Day on the Ride

Distance = 78.12 miles
Ride time = 5.46.00
Average speed = 13.5 mph
Max speed = 39.0 mph

Day on the ride. This is the practice run so to speak. We started out in Santa Monica. There were rest stops and lunch along the way as it will be on the actual ride. I'm not sure exactly why but this ride felt very tough. The beginning was fine. Elaine was the only person I knew that was riding so we started out together. Lunch was probably the most significant time for me. I hadn't ordered a lunch so I didn't need to wait in line or anything. I had my own food so I just sat somewhere and waited for some people to get theirs. While I was waiting I saw a guy with a massage table in the shade. No one was there so I went over. I've never had a massage but I figured I could start now. Though I wasn't sure if one should get a massage halfway into a 70+ mile ride. I told him about my lower back pain and issues with my knee. He had me lay on my back. He manipulated what I think he said are my sciatic nerves or muscles. Felt like he was playing with my ovaries or something. lol At some point on each side he was rubbing and looking up then said, "there it is." I couldn't tell anything at the time. Then he pulled on my leg to see if that might help even them out a little. Apparently muscle tension can seem to shorten one's legs. Interesting. When I got up I had no back pain. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Niet. For the first time in about 4 years, no pain. It felt like a miracle to me. I know it was simple for him. Thank God I decided to take the chance of getting a massage mid-ride!!

The last part of the ride was very hilly. No mountains. Just lots of rollers. I rode with an older man for a little while who lived in the area we were riding. He talked a lot. I couldn't! lol But I stayed with him. The very end of the ride made it's way through Santa Monica. I was temped to just ditch the last mile and go right to my car at Emily's in Marina del Rey. We passed right by it. But I wanted to finish the ride and get some food. By the time Elaine and I got there most of the food was gone. We got some fruit and a couple tiny pieces of pizza. Strange that they'd run out already. There were plenty of people still behind. I can only imagine that the earlier finishers were pigs or took stuff for their families. Rude!

Good ride. Great weather. But I was ready for it to be over.

Not sure what ride this was

Distance = 72.93 miles
Riding time = 4.54.28
Average speed = 14.8 mph
Max speed = 33.0 mph

I have no idea where we went. I'm updating this almost 2 years later. Oops! It may have been one of the Solana Beach rides where we rode from Irvine to Solana Beach and then took Amtrak back to Irvine. That seems right. But, like I said, not positive. (=

Santiago Canyon

Distance = 48.57
Max speed = 32.5 mph
Time = 3.32.19

This ride occurred the day after the worst day of my entire life! I had met Gail in Los Osos, CA for a day while she was visiting a friend in San Francisco she had met online. She had, up to that point, been courting me like you wouldn't believe. She had been telling me she loved me and wanted another chance to prove to me she could be a good partner. When she saw me, something else happened completely... actually, I'm quite sure something happened while she's been staying with the SF woman, which then affected how she acted toward me. ANYWAY.... suffice to say. WORST day of my life! I drove home in the rain for about 4 hours. It was around 11pm or so when I got there. Then I had to get ready for this ride. And then I couldn't sleep. So when I got up at the buttcrack of dawn this morning, I was not happy. But I was determined to ride. I was feeling a little competitive I guess. There was a woman there named Elaine that didn't look to be in the same shape I was in. But she was cruising. So I did everything I could to hang with her. She actually gave me tips on how to shift gears before stopping. I suppose that was a nice thing to do. Just because it's my first AIDS Ride doesn't mean it's the first time I've ever ridden a bike! lol Anyway, we climbed pretty far up Santiago Canyon out of Long Beach. I rode up alone most of the time. Just staying on Elaine's wheel. I cried part of the time. Wondered what I had done to deserve the treatment Gail gives me. It's hard to climb and cry at the same time. I've tried running and crying and it works out about the same! lol So I tried to take deep breaths and just climb. But my thoughts could not be controlled on this day. /= At the top, we stopped at a little private lake that was having a fishing contest. Cute! I met a guy named Kenny and we shared a sandwich as neither of us could stomach a whole one. We ended up riding most of the way back together, which was nice. We seem to have similar styles though he is faster than I. I also rode with a guy on a hybrid who is HIV+. He was talking about a dead lover and being +. I figured my worries were nothing compared to his. So I left my shit behind on that canyon for awhile. We got back into Long Beach and everyone stopped at a Starbucks. There were a few of us that didn't really want to stop. So we hung for a few minutes and then took off together. I dragged a couple for about 10 miles in a horrible headwind. Then they started moving in front a little and pulled me for a little while. That was the longest straight flat I've experienced in a very long time. It was so windy. There were times I would just yell into the wind to get a little more energy. Counterproductive possibly... but it felt good. It was nice to see D'Azul sitting in the parking lot waiting for me! A nice long cry on the drive home and I am working on mental and physical recovery. This too shall pass!

Daily Trojan article about a presentation I did

Daily Trojan

100 Grand Ride

Distance - 36.37 miles
Time - 2.38.18
Max speed - 29.5
Odometer - 552.5

This was an organized ride through the Grand Rapids cycling club, the Rapid Wheelmen. I was pretty excited about the ride and meeting some new people that I could possibly start riding with. I got there and checked in and then took off with some random people. It seemed like everyone had their organized groups they were riding with. So I ended up alone. Aw poor me! I didn't mind so much. It gave me time to think and to learn a new route that actually did go near GVSU. The first rest stop was at a church and had awesome food! Lots of fruit, trail mix, and various drinks. I think I was feeling shy or something. I really didn't speak to people. And those with similar jerseys seemed to be hanging out together for the most part. So off I went just to finish the ride. Because I hadn't had anyone waiting for me when I finished the 5/3 Run, I had asked Gail to come and be there at the end of my ride. That proved rather silly the way the ride turned out. lol It was just me finishing and it hadn't been much trouble for me to do so. But it was nice that she was there. Afterwards, I'm not sure where she had to go. But I went downtown to Maggie's Kitchen and got some of the best tacos in town. (= Mexican food after a bike ride... perfect!! I'm glad I did the ride but I wish I'd been more social... or, more preferably I wish I'd accidentally gotten into a group that rode about the same pace I did! (=

Musketawa Trail

Distance - 15.67
Time - 1.05.58
Max speed - 20 mph

I like this trail a lot! It goes from near Allendale all the way to Muskegon. I didn't go quite that far today but I will. There were a lot of rollerbladers and walkers on this trail, which made it slightly precarious. In the winter, they maintain half the trail for cross-country skiers and the other half for snowmobiles. I'm not sure I want to see how that works out! (= This was one of those times where I realized how much time I spend around corn field since I moved from Colorado! lol Crazy!

Reed's Lake

Distance - 20.22 mph
Time - 1.31.04
Max speed - 34 mph
Odometer - 516.1

I rode from GVSU through Eastown and on toward Reeds Lake. I wanted to hit 20 miles so I had to circle the lake a couple times. Gail was going to meet me at Starbucks on Wealthy so I didn't have to ride home too. So afterwards we sat and had coffee while I was in my cycling garb! lol It was a good ride but too much traffic. Going to Lake Michigan in that direction just takes me into the city with more cars and such. On the other side of downtown I tried to use more side roads but those weren't in great condition so I was bumping along painfully. I probably wouldn't do this particular route again. But I wanted to get out and ride so it was a good way to do it and not have to retrace my steps.

Ride of Silence

Distance - 15.3 miles
Time - 1.33.03
Max speed - 24 mph

We rode out from Riverside Park and were silent the whole time. I would say there were probably 30-40 people on the ride. It was a memorial to those who have been hurt and killed while cycling. A lot of people stood and watched us go by Many didn't know what to do or say since we were so quiet. We rode downtown and around the park by the zoo and then back in a zigzag manner. It felt good to do the ride and I think the silence had a huge impact on people. Though I dare say they didn't understand what we were doing so I'm not sure about the clarity of the impact. There was a news article the next day so maybe that answered some questions.

Lake Michigan Drive - West

Distance - 25.12 miles
Time - 1.39.21
Max speed - 24.5

I rode from Grand Valley State toward Lake Michigan. I have done this ride several times before but don't seem to have kept track of the information. The main thing about this ride is how the wind can blow west and east at the same time!

Telluride

Kahn got his new tires and wanted to try them on a climb. So, being at a ski resort we tried to ride up the slope on a maintenance road. HA! It was too difficult. So, we went down and rode along the river on a very easy trail. Kahn played in the river some and we took some side trails but nothing too taxing. Later in the evening we rode to the town park to play tennis.

This was the first time either of us had been to Telluride and we fell in love with the place. I really wanted to just stay there. We bought a bottle of Telluride wine to drink when we actually move there!

I wonder what happened to that bottle of wine! lol I can't remember. Knowing me, I carted it around to graduate school and then drank it, smashed it, or flushed it down the toilet when we broke up! lol I would definitely enjoy another visit to Telluride! What a place! The music festival would be a great time to do that. (=

Winter Park

Went up Little Vasquez a short ways to the Blue Sky Trail. Kahn had seen it earlier when we had jogged. He liked the bridge. It was a little steep at first then flattened out. Very pretty. Kahn went down a little side trail to cross the Vasquez Ford. The water was quite deep and going fast. He made it across and talked to some campers then came back. We went back and met up with the Tunnel Hill Trail which was very steep. That we followed for awhile exploring some side trails but always going back to Tunnel Hill. That ran into Little Vasquez which Kahn thought went right to our condo. So barreled down the trail averaging about 20 mph. Kahn then took a small detour up to behind our condo. Then down through the wooded area and down to our driveway.

The next day...

We got up early and did the exact ride minus the ford. Kahn thinks he got up to 30 mph while I know I got up to 24 mph.

This was the trip of one of my most embarrassing moments! When we got back from one of our rides, no one was around. So we jumped into the hot tub and started removing clothing. Why we had suits on in the first place I have no idea. Well... my bottoms got sucked into the filter and we couldn't get them out. Around that time his parents showed up! lol So we had to call maintanence to come get them out. I can't remember what we said, but I remember we tried to convince them of an innocent reason for me being bottomless! lol I'm quite sure they didn't buy it. And I did get my bottoms back in good shape!

Delaney Buttes - Walden

Distance - 7 miles

Sheryl, Pam, and I rode around all 3 Delaney Butte lakes. Most of it was pretty easy but we went off only a few Jeep roads. The most interesting thing we saw was a cow carcass. We had to go back so Damon could get the head but it was gone. We got a little muddy but not much. It was about 7 miles.

Delaney Buttes - Walden

Distance - 1/5 miles

Rode around one of the Delaney Buttes lakes only about 1 1/2 miles if even. Then I rode around in the lake itself to clean of the tires. Fun -

Waterton Canyon

Memorial Day

Distance - 15.16
Time - 2.6.35
Max speed - 25.5 mph

Went up with Kahn, Farrel, and Sheryl. The ride up the canyon was quite slow and there were a ton of people there. Kahn and I continued up the Colorado Trail but both were very tired. We only went up an extra 1.5 miles. The whole trip was 15.16 miles which took us 2 hours, 6 minutes, and 35 seconds. Kahn's mom and dad fished awhile and we passed them unknowingly going down. So, we had to wait about 30 minutes. It was an okay ride. Total miles now equal 79 miles. Our maximum speed was 25.5 mph but only for a few seconds.

Bergen Park IV

Distance - 5.56
Time - 0.51.33

I went up to Evergreen to go to Alderfer/Three Sisters. But, when I finally found it, it was too wide open for as windy as it was out. VERY WINDY! So, I went back to familiar territory in Bergen Park. It was windy there too but as usual once I got back into the mountains it was blocked. I went the same direction as last time but took the long way around up Sleepy "S" instead of cutting across Elk Ridge. Going down I again made it around the "killer switchback" but decided I needed to try going up it. So I had to do it 5 times before I made it. BUT I DID MAKE IT! That made me extremely happy. Hopefully if I ever go that direction again I can remember how I did it. Basically, I was just going too slow and when I tried it faster I made it. No finesse. It ended up being 5.56 miles and I did it in 51 minutes and 33 seconds. Total miles are 52.

I did that friggin switchback SO many times before I finally got it. It was so frustrating! I just kept walking my bike up again so I could try it over. I was generally the type of person to take what I thought was the correct line rather than to just power through things. On this one, I learned that finesse just doesn't always cut it. I always loved this trail! Even when I moved back to Denver with Kammy I would go back to Bergen over and over. I can still smells the scents and hear the sounds! (= Ahh the good ol' days!

Bergen Park III

Distance - 4.35
Time - 0.46.42

Very short 4.35 mile ride. I went in the opposite direction than we usually go and it was good. I didn't take the Lazy S trail all the way around but went up Elkridge to Meadow View then around. I liked doing that long straightaway first instead of at the end when my legs are rubber. It was a good warm up. There was some snow and mud so I got dirty. It was great going fast at the very end. It only tookd 46 minutes 42 seconds. My total mileage is at 46 miles.

Amazing that I would drive that far (about 45 minutes) for a 4 mile ride! lol Tells you how much I really enjoyed it even though I couldn't go very far. Truth is, I knew, ever then, that I could go farther on some of these days. But I would get nervous being alone in the woods. I wasn't used to that yet. Knowing how I felt, I'm proud of my 20s self for pushing myself to get out there! (=

Waterton Canyon/Colorado Trail

Distance - 16.11 miles
Time - 1.52.18
Max speed - 23mph

Today was quite a long ride at 16.11 miles. It was great for working on endurance and fat loss but my butt is not very happy. Water was the same with quite a few people enjoying the beautiful day. Six miles to the big dam and my legs were really starting to ache. But once I got there I just couldn't talk myself out of exploring a small amount of the Colorado Trail. So off I went. I stopped at the top of a grueling .25 mile hill to check out a map and it turns out there is a loop that comes out at the top of Waterton. So, I went up the rest of the grueling .5 mile jeep road when it turned into beautiful singletrack. I couldn't believe I had never done this before. I continued up for 2 miles and then decided I was too hungry and tired to finish the 5-mile loop so I turned around and raced down at a max speed of 23 mph! It was very windy so going down Wateron was really not that easy. I finishe dwith 16.11 miles in 1 hour 52 minutes 18 seconds! It was a very fulfilling day.

All I can say to this is.... CUTE! lol "Grueling!" lol Actually that is quite a difficult little hill. Very short but very steep! And that I was too hungry to finish 5 extra miles. (= That's just cute. And I would say that 23 mph at that time for me was pretty damn good! Guess my quest for speed was just natural! (= It's fun for me to read these old entries!

Matthews - Winters Park

Distance - 26 miles

I went by myself this time. The conditions were much more favorable. I only did the first part to where you overlook Red Rocks. It was about 4.3 miles and I think it took about 1 1/2 hours. I spent a lot of time practicing finding a line and trying to go fast. On the way back 2 guys caught up to me so I let them pass but then we kept playing catch up back and forth. I lost my first bike part - a front pedal reflector - going over an irrigation log. I saved it though. It wasn't a very taxing ride but it was good technical practice. On the final descent I was trying to jump and I finally got the front up about 2 inches and the back up about 1 inch. Hey you gotta start somewhere.

What a dork! I save everything! I probably still have that stupid pedal reflector somewhere!

Bergen Park II / Elk Meadow

Distance - 22 miles

This time I had problems. I was having a hard time breathing and the gears on my bike kept shifting spontaneously. It was quite snowy so we had to walk every once in awhile. That made Kahn upset and he threw a couple tantrums (along with his bike.)

Bergen Park I / Elk Meadow

Distance = 15 miles

We rode very slowly. Kahn appeared to have altitude sickness or something similar and it wasn't very enjoyable. It was also very cold. So on the last stretch I kept going because my fingers and toes were numb. Kahn passed out and I didn't even know. We both made it back though.

LOL I'm real supportive eh? I have to say that he was usually ahead of me and never waited. So I didn't feel bad about that part. Maybe I should have! lol I did go back to help him. I wish I knew how cold it was that day. It seems to me that I was much more of a wuss in my 20s than I am now! (=