In February of 2009, I got back on my bike. At the time, I could barely ride 3 miles and participating in the LIVESTRONG Challenge 10 mile ride seemed like a massive feat. Six months later, when it came time for the ride, it turned out to be too easy. My friend and I decided that in 2010 our goal would be to ride the 50 mile route of the LIVESTRONG Challenge.
Fast forward to December, I eagerly registered for the 50 mile route and notified my friend that registration was open. In February, she announced that she was pregnant and wouldn’t be able to participate in this ride or Levi’s GranFondo in October. My friends and family asked if I would still be riding without my best friend beside me.
Well… heck yeah!
Training got off to a somewhat slow start, but once school let out I was able to devote more time to actually trying to increase my ride distances. A 50 mile ride was still an accomplishment I had yet to attain. In fact, it remained so until July 11, the day of the LIVESTRONG Challenge.
I won’t lie. The ride was hard. By far the hardest ride I’ve ever done. However, I didn’t end up riding alone. Thanks to the power of social media, I had a lot of support from tweeps and a couple of other cyclists to encourage me in person. Emily and Michael turned out to be invaluable even though we didn’t remain together the entire day.
The biggest surprise of the day was that 50 miles, while it sounds really far to a person who doesn’t regularly ride, actually isn’t very far. I knew the climbing would be difficult, but I remained unsure about the distance. Of course, I got tired on the climbs (and yes, I stopped and walked part of the way), but at the end of the ride my legs still felt incredibly good. I experienced no leg cramping and minimal discomfort from the saddle. I’m certain that I could have ridden farther.
Should I choose to participate again next year, I’ll likely stick to the 50 mile route. I don’t think I’ll ever be ready to tackle Metcalf Road.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
"Cobblestone" Milestone
I thrive on challenges, and by analyzing my difficulties on the bike, I learn how to overcome them. It gives me a feeling accomplishment so I can move onto a new challenge, like climbing longer, pedaling faster, or riding further.
On my most frequent riding route, there is a particular stretch of road that lasts for approximately 0.75 km. It’s some of the worst pavement on which I’ve had the misfortune to ride. In fact, it’s so poorly paved and repaired, that there are rather large weeds growing out of the cracks in the asphalt. In one instance, I had to stop and remove sticky gravel that had lodged itself between my tire and fork, preventing my wheel from turning. In short, the road is a cyclist’s nightmare.
This week, while watching the Tour de France, announcers mentioned that the best way for riders to tackle the cobbles is to get into a big gear and in essence gun it while keeping a loose grip on the handlebars. This way, the bike more or less decides where to go. I’ve always kept a loose grip; otherwise, I end up with no feeling in my hands. However, my speed typically decreases dramatically when I hit this section. Instead, I struggle forward, frustrated and tired, cursing the public works department for poor road maintenance. Today, as an alternative to just continuing at a normal pace and releasing a string of words that would make a sailor blush, I shifted to the big ring and hammered my way through the horror with my teeth tightly clenched. Much to my delight (and likely the dismay of my dentist), it worked. My thighs were on fire by the time I reached the other side, but I got there swiftly and unscathed. Who says you can’t learn anything by watching sports on television?
The last few months have been ones of discoveries for me. My perception of poor pavement has changed significantly since I first started riding a road bike and I no longer fear wind as long as it’s not gusty. With very little thought or concern, I tackle small inclines that once made me grumble. Though I probably spend far more time worrying about my riding technique than anybody who isn’t a racer should, I feel this narcissistic tendency has made me a more confident and enthusiastic rider.
There are currently four more days before the LIVESTRONG Challenge, the event that I’ve been preparing for all winter and spring. Yes, I’m nervous, but I keep telling myself that if I take it easy and pace accordingly, I’ll be fine. I have no idea if this will work, but between that and recognizing the growth I’ve made over the last year and a half back on a bike, I find it keeps me calm so I can sleep at night. Although, I certain Saturday night will require some help.
On my most frequent riding route, there is a particular stretch of road that lasts for approximately 0.75 km. It’s some of the worst pavement on which I’ve had the misfortune to ride. In fact, it’s so poorly paved and repaired, that there are rather large weeds growing out of the cracks in the asphalt. In one instance, I had to stop and remove sticky gravel that had lodged itself between my tire and fork, preventing my wheel from turning. In short, the road is a cyclist’s nightmare.
This week, while watching the Tour de France, announcers mentioned that the best way for riders to tackle the cobbles is to get into a big gear and in essence gun it while keeping a loose grip on the handlebars. This way, the bike more or less decides where to go. I’ve always kept a loose grip; otherwise, I end up with no feeling in my hands. However, my speed typically decreases dramatically when I hit this section. Instead, I struggle forward, frustrated and tired, cursing the public works department for poor road maintenance. Today, as an alternative to just continuing at a normal pace and releasing a string of words that would make a sailor blush, I shifted to the big ring and hammered my way through the horror with my teeth tightly clenched. Much to my delight (and likely the dismay of my dentist), it worked. My thighs were on fire by the time I reached the other side, but I got there swiftly and unscathed. Who says you can’t learn anything by watching sports on television?
The last few months have been ones of discoveries for me. My perception of poor pavement has changed significantly since I first started riding a road bike and I no longer fear wind as long as it’s not gusty. With very little thought or concern, I tackle small inclines that once made me grumble. Though I probably spend far more time worrying about my riding technique than anybody who isn’t a racer should, I feel this narcissistic tendency has made me a more confident and enthusiastic rider.
There are currently four more days before the LIVESTRONG Challenge, the event that I’ve been preparing for all winter and spring. Yes, I’m nervous, but I keep telling myself that if I take it easy and pace accordingly, I’ll be fine. I have no idea if this will work, but between that and recognizing the growth I’ve made over the last year and a half back on a bike, I find it keeps me calm so I can sleep at night. Although, I certain Saturday night will require some help.
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