Wednesday, April 27, 2005
A Chilly Gold Hill
Hi all,
Rode to Gold Hill this morning with some of the Rocky Mounts - IZZE riders. I came into work a little before 6 a.m. and started riding west on the bike path around 6:15 a.m. I had to push things a bit to avoid being late. We met at 6:30 a.m. at 4th and Mapleton and it wasn't long before Matson up the pace considerably and people started popping off the back. First it was Couch and I, but I bridged up to Kevin and we were shed. Out in front was Matson and Bruce Polderman. These two would get far, far ahead, finishing to the 9-mile marker in 51 minutes! Bruce rides Cat. 4... That's ridiculous. I had a pretty good ride and finished in 59 minutes. I have to race against him. That's not racing. That's just pure butt kicking. He has to be one of the favorites to win the Boulder Stage Race for the 4's. This would be great for him, our team, and for me personally since then he'd upgrade to a more suitable category! Bruce also rode Magnolia in around 32 minutes. A climber he is! Now 51 minutes is dang good for Matson as well, but he races Cat. 2.
The pavement section of Sunshine breaks up into thirds, of very close to equal time periods. The first is the more gradual bottom section, up to the first switchback that marks the start of the steepest third. Kevin dropped me before this switchback, but I caught up to him in the middle third. Kevin had just ridden the Busstop the night before, so he was probably taking things easy. That's the only reasonable assumption when I can still see this guy. I got out in front of him on a steep section and stretched out a small lead. I was riding my 27 and it seemed everyone else was in a 23. These guys are strong. I asked Couch why he had on the 23 and if he was doing a strength workout. I forget his response, but I know he likes the high gears because he thinks the best way to ride the Morgul-Bismark is entirely in the big ring. Dang. I need stronger legs, apparently.
Somewhere before the first turn Zack, who had started with us, I think, but had fallen way back at the start, came flying by. This was so strange that I wondered if this was a different guy from the rider at the start. I'm still not sure. Anyway, it was an amazing show of strength as he zipped by Kevin and I and bridged up to Matson and Bruce.
A few minutes below the start of the dirt, my friend Jeff McCoy came screaming down. He had started early and just rode the paved section. Jeff is currently unemployed and can ride this hill whenever he wants - like at a reasonable hour and a reasonable temperature. Why he got up so early and rode this in the cold, alone, I have no idea. He's nuts.
By the time I hit the dirt, I was all alone. I was really hoping to see the others here and to be turning down. There was some mention at the start about regrouping here and heading down because even the streets were wet and there was snow up high, so we figured the dirt section might be too miserable. I was very disappointed to see no one here and knew I had to continue up. My time to the dirt was a mediocre 34:30. My best is 32:30, but I can't seem to climb lately. Yesterday I got caught by Eric Coppock on Linden and then unceremoniously dropped, easily and solidly. Eric's riding strong to be sure and there is no shame in being dropped by him, but my time was slow once again. Time for a little blood doping...
I put it in the 27 and grinded out the long, difficult dirt section. This was quite rocky and I spent most of the climb on the far left side because it was smoothest there. Thankfully not many cars were descending, but I did see a few. I saw Zack just before the finish and wondered if he descended to ride the top again. Could I have been catching him? Not likely. I did see Matson and Bruce and they had indeed descended and rode the top section again. I finished at the 9-mile marker and coasted a ways further before turning. Zack kept right on going to Gold Hill.
I chatted with Matson and Bruce a bit before heading down. I knew this was going to be an extremely frigid descent and I wanted to get started so that I could go really slow, hopefully keeping the windchill to a minimum. We were surprised that Kevin and Couch didn't continue to the top. Perhaps the previous day's ride, the cold temperatures, and the wet dirt prompted them to make the very reasonable decision to turnaround at the end of the pavement.
I shivered all the way down and back into town. I spotted Jeff McCoy by his car, all changed into warm clothes and looking comfy. I stopped to chat a bit before continuing the frigid ride back to work, where I once again the lamented the lack of a shower at my new office. It will take all morning to get warm again.
It was a nice ride and a good workout, though. A group is riding SuperFlag at lunch today. I might go for just the lower half of Flag... No way I'm going up SuperFlag.
Bill
Rode to Gold Hill this morning with some of the Rocky Mounts - IZZE riders. I came into work a little before 6 a.m. and started riding west on the bike path around 6:15 a.m. I had to push things a bit to avoid being late. We met at 6:30 a.m. at 4th and Mapleton and it wasn't long before Matson up the pace considerably and people started popping off the back. First it was Couch and I, but I bridged up to Kevin and we were shed. Out in front was Matson and Bruce Polderman. These two would get far, far ahead, finishing to the 9-mile marker in 51 minutes! Bruce rides Cat. 4... That's ridiculous. I had a pretty good ride and finished in 59 minutes. I have to race against him. That's not racing. That's just pure butt kicking. He has to be one of the favorites to win the Boulder Stage Race for the 4's. This would be great for him, our team, and for me personally since then he'd upgrade to a more suitable category! Bruce also rode Magnolia in around 32 minutes. A climber he is! Now 51 minutes is dang good for Matson as well, but he races Cat. 2.
The pavement section of Sunshine breaks up into thirds, of very close to equal time periods. The first is the more gradual bottom section, up to the first switchback that marks the start of the steepest third. Kevin dropped me before this switchback, but I caught up to him in the middle third. Kevin had just ridden the Busstop the night before, so he was probably taking things easy. That's the only reasonable assumption when I can still see this guy. I got out in front of him on a steep section and stretched out a small lead. I was riding my 27 and it seemed everyone else was in a 23. These guys are strong. I asked Couch why he had on the 23 and if he was doing a strength workout. I forget his response, but I know he likes the high gears because he thinks the best way to ride the Morgul-Bismark is entirely in the big ring. Dang. I need stronger legs, apparently.
Somewhere before the first turn Zack, who had started with us, I think, but had fallen way back at the start, came flying by. This was so strange that I wondered if this was a different guy from the rider at the start. I'm still not sure. Anyway, it was an amazing show of strength as he zipped by Kevin and I and bridged up to Matson and Bruce.
A few minutes below the start of the dirt, my friend Jeff McCoy came screaming down. He had started early and just rode the paved section. Jeff is currently unemployed and can ride this hill whenever he wants - like at a reasonable hour and a reasonable temperature. Why he got up so early and rode this in the cold, alone, I have no idea. He's nuts.
By the time I hit the dirt, I was all alone. I was really hoping to see the others here and to be turning down. There was some mention at the start about regrouping here and heading down because even the streets were wet and there was snow up high, so we figured the dirt section might be too miserable. I was very disappointed to see no one here and knew I had to continue up. My time to the dirt was a mediocre 34:30. My best is 32:30, but I can't seem to climb lately. Yesterday I got caught by Eric Coppock on Linden and then unceremoniously dropped, easily and solidly. Eric's riding strong to be sure and there is no shame in being dropped by him, but my time was slow once again. Time for a little blood doping...
I put it in the 27 and grinded out the long, difficult dirt section. This was quite rocky and I spent most of the climb on the far left side because it was smoothest there. Thankfully not many cars were descending, but I did see a few. I saw Zack just before the finish and wondered if he descended to ride the top again. Could I have been catching him? Not likely. I did see Matson and Bruce and they had indeed descended and rode the top section again. I finished at the 9-mile marker and coasted a ways further before turning. Zack kept right on going to Gold Hill.
I chatted with Matson and Bruce a bit before heading down. I knew this was going to be an extremely frigid descent and I wanted to get started so that I could go really slow, hopefully keeping the windchill to a minimum. We were surprised that Kevin and Couch didn't continue to the top. Perhaps the previous day's ride, the cold temperatures, and the wet dirt prompted them to make the very reasonable decision to turnaround at the end of the pavement.
I shivered all the way down and back into town. I spotted Jeff McCoy by his car, all changed into warm clothes and looking comfy. I stopped to chat a bit before continuing the frigid ride back to work, where I once again the lamented the lack of a shower at my new office. It will take all morning to get warm again.
It was a nice ride and a good workout, though. A group is riding SuperFlag at lunch today. I might go for just the lower half of Flag... No way I'm going up SuperFlag.
Bill
Friday, April 08, 2005
Billz Hillz Week - completed
Today was Lee Hill / Deer Trail and this is one tough hill. Timing it from Broadway, it was the longest hill of the five. All five of these hills are tough, no question about it. I rank them like this: Magnolia (obviously and clearly the hardest), Lee Hill / Deer Trail (for overall length and steep finish), Sugarloaf (a bit longer than Flagstaff), Flagstaff (brutal upper section), and Sunshine. Your mileage my vary.
Today I rode with Jon McClurg for the first time. He's a Rocky Mounts rider that specializes in Cross, but rides some road races in the 45+ category. He's 46. Jon towed up Lee Hill, setting a perfect pace. It was abundantly clear that he could have flicked me off his back wheel as easily as he'd remove lint from his shoulder. Jon had to turn around at the top of Lee Hill to get back for a meeting and I continued alone up Deer Trail. Deer Trail has super steep sections on it, but they usually don't last very long without easing for a break. Nevertheless, there are a lot of these and the total climbing from Broadway is around 2300 feet.
We had passed my friend Jeff McCoy on at the bottom of the second section on Lee Hill, so once I topped out I descended until I met Jeff. We climbed together back to the top and then descended down the backside of Lee Hill, down Lefthand Canyon and then up and over Old Stage back to Broadway. The wind here was tremendous and demoralizing. I was bonking hard. I had ridden the Betasso Lollipop (Tunnel Trail to the Betasso Loop) this morning and then run it with Stefan and Hardly. I was way off the back of those two, as usual. I've spent so much time off the back this week. Either I'm really slow or I'm hanging out with some fit people! Maybe a little of the former, but a lot of latter.
Anyway, I didn't eat much afterwards and I bonked hard fighting the wind back to my office. Together with my running and scrambling, I've done over 20,000 vertical feet since Monday. A huge tear-down week. I'm looking forward to some recovery tonight and then hitting it hard early tomorrow. Just kidding! I'm going to recover most of the weekend and next week. Flatter, easier rides next week. Maybe some climbing at the gym.
Have a good weekend, everyone.
Bill
Today I rode with Jon McClurg for the first time. He's a Rocky Mounts rider that specializes in Cross, but rides some road races in the 45+ category. He's 46. Jon towed up Lee Hill, setting a perfect pace. It was abundantly clear that he could have flicked me off his back wheel as easily as he'd remove lint from his shoulder. Jon had to turn around at the top of Lee Hill to get back for a meeting and I continued alone up Deer Trail. Deer Trail has super steep sections on it, but they usually don't last very long without easing for a break. Nevertheless, there are a lot of these and the total climbing from Broadway is around 2300 feet.
We had passed my friend Jeff McCoy on at the bottom of the second section on Lee Hill, so once I topped out I descended until I met Jeff. We climbed together back to the top and then descended down the backside of Lee Hill, down Lefthand Canyon and then up and over Old Stage back to Broadway. The wind here was tremendous and demoralizing. I was bonking hard. I had ridden the Betasso Lollipop (Tunnel Trail to the Betasso Loop) this morning and then run it with Stefan and Hardly. I was way off the back of those two, as usual. I've spent so much time off the back this week. Either I'm really slow or I'm hanging out with some fit people! Maybe a little of the former, but a lot of latter.
Anyway, I didn't eat much afterwards and I bonked hard fighting the wind back to my office. Together with my running and scrambling, I've done over 20,000 vertical feet since Monday. A huge tear-down week. I'm looking forward to some recovery tonight and then hitting it hard early tomorrow. Just kidding! I'm going to recover most of the weekend and next week. Flatter, easier rides next week. Maybe some climbing at the gym.
Have a good weekend, everyone.
Bill
Thursday, April 07, 2005
One to go...
Ira and Billy of the Excel Racing team met John Ortega and I at the wood bridge at 12:15 and we headed west on the bike path towards Boulder Canyon. This time we were headed for Sugarloaf - just across the canyon from Magnolia. Once we hit the canyon I got pulled along by the big Excel train. We had already popped off John and then I was going to blow, I pulled to the right to let Ira grab Billy's wheel and Billy heard me whine and eased the pace a bit. I was able to grab onto the back of Ira's wheel and barely hang on until we hit Sugarloaf.
As we approached Sugarloaf, I saw Jeff McCoy just starting up the road. We'd pass him relatively quickly. He, like myself, wasn't anticipating us getting to the start of the hill so quickly. Billy is a pro rider on the Excel team and he can PULL! Once we hit the hill Billy and Ira drop me behind a bit, but I work hard and keep them in sight. Just before we turned away from the canyon, I saw another rider turn up the start of Sugarloaf. I'd find out later that this was local pro Jeff Hartmann. We passed Jeff McCoy at the top of the first steep section and when Billy sat up, Ira and I got back on. We climb for just a minute or two more before the Excel guys decide to turn around. They are riding the Bus-Stop ride (local hammerfest ride) this evening and wanted to save something.
I continued on alone, knowing John Ortega was about a minute back. I figured I'd solo alone to the top and didn't notice any riders behind me until just past the halfway mark. At that point I noticed a pair of riders behind me. They had to be John and the rider that started up well after us. I'd check occasionally on their distance from me. I was holding my gap and I didn't want to be run down before the summit. With just a few minutes to go, I notice that one of the riders has left the other and given chase. I worked hard for the last bit and stay away to the top. When the next rider tops out, I notice it is Jeff Hartmann and we talk for quite a bit. He is doing his standard hill day: Magroloaf, which involves SuperFlag over the top and out to Gross Reservoir, then reverse back to Chautauqua, head up Boulder Canyon and ride Magnolia and then Sugarloaf. Ouch! He was headed down the backside of Sugarloaf just to the end of the pavement. We chatted until Jeff McCoy topped out and then John, Jeff McCoy and I all headed back to Boulder while Jeff Hartmann continued to the west.
It was an absolutely glorious day for riding. Perfect temperature, clear skies, incredible day to be riding in the mountains. Riding this hill the day after Magnolia really demonstrates how much easier this hill is than Mag. Mag kills you right from the start and it is hard to recovery, resulting in constant, significant pain and suffering the entire way. Sugarloaf's lower half isn't bad at all and involves little suffering at a casual pace. The upper half is very tough, but it only lasts 17 minutes or so, compared to the 38 tough minutes on Magnolia. I did Sugarloaf in around 34:30. A respectable time.
It was great riding and talking with the big guns from Excel and Pro Peloton (Jeff Hartmann). Ira of Excel is putting on the Boulder Stage Race and this looks to be THE cycling event of the area. I excited to be around for it this year and praying they have a 35+/Cat. 4 division for us old, slow guys.
Tomorrow: Lee Hill / Deer Trail. Meet at the wood bridge at 12:15 p.m. Lee Hill isn't too bad, but Deer Trail is... :-)
Bill
As we approached Sugarloaf, I saw Jeff McCoy just starting up the road. We'd pass him relatively quickly. He, like myself, wasn't anticipating us getting to the start of the hill so quickly. Billy is a pro rider on the Excel team and he can PULL! Once we hit the hill Billy and Ira drop me behind a bit, but I work hard and keep them in sight. Just before we turned away from the canyon, I saw another rider turn up the start of Sugarloaf. I'd find out later that this was local pro Jeff Hartmann. We passed Jeff McCoy at the top of the first steep section and when Billy sat up, Ira and I got back on. We climb for just a minute or two more before the Excel guys decide to turn around. They are riding the Bus-Stop ride (local hammerfest ride) this evening and wanted to save something.
I continued on alone, knowing John Ortega was about a minute back. I figured I'd solo alone to the top and didn't notice any riders behind me until just past the halfway mark. At that point I noticed a pair of riders behind me. They had to be John and the rider that started up well after us. I'd check occasionally on their distance from me. I was holding my gap and I didn't want to be run down before the summit. With just a few minutes to go, I notice that one of the riders has left the other and given chase. I worked hard for the last bit and stay away to the top. When the next rider tops out, I notice it is Jeff Hartmann and we talk for quite a bit. He is doing his standard hill day: Magroloaf, which involves SuperFlag over the top and out to Gross Reservoir, then reverse back to Chautauqua, head up Boulder Canyon and ride Magnolia and then Sugarloaf. Ouch! He was headed down the backside of Sugarloaf just to the end of the pavement. We chatted until Jeff McCoy topped out and then John, Jeff McCoy and I all headed back to Boulder while Jeff Hartmann continued to the west.
It was an absolutely glorious day for riding. Perfect temperature, clear skies, incredible day to be riding in the mountains. Riding this hill the day after Magnolia really demonstrates how much easier this hill is than Mag. Mag kills you right from the start and it is hard to recovery, resulting in constant, significant pain and suffering the entire way. Sugarloaf's lower half isn't bad at all and involves little suffering at a casual pace. The upper half is very tough, but it only lasts 17 minutes or so, compared to the 38 tough minutes on Magnolia. I did Sugarloaf in around 34:30. A respectable time.
It was great riding and talking with the big guns from Excel and Pro Peloton (Jeff Hartmann). Ira of Excel is putting on the Boulder Stage Race and this looks to be THE cycling event of the area. I excited to be around for it this year and praying they have a 35+/Cat. 4 division for us old, slow guys.
Tomorrow: Lee Hill / Deer Trail. Meet at the wood bridge at 12:15 p.m. Lee Hill isn't too bad, but Deer Trail is... :-)
Bill
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Magnolia...what a bee-atch!
Apparently everyone was waiting for things to get tougher since six of us climbed Magnolia today. I met four other Rocky Mounts riders at the mouth of Boulder Canyon while Brian Hunter took a head start and we met him at the top of the climb. Matson, Kevin, and two other Rocky Mounts who told me their names 2 or 3 times, but I killed all those brain cells on Magnolia, set such a hard pace up Boulder Canyon that whenever it was my turn to pull we slowed down so much that the others couldn't stand it and my pull lasted about 30 seconds.
Before I knew it we were at the start of the climb and I was off the back. One of the guys rode this hill in around 32 minutes, I think! Dang! That's awesome. Kevin and I were left behind but I think Kevin just hung back to keep an eye on me. Near the top he couldn't stand the slow pace any longer and went ahead a bit, but then waited for me so that I didn't finish all alone. I like riding hills, but apparently I can't ride them very fast. At least not compared with these guys. Matson stopped at one point when his heart rate hit 240 (he has a heart condition that sometimes causes his heart to race very fast). He rested for a bit, allowing me to catch off and then promptly dropped me way behind again. It was humbling.
Magnolia is just a bee-atch! Having done SuperFlag yesterday there is just no comparison. Magnolia is WAY tougher. There are even a couple of rests on Mag, but they are really short and the steep sections are so tough. And it is a long way up there. I was barely turning my 27 and even weaved a bit to lessen the grade. Being last up the hill I assumed I was having a bad ride, but I ended up with a respectable 38:25 - about a minute slower than my PR. So I wasn't going that slow, at least for me. I was just riding with the big boys today...
Tomorrow is Sugarloaf. Friday is Lee Hill/Deer Trail. Two hills to go. Hope you can join in the fun.
Bill
Before I knew it we were at the start of the climb and I was off the back. One of the guys rode this hill in around 32 minutes, I think! Dang! That's awesome. Kevin and I were left behind but I think Kevin just hung back to keep an eye on me. Near the top he couldn't stand the slow pace any longer and went ahead a bit, but then waited for me so that I didn't finish all alone. I like riding hills, but apparently I can't ride them very fast. At least not compared with these guys. Matson stopped at one point when his heart rate hit 240 (he has a heart condition that sometimes causes his heart to race very fast). He rested for a bit, allowing me to catch off and then promptly dropped me way behind again. It was humbling.
Magnolia is just a bee-atch! Having done SuperFlag yesterday there is just no comparison. Magnolia is WAY tougher. There are even a couple of rests on Mag, but they are really short and the steep sections are so tough. And it is a long way up there. I was barely turning my 27 and even weaved a bit to lessen the grade. Being last up the hill I assumed I was having a bad ride, but I ended up with a respectable 38:25 - about a minute slower than my PR. So I wasn't going that slow, at least for me. I was just riding with the big boys today...
Tomorrow is Sugarloaf. Friday is Lee Hill/Deer Trail. Two hills to go. Hope you can join in the fun.
Bill
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Billz Hillz - Day Two
Hi all,
Well, the forecasted bad weather didn't arrive and I did SuperFlag at lunch. Not surprisingly, I was alone. I overdressed and sweated profusely on the climb. SuperFlag submitted nicely to my ride, though I didn't fare as well. I took it comfortably on the lower half, doing 17:48 to the Amphitheater Road. The dreaded steeps above had me wishing for a 29 or a 30 instead of my insufficient 27. I can hardly believe I rode this with a 23 two months go. I did 15:36 for the upper half, a respectful time, for a total of 33:24 - about 2.5 minutes off my PR pace. Like I promised, a semi-comfortable pace. Okay, that isn't right. A not-too-painful pace. Roundtrip from work in 1h20m.
On the way down I saw Kevin and another Rocky Mounts rider coming up the lower section. I hope they continued for the full Monty. Kevin was seated, grinding things out, as usual. The other guy was standing with his shirt unzipped. It was indeed warm.
For those of you who were waiting for some challenge before joining the fun, wait no longer, for she is here. Tomorrow we climb the divine mistress of vertical pain: Magnolia. It is indeed an honor and a privilege to suffer on her luxurious flanks. I'll be shooting to just break 40. Nothing too impressive, but I know the suffering will still be great. There just isn't an easy way to subdue this one. At least not without a mountain bike. The good news is that things, by definition, get easier after it. Sugarloaf on Thursday and Lee Hill/Deer Trail on Friday.
So far, I've climbed about 5300 vertical this week. Magnolia will add another 2500-2700 feet.
Maybe next week I'll do the second tier climbs: Old Stage, NCAR, Linden, Four Mile, Jamestown...
Bill
Well, the forecasted bad weather didn't arrive and I did SuperFlag at lunch. Not surprisingly, I was alone. I overdressed and sweated profusely on the climb. SuperFlag submitted nicely to my ride, though I didn't fare as well. I took it comfortably on the lower half, doing 17:48 to the Amphitheater Road. The dreaded steeps above had me wishing for a 29 or a 30 instead of my insufficient 27. I can hardly believe I rode this with a 23 two months go. I did 15:36 for the upper half, a respectful time, for a total of 33:24 - about 2.5 minutes off my PR pace. Like I promised, a semi-comfortable pace. Okay, that isn't right. A not-too-painful pace. Roundtrip from work in 1h20m.
On the way down I saw Kevin and another Rocky Mounts rider coming up the lower section. I hope they continued for the full Monty. Kevin was seated, grinding things out, as usual. The other guy was standing with his shirt unzipped. It was indeed warm.
For those of you who were waiting for some challenge before joining the fun, wait no longer, for she is here. Tomorrow we climb the divine mistress of vertical pain: Magnolia. It is indeed an honor and a privilege to suffer on her luxurious flanks. I'll be shooting to just break 40. Nothing too impressive, but I know the suffering will still be great. There just isn't an easy way to subdue this one. At least not without a mountain bike. The good news is that things, by definition, get easier after it. Sugarloaf on Thursday and Lee Hill/Deer Trail on Friday.
So far, I've climbed about 5300 vertical this week. Magnolia will add another 2500-2700 feet.
Maybe next week I'll do the second tier climbs: Old Stage, NCAR, Linden, Four Mile, Jamestown...
Bill
