Weiser (Wei·ser) and back again

This ended up being an awesome few days. I have already wrote about the fun I had on Saturday. Sunday morning dawned early for us as the C and I decided to head East to Weiser (pronunciation provided), ID to see our neice graduate from high school. It was also nice to get away. We had originally planned to take the kids but my parents very graciously volunteered to stay an extra day and hang out with them.

I just wanted to say thanks to my mom and dad for taking the time and staying. It means a lot to me that they did this. Thanks.

The C and I talked and talked on the 6 hour drive, surprised the Weiser family members, enjoyed a nice graduation, ate too much food, and enjoyed the company of family. Thanks to Cheri and John for their hospitality, Bob, Mark, Caran, et al for the relaxing and engaging conversation. It was also nice to have a night away from the kids.

We got up this morning and drove in to Newberg - from the sun to the grey. Shortly after getting home, I took Cassie and Craig to Ironman. Good show - very entertaining! I'd see the sequel. After the movie, it had dried up enough to ride. My legs have been sore from the short run on Saturday and I needed to work out the soreness. A short 20 mile ride to help work it out was nice also.

All in all, a very busy weekend but so many great memories! Thanks to all involved. These are the times that I cherish.

Almost century

I got back on the wagon this week, logging over 130 miles over three days. Monday and Wednesday were hard climbing days, getting in over 2K of elevation gain in 20 miles of riding each day. My approach is to get the climbing in extended periods with some flat at the end to push for speed in. By doing this, I tie in the strength gained on the climbing with speed work with the hope of increasing my base speed. So far so good as my normal "cruising" speed is rising month over month. The way I tell this is happening is riding over the same roads, watching my speed. Not a real scientific approach but it at least makes me feel better about what I am doing. On Monday, I started with some real tight legs from Saturday's extended ride. After the first part of climbing, the loosened up a bit and I climbed with ease. Wednesday's climbing was smooth and fun. Nothing like bombing down Chehalem Road at 45+.

Saturday was nothing but fun - triple triple dime. We started early at the Dentists office. There is a theme here. Dentist - Pain - Pain Train. The pain train left about 6:30 AM with only one scheduled stop, Clubber Lang Blvd. We rolled out and around Haag Lake for the first 30, over to Yamhill, Carlton, Lafayette, and Hopewell for the second 30, Wheatland Ferry, St. Paul and back to Newberg for the last 30. There was no rain and a little sun. It was a good day on the bike. I started to feel the ride about mile 57. You know the feeling. It feels like your legs are hollow and the only way to make it stop for me is either to push harder or to stop. Stopping wasn't an option so I pushed harder and suffered a bit more. Thanks to Mark and Ben for the fun on the bike. It is always easier to suffer when you are riding with someone else. Share the burden!

Mark and Ben are a couple of triathletes and during the ride, one of them leans over and says that I should try running after a ride. I kindly thank him for his offer and politely decline. I have tried to run over the last few months to no avail. As I am riding up the house, the family is getting the rackets out to go over to the high school to play tennis. I want to play so I change and we go over. I find out that the gals are going to run. Craig challenges me to a 100m dash. I gladly accept and barely beat him. He's 11; I'm 38. Barely winning was never in the cards. Soon enough, I will be the second quickest in the family. I decided to see if I could run a mile. 1 lap, 2 laps, a little pain and discomfort, the quads are burning, lap 3, I'm going to do this, lap 4 with a kick at the end. I probably could have ran a few more laps but this might be the start of a little bit of running for me. Who knows? If it helps me lose weight, let's go. Next we hit the tennis courts and play for an hour. Yes, my legs are sore today but nothing that a few hours on the bike won't solve.

Now that the fun was over, time to do the chores: clean the garage, finished staining the deck, and hang with my parents. OB12OLD rode in from Sheridan. It was a good day for a ride. An even better one to hang with family. Thanks to my parents for stopping in and cooking some great salmon and potatoes and being great company. It is so nice to just "hang."

Stay riding. Only eight weeks to the STP. I am excited for this one.

Only 190 miles this week on the suggested mileage.

Celebrate good times

To kick it off - Congrats to JD and Special K for freeing Willie! Way to go team. The C had a terrible time waiting for the news. She kept me working until the call/text came.

The 100 mile a week streak ended this week. Primarily due to me laziness and Outdoor School. I only rode on Wednesday and Saturday for a total of 87 miles. I did get in plenty of walking and hiking at Outdoor School. Up and down several hills, playing some basketball, walking on the beach, and chasing 5th graders all over the camp. I really enjoyed the time hangin with LBD. He played some mean basketball, hitting a few threes to pull the game out for our team as well as doing some school work. The Outdoor School was on the coast at a place called Twin Rocks. We had atypical Oregon weather - sunshine and clear skies. It was incredible. The weather continued to Saturday where I got in 75 miles, the first 45 with OB12OLD. I had planned on going farther but the heat got to me. I don't envy JD and the desert heat being too oppresive. It's tough to ride in out there like that. My arms got fried after not seeing sun for the last few months. The plan this week is to ride more and increase my Saturday ride load.

On another note, my weight continues to drop as I exercise more and eat appropriately. I have only another 12 pounds to go to get the goal. Maybe by the STP time I will be there.

Remember, get out there and ride. It's about time on the bike.

Mother, I love you so

Happy Mother's Day to all present, past, and future Mothers.

I'd like to take a break from cycling today and thank my mom for what she has done with me over the course of my short life.

A few of the items I have learned from her over the years:

• Persistance - keep your eye on the prize and work with all your might till you get there. I think this is a Permann trait but my mom helped to instill in me the right prize.


• Faithfulness - years of service do not give a right to a spiritual vacation. She showed me that you accept, be, and act according to your beliefs and values. Let those shape who you are always.


• Order - be neat in all you do. My mom showed me how to organized. She didn't give me a Franklin or talk to me about task management. She just showed me by her example in the home its importance.


• Beauty - my mom loves flowers and butterflies. She helped me to have a feeling side - not just all chest pounding, weight lifting, and football.


• Love - unconditional and always regardless of where, how, or who I have been, she has shown me a love only a mom can offer.

Thanks Mom for all you have done and currently do. I love you!

I got a Wheatland haircut on my mind

I needed a 50 spot to make my 100 for the week so I decided to head to the Wheatland Ferry but with a twist. I rode the west side of the river and rode the ferry across and back up the east side. The west side is full of rollers the first 15 then it flattens out. I was a bit longer to the ferry than I remembered, about 30 miles. My legs felt good, especially after all of the climbing I did this week. Between miles 40 and 50, I averaged over 21 MPH. It was flat and no wind and I let it go. I finished with over 60 miles for the day and 110 for the week.

In speaking with the C, she mentioned that I am the only one that gets my blog titles. I thought I might shed some light on the matter. Some titles refer to the activity, some are random lines I caught from the TV while I was blogging, and the most recent, the songs I listened to while I was riding and made it pertain to the activity. Feel free to guess the song.

Not much else happened this week. Work, mutual, hang'in with the C on the river in downtown Portland, and a bit of riding, some with the kids. Next week will be a bit challenging to get the 100 as I will be at Outdoor School with Craig from Wednesday to Friday. I am excited to hang with him for a few days.

Next week suggested mileage for one day riders: 170.

Astana's in at the Giro!

No, it is not a song title but Astana with Contador, Levi, and Kloden are in to battle for the Maglia Rosa! What next - the Tour de France!

Monday Baldie Monday

This last week was so hectic - I took a nap yesterday just to slow it all down and catch up.

Even with the craziness of getting ready for the Youth Fundraiser, I still managed to get my miles in for the week - roughly 110. That makes 12 weeks in a row with over 100 miles on the bike. This definitely is more than last year at this time. I am about 8 pounds lighter than when I started as well. I rode the hills on Monday and Wednesday and the flats on Friday and Saturday. On Saturday, I hooked up with the tri-athletes and we rode 33 together and I tacked on 12 more of climbing at the end. The legs felt good and I felt fast. I have gotten used to riding in the drops. This is probably because my belly has shrunk far enough that I can do it without any pain. I still have some work to do but I am getting lighter. I can notice this when I am riding up hill or into the wind. I feel stronger and my speed is higher. There is a little over 2 months till the STP and if I could shake another 5 to 10 pounds, the ride will be only that much easier. I am pumped for the STP. Since I decided to only do 3 organized rides this year, it is the next big one and I hope to better my time from last year.

Today was a Bald Peak run. I got up it about a minute faster than I did three weeks ago and I didn't feel as good either. I fought that puking feeling all the way to the top. I don't know what it was but I was scared to drink a lot in fear that I'd hurl. I bombed down Bald Peak Road and the 217 - nothing like flying at 35+ down these winding roads.

STP suggested mileage for a one day rider for week of May 5th: 160. YTD total suggested (started week of Feb. 19): 1,173. Total I have ridden in suggested time period: 1,265. YTD: 1,657.

A note about this last Saturday. The C was awesome. She got me up and out early in the morning to help set up for the Rummage Sale. We got to the church at 6:30 AM and started putting stuff out. I left at 9 to go riding. I got back to help at 1:30 PM. She did not leave and had not ate. It was raining so we cleaned up for the next hour, left and dropped Cas at home, hit Quiznos for a sub, and then relaxed for a little while until the Chili cook off and auction. We finished cleaning up and went home after 9:30 PM. Quite a day but it was worth it. We raised enough money to pay for all the camps and activities for the youth this summer. Incredible! It is people like my wife who make a difference not only in putting together events but digging deep into their pockets to help by donating money and then giving their time from their heart. It really was and is a humbling experience for me.