The effects of altitude

On Saturday, an old friend came by.  He was visiting from Houston.  We decided to do an easy mountain bike ride.  I put him on my hardtail and I rode my SS up south fork/big springs hollow. My friend is in excellent shape.  He regularly runs and bikes but he does it at 20 ft. above see level--not 6,000 ft. above.  As we started up the trail, he decided that he needed to keep pace with my single speed.  Shortly thereafter, he was bent over sucking wind.  He struggled, but made it the whole way. 

It made me think about leadville 100 - Does the elevation starting at 10,200' hit you that hard?  I know that the alpine loop reaches over 8,000', but is that sufficient altitude training?  BTW, leadville will be on August 15, 2009.  Entries must be in by Jan. 31 (Zach - put it on your calendar).  

Another visit up Betty's

Today I did the same ride as my last post except I continued further on the aquaduct road to trail 33--It may have a name, but I don't know it.  It leads you up to the altar just like betty does. 

I was amazed at the temperature today.  It was hot and baking on the aquaduct road.

After dropping down into intersection with dry canyon, I noticed a new sign since I rode this trail on Tuesday.  Maybe an eagle scout project?? 

The sign said that the trail to curly springs also continued to battle creek.  Is this correct?  

I have never gone beyond curly springs.  Does it really go across the face of baldy into battle creek?  

SS on the brain

I've had my new 29er single speed for less than a week now.  I have made a ride on it everyday (except sunday) and am absolutely loving it.  I'm still learning and conditioning myself to more effectively ride, but I love the challenge.  The SS forces me to push myself and do the rides at a faster speed.  The ride on 29's is different--I feel like I carry momentum over obstacles better than the 26's.  

Yesterday I rode the same route that Kanyon Kris outlined--Water tank road/BST, to Betty's, left at the altar to Betty's lament, down Dry Canyon, and back to the Water tank's on the BST.  What a great ride.  I admit, I had a couple of spots where I had to dismount and push.  Maybe next time I'll carry better speed and make it up those spots. 

I keep debating whether to stick with a rigid fork or find a shock.  The more I ride, the more I'm leaning towards sticking with the rigid.  My only complaint with my bike so far is the massive creaking when I stand and pedal.  The chain ring bolts were loose, and I thought that would solve the problem, but it didn't.  I'm trying to eliminate all possible culprits, i.e. pedals, chainring, cranks, etc. before tearing into the BB.

While all I think about is my next ride on the SS, I want to ride the alpine loop a few more times with this perfect riding weather.  

My new ride

Friday, my new (used) bike showed up.  I bought a used Redline monocog 29er.  I decided to see what this singlespeed 29er sub-culture is all about.  As you can see in the picture, it is a fully rigid frame, and yes, that is a pink chain.  I am secure enough in my manliness to have a pink chain.  This is by no means a top of the line bike--compared to my other bikes, this is quite inexpensive.  I'm sure that if I love the SS 29er movement, I will upgrade to a niner bike or something along those lines.

I took the bike out for a ride on Saturday.  I rode 

from my home up to dry canyon parking lot, across the BST to water tank's and up into Provo canyon.  I had a really good time.  It was hard and challenging.  I liked the feel of the 29 wheels.  I felt like I had a total body workout after my ride--my abs, arms, and back muscles were sore.  I have a greater appreciation of what a front shock truly absorbs after riding this rigid fork.  I am seriously considering getting something a little more forgiving.

The bike has what I consider some fat tires-WTB 2.3's.  The brakes are avid mechanical's (I would prefer some juicy's.  The gear set up is 32 x 20.  

I'm itching to get out for another ride on Monday.  

On a side note, my wife blew a gasket when she found out I shaved my legs for LOTOJA.  She had forbade me to shave my legs.  We'll, two weeks after the fact, she finally noticed.  As I said before, I am secure in my manliness.

Disgusted and Disgruntled

I'm fed up with all the crap that is going in the economy.

• Stock market downward spiral.  The SEC needs to wake up and do something about these short sellers who are smashing the financial sector.  The fear and anxiety they have created will continue to drive the markets down.  Most of America is sitting around in shock right now as their retirement accounts have dropped 30-40% and wondering if they should cash out.  
• Bank Auditors.  There are 36 auditors sitting in the bank that I use right now.  They are making life miserable for me and every other person who has borrowed from the bank.  I had a conversation with a VP of a different bank yesterday and he told me that 90% of the bank's actions and decisions are driven by these auditors.  Bottom line - I know the auditors are doing their jobs, but long term, quality borrowers/bank customers are being thrown under the bus.  I don't think this market is going to turn around until these auditors allow the banks to start making loans again.
• Bailouts. I'm ticked off at the bailout for AIG.  I believe that it had to happen--it would have been catastrophic without a bailout, but I don't like the federal reserve messing around with these bailouts.  
• Politics. Lets get this election over with.  This country needs to have some stability starting at the top.

People are motivated and act out of greed or fear.  In less than one year, the pendulum has completely swung from greed all the way to fear.

On a lighter note, I rode the alpine loop this afternoon--Provo side.  The leaves are absolutely beautiful.  What a great time of year to ride.

My legs felt rusty.  It felt good to climb again and open up the lungs.  An afternoon rainstorm had just come through so I was extra cautious on the way down.

My new bike is on its way!! More details & pics to come. Get out and ride.  It's to nice not to be riding.

Gel Bot Review

I tried the Gel Bot on the first 25 miles of LOTOJA.  Here are my thoughts.

The concept is a good concept--A bottle that holds/dispenses water and gel. I paid $15.99 for the bottle at Mad Dog.  It was pretty simple to fill the gel dispenser.

What I liked about the bottle:

• I'm still trying to think of something nice to say.

What I didn't like:

• The bottle quickly transfered a plastic taste to my water.  Take a cue from Camelbak and use a better plastic.
• In order to get the gel out, you have to squeeze and suck on the bottle. The gel does not come out easily--you have to suck hard.  I have a hard enough time breathing while I ride. Sucking makes it even harder to breathe.  Gel Bot needs to modify or redesign the valve that holds the gel in.  
• I put honeystingers in the gel part.  I assume this would hold true for any gel, but in cold weather and with the cold water in the bottle, the gels thicken up and make it even harder to get it out.
• FYI, the bottle is not dishwasher safe.  My bottle now has a serious deformity.  

In summary, the concept is good, the execution needs some work.  I would save your money or buy a camelback podium bottle.

I did some time in the gym today. Nothing too heavy, but just enough to loosen up the legs from LOTOJA.  I had such a good time on LOTOJA, I'm already starting to look for my next big event.  My buddy suggested the death valley marathon in February.  I'd rather find a biking event.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  

LOTOJA wrap up

I wanted to share a brief recap of my LOTOJA experience.  I rode in the "fun ride" category which I thought was an oxymoron.  It was nice to start at 6 am as the first group out.  The first 25 miles had a lot of accordian action as the field was nervous and it was still dark.  The peloton even made a wrong turn at one point.

Strawberry, the first of the three climbs, was not as bad as I had imagined.  I felt alright going over the top.  The Cat 1's, which started at 6:25, caught me half way up strawberry.  

Geneva, the second climb, was significantly shorter than strawberry, but steeper at the end.  I rode within my limits and grinded out the last bit to the summit.

Salt River, the final climb, is famous for the last 2 miles.  The gradient is almost 7%.  Up to the last two miles, it was relatively easy.  I felt good on Salt River and even surprised myself on the last two miles.  

The headwind from Afton to Alpine Junction was there.  I rode with some good groups.

All the LOTOJA literature states that there is a tailwind up the snake river to Jackson.  Not on Saturday.  The headwind continued all the way to Jackson.  It may sound insignificant, but it was a mental challenge for me.

I felt good until mile 185.  Then I gutted out the last 21.

LOTOJA has the best stocked neutral feed zones that I have ever seen.  They even had swedish fish and gummy bears.  The tour of PC could take note of what an aid station should have. Plenty of water, gatorade, and red bulls.

I thought the climbs would be the most difficult.  It ended up that the flat riding was actually harder for me.  I wanted to kill some of the idiot riders that would crank up the pace 5-8 mph as soon as they got on the front of the paceline.  Not only would this drop the guy who just finished pulling, but it would put gaps in the paceline.  

My finish time was 11h 30m.  According to my garmin, my riding time was 10h 51m, with 39 minutes paused/feedzone time.  I placed 22nd in the fun ride category out of 370. 

I took my time in the feedzones.  I wonder how different I would have felt if I had been quicker in the feedzones or even rode through them just taking on handup items.

24 hours after the finish, I feel relatively good.  My legs aren't overly sore.  My knees are about the only thing that still hurts.  My internal plumbing is finally sorting out all the energy food that I ate--it keeps me going through the race, but afterwards, it has my intestines in knots.

My parents did support for me and they did an awesome job.  I am grateful for the time they gave up to come and help.

My sister Kara also finished even though her support crew couldn't find her for part of the race. Congratulations.

Lotoja

It's done.

11 h 30 m

More details later.

Sent from my iPhone

Bring on the pain

Tomorrow is LOTOJA!! Everybody asks if I'm ready--I feel ready.  I know it is going to be painful. I'm not sure what a reasonable goal is--I will be happy to finish.  If I had to pick a number, I would be thrilled to finish in 12 hours.

I picked up some supplies at Mad Dog yesterday.  The nice lady who helped me had done LOTOJA six times. I have a lot of respect and admiration for those who can continually accomplish things like that.

I'm not changing a whole lot about my bike or what I eat, but I did pick up a Gel Bot.  The bottle provides an internal gel container.  You have the option of taking a drink or a shot of gel.

The cost was $16.  I can already tell that the plastic bottle is one of those that you don't want to put your water in too early before your ride or it will quickly start tasting like the plastic bottle. 

I will use the Gel Bot on LOTOJA and see how it works.

I replaced the tires on my bike.  I like ride Maxxis Courchevels for races.  I also ride the Maxxis fly tubes.  I have to admit that I haven't tried a lot of different tires, but I sure to like the Courchevels.

Good luck to all riding LOTOJA.  

Kris, by the way, LOTOJA called and asked if you would come volunteer on the security detail for the race.  They have a t-shirt and a window sticker for you. ;)

Family bike ride

As the weather cleared on this labor day, my three oldest kids and I went out for a bike ride at the local school. This was the first time that my two oldest had ridden a bike by themselves (without training wheels).  I was so happy. I am passionate about cycling and had felt like a slacker that my kids hadn't learned how to ride yet.  

Check out the sweet Electra 8 Ball bike that my kids are riding.  I love the big fat tires on the cruiser.

I made a trip earlier in the day to the Pearl Izumi outlet.  I needed a new pair of bib shorts to replace the ones I ripped up in a wreck earlier in the summer. It was a mistake to go on Labor Day as it was a zoo, but mission accomplished.