Day on the Ride

Every year, ALC hosts Day on the Ride - which is an approximation of what a typical day on the actual ALC ride will be like. There were tons of people, lots of them familiar and we had a great time. Our ride was from Golden Gate park, up to Nicasio Valley Reserve and back. There were rest stops, sweep vehicles (vehicles that patrol the ride route and pick up those who have mechanical trubs and get them to the next stop) and fun, fun, fun.

Unfortunately, I had to utilize the sweep vehicles not once, but twice! ARGH. My back tire trubs continued, and I popped a tube about 8 miles outside of the lunch stop in Nicasio - which was the half-way mark. Some of you may ask, don't you know how to change your own tire? Well, yes... I do. But the external tire I had on the wheel set was so tight on the rim, I broke 3 tire irons trying to change it myself. I got swept into lunch and the bike tech tent managed to change my tire.

I ate, rode out again and then popped my back tire AGAIN about 3-4 miles outside of the final water/rest stop in Fairfax (about 3/4 of the way through the ride and only about 25 miles from home). I didn't have a spare tube and knew I'd not be able to get the damned tired off anyway, so I got swept again. At Fairfax, there was a great bike shop and I hoofed it across the street and $60 later, I had new rim tape, a good tube and a new puncture-resistant external tire that fit my rim better. PROBLEM SOLVED.

So I rode back into the city on my own and that was sort of nice to just ride solo. I always love riding with others, but sometimes it's nice to be out on the road alone... :)

Here's my stats:

Day - Saturday, 4/26
Ride Type - Onroad Training
Ride Distance - 72.45 miles
Ride Length - 06:02:11
Avg Speed - 12 mph
Avg Cadence - 76
Avg Heart Rate - 144
Max Heart Rate - 193
Calories burned - 5546
Total Training Distance To-Date: 1000.21 miles

More Distance, More Hills

So yesterday I rode another ALC ride... from the North end of SF, near GG Bridge, up to Marin, all the way up to China Camp (BEAUTIFUL!!! right on the water - amazing!), back down, then hopped on Paradise Drive for the Tib Loop and came home. It was CRAZY windy on the ascent back to and going across GG. So much so that it blew me OFF my bike. I luckily was able to clip out in time to get my foot on the ground, so I didn't eat it and I didn't damage Clyde. But it was rough. So harsh that it sounded like a contant very loud hum of machinery along the bridge, but that was the sound of vibration the metal of the bridge was making from the wind!!!

I rode with my lesbians (finally - it'd been forever) but also we hooked up with the 3 J's again! It was awesome to see them again- they're such nice folks and will be additional friendly faces on the ride. And who knows, maybe my first set of East Bay friends!

Here's my stats from yesterday...although it's missing about 5-8 minutes of time, probably 200 calories roughly and maybe a mile of distance. I popped a tube JUST before the ascent out of Sausalito, roughly 5-6 miles from our finish. DAMN! Luckily I had lesbians in tow to help :) ! And while changing the flat, JT held my bike computer and then forgot to get it back from her for the uphill to GG. But I got it back before we traversed the bridge.



Day - Saturday, 4/19
Ride Type - Onroad Training
Ride Distance - 64.95 miles
Ride Length - 5:15:25
Avg Speed - 12.0 mph
Avg Cadence - 82
Avg Heart Rate - 142
Max Heart Rate - 190
Calories burned - 4849
Total Training Distance To-Date: 926.92 miles

Los Altos - Woodside - Portola

Me and Eliza went for a diddy down south, had a great time. A little chilly but really fun!~

Day - Saturday, 2/17
Ride Type - Road Training
Ride Distance - 31.86 miles
Ride Length - 2:20:48
Avg Speed - 13.6 mph
Avg Cadence - 82
Avg Heart Rate - 143
Max Heart Rate - 176
Calories burned - 2251
Total Training Distance To-Date: 629.12 miles

Another Merced Loop

Day - Sunday, 3/9
Ride Type - Outdoor Training
Ride Distance - 19.73 miles
Ride Length - 1:33:42
Avg Speed - 12.6 mph
Avg Cadence - 78
Avg Heart Rate - 141
Max Heart Rate - 181
Calories burned - 1272
Total Training Distance To-Date: 583.88 miles

Super Sunday!

I know - I can hardly believe it too, but I actually rode three times this week, twice on-road and two days IN A ROW - WOOT WOOT! I am back on track with a vengeance. Today we took it easy, but me, JT, EPL and Danny took on the easey-peasey-japanesey Lake Merced Loop. Nothing major, but still - more time in the saddle. And with the ride only about 3.5 months away, that's the name of the game!!!

Day - Sunday, 2/10
Ride Type - On-Road Training
Ride Distance - 21.48 miles
Ride Length - 1:55:48
Avg Speed - 11.2 mph
Avg Cadence - 76
Avg Heart Rate - 131
Calories burned - 1424
Total Training Distance To-Date: 496.6 miles

Freaky Friday

I was inspired by my run on Monday and thought I would do it again today. I woke up at 5:45 am, lolled around too long as I am want to do in the mornings, then finally motivated to get out of my house by 6:45, on my bike, headed to Gold's SOMA. I climbed on the treadmill by 7:15 and ran intervals again. I did well - it was easier this time, so I ran an additional interval (9 sprints this time instead of 8 as on Monday).

I showered at the gym (something I HATE doing) and then climbed back on Clyde and headed to work. Around 6th and Brannan, by the 280 on-ramp, I took a screw in my rear tire and popped it. ARGH! I pulled over on 5th and Brannan and began the tube change. I got the tube in, and the tire re-seated and then used my CO2 cartridge to fill the tire - my first time. I pretty much wasted most of the first cartridge due to my mistake in use. WAH. Then with my 2nd and final cartridge, I got the tire inflated. But the tire was mis-seated at the valve point on the rim. I had to bleed about 75% of the air out to reseat it properly. Then I didn't have enough gas in the last cartridge to get me pumped back up. DAMN!

I tried calling a cab but they were busy and said it'd be a while, so I began to walk. At 2nd between Brannan and I think Harrison I caught a cab and had to take the front wheel and the seat post out to get it to fit in the trunk. I try to be good and exercise and the baby Jesus does nothing but shower hate and punishment on me. Why??? WHY??? :)

span >Day - Friday, 12/21
Run Type - Interval Training
Run Distance - 4.0 miles
Run Length - 0:50:30
Avg Speed - 4.8 mph
Avg Heart Rate - 156
Time in zone - unknown
Time above zone - unknown*

* My damned Polar 200CAD cyclometer BROKE on Wednesday, so I didn't have the benefit of my heart rate monitor today. I already bought a new one but it's a different make/model and I haven't charged and installed it yet. So the avg above is per the treadmill computer and I don't really trust it.

** I forgot to enter my weight until about 5 mins had passed, so this is slightly understated, but directionally correct.

It's a C-O-N-spiracy!!

So lots of different forces are conspiring to keep me off Clyde: Sick brother vomiting upon his arrival from Singapore (but thankfully he's better now!), holiday overeating early due to early family holiday gathering, then this morning, my buddy Liz's back is acting up so she had to bow out, plus it's a bit drizzly. None of these things are really avoidable or changeable, mind you, and I realize that, but it just all sort of sucks. I've been a bit bad this month. Better to slack in December than in May - only one month from the ride - I suppose...

But here's where cross-training comes in handy. I'm going to go off to the SOMA location of Gold's, check it out with my other brother, and run. Should be interesting. Perhaps I can begin to work in one to two days a week at that gym, leaving my house early, riding my bike, working out, showering for work there and then I'll only be like 10 mins from work, if that. That would be nice. Or maybe I could go during lunch? Who knows.

At any rate, the Singapore brother is feeling better and we are to go for a shorter bike ride this afternoon on the Lake Merced Loop (provided it doesn't rain again) - so I will mount Clyde at some point today... And I'll get back on him on Thursday as well for indoor interval training. I guess all is not lost.

Frustrated Friday

I had planned last night to wake up early and train this morning. Something frustrated me a little bit yesterday, so I woke up at 4:55 am still a little cranky. I thought about going back to bed and just scrapping it. I'm so glad I didn't. No, cycling didn't erase the crankiness, but it did help a little. Endorphins are cool!

Day - Friday, 11/30
Ride Type - Indoor Training
Ride Distance - 14.0 miles
Ride Length - 1:05:01
Avg Speed - 13.0 mph
Avg Cadence - 78
Avg Heart Rate - 139
Time in zone - 01:00:17
Time below zone - 0:04:44
Calories burned - 828
Total Training Distance To-Date: 315.6 miles

Wobbly Wednesday

So I haven't jumped up on Clyde since last Saturday's awesome ride. Today, my knees complained about it, but I still put in an hour while burning through some junk on my DVR. Time to med-up on Aleve and stretch some.

Day - Wednesday, 11/28
Ride Type - Indoor Training
Ride Distance - 13.0 miles
Ride Length - 1:03:21
Avg Speed - 13.0 mph
Avg Cadence - 80
Avg Heart Rate - 134
Time in zone - 0:55:55
Time above zone - 0:00:02
Calories burned - 753
Total Training Distance To-Date: 301.6 miles

Ambitious Wednesday

JT rolled up to my front door on her "city bike" ;0) at 6:15am today and we put out the Lake Merced Loop. CHILLY CHILLY CHILLY. Thank god I found some running tights and that I also purchased sleeves last weekend. Um - and now I understand the need for toe covers. I hate that I will have to visit Sports Basement this weekend. Yeah, not really. I freaking LOVE that place.

Day - Wednesday, 11/21
Ride Type - On-Road Training
Ride Distance - 20.9 miles
Ride Length - 1:40:37
Avg Speed - 12.5 mph (this is good improvement)
Avg Cadence - 84 (this rocks!)
Avg Heart Rate - 148
Time in zone - 1:01:56
Time above zone - 0:35:38
Calories burned - 1435
Total Training Distance To-Date: 257.0 miles

Ocean Beach and Lake Merced

Today I went on a ride with my new friend and cycling buddy Liz. She's a nurse/midwife and all-around cool chick that I met through my friends/sis-in-laws EPL and JT. She took me on a nice loop from our house (we live in the same 'hood, conveniently enough!), through the panhandle, through Golden Gate Park, up to Ocean Beach and along the ocean, around the Lake Merced Loop and then doubling back home exactly the same way we came. It was awesome. Below are my stats (compliments of my sweet new cyclometer (details in my gear info on the right side over there) and then a couple of pics I took. All in all - a GREAT morning. THANKS LIZ!!!!!

Day - Sunday, 11/11
Ride Type - On-Road Training
Ride Distance - 21.0 miles
Ride Length - 1:45:54
Avg Speed - 11.9 mph
Avg Cadence - 76
Avg Heart Rate - 138
Time in zone - 1:10:23
Calories burned - 1339
Total Training Distance To-Date: 180.7 miles

Thanks to GoogleEarth and powerpoint, here's a look at mine and Liz's route today:

A Waterfall in Golden Gate Park

Another view of the same waterfall...

A statue at Lake Merced