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....