This week just Stephen and I rode. Nathan had a “Marathon Baseball Game” (100 innings in 6 hours). Erin had Solo and Ensemble competition. So, they got to sleep in and Stephen and I took off from the house at 6:30. We rode from Katy Mills Mall again (I’m getting a bit bored with the routes, but I really like the access to real restrooms and shopping before and after).
I’m going to have to just get used to wind. Stephen has patiently explained that if we’re going to end up where we start, then we’re probably going to have to fight against the wind at some point of every ride. (This will not be a problem in April, because we DON’T end up where we start. We end up 182 miles away from where we start.) Of course, now that he’s explained it, I’m kind of surprised that I hadn’t already figured that out…
By most measures, however, the wind this week wasn’t too bad. Stephen and I drafted on the east-west leg and I finally got to experience why Nathan likes to ride behind me. I doubt I’ll get as much benefit from riding behind him next weekend, but I think I may make him do it a couple times anyway so that I can show him how hard I’m working to make his little life easier. After the rest stop we had a short trip south and Stephen drafted me for that whole leg.
When we turned onto Route 90 (which, I predict, will be the last leg of every single ride for the whole rest of this training season – I’ve gotten to the point where I remember where the dips in the road are!) the wind was at our backs and we were able to really pour it on. We sped up and sustained a pace of about 16 mph for the last 13 miles.
All in all, we covered 35.77 miles (on my computer – Stephen stole another .5 miles somehow) in 2 hours and 52 minutes. Our average speed was 12.5 mph. I logged these miles on my training log and was pleased to discover that I have covered 200 miles in the month of January between walking dogs and riding the bike! That’s a lot of miles for an old chick!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
First Official CP Team Ride
We’d changed our plans multiple times over the course of the week as one thing after another got put on or taken off the weekend schedule. In the end, we decided to wedge a ride in with the Conoco-Phillips Training Team on Saturday morning. The nicest part about training with a team is that there is support on the ride. That means rest stops, Support and Gear (SAG) vehicles, maps and signage. The toughest part about wedging it in to our Saturday is that the kids were both at All-City Band Clinic on Friday night until 9 and then had to report back for final rehearsals and concerts by 1 on Saturday afternoon. They’re young, right?
It had been a gorgeous week (those of you who live in the northeast might want to skip this paragraph). The temperatures had been in the mid to upper 60s all week and there had been sun and blue sky. We awoke Saturday morning to a very blustery, gray 55. The weather station reported sustained winds of 15 mph from the north-north-west, with gusts up to 22. Sigh. We loaded up and headed out anyway. Erin signed us all in as I went and bought Nathan and myself some ear warmers that would fit under our helmets. Then we mounted up and waited for our start wave.
We started in the last wave, Steve and Erin ahead of Nathan and me. We stayed in these pairs for the whole ride. We cruised comfortably right up to the rest stop at 12 miles out. The ride up to that point had been principally west and south. After the rest stop we headed north and into the wind. After about five miles of Nathan complaining about the wind, I advised him to pick a point on the horizon and ride to it. When he got there, he could pick another spot and ride to it. I told him I was riding to the silos ahead of us.
When we got there I said “OK. Now, I’m going to ride to the truck that’s parked in the driveway ahead of us. See it there on the right?”
“Yeah.”
“What’s your point on the horizon?”
“That mailbox.”
“Which one?”
“The one we just passed.”
“Nathan…”
“Ok, that reflector.”
“Which one? Ah, the one right here. Ok for you, pal. I’m riding to the truck.”
I rode on. He followed me. He likes me to be in front because he can get a little wind protection. Once we got to the truck, he informed me that he’d already picked his next spot on the horizon. Me. Considering I was always in front, I thought that would be pretty good!
We rode 28 miles (8 of it against a 15 mph wind). The temperature never rose over 55. Everyone keeps telling us that the wind in April is “usually” out of the south east, so it pushes us to Austin. God, I hope so!
It had been a gorgeous week (those of you who live in the northeast might want to skip this paragraph). The temperatures had been in the mid to upper 60s all week and there had been sun and blue sky. We awoke Saturday morning to a very blustery, gray 55. The weather station reported sustained winds of 15 mph from the north-north-west, with gusts up to 22. Sigh. We loaded up and headed out anyway. Erin signed us all in as I went and bought Nathan and myself some ear warmers that would fit under our helmets. Then we mounted up and waited for our start wave.
We started in the last wave, Steve and Erin ahead of Nathan and me. We stayed in these pairs for the whole ride. We cruised comfortably right up to the rest stop at 12 miles out. The ride up to that point had been principally west and south. After the rest stop we headed north and into the wind. After about five miles of Nathan complaining about the wind, I advised him to pick a point on the horizon and ride to it. When he got there, he could pick another spot and ride to it. I told him I was riding to the silos ahead of us.
When we got there I said “OK. Now, I’m going to ride to the truck that’s parked in the driveway ahead of us. See it there on the right?”
“Yeah.”
“What’s your point on the horizon?”
“That mailbox.”
“Which one?”
“The one we just passed.”
“Nathan…”
“Ok, that reflector.”
“Which one? Ah, the one right here. Ok for you, pal. I’m riding to the truck.”
I rode on. He followed me. He likes me to be in front because he can get a little wind protection. Once we got to the truck, he informed me that he’d already picked his next spot on the horizon. Me. Considering I was always in front, I thought that would be pretty good!
We rode 28 miles (8 of it against a 15 mph wind). The temperature never rose over 55. Everyone keeps telling us that the wind in April is “usually” out of the south east, so it pushes us to Austin. God, I hope so!
Monday, January 19, 2009
Nathan and Me Quick 18 miles
I am SO mean! Nathan was camping this weekend with his Boy Scout troop. So, since there was no school today, I suggested (perhaps “demanded” might be a better word) that he and I could put some miles in this afternoon. We left the house at 3:30 and rode out to Highway 6 (roughly 9.5 miles). Of course (as seems to be my predilection) there was a headwind. Of course, the nice part about this was that the headwind was worst on our way OUT! I think this is a much better arrangement than headwind on the way back home. I’m looking for the phone number to call to make that happen ALL the time.
We plodded out to Highway 6 – it wasn’t really hard, but it wasn’t exactly easy either. One hill ate Nathan’s lunch and I downshifted WAY too early for another one so that my legs were like rubber by the time I got midway up it! But, when we turned around we SAILED back home. We rode about 19 miles in an hour and 47 minutes and got home in time for the last of his long weekend homework and dinner!
Stephen got back home from Florida last night. He was pulling up to the house after a long day of work when we pulled up. He was suitably impressed that we’d accomplished so many miles in an afternoon. He offered some great advice about refueling after a ride and we downed some pasta and a lot of water!
I imagine I might be a bit sore tomorrow, but in the end it was a great ride and we’re ready for the next ride on Sunday this weekend!
We plodded out to Highway 6 – it wasn’t really hard, but it wasn’t exactly easy either. One hill ate Nathan’s lunch and I downshifted WAY too early for another one so that my legs were like rubber by the time I got midway up it! But, when we turned around we SAILED back home. We rode about 19 miles in an hour and 47 minutes and got home in time for the last of his long weekend homework and dinner!
Stephen got back home from Florida last night. He was pulling up to the house after a long day of work when we pulled up. He was suitably impressed that we’d accomplished so many miles in an afternoon. He offered some great advice about refueling after a ride and we downed some pasta and a lot of water!
I imagine I might be a bit sore tomorrow, but in the end it was a great ride and we’re ready for the next ride on Sunday this weekend!
Erin and Me 22 miles!
This week (Saturday) it was Erin and me riding the beginner ride! She’s a good coach and she was motivated by the promise of a girls’ night when I got home on Friday night. By the time I’d dropped Nathan off and picked up the Chinese, Erin had prepped both my bike and hers and packed her bag. We ate dinner and watched “The Notebook” and went to bed pretty early (especially for a girls’ night!).
We hit the road in plenty of time. We were dressed for pretty cool temps. Both of us had three layers of tops and our leggings. She advised me to wear my full fingered gloves on TOP of my riding gloves (the opposite of what Stephen recommends…hmmmm, the mutiny continues) so that I could take them off more easily if I got too warm.
Once again, the wind was with us on the way out. I need to start paying attention to the basic earth science fact that if the wind is blowing from the south when we’re headed north, IT doesn’t turn around with us at the rest stop! So, we tootled north from Brookshire, TX to Monaville, TX. The best part was coasting down some long twisty hills. We think that we may have passed the farm where we got our Bailey dog three years ago. It looked familiar – but I’m famous for not knowing where I am in space, so it’s entirely possible we were 40 miles away from where I thought we were – or right exactly where I thought we were – it’s anybody’s guess.
At the rest stop (11 miles out), we stopped, drank some water and ate some PowerBar (I will eventually get used to that flavor). Then we started peeling off layers. I took off one of my shirts and Erin took off her jacket. We both took off our full-fingered gloves…and then we headed back into the wind. Good heavens – I never knew there was so much wind in Texas!
The trip back was pretty tough. Remember those long twisty hills? They were going the other way on the way back (I know, earth science). And the wind. I swear that once, just as I started up a hill, the wind slapped me in the face. I made it to the top of the hill, but my knees were killing me when I did! Definitely need to work on the hill management part of this whole training gig.
But, in the end, we logged 22 miles on the bikes. We were tired and a bit wind-burned. Erin had a date to get ready for and I had laundry to do and groceries to buy. So…we headed back home. I dragged for a good part of the day, actually. But everything got accomplished. I even had enough energy left over on Sunday to clean up the front yard. We got new trees to replace the ones that Ike destroyed and the rest of the yard looked awful in comparison to the nice trees and mulch, etc.
We hit the road in plenty of time. We were dressed for pretty cool temps. Both of us had three layers of tops and our leggings. She advised me to wear my full fingered gloves on TOP of my riding gloves (the opposite of what Stephen recommends…hmmmm, the mutiny continues) so that I could take them off more easily if I got too warm.
Once again, the wind was with us on the way out. I need to start paying attention to the basic earth science fact that if the wind is blowing from the south when we’re headed north, IT doesn’t turn around with us at the rest stop! So, we tootled north from Brookshire, TX to Monaville, TX. The best part was coasting down some long twisty hills. We think that we may have passed the farm where we got our Bailey dog three years ago. It looked familiar – but I’m famous for not knowing where I am in space, so it’s entirely possible we were 40 miles away from where I thought we were – or right exactly where I thought we were – it’s anybody’s guess.
At the rest stop (11 miles out), we stopped, drank some water and ate some PowerBar (I will eventually get used to that flavor). Then we started peeling off layers. I took off one of my shirts and Erin took off her jacket. We both took off our full-fingered gloves…and then we headed back into the wind. Good heavens – I never knew there was so much wind in Texas!
The trip back was pretty tough. Remember those long twisty hills? They were going the other way on the way back (I know, earth science). And the wind. I swear that once, just as I started up a hill, the wind slapped me in the face. I made it to the top of the hill, but my knees were killing me when I did! Definitely need to work on the hill management part of this whole training gig.
But, in the end, we logged 22 miles on the bikes. We were tired and a bit wind-burned. Erin had a date to get ready for and I had laundry to do and groceries to buy. So…we headed back home. I dragged for a good part of the day, actually. But everything got accomplished. I even had enough energy left over on Sunday to clean up the front yard. We got new trees to replace the ones that Ike destroyed and the rest of the yard looked awful in comparison to the nice trees and mulch, etc.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Beginner Ride
Nathan and I had our first solo training ride on Saturday January 10. The day dawned warm and muggy. It was 79 degrees when we left the driveway. I think we were both kind of nervous about going solo, but it was a short ride. As we drove west to the starting point, the sky grew Wizard of Oz gray. We agreed that if it was pouring, we wouldn’t even get out of the car (chickens, yes.) But it only rained a little and we shortly discovered that what we were observing was the edge of a dry cold front. The thermometer on my rear-view mirror read 76. Then 75. Then 73. Then 69. Then 64. Then 62 by the time we arrived at the start point. When we got out of the car, we were both happy that Stephen had taught us to take EVERY piece of bicycle clothing we owned on every single ride. Nathan hurriedly put his bike tights on. I added a long sleeved tee-shirt. We both found full finger gloves.
After we were well turned out, we signed in for the ride and listened attentively to a mentor rider who explained the rules of the road and the basics of safety when riding in a group. Nathan and I agreed to ride two abreast for as much of the ride as we could because it would be more fun and the mentor rider said the shoulder was wide enough and the traffic was light enough, we’d be ok.
(See, don’t we look attentive?)
We started out in the third “peloton”. It really wasn’t a peloton because less than ½ of us knew what we were doing. It was just a bunch of us leaving the starting spot together. Apparently there’s a rule about the fastest riders leaving first and the slowest riders leaving last…seems backwards to me, but nobody asked for my opinion on the matter. The ride was simple enough. South for about 7 miles on one road, turn around and take the same road north for 7 miles, ending where we’d begun. I crammed the map in the back pocket of my jacket. Didn’t think we’d need that much. Nathan noticed that the map had phone numbers on it also in case we needed to call someone in an emergency. I sent a quick prayer heavenward that that would not be necessary.
So, we headed south. It was so easy! We averaged around 14 mph and got up to 20 mph a few times. What a rush! We got down to the bottom of the ride for the rest stop (who needs a rest stop for a 14 mile ride??) and took a quick bathroom trip (me) and snack stop (Nathan). All refreshed we headed the bikes back north into a headwind that some people estimated was 12 mph. We shifted down. We shifted down again. We shifted down again. Nathan pulled in behind me to see if I blocked the wind from him any. Not much. And we plodded on. We averaged about 8 mph on the way back, but there were lots of times when my speedometer read 3 mph and 2 mph. It was really tough.
(Setting off)
When we finished we decided two things. First, we definitely deserved a Starbucks run. Second, there is no way any subsequent ride could be as grueling as this one had been…it’s not like we’re going to ride 182 miles in two days or anything!
After we were well turned out, we signed in for the ride and listened attentively to a mentor rider who explained the rules of the road and the basics of safety when riding in a group. Nathan and I agreed to ride two abreast for as much of the ride as we could because it would be more fun and the mentor rider said the shoulder was wide enough and the traffic was light enough, we’d be ok.
(See, don’t we look attentive?)
We started out in the third “peloton”. It really wasn’t a peloton because less than ½ of us knew what we were doing. It was just a bunch of us leaving the starting spot together. Apparently there’s a rule about the fastest riders leaving first and the slowest riders leaving last…seems backwards to me, but nobody asked for my opinion on the matter. The ride was simple enough. South for about 7 miles on one road, turn around and take the same road north for 7 miles, ending where we’d begun. I crammed the map in the back pocket of my jacket. Didn’t think we’d need that much. Nathan noticed that the map had phone numbers on it also in case we needed to call someone in an emergency. I sent a quick prayer heavenward that that would not be necessary.
So, we headed south. It was so easy! We averaged around 14 mph and got up to 20 mph a few times. What a rush! We got down to the bottom of the ride for the rest stop (who needs a rest stop for a 14 mile ride??) and took a quick bathroom trip (me) and snack stop (Nathan). All refreshed we headed the bikes back north into a headwind that some people estimated was 12 mph. We shifted down. We shifted down again. We shifted down again. Nathan pulled in behind me to see if I blocked the wind from him any. Not much. And we plodded on. We averaged about 8 mph on the way back, but there were lots of times when my speedometer read 3 mph and 2 mph. It was really tough.
(Setting off)
When we finished we decided two things. First, we definitely deserved a Starbucks run. Second, there is no way any subsequent ride could be as grueling as this one had been…it’s not like we’re going to ride 182 miles in two days or anything!
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