Upcoming Road Rides: May 12, 14

First, many thanks to Vince MacMillan for blogging at the Tour of the Gila.  Go to http://ciclistasdelrio.blogspot.com/, scroll down to the entry on May 3 and read up from there.  It’s entertaining reading, it was not an uneventful race to say the least, and great riding by Vince, animating the race and doing Montezuma County proud.

Saturday Ride

This Saturday’s ride will be modified due to the 12 Hours of Mesa Verde race.  For those who are not participating in the race, and can’t get a mountain bike ride in because Phil’s World is overrun, come on out for a road ride instead!  Meet at FLANDERS PARK in Dolores, opposite the Dolores River Brewery.  We’ll depart at 9AM, probably heading up the valley to the West Fork.

Monday Ride

Monday’s ride will probably end up as a recovery ride for the MV racers, but we’ll see who shows, and we can split into groups according to what everyone wants to do.  6:15PM at FLANDERS PARK, in Dolores.

It’s getting close to the Iron Horse, get your miles in now!

Squawker Classic Road Race

Well, it wasn't really a road race as it was so short, only 20 miles. But 4 times up E 8th Ave is enough! Peloton was shedding people out the back from the gun, but I managed to stay in there until the first ascent of 8th. Very quickly split into a lead few, a chase group, and the rest of us strung out. Worked with a couple others for the next lap, but couldn't catch the chase group, was a hundred meters behind at the top of 8th, then never saw them again. Beau took off, and he did manage to catch them, Matt and I worked together for lap 3, then he dropped off on the 3rd ascent of 8th. So it was a solo last lap. Again, haven't seen the results so I don't know how far back I was - but was proud that I pushed threshhold on each ascent, and kept the power up on all the other sections of the course except the long descent down College - needed some recovery! All in all, a great block of intensity training!

Squawker Classic Criterium

Yeah, was questioning my fitness leading up to this, but it wasn't so bad. About half way through, an accelleration dropped a few of us off the back, and we worked together for the remainder of the race, haven't seen results so not sure how far back we finished. Was very happy with the effort and the training gained - it's been a couple years since I've had to work at threshhold for extended periods, and I can't replicate this kind of intensity during training. I'm behind the curve, but not too far behind.

Update from the FLC Squawker Time Trial

Perfect conditions this morning for the TT, wish I had more time to warm up, but 20 mins wasn't bad. Think I just cracked 30 mins for a 26.1mph avg. We'll see. Don't think that places me very well overall, though - downhill TTs are tough for me to maintain max power, and my avg HR of 173 proves it, wish it were over 175. Ah well, it's all good training, and I learn more each time I race one of these. On my back resting, watching Pens/Flyers, getting ready for the crit this afternoon.

1st Club Ride of the Spring!

6 of us departed Kokopelli's at 9:30 on a brisk but sunny morning, and rode essentially the Pueblo-to-Pueblo route, but returning along 29/30 instead of 145. The 184 section was absolutely gorgeous and a treat to ride, sheltered from any wind, perfect temperature, and little traffic. All agreed it was a great way to start the spring's club rides.

Let's do it again next Saturday!

Kokopelli / Ciclistas del Rio Saturday Road Rides!

Wow - not much happened over the winter, eh? 

Starting this weekend, April 7, group road rides will leave at 9:30am Saturday from Kokopelli Bike & Board.  All abilities and interests are welcome, and we’ll cater the ride to whoever shows up, splitting into different groups if necessary.  Need some intensity training for the Iron Horse or other spring races?  Want practice riding in a pace line, or getting comfortable in a peloton?  Just want to go for a ride?  Then come on down to Kokopelli’s on Saturday morning!  They open at 9:00am in case you need to pick up some gels or bars for the ride, or couldn’t find that second water bottle that’s been floating around the garage over the winter.  We’ll assess rider preferences and decide all logistics before setting out.

It’s going to be a beautiful day this Saturday, no better way to start off the spring, see you there!

Final PBP Recap

Last Day!  Really, an extra day as the sleep in Dreux was not planned, but necessary.  Another 5 or so hours of sleep, some soup, yogurt, bread and butter, coffee and Orangina, and I was ready for the final forty miles.  This last section is much flatter than the rest of the route, and it was another fine day, and though I still had the cold, my spirits were high.  Saw many people that I had seen over the past couple of days, some were dragging in, most were upbeat and excited to finish.  Even being sick, there weren't many who were faster than me up the climbs - thank you Colorado!  The most frustrating thing was dealing with all the traffic lights as we approached the urban center - after 3 days of roundabouts, the cyclist's best friend, having to actually stop at an intersection was annoying.  You could hear the crowds at the Gymnase about half a mile away, and they thronged the approach to the final roundabout, and huge cheers and applause would go up for every rider as they rode in and under the finish kite.  It was an incredible way to finish, and I'm so glad I did not push through the previous night.  Parked the bike, and joined the line for the final control stamp, a "congratulations", and "see you next time!"

Found Fred, Julie and Colin, with lots of hugs all around.  Shower and 90 minute nap, and much was right with the world again.



Michael & Colin - very happy campers after finishing PBP



Can you tell Fred and Julie are happy to be done?

So I figure I've ridden three different PBPs in one:  1) I raced, and raced well - apparently I was the 3rd fastest RMCC rider to Loudeac the first night in 16h20m, just too bad I couldn't hold it.  2) I toured, and had a lot of fun chatting with riders, setting up pace lines, stopping for food and drink with the locals, taking photos from the bike, and generally enjoying riding through France.  3) I survived - getting sick turned it into an epic, and forcing myself to keep going through the misery and nausea was the hardest thing I've ever done.  And in the end, I finished!  With a pretty decent time of 78h30m-ish despite the illness.  I guess I now have the title of Ancien (a PBP finisher), and my name goes in the Big Book of finishers, dating back to 1891.  Quite an honor for riding a bike around the northwest corner of France.  A bientot!