Hopes Dashed on the crest of the Blue Ridge

After a long week, I was looking forward to a long road ride this Sunday.

My hopes.. minimum of 80 miles but hoping for 100. Plus, I was throwing in some more climbing compared to my last long road ride, 80 mile round trip to Blacksburg.

The plan, head out to exit 150 area and up hwy 11. Follow the turn for the bicentinnial 76 bike trail through Nace et all and arrive in Buchannan for a rest stop. Turn and climb 43 up to the parkway and head south back to roanoke. Depending on how I felt, the end of ride options were varied distances from Mill Mtn to Poages Mill extension and maybe an end-of-ride climb on the Roanoke Mtn loop.

The ride started well with dodging spotty showers and a floating fast pace, 20 - 30 mph, along the valley to Buchannan. That's were things went a bit dodgey. I arrived at noon, just in time to be plagued by high traffic and a really crowded Exxon Food Mart. Not being one for crowded areas, a stretched a bit, passed on topping off / diluting my not so empty water bottles (the crucial mistake?) and started the 5 mile climb to the parkway. The climb went well, but without my slightly-slower-at-climbing riding partner of last year, Mark the Fire Monkey, I found myself with no apparrent need to pause at the Parkway and quickly realized the climb actually continues at a good rise once on the Parkway. I tried to settle into a slightly slower pace and started looking for a good rest area. Who would have figured that without a full budding of the leaves in this area would leave me without shade... anywhere. I tried to keep sipping the drink mix in the bottles, but the stomach started talking back. Seems the stomach wasn't processing the heavier mixed drink mix or my snacks very well. - Remember I didn't dilute them in Buchannan? - Maybe its just that area of the earth... and it doesn't like me? I seem to have a bit of history with that area.

Things started going downhill as I seemed to keep heading uphill. Not to mention, the traffic was heavier on the Parkway than anywhere else as of yet in the ride. Energy sapping, close driving cars, and no shade were all taking its toll on me. I kept searching for a shaded rest area, but no luck. 60 miles hit, and so did the Man w/ the Hammer. I stopped at a bridge overpass and layed down for a rest... of about 15 minutes. Somebody actually threw a glass bottle while I was trying to recover. Being on the other side of the road, at least it wasn't thrown at me but at the rock of the bridge.

Getting back on the bike was Hard. Both physically and mentall, my hopes and goals for the day had been dashed on the crest of the Blue Ridge. My goal now... just make it home. Despite the nausia and sore legs, I did make it back, but at a very slow pace. The total trip was just short of 75 miles. I almost puked at an intersection close to home when some really smelly exhaust drove by. (its amazing what that Antique License plate lets you get away with.)

I spent the next four or five hours recovering with rehydration, calories, a dazed state of collapse on the bed, and a cup of coffee to quell that lack-of-caffine headache.

Lessons learned... Don't mix my bottles so heavy; so I can drink more effectively. Take more rest / stretch breaks. Keep riding and throw in some more climbing training. - Mountains of Misery is about a month away.

The up side... I finished the ride and made it home. Not to mention, even when I felt really crappy today, I really enjoyed / appreciated the smoothness and handling of my current bike, a custom Serotta Nove - carbon and titanium, over my previous road bike, a stock aluminum Giant TCR2.

Oh yeah, 'hello' to all the folks that waved and said hello to me in my state of collapse. It was good to see other folks enjoying their rides.

Cheers to Joanne!

Congratulations to my friend, Joanne of Edinburgh, Scotland. She has recently completed a half marathon and has plans for more. More importantly, though, Joanne enjoys riding her bicycle as well! Cheers, Joanne, and many more happy runs and rides :-)

sense of achievement?

Finally breaking down, along with the elastic and material of my first bib shorts, I have ordered a new pair. Maybe it was last cyclocross season that finished off my collegiate riding / racing Virginia Tech Cycling Team kit bibs. Non the less, after a few good rides this spring, I have come realization that although my road saddle, Selle Itallia Storika, is not that forgiving, my first pair of bib shorts have tuckered out. I eagerly await my new ones. Thanks to Kim at Castelli, I now have a pair of Y Pro bibs on the way! If the Y Pro's are half as good as Cole talks them up to be, they will be great :-) Saddness though insues with the loss of "Hokies" stenciled across my upper rear end.

Have I mentioned how much I stand behind and in bib shorts for road riding?! They are simply great! If you thought chamois shorts were nice... give the bibs a try. More comfort through a less restrictive waist line and better support via the shoulder straps.

Alas, there are still some mountain biking days when I prefer just the shorts rather than bibs. Not sure why... just a different style of riding, I guess.

Anyway, just knowing I have ridden enough to wear out a pair a shorts / bibs... there's a certain sense of achievement.

Two Good Reasons to Ride

Mountains of Misery - http://www.cyclingdoubleheader.com/

Shenandoah 100 - http://www.mtntouring.com/mountain/htm/home/page_home.htm

Orders back up for Nite Owls and Noodle Salad

Supressed for a wee bit, the Tuesday / Thursday Nite Owl Noodle Salad night mountain bike rides should be back on. Tuesday's and Thursday's, the Whale and the leprechaun meet at about 8:15 pm and do some local in-town trail riding. Watch out, though, this beginner ride has turned more intermediate due to extending ride time. We are now shooting for about 45 minutes to an hour of riding mountain bikes in the dark and generally having a good time. -- Who says nite riding is only for non-daylite savings time!?

Trail Friends

"Why does Happy Flow? I don't know. Why do people breathe?" - Gay Gay Fin