Saturday, June 21, 2008

Jason's run and a warm weekend ride

26.2 mile run for the fun of it? Jason Destories pulled that off last Thursday morning. He wanted to experience that distance as a prelude to an Ironman. Tough to do, especially with no support, so I rode out and left some bottled water in a few places and let him know where. He texted me later and said he made it, nice job Jason. Jason btw, is an 18 year old aspiring cyclist/triathlete with a promising future. He's got the body, heart and mentality to go far. My hope is that he finds a good coach who can help him be his best.

Today a few of us rode about half way to Payson. I didn't think I would be going because my lower back and right a/c joint were flaring up again yesterday, but things settled down during the 3 hours of sleep I had. Sterling had left a cooler with ice and water at the Saguaro Lake turnoff and Reggie Heywood's son was out there along the route with the same, very cool of those two to help out like that, they saved quite a few from dehydration. The temp had to be at least 105 by the time we got home 80 miles later.

John Paul Jones was out and made the distance. He's progressing well and wants to do Desperado Dual in August. He and Kyle were both a little short on food but I'm sure they learned. Kyle even bonked about 10 miles from home but got a little food and Gatorade in him to pull it off. Kim and Barry Thomas were out, Kim rode well and is very impressive to have bitten off and finished a ride strong like that, atta girl Kim.

Sterling struggled for most of the ride with lingering back pain issues. The back is huge in climbing and I don't know how he will be able to complete the 300 warriors ride. I guess he has a few months to work it out.

Reggie was about hit by a car when after losing a chain, decided to try and put it back on in the middle of Bush highway, in the low light of morning and with no tail light. I was waiting for him and saw it all. The car did see him I guess and drove around him. We laughed about it later but that could've been bad.

So, good to get some distance in and with the added bonus of the heat, made for a good day of cycling.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Why We Ride...

Where was I? Oh...coping with earthlife issues. I was off the bike for a while and have returned to my senses. One week off is no problem, a few cobwebs, but you're right back in the game. Two weeks off and the decay begins in earnest. I guess I've learned over the years to try and never go more than two weeks without riding, it's just too brutal to work back into it, especially as I ripen.

When I would find myself in that situation I would have to go through what I call a "purification ride" to get back into the fold. About twenty miles in on such a ride I would find myself in that world between the living and the dead. I would then have to make a decision whether to seek out the light of cycling bliss, or the alternative, doing anything other than cycling.

I guess I've always gone to the light. Even years ago when a large group of my friends defected, and began motocross riding, I stayed true. Yes, and even though a close personal friend recently revealed her disdain for my endurance cycling adventures and in a nutshell said that riding that long and far was "stupid and unhealthy", I choose cycling.

I don't take offense to such remarks, I know she just doesn't understand it all.

I found the following letter an unknown author posted somewhere years ago. I kept it and share it with you now. Take care


Why We Bicycle--

We are people in otherwise responsible positions with predictable lives in which we are used to
guiding events to our will, who now repeatedly subject ourselves to the elements, forces of nature
and hard realities of riding at the edge of the envelope of our abilities, physical powers and
endurance in a chaotic and not really predictable or controllable situation together. There is a
reason. We have found that reason.

We can talk about the activism of the cycling experience: our ancestors for thousands of years
derived their existence from "the hunt" in which they exposed themselves to the rigors and
dangers of the natural, unknown and unpredictable world.

We can talk about worship: the sheer beauty of the natural world in which God speaks to us in the
universal language of sun and day, wind and waterfall, and touches our soul.

We can talk about the physical challenges our bodies were made to meet and are missing in our
daily lives. The opportunity to push oneself beyond ones known powers and skills, and the cleansing
simplicity of maximum effort.

We can talk about energy expenditure: feeling the recoil of our hearts pounding at 180, pumping
20 quarts a minute through our dilated capillaries, our lungs taking in 20 gallons of frosty air and
expelling 20 gallons of vapor a minute, steam rising from our beaded sweaty naked legs into the
frosty air.

We can talk about the simplicity of a single task in our otherwise complicated lives.

We can talk about bonding: in this age, which abounds in lack of trust and honor, we rest
comfortable and sure in the knowledge that no matter what happens to any one person or piece of equipment, we will get through this together and come out together and share whatever
knowledge and skill and material we have to do it, and solve problems together, like a tire iron
and duct tape splint for a dislocated thumb.

We can talk about fear: and meeting it in a direct and simple fashion when the rest of our lives
have indirect and amorphous not really confrontable fears.

We can talk about focus: on the downhill. the absolute necessity to eliminate distractions, mental
diversions and lack of focus in which we normally live our daily lives and focus entirely on what
we are doing.

We can talk about spilling blood and it's cleaning effect of washing us free of the fear of our
mortality and of death that makes us hide from life.

We can talk about the transcendental experience: the inner calm that comes when we have our weight back and loose on the screaming downhill and the bike is everywhere in front of and below us,
our eyes and muscles communicating and adjusting faster than we can think, adapting to the
events that come faster than any conscious mind can respond, and yet we are floating loose and
still and free and calm in the midst of chaos- totally free as we cannot remember ever being free.

It is moments like these that make up the very substance of life itself. But when you talk about
this with your friends, they will look at you a little funny. They will not understand. They will try to
dismiss these experiences, which cannot be surrounded by words, which do not fit words, and
which cannot be understood through words. But nothing can compare to the doing of it, you
just have to do it.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Aubry and Justin torturing Jason during "Spoon Game"


Aubry and Justin talked Jason Destories into playing a Spoon Game, you can figure out the cruel injustice from watching the video. We laughed long and hard that night.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Saturday's group ride

I haven't been to EOP in quite a while. It was the same beautiful scenery, (if you can appreciate the desert like we can) and the same climbing. The difference would have to be the hyperactive couple in the little white car near the start of the climbing. They were furious at the fact some of us cyclists were passing each other. I don't recall any of us actually riding side by side which was their beef, most of us were passing or being passed. Sterling was near the back coping with his spine and trying to calm the couple down but they wouldn't listen. I guess some people have nothing else in their lives but to look for ways to be irritating.

Prior to that the only observation I made was with a rider who was obviously out of place. We all have been there, riding with a group more experienced than ourselves. The problem this fellow had was his lack of knowledge and equipment. He was falling off anyway and I was riding bike patrol so I tried to help him along. He worked hard and seemed appreciative, but I just couldn't remain with him and not follow with the program that I had for myself that morning. Then he flatted. Like a parent I was torn between changing the flat myself or watching him struggle and hoping he would learn by doing. He struggled, didn't get it right, and wasted a CO2 cartridge. By then Bryce and two others came back to help, I took over and fixed it while showing him what he had done wrong. Bryce and the other two pulled us back to the pack but the young rider had fallen off again and we wouldn't see him again. I hope he got back okay and hopefully learned something.

I believe everyone should carry at least two tubes, 2-3 CO2 cartridges with a regulator (or a pump), a quick patch kit, a tire patch (for cuts in the tire), a five dollar bill, a tire bar and a cell phone when out on the bike. All but the cellphone should be in a seat bag and always on the bike. Each of these items have saved my booty many times.

Enough lecturing. The rest of the ride was fun. I gotta say Gary Prahl is riding very well. I'm told he lost 15 pounds and it shows, he's staying right with the better climbers.

On the way out out Sterling suffered and Gary stayed back with him. My nature was to go back as well but Sterling was in capable hands and I felt okay to go on with the group. We met up at the Dash-in with everyone and then headed home together. We took turns pulling and by the time we reached Crismon we had averaged 28 mph. Bryce, Gary Prahl and I believe Gary Raymond turned right to get in some extra miles. I alone followed but I stayed back and fell off not knowing what they were up to. I let them go and turned left on McDowell, and right on Hawes for a little extra mileage of my own. It was hot and I had half a bottle of water left but I decided to "train-the-brain" and turned right on Power for a back-side loop before going home.

I ended up with 92 miles and got in just after 11 a.m. It was good to get out and do some long climbing. I need to stay on it though and plan on doing some EOP repeats from the Elk's Lodge locally, and some Mt Graham climbs out of town.