RM160 SAG HAG

My friend at Road Bike Action Magazine; http://www.roadbikeaction.com/ puts on a annual ride called the RM160 and since I'm definitely not riding 160+ miles on my bicycle, I got to be the SAG HAG. Der- was smiling.

The crew, including one awesome woman, started from Thousand Oaks at o'dark thirty on Saturday morning. I soon learned that this isn't your ordinary club ride... pace was up there right from the start and didn't let up the entire ride. Der-was smiling.

It was a beautiful route through Filmore, Ojai and Santa Barbara and the group continued to smile and have fun the entire trip. Myself and cowboy Bruce drove along behind snapping photos, handing out bottles and gel paks and I wondered if I'll ever grow up and be able to ride like these folks. Der- was smiling.

Lunch in Santa Barbara was wonderfully sunny, so the crew had a nice picnic at the park before continuing on. Remarkably, the day was uneventful with only a few mechanical issues and most vehicles seemed to yield to the group. Der- was smiling.

As late afternoon approached I wondered if they would make it back before darkness, especially since the dreaded climb (dreaded only by me) was the last climb of the day...at this point the guys realized it might be more than 160 miles...Der- was still smiling.

I gave one rider a ride back to his car, grabbed an espresso, and drove back to the coast to see who was left. On the way I ran into a rider I hadn't seen since the start??--he was crazed with hunger and thirst, so I filled his water and hoped he wasn't going to chew off my arm if I gave him a ride. No ride for him--he was going to finish and he DID!

Back at the last pit stop on Lewis road, my friend was spinning to warm the legs before the climb. One by one the guys rolled in desperate for Red Bull and whatever caffinated, sugar loaded, carb, energy burst they could get. Der- was still smiling.

The climb up Portero was/is brutal, but the remaining 6 or 7 guys all made it up--Der- smiled the entire way up.

At the end of the day, the guys were worn out, needed showers and real food. RM treated everyone to dinner at BJs, which was great to recap the ride, but most of them looked like they were 2 seconds from being face down in the pillow. Der- wasn't there but I know he was smiling.

All in all a great experience to watch; not gonna rush out and do that, but maybe someday:)

rl

Fiesta Island

Fiesta Island Time Trial, San Diego

2nd time trial--had to beat previous time of 44:56 which I did by 2 minutes 39 seconds

It was brutally cold, I was shivering so bad at push off I almost couldn't stay steady

I found it impossible to warm up on a flat course--45 minutes and my legs were still cold

I took 5th place, same as last time trial, the other women in my category all had TT bikes

Gotta get me one of those....also would like to do this again in the summer.

The hubby beat me by 5 minutes; this was his first time trial. Good job.

rl

Wheels, wheels and more wheels

I went to the Carp Tri to cheer on some riders with a friend. It was cold, foggy and wet...did I mention cold! I could not warm up and my glasses kept fogging up--I was dreaming of a fireplace and big hot chocolate, maybe a baileys. After lagging behind up a hill my friend swapped my wheels for his tubulars and wow-- a monster was born.

Even though the wheels weren't matched quite well with my brake pads, I noticed a difference right away. It was like rolling on ice; really smooth.

Since then I've tried several other kinds and researched more...I definitely will be lighter and able to climb better with a new wheel set....of course they will be great on my new bike. Tha is if I can ever decide on one.

Last night I used zipp 404 which I will take with me to the Time Trial this weekend in San Diego. Don't know if it will make me faster but I will look cool.

Three days to go....wish me luck; I need to ride 20 K faster than 44:56 to be happy
RaeLynn

Yerba Buena

So after being deathly ill, I managed to pull off the biggest climb of the year: Yerba Buena. 10 miles of up and up and up. The road was brutally rough, with cracks that swallowed my skinny tires and bumps that made my bladder scream for help.

The view from the top was of course amazing, but there was no time to stop for a photo. The entourage was already at the top and I have no idea how long they had been waiting, but it must have been a while.

It took nearly 2 hours to complete the climb with the overall 45 mile ride time being 4 hrs 30 minutes. 4000 ft of climbing and I burned off 2200 calories.

The good news is that this ride completes my summer goals of coastal climbs;
Latigo
Decker
Fernwood
Topanga
Mulholland
Encinal
Yerba Buena
Stunt
Piuma
7 minute hill

My coach said no champagne--haha I'm definitely celebrating
rl

Down for the count..

Yesterday I encountered some kind of germ and today I'm down for the count, flat on my back in bed with the nastiest sinus headache, pressure you can imagine.

It sucks. I've always heard that an athlete's immune system is like a delicate flower but wow--one would think; and wrongly, that being healthy and fit would make for a strong system!

Spent the night suffering but went to the Dr. this morning 1st thing; x-rays, antibiotic and painkillers.

The rest of today was/is a blur and I don't know why the floors won't stop spinning...

Hoping for a better tomorrow.
rl

Rewards

I have a riding buddy that says it's all about pain and desire...I say it's about rewards---

Like not having cellulite on your thighs...

Being able to eat anything you want...

Feeling strong...

And this reward after a hard climb today...the view of the clouds and the Channel Islands as I crested the top of Stunt Rd...

Amazing!

35 miles 4156 ft climb to what looked like the top of the world

Ladies Ride Labor Day

So nobody knows labor better than women, so we scheduled a Labor Day Ladies Ride. Eight of us took off from Gelson's heading for 7-minute hill. Jan did a great job picking the route, leading us out and making stops at appropriate places.

For some of our riders it was a rest day/easy ride, others a chance for their longest ride, and for me a chance to test my hard training work against the real women of cycling. We all had one thing in common...PINK; we were definitely well dressed and I've never seen more happy male cyclists in all my rides:)

We had one person who showed up but didn't finish--I won't elaborate, but thanks to L's hubby she got in the car and got a ride home...probably saved all of our lives.

All in all it was really fun. I hope we can do it again.
RL
next time I'll take a photo:)