Today the fellowship assembled at Scott's house to prepare for our trip to the Mountains of Mordor.
No wait, that isnt right. Our trip through the Appalachian Mountains via the Blue Ridge Parkway. At least I got the Mountains part right. Tomorrow we will go from the lowest point on the BRP to the highest point on the BRP in VA. So kind of like Mt Doom, but not quite. We will meet the real Mt Doom later this week. Tomorrows climb ascends some 3400ft over 12miles at mile 60/85. We have about a 7mile ride to get to the BRP from our motel.
There was the ceremonial mounting of the bikes... on the car
Thus began our road trip. 4 valiant riders and 1 valiant SAG driver / rider packed with our gear and more wheelsets than Saxo Bank's tour bus.
Our drive to VA was stalled by a gnarly tractor trailer accident that deposited something large on the road. Im sure its a piece of that kids space ship from 'Flight of the Navigator'
The typical road trip shenanigans ensued, or maybe not so typical. "We never had anything like that when we were kids!" said Brent as Kevin was setting up a wireless hotspot with his smart phone. At one point there were 2 laptops, 3 phones and 1 tablet on the network. Siri may have been responsible for us missing our exit to interstate 81. And Brent was playing doctor
We arrived in Waynesboro about 8pm and got dinner at a local italian joint. Chilaxin before we headout to ride bikes like a mofo in the AM. It will indeed be, Hammer time
Hello from warm and alternately sunny and monsoonlike western NC!
I arrived here on Saturday. Here is a lesson in how not to acclimate.
1. Sit on a plane for 7hrs
2. Sleep 12hrs
3. Decide to go out for a ride at the crack of noon in weather 30+ degrees warmer with humidity 80% higher than the weather youre used to. Oh, and some alarmingly bright orange thing beating down on you from the sky.
4. Go ride hills. Immediately, with no warm up. And make sure its some of the most ass kicking hills near the house too.
5. RIde with people who can kick your ass on a good day and lament your pathetic state.
Easily the worst Ive felt on the bike in a long long time. The last time I rode with my pal Brent was over a year ago. I was chunky and seriously slow. He had to push me up the climb we were doing together. I was so eager to show him how bad ass I have become riding hills all year in Portland!
Guess who had to get pushed up the hill?
Guess who had molasses legs?
Yep. At least I know what not to do when I arrive in Italy!
I apologize for the lack of pictures in this entry. I upload them to Facebook which doesnt talk to Blogger because Google doesnt own it (yet). Google+ is like a desert with some tumbleweeds rolling by so i never post there, but it looks like Ill have to start if I want to easily share photos here. We will see how it goes. For now
We headed out to the Nantahala Outdoor Center to spend some chill days in the forest before heading up to VA to start the ride. Formerly an Olympic training site for water sports its somewhat of a summer camp for grown ups. We stayed in a neat little cabin above the river. We heard bull frogs at night! And saw some dirty AT hikers! Good times
Monday, eager to redeem myself, we headed out again for a ride from the NOC. Legs were feeling a lot better (turns out warming up helps) and Brent took my GoPro. For the first time someone would be getting video of ME on the bike! This was exciting
This was also exciting, but in a very bad way
Brent was a bike courier. And a semi pro downhill mountain bike racer. Clearly, the one with the bike handling skills, complete lack of fear and defiance to flip off someone coming at us at about 65mph,. 6" from his elbow.
So after nearly dying we had a really beautiful ride through the gorge and up a nice steep little hill, after riding a long a river with a lot of waterfalls. That video is coming later, still working to cut it together.
Today while running around doing some last minute errands before our drive to Waynesboro VA tomorrow we stopped into Motion Makers. They had this sweet Mavic wheel set on sale. A sweet wheel set that was over a pound lighter than the one I own. Well, I was talking about getting a lighter set for Italy anyway, so why not try them out on the BRP. Lucy is very excited to show off her NEW ruby slippers (See FB photo album above). Once again she has matchy matchy red hubs. On top of a fantastic price they also gave me an awesome padded wheel bag! Thanks guys!
^_^
So how am I feeling right now? Very nervous. Worried I wont be able to keep up. Wondering how the hell my body will react to what we are doing. Hoping we wont get caught in a spring monsoon. We were advised by someone who did this ride a few years ago to get Valerian root to help with sleep. Why would you need help sleeping when your banging out about 10,000ft of climbing / day? I guess your body gets too exhausted to sleep.
0_o
Maybe Ill try some Valerian root tonight.
I cant make any promises but Ill try to blog a little about it at the end of each epic day, or at least tweet a bit and/or update Facebook. I will say that after our encounter in the gorge Im very glad the max speed limit on the BRP is 45mph.
To Waynesboro and beyond! (beyond being south to Cherokee NC, the end of the BRP)
Turns out my suffer fest wasnt as suffertastic as I anticipated, but last week with 16,500ft of climbing over 230miles was a pretty big suffer fest. So much so that I felt sick on Monday and also didnt ride Tuesday. I think I found my limit.
Training has given me the opportunity to experience a lot of truly awful things. Like my entire weekend being a blur of biking, feeding and being unable to sleep Sunday night. Despite being exhausted my body ached and I couldnt fall asleep. I just hurt all over. Yikes.
Tonight I got to experience another new awful. During races and intervals I have experienced what its like to push really hard - gasping for air, feeling pukey (or even puking a little), being light headed and feeling like Im going to fall off my bike. Until tonight I had never experienced what it was like to be on the verge of hyperventilating
Thats what happens when you go from 0 to 33mph in 20seconds.
I thought I might have an asthma attack. I couldnt get a full breath and it was freaking me out. Even if I focused on full breaths during the 20s pushes I found myself unable to breathe completely in the 40s of rest between. I managed to stay calm but it was a really unsettling feeling.
Ive said several times that I dont like training a this intensity. Unlike when I was obsessed with the trumpet in high school and would practice daily for hours I am definitely not obsessed with the bike. Im training so I can do this bike tour in Italy.
Dont get me wrong, I do enjoy many things about training. Ive made a bunch of great new friends so far this year, I discovered I love working out with other people, I love how strong I feel on the bike and having big muscles ! And being able to eat whatever I want is pretty great too. Im continually in awe of what my body is capable of, and really need to give my mind more credit for what its capable of enduring, too!
I guess that is whats meant when people say to enjoy the process, not just look to the end goal. Im vey goal oriented so its easy for me to get lost in the drudgery of training. 20second intervals are one of those times!!! I hope these Wednesday night torture fests will give me the cardio boost I need to make it up Stelvio Pass!!
The real question about Stelvio is... will I push myself to ride nonstop up the 48 switchbacks to the ski resort at 9000ft, or will I stop to take pictures? Maybe thats what the GoPro is for.
This week Im endeavoring to make myself hurt. A lot. The theory being that doing this in a short term, controlled manner will up level my fitness. I bought my first do-rag on Friday. Im channeling the Hulk!
Yeah. Pretty much.
This morning I did my usual Tues/Thurs workout class at 5:45am. *cue Rocky theme* Today was one of those days I call texas hold 'em. We dont do a set number of reps, we do things till we're told to stop. So we squatted, kettel bell swinged, planked and push up'd until we were told to stop. I really really hate planks.
Tonight I did sprints on Mt Tabor. I imagine myself pulling off this epic move in a race where I take off at the bottom of the hill and sprint to the top, crushing my competitors. With my teeth bared and eyes bugged out I give a Xena worthy yell as I burn across the finish line like a rocket. I look so fierce small children nearby start to cry.
With this in mind I set off on my first rep. I am the champion! I realize at about 30s into my 60s sprint that this really sucks! I manage to get about 2/3 of the way up when my legs give up and Im sucking air like a vacuum. After an hour of repeats like this Im tired, but saying to myself 'well I didnt puke so I probably could have gone harder'
Which is when I realized theres something a little screwed up about being disappointed with my workout because I didnt barf. Im tired but not totally decimated. My glutes hurt. We will see what the next 2 days of workouts bring. Probably a lot of whining ;)
Have I mentioned that while I'm training for the Alps I'm also pursuing a major career change? So in addition to spending my days as an analog circuit designer I'm now learning the black arts of computer programming. Yep, I really know how to pound myself into the ground!
This week was especially busy at work with some late hours required to meet a publication submission deadline. Add to that the arrival of spring rain downpours and Ive been a bit of a crabby girl lately. I think we in Portland have PTSD when it comes to rain; when it really lets loose (especially after an abnormally dry winter) we start threatening to move and building arks and rounding up our cats, 2 by 2.
Oh geez, really its not that bad!
And Im still feeling some effects from my IT band getting irritated last weekend. So here on the couch I sit. Fried from work, gloomy about the weather, paranoid about the miles Im not getting in this week and ready to just take a cab to the top of the Passo Stelvio. Oh, and I hate intervals. Screw training.
In a word, it sucks.
Thank goodness for daylight savings
Coming home from work tonight there was a break in the sky. It was around 6, now nearing 7pm and its still bright as can be outside. And not raining! This made me immensely happier and I had a sudden urge to ride my bike (followed by the 'but i need to rest' voice in the back of my head..) It reminded me of something important. Light makes me want to bike. If its light and especially if its sunny I have no motivation problems at all with getting on my bike. I was feeling sad about having to rest tonight because I knew riding my bike would make me feel better. Im glad to know that while Im having a momentary tantrum I still love to ride my bike.
This Saturday Im telling the rain to kiss my butt and heading for the Dalles with some awesome buddies. Im looking forward to putting in some long, hard, fun miles in the sun.
For now I am smothering my wounds with nut butter. And computational biology!
The rain returned this weekend. I got up at 7 and saw that the forecast predicted little chance of rain until 1pm. After checking the wind on Marine Drive wasnt gale force I decided to finish what I started last Sunday. Larch Mountain.
While I was getting ready I was thinking about similarities between mountaineering and long distance road cycling. I did some climbing a few years ago and have had a life long interest in wilderness survival skills. When preparing for my trip today I had 3 small pockets to carry whatever I would need for an 80mile trek. I stashed my jacket, hat and toe warmers knowing how cold the descent from the mountain would be. I took some extra food, my holy trinity of electrolyte tablets, mylanta and advil, and a small pump. Tire repair kit, an extra tube and a multi tool were in my saddle bag. Survival skills indeed!
Heading out to Marine drive I was appreciating the ride of my Cervelo after a winter of riding on my rain bike. I fell in love with cycling on my Specialized Sequia (Elite!) but having a really sweet carbon bike makes me want to take cycling home to meet my family and move in together.
Along the bike path I saw a heron!
No no, not a herring, a HERON. Like a heron hidden in the moon.
I enjoyed riding someone off my wheel further down Marine Drive. He latched on around Blue Lake park and yelled something before falling off into the dark abyss. It was drizzly but not really soaking wet. The weather kept most of the motorists off the highway so I had a fairly quiet ride out to the Gorge.
"Mountaineering is the only sport where you celebrate at half time"
As I headed up Larch the rain picked up. I had started to feel that inner thigh ache that comes with long miles for the first time this year. Its like a badge of honor! As I got up around mile 5 I noticed a lot of the snow from last week had melted, but at about mile 7 there started to be icy spots on the road. I wondered if it would be like this in the Alps. I also started to think about how much at risk I was, being up there alone in the cold, wet, slippery and little cell phone coverage refuge of the forest. I turned around just past mile 8 as the road got more treacherous and my gloves had soaked through from the rain I hadnt expected.
Annnd thats about enough. Turned around here
On the way down my fingers seared with pain. I was concentrating on the road, looking for iced over spots and gingerly picking my way across some snowy patches. My fingers felt like they were on fire. Once I got out of the snow I started slapping my hands on my thighs to get them to warm up. Fortunately the temperature was rising rapidly as I descended but the rain was still coming down pretty heavy, and all I had was a windbreaker.
Back down on the highway headed for town. I had 30miles to get home. With still another 10 of downhill to go I was a pretty miserable drowned rat at this point. I kept thinking of being at home warm and eating and pondered if i should stop and call someone to come get me. If i had a mechanical id probably be in a rough spot, but at least I was getting nearer and nearer to civilization.
Thankfully the rain let up when I got to Troutdale and was dry most of the way home. My lower back hurt from climbing and my upper back and neck hurt from tensing in the cold and lifting my head up to see while descending 20+ miles. I was ready for this ride to be over so I put my head down and focused on getting home.
81 miles later I peeled off my sopping wet clothes and had some pizza. Here's my route
The road to the Alps is paved with biking. And food. Dear god I was so hungry for lunch today I could have eaten a horse. I actually had to go eat because I couldnt concentrate. I also got a cramp in my leg. EAT FOOD NOW says body. OK.
The weather this week has been magnificent so after weeks of indoor only training during the week I was finally able to get outside. Outside = more fun, more miles and more friendly faces to ride bikes with!
I logged about 90miles last weekend. Saturday AM I headed up Skyline via my new favorite approach, Cornell. Its a nice long climb, which I need to work on. Surely spring is upon us; last time I was up there a few weeks ago it was snowing, on Saturday the sun was peaking out and temps were a good 20degrees higher.
Long unrelenting climbs always bring out the demons. "Why am I doing this?" "I missed brunch for this?" "You are completely insane to think you can climb the Alps if you are whining about this puny little hill at sea level" I keep pedaling, alone with my thoughts. Trying to focus on my pedal stroke or some scenery instead my mind eventually moves on.
I cut my climbing short due to concern about my recently inflammed IT band and turned around at Skyline Elementary.
I deftly dodged a wolly bear on the road.
Sunday's ride was spectacular. I headed out about noon for the Gorge. The wind on Marine drive was merciful and the Gorge scenery didnt dissapoint. Coming down Larch Mtn I pondered what kind of clothing Ill need to get for descending the Alps. I own 1 long sleeve jersey that I rarely wear. Im guessing arm warmers and a windbreaker probably wont cut it.
Heres a short video of my Sunday ride:
I find myself lately obsessed with having a 6pack. I figure Im more active now than I may ever be again. Over the last few months my legs have turned into rocks but a stubborn layer of belly fat still remains. Its interesting how attached Ive become to being physically fit and that I worry about losing it.
While Ive intensely focused on other things in life, studying engineering comes to mind, Ive never had this kind of intense focus on something physical. I find myself struggling with the lack of social life but at the same time relishing the zen simplicity of my life. I work, eat, sleep and train. I know pretty much how I will spend my time and I feel at times a freedom from having to plan but also a restlessness. Its helping me prioritize my time better; Ive realized how important it is to eat good food and how weak willed I am when it comes to eating out, so I make sure to set aside time on the weekend to make food for the week.
Im also becoming hyper aware of my body. Right now I have a cramp in my thigh that happened right before lunch, Im wondering if Im not getting enough electrolytes. Im monitoring a muscle ache in my right calf that happened this week, I think riding in the cold Tuesday night started it and cramping after sprint intervals Weds made it a little worse. I kept my eye on it at Tabor last night and it seems to be ok today, or at least not any more stiff than my other calf.
Its hard to balance what I want to get out of training and accepting where my body is at. Its hard not to obsess over miles, heart rate targets and elevation gained week to week. With something as big and unknown to me as climbing the Alps I never quite know if I'm doing enough. For now Im trying to focus on meeting myself where Im at physically, mentally and emotionally on a day to day basis. And enjoying the really amazing things my body is already able to do!
