Self-righteous Cyclists (LOL!)

Gotta see the humor in everything.

Plenty o' Peddling, Paddling, Puck, and Phun

I've been getting a nice dose of Vit D the last several days and am so excited about spring and summer. Especially, this summer....so many fun (er, phun...stick with the P theme of this post) things to look forward to.

Peddling:
That means time on my bike...FINALLY! To date, I've been a whimp and have primarily done indoor spin but this weekend I am going for my first long ride...63 miles on Saturday with the Cascade group. Gotta get ready to do the Seattle-to-Portland (STP) in 1 day (double-century) in July. Yikes, that's really just three months away? Sigh...pass the chamois buttr, load up the Gu and let's get to it.

Paddling:
OK, this I'm really excited about. I joined the Seattle Outrigger Canoe Club because I just can't get enough Aloha and 'Ohana spirit! I've been paddling in a 6-person canoe which is exactly what I wanted because I wanted to get into another team sport. The timing I got right away....except when I'm out on the lake and we pass several boatloads of HOT men crew rowers...then, my timing goes all to shit because I'm so distracted as my gaze wanders over instead of focusing on the paddle in front of me to make sure my timing is in sync with my teammates. Yeah, the next several months out on Lake Union and Lake Washington are going to be fun. Though, my steerman might have to put some blinders on me so I stay focused on paddling on MY boat. Also, still working on my paddling stroke and I feel so sorry for the person in front of me. Come July/Aug when it's hotter, they will be happy to be the recipient of my errant, er, efficient (thanks Coach John!), paddling stroke. In any case....too much fun!

Second, my friend also has some Aloha spirit going north of the border. Mountain Surf Adventures (formerly Tantalus Adventures) has added Standup Paddleboard lessons & trips to their offerings. So, if you're up in the Whistler area, let me know and I can set you up on a local lake. Not only is it a different experience on a body of water, but it's also an excellent overall conditioning workout - both physically and mentally. Give it a try...no waves required. These boards are excellent on flatwater. And, once you get the hang of it and you're off paddling on your own, you can almost smell the saltwater, and hear the distant song of a native hawaiian accompanied by a ukelele (no, NOT Don Ho you crazy haoles!).

Finally, in early May, I've got a 6-day assistant sea kayak guide training course off the west coast of Vancouver Island with Evolution Guide School. I'm looking forward to it because one of the instructors was one of the guides who had accompanied me on my trip to the Great Bear Rainforest back in the summer of 2006. Kinda nervous about it but looking forward to seeing that part of Vancouver Island.

Puck:
Goes without saying. Don't want to get rusty over the summer so I'll continue to skate in the GSHL and another co-ed league but no women's hockey. So, could be a season of trouble with those crazy boys (woot!).

Phun:
Let me suggest for some fun, a couple of days out on Washington Coast at Kalaloch lodge. Right now, there are some awesome deals since its still the off-season but I think it's the best time. You might be lucky and see some grey whales migrating because they're closer to the coastline on this north-bound journey. The Kalaloch lodge and their sister lodge, Lake Quinalt Lodge, have amazing deals where if you sign up for a beach clean-up or trail maintenance in the Olympic National Park, then you get to stay for a much-reduced price. At Kalaloch - might I suggest the cozy little cabins along the bluff. Yummy. I haven't visited Lake Quinalt in years but I remember big adirondack chairs for afternoon happy hour after a day in a canoe on the lake or hiking in the lush rainforest.

Oh wait....I forgot PUTTING! Gonna make an effort to get my game back this summer now that I have a good list of golfing partners to hook up with.

So, cheers to Spring and bring on Summer! It's time. Aloha!

If You Like Climbing - Road Bike Route, San Mateo County, CA

(Picture source: Michael Maloney/SF Chronicle)

Day 2 of the Amgen Tour of California was a 117+ mile route from Sausalito, across the GG bridge (they closed it down for the tour...wow), and down to Santa Cruz. Parts of this route I can do with my eyes closed. It was great to watch them do the climb out of Sausalito at the start. It was basically a warm-up with the race actually starting on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge to avoid any mishaps on the bridge. Yeah, of course they made it look so easy...while, for me in the past it was always my last hill at the end of a day of riding so my form (and mindset) was the complete opposite (LOL). For the ride across the bridge, the riders had to stick to one lane to avoid the built-in grates that keeps the bridge flexible, so, racing would be too dicey.

(Picture source: Getty images)
Anyway, I enjoyed watching the riders on one of my all-time favorite routes. If you like climbing, this is the ride for you to test your legs and your lungs. This route starts in Burlingame, up to Canada Road, out to Pescadero on the coast, and then back. On the way out to the coast, you have a Cat 3 climb (Old La Honda) and then on the way back, you have a Cat 2 climb (Tunitas Creek). Total ride is 85 miles, and 9500' of climbing. Climbing is really one of the best things of this route because of the dense redwoods and during the summer, the trees keep these areas shaded and cool. Also, traffic on both climbs is low to non-existent so it's all about you, your breathing, your legs, and your bike (and maybe some heckling from your cycling friends on a bad day...LOL). The best thing is that In-N-Out Burger is at the end of the ride and my reward would be one of their fabulous chocolate shakes. Route sheet courtesy of Velogirls.

I Wish I Were On My Bike

(Picture source: Getty images)
That was my plan for today, but I caught an edge and went crashing into the boards at my last ice hockey game. Instead of enjoying a 55-mile route up into the country roads, I spent it icing my knee, downing ibuprofen, and being a spectator on my couch. Argh...I hate being injured. Anyway, today was Day 1 of the Amgen Tour of California which was a 107+ mile bike ride from Davis to Santa Rosa, CA. Originally, I had plans to follow that tour in an RV because a lot of the big names were returning to pro-racing including Tyler Hamilton, Floyd Landis, Ivan Basso, and, oh, whats-his-name...Lance. But, I decided another trip to the islands seemed a bit more appealing. And, after watching today's race, I think I made the right call....it was pouring down rain ala Pac NW style! It was great to watch part of the route on TV anyway - it was a route I was familiar with though, when I rode it, there's a ton of cars and trucks zipping by at 45 mph while I hung on to my bike on an almost non-existent shoulder. These guys had the entire road to themselves...wussies :-) It was interesting to watch Lance in a domestique role supporting local Santa Rosa boy and two-time Tour of Cal winner, Levi Leipheimer. My personal enounter with Levi was on one of my many bike rides with my BFF, Kirsten, in Sonoma county. We were riding along and noticed a Vespa coming towards us with a cyclist behind it. It was Levi - that is how he trains...his wife paces him on her Vespa scooter. How cool is that?! (Sigh). Anyway, today, Lance didn't win, however, he led the 1st chase group into Santa Rosa and helped put Team Astana into the 1st overall team standing. And, as the cameras zoomed in on him at the finish line, there was Basso's familar face (neon green - Team Liquigas) right behind him. Day 2 will be from Sausalito, across the Golden Gate Bridge, and into Santa Cruz....oh yeah! I can do that route in my sleep! It's going to include one of my favorite routes- a 10-mile climb from Pescadero on to Skyline (via Tunitas Creek) and then back up Old La Honda (3+ mile climb) into San Gregario!!! Why am I not there??

(Picture source: Getty images)

Well, I might get a chance to ride those routes this summer if things work out (fingers crossed). More details to follow once I go through the interview process with a cycling touring company which includes a 60+-mile bike ride, some mechanic time (yes, I can change a flat), and then dinner with some mock group dynamic scenarious. Out of 400+ applicants, I am one of the 30 finalists. Then, from that, 10 will be selected for the summer. I won't disclose anymore until I go through the next process but the fact that I was even selected as one of the finalists is pretty darn exciting (thanks *so much* to Norm for helping me make a case out of nothing!!). This is an interview process like no other I've been at...my power suit will be comprised of lycra, padding, and chamois butter (LOL). I'm just so fascinated by the process...so unlike anything I've done before!

Finally, I'm ready to publicly post my first double-century (200 miles). I know...after all these years of cycling, I haven't done a DC. I've got a lot of moving pieces going on this summer (so exciting and all to be announced as things fall in to place) but, if it all works out, I hope to fit in the Seattle-to-Portland (STP) ride in one day. It's the only way I'll sign up for that ride...tens of thousands of riders (ugh)....and I can keep my sanity (and my love of cycling) if I stay ahead of the humungous crowd. So, the only way to do that is to finish it in one day. I think my biggest challenge will be fighting boredom on the second half of the ride. Flat, boring, head-winds...until I get into Portland and then get re-motivated by thoughts of downing some local microbrew or glasses (hell, bottle) of a scrumptious Pinot Noir from a local Willamette Valley winery. Then, heading to the Oregon coast the following day(s) for some R&R. More details to follow....but, those are my thoughts as I ice my knee and watch those cycling dudes make their way to Santa Rosa (home of Charles Schulz, Peanuts....and his infamous ice hockey league). C'mon knee...get better 'cause we have some mileage to cover. It's going to be an amazing summer!

'Tis the Season...

The holiday season is upon us. Holiday jingles are starting to fill the air and the decorations and trees are going up. But, to me, what marks the beginning of the holiday season is the return of Gu's Chocolate Mint flavor! I brought back a few boxes from my favorite discount sporting goods outlet in San Francisco - Sportsbasement.com. Mmm - so yummy. It's easier to carry than a thermos of hot cocoa, but trying to mix in the peppermint schnapps is a bit of a challenge ;-) Anyway, the sun *finally* came out this weekend. I dragged my ass out of bed early this morning to meet up with others for a little tour around Lopez Island. It was perfect for me after 6 periods of hockey on Saturday. A bunch of Seattle teams are getting ready for a women's hockey tournament in Wenatchee so we're all scrimmaging and grabbing as much ice time as possible.

Anyway, dumbass forgot her camera and left her phone in the car (guess I was more tired than I thought), so there are no pictures to post at this time, but, hopefully, my riding partners will share some pics and I can post them later. But, this is a map of the island and the route for the annual Tour de Lopez which we sort of followed. Perfect little, easy ride for today because it was flat and we ended up doing ~35 miles which is just enough to loosen up the legs from all the anaerobic work the night before. But, the weather was perfect and the company and ride was nice and mellow and I really enjoyed my Gu Chocolate Mint. It's been a while since I've been on my road bike and it felt great to be outside instead of inside in some silly spin class. Fabulous day! It's about to get better because I am baking some banana bread (chock full of walnuts and choc chips...I can't get enough chocolate today!) and it'll be done just in time for a little snacky-poo before bedtime. Anyway, riding around Lopez Island is an easy route and very doable for everyone.

Chuckanut Century 2008

I had so much fun riding Chuckanut Drive back in August on the RSVP that I decided to sign up for the Chuckanut Century in Bellingham, WA which took place this past weekend. What a fabulous place to start winding down the cycling season. I don't usually pay too much attention to the fundraising efforts which is a part of the registration fee, but this time I paid particular attention....the Whatcom Hospice Foundation. After reading Jonah's blog - mysusiez.blogspot.com - covering the last 3 months with Susie, I see the big role hospices play. Before I took off, I silently celebrated life, celebrated all my relationships, and celebrated the little adventure I'm able to partake in (despite the mean hit & run driver that tried to take away it away from me three years ago in SF. Ha! My knees feel great and I am a stronger rider today than I was back then....grrr). Anyway, the day was absolutely spectacular, a little cold in the morning, but not a cloud in the sky. Fall, my most absolute, favorite season, was just around the corner with some of the leaves starting to change color. Towards the end of my ride, I watched a leaf gently fall to the ground which I thought was appropriate for the moment. I smiled (silent woot!).

Thankfully, I wasn't riding alone and Alain signed up at the last minute because he wanted to try and beat me to the top of a hill just once this season :-) After my recap, I think you will agree with me that I should rename this blog, the 'Misadventures of Alain.' LOL!

I picked Alain up at 5:30 am and we got up to Bellingham in 1.5 hours and were on the road by 7:30. Our goal was to complete the Double Metric Century (200k ~124 miles for the Americans too lazy to calculate :-) that day but the good thing about this ride was there were a lot of options to make it as long (or, ahem, as short, as you want to). There were two loops: the South Loop and the North Loop. We did the South Loop first before all the MS riders (1600 riders on a 2 day ride) and the cars clogged it all up.

Five miles into the ride, and we started a gentle climb on Chuckanut. Then, the misadventures began. Within the first 10 miles, here are some classic Alain quotes:
'My computer seems to have stop working.'
(Hmmm....let me take a look. Um, Alain, your front tire is on backwards.)
Then, as we were picking up speed on a downhill after our stop at one of the vista points:
'I left my glasses back there.'
At our first stop:
'Yeah, this looks like our stop.'
(As we were noshing on the yummy sandwiches, we realized that we were mooching off of the MS ride and eating their food. Ooops! OK, just to be fair, I contributed to this error. Double-oops!)

The mood of the riders was light and fun. In mid-season, most people are more serious and are just focused on their own goals (finishing first, finishing the ride faster than the previous year, etc.). But, today, it seemed like people were more about enjoying the ride and wrapping up the season with all their cycling goals achieved and behind them. I've never chatted with so many strangers on a ride like I did that day. Of course, the spectacular weather helps! First, we met a couple of riders, Hillary and Trent, when we were heading into our first stop. They stopped at a playground which we dubbed 'the super-secret potty break spot.' Brilliant! No lines! So, we stopped and chatted...just the previous week, they did the Mt. Baker Hillclimb and highly recommended it. If I don't get into RAMROD (Ride Around Mt. Rainier in One Day) lottery next year, maybe this will be a good substitute. What great people. We crossed paths many times and then shared a beer afterwards.

The final misadventure of Alain occurred when we got to Lake Samish. Once again, he was lolly-gagging way behind me on a hill. I got up to the next turn and glanced behind me and saw a rider. I assumed it was Alain so I sped on. Then, the rider passed me and it wasn't Alain. S***! I waited and I thought I saw Alain go straight through the sign. Sigh. I waited a little longer and soon Hillary and Trent came up and said they didn't see Alain. A few other people we'd been chatting and riding with along the way came up, and none of them reported seeing Alain. So, I called and left him a vmail to meet me at the northern end of the lake.

I got to the stop sign and waited....and waited...and waited. OK, he is *not* that slow. I checked my phone again, another message. He had gone on and was waiting for me further up. Argh! You see, I was waiting at the bottom of a hill that was rather long and it would've been great to have had that momentum. So, I thanked Alain for providing me with entertainment and mixing it up to make the experience other than just another mundane bike ride, and grinded up that hill. I got to the top and there was a woman saying 'there she is!' I guess when people got to the top of the hill, they told Alain that I was waiting for him at the bottom of the hill at the stop sign. I didn't stop and kept going and waited for Alain to catch up with me. I wasn't mad...I just didn't want to lose momentum (haha...) and he knew that. So, he caught up and we laughed and chalked it up to another Alain misadventure and continued on our fun journey. Then, it was one final hill back on Chuckanut and I got my billy goat legs going and left Alain in the dust (yes, I did!). One of the riders (a woman whose name I didn't catch) was giving Alain some flack about me being pissed off about the Lake Samish incident because I just blasted up that hill. Alain said,' oh that's just my mountain goat friend. She does that all the time and I catch up eventually.'

South Loop done...66 miles. Back at the starting point at Boundary Bay Brewery. Most of the fun people we were riding with were calling it a day. Alain and I looked at each other....and, called it a day as well. It was already later than we expected and if we continued, we wouldn't be getting home until late. I knew that Alain would love to spend the rest of the weekend with his wife and kids and I had some work to finish up (pathetic, I know...just one more project to wrap up for a free trip to Montreal). Besides, I had a coupon burning in my pocket for a free beer and the smell of the grilled burgers was too tantalizing. We dropped our bikes off, 'high-fived', headed to the brewery......and, celebrated.

It's Official - Lance WILL Race Again!

An exclusive article just released in Vanity Fair (wha?!), is the announcement by Mr. 7-Time TDF winner that he was going to race again. I guess he was motivated after he came in 2nd at the Leadville 100 (a mountain bike race through the Colorado Rockies). In addition, he will be entering some cyclocross races which is something I want to try because I need a fourth bike :-)

OK, I can't think of a better road trip through California than this...the Amgen Tour of California in February! One of the stops is in Solvang for the individual time trials. I've always wanted to ride there so I will bring my bike. Oh, and the wineries along the way! So, if Lance is scheduled to race, I'm there.

Lance Armstrong - He's Back?

According to an article posted on the VeloNews today, Lance is coming out of retirement for 5 races in 2009 including Tour de California, Tour de Georgia, and "The Tour" de France. The story says he will be racing on the Astana team which also includes Levi Leipheimer (I used to see him train in Santa Rosa...he would chase his wife, who drove a scooter, around the vineyards and hills of Sonoma), and Chris Horner. If this is true, Lance will be reunited with Johan Bruyneel, his former team manager who was there for his 7 TDF wins. Trek is also a sponsor of the team. Team Astana did not race in this year's Tour de France due to their ties to the doping scandal.

If this is true, maybe it's time to revisit France, but this time, during the Tour and attempt to do part of the route (LOL). Or, maybe just rent an RV, load it up with fine French Wine, and ring my cowbell from the sidelines.

RSVP (Ride from Seattle to Vancouver) - Day 1

Famous last words from me:
-the weather will be perfect for the ride, and;
-the route guide is nicely laid out I can't get lost. Ahem....here's what really happened.

Day 1 - Give me an 'H': Hot, Hilly, and Hella-fun! It was great being up early...seeing the sun rise and watching the rowers cut neat lines on the calm waters of Lake Washington. It was a very serene morning... that was until I hit the chaos of Magnuson park. Cyclists everywhere! Cars loaded with multiple bikes on both top and rear racks waiting to get in to the parking lot. Lines a mile long for the porta-potties. I had made the right call by parking my car 1 mile away at my friend's house and riding over to the starting line and avoiding all that headache (and the $15 charge for parking my car over the weekend). I dropped my backpack off and at 6:45 am, me and my cycling partner for the trip, Kanako, headed off on our ride north to Vancouver, British Columbia. We were both rookies on this ride and so I had no idea what to expect on the route past Snohomish, but, I figured there were going to be a few hills.

Some background info on the ride:
- the RSVP came to be in 1980 when Mt. St. Helens erupted and interrupted the annual STP (Seattle to Portland) ride put on by the Cascade Bicycle Club
- Total riders ~1300 (vs 5000 for the STP)
- 183 miles (103 the first day, and 80 the second)

We hit our first hill ~15 miles into the ride in Woodinville. It was going to be the longest and steepest hill of the ride so it was nice to get it out of the way that early. Argh...grind...keep legs moving, keep breathing, and, for goodness sake, relax the top part of the body! All the coffee I drink in the am gets me so amped up and so if there is a major hill early on a ride, my body is so tense and I make the effort more taxing than it should be. I made it to the top and felt great. Good sign for the rest of the day...should be a piece of cake! On to Snohomish!

So, the temperature was perfect....from 6:45 am until 9:30 am, that is. Just the weekend before, it was raining and cool. One week later, the ride was going to be during the 2 hottest days of the year (upper 90s). Just great. But, I was prepared and the items I brought kept me going and not once did I experience any of those painful cramps I tend to get in my calves and quads on hot days nor did I get a pounding headache. First, I brought along my Moeben arm sleeves not to stay warm, but to keep the sun off my arms. OK, also for the sake of vanity because I HATE tan lines on my upper arms and the jerseys I wanted to wear weren't sleeveless. As the day got hotter, the sleeves became arm coolers as I continually doused them with water when I was climbing. I kept one water bottle filled with just water and used it to pour over my head, on my neck and down my back. SO REFRESHING! I started hydrating and replacing my electrolytes from the get go. During the hottest and hilliest part of the day, I also took a Saltstick Caps about every hour. Foodwise, I tried to eat real food - my new treat on bike rides are these little packets of Loucks Sesame Squares...so yummy! I'm done with fig newtons (for now)...all they do is crumble in my pocket. Another winner, is Nature's Path Organic Blueberry Toaster Pastries (no frosting) which I had for lunch. I was tired of pb & j sandwiches so this was a yummy replacement. I brought my usual assortment of gels but I only went through 3 the entire ride. The stops were fully stocked with fresh fruit like bananas, plums, nectarines, and WATERMELON (brilliant)!! OMG, there was one stop where I ate 5 slices in a row...the lady cutting them couldn't keep up with me. I could've kept going but she finally gave me "the look" and so I thanked her profusely as I backed away and let the others have their share of watermelon :-(

I thought the hardest part of the day was going to be the part of the route into Bellingham, but it was actually the leg between Lake Stevens (mile 36) and Mount Vernon (mile 74). A lot of rolling hills (and the highest point of our ride) and we were riding that area during the hottest part of the day. It nearly took my friend, Kanako. But she finally made her way in to the stop and, luckily, an ice cream truck pulled into the parking lot and so we treated ourselves to a popsicle while Kanako rested, refueled, and worked on her cramping legs. Despite the heat, it really was a beautiful part of the ride. So many trees and at one point, it opened up and to the right, there was an awesome view of Mount Baker. The hills were the types that I absolutely love (long, low grade) and all along, I heard Phil Liggett's voice in my head raving about 'dancing on the pedals and climbing like an angel!' One final stop before Bellingham and rumor had it that they had ice-cold cans of Coca-Cola. I got there, found the cooler, and then watched in horror as the lady in front me of grabbed THE LAST CAN! Waaaah! Now, I was obsessed, I had to have some ice-cold Coke. So, on to Bellingham!

I thought this last leg was the pinnacle of the entire ride. Even though it was uphill most of the way, Chuckanut Drive was absolutely fun to ride (mile 92 - 102) because it was in the shade, and I enjoyed the views to my left of the islands and water. Kanako rallied and got her legs back so we cruised to the viewpoint for a picture opp and then on to the lemonade stand at the top of the hill (but, no Coca-Cola!).

At the end, we made some rookie mistakes. First, our accomodations were about 7 miles apart. So, Kanako went to Western Washington University, and I continued on my own. I plodded on past downtown. By then, I had ridden another couple of miles and I had no idea that the hotel I had booked myself at was up by Bellis Fair Mall until I asked a local for directions. I was so done with my ride by then...mentally I was finished but, according to her, I still had 6 miles to go. Not that far, but my odometer was already at 110 so I wanted to be done so badly. And, I was going mental craving that ice-cold Coke! She gave me simple directions, but then I saw the markers for the ride on the road so I started following them. Surely, my hotel had to be along the route. Well, little did I know that I was following the markers for Day 2 and before I knew it, I was out in the rural area on my own and up ahead was a big ole dog who looked almost as gnarly as I was feeling by then. M***** F*****!!! The dog ducked into some bushes and I quickly turned around and got momentum so it couldn't catch up with me. I downed a Hammer gel because I had no idea how long I was going to be out and then retraced my route. I came up to a major street, rolled the dice, got lucky, and found my hotel. I went a little overboard with the Coca-Cola that night...I had a total of 3 (tee hee). No wonder I couldn't sleep that night! But, I was feeling great....had a great pasta dinner, a glass of wine (wha?! just one?), and an air-conditioned room! Life was good. But, geez, 119 miles...almost a double-metric century!

RSVP (Ride from Seattle to Vancouver) - Day 2

Day 1 was about the ride. Day 2 was about the destination.

Give me an 'F': Flat, Fast, Ferry, and FINISH!!!

Some people loathe hills on rides. I despise flats! It's boring, and there's always a good headwind. Anyway, I woke up at 5:30 and got on the road by 6:30. I guess getting lost last night was fortuitous because I knew exactly where to go that morning to get back on route.

The ride to the border was flat and boring. Except when we got into Lynden...what a cute little town and I wished that I didn't have the free continental breakfast at my hotel. I guess it's an RSVP tradition to go to the Dutch Mothers for the breakfast buffet which they prepare especially for the riders. I'll have to note that for next year. After Kanako had her breakfast we continued on to the Aldergrove Border Crossing. They were prepared and I've never gotten across the border so quickly! We were moving so fast, I barely got a picture of me crossing the border on my bike! I wore my Velogirls jersey just for Day 2 because I wanted to take a picture of me wearing it as I crossed the border. You see, Velogirls is a cycling club down in the Bay Area that I went on club rides with on the weekends when I first got my bike (back in 2003). I thank Lorri Lee Lown and her club for giving me an opportunity to grow, develop, and love the sport of cycling. It was also through that club that I met my BFF, Kirsten (love ya, miss ya girl!!!). It was a monumental moment for me to reflect back to when I could barely climb the hills around Canada Rd. (kahn-ya-da) or even clip-out of my pedals before falling over on my bike and to where cycling has, literally and figuratively, taken me in life. 'Passport Please!' Poof - so much for my reflection :-)

About 5 miles from the border, we hit 'The Wall' which is a short but very steep climb (I heard 10% grade from 1 person, 14% from another so it's probably safe to say it was somewhere in between). For the first time on my ride, this hill looked daunting as we were coming out of a flat section. Up ahead, it really looked like a wall with its victims and carnage laying to the right (i.e., cyclists walking their bike or riders bending over by the grass....ew, were they throwing up?). So, I sucked it up, changed gears, stood up on my pedals and danced my way to the top. Hill?! What hill?! I was pumped....I doused myself with water at the top and resumed our tour through the farmland on roads with little to no shoulder and a headwind that seemed to be picking up by the minute. Made passing challenging but then again, it was a good excuse to poach off of someone's tail :-) But, I did my share of pulling on this ride, that's for sure.

In Fort Langley, we found a great coffee shop and popped in for an Orange Tangerine smoothie (immediate brain freeze - owwwww, worst pain I had encountered on the ride so far) and I got a cheese scone (no wonder I didn't use any gel at all that day). Then, it was on to the Albion Ferry which was a 15 minute ride across the river. The wait wasn't too bad (maybe 30 minutes?) but we were out in the sun so it was just uncomfortable.

After the ferry, the ride wasn't as scenic or as enjoyable as Day 1. But, riding-wise, I felt my best on the Barnet Highway (highway 7a, mile 61, or mile 169 of my total ride). It was only 6 miles (10km) but it was all uphill with a lot of traffic going by really fast. I wanted that leg over and done with as fast as possible. I was cruising along but starting to feel fatigued for the first time on my ride. After I had passed a group of riders, 3 men came roaring up on my left and told me to 'jump on' which I gladly did. All of a sudden, my average speed went from 10-12 mph to 18-20 mph and at one point, where it wasn't as steep, I was cruising at 22 mph and passing people like they were standing still. That was probably my favorite part of the ride that day because I just felt really strong and powerful while cycling as a part of that train. Thanks to those 3 men who pulled me to the top....it was so exhilerating! At the top there was a guy with a bag of ice which he so kindly shared and filled my water bottle...twice! It was so hot that the ice that he had given melted by the time Kanako showed up and it wasn't that long of a wait. That's the other thing I really enjoyed about the ride, that everyone pitched in to help each other get through the ride and on to the finish line.

After that, it was tour through Burnaby (home town of my all-time favorite ice hockey player, Joe Sakic!) and finally on to downtown Vancouver via Chinatown and Gastown. At the end, my odometer read 190 miles (thanks to the extra miles I put in on my 'recon' trip) and I rolled in to the hotel where the party was with a big ole grin on my face and satisfied that, not only did I make it, but that I had completed the ride without any mechanical or physical issues to deal with. It was an almost perfect ride and even when I was lost at the end of Day 1, I ended up benefitting from that stumble the following day. Kanako, on the other hand, could give you a different story about Day 1 from her perspective....but, hey, she finished and finished strong!

This is a ride that any cycling enthusiast should do. But, sign up early because it sells out (1300 riders max). Tickets for 2009 go on sale January 1, 2009. Thanks Cascade Bicycle Club for the route, and, thanks to all the vols who supplied us with water and fuel along the way (mmmm, WATERMELON). I'll be back next year.

RSVP - Less Than One Week To Go!

August has taken me by surprise....where did the summer go? I got my bib number and route sheet, er, guide (LOL) for the ride in the mail a few days ago and I had to look at the calendar and see if it was true...that this ride was happening next weekend. Next week, at this time, I'll be at the border waiting to cross into British Columbia. RSVP stands for 'Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party.' No, not a party bus. It's a 2-day bike ride - basically a back-to-back century ride. The size of the route guide is crazy funny....but, nicely laid out so I can't get lost. I have to make sure it's going to fit in one of my back pockets but still leave me room for my pb&j sandwich and fig newtons.

Next Friday, we roll out from Warren G. Magnuson park in Seattle and ride up to Bellingham which will be just a little over 102 miles. I'm really looking forward to the first day because I've always enjoyed the drive from Mount Vernon up to Bellingham in my car. So it'll be nice to take it slow by bike and take in the views of Mount Baker and the tree-covered foothills. The second day, we leave Bellingham and cross the border into British Columbia. Our final destination is downtown Vancouver (about 80+ miles) and then spend the night before heading home the following day. That leg will be interesting for me because I've never cycled in that area....I am imagining some good headwinds and the fresh smell of 'fertilizer' since we'll be in the farming area for most of the ride before we reach Vancouver. Mmmm....refreshing (haha). I'll have to resist the temptation to stop at some of the wineries along the way to taste some fine BC wine.

In general, I'm feeling pretty good and I guess I'm kinda glad that I didn't do my North Cascade Loop ride in the latter part of July because I hit what I think was a 'dead zone.' After so many weeks on end working out and playing at a moderate to high intensity, I hit a wall and I wasn't motivated to do anything...except rock climbing and hitting golf balls. And, when I was working out, I was only putting minimum effort and couldn't wait for the session/game/workout to end (not like me at all). So, I finally listened to Casey (my trainer) and did as I was told and RESTED....something my previous trainer, Joel, used to lecture me on for years. Joel would just roll his eyes when I told him that I would rest when I'm pushing up daisies. I guess when I was working full-time, going in to the office and sitting behind a desk or in mind-numbing meetings for hours on end gave my body time to recover. Now I have much more time for fun things and, in typical fashion, I fill my day with activities that I love doing. So, here's the irony, now that my life is a lot less rigid and structured these days (work-wise), I need to be more disciplined and force myself for some physical down time and less intense activities (this is where golf fits in nicely).

The rest was well worth it and I thoroughly enjoyed my rides last week. My legs feel strong again, and my motivation to ride and climb was back. Sweet and just in the nick of time! I can't wait...it'll be fun and the weather is going to be perfect for the ride.

Marin Headlands, CA - (VIDEO) Descending on a bike

The Tour is never lacking in spectacular events. Stages 14 - 16 are ones that I have been looking forward to as the riders make their way through the Alps grinding up some amazing steep terrain and descending like mad down the other side. The past couple of stages showed how quickly one can be 'King of the Mountain' to another casualty of the tour. First, Pereiro's crazy crash over the barrier to the pavement 15 feet below that left him with a fractured arm. Then, today, Augustyn (a 21-year old rookie) was the first to reach the peak of the last climb today which is also the highest pass on the tour this year. However, on the other side he was going to fast and couldn't quite make a turn and went over the edge. He managed to stop himself on the steep mountainside, but his bike kept on going, and going, and going, and going....

Those are the images that, unfortunately, stick with me on descents. One of my favorite routes is down in the Bay Area where you climb up the Marin Headlands from the Golden Gate Bridge. After catching your breath at the top only to have it taken away by the amazing scenery (the Golden Gate Bridge, the City in the background, Pacific Ocean, and the coastline south to Pacifica...sigh). Anyway, on the other side, the descent is on a one-lane road and is pretty steep at the top (for me, anyway). But, you have to tear your eyes away from the view and keep your eye on the road on the way down. I found this video and thought I would share one of my favorite rides from a cyclist's perspective....whee!



(Video credit: YouTube, Marin Headlands Loop on a Bike, Bullet Cam/auweia1)

The Marin Headlands is not only the area for many outdoor activities for the urbanites (road & mountain biking, hiking, surfing) but it's also the location of the Marine Mammal Center where I used to volunteer as a docent. Best time to ride....early morning before the tourists plug up the bridge and the winds kick in...spring time and fall are my favorite months. Once you're done with the Marin Headlands, continue down to Sausalito and do Paradise Loop...there's also options to jump on to other routes for climbing up Mount Tamalpais (or Mt. Tam for short). Check out the VeloGirls' website...the cycling club I used to ride with the first year I started road cycling. They have the best route sheets!

I am going to take a few days off of my bike after a rather lackluster weekend of rides....I went on a couple of rides with some good climbs and just wasn't feeling it. Oh well, some days you have it, some days you don't. So, time for me to put the bike away for a little while and enjoy some other activities and then get back on it.

Cycling North Cascade Loop (Update)

On an earlier post, I mentioned my intent to ride part of the North Cascade Loop starting next week. Unfortunately, the ride has been postponed and the dates are TBD due to my riding partner's nagging foot pain. Oh well, at least I will be fresh for the RSVP (Ride from Seattle to Vancouver) in August and maybe we'll schedule the North Cascade Loop when it's a tad bit cooler.

The one question I have, though, is I've gotten some feedback on our planned route for Day 1 where we end up on 530 between Arlington and Darrington. I've heard that 530 is not bike-friendly due to the narrow road with little shoulder as well as other reasons. If anyone out there has a good alternate, please let me know (i.e., head up to Sedro Woolley and then hang a right).

(Photo credit: Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)
As for the Tour - a big 'BOO, HISS' to Beltran and Ricco and their doping charges. But, despite the dark cloud (sigh, will they learn), the Tour has been exciting to watch. I'm rooting for Team Columbia/High Road. Today, I think the sprinter crown has been handed over and this picture says it all with Mark Cavendish winning his 4th stage and Robbie McEwan (lower left in red and so dominating in previous races) behind him. Go Team Columbia/High Road....they work well together and today it was amazing to watch them work Cavendish up through the peloton to place him in position for, yet, another strong, kick-butt finish. There was also the most spectacular crash today...one of the Gerolsteiner riders crashed right into one of the traffic islands so hard breaking his bike frame in two and sending him up and over and on to the pavement. He stood up right away and seemed to be relatively ok...the sign on the traffic island, however, didn't fare as well....crazy crash!

Take Back the Tour

(Photo credit: JOEL SAGET/AFP/Getty Images)

The 2008 Tour de France is off and running (er, spinning). The race started on July 5 and will conclude in Paris on July 27. I know, I know....I hear all of you grumbling about the drug scandals and the politics and the cheating, etc., etc. But, after watching the first few days of the race, it's really been refreshing to watch and, once again, I am thoroughly enjoying my morning cups of java while watching racers sprint, crash, and climb. Phil Ligget and Paul Sherwen continue to add so much to my enjoyment with their ever-so-colorful commentary, dramatic statements and bits of cycling trivia. While I enjoyed watching the 'Lance' era and cheering him on as he battled head-to-head with Jan Ulrich, Iban Mayo, and others, I feel like the race has returned to its roots. There seems to be an aggressive movement to make sure the race and the riders remain clean and free of drug scandals. Versus, who is televising the race in the U.S., is running a funny tv spot right now....the reel is played in reverse and it appears like the race officials are taking the yellow jersey away from Landis.

(Photo credit: PASCAL PAVANI/AFP/Getty Images)

With no heavy favorite and changes to the race format, it's a wide open field. Instead of the customary prologue time trial, the race started en masse with an uphill sprint to the finish line. This meant the yellow jersey was up for grabs and it made for a dramatic ending. Other changes to the race this year included the elimination of the time bonuses. In the past, one could shave off time by accruing time bonuses w/out ever having to finish first. This year, there is definitely more incentive to be first, and, again, it means more spectacular finishes.

The team time trail stage was eliminated and I'm so bummed about that. I was always fascinated to see how a group of individuals operated as one engine, their legs like pistons, to pedal efficiently and finish with the fastest time. This stage required so much precision and synchronization....so totally HOT!!

(Photo credit: JOEL SAGET/AFP/Getty Images)

Finally, there are 2 new teams from the US: Team Columbia (George Hincapie is a member), and; Team Garmin-Chipotle (egads, I hope they don't have to eat food prepped by Chipotle every night...haha). You can follow Team Garmin-Chipotle on their blog. Team Garmin-Chipotle is made up of primarily American riders whereas Hincapie, I think, is the only American member of Team Columbia. Both teams appear really strong and as of today, Kirchen (Columbia) is wearing the yellow jersey. Allez, allez!

Critical Mass - Lake Washington Style (13 weeks later)

Back in April, I included a post about my first road bike loop around Lake Washington with the Cascade Bicycle Club. And, here I am, 13 weeks later and I just completed that same route but this time with way more energy and more power up the hills. Because the route today was familiar, I knew I could be more aggressive and it was only going to be 48 miles....oh, pshaw...that's nothing! And, the weather was much cooler than last weekend....in the 60s which is perfect for riding. Many who rode the 100-mile ride last week to Flaming Geyser in the heat were back for more pain. But, this week, the mood of the group was very upbeat and almost giddy. I think part of it was because most were looking forward to the STP (Seattle-to-Portland) ride next weekend. Or, maybe it was the pizza and beer we were having at the end of the ride to celebrate the end of this training series. Definitely don't want to be last one in because it's first come, first serve. Haha....more motivation for this billy goat to hammer up the hills. Nevertheless, a lot of gut-busting laughs and 'woots' on the hills when, usually, you hear nothing but steady breathing (usually your own), bike gears changing and turning, and the whir of tires on the pavement with all the focus on reaching the top.

The first half of the ride was uneventful...after all, not much can happen on the Burke-Gilman trail (big yawn). But, once we passed Kenmore and hit the open roads, that's when it started to get fun - especially on the hills. I love my double chainring because I'm able to exert so much more power up the hills and I felt great on the climbs and passing people on the left. But, when I would finally pull into the lead and relax a bit, there goes Alain cruising by on my left-hand side. Huh?! I thought he told me that he did a hilly ride around Vashon Island yesterday. Of course, I gave chase. Alain, I'm not competitive. I just like to be the first one up the hill :-))

We finally got to the hill that leads to Seward Park. Last week, it was mile 85 and about 90 degress. This week, it was mile 35 and 65 degrees. Oh baby, outta my way because that hill is mine! Woot! I passed everyone and was out front and building up a lead when I realized, I had no idea where I was going and where the next turn was. So, I had to slow down and wait for someone to catch up. Thankfully, Rossamo, originally from Italy and a natural cyclist (of course), came powering up the hill and led me in to Seward Park. Yeah, I think I'll hold off on getting my certification as a ride leader otherwise, I'll get everyone so hopelessly lost. Our last climb for the ride was up from Lake Washington...this time, I didn't get caught behind a rolling roadblock. But I couldn't let up because everytime I did, Alain would pass me. D'oh! Anyway, that last hill was so much easier compared to last week and I think I laughed and smiled all the way to the top....I was having a blast. For the entire day, there was always a friendly competition to the top of the hills with a small group of us giving chase as soon as someone broke out of the pack. So much fun!

I'm sad that the training series has ended, but happy for the people I've met on the rides:

Alain - he just started road cycling in April and is doing his first STP!! He is also raising money for the Ivory Coast Medical Relief team with the money going towards the fight against malaria. Go here if you would like to donate and find out more about this cause. Good luck, Alain!! I can't wait to hear your stories and see pictures. In the meantime, I will keep practicing on the hills so you can just keep eating my dust :-))

Kanako - she has just as many interests as I do (golf, kayak, mountain bike)! Kanako is doing a 5-day ride from Redmond to Spokane in the middle of July. She is also doing the RSVP (Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party) in August which I am signed up for. If you ever see a woman all decked out in pink, chances are it's Kanako :-)) Have a great ride, Pinky, and can't wait to ride/paddle/golf with you when you get back!

Mike (blue jersey) and Rossamo (red jersey) are also doing the STP. Thanks, Rossamo, for some of those pulls up the hills, and for leading me in the right direction.

Lisa, who didn't ride today, is also a rookie rider doing the STP this coming weekend. It's been great to watch her and Alain progress and become the strong riders that they are today. Thanks everyone for making the 3-6 hours on the saddle so much fun and interesting. Oh, and for the friendly competition ;-) Good luck with all your long distance rides!

100 miles - Cycling to Flaming Geyser State Park and back

(Photo: Courtesy of LUNA Chix Cycling - Seattle)

After five days of paddling around San Juan Island and upper body work, my legs were ready for a good ride. Besides, just before I left for my trip, I finally got my new compact-double chainring installed and I wanted to test it out and see if I would be missing my "granny gear." Ever since the accident I witnessed at the beginning of the month where I watched a woman lose control of her bike on a descent and flip head over heels, I've been really tentative going downhill on my road bike. I hated that I had lost that edge and I knew that by squeezing more on the brakes and riding on the hood of my handlebars, I was increasing my chances of getting into an accident. I had to take care of that. So, on Saturday, I attended a workshop on descending (emergency stops, turning, etc.). It was held by the local LUNA Chix chapter in conjunction with Cycling University. It was the best 2-hour clinic I've taken. By the end of the class, I was way more comfortable than ever descending in the lower position (hands grasping the curve that comes under the bars), and had better body position (my ass way back and off the seat) for emergency braking on a downhill.

But, that wasn't enough time on my bike. That same day, I found out from one of the people in class that there was a 100-mile bike ride out to Flaming Geyser and back the following day (Sunday). It was perfect because the ride was mostly flat which gave me lots of time to play with my new gears. And, I had to work off some of that awesome food I had consumed the week before on my kayak trip.

OK, so Sunday was also the hottest day in Seattle...by the time the ride started at 8:00 am, it was already in the 70s and we were heading southeast out past Auburn so it was going to get warmer. The ride also felt more like a cyclocross event (the bike is like a hybrid where the tires are a little fatter for handling the off-road obstacles, but the frame is light enough so you could carry it over the obstacles when you needed to) because of the number of times we had to dismount and carry our bikes due to closed trails, and routes cut-off by a local marathon. Once we even had to carry our bikes across a teeny bit of a golf course. The ride out was fine and we reached our turnaround point just before noon. But, I was so hot and all I could think about was filling up my water bottles with cold water so I stopped at the first restroom and didn't even ride all the way in to see the infamous Flaming Geysers. Going back sucked. It was hot and there was a good headwind (isn't there always?). I rode with the larger group so I could poach off of someone's tail (all-in-all there were 60 riders in our group....I thought I was the only insane one who willfully chooses to ride 100 miles on a hot day). Once we entered Seattle proper, the first test of my compact-double was coming up. One long steady hill into Seward Park, followed by a shorter, but steeper hill up from Lake Washington and through the Arboretum. The first hill was loooong....and there were no trees to shade me. I always thought it was cool when pro-cyclists poured the contents of their water bottle over their head as they rode up a hill. I was so hot on that hill so I got my chance to do it. I made sure that I grabbed my bottle that didn't have my energy mix in it otherwise it would be a sticky mess. Wow - the water felt great and it gave me enough energy to finish that hill and coast into Seward Park. I wanted to be one of the first ones in so that I would have more time cooling off and resting. Time to refill - again, one bottle for dumping on my head, the other with fresh energy mix. By now, it had to be in the upper 80s or even the 90s. I looked around and others had gone for the shaved ice station and were happily munching on grape and cherry-flavored ice bits....WAAAAH! I had no time to buy one because just at that point, the ride leader gave us a 2 minute warning. I poured one more bottle of water over my head, threw on my helmet and was mentally prepared to attack that last hill.

I enjoyed the view along Lake Washington and traded stories with Alain who I met on previous rides. He's a much stronger rider now, while, before I used to cruise by him on hills. Now he's right up there with me....(Great riding, Alain!!! Keep it up and good luck on the STP!!!) We got to the final climb and I was behind 2 riders who immediately geared down to their grannies...to my left, I saw Alain ride by me so I maneuvered out of that rolling roadblock, hammered, and gave chase to Alain and others who had just blown by me. Wow.....I LUV my compact-double!! I quickly gained ground and was at the top in no time. OK - thank you, Oleg (from Veloce Velo), for recommending that change. I made it back to my car just in time because I was beginning to get punch drunk. I didn't pack enough food and, oh, did I tell you it was hot (LOL)? So, I treated myself to a chocolate shake and a Kidd Valley burger afterwards (I had a few calories to spare after burning probably close to 6000 that day). I can't believe it took me this long to eat one since my move back to the northwest. Normally not what I would recommend as recovery food, but it was close by and I had to eat soon. Yummy! Within an hour, I was back to feeling human again.

Flying Wheels Cycling Century '08

The Flying Wheels Century started in my neighborhood and was along a route that I'm getting familiar with. Starting in Marymoor Park, the route led us out to Duvall, up to Snohomish, down to Monroe, through Carnation, back into Issaquah, and then back to the starting point. Not quite 100 miles (98.5) and 3,850 feet of cumulative elevation gain. I have done parts of this route about 4 times, but gone in the opposite direction so it felt like a completely different ride.

Today was the first break in the weather for a few weeks and I got to wear cycling shorts for the first time this year - woot! Still a little cool at the start, but no rain. In my pockets, I packed my usual century smorgasborg: pb&j sandwich, banana, handful of almonds, fig newtons, some sports gel (these days, my preference is Hammer Gel: chocolate and espresso of course), some electrolyte tablets, and Tums just in case my legs start to cramp up from lactic buildup. We headed out at 8:00 am with the hordes of riders all decked out in their colorful jerseys. I think it's the century with the largest attendance in Washington which was good because it lessened my chances of getting lost. I'm known to get so discombobulated in the last 25 miles and stop paying attention to cues spray painted on the road and end up missing a turn.

Within the first 5 miles, we hit our first hill. I'm finding that lately, it takes me a good 10 miles to warm up on those cool days and I really don't like hitting hills this early. It wasn't long, but it was steep and it sucked and I sucked. I immediately hit my granny gear which I haven't used this year. I didn't get my compact-double in time for the ride because we had to special order a part. So, for this ride, I still had my triple and actually had to use it twice. After that hill, I was warmed up and we cruised towards Monroe. I'm glad that I had packed my own grub because the food selection at the stops wasn't the best. I remember some of the centuries I did down in California had some of the best spread....homemade cookies, homemade banana breads, great selection of fruit. The only thing missing was a waiter when you pulled into a rest stop. Today, the selection was slim and I was happy I brought along my own fig newtons. How do you not have fig newtons for a ride?

Into Snohomish and the halfway mark - woot! The sun was out, my legs and body felt great and my pb&j sandwich was extra yummy! Now we were in the valley which meant the next 20 miles or so was going to be flat and a little breeze was picking up so I definitely had to find a pace group who could break some of that headwind. Of course, I returned the favor and did my share of pulls.

After Carnation, we hit 75 miles and I was starting to feel a little fatigued. I had one more hill to go at the 82-mile mark and it was a 3-mile climb. I threw back my last gel and hoped for the best. All through the ride, everyone talked about the last hill and it was the part of the ride I've never done so I had no idea what to expect. Thankfully, it was staggered so I geared down into that granny gear, and attacked (well, more like 'endured' at this point) the hill in steps. After each step and as I approached a corner, I kept wondering if that was the last bit...ugh, no it wasn't! At the beginning of the hill, I stopped looking at my odometer (yes, I finally got a new computer!) and just focused on turning my legs despite the cramps developing in my calves and quads (OTP!! - how I wished I ate a banana at the 75-mile mark). I reached the peak just in time and then I hit my wall and wanted off my bike. I know it's a bad mental habit I get into and all it does is make the last 15 miles worse than it actually is. The last part was on a stretch of road that I've ridden on so many times so that eased things a bit. At last, almost 6 hours later, I reached the starting point. Get me off my bike, now! I downed my recovery drink and headed over to the Velodrome but the massage tables were all full so we got some ice cream instead (the best fudgecicle ever). They have beginner clinics on track racing so guess who's signing up :-) teehee. So, there, I finished my first century for the year and now I have my North Cascades Loop to look forward to - 382 miles in 4 days. My pace will be much slower and I will also be lugging a trailer with my compact-double....hmmm....should be interesting.

382 Miles - Cyling Part of North Cascade Loop

OK, the dates are set and the route is planned. My neighbor, Jen, and I have decided to take on this epic ride July 22 - 25, 2008...WOOT! From our homes on Cougar Mountain in Issaquah, we will embark on a trip that will have us riding through the area that make up the infamous North Cascades Loop. This route is considered one of the most spectacular drives in North America by the likes of National Geographic Traveler (or is it Explorer, or Adventure). The North Cascades Loop is a very popular drive during the summer and in the fall for the autumn colors (note to self: a backpacking trip must be planned around this time). But, I will get to savor the scenery on my bike...yes, my bike.

Because we'll be cycling, we will primarily be on side roads, though, there will be times where we'll be cycling on the highway next to the semi's (vroooom). Here's our itinerary for the ride:

Day 1--Issaquah to Darrington 96 miles
Day 2-- Darrington to Winthrop 109 miles (the most scenic day; at least 17 miles of this is downhill; good eats at Winthrop; cool campground at Winthrop on river)
Day 3-- Winthrop to Wenatchee 105 miles (hot and dry)
Day 4-- Wenatchee to Cle Elum 72 miles (over Blewett Pass)
Total mileage = 382 miles

We'll be staying in campgrounds along the way and eating a lot of quinoa or pasta for dinner. So, if any of you happen to driving along this route on those dates, feel free to pick up a pizza and drop it off at our campsite :-)) Oh, and coffee and breakfast in the am would also be much appreciated (french toast with fresh berries and maple syrup would be wooooonderful, thank you)! I'm pretty excited about this trip. Jen is a seasoned multi-day cyclist. A few years ago, she biked across the U.S. solo. I don't think I could ever do a multi-day ride by myself...I would drive myself crazy. I would rather drive someone else crazy. Stay tuned....

82 Mile Loop: Seattle -> Snohomish -> Sultan -> Seattle

At 8:30 am, I pulled into Magnuson Park just off Sand Point Way in Seattle just north of the University of Washington (go Dawgs, woof, woof). Today's ride was going to be a total of 82 miles and the route had us heading northeast up to Snohomish, then east to Sultan, and then southwest back to Seattle. Thankfully, after a week of predicting rain for today's ride, it looked like the rain was going to hold off. But, it was freezing! I think it was 52 when we pulled out of the lot and peaked at 59 today (it's pleasantly warm on other days when I'm not riding....grrr). While in San Francisco, I used to complain about how hot the rides started to get this time of the year and I would push our start times out earlier and earlier (i.e., the rides that were outside of San Francisco and away from that awful fog). Now, it's the complete opposite - it's always cold on the days I want to do long distances and I want to start my rides later and later on in the day when it's had a chance to warm up. Sigh....always gotta complain about something. My legs were feeling a little tired after my hike up Mount Si yesterday and the cold weather was making me grumpy. So, I decided to ride with the group that was a slower pace than my usual. And, not only was it my longest ride so far, but also the hilliest. I gathered with that group and watched my faster paced group head out. Just when they were out of sight, the ride leader for our group said that it was probably going to take us 7 hours to complete the 82 miles. WHAT?!?! I finish 100 miles in 6 hours....7 hours on my bike today? Grr.... By then it was too late to try and catch up with the others. Well, I thought to myself, this will be a good benchmark ride to see how I'm doing on my bike and to determine the pace I should maintain for the Flying Wheels Century in a couple of weeks.

So, off we went into the arctic blast...ok, being overdramatic again, but I changed my gears and pedaled at a high cadence to warm myself up as fast as possible. It wasn't too long before we hit our first hill....a low grade but it was long. I lost count of the number of hills we climbed, but we basically had to ride up over some hills from Woodinville to Snohomish and then descend into Snoqualmie Valley, and then back over the hills to Seattle. There were a lot and with each hill, my legs felt stronger as my body warmed up. Soon, I was regretting riding with the slow group because they were sloooow going up the hills and then we would always have to regroup at the top because our group (which was probably up to 35-40 people?) would get so spread out. Sigh...a lot of hurry up and wait. On one of the hills, I finally had to blow by the ride leader promising that I would stop at the top of the hill and wait for them - I hate going up hills slow....just hammer and get it over with. As I cranked, I looked behind me and I got me some chasers....woot, the ride was on! At the stop, someone asked if I was a racer. After I got done laughing hysterically and wiping the tears from my eyes, I explained how I usually ride with the next group up but not really feeling 100% today. From that point on, I was referred to as a 'ringer.' (Now, why can't I get that nickname when I'm playing hockey?) Actually, there were a few 'ringers' on that ride so we hammered on the hills and chased each other to make it interesting.

This was a day of calamaties. First, minor....at our stops, we had a lot of people falling over on their bikes because they can't clip out of their pedals in time. Ha! That's something I usually do...in fact, my bike mechanic asked why my right hand brakes were angled in and I said it was because I always seem to fall on my right side which is the side I tend to stay clipped in at full stops. He thought it was because I had wrist issues....no, just brain issues....i.e., my brain just turns off when I'm at a full stop.

But, we also had 2 bikers go down. One headed back on his own (it was early on in the ride - maybe 15 miles out?) and his injuries minor, though, he was unnerved enough to know that he didn't want to do the full ride. The other was crazy scary. We were starting to descend on a steep curvy road where I could see us maxing at 40+ mph. About 7 riders in front of me, I see a woman go crashing to the pavement. She tumbled 3-4 times head over heels and her bike finally released and went crashing into the oncoming lane and she finally rolled to a stop in the middle of the road. It could've been worse. Luckily, there was no oncoming traffic or any cars trying to pass us. And, we just started our descent so there was enough time to maneuver around her and stop in time. We had a couple of doctors on the ride so they quickly came over and checked her over. Given the severity of her crash, I thought she looked ok - abrasions on her chin and fingers, and, most importantly, she was conscious. But, she probably broke her collarbone. Her helmet saved her life....to all my friends that cycle....*please* wear your helmets at all times no matter how short your ride is or how familiar you are with the roads or trails. Gloves are also good not only for the padding for the comfort, but it will help prevent or minimize scrapes and cuts on your palms when you use them to break your fall. We think that she slammed on her front brakes on the descent and lost control of her bike.

Needless to say, that accident left the rest of us a little shaken up, and our ride through the valley was quiet and subdued. And, we had strong headwind (wait, there's *always* a headwind whenever one is riding in a valley, no matter what direction your heading). We didn't do a paceline through the valley because there were too many people, so kudos to the ride leader who pulled us those 20 miles.

But, the mood lifted as we talked about some of the hills we had to ride to get back to the starting point - including one that was a 14% grade. Thankfully, it was really short and then the rest of the climb was less than 6%. We got to the top and it wasn't that bad but it was hard enough to make it real gratifying when you reached the top. Then, we had one more steep descent to go. I went down it way too tentatively and could feel my rear lift off my seat. But, we all made it down safely. We got back to our starting point at 5:30 - that's 8.5 hours after we started. Too many stops, and the accidents slowed us down a lot. All I could think of the last 15 miles was getting off my bike...I was D-U-N, dun. But, it felt great to finish and now I know that I'll be fine for my upcoming century. I also asked a lot of people about their rides after they switched from a triple chainring to a compact double and they all love it. So, I'm looking forward to getting mine replaced tomorrow and taking it out for a spin later this week. And, to the riders who went down today, I wish you a speedy recovery and I hope to see you on your wheels soon.