Going crazy without the time to get in a good ride until Saturday morning. How does one cope?

Catching Up

Seems like forever since I last updated. Truth be told there hasn't been too much riding done by me here lately. I was able to get out for the Heart of VA century ride this past weekend. I had begun the day with a time window of when I would have liked to have finished. The window was between 5 and 5 1/2 hours.

The ride started off in Ashland and would take us all over Henrico and Hanover before all was said and done. I started the ride alone and before I knew it, was starting to reel in some of the groups that had started a little before me. This worried me a little as since it had been so long since I had put in a long distance ride, I was a bit afraid I wouldn't be able to hold that pace until the end.

About 60 miles in was the "lunch stop" where I stopped for a banana and new bottles. There I ran into Cycles Ed. Stopped and chatted with him for a second before getting back on the bike. That's when my fears came to fruition. I no longer had the power in my legs to sustain the 21 mph average I had set before the stop. It was a long last 40 miles full of upper quad pain in my left leg. Limping towards the finish, I arrived 6 hours after I started.

Despite the discomfort towards the end of the ride I was pleased with my effort. Looks like I will need to get out for the longer rides more often. Hard to do though with the race season dwindling to an end. Any suggestions?

A clear radar for the Heart of VA ride this morning.

Riding w/ Others

Spent this week riding with others. I know this is somewhat of a new concept for me as my schedule usually forces me to ride when everyone else cannot. So when a chance comes up I usually take advantage of it.

Met Zach at the store Monday morning for a nice 22 mile loop through the Hanover/Henrico/Ashland area. Although I have ridden out there many a time, I still do not know where the town/county lines are. Oh well doesn't really matter until I look like a dumbass trying to explain a route I rode through "Ashland" the other day when it was really in "Henrico". Zach got the chance to rock his new Diadora's and might I say he looked a bit Tom Boonen-ish(I know Tom doesn't wear Diadora's). Maybe its because they rock the same build but probably more so because he put a hurting on me for the entire 22 miles.

Last night, Jenn and I loaded up the bikes once again and headed over to WestCreek. After her first ride last week, the concensus was we needed to bring the bars back to her just a little bit more. Grabbed what I described to the LBS as "a stem that is short, stumpy and has a lot of rise", she was much more comfortable on the bike. 18 miles last night and she is pumped and asking for more.

Blurry due to speed!

Thursday equals a rest day with a short ride on Friday to get the legs stretched out before Saturday's Heart of VA century. Legs are feeling a bit tired as always but am looking for my first ever sub 5 hr century.

Spent Labor Day weekend in Hickory, N.C. with Jenn while visiting her sister Aprill and soon to be husband Adam. Saturday was pretty laid back and which means my ass didn't leave the couch while we watched the opening weekend's worth of college football.

Sunday the girls pressured Adam into showing me some of the local trails. A pint of Jack Black the night before had him thinking he really would rather not but did anyway. We hit up South Mountain State Park. Wish he would have told him to pack my climbing legs. Ended up climbing about 1000ft every four miles until about the 10th mile or so and then as we all know, "What goes up, must come down!"

Pointed the bike down the hill and just held on. The Carver was handling great through the rough rocky sections which put that shit eating grin on my face. That was until, "psssssssssssssssssssss" and then silence once again. F! Reached in my jersey to grab the extra tube I had pulled from the bag and found many a pack of Jelly Belly Sport Bean. Double F! Did I lose it? Nope my opposite of brilliant tail left it sitting on the tailgate of the truck.

Started to run down the hill but then realized that I hate to run. Since the majority of the remaining loop was downhill, I decided I would just jump back on and nurse it back down the hill. Wasn't worried about the tire but more so the rim. Got to the bottom to find a little wear (surprise suprise) on the tire but none on the rim. Still as true as true can be!

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In other news, the final few pieces needed to finish up Jenn's first road bike arrived on Thursday and I was able to hang them before we left for Hickory. Looking forward to her first ride on Wed evening!

And just to leave everyone with component envy, I finally was able to complete the SRAM Force grouppo when I found these beautiful puppies awaiting my arrival back from NC. And to think it only took me a year to accomplish. Will get those installed this morning before heading to work.