Going the Distance

Last night I was feeling like I truly need to begin working the hills. I feel like it's finally time to begin training the hills. Pete originally recommended Saturday distance training and Sunday hill training. I think it's time to set a training schedule and stick to it. I told him the route I wanted to do. He was willing, but trying to make sure I was ready. He said "it's 800 feet of climbing." My honest response was "I don't really know what that means." I know what the words mean, but I don't know what that translates to in ease/challenge of the ride.


On the way home from the grocery store last night, I asked Pete to drive the route so I could see the route again. I remembered one big hill once you make the turn. Well, that one big is is one loonnnggg hill. Then there really are lots of little hills that just don't end. There's construction causing a one-lane bridge with a signal that a bike won't trigger. I was convinced. "Let's go for distance on the flat route tomorrow," I suggest. Okay, so I was finally giving in and taking him up on his suggestion, but don't tell anyone.


Because the weather has been 95-100 every day, we had to shift the Sunday group ride time to an earlier start. With the heat, you just have to be off the road before it gets too hot. No one was able to make the shift to join us, so Pete and I head out on our own. We got to Cibolo and set wheels down by 8. It was quickly clear to me that I just did not have the energy for the ride today. I'm anxiously awaiting for caffeine to kick in, or something, but it isn't there. As we ride, I tell Pete that I need to take it slower today. My legs aren't there for a higher cadence or a higher speed.


We stop for a break and I celebrate how well I managed to stop just six inches behind Pete. As I celebrate, I forget to set my foot down, so I'm stopped and the bike starts to lean to the right. My first reaction is to put my right foot out, but it's still clipped in, so I pull the bike to the right. Then the water in the camelbak sloshes to the right and I end up diving with the bike onto the ground. I can't do anything but laugh. Pete turns around with a "what happened?" and a confused look. All I can do is shrug and stay "I stopped so well right behind you." Apparently, no more celebrating while I'm on the bike still.

Back on the road, we are headed toward the speedway. My gears seem to be chattering a lot and I can't make an adjustment to quiet them down. I mention the talking to Pete and he pulls behind me to look. Then I hear "when you can, pull over and get off." Oops! Something is wrong. Sure enough, my latest fall (okay... dive) bent the shifting mechanism on the bike. And I wonder why I'm having shifting problems with the gears lately! Time to stop falling. Sheesh! Quick roadside adjustment and we're back on the road. We pedal right on past the speedway and up and over the overpass. I get to the other side and I'm thrilled that I made it up the overpass, but very careful not to celebrate.

Further down the road Pete signals that straight is the 27 mile loop or to the right is the 20 mile loop. I quickly respond, "20 mile!!!" I'd love to do the distance, but I don't have energy today, so figure I'm already pushing it to break 20. We turn the corner and wham! we have a headwind. There went any speed that I had. The longer I pedal, the more my cadence is all over the board too. I finally ask when we get to turn and I'm told it's still a ways ahead. I say it's time for a break and am told to wait until we get to the church. I suppose....

We get to the church and pull into the parking lot. He was right. What a peaceful setting. There's an old cemetery which may be worth exploring one day and a quaint old schoolhouse across the street which now appears to be someone's private home. It is so quiet you can hear the turning of the wheels of some approaching cyclists. After a nice water break, we hit the road again. We ride by the local airport and tavern. Talk about being out in the country!

Finally, we get to turn so it's a side wind. Whew! That headwind can be brutal. Time to cross back over the highway. I start pedaling hard to get up the overpass and keep downshifting to maintain that cadence. Part way up I notice that I'm pedaling hard enough to actual upshift again. I'm thrilled! I made it over that overpass with flying colors!

Now we're on the stretch of road where there are two hills. I made it up both of these before. They were a challenge, but I did it, so I'm not too worried. Pete mentions a new approach for attacking hills and I say "it makes sense to me, but I'm not ready to try a new approach today." Would you know I made it up both of those hills! Maybe a little slow, but I kept on pedaling and got to the top. Yes, I was out of breath, but I made it!

The rest of the ride is part that I've ridden a lot, so it's pretty uneventful. There's an incline on one of the roads that I challenged myself to maintain my cadence on a couple times early in my training. Pete cheers me on that I can make it up the hill. Regular comedian he is on the bike! We make it back to the truck and would you know that I finally broke 20 miles in one ride! Yes, it was the slowest ride we've had. Cadence was inconsistent, but I managed to pedal my bike for 20 miles.

After the ride, Pete and I headed to Bike World. While Pete locked up the bikes, I headed into the store. Tom greets me and while we catch-up, I mention that I finally broke 20 miles today. Not only does he congratulate me, but the new guy, Gino, who we met yesterday comes over to pat me on the back and adds a big smile and cheer too. I tell you the support from the cycling community is just amazing! Tom commutes 30+ miles to work (one-way) every day on his bike. He thinks nothing of doing 100 mile joy ride on his days off and he's congratulating me for pedal my slowest to complete 20 miles. It's nice to hear and goes a long way!

This time I had Tom measure me for a bike. Pete brought in my pedals and I tried on two different bikes. I took both of them for a test drive and determined that the pilot was not for me. The stand-over of the bike is just too tall. I knew fit was going to be a challenge because I'm so short. True to form, it's not easy. Part of knowing the fit is right is that I'm not reaching too far for the handlebars. Now I wonder how I'm supposed to know what "too far" really is.

The first test drive was scary! I hadn't realized how much I truly have in front of me on my bike. In a road bike, there's not much between you and the road ahead. Every little move you make turns the bike. The shifting is different too. I like it, but I can see that it will take some getting used to. I have some research to do now, but it helps to have ridden a real road bike now.



Goals
Today's Miles: 20
Total Miles Achieved: 159
Financial Investment: $863.55
Total Weight Loss: 0