A break through................

Woodruff 2.0 - A far better product................

Back for more.  Actually, I needed to work out several issues after the last adventure to Woodruff.  It's kind of hard to appreciate until you've experienced it for yourself, but this is a tough ride - every time.  From home, the total climb to the Woodruff store is 4,260', with a peak elevation of 9,030'.  To simply get back to Huntsville, the climb is 2,800'.  So for today, call it 7,060' with 112 miles.

I had to get back to basics, running my noisy RXL wheels, and focusing on nutrition all the way over and back.  Out the door around 06:35, I was able to stay cool up 'till about MP 32.  Still, I stayed in my big ring (up front) all the way to Ant Flat road (MP 36).  Key times most of the way were not too bad.  Up on top ( about a mile before the campground), my back tire went flat.  With still three CO2 shots and one extra tube, I decided to push over the hill into "the other side".  Not sure what kind of tire pressure I had under me, I wasn't confident enough to let the bike go.  As a result, the ride into Woodruff took way too long.  Once there, circumstances required a fast turn around.  The real test was pushing through the heat, up over the top, without stopping or going into the bailout gear.  Not really the fasted time back to the top, but darn close - especially with the heat.  The key was certainly nutrition and ride management.  It paid off today.

About four miles from the top (while heading back), I completely unzipped the jersey to take advantage of a little convection.  The danger of leaving the jersey partially zipped in areas like this is the real (and frequent) bee flying in and not getting out without stinging.  Over the top, I had enough water to keep going, so I started down still doing the full "Batman" (full unzipped).  About six miles down, while doing about 40 MPH, something flew under my collar and stung me on my neck.  So much for a great idea.  A quick stop to zip it to the neck and back to business.  Down around the South Fork Camp Ground, the heat really intensified.  At this point, I still had enough gas to get home, but with the heat and wind, it would be too costly.  Electing to end on a good note, I called for a bailout at Huntsville Park.  A solid effort, for the cost of about 4,500 calories.  I'll take it.

The wheelset is an issue, but I think I have a solution to finish the season - not cheap.  I need to do some work on the bike as well.  Shifting is a little sticky and the bike is very dirty.  I need to track down some 25mm R3's for the race.  I'm not racing on 23's this year.

I need to book this ride again, maybe four more times before Labor Day.  I'm not sure how I'll make this happen.

A tad random, but worth the listen.

Ride HARD!

The right ride for the day..........

Big Mountain

With Trappers Loop not being an option this year, I've been cut-off from riding over to East Canyon.  Needing the variety, I decided to try something a little different.  I drove to Mountain Green with the bike in tow and launched from the Sinclair at the other side of Trappers.  Needing the miles (and the climbing), I decided to go to Big Mountain Pass, maybe another 10 miles past where I usually turn back.

From the intersection at SR66 and SR65, the elevation stays roughly 5,800 feet all the way over to the snow gates.  Okay, there are some rollers along the way, but at the gate, you're still at 5,800 feet.  Over the next 5.4 miles, you gain about 1,600 feet.  A respectable climb.  Starting from the Sinclair, the turn around is 35 miles, with 70 miles overall.

Leaving the Sinclair at 06:30, it was dark enough to use a flasher, but also pretty cool.  I was equipped for heat.  About twenty minutes up the road, my hands were getting pretty cold.  By the time I got up to Milton, things had warmed enough.  Still, no glasses until passing the dam.  Pretty smokey, and thus, kind of a late sunrise - at least with enough heat to matter.  Times to key points; not too bad, but not at a racing speed.  By the time I got back to the truck, I was kind of tired, but not completely spent.  The real challenge was getting home, just driving back over Trappers.  What a mess.

If you're in the area, the Drive over Big Mountain is worth the time.  It's a seasonal road but nice pretty much any time it's open.

Dr. John - Right Place

Ride HARD!

SMIOKE

Can I get a break over here, PLEASE!

"If it's not a one thing, it's another" - Rosanna Rosanna Danna. 

It's been one of those years.  Now.............it's smoke.  Talk about a rough go of things.  Between the fires in No-Cal and the fires out west in Box Elder County, the air is nearly unbearable.  It's bad enough that a lot of folks are getting raspy throats and burning eyes.  Try to get your heart rate up, and you're simply asking for trouble.

The early ride Friday morning was actually pretty good.  Aside from several construction areas, and new chip seal over on 162.  Still, 51 miles, with a spoke bender add-on in sub-three hours - all solo.  I'll take it.  The air quality wasn't nearly as bad as it would become later that afternoon.  By Saturday morning, it wasn't worth the risk.  I did a series of things on the stationary spin bike instead.

Mechanically, I've got to figure out what to do with wheels.  My Race X-lite set is pretty much worn out.  I rode a set of Alex A-Class, which were fast, but I don't think they'll handle the stresses I put into the hub.  If I can shred a DT Swiss hub, I'll decimate that 12 spoke drive in a few hundred climbing miles.  There's no way I'll run carbon with rim brakes, so I'm kind of limited to good aluminum.  There's a lot more to do this than just riding a bike.  The details can make, or break the whole thing - and right now, the details are becoming an issue.

Let's see what tomorrow looks like.  You know how plans can go.

Fundraising is getting some traction.  Page hits are starting to accumulate - all of which fuel the tempo in willingness and desire.  

A big thank you to my favorite Delta "left-seat" R.W.  He's as good a neighbor as anyone could have, and a darn good guy to boot.  This is what it's all about, and it gets me fired up.  This is gonna work.

Speaking of pilots and smoke.  From a pretty good movie that kind of depicted this summer - albeit thirty years ago.

The Platters - Smoke Gets in your eyes.

Ride HARD! (cough cough)

A long way to go

Finding the way back......inspiration!

It's been a banner week.  Support for the "porpoise" is getting some great traction.  This couldn't have come along at a better time.  Everything seems somehow connected and can either make or break the overall effort.  State of mind is the single largest factor and having support - it's all the difference in the world.

I got back in town from a quick, action-packed visit to see my friends in Michigan.  Those guys are the greatest and I really enjoy working with them.  Taking time out of my schedule this time of any year is painful, but these guys are pretty good about allowing me to be flexible and work straight through.  Straight off the airplane and back to the office, so no riding until Wednesday morning.

I made a few changes to the wheelset, with a new rear cassette and different tires,  These tires are a tad wider, with a lower running pressure. They are also siped for crappy conditions.  A little heavy, but good for training.  Construction over on 162 (chip-seal) pushed me onto the pedestrian path, with all the garbage that makes it a bad place to ride.  The ride out was a series of intervals, 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off.  The overall pace was pretty good out to the midway point.  The ride back was more constant and deliberate.  About 3 miles from home my front tire flatted.  I'm sure it was a slow pinch flat from garbage on the pedestrian path.  It wasn't the best of rides, but it fulfilled the purpose.

This morning was obviously not going to be productive, so I deferred and did a solid dirt ride tonight.  Quite a few people on the trail, but still able to get a good burn for about an hour-twenty.  Overall leg strength is not bad, considering some of the problems.  Endurance is a serious problem and will take some specific rides to get over that problem.  Fifty miles out and back only go for three hours.  I need to make a couple solid rides back to monte, but cut it down to five hours and change.  And then there is Woodruff........................

We'll see what conditions are like in the morning.  Every day has to count and there is no room for do-overs at this point.

Check out the donors on the HHH Tab

These guys have really given me the inspiration I needed to get my head screwed on straight.  This is what the "porpoise" is really all about.

"Find your way back"

Ride HARD!

The Wrong Ride for the Wrong Day

Megga Bonk!

It seemed like a good idea at the time, but I should have followed my intuition and turn back at the top.

I was convinced I was ready to ride Woodruff, a tough ride pretty much any time, but add the wind and heat............it's pretty rough.  Getting to the top of Monte was a little slower than I'd like, but I thought I was keeping some in the tank for the ride back.  At Woodruff, I made a fairly quick turn after getting some Poweraid and a little fuel.  As is typical, the cross and head-winds where pretty stiff.  Add the solar exposure and the blasted heat - it really baked me.  At about the halfway point, I was spent.  It took me double what I had expected.  All that did was make it worse.  I should have either pushed it hard, or went back to Woodruff for a bailout.  On the way down Monte, I was fading fast.  It was getting pretty dangerous, so I had to keep stopping.  Finally at around MP 30, I couldn't go any more.  I was in serious trouble and not less than 5 miles from cell service.  A guy driving by swung back, as he could tell I was bad off.  He was generous enough to haul me down to Etta Baker's vet clinic, at about MP 22.  From there I called for a ride. Call it 101 miles the absolute hardest way.

 

I've bonked before.  Generally about once a year.  I've never been like this though.  Maybe it was knowing I had no cell service, or that I let it get into my head.  Regardless, it was as bad as I can remember.

The body can do amazing things when your mind doesn't interfere.  If you start acting defeated, than defeated you shall eventually become.  Doing things like not eating and properly hydrating only makes it worse.  Admittedly, I was a bit apprehensive about trying Woodruff, but I had to get it under my belt sooner, rather than later.  I started thinking about how I thought it hurt, when it really didn't.  I started to act fatigued, when I should have known better.  I held back, when I thought I needed to save something.  It was all stupid and now I'm paying.  I'm burned, weak and demoralized.

I've got to head out to Michigan Sunday afternoon.  I'll be back Tuesday, so I'll be off the bike.  It won't be much of a rest, as it'll be about a week's worth of work in one day.  Between now and then, I'm being dragged around in the heat and close quarters.  I need some relief and a little rest, but there is no time.

It can't put this one down. Headed back.........soon.  The Sisters - Love Hurts

Ride HARD!

Pie & Beer Day

Pioneer Day - recovery ride

The "World Famous" (literally) Shooting-Star Saloon, Huntsville, Utah.  A few years ago, they had a big banner on the side of the building for Pioneer Days, that said "Pie & Beer Days".  Kind of a "gentile" spoof.

Yesterday was a very good 51-mile tempo ride.  A couple hill sprints and a serious spoke bender at the end, made for a darn good morning.  A pretty good burn in the legs and nothing to eat prior to, or during the three-hour event was exactly what was needed.  

This morning was a moderately paced recovery ride.  Call it 33 miles.  There were a couple times I wanted to jump on it hard, but soon realized I needed to back-off.  Again, nothing to eat prior to, or during the ride left me feeling a tad weak after.    Still, pretty good.

There is a lot to make up for what has been lost earlier.  On top of that, fundraising has stalled.  No bueno.

Tomorrow needs to be a complete rest day, with something considerable for Thursday.  We'll see.....

Something a bit random........Steve Marriott - 30 Days in the hole

Ride HARD!

More Struggles

If it wasn't for bad luck............

Needing miles, I decided to try an early 50 mile sprint, knowing full well it was a holiday weekend.  After getting through some hill sprints, I set out for East Huntsville.  I jumped on a group of four guys for a while but got a little nervous (make that a lot) when they couldn't seem to keep a straight line on a busy highway.  After a few miles, I dropped them and headed up SR 39 toward the State Road Shed.  Having to slow way down for an event in that area, I was at the mercy of traffic when trying to keep good time.  Out around the point, traffic was already getting busy - perhaps a bad idea.  The plan was to double back, making for an even 50 miles.

At about 38 miles, I noticed a former co-worker walking around his yard as I was passing his house.  He's in the fight of his life, trying to beat the big-C.  I thought I'd stop by and perhaps give him a little encouragement.  After about 10 minutes, I was back on the road but had a flat tire on the front before I could even get going.  Simple enough - most of the time.  This time, not so lucky.  After installing the new tube, my CO2 head adapter wouldn't work.  Basically, I was out of luck.  After calling for a bailout, I proceeded to walk (barefoot) to the designated pickup spot.  With the CO2 adapter head still connected, I was fiddling around with it hoping the trigger would free-up.  That was until it exploded in my hand!  Crazy, but not hurt.

After getting home, I looked at how risky it actually was to ride Monte alone.  Had that happened then, I'd really been cooked.  After making a few adjustments and re-tooling with the backup gear, I'll give the same ride a try again in the morning.

I think I've isolated that persisting noise (from the last two years) down to my rear wheelset.  I'll know better tomorrow, as I'm riding on another Bontrager Race X-Lite with a different cassette.   At least for 38 miles, it ran quite.  The real test will be the final 4 miles at the end.  Hopefully, that is the problem.  We'll see tomorrow.

Try a little Dave Mathews. Where are you going?

Keep fighting Zeke!  We're pulling for ya.