Well, Lake Anna didn't work out. I shredded a tire with multiple punctures about 14 miles into the ride. I managed to get it fixed, but I didn't have a bunch of confidence that it was going to hold together so I headed back. Lesson learned: don't go to the boonies on cooked tires. I pulled Jim P. out for another century (on new tires) to Tappahannock the next day. He continues to be a great training partner despite the rage he inspires in dogs.
On Monday I headed for the mountains. I spent some days with my folks, Barb and Dave, in Roanoke. I rode some great climbs on Monday and Tuesday; much steeper, much longer than we get around Richmond. I spent about 10 miles at grades over 8%; maybe 4 miles at grades over 10%. It was hard. Lesson learned: I bang it out until the grade hits 6%; then I need to start negotiating. The mountains are going to be a challenge for me. If anybody's got some advice on climbing steep grades over long distances, I'd love to hear any thoughts. I know I'm keeping my climbing ring. Indeed, I'm getting pretty much everything on my power train replaced, but I'm keeping the gearing exactly the same.
Aside from some good mountain riding in southwest Virginia, staying in Roanoke was wonderfully peaceful. My folks are gleefully retired, and their contentment kind of suffuses their home. I wrapped up the initial draft of the book during a rainout on Wednesday. It was a great environment for working and for training, and I feel an immense gratitude for the calm they helped provide me.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Some More Training Stuff
Jim P. and I executed 113 miles yesterday, based tightly on the New Kent Harvest Festival Classic with my own bad navigation thrown in. We were fast, dangerously fast, even with the rain thrown in at the end. Mothers were pulling their children off the street and giving us looks.
Today I planned a 45 mile recovery ride followed by a 28 mile group fast ride out of Hanover Courthouse. Well, for some reason that 45 mile recovery ride turned into a 45 mile time trial--I think I was just trying to stay warm in the cold and wind--and I pretty much blew myself up before the fast ride even got started. I came home for a beer and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich instead. Lesson learned. I struggle to manage my pace down under certain conditions (solo and cold), and that won't work when I'm doing 700 miles per week. I'm also ready for it not to be wet and cold. Today, I perpetrated a ten minute rant against the weather gods for messing with my training as I fought the wind down an endless stretch of Frog Level Road. They seemed unimpressed.
Tomorrow I'm planning the Lake Anna Century Classic under warm and sunny skies. Mess with me, weather gods. I dare you.
Today I planned a 45 mile recovery ride followed by a 28 mile group fast ride out of Hanover Courthouse. Well, for some reason that 45 mile recovery ride turned into a 45 mile time trial--I think I was just trying to stay warm in the cold and wind--and I pretty much blew myself up before the fast ride even got started. I came home for a beer and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich instead. Lesson learned. I struggle to manage my pace down under certain conditions (solo and cold), and that won't work when I'm doing 700 miles per week. I'm also ready for it not to be wet and cold. Today, I perpetrated a ten minute rant against the weather gods for messing with my training as I fought the wind down an endless stretch of Frog Level Road. They seemed unimpressed.
Tomorrow I'm planning the Lake Anna Century Classic under warm and sunny skies. Mess with me, weather gods. I dare you.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Kicking It Off
Well, we’re in it now, baby. I sent the sum into the touring company and booked my flight out to California. 3500 miles in 33 days. I’m hoping for a transformative experience. Lord knows I could use some transforming.
So, some details of the ride. It starts in Costa Mesa, California, on Sunday, April 19th and ends in Amesbury, Massachusetts on Thursday, May 21st. We average 115 miles per day. There are two rest days--one in Albuquerque, the other in Springfield, Illinois. The longest day is 145 miles in Missouri and Illinois. The shortest is 77 miles in Illinois and Indiana. The ride starts with seven consecutive centuries. It goes from Ohio to New York without a stop in Pennsylvania. I don’t know why that impresses me so much, but it does.
I’m looking forward to simplifying life down to its simplest, physical components for the duration. There’s not a whole lot to think about—sleep, eat, ride, repeat. This blog will likely be the extent of my intellectual activity, and I can only hope it will live up to my ambitions for it. Higher brain functions tend to phase out as the consecutive centuries add up. We may have some terse days. We may have some nonsensical days. We will, however, have photos and video courtesy of the wonderful birthday gift that the ladies Hannah and Kelly Jones gave me for the trip. It’s a waterproof video and still digital camera that mounts on the handlebars and weighs under a pound. It’s about the cleverest gadget I’ve ever seen. Very 007.
By the time I leave Richmond the first draft of the book will be in the can, and it’s best to let those things sit for a while before going back for the editing. I’ll miss it. I get now why some authors will produce these endless cascades of words. You fall in love with the characters and the story and the sound of your own voice in your head. Why shut that off? I mean think about it. A day at the office for me is sitting around and making stuff up. Not bad. It takes discipline to cut it off now while it’s still a tight and efficient story.
Preparations have begun. Sexybike will be getting some component upgrades, new tires, and such. We’re going to tart her up proper. I am now officially obsessive about my training. I tallied 415 miles last week, including two centuries. I’ve done consecutive centuries as well. I feel strong. I feel up for it. Folks around me have been hugely helpful and supportive. First, I have to thank Jim Peterson, who has joined me for three centuries so far and been an awesome training partner. Larry Skalaks has jumped in for a century and some other training miles as well. Hugh Aaron has opened his endless files of cue sheets to me to keep the training fresh and interesting. All of the folks with the Richmond Area Bicycling Association have been wonderful with their scheduled rides and encouragement. Every time somebody has told me, “yeah, that’s quite an undertaking, but you can do it,” another hill becomes a flat. At the rate those fine folks are going the road won’t turn up until the Appalachians.
Last things. Everyone should feel free to contribute to the blog. All comments are welcome, and it will be my primary mode of communication during the ride. I’ll probably do another post or two before the ride and then post daily once it starts. If anybody wants to get some miles in this early spring, let me know. I’m spending a lot of time alone with my thoughts on the bike, and anyone familiar with my thoughts will tell you how trying that can be.
So long for now.
Andy
So, some details of the ride. It starts in Costa Mesa, California, on Sunday, April 19th and ends in Amesbury, Massachusetts on Thursday, May 21st. We average 115 miles per day. There are two rest days--one in Albuquerque, the other in Springfield, Illinois. The longest day is 145 miles in Missouri and Illinois. The shortest is 77 miles in Illinois and Indiana. The ride starts with seven consecutive centuries. It goes from Ohio to New York without a stop in Pennsylvania. I don’t know why that impresses me so much, but it does.
I’m looking forward to simplifying life down to its simplest, physical components for the duration. There’s not a whole lot to think about—sleep, eat, ride, repeat. This blog will likely be the extent of my intellectual activity, and I can only hope it will live up to my ambitions for it. Higher brain functions tend to phase out as the consecutive centuries add up. We may have some terse days. We may have some nonsensical days. We will, however, have photos and video courtesy of the wonderful birthday gift that the ladies Hannah and Kelly Jones gave me for the trip. It’s a waterproof video and still digital camera that mounts on the handlebars and weighs under a pound. It’s about the cleverest gadget I’ve ever seen. Very 007.
By the time I leave Richmond the first draft of the book will be in the can, and it’s best to let those things sit for a while before going back for the editing. I’ll miss it. I get now why some authors will produce these endless cascades of words. You fall in love with the characters and the story and the sound of your own voice in your head. Why shut that off? I mean think about it. A day at the office for me is sitting around and making stuff up. Not bad. It takes discipline to cut it off now while it’s still a tight and efficient story.
Preparations have begun. Sexybike will be getting some component upgrades, new tires, and such. We’re going to tart her up proper. I am now officially obsessive about my training. I tallied 415 miles last week, including two centuries. I’ve done consecutive centuries as well. I feel strong. I feel up for it. Folks around me have been hugely helpful and supportive. First, I have to thank Jim Peterson, who has joined me for three centuries so far and been an awesome training partner. Larry Skalaks has jumped in for a century and some other training miles as well. Hugh Aaron has opened his endless files of cue sheets to me to keep the training fresh and interesting. All of the folks with the Richmond Area Bicycling Association have been wonderful with their scheduled rides and encouragement. Every time somebody has told me, “yeah, that’s quite an undertaking, but you can do it,” another hill becomes a flat. At the rate those fine folks are going the road won’t turn up until the Appalachians.
Last things. Everyone should feel free to contribute to the blog. All comments are welcome, and it will be my primary mode of communication during the ride. I’ll probably do another post or two before the ride and then post daily once it starts. If anybody wants to get some miles in this early spring, let me know. I’m spending a lot of time alone with my thoughts on the bike, and anyone familiar with my thoughts will tell you how trying that can be.
So long for now.
Andy
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