...to Ironman Couer d'Alene ID. I always pretend to keep my cool when Katie reminds me how few day remain and woefully unprepared we are. While it is true that there are not many days until the race, we are not unprepared. I calmly remind her that we will not come in on race day with our usual depth of fitness, but with just enough, which is is all we need. I suppose that is my way of saying "We Are Forked" or something to that effect.
This weekend looks like it might be the first this year without either howling winds or temps in the low 40s. We have our first 100 miler brewing this Saturday sandwiched between 2 one hour runs on Friday and Sunday. Brew and sandwich....mmmmmmm we are always hungry. Yes, mates, triathletes are not only poor bike handlers, but boring too. Don't we all just love it when one of my brethren or sisteren show up in a skin suit for a group ride, commencing to get onto their aerobars in the middle of the pace line. A pox upon your house, numb nuts. For the record, no aerobars on my road bike, lil' scraps, and I never ever get into aero when in a group, primarily because I ride with fellow triathletes and don't trust them. You don't get to be a 55 year old cyclist without being ornery, mistrusting and very aware.
May 13, 2010
May 11, 2010
F...U....N
Tonight was the 8th Pacific Raceways Tuesday night race of 2010, but only my 3rd. The first 2 had not gone so well, and my 3 sanctioned roadraces of the year also had not gone too great. My lack of training was clearly evident.
Tonight we raced the flat course, approximately a flat 2 mile course for 50 minutes. The weather was very nice-partly cloudy and cool. There was a good wind, meaning a head wind on the home stretch and a tail wind on the back stretch. We had about 55 riders in the 4/5s and my legs felt so fresh. The first time this year. I just had a fun time and wished the race went much longer. The harder we rode the better I felt. I attacked three different laps, every time at the same place, on the home stretch into the wind at the start/finish. I ended up finishing about 25th out of the 55 or so. I was so strong tonight and just giggled thru the whole thing.
Finally!!!!!!
Ty (aka Saddledancer)
Tonight we raced the flat course, approximately a flat 2 mile course for 50 minutes. The weather was very nice-partly cloudy and cool. There was a good wind, meaning a head wind on the home stretch and a tail wind on the back stretch. We had about 55 riders in the 4/5s and my legs felt so fresh. The first time this year. I just had a fun time and wished the race went much longer. The harder we rode the better I felt. I attacked three different laps, every time at the same place, on the home stretch into the wind at the start/finish. I ended up finishing about 25th out of the 55 or so. I was so strong tonight and just giggled thru the whole thing.
Finally!!!!!!
Ty (aka Saddledancer)
May 8, 2010
Half N Half
I didn't know how to title this post. Several names came to mind during the Masters 35+ 4/5 race this morning in Ravensdale, WA-"The yo-yo string finally broke; Dangling; See How the Other Half Rides," but I opted for Half N Half.
My race was in the early grouping (Womens Pro 1/2/3, Men's 5, us, then Women's 4). The scheduling was reversed from last year and we raced one less lap. A bit disappointing but in the end I was quite happy to just do 4 laps. The course started relatively flat, then had a good short hill, more rolling that followed a clockwise loop and was about 9 miles. It had 2 good right hand turns.
We started at around 8:40 in gorgeous conditions-clear, calm, and a bit chilly. May started with a wet and windy and cold start for Washington, including some snow. Yesterday was a change for the better, and it is Bike Month here so I rode home from work on my single speed. I threw in a partial leg around Mercer Island to scope out a TT course that will be raced in June as part of the Masters Games. I plan on riding the single speed in that race which is very rolling and curvy. No real flat sections with one good climb.
Anyway, maybe that hurt my legs some but I knew the race today would be tough as I didn't feel like I had race legs. Not really flat, just "not there." We also had a large field. The max was 75 but it turns out we had 83 entrants. I was at the back of the group trying to find my legs when a crash occurred in front of me around the 3rd mile. I did not go down but got caught behind it and had to work like a dog by myself to get back on. I never recovered. I did hang on for the first 2 laps, even battling the follow race vehicle a couple of times when I fell off. Every time the car passed me I found another gear and fought tooth and nail to the back of the peloton. After 3 or 4 of these episodes, just into the 3rd lap, I gave up the ghost, dropped back and waived the follow car by. I had a quick laugh with the official about my efforts. I resigned myself to 2 solo and lonely and tired laps when what did I see ahead? A large group of riders riding very slow. There were lots of recreational riders out and they were way to the right so I thought this was a large group of them. But as I approached through following traffic I saw another race vehicle. I flew by it and saw they were women. Turns out they were the Pro 1/2/3s who started about 6 mins ahead of us. Due to the Center Line Rule and my legs I opted to ride with them. Quite nice as they were not so erratic with pace as us. I lost contact before the only hill (rather short) before the start/finish so resigned myself to one lap solo. I was dangling just behind the women and could not bridge, but did not lose much. But then they suddenly slowed in the same place I got them a lap before so I was able to get back on. I rode the last lap with them, once again dropping off on the hill and finishing by myself.
I was 68th out of 69. We had 13 DNFs.
We had the largest field by far. Since they separate 4 and 5s into separate races I wish they would do that with the Masters. The Masters 1/2/3 have their own race and usually only field about 20 max (today like 13 riders). Does not make sense.
But I did the race.
I even got out for a quick easy ride tonight on my single speed.
Side Note-I am reading the new book by Joe Parkin, called "Come & Gone,: the sequel to "A Dog In a Hat." It is very good.
All the best to my teammates,
Ty (aka Saddledancer)
My race was in the early grouping (Womens Pro 1/2/3, Men's 5, us, then Women's 4). The scheduling was reversed from last year and we raced one less lap. A bit disappointing but in the end I was quite happy to just do 4 laps. The course started relatively flat, then had a good short hill, more rolling that followed a clockwise loop and was about 9 miles. It had 2 good right hand turns.
We started at around 8:40 in gorgeous conditions-clear, calm, and a bit chilly. May started with a wet and windy and cold start for Washington, including some snow. Yesterday was a change for the better, and it is Bike Month here so I rode home from work on my single speed. I threw in a partial leg around Mercer Island to scope out a TT course that will be raced in June as part of the Masters Games. I plan on riding the single speed in that race which is very rolling and curvy. No real flat sections with one good climb.
Anyway, maybe that hurt my legs some but I knew the race today would be tough as I didn't feel like I had race legs. Not really flat, just "not there." We also had a large field. The max was 75 but it turns out we had 83 entrants. I was at the back of the group trying to find my legs when a crash occurred in front of me around the 3rd mile. I did not go down but got caught behind it and had to work like a dog by myself to get back on. I never recovered. I did hang on for the first 2 laps, even battling the follow race vehicle a couple of times when I fell off. Every time the car passed me I found another gear and fought tooth and nail to the back of the peloton. After 3 or 4 of these episodes, just into the 3rd lap, I gave up the ghost, dropped back and waived the follow car by. I had a quick laugh with the official about my efforts. I resigned myself to 2 solo and lonely and tired laps when what did I see ahead? A large group of riders riding very slow. There were lots of recreational riders out and they were way to the right so I thought this was a large group of them. But as I approached through following traffic I saw another race vehicle. I flew by it and saw they were women. Turns out they were the Pro 1/2/3s who started about 6 mins ahead of us. Due to the Center Line Rule and my legs I opted to ride with them. Quite nice as they were not so erratic with pace as us. I lost contact before the only hill (rather short) before the start/finish so resigned myself to one lap solo. I was dangling just behind the women and could not bridge, but did not lose much. But then they suddenly slowed in the same place I got them a lap before so I was able to get back on. I rode the last lap with them, once again dropping off on the hill and finishing by myself.
I was 68th out of 69. We had 13 DNFs.
We had the largest field by far. Since they separate 4 and 5s into separate races I wish they would do that with the Masters. The Masters 1/2/3 have their own race and usually only field about 20 max (today like 13 riders). Does not make sense.
But I did the race.
I even got out for a quick easy ride tonight on my single speed.
Side Note-I am reading the new book by Joe Parkin, called "Come & Gone,: the sequel to "A Dog In a Hat." It is very good.
All the best to my teammates,
Ty (aka Saddledancer)
April 25, 2010
Going Below the Bottom of the Barrel
So there I was, in the middle of the 3rd of 4 laps of the Vance Creek Road Race in Elma, Wa today, riding way off the back of the Masters 30+ 4/5s all by my lonesome, battling a massive headwind on a narrow twisty road in what on any other day would be gorgeous scenery, thinking it was time for me to call it a day. I planned on finishing the lap and pulling off. I was not the only rider on the 13.25 mile course as there were actually 5 races in progess-Pro 1/2, then Men 3s, then Masters 50+, then us, and finally the women's Pro 1/2s. I was definitely not ready for this race, and did it because I had never done it as I had always been in Maupin, OR for the DRTT. The course was something as it started and finished and went by every lap a defunct nuclear power plant (with 2 BEHEMOTH cooling towers). It started with a long down hill on a rather rough road, then spent several miles on relatively flat narrow winding roads in open farmland (reminded me of a Classics race somewhat), and then finished with a 3 mile climb on an awesomely smooth road with a kicker at 200 to go. I road the first lap with the group, almost dropping off the back on the descent when a guy in front of me had a severe high speed wobble. There was another close call on the climb when a guy in front of me slipped his chain but I avoided him. I did not have enough to stay with the group on the descent of the 2nd lap, and ended up riding with 4 others in a good group. We separated on the climb but 4 of us temporarily regrouped. I lost them though on the decsent, leaving me alone.
So back to the beginning of my blog. I was scraping the bottom of the barrel. I could hear the whisperings of a pending bonk, and my quads had started to cramp some. I have had to go deep in marathons before, but never like this in a bike race.
I started thinking a lot of why I race. I race not to win but to ride with style and courage.
I learned yesterday that a friend's 4 month old daughter suddenly died a week ago. Fiona came to mind as well as what her parents were going through. My current discomfort was nothing. Marring a crash or mechanical or some debilitating medical condition, tight quads and bending bonk and a headwind were no excuse to quit and drop out. So I continued. I did get passed by breaks in the Womens, Mens 3 and Pro 1/2s but I finished. Feeling a bit raw and empty right now.
But I finished. And that is all that matters to me.
I have gone to the bottom of the barrel and beyond, and let me tell you, it's worth the trip.
Ty (aka Saddledancer)
So back to the beginning of my blog. I was scraping the bottom of the barrel. I could hear the whisperings of a pending bonk, and my quads had started to cramp some. I have had to go deep in marathons before, but never like this in a bike race.
I started thinking a lot of why I race. I race not to win but to ride with style and courage.
I learned yesterday that a friend's 4 month old daughter suddenly died a week ago. Fiona came to mind as well as what her parents were going through. My current discomfort was nothing. Marring a crash or mechanical or some debilitating medical condition, tight quads and bending bonk and a headwind were no excuse to quit and drop out. So I continued. I did get passed by breaks in the Womens, Mens 3 and Pro 1/2s but I finished. Feeling a bit raw and empty right now.
But I finished. And that is all that matters to me.
I have gone to the bottom of the barrel and beyond, and let me tell you, it's worth the trip.
Ty (aka Saddledancer)
April 19, 2010
A Double Dose
My season to date has not gone as originally lanned, and I am not getting to do a TT festival in Oregon next week as I had anticipated, and I had a bad back fr two weeks almost elminating all riding for a bit, BUT
this last weekend was a double dose of positivity (is that a word?)
I enjoy solo rides as well as rides with my small group of friends. Saturday saw me on a 2 hr ride with a good friend. Gorgeous weather, the opportunity to ride an old steel Gazelle (built for an amateur Danish squad), and evenly matched pulls with a mix of chat thrown in made for a ride I so needed (both spiritually and physically as my scheduled races are really coming now). Todd and I just pulled and pulled and felt so strong. Thanks Todd!
Yesterday saw me on my single speed Specialized cross bike. I was only going to do an hour ride, but the weather was almost perfect (reminded me of growing up in Southern California), and my gf was asleep (not feeling well), and my legs felt good, and I had always wanted to do the 40 mile Mercer Island loop on the bike, so I did!
I knew the ride out and around the island would be doable on the single, but the ride home included a very long steady uphill, and I was a bit concerned over my gearing. However, after a very strong ride out and around the island, I attacked the climb and did it. I was out of the saddle for its entirety but I did it. I am so happy knowing I can ride this bike on this route in the future as I most definitely will ride it more.
Just say this weekend was just what I needed-a double dose!!!!!!!
Ty (aka Saddledancer)
this last weekend was a double dose of positivity (is that a word?)
I enjoy solo rides as well as rides with my small group of friends. Saturday saw me on a 2 hr ride with a good friend. Gorgeous weather, the opportunity to ride an old steel Gazelle (built for an amateur Danish squad), and evenly matched pulls with a mix of chat thrown in made for a ride I so needed (both spiritually and physically as my scheduled races are really coming now). Todd and I just pulled and pulled and felt so strong. Thanks Todd!
Yesterday saw me on my single speed Specialized cross bike. I was only going to do an hour ride, but the weather was almost perfect (reminded me of growing up in Southern California), and my gf was asleep (not feeling well), and my legs felt good, and I had always wanted to do the 40 mile Mercer Island loop on the bike, so I did!
I knew the ride out and around the island would be doable on the single, but the ride home included a very long steady uphill, and I was a bit concerned over my gearing. However, after a very strong ride out and around the island, I attacked the climb and did it. I was out of the saddle for its entirety but I did it. I am so happy knowing I can ride this bike on this route in the future as I most definitely will ride it more.
Just say this weekend was just what I needed-a double dose!!!!!!!
Ty (aka Saddledancer)
April 13, 2010
Relieved
Tonight was the 4th Pacific Raceways Tuesday night race of 2010. I had only done one so far (the first one on the flat course 3 weeks ago). My training since then had gone down the tubes, due to weather and a nagging lower back issue. The back was so bad that I decided not to go to Maupin, OR next week for what would have been my 5th straight Deschutes River TT Festival. I also purchased a new Lynskey titanium cross frame and some titanium cross forks with my trip money, but that is another issue. Suffice it to say that I have not put in the rides I needed to this year.
The weather cooperated today and was very pleasant for the Pacific NW=Partly cloudy, wind and cool. My back was feeling a tad better so I opted to go race. The course was "Down the Escape Route" (a 300 meter or so long straight descent on very rough surface). It was my 2nd least favorite course out there and I usually "yo yo" off the back but finish with the pack. O dod crash on te course hard in 2006 so have some residual issues with the course.
Anyway, a nice intimate field showed for the 4/5s and I hung with the group for the 40 minute (8 lap race). No crashes and nice weather meant a good race. I did get dropped on the 3rd lap ("prime"), but reintegrated when I stayed on the back of a small chasing group. I did let the main group go at the end of the small climb at the end of the last lap, quite content with my performance given the last few weeks.
All in all quite relieved to have stayed upright and to have stayed with the pack. I am saddened that I am not going to Maupin in a week, but can't wait to ride my new Titanium cross w/Campy Record 10.
All the best to my teammates.
Ty (aka Saddledancer)
The weather cooperated today and was very pleasant for the Pacific NW=Partly cloudy, wind and cool. My back was feeling a tad better so I opted to go race. The course was "Down the Escape Route" (a 300 meter or so long straight descent on very rough surface). It was my 2nd least favorite course out there and I usually "yo yo" off the back but finish with the pack. O dod crash on te course hard in 2006 so have some residual issues with the course.
Anyway, a nice intimate field showed for the 4/5s and I hung with the group for the 40 minute (8 lap race). No crashes and nice weather meant a good race. I did get dropped on the 3rd lap ("prime"), but reintegrated when I stayed on the back of a small chasing group. I did let the main group go at the end of the small climb at the end of the last lap, quite content with my performance given the last few weeks.
All in all quite relieved to have stayed upright and to have stayed with the pack. I am saddened that I am not going to Maupin in a week, but can't wait to ride my new Titanium cross w/Campy Record 10.
All the best to my teammates.
Ty (aka Saddledancer)
April 2, 2010
Spring peepers
I love the sound of frogs in the early spring, Spring Peepers. This is what Katie calls them. As natural as the lengthening days, the wind blows. I keep telling myself that these rides directly into the strongest gusts will make me stronger. I suppose for those of us who live in flatter areas, this is the closest we get to long sustained climbs – minus the ability to stand, doing so turns your entire body into a sail. Today was my first day in shorts since early November as I was proud to be sporting the 53x11 kit. As I spent a lot of time this winter in the basement on the soul drainer, I was glad to be on the roads although once again it appears that they were carpet bombed while I was inside. Sitting on a static bike with uniform resistance is no substitute for the real thing but it allowed me to hang strong against a tough spring companion.
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