The new Rig :)
The wheels are way too heavy but its a start :)
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Last Lap!
Up again and this time its my last lap. Its got to me well below frezzing outside.... I'm hungry but its too late to eat more.
my cold weather gear is soaked. So I go out in longsleeve jersey, jacket, knee warmers, but no good foot warmth... just bike socks.
I hit the trail in the dark, wondering WTF when is the sun going to come up. I hit the climb and I'm cranking along but not very fast.
As I get toward the top I start to realized I don't really need my lights anymore :) The is peaking up over the snow capped La Sals and
I'm very happy about this!!!! I hit the top of the main climb after running up lots of stuff but not as much as I did at night.
I'm rockin the downhill sections and for a moment before it heads up hill again I'm enjoying this lap. I hit the top fireroad and start to crank.
HOLY SHIT! that wind is cold once you get up to 20MPH! I'm backing off on speed to try and not freezer my ass off... I stop to put on booties but
its is so cold they won't stretch, I eat a bannana and keep going. I hit the base of the 2nd climb and start getting in a groove but my left pedal is
making some serious noises.... I hit the top and run up the sand section, I try and clip back in but my pedal won't rotate.... FUCK its seized...
I rotate enough to get my foot in and force it to rotate... Hey what the hell I'll make it harder on myself :) then my foot pops out.. I look down yup... The
force of the seized bearing backed my pedal right out of the crank... nwo what do I do. I pull over and stop I get the pedal off my shoe, bust out the multi-tool and
loosen up the end nut that compresses the bearing to get the pedal to spin, I crank that sucker back on to the crank arm and I'm off.... great I just lost a few mins....
I rip the fireroad passing a few more people that had passed me when I was stopped. I finish strong! and happy to be done!
Distance: 14.91 Miles | Climbing Dist: 7.85 mi. |Climb Elevation: 1,360 ft. | Avg Grade: 3%
1:57:46
my cold weather gear is soaked. So I go out in longsleeve jersey, jacket, knee warmers, but no good foot warmth... just bike socks.
I hit the trail in the dark, wondering WTF when is the sun going to come up. I hit the climb and I'm cranking along but not very fast.
As I get toward the top I start to realized I don't really need my lights anymore :) The is peaking up over the snow capped La Sals and
I'm very happy about this!!!! I hit the top of the main climb after running up lots of stuff but not as much as I did at night.
I'm rockin the downhill sections and for a moment before it heads up hill again I'm enjoying this lap. I hit the top fireroad and start to crank.
HOLY SHIT! that wind is cold once you get up to 20MPH! I'm backing off on speed to try and not freezer my ass off... I stop to put on booties but
its is so cold they won't stretch, I eat a bannana and keep going. I hit the base of the 2nd climb and start getting in a groove but my left pedal is
making some serious noises.... I hit the top and run up the sand section, I try and clip back in but my pedal won't rotate.... FUCK its seized...
I rotate enough to get my foot in and force it to rotate... Hey what the hell I'll make it harder on myself :) then my foot pops out.. I look down yup... The
force of the seized bearing backed my pedal right out of the crank... nwo what do I do. I pull over and stop I get the pedal off my shoe, bust out the multi-tool and
loosen up the end nut that compresses the bearing to get the pedal to spin, I crank that sucker back on to the crank arm and I'm off.... great I just lost a few mins....
I rip the fireroad passing a few more people that had passed me when I was stopped. I finish strong! and happy to be done!
Distance: 14.91 Miles | Climbing Dist: 7.85 mi. |Climb Elevation: 1,360 ft. | Avg Grade: 3%
1:57:46
Night Lap
I head back to the tent with more in my gas tank then I had hoped the stops did let me rest on the trail but I could have shaved a couple more mins off easy :(
I eat a bit of pasta and some potatoes and drink lots of water, nap a bit as the wind dies down a bit but blows at a good clip non the less.
Night falls and its my turn on the night lap.
Feeling good I head out but damn is it cold out! I am wearing an undershirt, long sleeve jersey, and a light shell, bibs, knee warmers, noeprene socks and a cycling cap under the helmet.
I could have def used toe warmers and a fleece hat. But once I'm cranking I feel ok.
Up the main climb I'm picking not so great lines = me running up a lot of stuff I road in the light. I get to the top if the main climb and I'm realizing my bar light is kinda dim... Think its time for a proper bar light!
I take a couple wrong turns in the dark as the course is just an open section really and no defined path its screwing up my flow for sure.
Hit the 2nd climb and start cranking feeling a bit better get to the sandy section and run up. Hit the fire road and attempt to crank but I dab like 3-4 times when hitting sandy sections as now in the dark I can't pick the right lines.
I crash at a pretty hi speed in one sand pit that was fun. Angry and frustrated by the sand I crank out the last section was just happy to be around 1:45
Stats
Distance: 14.91 Miles | Climbing Dist: 7.85 mi. |Climb Elevation: 1,360 ft. | Avg Grade: 3%
1:50:51
1642 calories
avg HR 165
Max HR 184
I eat a bit of pasta and some potatoes and drink lots of water, nap a bit as the wind dies down a bit but blows at a good clip non the less.
Night falls and its my turn on the night lap.
Feeling good I head out but damn is it cold out! I am wearing an undershirt, long sleeve jersey, and a light shell, bibs, knee warmers, noeprene socks and a cycling cap under the helmet.
I could have def used toe warmers and a fleece hat. But once I'm cranking I feel ok.
Up the main climb I'm picking not so great lines = me running up a lot of stuff I road in the light. I get to the top if the main climb and I'm realizing my bar light is kinda dim... Think its time for a proper bar light!
I take a couple wrong turns in the dark as the course is just an open section really and no defined path its screwing up my flow for sure.
Hit the 2nd climb and start cranking feeling a bit better get to the sandy section and run up. Hit the fire road and attempt to crank but I dab like 3-4 times when hitting sandy sections as now in the dark I can't pick the right lines.
I crash at a pretty hi speed in one sand pit that was fun. Angry and frustrated by the sand I crank out the last section was just happy to be around 1:45
Stats
Distance: 14.91 Miles | Climbing Dist: 7.85 mi. |Climb Elevation: 1,360 ft. | Avg Grade: 3%
1:50:51
1642 calories
avg HR 165
Max HR 184
Race Day
Race day hits... The wind is pretty insane.... sustaned 30Mph, gust in the 50+ range....
Derek goes out and puts us in a great spot sub 1:30 lap! Its my turn.... I'm feeling ok and hoping for 1:45 based on my performance a couple nights before.
I hit the trail and I ride a decent tempo to the base of the climb, I hit the climb and start trying to crank out the miles.
Its hard going and I'm not feeling like I have the power I need to pull a great lap. Mile 3ish I hit a couple run up sandy sections and I do crazy run ups and cyclocross hop ons to get going again.
PROBLEM! as I jump on and off my saddle all cyclocross style the nose of the saddle starts to angle up... yea not so comfy....
This had never been an issue before but I didn't really do these jump on the saddle starts alot... I stop before I get to the top of the climb break out the multitool and try and fix the seat... I angle it too far down... DAMN! a litte bit later I stop again and try and fix it.
Ok now the saddle is feeling good, I hit the fireroad section ater mile 4 and start cranking, the saddle slide back again!!! WTF!!! I stop for a 3rd time and angle it down and crank the hell out of the bolt! Its a little too far down but I'm not stopping again!
I push pretty hard to make up time, I'm getting passed by lots of people, I'm feeling really slow....Then comes the tech downhill sections and the tide turns I'm bombing stuff and passing people 4-5 at a time :)
I hit the 2nd climb and settle in and push good gears up and run up the sandy section, I hit the fireroad and put the hammer down. I crank all the way back to the camp... I hit discouraged by my mechanical whoos but happy I broke 1:45
Stats
Distance: 14.91 Miles | Climbing Dist: 7.85 mi. |Climb Elevation: 1,360 ft. | Avg Grade: 3%
1:37:56
1560 calories
avg HR 177
Max HR 187
Derek goes out and puts us in a great spot sub 1:30 lap! Its my turn.... I'm feeling ok and hoping for 1:45 based on my performance a couple nights before.
I hit the trail and I ride a decent tempo to the base of the climb, I hit the climb and start trying to crank out the miles.
Its hard going and I'm not feeling like I have the power I need to pull a great lap. Mile 3ish I hit a couple run up sandy sections and I do crazy run ups and cyclocross hop ons to get going again.
PROBLEM! as I jump on and off my saddle all cyclocross style the nose of the saddle starts to angle up... yea not so comfy....
This had never been an issue before but I didn't really do these jump on the saddle starts alot... I stop before I get to the top of the climb break out the multitool and try and fix the seat... I angle it too far down... DAMN! a litte bit later I stop again and try and fix it.
Ok now the saddle is feeling good, I hit the fireroad section ater mile 4 and start cranking, the saddle slide back again!!! WTF!!! I stop for a 3rd time and angle it down and crank the hell out of the bolt! Its a little too far down but I'm not stopping again!
I push pretty hard to make up time, I'm getting passed by lots of people, I'm feeling really slow....Then comes the tech downhill sections and the tide turns I'm bombing stuff and passing people 4-5 at a time :)
I hit the 2nd climb and settle in and push good gears up and run up the sandy section, I hit the fireroad and put the hammer down. I crank all the way back to the camp... I hit discouraged by my mechanical whoos but happy I broke 1:45
Stats
Distance: 14.91 Miles | Climbing Dist: 7.85 mi. |Climb Elevation: 1,360 ft. | Avg Grade: 3%
1:37:56
1560 calories
avg HR 177
Max HR 187
Slick Rock
The next day we woke up and headed out to the famed Slick Rock Trail. I was pumped! the weather was great (70F sunny) the wind was picking up but ok in the lower protected canyons.
We hit the trail and right away I was amazed at the traction this rock had... You could ride on a 30deg off camber section no issues, go up something you normally wouldn't even try and walk up...
It was fast and it was anaerobic! Steeeeep ups, flowy fast downs, up, down, up, down, up, down.... Derek showed us why training in Lynn Woods had big advantages. He was a power monster! I swear he cleaned every climb!
We headed out the long route and past Shrimp Rock with sick views of the Colorado river snaking thru the canyons.
We then turned east and over to the main ridge that looked down on Moab. We did a little extra credit to go out to Panorama view point. At that point the wind was crazy! had to be blowing 30Mph+ and on some of the exposed steep climbs it was hard to keep on line.
At one point the wind almost blew Jp right off the rock and into a pretty deep bryer thach.... We got off the ridge and back down into the Cyn and lots more ups and downs all the way back to the car :)
WOW! what a ride! someday I'll get back there and do more of that as it was amazing! crazy stats for a pre-race warm up :)
10.5 miles
vert?
3:28:32
2356 calories
avg HR 147
Max HR 187
We hit the trail and right away I was amazed at the traction this rock had... You could ride on a 30deg off camber section no issues, go up something you normally wouldn't even try and walk up...
It was fast and it was anaerobic! Steeeeep ups, flowy fast downs, up, down, up, down, up, down.... Derek showed us why training in Lynn Woods had big advantages. He was a power monster! I swear he cleaned every climb!
We headed out the long route and past Shrimp Rock with sick views of the Colorado river snaking thru the canyons.
We then turned east and over to the main ridge that looked down on Moab. We did a little extra credit to go out to Panorama view point. At that point the wind was crazy! had to be blowing 30Mph+ and on some of the exposed steep climbs it was hard to keep on line.
At one point the wind almost blew Jp right off the rock and into a pretty deep bryer thach.... We got off the ridge and back down into the Cyn and lots more ups and downs all the way back to the car :)
WOW! what a ride! someday I'll get back there and do more of that as it was amazing! crazy stats for a pre-race warm up :)
10.5 miles
vert?
3:28:32
2356 calories
avg HR 147
Max HR 187
Moab practice lap
Well after landing in Denver Wedesday night we headed back to Jp's and biult bikes and cooked food!
The next am we packed up the rental mini van and the 4runner and headed off on our 6 hr drive to Utah.
The drive east on I-70 is always nice est the drive thru Glenwood Cyn (which was my 2nd time driving thru there in 2 months :)
We booked it on the last section (route 125) thru the Coloroado River gorge to get to Moab before the biek shop closed to get the last 2 bikes
We needed:)
Hit the campsite just before sundown and setup camp just in time for the sun to disspear. We got the bikes all ready and set off on a chill pace night lap.
First impression was cool, tight twisty single track start, hit a couple sand pits (It's Moab sand is expected) then we turned North and started the climb.
In the beginning I was like cool little rock mixed with loose interesting climb.... After mile 4 I was like WTF this is a slow going climb! While it wasn't that steep the climb was slow and rough and esp on a hardtail!
There were a couple sections where the only term that came to mind was stairway to HELL (even though we were going up...) the rock was ramped up at angles making stairs of sorts and it was ramped at you, so it was like pedal, surge up, pedal, surge up, pedal.
Making it very hard to get into a rhyme like I'm used to.
We got behind the rocks and at mile 5 we hit some fun decending, though it was a bit sandy. Then it was rolling up and down a bit and a couple hike a bikes up Sandy hills.
We hit the 2nd decent and that was a fun section down the "nose dive" and had some fun tech rockie down sections.
We then hit the second climb, much better! less sand, smooth rock I could set a tempo on this one! though it ended with a run up sandy hill.
Then we had 2-3 miles of fast fire road with sandy washes here and there.
That lap had some scray stats
Distance: 14.91 Miles | Climbing Dist: 7.85 mi. |Climb Elevation: 1,360 ft. | Avg Grade: 3%
2:25:56 mins
2025 calories
avg HR 162
Max HR 191
The altitude was hurting me and a 2.5hr night lap had me on the ropes as to how fast I could really do this course.....
The next am we packed up the rental mini van and the 4runner and headed off on our 6 hr drive to Utah.
The drive east on I-70 is always nice est the drive thru Glenwood Cyn (which was my 2nd time driving thru there in 2 months :)
We booked it on the last section (route 125) thru the Coloroado River gorge to get to Moab before the biek shop closed to get the last 2 bikes
We needed:)
Hit the campsite just before sundown and setup camp just in time for the sun to disspear. We got the bikes all ready and set off on a chill pace night lap.
First impression was cool, tight twisty single track start, hit a couple sand pits (It's Moab sand is expected) then we turned North and started the climb.
In the beginning I was like cool little rock mixed with loose interesting climb.... After mile 4 I was like WTF this is a slow going climb! While it wasn't that steep the climb was slow and rough and esp on a hardtail!
There were a couple sections where the only term that came to mind was stairway to HELL (even though we were going up...) the rock was ramped up at angles making stairs of sorts and it was ramped at you, so it was like pedal, surge up, pedal, surge up, pedal.
Making it very hard to get into a rhyme like I'm used to.
We got behind the rocks and at mile 5 we hit some fun decending, though it was a bit sandy. Then it was rolling up and down a bit and a couple hike a bikes up Sandy hills.
We hit the 2nd decent and that was a fun section down the "nose dive" and had some fun tech rockie down sections.
We then hit the second climb, much better! less sand, smooth rock I could set a tempo on this one! though it ended with a run up sandy hill.
Then we had 2-3 miles of fast fire road with sandy washes here and there.
That lap had some scray stats
Distance: 14.91 Miles | Climbing Dist: 7.85 mi. |Climb Elevation: 1,360 ft. | Avg Grade: 3%
2:25:56 mins
2025 calories
avg HR 162
Max HR 191
The altitude was hurting me and a 2.5hr night lap had me on the ropes as to how fast I could really do this course.....
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
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