On the Calendar for this weekend....
10 mile Time Trial (Friday)
38.7 mile Road Race (Saturday)
13 mile uphill Time Trial (2500ft) ( yup, Saturday)
48 mile Road Race on Iron Mountain (Sunday)
CRAZY
YES....I need the Ultimate Cyclist CD 24 /7 to do this one....oh my what was I thinking?
RL
Monday, May 11, 2009
Cruisin' the Conejo
62 Challenge metric 5700 ft of climbing...my kind of ride. Met up with everyone at the Bicycle John's tent for coffee and delicious homemade baked goods--thanks Jen an John! We partnered up, grabbed route slips and off we went.
Kelly, Robb, Corrin and I set of together but were quickly separated--mostly wanting to make space from the somewhat inexperienced riders. It was chilly and foggy at the start, but by the first rest stop we were together and taking layers off.
Robb and Corrin took off while I help Vicki with her bike position then Kelly and I set off. Kanan was a mess of crazy cyclists going way to fast, so we quickly made a left and detoured slightly from the route--why they don't go this way I don't know. Met back up with everyone at the next water stop.
Rock Store was the first climb of the day, then Mulholland to Encinal, Lechusa, Three bitches (where I kicked ass) then Portero, Lynn, Dos Vientos back to Newbury Park after numerous freeway crossings.
Kelly and I were done after 5 hours on the bike and multiple stops to fix chains, massage cramps, fix helmets, etc, etc. People are really unprepared for these events! A nice lunch by Whole Foods and of course the very helpful Boy Scouts.
Then it was time to get home to Barkley (a Goldendoodle puppy we were dogsitting)..I figured after 5 hours away Barkley would be done with the house remodeling:)
She was actually very good. Good day, nice company and Kelly and I decided that a women's trip to wine country was next on the agenda for this summer---of course on our bikes; what else?
RL
Kelly, Robb, Corrin and I set of together but were quickly separated--mostly wanting to make space from the somewhat inexperienced riders. It was chilly and foggy at the start, but by the first rest stop we were together and taking layers off.
Robb and Corrin took off while I help Vicki with her bike position then Kelly and I set off. Kanan was a mess of crazy cyclists going way to fast, so we quickly made a left and detoured slightly from the route--why they don't go this way I don't know. Met back up with everyone at the next water stop.
Rock Store was the first climb of the day, then Mulholland to Encinal, Lechusa, Three bitches (where I kicked ass) then Portero, Lynn, Dos Vientos back to Newbury Park after numerous freeway crossings.
Kelly and I were done after 5 hours on the bike and multiple stops to fix chains, massage cramps, fix helmets, etc, etc. People are really unprepared for these events! A nice lunch by Whole Foods and of course the very helpful Boy Scouts.
Then it was time to get home to Barkley (a Goldendoodle puppy we were dogsitting)..I figured after 5 hours away Barkley would be done with the house remodeling:)
She was actually very good. Good day, nice company and Kelly and I decided that a women's trip to wine country was next on the agenda for this summer---of course on our bikes; what else?
RL
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Pet Peeves #1 People Trying to Kill Me
We all have pet peeves when we ride our bikes...such as I hate when snot rockets come from all directions, or people half wheeling, or riders that show up with no food or gel for the ride then bitch about bonking....
But today I reached a whole new level of agitation shall we say, so today's pet peeve is:
Our first (yes first there is more to come) near death experience happened on Rock Store. A group of 4 of us headed up on this gorgeous day. We were riding for intensity, so not fast and we were single file. A very RUDE man in a silver BMW convertible license # MLKH8N nearly took each of us out...he was driving purposely slowly and getting as close as possible--to the point where I thought his car would touch my leg! So unbelieveable. He had plenty of visibility and room to move over and not do this. One good thing about this was there was a cop at the top of Rock Store ( I know, what luck), so he took the description and went on after the guy...hope he found him.
We continued onto Latigo and back with a stop at the vineyard for water...yes really just water and then headed back via Mulholland to Westlake/Decker.
This is when RUDE turned to RAGE from our next attacker. As I descended Decker a small, silver, SUV, 4 door vehicle approached slowly but aimed right at me in my lane (I was going down, SHE (yes SHE) was going up. I looked right at her (dirtly blonde hair, big glasses) and noticed there was a flag (green, red and white stripe or shirt? hanging from the back window behind the driver). I slowed and got tighter into the wall thinking she was going to purposely hit me...she was less than two feet from me when I saw a gun (for a moment of shock I wasn't sure what was coming) then realized--- I was shot directly in the face by a Super Soaker. I was blinded and in shock at this, as I made my way to the side to stop.
The vehicle went on up the hill and I was unable to see for that moment to get the plate # and couldn't ride up fast enough to catch up, but I did call it in. Sure, I've had moments of rage from cars before, but never such a blatant attack that felt like this person was trying to kill me. One has to realize that it could have ended that way had I lost control of the bike because I couldn't see.
I'm happy I had glasses on and that what came from the super soaker was only water. I was definitely afraid of what it was since at that close range it stung pretty bad.
What should have been a great day was ruined by humans being mean to other humans. I hate to think of it, we all have to coexist in this world...hell even lions and their prey respectfully share the few small watering holes during the daylight! If we can't have respect for one another what's left?
RaeLynn
But today I reached a whole new level of agitation shall we say, so today's pet peeve is:
"I hate when people purposely try to kill me!"
Our first (yes first there is more to come) near death experience happened on Rock Store. A group of 4 of us headed up on this gorgeous day. We were riding for intensity, so not fast and we were single file. A very RUDE man in a silver BMW convertible license # MLKH8N nearly took each of us out...he was driving purposely slowly and getting as close as possible--to the point where I thought his car would touch my leg! So unbelieveable. He had plenty of visibility and room to move over and not do this. One good thing about this was there was a cop at the top of Rock Store ( I know, what luck), so he took the description and went on after the guy...hope he found him.
We continued onto Latigo and back with a stop at the vineyard for water...yes really just water and then headed back via Mulholland to Westlake/Decker.
This is when RUDE turned to RAGE from our next attacker. As I descended Decker a small, silver, SUV, 4 door vehicle approached slowly but aimed right at me in my lane (I was going down, SHE (yes SHE) was going up. I looked right at her (dirtly blonde hair, big glasses) and noticed there was a flag (green, red and white stripe or shirt? hanging from the back window behind the driver). I slowed and got tighter into the wall thinking she was going to purposely hit me...she was less than two feet from me when I saw a gun (for a moment of shock I wasn't sure what was coming) then realized--- I was shot directly in the face by a Super Soaker. I was blinded and in shock at this, as I made my way to the side to stop.
The vehicle went on up the hill and I was unable to see for that moment to get the plate # and couldn't ride up fast enough to catch up, but I did call it in. Sure, I've had moments of rage from cars before, but never such a blatant attack that felt like this person was trying to kill me. One has to realize that it could have ended that way had I lost control of the bike because I couldn't see.
I'm happy I had glasses on and that what came from the super soaker was only water. I was definitely afraid of what it was since at that close range it stung pretty bad.
What should have been a great day was ruined by humans being mean to other humans. I hate to think of it, we all have to coexist in this world...hell even lions and their prey respectfully share the few small watering holes during the daylight! If we can't have respect for one another what's left?
RaeLynn
Monday, May 4, 2009
Get yours ladies
On the shelves today; Road Bike Action Magazine with an awesome new section for women...
http://www.roadbikeaction.com/fly.aspx?layout=sectionindex&taxid=175
If you like it, hate it, want more female oriented information or have suggestions or topics you would like to see covered just write the editor: brad@roadbikeaction.com...
tell him RaeLynn sent you his address::))
Cheers,
RL
- Features by Gail Bernhardt on the unique needs of female cyclists
- New gear reviews
- And a very nice spread of mountain bike/road racer Suzanne Karklins on racing bikes and being a new mom:)
http://www.roadbikeaction.com/fly.aspx?layout=sectionindex&taxid=175
If you like it, hate it, want more female oriented information or have suggestions or topics you would like to see covered just write the editor: brad@roadbikeaction.com...
tell him RaeLynn sent you his address::))
Cheers,
RL
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Personal Bests
I've learned a lot about being and achieving your personal bests this week. Wednesday I attended a clinic by Josh Horowitz of Liquid Fitness. The clinic was hosted by the local club; CVC.
Josh explained the process of erasing negative images, thoughts and attitudes from our minds in order to become better athletes. It made such sense to me and many of his points were things I do everyday--well not any more.
Josh led our group through a meditation and visualization exercise using his CD; The Ultimate Cyclist. It was strange and Adam's gum chewing was distracting, but I managed to visualize my ride to Rock Store the next day; as I would like it to go....
Well amazingly I had the greatest night's sleep and that morning I said my affirmations, replaced negative thoughts with positive, especially when I learned a one-one ride was now a group ride of faster riders than me and went for it.
Not only did the group not drop me, I achieved a personal best on Rock Store.
This has definitely opened my eyes to the brain as a tool that can be trained just like my legs and my lungs. I purchased the CD and will continue to monitor/report on my progress.
Negative thoughts I used to have:
My knees will get hurt
I'm not fast enough
I'm going to get dropped
I'm not a racer
I'm not fit enough
My legs aren't strong
I'm not a racer
I'm not fast enough
I'm going to get dropped
see the theme here......?
This is the last time I'll ever write, speak, or think these things. I'm throwing out that broken record.
BTW...last night the CD arrived, I played it as I went to bed...I have no idea what it said (this is how it works...but I stayed awake long enough to visualize my Time Trial ride today and hey guess what - - Personal Best AGAIN::))
RL
You try it, let me know your results!
One last note to the ladies...WE CAN RACE AND HAVE FUN...here's a pic of Sheri and I today ---it was her 1st race:)
Sunday, April 19, 2009
California --the way life should be
Bikes, Bikinis, Beach and Bar---what a day.
Sandy, Sheri and RL in photo...
Set out on the bike early from Ventura to get in some not so hard mileage on the bike. Ventura to lake casitas, ojai and back. Of course it turns out to be one of the hottest days of the year so far...just the way I like it--no warmers and finally the chance to get some of those cyclists' tan lines going.
Ended at the beach, put on the bikini to enjoy the surfers and the dolphins. Beautiful day and the beach was packed with people and dogs; everyone was outside having fun!
Finished off the day with dinner and a cold one at the Irish pub.
Sweet!
RL
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Ladies night
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