The Three Bears Can Go To Hell

So a couple of things: I went down to REI last Sunday and got me a new Thule roof rack.  Pics later.  I got 20% off one of the components, and I got the bike holder thing used, for $50 ($130 list price).  There was also a pair of lock cylinders in the box, which is $35.  Still pretty pricey, but now I can use my trunk when I take my bike places!

Secondly, both rides were rained out again on Saturday, although I did go to the Cinderella graduation party.  We had pizza and I got to see all the ladies' eyes and hair, which is kind of a surprise when you only see them on bike rides.

This is what we normally look like.  Thanks to Danielle for the photo.

So instead I spent 2 hours Saturday morning riding on the indoor trainer while playing Phoenix Wright and then watching Shrek 4.  Watching Shrek was fine, but it turns out it's really uncomfortable to play a Nintendo DS while riding a road bike.  Maybe I will go back to the bike shop for another fit and see if they can set me up with new handlebars that will make it easier.

Fortunately it didn't rain on Sunday, so I went to the Team in Training buddy ride led by Coach Kieran.  The ride went up Bear Creek Rd. in Orinda, up some hills called "The Three Bears," which is apparently a Bay Area cyclist's rite of passage.

View from the top.

It was 37 miles total and 2800 feet of climbing.  I know that probably doesn't sound like a lot to any experienced cyclists who are probably thinking, "What, are you some kind of baby?" to which I say yes, I am a big baby.  At one point I didn't think I was going to make it, and I was cursing all the way up the climb.  This is what happens if you spend your entire life as a game-playing, TV watching couch potato, so let that be a lesson to you.

Here's a crazy person rollerblading up Mama Bear.

Anyway, the important thing is I got up all the hills and didn't have to get off the bike.  Sure, I was going at 3 mph a lot of the time, but I didn't fall off and I didn't walk.  I was actually more scared of the downhills than the climbs.

Kieran and Sara (another coach) were trying to teach me to ride in my drops (the curvy part of road bike handlebars) on downhills because it gives you more control and makes it easier to grab the brakes.  Apparently you are supposed to pump each brake alternately, so they don't overheat, and everything I was told about how if you just put on your front brake, you'll flip forward, was a lie.

Anyway, not only was I going down these really steep descents in sheer terror (because I'm a coward) but my arms really hurt at the end.  I mean, you can go down those hills REALLY FAST.  I wasn't, I was braking for dear life, probably wasn't hitting 40, but apparently you totally are supposed to if you are a normal, experienced, non-cowardly person.

After that, I took an Epsom salt bath, which is supposed to help with sore muscles and such, and then I tanked a WoW raid for the first time.  It didn't go terribly!  But I did pretty much shut down right afterwards.

Anyway, next big thing is the actual Cinderella ride, Saturday.  It's a metric century - 100km or about 65 miles.  There has been a ton of rain lately so hopefully it doesn't get rained out.  I'll be wearing a really stupid purple and white feather boa decoration on my helmet - Cinderella Violet Team solidarity, you know - so it should be pretty great, if you enjoy laughing at people.  I'll try to take a picture when I've properly drag-queened up my helmet.

Rained Out!

So Saturday was complicated and futile.

I was going to go to the Team in Training ride since I'd missed two in a row and I didn't want to make it three.  There was pretty much a 100% chance of rain, but both groups (Team in Training and Cinderella) said we were going to watch the weather and see, and they'd email final plans the next morning.

Cinderella group on a better weather day.  I'm on the far right.

So I wake up at 6:30am and check.  Team in Training ride is cancelled, Cinderella ride is on.  I guess there is rain up in Marin but not around the South Bay yet.  So okay, I suit up and head over.  We were supposed to do a 55 mile ride to Crystal Springs but crossing the bridge is kind of a bitch if you don't know when it's going to start raining, and there was a high wind advisory going on too.

So we did a modified route, and Betsy got a flat outside the BMW dealership, and she fixed it.  The BMW guys were pretty nice and offered to let us come inside and fix it but we were almost done by then.

It also started to rain, I guess that's what happens when you get a flat, you know, like when you wash your car.  It pretty much refused to stop pouring so we ended up heading back early after only 16 miles.

It's cool, though.  I ended up going up to Berkeley and buying Neversaint's stationary trainer off of him that day, and got in some spin time that way.  The Cinderella ride is now in less than 2 weeks, and while I suppose I'm ready, I'm still fairly intimidated.

I haven't ridden further than 47 miles, and the Cinderella is about 65, so... it's gonna be quite a thing.

Gap 30% Off Coupon

March 17-20, you can use this coupon to get 30% off at Gap, Old Navy, or Banana Republic, and 5% of your purchase goes to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, so win-win, unless you don't like Gap I guess.

http://gap.p.delivery.net/m/p/gap/gcan/gpjump.asp?p=bp/lls.html

It goes straight to the LLS, not to my account or anything, but you get clothes, and still help people with cancer!

Pushing Limits

So the last two Saturdays, we rode on Calaveras (43 miles) and around Livermore (47 miles).  Both had a fair amount of climbing (for a beginner at least!).  Near the end of both rides, I was pretty worn out.

On top of that, I've been trying to follow the official TNT training schedule, which includes trying to squeeze in 2 20 mile rides during the week, which, with my work schedule and the sun's schedule, basically involves getting up pretty early.  I tried riding to work last week (14 miles or so) but it was pretty tricky, and I had to bum a ride home because it's dark by the time I get off work.

Also, I've just gotten clipless pedals, which means, counterintuitively, that you get shoes with cleats that clip into the pedals.  I fell right off last Saturday and skinned my knee, but fortunately haven't fallen off since.  I have had some close calls, though.

Here's the boo-boo.  (Thanks to Danielle for the picture.)

Here I'm bumming a bandage off of Lori because I am a big baby.

It's really weird because I get off the bike the same way I always do, stand up off the seat, stop, and put my right foot down, and I've been doing that just fine until now.  Just seems like with the clips, I start panicking and forgetting how to do that all of a sudden.

Anyway, I can't figure out how to squeeze in these midweek long rides.  Between this and work and Cracked and WoW, I keep letting things slip.  I've got to figure something out.

Nothing Like Doing Something Very Tiring Before Your Day Starts

So I woke up at about 6am and rode 16 miles on the Alameda Creek Trail before going to work.  I tried to ride very fast but it took 1 hour and 11 minutes which is not very fast (average speed 13.5 mph I guess).

Though my time was not that impressive my level of tiredness was pretty impressive and now I will probably fall asleep before lunch.