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April 25, 2007
Chico Wildflower
In spite of all the rain Saturday night, and the constant "threat" of rain on Sunday, the Wildflower ride went off without a hitch.
I met up with Paul and his buddies at 7:00 and we headed out for 100 miles of fun. The first hill was humboldt, which was pretty easy. The only "challenge' was to be able to see - I bought a hooded, very light weight rain jacket from Trailhead Adventures on Thursday in anticipation of rain. With the hood on, and my helmet over the top, I created my own little microclimate around my head (kinda like a sauna), and my glasses were completely fogged up by the time I reached the top.
The weather was still a little damp, so we had a pretty mild trip down Hwy 32 - I had no interest in breaking a speed record with wet pavement.
Our next challenge was HoneyRun - what a beautiful ride. It was still just a little misty/foggy, and the scenery was breathtaking. With all the rain the night before, there were two waterfalls going strong - and they looked like a postcard from Hawai.
Just a little rain as we went across Pearson, and down Pentz Road. Lots of riders going really, really fast on the downhill. I maxed out at about 40 mph, but lots of guys I talked to hit over 50.
About the time the rain and damp weather went away, is when I started having problems with my pedals. I have Look Brand clip-ins, which have performed flawlessly for the last two years. Unfortunatly, walking in the mud at the start of the ride seemed to have jammed everything up - and it was getting more and more difficult to clip in or out. Anyone that has ridden with their feet "clipped in" understands the horror of trying to get your foot undone at a stop light - and not being able to get it out.
Once we hit the North Forebay, the pedals were really starting to bother me - as now I couldn't get in or out. I borrowed some lube from the bike repair guys, but that didn't really help much. I warned my riding partners, so that if I fell over at stop light they would understand why (luckily I was able to keep upright).
The ride up Table mountain was tortourous as ever. I was really glad to see the last uphill as we crested the summit. Last year I had to stop and walk three times as my legs were just burned out - this year my goal was to not have to walk - which I accomplished.
The rest of the ride was really good, we set up a pretty long pace line once we got on Durham Pentz, and even though the pacing was a little squirrly, we made it back in to Chico with no crashes, only one flat in our group, and everyone still in pretty good shape.
Overall a fantastic day. Only weird thing this year was the flat tires - we must have saw hundreds of bikes off the side of the road, with the riders changing tubes. It started the first mile of the ride, and continued all the way to the end. We ended up finishing in about 6 hours and 35 minutes, which averaged to around 15.2 miles per hour. Not too bad for a bunch of old guys!!!!
A special thanks go out to Ed at Chico Velo, and all the volunteers that made this event happen. This is a huge event, and I'm sure all the motels and restaurants were happy at the end of the weekend.
Posted by Dennis at 05:57 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 21, 2007
Kiss of Death for Endurance Events
Well, I've done it again... It seems that almost every time I sign up for an endurance event, the weather turns nasty. The first was a 1/2 marathon in Redding about 4 years ago - there was wind, rain and snow of biblical proportions... Then two trips up to Tahoe to do triathlons - both of those were incredibly cold, and windy.... Then our infamous first marathon, that again had incredible winds and pouring rain the entire 26.2 miles..... And now, looking at the weather forecast for tomorrow's Wildflower, looks like I did it again....
100% chance of heavy rain Saturday Night, and 80% chance of rain Sunday. This should make for a very interesting 100 mile bike ride..
I've done everything I can - went out and supported my local bike shop and Sporting Goods store, bought a new pair of extra warm socks, a set of shoe covers to help keep my feet warm, and a really nice (but very light) rain jacket. I plan on layering up, and even packing some extra dry clothes to help keep the day from being miserable.
If you are out driving around tomorrow, please be carefull, and give the cyclists a little extra room - we will really appreciate that...
Posted by Dennis at 08:08 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 10, 2007
Easter Day Bike Ride "Near Miss"
In a valiant attempt to work off some of the calories consumed with our huge Easter Brunch, I went for a nice, easy, two hour "recovery" bike ride in to Chico, and around Bidwell Park. The Park was crawling with people, and I made a point of being very careful, slowing way down anytime I approached people (especially groups with kids or dogs). The ride was pretty uneventful until I came up behind a 20-something guy on a mountain bike. I slowed down (still in aero position, though) as I prepared to pass, waited for him to move to one side of the path or the other (he was going right down the middle). Just as I committed to the left side, and said "on your left", he suddenly slammed on the brakes, and just as quickly he fell over. Only problem was he fell to the left side, which is exactly where my bike was pointed.
Being aero, and one hand holding a GU at that, my ability to do quick evasive manuvers was a little limited. I managed to get all the way to the edge of the pavement, just as his head hit the pavement. Unfortunately, while I cleared him with my wheels, I did not quite clear him with my shoes and pedals. I clipped his head pretty good with the outside of my shoe and the pedal (of course, he had no helmet).
I stopped and ran back to see if he was OK - he was still hooked onto his bike, with the bike partially on top of him, yelling like a stuck pig. I finally got him calmed down, and realized that he wasn't really hurt, but he couldn't get his foot loose - I went to help him, and then I saw what the problem was - his shoelace had gotted wrapped up around the pedal - and that was what caused him to fall.
I carefully unwrapped the shoe lace, and lifted the bike off of him - he was still yelling, about his head hurting. He seemed to be OK, just very vocal about the now throbbing pain where my SIDI shoes whacked him just as he hit the ground.
I kept asking him if he was hurt, could I call him an ambulance - but he kept insisting that he was OK, other than the headache. He was lucid, told me his name, where he lived, and so on - so I helped him move his bike off the road, and left him to figure out how to tie his shoe laces correctly so they would not get wrapped up around the pedals again.
I continued on my bike ride, just a little shooken up - but awfully glad that I had been able to move over enough to clear him with my wheels - otherwise, it was have been a tangled mess of bodies and broken bike parts.
I guess the Easter Bunny was watching over me that day......
Posted by Dennis at 05:13 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 06, 2007
1.25 miles today
Did my first every 1.25 mile swim today - nice easy pace, focused on my stroke and body rotation. Finished in 53'26", which works out to about 2 minutes, 25 seconds per 100 yards.
Followed that with an 8 mile run in the hills of Paradise - easy pace, long slow distance. Finished the run in about an hour and 18 minutes. I was pretty hungry by the end of all that, went out to lunch and then ran some errands.
Posted by Dennis at 07:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 04, 2007
Wildflower Sign-up
Boy oh Boy, did the lawyers ever get to this one - printed below is the "Waiver" I had to agree to prior to signing up for the Wildflower Century. You'd think I was going big game hunting in Africa with a blowgun or something...
Statement of Risk
I acknowledge that this athletic event is an extreme test of a person’s physical and mental limits and carries with it the potential for death, serious injury and property loss. The risks
include, but are not limited to, those caused by terrain, facilities, temperature, weather, condition of athletes, equipment, vehicular traffic, actions of other people including, but not limited
to, participants, volunteers, spectators, coaches, event officials, and event monitors, and/or producers of the event, and lack of hydration. These risks are not only inherent to athletics, but
are also present for volunteers. I hereby assume all of the risks of participating &/or volunteering in this event. I realize that liability may arise from negligence or carelessness on the part of
the persons or entities being released, from dangerous or defective equipment or property owned, maintained or controlled by them or because of their possible liability without fault.
I certify that I am physically fit, have sufficiently trained for participation in the event and have not been advised otherwise by a qualified medical person.
I acknowledge that this Accident Waiver and Release of Liability (AWRL) form will be used by the event holders, sponsors and organizers, in which I may participate and that it will
govern my actions and responsibilities at said events.
In consideration of my application and permitting me to participate in this event, I hereby take action for myself, my executors, administrators, heirs, next of kin, successors, and assigns
as follows: (A) Waive, Release and Discharge from any and all liability for my death, disability, personal injury, property damage, property theft or actions of any kind which may hereafter
accrue to me or my traveling to and from this event, THE FOLLOWING ENTITIES OR PERSONS: Chico Velo Cycling Club, their directors, officers, employees, volunteers, representatives,
and agents, the event holders, event sponsors, event directors, event volunteers; (B) Indemnify and Hold Harmless the entities or persons mentioned in this paragraph from any and all
liabilities or claims made by other individuals or entitles as a result of any of my actions during this event.
I hereby consent to receive medical treatment which may be deemed advisable in the event of injury, accident and or illness during this event.
I understand that at this event or related activities, I may be photographed. I agree to allow my photo, video or film likeness to be used for any legitimate purpose by the event holders,
producers, sponsors, organizers and or assigns.
This AWRL shall be construed broadly to provide a release and waiver to the maximum extent permissible under applicable law.
I hereby certify that I have read this document; and, I understand it’s content. I WILL WEAR AN ANSI/SNELL APPROVED HELMET.
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each and all of the parties referred to above from all liability, loss, cost, claim or damage whatsoever which may be imposed upon said parties because of any defect in or lack of such capacity
to so act and release said parties on behalf of the minor and the parents or legal guardian.
AGE SIGNATURE OF RIDER DATE
Signature of Parent or Guardian (IF RIDER IS UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE)
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If you are ready to join me on this "Adventure", the link is here.
Posted by Dennis at 08:54 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 03, 2007
Too Fat to Tri??
I don't think so - here is a great story about a 29 year old lady in Oregon that weighed more than 350 pounds. Through a combination of joining weight watchers, relearning proper eating habits, and gradually walking, then swimming, then mixing in a little bicycling - she has dropped over 160 pounds. She is now training for an Ironman race in June.
Read the whole story here
Posted by Dennis at 05:50 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 02, 2007
I finally get it!!!
I've been wrestling with swimming for oh, about 4 and 1/2 years now - true, I am getting slightly faster, but since I started at a glacial pace, I'm still pretty much "back of the pack". I've bought and read books, read/watched the Total Immersion book and Video, had three different coaches work with me, and still, 2 minutes per hundred yard. I know, in my current level of fitness, I SHOULD be able to be down close to 1 minute, 30 seconds per 100 yard.
I watched a new video this weekend, that shows Olympic Gold Medalist Bill Kirby demonstrating proper swim technique. I watched the video several times over the weekend, and really tried to sort out what was different between his form and mine - and suddenly it came to me. Bill was making an effort, on every stroke, to raise his shoulder out of the water on his recovery. I've known every since reading the TI stuff that you are supposed to rotate your body to make it more efficient - and I would rotate every 4th stoke, when I took a breath. But, the other three strokes I was dead flat in the water, making me much less hydro-dynamic.
Watch the video here
I practiced this technique in the pool this morning, and what do you know - it works!!! Even though it was pretty new to me, it felt really really good. I was also able to watch a good swimmer in the lane nexto to me, and he was doing the exact same thing.
My sets went really, really fast - and even my sprint work felt really good with my new technique.
Hopefully this will be a major piece of the puzzle - to help me move from the back of the pack, at least up a little closer to the middle of the pack.
Posted by Dennis at 10:39 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack