Bueller....Bueller....Bueller.....

No takers for the 508? Anyone...a type of economics....Voo Doo Economics.

I'll take the hint - solo it is!

Pain Train

The pain train pulled out of the station this morning at 6:30 AM without any passengers. The normal passengers were not on board. One passenger, the C, was out doing the Hood-to-Coast run with over 33,000 of her closest friends. Check out www.hoodtocoast.com for more information. I am so impressed with her and her desire to conduct her own "pain train." I know I cannot run but appreciate those that do and the unique set of challenges that the activity has. I did not get a large download last night because of the amount of sleep Christine got during the trek. This morning I had the opportunity to hear all about the fun. In fact, it was very motivating for me. October 2008, Furnace Creek 508!! Who's with me? 508 miles with 35K worth of climbing over 25 to 28 hours. Step up or step off? C, where are you at? If we start training now, we will be ready for it - where's everyone going? C'mon, we can do it. Who's with me?

I cannot help but think about missing the triple H this year - 12K worth of riders, riding along at >20 MPH, and the small towns who think it is the tour. Gotta love it! They rode it this last weekend and the temperatures were in the mid 90's this year. We'd been all over it and easily cruised to a less than 5 hour century. Last year would have been the year but the heat zapped all energy. We have to get something on the calendar, put a stake in the ground, and move towards that end.

Another week of fun is ahead with a century planned for Labor Day along with some family from out of town. Come on down!

Don't believe the hype

Century #6 - The Vine Ride - started under cool conditions and cloudy skies, much like last week at the Tour de Stake. The difference for me was the approach to the ride. Last week was all about pain; this week was about the journey.

OB12OLD, the C and I started together with little fanfare at a little after 7 AM, riding on many roads that we'd been on before, either on a Saturday ride, an organized event, or driving. The biggest question about the ride was the 30 miles between mile 30 and mile 60. The website described these miles as the most challenging with an 800 foot climb over a couple miles. Coral Creek is 600+ feet at 1.75 miles so I figured it could not be tremendously challenging. At the 46 mile rest stop, one of the volunteers talked about this hill starting at 13% and getting worse from there. Now I am confused, what is this hill like? What is up with all of this hype? Not too worry, only a few miles more and I'd be on the climb and all questions would be answered. 2OLD and the C left a bit early from the rest stop while I waited for my mom to stop by with some food and Gatorade. After refueling, refilling, and talking a bit with Cassie and my mom, I got on my bike, motivated to catch up with my two riding companions. The next 8 miles I averaged over 23 MPH on flat roads, pushing myself. The catch was made at the bottom of the climb. This was no 13%; it was 8% for the first 1/2 mile and then it leveled off to 4% to 6% for the balance of the climb with a flat spot between the lower and upper sections. The final 40 miles was over familiar rolling hills. We talked and goofed off while counting down the miles. We finished a bit faster than the second century of the STP but definitely a bit more challenging. Century #6 in the books. Thanks to 2OLD and the C for the good times on the bike. For #7, I think we will be riding a portion of the same route but taking out all of the climbing and sticking near the river to keep it flat. Labor Day weekend if the target weekend to get it done.

On another note, our thoughts and prayers go out to our friends in San Antonio. Although Yoda doesn't post much these days let alone get on the bike, I hope that his family along with his mullet trimmed hair are doing well.

Up the creek

Last night was a short ride of about 12 miles, around Wilsonville Road and up the Coral Creek hill. I wanted to go short but intense. So after warming up, we hit the hill. Both the C and I pushed hard and set personal bests up to the top of the 1.75 mile hill. I did it in 9:04 and C in 10:14. Yes!! A few times I felt like my legs would go on strike and begin to picket me because of the pain. It felt good to be on the pain train. We rolled down the hill and pushed the pace hard the remaining five miles to the house. All told, 47 minutes with 32 of it pushing the threshold.

Only a few days left till century #6.

Tour de Stake

For the last six or seven years, a few members of our Stake have been putting on a "Tour de Stake." In this event, the group rides to all the buildings in the Stake - a total of five buildings over 65 miles. If you read "Tour de Stake" between the lines it reads, "A reason for a group of cycling obsessed men to get together and show who has the highest propensity to inflict pain on the rest of the group."

For a few weeks up to the event, all I heard about was beating Doug - a guy on a tricycle. I had not met Doug or seen his mode of transportation until Saturday morning. He rides a modified recumbant that sits extremely low to the ground and that he can ride extremely fast on the flats. Since I was scheduled to be at a canoe trip, I had not planned on being at that pain fest. When the chaperones fell through and we could not find replacements, I decided to just relax and ride. We got to the McMinville (Mac) chapel at 7:30 AM and Doug was already there, riding circles in the parking lot, warming up. At a little after 8 AM, we said a prayer and the parking lot emptied quickly with Doug leaving first. I came to find out that Doug does not like to lose and lets all know how well he does, especially when he wins. To borrow a phrase from JD, "it was on, like donkey kong."

The C and I were slow out of the parking lot, leaving almost last out of the 50+ riders. We had been riding quite a bit of miles the last few weeks, averaging almost 130 miles a week with a good share of riding in the hills, building leg strength. I felt good Saturday. I knew the route, the hills, and most of the riders. It was 8 miles before I saw the lead group. When I saw them, they waved to me to come along. I crossed the freeway and tried to catch up. Mistake #1, don't tell your partner the plan or discuss the route. Before I knew it, C was dropped and I was in no man's land between help. I put my head down, put it in a big gear and tried to catch up. It was in vain as the time gap continued to grow. Mistake #2, don't wait for your partner who could help out. After a few miles of losing ground, I backed off the pace and decided to make it through the flats and get to the rollers to make up time. I started to pick off riders at about mile 25. One by one they came back to me. On the last climb into Newberg, I caught the leading two, Doug and Ben. I rode into the parking lot at the Newberg chapel first - a little psychological game. I stopped, used the facilities, filled my water bottles, and took a short rest. Mistake #3, see number 2. When Doug, Mark, and Ben got on the bikes and headed out, I followed suit. The rest of the ride was much like the previous weeks ride. Before I knew it, it was just me. This time I slowed slightly and decided to ride into Mac with Ben. We talked and discussed cycling. We finished the slightly shortened course, 62 miles in a little over 3 hours 17 minutes, averaging about 19 MPH. Ben and I waited for a little over five minutes for the next rider to come in, it was Doug and he was obviously annoyed with his third place finish. Mark, was the next one in.

At this time, I realized I had better get on the bike and head out to find C. I pulled out the phone and called her. After letting me know how unhappy she was with my decisions, I told her I would meet her in Carlton, about 8 miles from Mac. After we hooked up, we rode in together and still finished faster than most of the riders. C had done extremely better than I had anticipated. We are ready for the Vine Ride, our next century.

The last few days have been great. It is going to be hard to go back to work tomorrow. I have enjoyed just being at home with the family doing all sorts of things: riding, working on the yard, finding a park route to take the kids on a ride, seeing Christine prepare for the Hood to Coast run, and seeing a few movies (Bourne was awesome).

Final Notes: Don't ever leave your wingman and it is good to be King!

Don't give me that look

I got a call last night at 9:30 PM from Mark - Mr. "It's time to bleed" - asking me to take a ride with him and a few guys. Riding with a group is always better than riding without one, especially when the SAG wagon is out of town. We hooked up at 6:30 AM and headed out. I am not a large guy but bigger than the normal cyclist (208 lbs). It is all the weight training I did for football and while bored in the Army during deployments and field problems. I have not been able to lose some of my bulk. I get this look every once in a while from people who have not ridden with me. You know the look - it is the one like "you, on a bike, yeah right." I got it today. All I can say is the pain train left the station with a purpose today. The purpose - rip their legs off. Phase one happened early in the ride on the first climb, a short one mile 5% hill. Mark goes and I stay on his wheel. After the first quarter mile, it is just us two. Mark is a triathlete and I had not ridden the hill before and could not see the top so I stayed on his wheel. At the top, no one in sight so we ripped down the back side. We put up a high pace and stopped a few miles up the road to wait for the others. A few minutes later they come around the corner and we chat a bit. I got on the front and set a blistering pace. Mark came to the front and held the pace. All held on put were in pain. The next 40 miles were uneventful. Phase 2: With about 5 miles left we hit some rollers and before I knew it, I was all alone. Just me and the trees, grasses, and asphalt. Mission accomplished.

After the ride, Mark and I went by his practice and I got the tour - a different type of pain goes on in that dental office.

Last Saturday something similar happened to Christine and I while riding. We were finishing up, about to come across the bridge over the Willamette and two cyclists came up and sat on my wheel. Christine is pulling and I following. They don't say anything and don't come around us. On the hill on the other side, they decide that they don't want to stay behind us any longer and come around. No "thank you", no "nice pull" or even a "thanks for the lift." After they get up the hill a little way, I stand up and track them down, passing one, and getting to the wheel of the other. I then sit on his wheel all the way up the hill. At the top, he looks back and sees me and not his buddy. "Hello!" I then sit up and wait for Christine. I need to teach bicycle etiquette but at the same time, it is nice to do what others don't think you can do.

What does all this teach me? Don't stereotype people due to looks. I get it and I know how I feel. I need to be better and be sure to not do that to others. I'll put it on my 2008 New Year's Resolution list.

All told, today's ride was 64 miles for a total of 132 miles for the week. A good week of hills and prep for the next century in two weeks.

On the 5

I have driven the I-5 from San Diego to Seattle but I had not ridden on it till today. Here I am sitting on a freeway that I have spent a lot of time on in a car. It was almost surreal. My mind floated memories in and out. Driving to work in Tacoma, heading to a Mariners game in Seattle, going to pick up Christine from work at Southcenter Mall, on vacation from _______ (name a town we've lived in), rolling to the Dunfords in Cali, heading home from Burbank, and then a semi buzzed me. I had to get back in the game. In fact, I believed for a long time that it was illegal to ride a bike on the interstate. When JD and I were driving back from HHH last August, I remember seeing several guys riding on the I-40 and thinking that they were crazy for riding on the interstate, especially in the middle of no where. So today, when Rick asked me to ride home with him he mentioned having to ride on the I-5.

"Isn't that illegal?"

"Nope, only in town."

He was right. There was no sign when getting on the interstate that said no bicycles or other unmotorized vehicles. There was a lot of traffic traveling fast. Lucky for us we were only on the interstate for about a mile. We had to get on the interstate to cross the Willamette rather than take a few mile detour.

I have been riding my bike to work the last few days. It has been nice getting up early and riding in. I challenged myself yesterday and rode up a two mile hill averaging over 8%. Nothing like getting up and taking a little climb. I am sitting on the bike, looking down at 14% thinking to myself, JD would like this pain while memories of the Col de Hamilton floated threw my mind. The intensity was the same just not as long. The next century is in two weeks and I will be ready. The riding so far this week has been right on point. I am aiming for over 120 this week. We'll see how the ride goes on Saturday.

(Christine is at Girls Camp all week - this is why the post - I've gotten tired of beating Craig at Madden)