Today I woke up and wanted to ride a challenging ride. Yesterday I rode 70 miles, but the climbing was resulted in total elevation 0f around 3,000 and after the 3 previous weekends not as challenging. I guess this means I am getting into a little better shape.
I had a bad headache during my ride and gave up after about 50 miles. I came home, rested and ate lunch, but nothing helped. I then had some coffee and within 15 minutes I felt fine.
The last few weeks have been about changing tires and tubes. I have changed both tires. I have been riding them since the trip last year from about Kansas so my guess is that I rode on them for about 7,000 miles.
As to the tubes, it was the end of an era. I have been riding on a specialized tube that Karen bought for me in Kansas last year and it went flat. I changed that tube and continued on to work. The next day my back tire went flat at almost exactly the same place. I changed that so at least I know I picked up 1 skill last year. During my lunch break, I went to a bike store and had them fill the tubes with air. While I was waiting I heard a loud pop. The person working at the store blew out my tube. He tried again and blew it up a second time. I suggested a floor pump and it blew up a third time. Apparently, when he blew up the tube it blew away the wire bead from the tire. He replaced the tire with a commuter friendly (perhaps a little heavier tire), but all was good. On my bike back to the office I got 2 flats and had to walk the bike back to the office as I was out of tubes. I got a ride home and that was it for biking for the rest of the week.
As the weather has been a little better this month (still more than a normal amount of rain) and more sunlight during the day has helped me bike around 1,000 miles this month, bringing my total to a little over 2,000 miles for the year.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Climbing
I have now entered a new stage of training. Climbing up some of the hills around Malibu. In training for the cross country experience I never knew that these bike rides existed. Thanks to an organization called the LA Wheelman I can print out cue sheets and for the last 3 weekends on Saturday I have been riding these routes.
Below a description of the route.
(Main route 65 & 5900 ft, Long return 80) Round Three and things get a little harder. The distance is about the same as the first two weeks, but we crank up the climbing a little this week with two major climbs – the title climbs in fact. First up is Latigo. Not so steep but with over 8 miles of climbing, it can get to you. It’s on to the 2nd climb of the day – Stunt Road. This is 4 miles and probably the toughest climb so far in this early training season. You may recall zooming down Stunt last week. After you conquer Stunt, you are done for the day as you cruise down to the coast on Topanga and return back to the start. That is, unless you want a little more and opt for the long return. Then it’s a trip across the Valley and a final climb over Sepulveda.
The sun came out and during the climb up Stunt I was really struggling. I made it up and thought I was done, but there was a little more climbing after that and after the 4 miles up Stunt that was difficult as well.
As I live in the valley, I ended up taking the long return route. Add in the mileage to and from where I live and that adds up to 90 miles for the day. The longest ride of the year. I checked last years training and I did the same amount of miles one year ago !!! However, the next day I rode 110 miles and I do not think that I will be doing that today.
Below a description of the route.
(Main route 65 & 5900 ft, Long return 80) Round Three and things get a little harder. The distance is about the same as the first two weeks, but we crank up the climbing a little this week with two major climbs – the title climbs in fact. First up is Latigo. Not so steep but with over 8 miles of climbing, it can get to you. It’s on to the 2nd climb of the day – Stunt Road. This is 4 miles and probably the toughest climb so far in this early training season. You may recall zooming down Stunt last week. After you conquer Stunt, you are done for the day as you cruise down to the coast on Topanga and return back to the start. That is, unless you want a little more and opt for the long return. Then it’s a trip across the Valley and a final climb over Sepulveda.
The sun came out and during the climb up Stunt I was really struggling. I made it up and thought I was done, but there was a little more climbing after that and after the 4 miles up Stunt that was difficult as well.
As I live in the valley, I ended up taking the long return route. Add in the mileage to and from where I live and that adds up to 90 miles for the day. The longest ride of the year. I checked last years training and I did the same amount of miles one year ago !!! However, the next day I rode 110 miles and I do not think that I will be doing that today.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Baja Tom
Tom visited Hank down in Baja. The two of them riding a tandem..JPG)
Hard to believe it is almost a year since we all got together for our little trek across America.
The weather has been nice and with more sunlight in the day I continue to ride to work a few days a week.
Today's ride was 84 miles, with the total elevation climbed at 4,800 feet. There was 1 continuous 4 mile climb which was challenging, but it was easier than last week. Maybe it had something to do with putting air in my tires. I was riding on 60 PSI on my front tire and 30 on my back tire. It was like riding on two flats and probably not good for the wheels.
.JPG)
Hard to believe it is almost a year since we all got together for our little trek across America.
The weather has been nice and with more sunlight in the day I continue to ride to work a few days a week.
Today's ride was 84 miles, with the total elevation climbed at 4,800 feet. There was 1 continuous 4 mile climb which was challenging, but it was easier than last week. Maybe it had something to do with putting air in my tires. I was riding on 60 PSI on my front tire and 30 on my back tire. It was like riding on two flats and probably not good for the wheels.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Question & Answer
Question: Based on training I have done this year, am I am good enough shape to ride cross country ?
Answer: I do not think so based on today's ride (described below). It reminded me a little of some of our rides in Arizona, except it was cooler and the wind was against us for about 40 of the 64 miles.
Saturday, April 3 - 8:00 a.m. CANYON LAKES TRAINER (64 mi - 4800 ft.). Starting near Magic Mountain, we head up to and around Bouquet Lake, Lake Elizabeth, Lake Hughes and finally Castaic Lake. Four lakes in one day is no easy feat in Southern California. The climb up Bouquet Cyn is beautiful and not all that hard. Don’t be fooled – there’s another short hill before a break in Green Valley. It's one more short hump over the top of San Francisquito before the long downhill to the backwaters of Castaic Lake. Don’t be fooled again – there is the climb to “Calvary” before we finish with a flat run along the freeway back to the start.
Maybe not in as bad as shape as I thought. I recovered and rode 56 miles today.
Answer: I do not think so based on today's ride (described below). It reminded me a little of some of our rides in Arizona, except it was cooler and the wind was against us for about 40 of the 64 miles.
Saturday, April 3 - 8:00 a.m. CANYON LAKES TRAINER (64 mi - 4800 ft.). Starting near Magic Mountain, we head up to and around Bouquet Lake, Lake Elizabeth, Lake Hughes and finally Castaic Lake. Four lakes in one day is no easy feat in Southern California. The climb up Bouquet Cyn is beautiful and not all that hard. Don’t be fooled – there’s another short hill before a break in Green Valley. It's one more short hump over the top of San Francisquito before the long downhill to the backwaters of Castaic Lake. Don’t be fooled again – there is the climb to “Calvary” before we finish with a flat run along the freeway back to the start.
Maybe not in as bad as shape as I thought. I recovered and rode 56 miles today.
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