Raining

After finishing Red last night, I put the fenders on the Trek anticipating the rain today and not riding the Specialized. This morning when I woke up, I was glad I had put the fenders on. As some of you may know, I have fought the idea of putting fenders on my bike. It just didn't feel right. After watching a piece on Cav riding on the Isle of Man with fenders on his bike, I was like "I can do that" so I did. Today's ride was 3 1/2 hours in the rain, wind, and cold. It wasn't too fast of a ride but it got done. I learned a few things today. Fenders really do help keep you drier and as a result, warmer. I was amazed at the water coming off the bottom of the fenders. I also learned that the cycling hat is great at keeping the rain out of the eyes. As I was riding, rain would fall between my helmet and top of my glasses. I turned my hat around like I have seen done and problem solved. I have a few components I need to transfer to the Trek to make the ride more comfortable but it was all decent. Here is a picture of me after the ride. I was soaked all the way through but happy for the chance to ride.

On Thursday, I got out in some sun and did a Rodney Harrison on Chehalem Mountain. I rode the Trek since Red was not ready. I left it in the 39 instead of going to the granny. I flew up the climb in 37 minutes, beating my previous best time by 13 minutes. I then hit a partial Baldy. Coming down the hill, the cars couldn't catch me. I was flying at over 35 MPH. The cars would start to catch up on the straights but on the curves and corners, I'd pull away. It was a fun and fast down hill.

All told, I got almost 6 hours on the bike this week. Starting next week, the hours per week go up a bit - STP is only a few months away.

Finalized

I finished putting all the components on the bike tonight and the bar tape. Here are a few pictures.It was easier than I thought to get all the components on. It is amazing what you can do with the right tools and reading the instructions. Now it is time to ride!

Putting it all together

A few weeks ago, I got an e-mail from the Toyota-United Cycling Team. They were having a fire sale since the team disbanded. For a good price, I was able to pick up a Dura Ace gruppo. I started to put it on the bike tonight. It will take me a few nights to do it but here is the start.The bike in the stand - notice the new carbon handlebars.

Here is the crank - a 53/39 Hollowtech II.
A better look at the handlebars and the front brakes.
All the old parts - I will be installing these on my Trek since they are better than the components on the Trek right now.

I'll be doing a bit more tomorrow night as I put on the derailleurs and the shifters. I'll probably start the cables on Thursday. Fun, fun, fun...

SoCal Riding

After Solvang, I knew my legs feel better the sooner I get out. One of my favorite rides is on the PCH - you can see, feel, smell, and hear the ocean. I was happy that JD was going to ride with me. So Sunday, we said adios to my parents and Solvang and headed to Camarillo. JD and I jumped on the bikes while the families shopped a bit and then met us at the beach. The first couple of miles was just loosening up and getting back into the rhythm of riding. The first 8 miles was into a nice head wind and then we reached the Pt. Magu and the wind disappeared and the ocean opened up. As JD put, "it was a perfect day" to be riding. We just cruised and took it all in. Thanks to JD for the ride - there is a comfort riding with a friend and doing a great ride. After the ride, we just hung out at the beach, enjoying the sea, the sand, and the friendship.

Monday was a tough morning. JD and his family got into their car to go home. It was tough saying good-bye to them. Saying good-bye to good friends reminds me of when I was almost 5, leaving Germany for the first time, having to say good-bye to my friend Alexander. I cried like a baby and couldn't say the words. I did much better this time but each time is difficult.

Tuesday was back on the bike to ride parts of several of my favorite rides near Simi - up Sunset Hills, over Westlake Blvd, out Hidden Valley and up Potrero Canyon, down past Cal State Channel Islands, back through Camarillo and Moorpark, and into Simi. All told, some 55 miles in the saddle. After the ride, we headed to Ramona (near San Diego) to hang with Bob. He has this beautiful home on top of a hill, overlooking the valley below. I really appreciate him letting us hang with him and get some insight into the NCAA tourney - great conversation. After consulting with him and www.mapmyride.com, I got some ideas of doing a ride around Ramona. I could have called the ride several names - Col du Bob because of the several steep short climbs to get up to his house, Vuelta de Ramona because I rode the perimeter and through downtown of Ramona, or Lost because I did get lost on the ride. My riding around Ramona was almost as much elevation gain over the 40 miles as it was if I had ridden Palomar Mountain. I had decided against climbing Palomar for several reasons - wrong cassette, don't know the roads or could talk to someone who does, more excuses, and more excuses. Cassie and I did drive out there on Thursday to take a peak at it. We drove both sides from the CA76. With the right gearing, it is a very manageable climb - much like the Col du Hamilton in San Jose. What amazes me is the speed that the pro cyclists did it in the AToCali. Wow! The average American has no clue about how difficult it is to ride up these climbs. I have an inkling and understand the pain of climbing for extended periods but the speed still eludes me. Next time in SoCal, Palomar will be on my list to climb.

Having rode for 4 out of the 5 days, I started to get a glimpse of what a multi-day stage race is like and why a massage is necessary each day. Tough but fun!

Friday and Saturday was spent in the car, returning to the cold and rain. During the drive, we listened to the tourney on the radio and followed it on the handheld. I missed Milan-San Remo race but saw the finish online. Cav has some incredible speed - even after 298K's.

Time to get back to work and to prepping for the STP... pics to follow...

Solvang

Let me just start this off by saying "Happy Anniversary" to my parents - 42 years. Wow!

I just love this ride. There are many reasons why I love this ride – family, friends, difficulty, motivation, weather – all add to the beauty that is this early season ride in the small Danish town.

The trip started Thursday afternoon with a drive to Ashland. Once again, we were able to stay at Bob’s house. (Thanks Bob – your hospitality is always appreciated. We are grateful to you for your generous nature.) Friday started out a bit later than anticipated but we the journey down to Solvang was not difficult. We even stopped in Sacramento and had an In & Out experience. Yes, a double double animal style and a strawberry shake – nothing like a good burger. It was part of the “carb” loading I was doing for the ride. We got to Solvang about 7 and had dinner with my parents. Good food as always. It not only tasty but the essential stuff for a pre-ride meal. (Thanks to OB12OLD and Mom for their graciousness in letting us hang with them and eat their food. It made the ride just that more enjoyable and relaxing.) After dinner, we got our packets and hooked up with some good friends, the Dunford’s. JD was ready to sleep and get on the road. I was happy to have another riding partner and wingman.

We slept in a little later than previous years – something about a change in daylight savings time being in March instead of April this year. We rolled out a little after 8 AM with a few pictures and anxious legs. It always amazes me how at the start, the big question for me is always how is my body going to react today? Have I prepared enough for this ride? The weather was not the usual heavy fog of the last few years. Instead, it was cold and overcast, just like Oregon riding this time of year without the rain. I felt at home. The first 25 miles was fast. We hit the first rest stop, got some food, and hung with the kids and the C for a couple of minutes. Christine and Kristen brought the kids over close to the rest stop and we got to see them for a few minutes. I caught up with OB12 OLD for a few moments and just gabbed a bit. JD came by with a group, groped me and we took off. It was good to just hang with Pops for a few minutes on the road. We didn’t talk to him till after the ride was over.

We cruised all the way over to the 60 mile stop before stopping again. Once again, the family was there plus my Mom hooked me up with a sandwich. Cool! I was good for the rest of the ride. Usually this is where I write about the pain of the last 40 miles. Not this year, the weather was much milder on the coast with very little wind. Plus, it stayed cooler all day long so I didn’t get beat up by the sun. We had planned on stopping around mile 85 before the hills, not this year. I took a quick natural break before the hills and closed out the ride. My fastest 10 miles split was the last 10 miles of the ride. I felt good. The riding had paid off and my body had responded well. I could not have done it without riding with a friend, having great support, and the right food. Thanks to all. I could not have done it without your help.

All in all, I was 22 minutes faster on the bike and about 15 minutes faster overall. All the riding the last year and through the winter has paid dividends – less suffering and more time enjoying the ride and experience.

Friday Night Basketball

After work on Friday night, the C came up with the kids and we got something to eat and just hung out. We were going to to play basketball but that fell through - something about the gym needing the right insurance paperwork - so we decided to head over the high school gym where Newberg was in the second round of the OSAA basketball tourney against my mom's alma mater, Clackamas. On our way into the gym, we ran into a few friends. We sat by some more. It felt like we were part of a community. Then we watched Newberg fight back from a rough first half to win, 57-54, and move on to the Elite 8 of the 6A tourney. The crowd was standing room only and the students were crazy. A couple of times I got caught up in the emotion, as I can do, and made loud comments and yelled, especially after Taylor Braun's (tall player in picture) two-handed throw down. Bam!!! Got to love supporting the home team...

The morning started off early with a stop in back at the high school. This time, not for basketball, but for Cassie's "Solo Ensemble." This is where students play their instruments for judges for grading and insight into how to play better. I was proud of Cassie. She worked hard at preparing and put forth her best effort. The only issue I had was calling the event a "Solo Ensemble." Solos can't be an ensemble. I know that it is a gathering of solos but it is like saying "Lone Rangers." Next.

This was the last Saturday to ride before Solvang. So I headed out into the 40 degree weather with a 50 percent chance of rain for a five hour tour. It ended up being a 4 hour 20 minute tour due to just being cold. There was very little rain but plenty of wind and cold. My legs still are feeling the after effects but I think I am ready for the first ride of the season. It's going to be a hard focusing at work this week. I'll be thinking about getting to SoCal for the ride and a bit of vacation with the family.

We watch this show called "Friday Night Lights." It is a story about a small town in Texas. I just watch it to remind me of Texas. Don't get me wrong, I realize that TV shows are not reality. I don't watch the show and say that's how it is. I watch and remember. I miss San Antonio and my Texas license plate on my truck. I miss the pace and the people - not that Oregon is a bad place to be and I really love my job - it is just not Texas!

U2ing

It has been a crazy week in Oregon. The weather has been up and down - rain, sleet, snow, sun - all happening in one day in some cases. Even with the weather being uncooperative, it didn't slow the pain train down. All told some 6 1/2 hours on the bike with some seriously hard riding. The first two days riding was spinning in the garage, just sweating and suffering for an hour at a time. On Thursday, I got home and Cassie asked me if I was going to ride. I said, "Sure, want to go?" She was all excited to go so we rode on semi-dry roads over my 7.25 mile circuit under the street lights. We did two loops and a bit more in 70 minutes. Part of the circuit is a short steep hill in our old neighborhood. It goes to 9 - 10% over about 1/3 of a mile. I have been using it to get out of the saddle and push as hard as I can to the top. We mixed in 4 hard sprints in the circuits to make it an intense night. Cas liked the work out. The difference was in the morning, I was a bit sore and she was not... Oooh to be young again!

Saturday was at least clear and started out at 42 degrees and cloudy. The roads were dry. After dropping Craig off to go on a day of cross country skiing, I got on the bike and headed to Haag Lake. I forgot to charge the Garmin so I was GPSless. This actually worked to my advantage. I pushed all 200 minutes on the road. On hills, I'd stand and push the bigger gear to the top. I'd pedal down the hills as well. It was 60 hilly, rolling miles that worked my legs so much that going up and down stairs today was tough. In reviewing 2008 to 2009 Solvang prep, I have been able to put up 3 60+ mile rides (I will add another next Saturday) this year to only 1 last year. The total mileage to this point is in the 2008 favor but the time on the bike favors 2009. I have been riding more hills and rolling miles this year than last. I know this will pay off in two weeks in SoCal.

As part of my riding, I started listening to my U2 collection while riding. There are 208 U2 songs on my iPod. I plan on listening to all of them before switching. I am at #45 after this last ride. Got to love Bono, Larry, Adam, and the Edge.

Tonight, we spent time at the Bishop's house, chatting and chewing with new members of the ward at a dinner social. I spent a good deal of time talking to other bike riders, planning for our 12 hour STP ride this summer. The plan is to get a group to ride with the first 100 and save energy and release quickly at the halfway point while minimizing rests in the second half. The 12 hour ride is possible but will take some work. The miles now will aid later. As the data shows, the longer rides on Saturday are part of the plan. After daylight savings kicks in, there will be more daylight hours in the evening to ride and combo up Friday and Saturday for longer rides. Also, at the Bishop's dinner, I got to talk to a visitor from Prinville who was my dad's Scout leader - too cool!

This week has some excitement - meeting at the HS to review options for Cassie, Craig's first band concert, youth group meetings preparing for our summer high adventure, Friday basketball with the Elders, and work in general - all the while trying to get in my hours. Fun!

Only two weeks to vacation and Solvang! I am so happy that the C and the family are coming with me this year. I am in need of some vacation....