Mary Vencill's
The Ride of a Lifetime - AgainHi there! Thanks for visiting my page. It's almost that time...in just a few days, I'll be setting out on my bike, along with roughly 2,499 other riders, to ride 550-ish miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Even though I've done this four times, I don't seem to be able to relax about it. Can't focus on much else. It's by far the most incredible way I know to spend seven days -- laughing out loud many times each day, getting misty-eyed just as many times, hearing stories about what inspires others to do such a challenging event, feeling the power of what a community can accomplish, cherishing the friendships - and this year, for the first time, rejoicing that my husband (Dan the Water Man), my son Frank (water man in training), my daughter and mentor Kathy (rider #1751) and my nephew John (amazing rider #3275) will be along for this incredible adventure. Please do browse the entire ALC website, get a glimpse of why this event is so magical, and consider getting involved next year. Simply put, it has changed my life. Two parts of this venture are challenging -- the first is training, or rather not procrastinating about training. I'm living proof that it doesn't take an athlete, an avid cyclist, or even a young person to ride every single mile (or, as we say, EFI - Every ***ing Inch) and love it. I've been training ever since December, and I'm feeling ready - by taking it slow and easy (is there any other way??) I know I can make it. A huge Hooray and Thanks to all of you who have been training with me. Many of you were just learning to ride; you have inspired me through superhuman efforts; now you have become strong and confident riders. I can't wait to see you all out on the road (don't forget to call out and say hi as you pass me!) The second challenge - and a worthy one - is fundraising. I'm so grateful to those of you who have donated already and made it possible for me to do this extraordinary event. You have also made possible all the wonderful ald lifesaving things that the San Francisco AIDS Foundation does with the money raised. Last year 2,300+ riders and the roughly 500 volunteer "roadies" who take care of us raised $11 million for AIDS prevention, awareness, education, services, policy/advocacy, and support for international efforts to end the devastation. People living with HIV/AIDS need our help more than ever- a growing number of people are living with HIV & AIDS - many of them don't even know it. the net result is an ever-greater need for costly services. And we have an opportunity to prevent the heartbreak of AIDS for those who are at risk. My fundraising deadline is very close - And my goal? Not so close(!) Please help by giving whatever you can. Every little bit is a huge help. And do send me a message below! Oh yes, click on the link to "Gabcast" just below this message - I'm going to do my best to record some audio notes from the road - Thanks again!
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Mary's latest blog entry:
Sunday, May 18, 2008 
Celebrating with friends on Red Dress Day
Mary's Goal: $5,000.00
Current Total: $5,000.00 |
Listen to Mary's Gabcast |
HIV/AIDS Fact of the DayProvided by AIDS/LifeCycle For every rider and roadie on AIDS/LifeCycle this year, there are 375 people living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. |
Mary's LinksSan Francisco AIDS Foundation
L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center
Experience AIDS/LifeCycle 2007
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Mary's BlogSunday, May 18, 20086:43 PMAn Epic Adventure and a Shout Out to ALC HeroesWell, it was quite a day. 50+ of us gathered in Orinda, full of hope and innocence. The first half of the ride (a zig-zag route from Orinda to Martinez to Crockett to Vallejo to Benicia to Fairfield) went smoothly for most of us. Actually it was gorgeous. I was astounded at how similar it seemed to Day Two on The Ride. The agricultural countryside in Solano County, the lovely vision of riders all stretched out along miles of rural roads, the winds… OK, granted, I did get some good-natured (??) grumbling (Who wrote that on-line description of this ride. Is this really what you mean by “mostly-flat”??) Guilty as charged. In my defense, I'll note that the author of that comment hasn't been doing East Bay rides. There was lots of good cheer and high fives when the last of us arrived at the Jelly Belly Factory, and we all lingered (too long, perhaps?) in the sooo-welcome air conditioned environment. And we began to hear some of the stories of ALC heroism that I’m still hearing today. Most of the instances of heroism I didn’t witness first hand, and I’m probably not doing them justice. There are probably others I don’t even know about yet. I do know virtually everyone got lost at least once, and as a consequence, most rode even more miles than you had bargained for. It was indeed an adventure. Epic. Here are a few of the heroes to whom I’d like to give a particular cheer: - Tim, who was wise enough to know when that bee stung him, that it was a dangerous situation, and that calling 911 was the appropriate response. And Jeanine, who hung in there with him, probably worried a lot, and took charge of Communications from the Hospital…(Tim, that was a nice note you left at sign-out for the friends and supporters who stayed with you until help arrived). - Ron Marshall, who drove the car to pick up Tim & Jeanine’s bikes, went to the hospital to pick them up, and delivered them safely back to the starting point. Oh, and he also made (at least) two separate trips with riders to bike shop to get tire and spoke difficulties taken care of. And Wilma, who hates riding in hot weather and probably would have given anything to have been able to call upon Ron for a car rescue (that was the original plan), but soldiered on, actually finished the ride stronger than ever, and would have ridden on, but for the late hour. Hooray - you are ready for The Ride! - Alex Plumb, TRL extraordinare, who took charge of the bee sting situation, submitted all the appropriate reports by phone and on line, and kept a group of riders going despite some confusing route sheet instructions and resulting extra miles…And then, after arriving home (in Alameda), set out once more to drive back to Solano County (that’s a long detour!!) to rescue a rider who found herself still lost as dark was descending. That’s waaaay over and above and beyond. - Virgil Parrett (Team Bear), who set up and cleaned up all of our rest stops for us, cut up all those melons and pineapples, helped with the rescue of all the late-night riders, and made sure we were all well fed and hydrated for all of a very long hot day – and in the process put in a 16-hour day himself and missed his team’s event in the City. He has been creating water stops for newbies all spring, but this day was truly above and beyond. Go give him a hug when you see him on his gear truck! - Ronald Van Veen, Wewela Ketema, Tony Laidig, Matthew Martin, and Kerwin Alexander, valiant TRLs who all remained calm despite route confusion and took care of the riders lucky enough to be riding with them. In particular, Kerwin took off riding from the last rest stop, not by preference, but motivated by his commitment to support the late-night riders. Hats off to you, sir - you are a credit to the TRL group. - Keith Noland, and especially his wonderful wife Sherry, who brought their two cars (capable of transporting an astonishing seven combined bicycles) and rescued 10+ riders who, thanks to circumstances they couldn’t control, were riding (or would have been riding) after dark. Wow. Incredible. - Ray, along with Steve, and the others riding with us, for hanging in there in the face of a case of heat exhaustion (I, for one, was having thoughts about heat stroke, dehydration, even wondering about a possible heart attack…), making absolutely sure it was truly safe to ride on, making an unplanned stop for extra water and ice, and carrying on despite getting lost to the last stop, a full 13 hours after the start of our day. - ALL of the other incredible riders, who remained reasonably calm and cheerful in the face of searing heat and winds gusting up to 30-something miles an hour (actually causing our bikes to do some serious and scary wobbling on the road – those Solano County winds and heat were indeed at their worst, quite simply, brutal!!) All but a very few of us actually completed the century-plus. For many of you, it was the first century ever. Guess what, you guys – the infamous Day Two will seem like a walk in the park after this! As always, when conditions are less-than-perfect (an understatement, you say??) the lasting image for me is of ALC people taking care of one another, cheering each other up and on, problem-solving, and celebrating their victories over the elements and the body-aches… Proof positive, just in case I needed it, that ALC folks are incredible. I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing, two weeks from today, than spending time with all of you. And my thanks go out to all of you for your commitment to this ride, and for the many weeks of training and body-toughening that you have done. Three loud and raucous cheers for all of us!!
Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Thursday, May 15, 20086:53 PMHottest day of the year - time for a short, flat, easy rideErin and I talked by phone, asked out loud which of us was going to talk the other out of our commitment to ride today. At 8 a.m, it was already hot. Instead, we rode from her house down to the Berkeley Marina and along the Bay Trail to the end in Richmond, and then back again. 30-ish flat and stress-free miles, in the coolest, breeziest possible part of the world. Our reward was that the brisk breeze cleared away the near-constant haze/smog and the view across the bay was totally stunning. And my reward was that getting back to my house involves a little climbing. But I have scouted out the easiest route, and I shamelessly took it. Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Sunday, May 11, 200811:54 AMSometimes it's just a grindI dunno...was it the headwinds? Was it the fact that Franklin Canyon Road is one of the most boring ever? Was it because I didn't feel free to "blast away full speed" on the awesome Crockett Boulevard descent (oh well, there's always next time!) Was it because nobody but me wanted to talk while climbing?? Was it that stretch of 28 miles with no rest stop? Was it because I overheard riders complaining about how hard the ride was? Or was it because, after all, my body noticed that it was 82 miles. Anyway, Margaret helped me sweep, and that saved the day. When it was over, I found myself wanting to drive down to Santa Cruz and surprise Kathy at her fundraising event...but the 6 a.m. wake-up call today was a deterrent. And then I discovered the extra-cool extra-fancy cappucino maker that my wonderful family gave me for Mothers Day. Gotta run now. Gotta go have that first cup of really indulgent coffee!! Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Friday, May 9, 20083:33 PMUpper Pinehurst(!) with Erin and MargaretErin and Margaret were kind enough to come to my house to begin - and were punished by having to climb the nasty little stretch on Broadway Terrace before taking the nice little bike path (whew, rest) around Lake Temescal. It's such a short little stretch - why doesn't it get easier with practice??? Up Old Tunnel Road - still my favorite little bit of cycling territory. Every time I ride it, I re-live my very first trip up that road (fall of 2004, brand new to cycling), huffing and puffing and having to stop to rest - but determined to keep up with Kathy as best I could. It's blessedly car-less, and the cars that do pass know that bicycles rule that road, and they are very considerate. Then on to Grizzly Peak, not quite so car-less, but still much better than it is on weekends. Rode (or did I say, coasted) all the way to the end (past Margaret's lovely house) and into Tilden Park and down Wildcat. Then we duplicated my last week's trick with Kathy of climbing Papa Bear and turning around at the top for the A-MA-zing descent. Then, thankfully not about to climb Widcat and South Park, we turned and rode the nice wide smooth flat road into Orinda, where we stopped for a sandwich. Then it was off to Moraga and then to tackle...ta da... Upper Pinehurst. We are scheduled to ride that route on the 24th, on the way to the party at my house. I was curious, not having climbed that particular stretch for two years. I remember it well, that time two years ago - I had treated myself to a (rare) GU shot at the bottom, under the illusion that it would give me the energy to make it all the way. Riding with a much stronger rider, who zoomed ahead, I had struggled on the last part with all the switchbacks. Finally, at one point, my legs had just said "no more" and I had stopped for a rest. Only to discover that, just around the next curve was the top - literally just a few pedal strokes farther than the point where I had stopped. So of course, I have kicked myself ever since for stopping and "giving in" to the hill. OK, so fast forward to this Monday...the three of us stayed together, on the theory that talking while climbing makes the miles go faster. That is so very true. The route is absolutely lovely, surrounded by redwoods, past the charming little town of Canyon (= one school and one post office - I know there are some houses back there somewhere, but they are all so well hidden). So we traded stories and only once really noticed that we were climbing (on that first particularly amazing switchback). Before long, we looked up and there was the stop sign right ahead of us! I actually said out loud - "huh? so that's it??" What a pleasant surprise!! Notes to self: (1) always always talk while climbing; (2) good company makes biking a real pleasure. Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Sunday, May 4, 200810:12 PMDevil Mountain -- the whole thing, this time!Our brave crew consisted of 30 riders, several new to the East Bay Saturday series, most a bit nervous about taking on ALL of Mount Diablo. The weather could not have been more perfect - if it had been truly hot, we would have been miserable. We spent a lot of time in the parking lot talking about safety, descending slowly, rules and permits, and all that. Every single rider (that I saw – what do they do when I’m not looking???) behaved perfectly, and fortunately everyone has been maintaining bicycles well, so we had no incidents – we had only one flat tire (Persephone – thanks, Margaret, for keeping us company) the whole day. Most importantly, all but a very few riders actually made it all the way to the summit, (the last 4 miles were optional) which was pretty amazing. Eleven miles from North Gate to the very top, and nine of them were straight climbing. I calculated (Google Maps again) that we climbed a total of 3700 feet in a couple of hours (not counting rest time at the Ranger Station, while we procrastinated about setting out for the Summit. By the time we got to the Ranger Station, I was wondering how much worse the Summit Road was going to be than the bit we had just finished. Much to my surprise, it actually wasn’t all that much worse than the five miles that had preceded it. Except, of course, for the last couple of hundred feet or so. They say that’s an 18% grade. I had told myself I would stop at the parking lot to gather my strength, but by the time I got there, the only way was to keep on keeping on. Actually, it looked a lot like the last bit of South Park Drive, only a bit longer. My legs turned to jelly about halfway up, and I was amazed that when I asked them to keep moving, they actually did so. And somehow, miraculously, the bicycle kept moving too. By the time the road leveled out at the top, I was wondering if I could get off the bike without falling down. Somehow, some way, I did. And I could still remember how to walk, too!! Well, we had one amazing party at the top, cheering for each arriving rider, taking group photos, even though the 360-degree panoramic view was decidedly hazy and unspectacular. Didn’t matter. Actually, that same haze saved us from the worst that heat can do to riders when they climb, so who needs bright sunshine? We took lots of photos; we taught people how to hoist bikes above their heads (halfway-point style). All in all, it was a pretty outstanding day! Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Wednesday, April 30, 20088:09 PMSouth Park -- And I don't mean the TV series!!Monday, Kathy and I took off on a ride, along with Erin, with no clear idea where we were heading. Kind of nice that riding is the important part, and the destination is secondary. Up Old Tunnel Road (haven’t ridden that one often enough this year), and then Erin had to split off because of time constraints, so Kathy and I crept down Upper Pinehurst (I was picturing what it is going to be like to climb that last stretch in a few weeks – yikes!) and stopped in Orinda for lunch at a little Greek deli. Then it was off to visit the three Bears. Love the Bears. So we arrived at the top of Papa Bear and then looked at the time. We somehow realized that we couldn’t do the full loop and still get home in time for Kathy to “beat the rush hour traffic.” So we did a U turn and FLEW back down Papa Bear, my favorite descent. Now, I’ve been talking a lot about descending slowly, not wanting some little pebble or pothole to cause a spill that would take all the fun out of June. But Papa Bear doesn’t have any pebbles or potholes, so the high-speed fun was there for the taking. And see? We are both still in one piece. So, once that thrill ride was over, we had to figure out the shortest way home. Naturally, up Wildcat Canyon. Then what? Well, Kathy suggested South Park Drive, and my heart froze. See, I’ve read a lot of those websites that describe the bicycle routes in the East Bay, with emphasis on what different climbs are like. I’ve compared the on-line descriptions of climbs I know well (Redwood Road, the Bears, even Old Tunnel Road) and they use words that are “gentler” than the words I would use to describe those same climbs. OK, fine, those websites are for the hardbodies, not for me. So, when Kathy uttered the dreaded words “South Park.” I could see, as though the computer screen were right in front of my face, the words used to describe South Park Drive. “A Real Grind.” I wonder what they meant by that? How bad could it be? What if we got part way and I couldn’t finish? How humiliating would it be to have to walk? What kind of shortcut is that? But Kathy said she had climbed it before. So how could I say no? I did descend it once. It’s about as amazing as Papa Bear, except that I was too chicken to speed down without leaning on the brakes heavily. But this time, we were climbing. Right away, it was tough going. And it didn’t get easier. Somehow it didn’t seem right to stop. Kathy remembered out loud that the stretch at the very top was the worst. Was THAT what I needed to hear?? Those words kept rattling in my brain as we pedaled, ever so slowly, and at one point I yelled (probably with an obscenity mixed in) “worse than THIS??” She didn’t need to answer. Finally I saw it. The good news – the super-steep part was short. I could see the stop sign at the top. The bad news – I wasn’t 100% sure I could make it. It was one of those stretches where, after that quick first glance, I had to keep my eyes on the road directly in front of my bike, not remind myself how “straight up” it looked, focus on every pedal stroke, play mind games such as wondering (at one point) whether there were 20 pedal strokes left or 30…(it was 25). Well, when we arrived, we did a dance around the road sign, absolutely Kings of the Mountain. Took pictures, thumbs up, of us and the road sign. Giddy…relishing the victory…realizing that the route home from there was going to be pretty easy. When we got home, I quickly signed on to Google Maps and calculated the distance (1.4 miles) and the number of feet we climbed (estimated at 740) and calculated that it’s about a 10% grade. But that bit at the top has got to be about 15%. So, would I do it again?? Well…not by myself, because without company, it would be pure drudgery. And besides, now I know I can, and for some silly reason, that’s what counts, isn’t it?? But another part of me wants to know whether it will be easier the second time, whether I’m actually getting any stronger. Maybe next week. So why don't my quads and glutes hurt? Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Monday, April 28, 20086:06 PMA Good Nights SleepDay On The Ride – another chance to ride with Kathy, another chance to visit all those lovely spots in Marin – I had been looking forward to that for quite awhile. And oh, yeah another chance to remember what it’s like to be waking up at 4 a.m. and get ready to ride. OK, so I know the ropes already. I know it’s important to be rested when setting out for a long day. But could I get to sleep before midnight? It was almost like the adrenaline rush that happens on Day Zero when it’s impossible to fall asleep. Oh well… So morning arrived ahead of schedule, and I remembered how lovely it is to drive across the Bay Bridge with no traffic whatsoever. I had told myself that parking around our new departure point (in Golden Gate Park rather than sports Basement) would be lousy, so I should arrive early. That part worked to perfection. It was fun being among the first to arrive, seeing so many familiar faces. Many of the other early arrivers were East Bay Saturday riders, and they were excited about the day. I was thrilled to see Erica and find out that in June she would again be heading up the FedEx team responsible for scanning the arriving bikes on the ride. Hard to believe that Day Zero is only five weeks away. It was a disastrous day from a safety perspective. We later found out that four riders crashed while descending White’s Hill, despite all the warnings about how unsafe it is to speed down it. And on the way over the Golden Gate Bridge, we had to stop and dismount and try not to look at the fallen rider, who had a very badly broken ankle (I think) – the story we heard was that two riders, almost but not quite single file, went down HARD when a rider coming in the other direction brushed against the shoulder of one of the riders…I also found out later that Anthony, one of our Saturday group, had taken a spill and fractured a finger in two places along with a thumb…he’s still planning to ride! Hope his recovery goes well. At dinner, another rider displayed a nasty bruise (almost treating everyone at the table to a full-out moon shot!) So…maybe being slow and careful isn’t such a bad idea. Kathy and I easily found each other - she had spent the night in the city and stayed up even later than I – but then she’s young and can get by with stuff like that! We listened attentively to the announcements – it appears our June route has actually had to change a tiny bit because some jurisdiction somewhere wouldn’t give us the permits. So all that discussion about the rules isn’t just so much hot air. I know there are some places along the route where there are no available detours, so that if they denied us permits, the ride would be out of business. Then they celebrated the mega-fundraisers, WonderKurt led us in the pre-ride stretches, and we took off. Naturally our bikes were parked in the wrong spot, so we were among the last to hit the road. Glorious day, although the heat on Cheese Factory Hill was a bit much. Starting to get the classic rider sunburn lines. So why did I mention getting enough sleep? Usually, on Marin rides, when we get back over the GG Bridge, I’m used to that being pretty much the end of the ride. But no. We had to get ALL the way back to GG Park. And when a member of the Moto Safety Crew pointed us in the right direction, saying “only five miles to finish” my heart sank. ONLY Five miles! Well, meandering through the Presidio, fabulous scenery and all, should have been pure joy. But I was being my end-of-ride-grinchy self and forgot to enjoy it. Remind me to go back and relish some of those hills and that scenery on another day. (I forgot to mention how amazing it was to have Moto Safety folks on duty. What a gift they are! And the PosPed folks doing the rest stops were wonderful!) Post-ride dinner was fabulous, even though we were late arriving – we tried to hurry, but hanging out with this group is just TOO much fun. We found Lola (Mills student, one of Russ’s many protégés), and somehow crammed all three bicycles (hooray – bike rack actually works well) and took off. No leisurely bubble bath for me – barely clean, it was off to enjoy our family dinner with Michael, celebrating his non-departure from the Bay Area. Too bad I almost fell asleep during dinner.
Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Thursday, April 17, 20082:04 PMDevil Mountain and Happy ValleyLast Saturday we took on two of the climbs I had been dreading: (1) Happy Valley Road (left turn immediately after climbing Mama Bear and the two babies) wasn't as tough as I had built it up to be (I once drove over it and decided it wasn't do-able on two wheels). On the other hand, Alex had reported that it "isn't all that long" and - about two-thirds of the way up - I had to beg to differ. But the rewards of getting to the top were far greater than I had imagined. Picture a glorious gentle descent (no brakes) on perfect road surface with lots of scenic spots to enjoy along the way. And that loveliness just went on and on. Then, after a hum-drum (translate, mostly flat) ride to Danville and a rest stop at the impressive Lunardi's market, it was off to tackle... (2) Mt. Diablo, via the southern route. This one I had done, years ago. I had mercifully forgotten what it felt like. Picture hot blazing sun, gradual ascent gradually becoming a sure-enough climb, no shady spots in sight, quite a few gotta-stand-up switchbacks. Well, there we were, pedaling along at a liesurely pace (um...think 3.5 mph) and allegedly doing just fine. Toward the top it actually gets easier. And shadier. Suddenly, there it was, I could see the stop sign ahead...ranger station...our turn-around point. I was thanking my lucky stars that I hadn't included the punishing Summit Climb in the route. Then, just as suddenly, the rider in front of me wobbled and then half-fell-half-stumbled off the road. We all gathered round, and the first thing I noticed was the dazed look on her face. I asked her whether she had been eating enough. Experienced enough to know, she shook her head in the negative. So I whipped out what was left (about 75%) of the roast beef sandwich I had bought at Lunardi's. (The darned thing was gigantic. I had been asking myself what possessed me to buy such a thing, because I usually don't. I think it was because I was a bit in awe of the Devil Mountain climb and had been wanting to make sure I had an extra bit of energy in the tank. Turns out I wasn't the one who needed it.) Oh, so this is what it's like to bonk, I thought. Not a good thing. The "bonkee" could barely walk the remaining few feet to the ranger station. I knew it would not be safe for her to ride down and started thinking about options. Well, the most amazing part of the day was all the huge TLC and support that came our way. The ranger who was on duty somehow "happened" to be available to give (rider) a lift in his truck back to Lunardi's. So off they went, while (friend) took off, probably coasting way too fast down the mountain, hurrying to meet them by the time they got to Lunardi's. We called Alex, and he was just about to leave Lunardi's to head back to our starting point. But his car wouldn't hold two extra riders and two extra bikes, so Barbara, bless her, who had been having "sore foot" problems, took off with him, pedaling hard to keep up with Alex (who's one of those double-century-or-more type riders) so that she could follow him back to Lunardi's. That way (rider) and (friend) could both get back to the starting point, where (friend) could drive home, because none of us knew whether or not (rider) was too shaky even to drive. Meanwhile, back at the rest stop, everybody was contributing something nutritions or sweet for (rider) to eat. What was memorable about the day? I had thought it would be the climbing, the amazing scenery, the thrill of victory...then I thought it would be the lasting and scary image of a rider in trouble (that dazed-and-confused-and-uncertain look on her face...did she or didn't she have the strength to climb up into the front seat of the ranger's truck?)...but in fact, what turned out to be memorable was all the taking-care-of-one-another that took place. A genuine ALC moment. Note to self. Even though I already knew it "in theory": bonking is no joke. I've exchanged emails and phone calls with (rider) since Saturday, and all is well. but it seems as though it does take a couple of days to recover strength fully. I've also researched calorie-burning requirements for riding, just in case you care. At 135 pounds, light riding burns 250+ calories per hour, "moderate" riding (whatever that is) burns 387, and "vigorous" (translate, any climbing or pushing for speed) burns 500+. At 185 pounds, the hourly calorie consumption is 350, 485, or 700+. That's a lot. Other note to self. Sugar is not the answer. Protein and "slow carbs" need to be in the mix. Imagine that, a balanced diet. This Saturday I'm making some "potato goo." A couple of cut-up apples won't do it. (What's Potato Goo, you ask? Picture mashed potatoes, nicely seasoned, in a blender with extra water to make it GU-consistency, then place in mini-zip-type bag - can even bite off the corner and consume while riding! Recipe courtesy of Dr. Joan, rider and nutritionist - thanks, Joan!)
Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Tuesday, April 8, 200811:06 AM4-5-08 Saturday ride - Oh, yes, I remember...headwindsI guess I had forgotten how windy it gets in the spring around this part of the world. What should have been a pretty mellow ride turned into a real grind near the end, when we did the out-and-back to Pinole for one last rest stop. The "out" to Pinole part is supposed to be easy - more downhill than up - but we had to pedal hard to keep a 12-mph average going downhill. I kept remembering all the times that the headwinds have turned fickle in the past - somehow doing a 180-degree turn just as we got to the end point, and buffeting us in both directions. Not this time, though. Back to Orinda was just fine...it's so nice when there's no whistling sound in your ears from the wind...that lovely silence that tells you that you and the wind are traveling at about the same speed. Reminded me of those delicious moments on the ride (such as...maybe the end of Day 3??) when there's a long stretch of flat road where we coast along effortlessly at 25+ mph, just being lifted back to camp by the tailwind. So...when am I going to build some real muscle so that I can go faster, or maybe not mind headwinds so much, or maybe not "feel it" so much at the end of the day. Sigh. Will I be ready for June? Will I be able to keep up with John Platt and others who are stronger and have been training more days per week? Why am I having all these doubts, after all these years. I should know...on the ride, as on training rides, I'll get there when I get there...it's a ride, not a race, right? Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Sunday, March 30, 20086:56 PMLongest ride so far...a real testAaaaargh. 79 miles shouldn't be such a big deal. No fair about the weather - all the on-line forecasts said "partly sunny" all day. The first 50 miles were miserable and cold. If I had been riding instead of TRLing, I would have figured out some pretext to end it early....a time constraint...a mechanical glitch...anything. Plus, it was foggy, totally socked in, so the nice views that are supposed to reward us for climbing just weren't there. The weather finally cooperated along about the time we got to Castro Valley, so the last 20 miles up and over Redwood Road and Pinehurst were actually nice. Thanks for the company, Persephone...who was it we were supposed to be sweeping...oh, I get it, each other!! Who said we don't get any of our own training done while being TRLs?? Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Monday, March 24, 200810:11 AMMy One Sunday ride of the year!What a day! Every Sunday except Easter I have to work, so I worry about not getting to do very many back-to-back days. And I never get to ride in Marin, and it's so gorgeous! But today, I went on Ben's Sunday ride, along with whoever wasn't doing Easter Eggs...a modest group of about 60 or so... and did the fabulous China Camp-Lucas Valley Road route. It was good seeing a lot of familiar faces that I don't see often enough - but noone seemed to be riding my "relaxed" pace, so I was mostly enjoying the scenery on my own. Until just before Lucas Valley Road, when I ended up riding with Alex...that was totally fun, and reinforced my conviction that climbing is best done while either singing or chattering up a storm. I did most of the chattering, and that somehow made the climb(s) a whole lot easier - thanks for listening, Alex! She, by the way, was taking on her first really long and challenging ride, and she hung in there like a champ... in spite of the 'are we there yet...how many more hills did you say?! Why is it that the Sausalito Hill(s) don't get all that much easier with practice?? It was an amazing and fun day, a great feeling to survive back-to-back 70-milers...Talking with Kathy on the phone afterwards, I only had mild pangs of regret that I hadn't spent the day doing Easter eggs with her and Frank and Dylan and Daniel, and the very cool gathering they went to (also in Marin...I had fantasies about taking a detour from the route and crashing the party!) Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Saturday, March 22, 200810:43 PMRiding with kathy - woo hoo!What a special treat today was...A little slice of the joy of Day on the ride and the Ride itself - namely getting to ride with Kathy. I think of her so often while doing training rides without her - and have told a ton of people how it was that she literally twisted my arm off to get me to do that first Roadie stint on ALC3...thereby assuring that I'd be permanently addicted to doing this ride. So it was incredibly fun to introduce her to the Saturday group. The weather pretty much could not have been better. Jeepers, I had forgotten how much climbing is involved in the Carquinez Scenic route. It was especially fun doing the Lafayette-Moraga bike path (where we actually get a chance to talk!!) with Kathy and Keith - got to know a whole new-to-me dimension of Keith's life...how nice it was of him to transport KV's purchase from Peet's in his "trunk"...I'll bet she will smile whenever she looks at that coffee canister! So...we did the whole "who's sweeping whom" thing... all in all, it was a fabulous ride. Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Sunday, March 2, 20084:55 PM13th Ride of the Cat 1 SeriesFabulous weather - 17 of us got a good start, and 14 of us made it through the Bears loop (Mama first) and back to Orinda. At that point I decided to wait for the other three, and take over sweeping...(Huge thanks and high fives to Tom for helping out on short notice...and to Tom and Roberta for sweeping!) When I got to my car, I discovered it had been broken into, and my purse was missing. So...I reluctantly abandoned the ride. I spent the next ten hours (1) calling credit card companies (2) calling the BART police - Officer J. was fantastic, a huge support, and spent a lot of time trying to solve the crime - (3) rushing home when I realized the thieves had my house key and my driver's license (4) changing the locks on the house, (5) driving to Crockett where a nice couple had retrieved the thrown-away purse after the thieves discovered all the credit cards were useless (thanks also to alert and helpful companies for limiting the damage!!). Yikes! Some advice from Officer J if you ever have a similar incident - report fraud to the three major credit monitoring companies as protection against identity theft. So, Roberta and Tom ended up sweeping the whole day (I owe them, big time!!) Thanks also to Persephone for being the sole leader for the main group. Frustrating day - only 14 slow miles for me. I need more training! Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Saturday, January 5, 20081:28 PMFifth Ride in the seriesHad sent an email yesterday telling everyone we would probably cancel, but that they should look for an email from me at 7:30 a.m. Then when I awoke this morning, it looked dry and the forecast wasn't too grim...so the 7:30 email said "maybe." Persephone and Annette showed up (all the way from Alameda and Vallejo respectively - thanks guys!), but only two riders did. So I sent Persephone and Annette home and the two riders and I set out on an altered/shorter route, since we knew the weather wouldn't hold out for long. Though the two riders (Kathy and Kathleen) are new, they said they're not afraid of hills, so we started out on a Three Bears loop. Pretty serious climbing! And, I have to confess, the first climbing I've done for a couple of months. But when we got to the top of the second hill, we looked West and saw Serious Rain closing in fast, so we turned around and went back the short way. We did get wet, but all three of us were dressed in rain-proof gear and fared just fine - well, maybe a couple of cold feet. For me, it was a nice opportunity to get to know two great new riders - and they were very good sports to take on a non-trivial 2-mile climb! Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Saturday, December 29, 20071:33 PMFourth training ride in series - canceledDrizzly cold day, wet roads - no time for a curvy descent on a narrow road with lots of cars. Went out to the starting point, - without bike or riding clothes, darn it - and the group's newest ALC registrant (!!- hooray for you Margaret !!) was determined to ride anyway with her daughter and friend...so we instantly thought of a safer route - hope they had a good day! Nervously watching the weather report for next Saturday... and taking the time to start seriously on the fundraising campaign.
Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Saturday, December 22, 20074:21 PMThird training ride in the seriesHooray! Julie Brown, the fearless leader of the training ride program (and I do mean fearless!!) joined us - We had a great group of 11 - small enough that we actually get to know one another. First flat tire of theSaturday Orinda series - thanks, Julie, for taking care of that! Thanks also to Michael Cook who made a return to the East Bay to help out. If this pace continues, we are going to be the fastest Category 1 group in history. I think we averaged over 11 miles per hour - but wait til the serious hill climbing begins!! For those who spent too much time waiting for other riders, thank you for doing that - I really think it makes folks feel well-cared-for. I'm loving it that riders are getting stronger and less intimidated by traffic - although it does pay to maintain a healthy respect for those cars! I'm looking forward to our next ride. Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Saturday, December 15, 20072:19 PMSecond training ride in the East Bay Cat 1 seriesOnce again, it was chilly but sunny when we started and several of us had cold hands and feet when we arrived in Pinole. It was warmer on the way back - later in the day, a little more climbing (everyone did great on the climbs!) Great group - Sage, Kat, Robb helped lead; 12 other riders, of whom 9 are new to ALC, 5+ are new-ish to riding. Nobody complained about climbing back up SPDam road from Pinole, though a few commented "whew - I made it" when they signed out. I think our pace was faster than last week - it was nice having almost no turns or complications. Not so much as a flat tire. Esther and Colleen say that their local bike shop would be willing to come out some Saturday and have a look at how everyone's bike is fitting. I think I'm going to get single-sided pedals so I can offer a friend a chance to trade bikes and see how a road bike feels... All in all a great day - looking forward to seeing those same smiling faces on future rides! Note to self: I need to figure out my own training routine by the first of January. I want to be faster on the next ride than I was in June. Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Saturday, December 8, 20076:54 PMFirst Training Ride in the SeriesA grand total of ten us of - half new, half vets, met in the chilly morning air. After advising everyone to wear layers, I somehow had lost my leg warmers. brrrrr and feeling foolish. Kathryn very kindly demonstrated that a zero-velocity fall is not fatal (!) I liked it that we arrived early and had a chance to get to know those we didn't know already (fun seeing Esther and Colleen). I liked it that the "faster" riders waited for the rest of us at several points in the ride, so that we pretty much stayed together. It felt like an ALC taking-care-of-each-other thing to do. Nice easygoing ride to see the antique gas pumps at Saranap (what? never been there? check it out!). A great group who all rode safely - nothing went wrong - it was a great way to start the training season! Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb |
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