Regen, or the art of indoor training...

Despite the fact that it's been in the high 70s here all week I'm still training inside. Lack of time is mostly the culprit, but I typically have been doing half of my training indoor anyway.

It's not very exciting, but it's allowing me to keep up on my reading (Carmichael's nutrition book, which despite the fact that it's from like '02 or '03 still talks about Jared and Chipotle, so doesn't seem as outdated as maybe it could) and accomplish the goal of 4.5 hours (or, 75% of 4.5 hours) of regen this week.

Needless to say, I'm kind of chomping at the bit to get out tomorrow for a flat ride, or at the very least I'm excited about my upcoming Saturday ride. I have no idea on the route other than we're riding in the desert and I'll be following whoever is in front of me. It might be 3.5 hours or it might be 5.5. It'll likely be 5.5 hours of total time, but not sure it'll take that much for ride time. I don't often relenquish control of the ride plans, but this one is out of my hands.

I'm just excited about getting outside and that I don't have to wear a Camelbak to carry extra clothing for the descent out of Joshua Tree.

Other than that, I'm trying to get plenty of sleep (didn't work for me last night).

I've been trying to limit a few things:

• Alcohol intake (I'm cutting back for 5 ~ days to see if it has any affect on my sleep or training - so far it just means I can't fall asleep the past 2 nights)
• TV & internet (I have to get my "chores" done before I can turn on my computer or sit down in front of my DVR'd shows) - so far that just means I have about 40% of my DVR full and it'll be up to about 70% by Sunday afternoon.

I still haven't made time for yoga/stretching. Hmm. Maybe next month.

We'll see how long my limits last.

Happy Thursday. I can't believe I am still in this week.

Take 2

Well, Justin woke up and again didn't want to risk a big ride on the bike with his semi-cold. So, he decided to play sag/support car for me on my big ride.

I got suited up a bit later than planned, but it was warm enough to not warrant arm or leg warmers. I had no idea how the long the ride would take, but a hilly 56 I figured would take about 4.5 hours + the time stopped. Uh, I was quite off on time. I was a bit worried about missing the start of the Charger game (ahahahaha!). Needless to say, headed out and Justin was going to be about 15 minutes behind me.

It's Sunday, so the streets were pretty quiet.

Justin caught up and drove just in front of me for awhile on the rural roads.

I stopped at the Tenaja Falls, I think, trailhead. I was planning to refill my near-empty waterbottle, but the pump was broken and locked. Sucks. I hadn't planned on not being able to get water, so didn't have Justin carry much for me.

I probably should've taken up the offer to use my iPod on the forest service road, but I didn't. It was quiet, lonely, and windy. Justin drove just in front for a bit.

Then he stopped to check out a trail going into the wilderness, and I continued on my way alone for a long time. Miles ticked by. After a long time 4 mountain bikers rode by on the road, and not long after Justin pulled up behind me.

I actually didn't feel like I was getting anywhere. To keep it endurance paced I was moving pretty slowly, and it was either baking hot or I had a decent headwind.

I started up on my way toward Elsinore Peak and opened up the brake calipers for less drag. Could've been my imagination, but it sure felt like I was moving faster. Wound up seeing a Ranger truck, and not long after 6 other cars going the other way.

The long road behind

Coming up on the towers. Already? I've only gotten this far one other time, in spring or summer of 07, not long after we got road bikes. It seemed like it took forever to get up there then. Course, we had to turn around and climb back out after the climb to Elsinore Peak.

Justin had a half a banana waiting for me at the top all race hand-off style, but my butt hurt, so I stopped for a bit. I hadn't stopped in probably over an hour. I took off shortly after, and on a small decline wondered why the hell my brake levers were coming all the way to the bar.

EEK!! Good thing it was easy enough to stop; not long after there was a pretty big high speed descent.

First view of Elsinore once out on the other side on S. Main Divide.

Some more rolling hills anyone?

Main Divide and Santiago Peak are in the background somewhere there...

Justin followed me down 74 to ensure I didn't get run over. Phew. It was a bit nerve-wracking, but there wasn't really much traffic. I managed to descend it with my HR bumping 230! Wow. 230 never felt so easy. Major wind, and whatever other kind of interference is out there...

He headed home while I was on my way back. I tried to hit some more time, but fell pretty short. I considered trying to get some "junk" miles in after the ride, but I was sore pretty much everwhere, out of water, and hungry for real food. It was a really solid ride, though.

Recovery food number one... (don't worry, the cup is gonna be retired in about 15 minutes)

Kashi Go-Lean Crunch (Honey Almond Flax) is sooo good. I'm addicted.

Recovery food #3... homemade (by Justin) Multi-grain blueberry pancake with oatmeal

I think despite almost 7 hours of riding this weekend I'm gaining weight! It's not even dinner yet.

Solid weekend overall, but I am sorta bummed about coming up short on time. Just hoping that I'm not going to wind up sick in the morning! About to partake of a Coldeaze right now.

Happy Sunday.

Oh yeah, and it's ON for 2/1. I like football, but I can miss the first quarter of that one. Meh.

New Epic Day...first impressions

I'm a lucky girl. Not only do I have the full support for racing in 2009 from hubby, but he also agreed to buy me what is, arguably, the best full suspension race machine in existence today - the 2009 S-Works Epic.

He picked up the Epic from the local bike shop just after New Year's. The bike sat clean and warm in the house for a week before it finally migrated out to the garage for some fine tuning and general fitting. The power fit is scheduled for a week from tomorrow. Excited about that one. It'll be my first, and I hope the bike is a tad more comfy following the full fit and efficiency deal.

But, we did the full "parking lot test" last night. Justin didn't get the obligatory shot of me riding around in the dark outside, but promised to get a lot of pics of me today on the bike during its first ride.

We got to bed pretty late last night, and Justin came in after rumaging around in the kitchen saying he had bad news... the tickle in his throat had turned into a full blown cold.

Got up this morning and he decided not to ride. I went through our cabinet shelf of meds (which doesn't get used very often) to find out what we had...

No worries; I still had to get in my time. I got a late start, but we eventually got to the trails to find a thoroughly full parking area out there. I don't think I've seen it that crowded except for on race day. Lots of people out pre-riding the mostly marked course for 12 Hours in January.

While I was getting dressed I looked outside and realized Justin had let SOMEONE ELSE do the first spin on the dirt! I was a bit peeved, but I hope Jason Ranoa enjoyed the "first dirt" on the new steed.

I got ready and spun around the dirt and eventually Justin said I was cleared to head out. We had changed the seat and checked out the suspension.

The ONLY shot he got of me all day... so much for promising a bunch!

I went out a bit behind Jason's group, and a group riding with another local racer, Chad W. There was a bit of traffic heading up the Marine Corps climb, but I wound my way through the riders and continued my climbing...

My serious real first impression of the bike? How does *anyone* without monkey arms reach the bottle cage?! No I am not joking. Luckily I happen to have long-ass monkey arms, so I can just barely grab onto the bottle, but if you have short arms - good luck!

Aside from that, the bike was pretty good, but just climbing up a fire road didn't provide me with much to go on. My HR jumped around like a hopped up kind in a fun jump. I got to the first short rocky descent and no one was around. I started out on the brakes, but just let go and OH MY. The fork was sooo buttery smoothe. It was amazing. The bike was so thoroughly confidence inspiring.

Yes, I was on a XC race machine and the first thing I noticed was how well it was descended.

I took it easy on my lap, missed the same switchback I had on Thursday night on my Dos, and continued up up and away. I wound up passing the guy I had earlier let by, and wound up continuing on the course while Jason's group chilled at an intersection.

I was able to ride the new singletrack that I had tripoded Thursday night (I'm not particularly fond of riding a trail for the first time in the dark), and continued on to the ridgeline. It was effin' windy. No joke. I thought I was going to get blown off the trail. It was crazy. It was windy the entire way down the ridge until I got to the sand wash climb. Then it was just sandy.

I was able to ride about as much sand as I had on the 29er, but I think the 29ers do float a bit better in the sand.

Hiked up Marlin again, and then kept having "life flashing before my eyes" moments descending the Marlin ridgeline with the ridiculous wind. It wasn't as bad anywhere on the course as it was on Marlin. I almost was blown over 3 times (not just it was really windy, I actually thought I was going over and down the hillside).

From there I headed up the usual Ambulance to Tunnel. The only thing I noticed was that I was having a really hard time controlling my HR. No matter. Down tunnel and the one big early corner I railed! This bike was stable going down hill. I felt super comfortable. The fork was still awesome.

Justin had the Brain on the fork turned off, or nearly off. But, the fork was just butta. I couldn't have been happier. I was somewhat nervous about the fork's performance, but it was killer.

I was finishing up the lap and wound up hitting a little drop off, and a jump before heading back. Mind you, these are "XC" features. But, the bike was great! The rear suspension felt a little slow, and was definitely more noticeable when it "hit".

I pulled back in after my lap and went over everything with Justin. He thought the shock was a little low on air pressure, and there was a bit of oil coming out. Nothing major and he wiped it off and it didn't come back after another 1.5 hours of riding.

He turned the Brain on a bit more front and rear and I decided to do the real test... Dam climb! I took it pretty easy on the way out there, and noticed way more sand than normal. Is that what happens when no one rides the fire road and it rains? Lots of sand builds up? Maybe.

I noticed on a few small declines that I could sit and the bike just plowed through stuff. It's almost like the first time you ride a downhill bike and you realize that suspension can just be plush and wonderful and work.

It was sort of like that Mercedes (?) commercial where you see the tires being bumped around on the rollers and the people inside are just smooth and flat. It was that good.

I got out to the turn and hit the lap timer to time myself up the hill. I middle ringed up Chalk Hill, which I don't normally do, for some force work, but otherwise did a bit of small ring, and a bit of middle. The bike was a good climber. The front end liked to come up a bit more than I was used to, but it may have just been positioning.

I was noticing a bit more hand/shoulder pain than I should've been feeling in that little time. I just figure it's because I don't have my comfy team green Ergon grips yet! My current black pair is staying on the Dos, since that'll still be a main ride for me. The Epic will get his own grips when they come in!

From the top I just took the fire road, braved the first ridgeline again, then did Tunnel as my final descent. The Brain being "on" was definitely more noticeable. The suspension still worked just as well when it needed to, but the buttery smoothe plush-ness was no more. Easy to dial back in, though.

When standing, climbing out of the saddle, the fork was a lot like the Reba when it was locked out. The bob was about the same, but the fork was soft when hitting anything going downhill.

I got back to the parking area and Justin was mid-nap. I fueled up and headed back out for some self-timer shots.

Cockpit shot

Climbing up Marine Corps

Guess I should've stood up for scientific purposes, eh?

The goods

Descending Marine Corps (not as smooth as time #1! - but not bad)

Handlebar shot, cause y'know... I gotta.

Climbing up Bridges...these self timers shots are tough!

Rocks on Tunnel

Drop in fail...not only did I fail to get air on the mini-drop, but my self-timer shot was wickedly off!

Somewhat of an "epic" fail itself... I was trying to get a "when hobby's collide" shot, but the wind kept blowing the bars back into the bike, so this is all I got.

It is weird coming around the corner on Tunnel to the sound of r/c 8th scale engines and the smell of nitro fuel. I had thought those days were long over. For anyone curious - no. I don't miss it. I miss some of the people, but not the standing around in the dirt covered in fumes and grease and eating Jack in the Box ;) Eh, it was fun while it lasted... Besides, Tyler is probably too big to trashcan now anyway.

I wrote down some notes, but it's past my bedtime and they're across the room.

Overall, the bike was confidence inspiring on the downhills, and I think once I get to the put the power down on the climbs it'll be a rocket. I felt pretty good, but am hoping the fit gets the bars up a tad to take some pressure off my hands and shoulders. Legs felt great. I've been having random back problems, so I don't think my discomfort today was bike related.

Overall, can't wait to ride this thing some more. Come March I'll likely be on it a LOT. But, the Dos is definitely gonna see plenty of ride time in the coming weeks as well.

Though, to build some strength I was thinking about turning it into a SS! :eek: We'll see if Justin lets me go through with that one... Rigid SS I'm thinking 20.5lbs! SSWC watch out!

Just kidding, of course. He'd never let me go rigid SS. But it is oh so fun sometimes...

For anyone curious, the medium with bottle cage and pedals was 22lbs even. I did my personal bathroom scale weight test (it's a good scale that goes down to .2 increments - Omron). Justin did some grinding and switched out a few screws, but otherwise it's box stock. Will be until the SRAM order comes in. I'm also looking forward to going back to X.0 on it. The XTR works aight (*ahem*), but just doesn't feel as snappy. I also kept having to look for the front trigger shifter. Just wasn't used to it at all.

Until next time... Goodnight.

Something new for me...

Justin was on the trainer tonight for EVER, so I made dinner. Not so unusual, but I've never made (turkey) burgers before! So, I mixed all the ingredients and made the patties and hooked up the BBQ.

I can't speak for him, but I thought mine was pretty damn good.

Here's the "trainer" room right now

And, yeah, the peeeemp bike is still spotless.

Break-in is maybe Saturday? I got a fit day scheduled. Should be good.

Now I'm just hanging out with wine, dark chocolate, and watching "Biggest Loser". w00t.

More flogging?

Yeah, this might be painful...





Either way, hope it'll be fun. Planning on making it 4+ hours, mostly without traffic.


Here's hoping the weather stays dry. Might get a chance to take the new "weapon" out on the trails the day before my flog-fest part 2 above!

Sometimes you've gotta go out and flog yourself...

For me that day was today. It wasn't even that I really felt like I needed to make up the pain and suffering that I missed out on yesterday. I actually thought today's ride would be easier (and shorter) than it really was. But, a cold day in the "hills" is a cold day in the hills no matter how you cut it.

Old faithful

I can't remember the last time I was out there...but, for $&*#'s and giggles, I'll look it up. Jan 19, 2008. Yup, almost an entire year since I climbed this one.

I started out overheating and wondering why I had on so many layers. I figured that climbing up Holy Jim would be painfully hot. I was wondering why I'd brought extra socks and more wool. It was really hot, needless to say.

Justin began pulling away. Everytime I looked up the fire road he was further away. I maintained my endurance pace.

It started to get a tad bit colder as we reached the pines. Then we hit the shade. Time to pull up the arm warmers before the short descent.

The first real "downed" tree.

I'd seen a FS ranger truck heading down the fire road, so I assumed it was all clear.

After the short descent it was just downright frigid. My hands hurt. My feet hurt. There were small bits of snow here and there, and the ground was frozen.

It couldn't have been more than 38-40F.

Eventually we hit the "real" downed tree. But, two moto's had also gotten through it, so I knew it couldn't be that bad. There were about 3-4 big trunks blocking the road, but it was easy enough to walk under/over/around them and get back on the bikes.

The "other" side

We got to the gate and basked in the sunlight. It was still cold, but at least the air felt warmer.

Next up was the traverse...

I had been looking forward to climbing up the wall. Mostly because I figured a Z4 climb would warm me up. Wrong!

Just as we started the ascent I couldn't even hold onto my Ergon barends. They were just too cold to the touch (through my normal thin gloves). It was so cold I could barely get out of Zone 3, no matter how hard I was climbing. It was cold and more of it, almost all in the shade.

I reached a bit of sunlight and my lower back gave out. I pulled over to warm my hands and stretch my back, and got back to moving again, hoping to thaw out. Eventually it felt a bit warmer, since we were mostly in the sunlight.

Idiotically we'd left extra layers/shells at home, but I did have one rain jacket (wind proof at least), and one l/s wool jersey (warmer, at least).

Once at Trabuco we put on whatever warm gear we had for the descent, and headed down. It was cold, but warmed slightly as we got lower. We eventually got to the bottom of Holy Jim for a snack and to warm up. It felt pretty good there in the sun.

It was time for more climbing...

It was somewhat difficult to keep it endurance-paced, but I went slow and was able to maintain a lower HR than my last time up the hill. It wasn't even very warm climbing up (a first). Temps were kept to a minimum, and it was pretty chilly near the top.

Almost there and we got to the big downed tree.

The roots I think were about 5' tall, but there had already been a "go-around" cut in to the left.

Eventually we were back up on the divide and it was time for the final descent back to the car. It was time to suit up in the extra "gear" we had brought along.

Parting shot

The descent was cold and painful - it always is in the winter.

For anyone wondering, no, I didn't take the "pimp" bike out today. Probably would've been okay (only one rock strike on Trabuco, one on HJ, and a bit of flora in the drivetrain, but otherwise ok - no flats or mechanicals), but no sense in "breaking it in" on a 4.5+ hour ride with no bail out.

However, halfway up ITT I was thinking about my new "pimp" bike sitting alone at home... then it occurred to me that I was on a pimp bike. The parts were basically the best we could get at the time. Basically full X.0, 240 hubs on 355 rims (bladed spokes), Juicy Ultimates, etc. It's a sweet-azz bike in its own right, and I'm super stoked the good 'ole Dos Niner has held up this well. Same fork since its inception in November 2006. The frame was used in 2006 (not by me), but I got it in April ~ 2007 and it's been going strong ever since. The Reba 29 needed to have the lockout fixed after my first 12-hour solo attempt in June, but aside from that and typical drivetrain replacement, this bike has been super reliable and a great weapon for XC and endurance for over 2 years. Can't ask for much more than that.

So, while I'm sad the new rig is still sitting pretty IN THE HOUSE (that never happens), I'm also stoked that I have such a bitching "back up" bike on the shelf.

Hope everyone else had just as good a Sunday as I did. I'll be feeling it tomorrow, but what fun is a day on the bike if you aren't?

New bike day and some rain

As I mentioned yesterday, my new bike was in yesterday! Hubby was gracious enough to pick it up for me and we took a few pics last night in the house.

Pimp.

My bike is sitting on the floor singing, "I'm too sexy for my owner". No joke.

Luke was ready for some volume today, as was I. Plan was hit the hills on the road bike really early in the morning. It was wet out, and not very warm. I decided today was finally the day I'd get to use my Gore WindStopper bibs. I bought them last year 50% off during a Team Estrogen sale. Unfortunately, here in So Cal it isn't cold enough to require Gore WindStopper bibs very often (read: never, really). I figured at the very least if we did ever move to CO I could use them there. They were 50% off!

I was sorta nervous it'd be way too warm for them, but I needed to try them out at some point. I think they're fairly waterproof as well. Water was beading up them a lot during the ride, and while my feet were SOAKED at the end, I think my legs were fairly dry (sweat aside).

Well, we were about 10 minutes from heading out the door and Luke called. We were suited up and ready to ride, so even though he called it a day without pedaling in the wet weather, Justin and I headed out anyway.

It was really wet out, but not raining. I made it all the way to our first hill without getting wet from anything but the tires kicking up road water.

Once at the top it started drizzling pretty good. We pulled over for food (I couldn't do anything with my Specialized SubZero gloves on) and it was coming down really good. I made it in the near freezing pelting rain for about 1.5 miles before pulling over to ask if it was wise to continue. Justin was somewhat frustrated by the fact that I wasn't into completing the ride as planned. I really was wishing the weather was at least a little better. I had been totally into doing the route we had picked out. But, with really cold hard rain at speed it didn't seem like multiple long descents were a good idea.

For one, no one can drive in the rain. For two, I couldn't see a damn thing out of my glasses. They were completely rain splattered and any rise or break and they were fogged up.

So, I'm picturing us riding down 395 attempting to dodge the small dog size pot holes in the bike lane, a box truck seeing us descending and slamming on its brakes and lots of things flying and not good.

I got kinda disgruntled at the fact that Justin wanted to do the ride as planned, and headed off full of steam. We kept riding for about an hour, but didn't do the route as planned. I wound up about 1.25 hours shy of what I was planning to do, but with the wet weather my body wouldn't have been able to take much more. My arms were soaked and cold (despite lined arm warmers) and I couldn't feel my feet (thin SmartWool socks, shoes, and Pearl Izumi Cyclone shoe covers). Water had either saturated the covers and was leaking through, or it was draining down from my bibs. Either way my feet were cold and wet (not a good combo, even if it was 45F out).

The hot shower after the ride was sweet.

The scene before we headed out

It looks, from the picture, like I had some road grime/grit/dirt on my tights, but really it was beaded up water

My shell was totally soaked through (felt like I had about 5 extra lbs around my waist!)

His glasses were water spotted and foggy

Not to mention the sauna going on in the jacket

Wet smurf

I definitely don't regret getting out there. I learned my Gore bibs are pretty decent for riding in the rain (as long as I'll be on the road bike, anyway), and that I can ride in the rain for at least 2 hours.

Here's hoping it dries out a bit for tomorrow. FWIW, the pimp bike isn't going out there.

2008: YIR

It's funny: I've spent a lot of time thinking about my 2008 year in review post for awhile, and now that it's time to do one I really feel like I've got nothin'.


2008 started out with 2 laps at Hurkey Creek. No snow on the ground, and temps were good for riding. I cleaned the rocks for the first time



We trained pretty hard for VQ, and rode in the rain













We did the SRC races
















We finished VQ with Steph





Raced at Keyesville in the All-Mountain category
















Raced at NMBS in Fontana and Santa Ynez
























We got in some quality social time

We rode Noble a few times

















Raced at Sea Otter

Did some more races...

I went solo - twice

We shuttled

We hit up SJT















We went to Downieville















We went to Brianhead











We rode Vail a LOT








We got new bikes








Rode SART a few times










Got in some quality road riding























Went to CO on an awesome road trip

















I chose XC over DH at Bootleg Canyon









2008 ended with the start of training for 2009. My weekend volume feels a lot lower than the past 2 years (probably cause I'm not training for a local mini-endurance flog-fest), but the time and miles don't lie - I'm pedaling more than ever. Even though about 3 days a week are on the trainer, it's still quality time.


I'm trying to motivate myself back into yoga for the stretching and relaxation. Damn TV keeps getting in my way.


Next year looks to be interesting. I'm keeping my love affair with Ergon Grips and also with SRAM components. I should be building up one new bike, and maybe another. I should be selling one bike, and maybe another.


Yesterday - I started the year off right with a singletrack ride with friends to send Hagerty off in style.


Today - the sun is shining and soon I'll be outside for a regen ride.



It's hard to tell what 2009 will bring, but I hope I continue to pedal circles as much as possible and keep on learning.


Late edit: I'll be honest...I didn't think I was ever going to finish this post! From start to finish (less than a work day) the following has happened:


I got word that my 2009 race bike was in (yay!), I've burned as many calories as I've eaten, and I got stung on the forehead by a bee. The pain has finally subsided, but that sucked. Otherwise, totally looking forward to watching the pieces of my bike hanging out in my garage! Or the house. Or, wherever.


Until I get some trail 411, may be all road riding for us this weekend. Wouldn't be a bad idea, anyway. We spent way too much money in fuel the past week!


TGIF!