DNF

Yes again on my second try to complete a Century I got another DNF as my result. I enjoyed the ride and it was pretty tough and hot. Most of the climbing was done in the East Country Mountains and it was about 90 out there. I felt like I was struggling, but when I looked back at my splits and time on my garmin I was actually doing ok.

I made a huge rookie mistake and wore a new pair of gloves. I had bought them a few months ago and figured the new fresh padding would be a benefit on this long ride.

DON'T EVER WEAR OR EAT ANYTHING NEW ON A CENTURY.

After about 30 miles my hand really started hurting, I could feel a blister developing. It hurt to grab the handlebar. Around mile 45 it was real bad. I took off the glove then, which helped, but it still hurt. At the rest stop at mile 59 I had pretty much decided to call it a day as to not agrevate the blister. I have another century in 2 weeks in Solvang, which is more important of the 2 to finish since I could do the Granfondo anyday myself since it's in my backyard.

I knew not to do anything new on a ride, I've heard this from other people, but the gloves were the same as my current gloves, so I figured it would be ok.... wrong...

Anyway I did go 77 miles, burned 5800 calories and lost about 5 pounds, and climbed 5500 feet accorind to my Garmin. I also tweaked my back going up Fury Lane, a freaking steep climb after youv'e already gone about 76 miles. I went a lot harder than I normally would have, since I thought I was going to have Lotus pick me up on the park at the top of the hill... Again a rookie mistake.

Lesson learned (and I guess reinforced) and now to prep for the Solvang Century. I'm actually going up in there this week for work, so I may scout out a bit of the course. It really helps if you know what's coming to you can pace out your effort.

SUNDAY.SUNDAY..SUNDAY....!!!!

Ok the Granfondo is this Sunday. I went for a short ride this afternoon just to see how everything felt. I am very worried about the leg, but everything felt fine.

I did not really push it for obvious reasons, but so far, so good. I'm just worried that I'll go out too slow, but I guess if I have energy towards the end I can always crank it up in the last 20 since it's flat to down hill more or less.

I think I have to also remember not to kill myself Sunday since I have the Solvang Century just 2 weeks later.

They changed the course a bit from the initial layout, probably to accomodate the rest stops. So becuase of this the course actually goes right by my house on Medical Center (my ETA about 8am) and then goes within a block of another friends house in Rancho San Diego (have not figured out my ETA there yet).

Did I mention my bike is in sweet condition though. I took it to Trek to get a few things done to it (new chain, new front deraileur cable, true back wheel) and man does it feel good. The best thing was the cable, that was way overdue. Shifts like a champ now, almost seems like it's electric (yes they make those now if you got the $$$).

Well here we go!!!

NOT AGAIN!!!!

I went for a ride on Saturday, my last long ride before the Granfondo on Sunday the 1st. I was hoping to do about 65-70 miles.

My first 40 miles were great. I felt that I was going slow, but my avg MPH were pretty good for me. I went home, refilled the water bottle and headed out for the last 30 miles.

I think I cooled down too much, I was really tired leaving my house, but I pushed on. After about 8 miles I started to feel a lot better, got out to the lake and then it reared it's ugly head. That fricking pain on the side of my leg came back. It has totally been gone for almost two months now and now decides to come back the week before my ride WTF.

All I can do is try to do my PT exercises, ice it and take lots of aleve. There is a 50 mile option on the Granfondo, so I have that, but I was ready (more or less) for the hills and the challenge of the 100 miles. But I have the Solvang Century on the 15th, so I guess it's better not to push it in the Granfondo, so I can have a good go of it in Solvang.

Man this sucks...

5,000 Miles

Rode my 5,000th mile on Thunder last week. It was a very hard ride last week, so I did not even realize I hit that milestone until later in the week when I was reviewing the ride in my head. I dis all of the hills in the Granfondo, so I know I can do those. It's just the endurance to get through the rest of the ride that concerns me.

I went out for a ride on Sunday hoping to do 72 miles, but only ended up doing 42 becuase of the weather conditions. It wasn't raining, but it was pretty cold and windy. Wind is a bitch on a bike. I was riding accross the bridge on the SBFwy and felt like I was going to get blown over the side. Also riding into a head wind sucks. Normally I would do about 25 mph on certain parts, but was only doing about 16mph.

More rain and cold scheduled for this weekend, soooo....

I'm committed now

Ok I paid my money, so now I'm committed to the 3 events on the right. We'll see what happens. Only 4 weeks until the first one now. Luckily that one is basically in my back yard, so I can train on big chunks of the course a head of time. This weekend I'll do a lot of climbing (up Honey Springs and then maybe half of the rest of the climbs), then next weekend a longer ride with medium hills, the following weekend a real long ride covering most of the century, then following week an easier ride, then the century...

It just better not rain on any of these weekends, or I'm going be screwed.

Training Sir

What kind of training????

Army Training Sir...

Just had that going through my head all day saturday on my training ride around here. If you don't know what I'm talking about, just ask any guy who went to high school in the mid 80's.

Chuckles like that help a lot to keep you going. The distract from the pains you inevitably feel after doing any physical activity for 3-4 hours.

Cycling Training Sir...

I was going to ride with the Trek group yesterday, they are starting their training series for the San Diego Century which is in May, so they are only at 25 miles today (wow I said only). But if I rode with them I would only really have time to do that milage since I would also have to add in travel time to get to the site of the ride and other inevitable delays.

So I chose to ride myself around here, hoping to do about 65 miles. Couple of loops near the lake, maybe once or twice on the SB Fwy, about 5 hours in the saddle, maybe 6 in total including pit stops, waterbottle refills, etc.

I actually only did 49.4 miles, but I'm glad i did ride here. At least I got twice the milage in. It was pretty cold and I now pretty much have come to the conclusion that I am not good in cold weather. I started at 9am and it was about 60 at that time. That isn't really that cold, but you have to bundle up for various reasons.

But whenever it has been cold I have not riden well. I usually end up going 1-1.5mph slower when it is cold out, vs. when it is warmer and sunny. Plus I usually go for longer distances when it is warmer. When I rode with the Trek group we mostly started at about 7:30am and I was always at the back for the first hour or two. But at the end 12-2pm I was always on the lead. I just pick up as it warms up.

It's not just a starting thing though, becuase when I ride in the afternoon, I am full power right out the door.

So I am a bit concerned about my ride in Solvang (which is about a hour North on Santa Barabara, but still on the Coast. It's going to be freaking cold there. I was looking at pictures of riders on their website and they were all pretty bundled up. I guess we'll see. I'll actually be in that area the week before on business, so I'll be able to get a better idea about the weather conditions, but I'm still a little (actually a lot) concerned.

So Far So Good

I've been able to get in a few rides since Christmas and everything seems to be going well so far. I've done Honey Springs twice now, which is a 50 mile round trip, so I'm optimistic. There are 3 rides I'm thinking about for this Spring. The first is Mar 1 which will actually go right by my house and up Honey Springs Road.

The others are linked to the right. I'm a bit worried about trying the Granfondo followed by the Solvang Century 2 weeks later, but I figure if I don't ride too much in between the 2 rides I should be able to complete the second.

This weekend I will try to go 60 miles around here. If I can do that I think my leg problems will be finally be behind me.

Now I just need to work on my speed.