjoy the rest of my vacation. (The gamble worked - wonder if I can stretch my luck to include the lottery?)
Some conversations involved breathing (or the inability to do so - I passed one poor 30-something guy from Chicago who had arrived a week prior and still could not breathe. I never saw him the rest of the day so I have no idea if he made it or not.) and lots of conversations were of the "where are you from?" variety. Once, a man asked me that question & I found that he had lived in VA for some years and had graduated from UVa ('67). I told him to look at my socks - I was wearing my UVa cycling socks - Wahoowa! I also told him that Lee had graduated from The University as well & that he would be meeting me later. Other conversations involved gear and components. Lots of comments about Godiva's lovely pink hubs and at least one about her manufacturer. Interestingly, all comments about the pink hubs came from men. Wouldn't you think women would notice? Humph!
The first rest stop, just over the top of Juniper Pass, was a welcome sight! Having been warned to pack in the food at every opportunity and to drink constantly, I was ready to get some vittles and refill bottles. I had already consumed a 22 oz. bottle of Heed energy drink & another of plain water. I also ate some freshly baked mini-muffins, half a banana and a small Cliff bar. The first eighteen miles were done; 102 to go! Trying to be as efficient with my stops as possible, I hopped back on the bike and headed down, down, down, past Echo Lake (the entrance to Mt. Evans, one of Colorado's 14'ers and the location of the highest paved road in the country), down, down, down to the town of Idaho Springs.
Idaho Springs marked the beginning of what I consider the toughest part of the ride, not counting the weather later in the day. This mountain town, wedged between Mt. Evans and Oh-My-God Road (really!), and bisected by I-70, marked the beginning of a 25 mile mostly gradual climb to the foot of the next pass, Loveland. Looking at the scenery - steep mountainsides, abandoned mines, old Victorian houses and spotting wildflowers were a helpful diversion. To me, this was much more difficult than climbing an actual pass. The wind was beginning to pick up and was always a headwind because it was blowing down from the Continental Divide straight through this canyon-like split in the Rockies.
As we cycled through Idaho Springs, locals lined the street ringing cowbells and cheering us on, just like in the Tour de France! It was such fun and something we encountered all along the route. Occasionally we would pass some children with a lemonade stand for the riders - and they were giving away the lemonade! (Ahem...didn't see any popsicles though.) The slog up to Loveland started at a low of about 7500 ft. and ended at 10,600 ft. at the base of the pass. Gaining that 3000 ft. in 25 miles was a long, hot, sometimes steep process. The route mostly followed the frontage road (old Route 6), parallelled I-70, and included a 2-mile dirt section near the town of Georgetown.
Georgetown marked the second rest stop and when I arrived (40 miles in, 80 to go) I still had not seen Lee. I stopped, filled bottles, ate more, went to the bathroom and ran into the UVa graduate again. He asked if my son had caught me yet and I said no. He replied, "Good! I hope you stay ahead of him!" Not two minutes later I saw Lee. I was happy to see him and we rode mostly together for the rest of the ride. Leaving the rest stop and after the dirt section, the road turned steeply upward for a short distance, then dumped us onto a bike path that climbed up to the level of I-70 through a series of switchbacks. This 5-mile bike path was probably the steepest of the ride and I was happy when we dropped back down below the interstate onto the frontage road again. Eventually the route ran out of frontage road and the inevitable happened - we rode on the interstate! Yes, on I-70. Oh boy was I not looking forward to this section. Yet again the anticipation was nowhere near the reality. First of all, the paved shoulder is a full lane wide so there is lots of room. Second, CDOT had swept the shoulder as there was no debris, no rocks, nothing. The climb was significant but because the pavement was so good it was not a bad experience. I stayed as far to the right as possible because I am not crazy about hugging tractor-trailers. Lee stayed either just ahead of me or to my left. We exited I-70 at the Loveland Pass exit and stopped there for the lunch rest stop - mile 56 - 64 to go. Almost halfway!
Lee could tell I had been struggling the last few miles and at one point he opened a gel pack and handed it to me & told me to eat it. I sucked it down without stopping and then slugged some water. At the lunch stop I was definitely not hungry - a sure sign of bonk if I didn't eat - so I force-fed myself a turkey sandwich, some oranges and cookies. Lee sent me off ahead while he visited with some friends, telling me that he would catch me before I got to the top of Loveland Pass. Leaving the parking lot at the rest stop (the parking lot for Loveland Ski area), the route joins Rt. 6 to go over the pass. The entire climb is a series of long switchbacks but the grade is only about 5%. I zoom along on temporarily refreshed legs and before I know it, I am almost at the last turn of the last switchback and Lee has not appeared. Minutes later, here he comes and we top the Continental Divide together. Loveland was the ride's highest elevation at 11,990 ft. and marks the halfway point in the ride at 60 miles. The wind was blowing and it was chilly up there, especially since we were sweating from the climb so we did not stop but immediately started down the other side. From here on out I had ridden the route of the Triple many times - in pieces, not all at once. I was familiar with the roads and trails so I was not at all intimidated by what lay ahead, I was just tired!
The switchbacks on the west side of Loveland Pass are much tighter than the east so I spent a great deal of time standing above and behind the saddle and feathering the brakes. Meanwhile, Lee went zooming down around the turns and before long was so far ahead I could not see him any more. It's at those times that I pretend I have no idea who he is because if I think about being his mother he'll scare me to death! The road twists and turns past Arapaho Basin Ski Area and then straightens. At this point I let Godiva go and somewhere along here I hit my top speed of 41.3 mph. We zoom past Keystone Ski Resort and I rejoin Lee just before we get to the Keystone Market. He had told me that he wanted to stop there and have me drink a Coke. I did - he told me to "slam" it because a storm was brewing quickly. I drank it as quickly as possible while trying to avoid a carbonated explosion in my stomach. Three rather large, rather loud, rather un-ladylike belches later I felt great and could ride again. As we approached the stoplight at Swan Mountain Road the raindrops started. I briefly stopped right beside Lee's first house & put my rain jacket on. Putting the jacket on did the trick as we just felt a few drops and nothing more, though the clouds were heavy and dark. We climbed up and over Swan Mountain - it is only about 3 miles to the top and on the topo map of the route it looks like a little bump. My, how that little bump used to get the best of me when I first started riding in the Rockies! Up and over Swan Mtn. we went and down to the intersection at Farmer's Korner (elevation about 9100 ft.), site of a wreck I had in the rain on my mountain bike about nine years ago. It is at this point that the sugar from the Coke kicked in and I was feeling much better. We passed through the light and joined the bike trail to the town of Frisco. There was another rest stop located at Summit County High School right there at the light. Lee stopped but I kept going. I passed the town of Frisco on the bike trail and headed to Copper Mountain. Somewhere between Frisco and Copper the skies opened - the magic of the jacket seemed to have worn off. Not only was it raining hard but my shoes were filling with water! There was so much water coming down that the trail was covered by a fine layer of H2O that found its way into my shoes at each turn of the pedals. Oh yeah, and the temperature dropped considerably. Brrr! I thought it was a good thing I was continually climbing and generating some heat because it would have been really chilly had I been going downhill. I had no idea what was to come.
The downpour lasted probably ten minutes and then things began to dry up and I began to dry off (except for my feet). Lee and I met up once again just as I arrived at Copper Mountain (elevation 9712 ft.). Copper lies at the base of the third of the Triple Bypass passes - Vail Pass. I remember riding through the Copper Mountain Resort with Lee and saying, "I can do this!" It was the first time that I actually said it out loud. His response was, "F**k yeah you can do it, Mom!" One more climb. I was all psyched and ready to climb when Lee threw a monkey wrench into my thoughts. "Hey Mom, you want to see the crit (criterium) course here?" "Uh....sure....", I say. So off the route we go and loop through the resort itself on the crit course. Fortunately, it loops back onto the route and shortly we are headed up Vail Pass once again. The trek up Vail Pass is normally a relatively easy one because it tops out at 10,560 ft. The climb from Copper is about 4 or 5 miles with only 800 ft. of elevation gain. However, that easy climb is usually on fresher legs! The bike trail up the pass is one of the most beautiful in all of the High Country, in my opinion. It climbs through meadows and wetlands covered in wildflowers, nestled between the lanes of I-70. The lanes are so far apart and so much higher than the trail that you can easily forget there is an interstate nearby. This day, with black clouds looming and on dead legs, it was more difficult than usual to enjoy the scenery. Lee had me ride ahead of him up the pass (he says he rides 3 mph faster following me than when I follow him!) and before I knew it I was at the steep, short switchbacks that signal we are almost at the top. A short trip through a tunnel under the eastbound lane of the interstate and out we popped onto the lower lot of the rest area. We circled around to the upper lot where the final aid station for the Triple Bypass was located and I stopped only long enough to call Michael and Carol Schimmer to let them know I had made all the climbs - and to let Carol know to come pick me up at the finish. (I was staying in Avon with Carol for the next couple days.) Ninety-five miles down, 25 to go, all downhill!
Lee and I took off on the bike trail to head down the very steep west side of Vail Pass. Zooming along, the skies kept getting darker and darker. I don't know how far it is down the west side when the trail ends and we rejoin old Rt. 6, but it was right at that point that the rain started once again. It poured and poured and poured all the rest of the way down to Avon. Lee and I flew. I don't know how fast we were going down the steep part of the pass but once we got down to Vail and from there to Avon (about 10 miles), my speed never dropped below 20 mph. and Lee said I was averaging 23 mph. We hammered, mainly because we were frozen and wet and wanted it to be over. At just under 7500 ft. in elevation, we dropped about 3000 ft. in 25 miles; just like the climb between Idaho Springs and Loveland Ski Area. It's easier going down, though scary in a downpour.
Carol met me and I couldn't wait to get to her house for a hot shower! The temperature in Avon when we arrived was 60 degrees. That's cold when you're soaking wet and traveling 23 mph. My feet felt like blocks of ice. Squishy ones.
The finish of the Triple Bypass is usually a big party complete with dinner and live music, prizes and beer. No one was staying because it was so wet and cold so the party was a bust this year. None of you will believe this, but I did NOT want a beer when I got there. The thought of something cold was completely unappealing. (However, after that hot shower...)
The organization of this event is amazing and as far as I can tell went off without a hitch. Since it is a point-to-point ride and not a loop, perks to the riders include trucking 3500 cyclists' gear bags from the start to the finish so they can have clothes to change into. The Colorado State Patrol, local police or volunteers from Team Evergreen (the sponsoring organization) manned every - and I mean every - intersection to ensure that no one got off course. Each cyclist had to wear a wrist band and periodically along the route bands were checked or you could not pass through. There were road closures in places (Squaw & Juniper Passes, Swan Mountain for example) and SAG wagons galore. I cannot imagine what it takes to put on an event such as this but they do a fabulous job.
I am amazed that I actually did this ride. Please bear with me because I think I will be talking about it for a long time. My biggest worry was the air pressure (or lack thereof). It was not an issue. I worked so hard on my deep breathing this spring that it paid off. My butt hurt - as it always does after about 75 miles - but it was not unbearable. My knees and feet were fine. The shoulder pain I usually have on long rides came and went but was no worse than it ever is. Final stats: 120 miles, 12.2 mph average (hey, there are a few big hills along the way!), high of 41.3 mph, 10,310 ft. of climbing, 9 hours, 43 minutes ride time.
Would I do it again? Let me think about that. I know now that I can do it, and to me that is most important.
Now to set the next goal...:)
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Of obsessions
Oh my, has spring struggled to get a foothold in VA. Here we are smack dab in the middle of June, with summer just days away and it is still cool and rainy at times. Heck, I just looked at the forecast for this week and the temperatures may not hit 70 on Wednesday. The good news is we have pretty much recovered from the past years’ drought. The rivers are running high. The flowers, the trees, the grass….everything…..is a lush green. My flowers are blooming; the blueberry bushes are loaded almost to the ground with fat berries and the “deck garden” of tomatoes and peppers is doing fine. My only concern is that roots may start rotting because of the moisture. That and the weeds; they seem to be prospering from the extra rain as well.
And then there’s Bart. Bart is our neighborhood bear. He visited again last night. He doesn’t do much damage – just enough to let us know he has been there. For instance last night he pulled down the humming bird feeder & three of the regular feeders. I know he keeps stopping by to check the blueberries. I only hope I can get them before he does.
I am lucky that I have a “do it itself” garden because while I love gardening, my focus has not been on yard work at all this year. Last fall I set a personal goal and my “test” is now less than a month away. To prepare, my sweet Michael has patiently trudged along with me on each and every bike ride. We have put lots of miles under our pedals and have done little else on weekends. January through April was a blur of grabbing the bikes, tights, arm warmers, jackets, full-finger gloves and all the other assorted gear for chilly weather, then getting out on the road whenever the weather permitted. When the weather did not permit, trusty Godiva dutifully backed herself onto the trainer and we spun away in the bike room, iPod charged and earphones in my ears to distract me from the monotony.
May began a flurry of organized rides each weekend. What fun! The first weekend Michael and I drove to the Eastern Shore of Maryland for the second annual Terry Wild Goose Chase at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Cambridge. There we gathered with good friends Jeannie Tripp, John Baynes & Kathi Brown. Rain, drizzle & chilly temperatures set in for the weekend but did not dampen our spirits as we rode on the flatter-than-flat roads of the refuge. Michael and I rode 60 miles on Saturday. The Wild Goose Chase is a women’s only ride on Sunday. Michael volunteered to drive SAG for the day while we women rode our bikes. I put in another 63 miles on Sunday. The evenings were spent eating seafood (Jimmy & Sooks – great restaurant in Cambridge – I highly recommend the crabcakes!) and laughing with our buddies.
The next weekend was the Cap2Cap Century in Richmond. This annual fund-raiser for the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation is one of our favorite rides. Not as flat as the Eastern Shore, but almost! MadCyclists support this ride well with the ’09 crew consisting of Aden, Bates, Phil, Chris, Maria, Michael, Barry & myself. Check out the photos at www.virginiacapitaltrail.org . Caution: there are 500 photos on there – look at numbers 23, 308 & 309. The first photo has (front to back on the left side) Aden, Phil & Bates. The next is Barry & the last is Michael and me. I did not see photos of Chris & Maria – but that doesn’t mean they aren’t in there somewhere! If anyone finds them, please let me know the photo numbers. The Cap2Cap has simultaneous starts in both Richmond and Jamestown, with over 1000 cyclists participating. The route was fun and fast on the southbound leg but much slower due to a beastly headwind on the way back. Still, it was a fun 103+/- miles.
The weather has been iffy during the week since the beginning of May and weekday rides have been spotty at best. Still, whenever we can, a few of us hit the beautiful back roads of Madison and adjacent counties for 20 miles or so in the evening.
The other May rides were the Tour de Madison (record number of cyclists participating once again) and the Tour de Greene. Michael and I supplemented those rides with additional long-mileage rides on the weekends in an effort to get me ready for my July event. We have ridden a self-supported century (100 miles) on the Skyline Drive and about ten days ago rode a 70 mile loop consisting of a climb up Crabtree Falls to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Last weekend was our third MS150, the Tour de Vine in Charlottesville. It is always such a fun weekend and a great celebration for all the hard work everyone has done to raise awareness of and funds for Multiple Sclerosis. This year’s MadCyclist team consisted of veterans Chris Franklin, Guy Kovner, Jeff Dillon, Michael & me with the addition of new members Kathi Brown and Doug Eden. Fund raising is difficult this year with everyone feeling the economic pinch, yet in spite of that we still had three team members recognized as top fund raisers at the Saturday night festivities: Chris, Kathi & Guy. Additionally, for the second year in a row, MadCyclists won the Tent Decorating Contest! Woohoo!
Friday night some of us gathered to set up the team tent on the grounds of Miller School. Dodging raindrops, we got the job done and then headed to Crozet for dinner. Michael and I snagged free digs just down the road from Miller School (thank you Craig!!) and avoided the long drive each way. It is a good thing we were so close considering we forgot something BOTH MORNINGS and had to go back to retrieve it. The cap on the whole forget-your-head weekend was leaving our pillows behind when we left for home on Sunday. Showing yet again what a wonderful friend she is, Kathi graciously delivered them to Lowe’s in Ruckersville yesterday in time for Michael to bring them home.
We rode 77 miles on Saturday over some challenging terrain and also over some of our favorite roads in the Albemarle/Greene area. Some notes on the ride:
>Kathi hit a personal best with the mileage!
>The weather was cloudy and very humid but as Chris noted, it was 30 degrees cooler than last year.
>The traffic in Earlysville and on Garth road is not very cycling friendly
>Two miles @ 17 mph of the strangest paceline ever, in this order: cyclist, huge John Deere tractor, truck with blinking lights, car, car, Chris, Michael & I. Too funny!
>The “warm-up” hill on Tillman Rd. was not that bad
>Peacock Hill at mile 70 was an ass kicker
>Climbing back up the road to Miller School is not all that bad – after climbing Peacock Hill!
>I felt bad for anyone left out on the road when the downpour hit.
Sunday we rode 75 miles over even more challenging roads in Albemarle & Nelson Counties. Michael and I were on our own because Kathi opted to ride 25 miles and Guy and Doug had taken off at 6:30. Jeff had gone to Richmond and Chris was down for the count with a bad knee.
The day dawned sunny and bright with much less humidity. It was a perfect day to be out on the bike. We left later on Sunday – closer to 8 a.m. – and headed to Crozet, just as the day before. This time we turned onto Jarman’s Gap Rd. and began an uphill trek. Just as we got to the hairpin turn where the road goes up, up, up, one of the support motorcycles came up behind us with his CD player turned up loud, playing “Calling Baton Rouge” by Newgrass Revival. Great climbing music! I stood and pedaled to the beat and made it up that hill in no time. We made our way out to Rt. 250 at Greenwood and turned right. “Oh dear,” I thought, “We are really close to Afton Mountain. We must be turning onto Rt. 151.” Nope. We passed 151. We passed Rockfish Outfitters on the right…and then turned left onto Rt. 750, Old Turnpike Rd. I had never been on this road before. We were clearly going up, but fairly gradually for probably the first mile. At first I thought this road might loop back to Rt. 151 but we kept turning toward the right instead of the left….which meant that we were heading higher on Afton Mountain. Soon the road turned to short, very steep switchbacks. After several (I can’t remember how many – 3? 4?), we topped out onto Rt. 6 just uphill (upmountain?) from the town of Afton, home of the Cookie Lady http://www.vabike.org/afton-cookie-lady-receives-gift-from-raba/ . We turned left onto Afton Mtn. Rd. (Rt. 6) and began the fun, if scary-on-the-switchbacks, hurtle back down the mountain. Michael & I were in a group of about six and all of us were having such a good time that we all missed the turn to the right off Rt. 6. Not to worry, the route continued just a bit down Rt. 151 so we went that way instead of climbing back up Rt. 6 to the turn. We rejoined the route & continued to have a fun day.
There were many, many other hills to conquer. The entire route seemed to either be up or down (mostly up :). Fortunately the scenery was some of the most beautiful I have ever seen which took a bit of the pain away. Finally we arrived back in Batesville (our second trip through) and turned right onto Miller School Rd. We climbed that hill, zoomed down the other side and under the banner at the gate to the school. Michael, Guy and I finished at the same time. It was a perfect finish to another fun MS150.
I mentioned my personal goal a couple times. Here it is: http://www.teamevergreen.org/node/2 .
Completing a bike ride of 120 miles (in one day) over three mountain passes in the Rockies is going to be a huge undertaking for me. Physically, I feel like I am ready – at least my legs, back, arms, etc. are ready. The bike is ready. My lungs are not and there is no way (available and affordable to me) to get them ready. That will be the big test. I am at the point now where I wish I could get out there and get it done! I am ready, doggonnit, so let’s get going! Michael has been a hero through this because he has not complained a bit. Well, maybe just a little bit. He is entitled. All our other cycling buddies have been patient as well. I have been focused, some probably say obsessed, but through it all they have ridden with me and continue to give me the emotional support I know I will need. Not to worry, gang, it’ll all be over in 25 days.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Bates's New Great Adventure or...
...Why Do All His Rides Involve Getting Wet??
(Bates sent this post through the MadCyclists' group but I thought it worthy of publishing here, so I copied & pasted. Great story - now I want a CX bike! Enjoy! -jane)
I finally assembled my cyclocross bike, and took it out for a shake down late this morning.
The nearly smooth tires I chose are both fat and light, 700-32s, and don't be fooled, they roll real easy. I had previously tried normal cyclocross tires, read MudGrips... mudgrips do not roll on pavement worth a hoot.
Anyway, off I went, I rolled up Hebron Valley to Haywood, took a right on Hoover Rd, then a left onto Duet road. The bike was feeling great, all new to me especially with these easy rolling 'fattys'. Duet road is paved for about a mile and a half, and has a rather steep downhill. Bike was feeling good, tracks great, I let'er go on the hill. No spedo as yet, but I'd say I rounded the corner at the bottom around 35... Solid as a rock, downright confidence inspiring. I turned right onto Whipporwill Road, and went over the mountain to Etlan, refilled my H2O botttles, and fed my pie hole a Snickers and off I went, back up the hill I had come from from Etlan, but took a left onto Hughs River Rd, took that down to Pophams Ford Rd. You have probably never been on Pophams Ford rd... It is an old county rd, and it is cobblestone, well actually smooth river rocks, and they don't call it a 'ford' for nothing, actually there are two fords. I approached the first ford, a little one about 10 feet across, I didn't even stop, plunged in, crossed without even getting my shoes damp.... Nothing to it...The second ford goes over (through) the Hughes River, about 25 feet across, as I said, Nothing to it.... Until I hit the bolder mid stream, and then dearly wished I wasn't clipped in. OK so now I have very wet feet, but I remained upright. Oh well 'In for a pound' forge ahead.
At the end of Pophams Ford I met a locked gate with a paved road on the other side, locked?? Oh well, throw the bike over, climb over and on my way. Cool little stretch of road, old farm houses, well restored, I am obviously in Rappahannock!
Up the hill to Slate Mills RD.. I made it to my goal, now how the hell do I get home.
Hang a right onto Slate Mills rd. and go until I see some road on the right that looks like it goes to our Novum Loop and comes out up on Arrington Mtn.
I passed Major brown Rd, and took the next right on Green Rd which turned to dirt, and then intersected with Major Green Rd.. Oh well. Dirt road, up, up ,up... Then down down down, in the woods, repeat.
I was wondering whether I was on the right road, in the woods I couldn't see the mountains for bearing. So top of a hill (mountain) I whip out the rider's helper (cell phone) and call Aden. It seems Phones don't work wherever I am. Oh well, it's a pretty day, pedal on....
Up the road maybe 1 mile, the phone rings, it's Aden's friendly voice, just about as I see a sign saying I'm back in Madison, Aden consulted GoogleMaps, and verified if I go straight, I was in fact on 604, the road to Arrington Mtn. Thank goodness I wouldn't die of starvation out in the woods.
Rest of the ride went as if I planned it. Back home before the wind got whipping.
Test Ride was a huge success, CX bike with its long wheelbase, and slick geometry, coupled with fat smooth tires is an absolute Hoot, way better than I expected. Dirt roads are a whole new world... I saw 3 cars on the dirt sections, two of the cars were the same mailman who I passed twice.
(Bates sent this post through the MadCyclists' group but I thought it worthy of publishing here, so I copied & pasted. Great story - now I want a CX bike! Enjoy! -jane)
I finally assembled my cyclocross bike, and took it out for a shake down late this morning.
The nearly smooth tires I chose are both fat and light, 700-32s, and don't be fooled, they roll real easy. I had previously tried normal cyclocross tires, read MudGrips... mudgrips do not roll on pavement worth a hoot.
Anyway, off I went, I rolled up Hebron Valley to Haywood, took a right on Hoover Rd, then a left onto Duet road. The bike was feeling great, all new to me especially with these easy rolling 'fattys'. Duet road is paved for about a mile and a half, and has a rather steep downhill. Bike was feeling good, tracks great, I let'er go on the hill. No spedo as yet, but I'd say I rounded the corner at the bottom around 35... Solid as a rock, downright confidence inspiring. I turned right onto Whipporwill Road, and went over the mountain to Etlan, refilled my H2O botttles, and fed my pie hole a Snickers and off I went, back up the hill I had come from from Etlan, but took a left onto Hughs River Rd, took that down to Pophams Ford Rd. You have probably never been on Pophams Ford rd... It is an old county rd, and it is cobblestone, well actually smooth river rocks, and they don't call it a 'ford' for nothing, actually there are two fords. I approached the first ford, a little one about 10 feet across, I didn't even stop, plunged in, crossed without even getting my shoes damp.... Nothing to it...The second ford goes over (through) the Hughes River, about 25 feet across, as I said, Nothing to it.... Until I hit the bolder mid stream, and then dearly wished I wasn't clipped in. OK so now I have very wet feet, but I remained upright. Oh well 'In for a pound' forge ahead.
At the end of Pophams Ford I met a locked gate with a paved road on the other side, locked?? Oh well, throw the bike over, climb over and on my way. Cool little stretch of road, old farm houses, well restored, I am obviously in Rappahannock!
Up the hill to Slate Mills RD.. I made it to my goal, now how the hell do I get home.
Hang a right onto Slate Mills rd. and go until I see some road on the right that looks like it goes to our Novum Loop and comes out up on Arrington Mtn.
I passed Major brown Rd, and took the next right on Green Rd which turned to dirt, and then intersected with Major Green Rd.. Oh well. Dirt road, up, up ,up... Then down down down, in the woods, repeat.
I was wondering whether I was on the right road, in the woods I couldn't see the mountains for bearing. So top of a hill (mountain) I whip out the rider's helper (cell phone) and call Aden. It seems Phones don't work wherever I am. Oh well, it's a pretty day, pedal on....
Up the road maybe 1 mile, the phone rings, it's Aden's friendly voice, just about as I see a sign saying I'm back in Madison, Aden consulted GoogleMaps, and verified if I go straight, I was in fact on 604, the road to Arrington Mtn. Thank goodness I wouldn't die of starvation out in the woods.
Rest of the ride went as if I planned it. Back home before the wind got whipping.
Test Ride was a huge success, CX bike with its long wheelbase, and slick geometry, coupled with fat smooth tires is an absolute Hoot, way better than I expected. Dirt roads are a whole new world... I saw 3 cars on the dirt sections, two of the cars were the same mailman who I passed twice.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Tidal Rhythms...
Yes, it's been very quiet of late. Winter is a season of slumber and introspection (unless you're a skier). But without the serene beauty of snow-covered hills (accompanied by a crackling fire, a hot toddy and a warm heart--two, if you're lucky...), we wouldn't even notice the arrival of springtime. Can you tell I grew up in California?
It's all about balance--the ebb and flow of life.
It's been a wicked wild winter for Yours Truly (I love alliteration!). I am a seeker, a spirit in motion, and I learned several Life Lessons during this, my first "off season." I piloted a heavily-laden U-Haul truck over the Rockies in late December ("Kidz, don't try this at home..."), cast the demons out of my beloved titanium road warrior (under the tutelage of Bates McLain, brother Celt and Master Velo Exorcist), and lived to tell about it. We unraveled the mystery that had the Campy "experts" stumped, and somewhere Tulio Campagnolo is nodding and smiling benignly. If you want to hear "the rest of the story" (and as all my friends can attest, I am nothing if not a storyteller), you'll have to buy me a pint. Money well spent, I can assure you: "There I was ..."
Warmer days are just around the corner and we'll all be out there eatin' up the tarmac and getting fitter by the day. And we'll all have plenty to blog about soon enough. So many potential crashes, so little time! (I'm just yankin' yer chain.)
See you on the road...
It's all about balance--the ebb and flow of life.
It's been a wicked wild winter for Yours Truly (I love alliteration!). I am a seeker, a spirit in motion, and I learned several Life Lessons during this, my first "off season." I piloted a heavily-laden U-Haul truck over the Rockies in late December ("Kidz, don't try this at home..."), cast the demons out of my beloved titanium road warrior (under the tutelage of Bates McLain, brother Celt and Master Velo Exorcist), and lived to tell about it. We unraveled the mystery that had the Campy "experts" stumped, and somewhere Tulio Campagnolo is nodding and smiling benignly. If you want to hear "the rest of the story" (and as all my friends can attest, I am nothing if not a storyteller), you'll have to buy me a pint. Money well spent, I can assure you: "There I was ..."
Warmer days are just around the corner and we'll all be out there eatin' up the tarmac and getting fitter by the day. And we'll all have plenty to blog about soon enough. So many potential crashes, so little time! (I'm just yankin' yer chain.)
See you on the road...
Friday, January 30, 2009
humph!
****SIGH**** I wish someone else would post to this blog....or tell me they are not interested. Pish!
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