Ben made me a substantial breakfast that saved me on today's ride. Thank you!

Today's ALC 08 ride was 53 miles (plus 6 blocks to/from meeting point) over an elevation gain of 4,350 feet. Try clicking the Satellite button!

What a fantastic day! Truly great! I have zero complaints and my legs felt very strong at the sign-out point. At one point before our second rest stop, I was nearly convinced that I was lost and had missed a turn. Because Chris is a technical writer, his instructions were indeed correct. He did not write that the turn was unsigned, he wrote that the turn was not at a signal or a stop sign. So, user error had me peeing in the bushes because I had no idea how much longer I might have to bike to reorient myself. Well, I cannot tell directions after having been hit by a car years ago so I will obtain a Garmin very soon.

I am riding on a compact double and learned today that I need to understand what all the numbers are about wrt (with regard to) the chainrings in front and back.

The verbal encouragement from a birthday-boy ride leader was so welcomed during the ascent. He said we (co-rider Paul and I) looked very strong and that we were fantastic. What a wonderful thing to hear at that altitude!! (Yes, I know some of you non-Americans reading this are grinning because we exaggerate things "to the max". Sometimes, you just gotta feel fantastic, especially when your ass is not as sore it otherwise could be.)

There is something to be said about snapping pictures with a crappy iPhone camera. There is something entirely different to be said for hearing the SOUNDS of the ride. I stopped to listen to the breeze through the trees, and the birds at the tops of the hills/mountains. Then there is the wind on the descents. I want to bring my recording device with me next time because the sounds are often more interesting than the images. The beautiful sounds and calm breezes atop fir trees. Nothing in the world like it. The smells of the ride are also interesting. To be able to capture those to post on the Internet! Maybe someday.

There were two distinct smells on today's ride. The first was from somewhere along highway 35. I have no idea what cooking meth smells like, but it's what came to mind. It was not a natural combination of smells. The other noticeable smell was that of Eucalyptus trees. *Pow!*, up your nose! Then there was the common car exhaust from time-to-time. If drivers could smell what they generate, there would not be a car pollution problem.

I digress.

Get out and ride a bike, it's a vacation at home.

Looks like it is a good thing that I tortured myself this past weekend. In about six weeks, I will likely do a 5400+ foot climb over 81 miles. My ass is getting sore just thinking about it.

Crabby.

I'll do it again.

I biked up Mt. Diablo yesterday. The elevation gain is about 3,000+ feet and our trip's total mileage was 42. I made it within a few hundred feet of the summit, which is located at 3,800 feet. For nearly 100% of the ride, I was crabby. I should have eaten a very large breakfast. Our start was delayed, which put me well into my normal lunch time way too early on in the ride. For such a ride, we should depart no later than 09:00.

We were four and the only ones with panniers. This ride is not one that you can really enjoy the first time you do it. Also, it is one to do without extra weight until you know what to expect.

Fortunately, I took my "touring" bike, which can withstand the extra weight and is more robust a bike. However, it is slower and heavier. I would not have made it through this ride on my road bike unless I had no extra weight and replaced my tires with better ones over thorn tubes. That's today's project.

Clifbars do not contain enough salt. I was craving salt nearly the entire ride and the other riders I was riding with, all men, seemed to not have the same kinds of troubles that I was having.

Now for some positives. I am actually glad I did it, despite chatting, "Make it fucking stop." near the/my top. I now know what to expect on this ride and will not carry any extra weight the next time I do it. Most importantly, I learned how to straighten the curve on the way down. Also, I am tempted to bring an extra set of brake pads for descents like these.

When we took a wrong route back down, we landed 20 miles away from where we expected to end up. We collectively decided to bail on the camping idea and headed back to public transportation in time for dark. That was very smart safety-wise. We had no lights and at least I had no legs. Bonus points and a big "Thank you!" to all of the team for that move!

I also learned to ask better questions. For example, when do we plan to each lunch? Where are the meet-up points? What time do we sync up via phone for status reports about how we are doing? (This would have been helpful because the fastest rider carried all the food, which I needed.) During the next ride, the food should be distributed across all riders so even if we cannot cook it, we can at least eat the salt. I need to assert myself more and get the actual answers to very specific questions, rather than accepting "Let's just see how it goes." I appreciate such a care-free attitude on vacation, but for biking, I really need more information.

To summarize, I can offer the following tips to myself and others:
* Print out a map that is large enough to read while riding. Include stopping points and watering holes, as well as details, such as "falling rock area".

* Elevation gain for each segment.

* Organize resting points for a climb ride instead of a distance ride. They are very different! On a distance ride, I can lay down 40 miles without too much trouble. Not so with a climbing ride!

* Pack all layering clothes in the pannier closest to my body, or leave the panniers at home and have someone drive into a campsite with the gear!

* Use my lighter bike with new tires and thorn tubes.

* Know what to expect on the ride, not just on the way up, but also on the way down.

* There should be a ride leader or at one person who knows the ride to describe it to others.

* While checking your bike prior to riding, be sure to check your brake pads before riding. Carry an extra set of brake pads for such descents. What the hell, they are small and very useful little things.

If you have any suggestions to add, please email me.

Today's 45-mile training ride kinda sucked. There were 31 riders and between us, we had 11 flats! The rain kicked up (or down in the areas of falling rocks) a lot of debris. I got a flat just six blocks from the finish line. Needless to say, it was a slow one today. Because I have wiped out pretty hard on my bike in the past resulting in a permanent dent in my right hip area, I was apprehensive during the entire 45 miles.

I must have found some humor in deer poop today. When the weather is crappy, look at the crap in a whole new light.

I hosed down my bike and will thoroughly clean it tomorrow. That and I need to
fix the reason my chain sometimes falls off in the highest gear.

Today's training ride was 40 miles and was between 12 - 15MPH. I am happy to report that I made it back inside seven minutes of the first rider. Also, I stayed fairly close to the front pack for the duration of the ride. The speedup from my new bike really gives a mental boost! This beauty can fly, and it rides so much more efficiently.

It was a flat ride with only 880ft of elevation gain, but the speed put it in the Cat 3 range for this event.

Although this ride and all the training rides are not races, it sure felt good to pass the trainer leader and finish before he and other trainers did. At one point, I caught up the butt of the front pack and was pleasantly surprised I not only had them in view, but was waiting with them at the same light!

For all of you who do not have road bikes and are doing long rides, swap out. You'll be delighted and amazed at the difference. Also, get clip-in shoes. You will never go back to sneakers while riding.

Tomorrow is 500 kettlebell swings day!