Thursday, June 30, 2011

FUELED BY FISH TACOS: Stage 1... Walden, Co to Rawlins, Wy

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Last night I had the opportunity to stay in Steamboat Springs. That meant that I was fairly close to Walden and fairly far from Rawlins. So I went backwards. It just made more sense. And, Steamboat happens to be a cool town. Last winter they received more snow than anywhere else in Colorado... Ever. So ALL of the rivers and streams were flooded. I saw sandbags in Steamboat, and a lot of sandbags in Riverside, Wy.




The ride started early as I screamed out of Walden going somewhere between Fast and Really, Really fast. I'm traveling light and supported (minimally) so that definitely picked up my pace. And there was a tailwind, and the Fish tacos. So I cruised. I hit the state line in less than an hour. I made it to Riverside (~50 miles) in just over 2 hours (the picture shows 82.78 miles in 3:30:07). Just before hour 4 things changed.




I had seen some clouds to the west after I left Saratoga. Then more clouds. Then more clouds, no sunshine and lightening. I could also see I80 in the distance. I knew I had to make it to the interstate. There would be a gas station or at least an overpass, some shelter. So I went from conserving my strength on the small inclines to riding hard. The wind had already started to change. It was in my face, then on my left, then in my face again. My pace slowed. Finally the wind settled in to a 40 mph (I am not exaggerating) cross breeze. My pace nearly stopped. I just made to the highway and ducked inside a shell station to wait out the storm. Reading over an ample stack of Style Magazines. I learned about the bizarre growth on Sandra Bullocks face, that Princess DI sent Kate a secret message telling her not to marry into the royal family, and that Katie Couric has a boyfriend who is 17 years younger than her. The storm passed before I could get any further.



Back on the highway. Literally. I-80. A little unnerving even with the ample shoulder. Now I was battling up a slight incline into a headwind. Blah. Then my support car (thanks mom and dad) met me and I wolfed down a couple of Pb and Js and then kept going for Rawlins. Only 15 miles now. Still a headwind, but as the storm moved away it kind of subsided.




On to Sinclair. Where it smelled, and then to Rawlins on a flat tire... Uh oh. 6 miles from the end of the day, too. So I pumped it up and hoped. That was short lived. I waved down my crew as they passed and grabbed the front tire off my mother's bike and made it too Rawlins (where it also smelled) and Dee B's Family Espresso and Ice Cream. Compression Socks on and back to Denver.

Stage 1
Distance: 111.34 mi
Time: 5:10:46
Ascent: 4657
Descent: 5190
Tailwind: Yes
Pace. 23.0 mph to I-80. 17.1 from I-80 to Rawlins
Here are the links: Walden to I-80; I-80 to Rawlins

*hopefully most of my reports will be shorter and less boring than this one. I mean, who wants to hear about a guy cycling all day. Boring.

Location:Rawlins, wy

Itinerary for gracious sakes alive

Whoo. Colorado... And the Rockies..



Okay, so here is a proposed itinerary...

June 30 Walden to Rawlins (108 mi)
Depends on when the bikes come in, but staying in steamboat and then
shooting over to walden to and biking up to Rawlins... It's slightly
downhill... And well, boring. Eat lunch by the river in Riverside, then
I will be on my merry way. My crew can truck up to Rawlins, jump on your
bikes and meet me (by coming west) on my way back into town. We can then start our drive back. Maybe stop in Cheyenne for some dinner. And, given my day, I will probably either complain the whole way or sleep. So, we'll hope for sleep.

July 1 Parker to DIA to Parker
The girl, we have to get the girl.

July 2 Parker to DIA to Parker
After what I assume will have been yesterday's successful trial run, we
will once again go "the location" (the Airport) and pick up CODE NAME BRIAN.

July 3 Walden to Kremmling (76 mi)
My extensive support crew and I will trek up to Walden and I will begin my epic bike ride over Willow Creek Pass. Mum and Dad, happy
34th. Enjoy your anniversary.

July 4 Kremmling to Breckenridge (57 mi)
Easy day but slightly uphill the whole way. Good weather and I should need very, very liitle support. Maybe some company for this easy day could be arranged.
So, we will start early and hopefully hit Breckenridge by early afternoon... Or maybe late morning.
Then lunch, and evening tide picnic and some fireworks.

July 5 Breckenridge to I don't know, like Canon City??? (maybe 99 miles)
Okay, the day starts off with Hoosier Pass (11,500) feet of just fugly (fun and ugly). Should be a fun climb. Then, from the top it is all downhill to Frisco (24 mi in) then Canon City in another 75 mi.

July 6. Canon City to Pueblo (51.3762 mi)
The only easy day was yesterday... No, wait, that was the really hard
day. This should be fairly easy and funnn. The ride ends in pueblo,
hopefully early, hopefully with some southwestern food in a fun, family
friendly atmosphere with an affordable menu and a helpful wait staff. If
not, about 9 peanut butter and jellys should suffice.

Okay, so that is the first half. I still have to get to Alexander. Hopefully with a tailwind in two days across the great (read lame) plains.

Okay, so my lawyers are making me say this...
These proposed routes are dependent on weather, the will of God, my
physical abilities, and the abilities of those around me to put up with my
particular brand of BS and their willingness to help/be bored/participate.
to hold my wheel.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Erggh. Triathlon

So, this morning I ran a triathlon.  That sounds amazing.  But, if you think about it this way, I swam 400 meters, biked 19 miles, then ran a 5k.  Sounds like a crazy and busy saturday... only, this happened on a sunday.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Wheels and the Truth

  So, last night, much to my chagrin, I discovered that one of my bike wheels was, shall we say, a liar.  It needed some truing...  A lot of truing (I would have just left it if it was only slightly off).  A bigger problem because I have just shipped off my road bike and I am doing a triathlon this weekend before I myself ship off.
  So I looked up on the interwebs what I ought to do, grabbed my spoke wrench, and set about taking my wheel to truth camp.  First, I played a maoist speech and started turning some spokes.  Silly me, I turned them to the right, when the spokes actually needed to go to the left.  So, instead of a half turn to the left, I did a half turn to the right, then a full turn to the left.  Ah, Lenin would be so proud.
  So, before you start calling me pinko or even full blown red, I would like you to know that I am firmly capitalist.  And I studied history in college so I am familiar with some of Lenin's works.  Yes, a firm capitalist.  If I can't get it at Wallsmart with a "Made in Chinatown" sticker on it, well, then I don't buy.  I like my dry goods cheap, disposable and plastic.  That's capitalism.
  So, my wheel is no longer leaning left or leaning right.  It is now right down the center... and made in Malaysia.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Finally, some distance!

63 miles... In just over three hours. You can see for yourself.


I'm preparing for my medical school boards (step 1). For those of you who are not familiar with Step 1, it is a tradition going back to the early middle ages. It was briefly outlawed following the back lash of the Spanish Inquisition, but it was quickly reinstated in certain areas of Northern Africa as an alternative to chopping off the hands of thieves. It has survived as a way of making sure people really want to be doctors.

It involves someone convincing you to voluntarily lock yourself in a small room for days and day while you study copious amounts of material.
Studying time measured in hours: 6.8 per day with 2.6 review questions
Studying time measured in terms of retention: 19 minutes per day
*retention is defined as a recall with 62% accuracy after 1 week.

So, it was a pretty big deal when I actually got out and notched some distance. My biggest concern going into Colorado is how I will respond to the distance. It is not just hours, it will be hard distance as I will be pedaling throughout e Rockies...every day...for hours.




Saturday, June 4, 2011

Back in the saddle

I'm back baby.

That "project" is about as close to complete as it is going to get. I learned a couple of things. First of all, taking off pedals is NOT easy. I had to pay someone to do that. I disassembled everything else, but I could not get my pedals off.

I learned That a TT setup is super fast (I kinda already knew that...). I've been doing a 22.6 mile loop in just under an hour. That feels pretty fast. I also learned how important turning the handlebars is. VERY. When I put the bike back together, the stem was smashed too far down on the steerer so the turning was, um, sticky. This made a fidgety bike. So much so, that I was afraid to ride it after 7 am, you know, when people are Wake and possibly in their cars. I took apart my stem again and this time gave it just a little more room. Now, the bike handles like a TT bike. Which is to say not well but manageable.









Then today happened (as it does everyday at about the same time). I got ready to ride. That meant fixing a flat tire, making some adjustments on the stem and "fit" of my bike. Then I rode. The steering got progressively tighter and tighter. By the end of mile 2, I decided I couldn't steer any more and I was starting to cut into my study time. So I went home. The steering was stiff and the bike was squirrely. By the time I actually got home, the steering was all but frozen. When I carried the bike up the stairs, the front tire did not even move. So, that one is back on the repair stand.

But, I get my new old one back tomorrow! I'm cutting into my study time.












Location:Richmond, Va