Day 1

It's 5am and we're heading to MoValley.  I'm really, really, really tired.  I've not slept enough the past few nights and, well.....I'm tired.  Not how I wanted to start out!

Rollers Ahoy!

I decided its right time I got in some good rollers so I headed south east to the Aurora Reservoir today, hearing that was a good spot for hills. The ride was uneventful for the most part. Very hot. Hilly. Very, very windy! Probably a good thing.

The Aurora Reservoir is a desolate spot - hot, ugly, windy. Lakes in Colorado trip me out.

Traffic along Quincy was OK. Most motorists are pretty good with bikes but there were one or two along the way who buzzed me a tad close for comfort.

My ride was 47 miles round trip so not quite what the days will be like on RAGBRAI, but I'm doing 50 - 80 miles quite comfortably now so I'm confident I'll be fine.

The Commute and Training

I’ve been commuting by bike to work with the kids. We don’t do it every day but enough to hopefully make a difference….and it wears them out. I got my nifty Brooks Saddle for the commuter and she looks grand!

My training is going well. I’ve conquered Lookout Mountain and am up to 70 miles comfortably. I’ve been taking a day off here and there to ride. Last Weds I was climbing a steep hill at Chatfield and it was a breeze compared to what it has been. I’m taking that as a clue that my muscles are really getting to shape. With all the climbing on the ride it will be essential!

I'm really proud of myself. I've never done anything more than change a flat. So yesterday I switched out the handlebars from (drop bars to moustache bars), replaced the brake cables, adjusted all the derailleurs (it wasn't shifting properly), generally cleaned up my "new" mess around with the kiddos/ride to the store bike. The H helped out a little, instructing me but I wouldn't let him touch anything, just point and talk :lol:

Still need to replace the saddle. I'll put different tape on once I choose a saddle. I just wrapped it with the cheapest stuff they had for now. Also, I'll probably take the rack off for now as this bike will become one with the tag-a-long for awhile.

BEFORE



AFTER








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In other news....I didn't ride at all this weekend! I got in a good run on Sat and Sun and then Monday it was rainy, windy and cold. ah well.....

Last Weekend's Rides

On Saturday I moved up a notch, riding 55 miles at a steady 15mph. I was pretty tired when I got home but somehow mustered up the energy to go to Costco...on a Saturday afternoon.....with two kids in tow. I'm pretty sure I deserve some sort of award for that!

Saturday night I was simply exhausted and fell into bed. About an hour after falling asleep, which took all of about 2 minutes, Bella hurled all over the bed and me. I was literally up all night tending to her as she continued to get sick.

Sunday, in a fit of pure madness, I went on another ride. This one short - 26 miles - however for some reason I had the power in my legs. Power like lightenin'. Like gawud Himself was pushin' me along. Can I hear an "amen"! I sprinted from Quebec and the Cherry Creek Trail all the way to REI at a pace which stayed above 20mph and mostly around 22mph. I don't think I've ever ridden like this. It was amazing!

When I got home, again possessed by some sort of energy demon, I went to work in in the yard and garden - amending soil, planting, generally shaping things up.

I'm still not sure what came over me.

Last night I planned to attend a bike maintenance for women class, which ended up being a bust. Firstly, it wasn't hands-on. The announcement wasn't specific but one would assume a class on detailed bike maintenance would include actually DOING something. Nextly, and lastly, the instructor didn't show. I was more than peeved, having skipped my run for this.

I'm worried about the rolling hills. I've still not done much in the way of hill climbing and really really need to. Maybe this weekend?

Flex time

I've arranged for some flex time between now and the ride. This will allow for an extra whole day, every week to two weeks, to get a decent ride in. This weekend I'm planning on 60 miles. We'll see how that goes! I could make it 65 - a metric century - and just call it a metric century instead of a 65 mile ride 'cause that sound way cooler!

Driver Needed

Need a couple weeks away? Does the idea of spending that time away driving support for 3 or 4 bikers and hanging out with 20,000 more bikers sound like just what the doctor ordered? Well, then do I have a job for you! G is our registered support driver for RAGBRAI. He doesn't really want to go so we're officially on the search for a support person.

What the job entails:
*Packing up tents and all other baggage each morning
*Meeting bikers on the route if necessary. Usually the only time we ask for our driver to meet us in a pass-through town is if the weather changes drastically and we need to don or doff clothes. *Locating the overnight host home, setting up camp (tents, air matresses, etc.)
*Keep plenty of fresh fruits, fig newtons and cold drinks on hand. The beer flows like water on this ride.
*Laundry as needed.

We'll leave Colorado on Friday and return a week later on Sunday or Monday. You could bring your bike along two and ride for a day or two if you'd like!
http://www.ragbrai.org

You know you want to!