Lynda

March 2006 - Posts

• Trans Rockies March News

  Trans Rockies is more in the news this year than I've seen before - or maybe I'm paying attention because I'm on the start list this year for the first time. 2002 was the first year Trans Rockies was staged. When I heard about it I so wanted to race it - a 7 day mtb stage race - wow! The problem with the summer of 2002 was I spent the first half of it heavily pregnant and the second half in post partum vacation mode. The next year 2003 a whole lot more riders signed up and I coached a few through the race, same for 2004 and 2005 with one of my riders getting on the podium - awesome! Big changes are afoot for 2006 TR. For one, I talked Dave into racing with me (it wasn't too hard to do that :-) The bigger news is the new course - even made CyclingNews. And it's being kept a secret! Event director Aaron says "Though exact course details are kept secret until immediately before the event, riders who have participated in the TransRockies Challenge before should be ready for a very different route this year. The new course will head North and West to a finish line in Panorama Mountain Village, located near Invermere, British Columbia, three hours west of Calgary. Along the way, it will take in some of the stunning scenery along the Central and Western Canadian Rockies where the peaks of British Columbia's Purcell and Kootenay ranges soar to heights of over 3000 metres." One guy commented on this new route "While I was simply envious before, if this news is correct regarding the new route, I am officially drooling, green-eyed jealous!" Whether they are keeping the course a secret or actually don't have it figured out yet, I am looking forward to going to Canada in August and riding the snot out of my bike for 7 days in beautiful country and good company. Posted Mar 31 2006, 10:59 AM by Lynda

• Trans Rockies March News

  Trans Rockies is more in the news this year than I've seen before - or maybe I'm paying attention because I'm on the start list this year for the first time. 2002 was the first year Trans Rockies was staged. When I heard about it I so wanted to race it - a 7 day mtb stage race - wow! The problem with the summer of 2002 was I spent the first half of it heavily pregnant and the second half in post partum vacation mode. The next year 2003 a whole lot more riders signed up and I coached a few through the race, same for 2004 and 2005 with one of my riders getting on the podium - awesome! Big changes are afoot for 2006 TR. For one, I talked Dave into racing with me (it wasn't too hard to do that :-) The bigger news is the new course - even made CyclingNews. And it's being kept a secret! Event director Aaron says "Though exact course details are kept secret until immediately before the event, riders who have participated in the TransRockies Challenge before should be ready for a very different route this year. The new course will head North and West to a finish line in Panorama Mountain Village, located near Invermere, British Columbia, three hours west of Calgary. Along the way, it will take in some of the stunning scenery along the Central and Western Canadian Rockies where the peaks of British Columbia's Purcell and Kootenay ranges soar to heights of over 3000 metres." One guy commented on this new route "While I was simply envious before, if this news is correct regarding the new route, I am officially drooling, green-eyed jealous!" Whether they are keeping the course a secret or actually don't have it figured out yet, I am looking forward to going to Canada in August and riding the snot out of my bike for 7 days in beautiful country and good company. [link] Posted Mar 31 2006, 09:59 AM by lynda with no comments

• Sh*t and Food

  As a mom and a cyclist these are two large features in my daily life. I spend a lot of my time trying to put more food into my kids mouths and less into mine. What age is it I wonder food and sleep become something we want more of? My kiddies haven't reached that age yet. Of the poop part - my time is spent trying to direct the majority of it into places that can be flushed away with no contact, but being a good mom I still inspect it to make sure it's not green or something. Contact is inevitable. How many poops a day do you get to check out? Some days are more full of sh*t than others. Yesterday was horse crap. I spent about 5 hour raking it up off a horse paddock, shoveling it into my truck, shoveling it out of my truck and dumping it on my garden, then doing it again. It's planting time. There is a subtly competitive gardening vibe here on my little street in suburbia and this year I am way off the back. One of my neighbours already has his spinach popping up. They all got their tomatoes hosed by the late frost last week. I'm getting on it. Poop spread yesterday, I'll till it in tomorrow and then figure out what I'll grow this year. I've got grape vines and usually do lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, peppers, parsnips. I think I'll miss the carrots this year and try something new. There is no better way to decide what is for dinner than to go out to my garden and see what is ripe. It even gets the kids excited about eating vegetables. Trans Rockies news: All new course this year. This gives the repeat offenders a little bit less of an advantage over us TR newbies. Good news for me :-) Posted Mar 26 2006, 04:30 PM by Lynda

• Sh*t and Food

  As a mom and a cyclist these are two large features in my daily life. I spend a lot of my time trying to put more food into my kids mouths and less into mine. What age is it I wonder food and sleep become something we want more of? My kiddies haven't reached that age yet. Of the poop part - my time is spent trying to direct the majority of it into places that can be flushed away with no contact, but being a good mom I still inspect it to make sure it's not green or something. Contact is inevitable. How many poops a day do you get to check out? Some days are more full of sh*t than others. Yesterday was horse crap. I spent about 5 hour raking it up off a horse paddock, shoveling it into my truck, shoveling it out of my truck and dumping it on my garden, then doing it again. It's planting time. There is a subtly competitive gardening vibe here on my little street in suburbia and this year I am way off the back. One of my neighbours already has his spinach popping up. They all got their tomatoes hosed by the late frost last week. I'm getting on it. Poop spread yesterday, I'll till it in tomorrow and then figure out what I'll grow this year. I've got grape vines and usually do lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, peppers, parsnips. I think I'll miss the carrots this year and try something new. There is no better way to decide what is for dinner than to go out to my garden and see what is ripe. It even gets the kids excited about eating vegetables. Trans Rockies news: All new course this year. This gives the repeat offenders a little bit less of an advantage over us TR newbies. Good news for me :-) [link] Posted Mar 26 2006, 03:30 PM by lynda with no comments

• Spring is actually starting to Spring

  It's been a month since 24-hours in the Old Pueblo and I've had a month off training. I love peaking for an event but coming down the backside of a peak is an ugly process I don't enjoy so much. It was a month full of things that were not too conducive to training anyway - snowstorms, the flu and a vacation. Today I was back in training mode, the weather was back in spring mode and it felt ooh so good. I was riding in shorts and a jersey again - 74F This is my neighbours tree today and for some odd reason it is not sending my allergies haywire this year. I don't know why. Usually I am a sniveling, red eyed moan in the spring. Other than my little flu episode last week I am feeling better this spring than I have in years. I got four gold stars yesterday at my annual endocrinologist check-up. My Dr said I have the health of a 16 year-old :-) I have to see him every so often as I don't have a thyroid gland - he keeps my hormones in check. Starting back after a long race the thing I lack the most is top end, so that is where I start re-building. Today was 12 X 30 second max efforts. Not the best power I have ever produced today but darn close - actually the second best ever which is amazing after a 24-hour endurance peak and a month off. All that single speed riding must have done something for me. Stats: Pn - 206watts. Interval averages 380, 362, 357, 363, 376, 379, 383, 389, 379, 399, 401, 390w. Weight is down to 107 lbs and motivation is climbing out of the hole. Feelin' springy... Posted Mar 24 2006, 05:43 PM by Lynda

• Spring is actually starting to Spring

  It's been a month since 24-hours in the Old Pueblo and I've had a month off training. I love peaking for an event but coming down the backside of a peak is an ugly process I don't enjoy so much. It was a month full of things that were not too conducive to training anyway - snowstorms, the flu and a vacation. Today I was back in training mode, the weather was back in spring mode and it felt ooh so good. I was riding in shorts and a jersey again - 74F This is my neighbours tree today and for some odd reason it is not sending my allergies haywire this year. I don't know why. Usually I am a sniveling, red eyed moan in the spring. Other than my little flu episode last week I am feeling better this spring than I have in years. I got four gold stars yesterday at my annual endocrinologist check-up. My Dr said I have the health of a 16 year-old :-) I have to see him every so often as I don't have a thyroid gland - he keeps my hormones in check. Starting back after a long race the thing I lack the most is top end, so that is where I start re-building. Today was 12 X 30 second max efforts. Not the best power I have ever produced today but darn close - actually the second best ever which is amazing after a 24-hour endurance peak and a month off. All that single speed riding must have done something for me. Stats: Pn - 206watts. Interval averages 380, 362, 357, 363, 376, 379, 383, 389, 379, 399, 401, 390w. Weight is down to 107 lbs and motivation is climbing out of the hole. Feelin' springy... [link] Posted Mar 24 2006, 04:43 PM by lynda with no comments

• Spring Break

  I've been gone. I'm not feeling very wordy so here is a photo blog of my trip. This is the top of the climb up on Gold Bar Rim. Cold clear day. Looking in the other direction from the same spot here is Steve finishing the haul up the final piece of slickrock. Huge views from here in all directions. Poison Spider We rode White Rim via Long Canyon 114.2 miles for that loop The Shafer climb was closed by the park. They had a gate across the road closed in the middle of the desert - cracked me up so I had to take a photo of it! There is no fence. Just the gate sitting closed all out in the open by itself. What was the point!   Murphy's Hogback is one of my favorite views. We had a long lunch stop here. Pillars Windows Muscleman Arch Refilling on the way. There had been so much rain we didn't need to carry much water with us as we just scooped up pothole water on the way. Although it was a 114 mile ride we took a lazy pace, made lots of stops and had a mellow time. White Rim is so beautiful is was nice to take the time to enjoy it. Posted Mar 22 2006, 03:55 PM by Lynda

• Spring Break

  I've been gone. I'm not feeling very wordy so here is a photo blog of my trip. This is the top of the climb up on Gold Bar Rim. Cold clear day. Looking in the other direction from the same spot here is Steve finishing the haul up the final piece of slickrock. Huge views from here in all directions. Poison Spider We rode White Rim via Long Canyon 114.2 miles for that loop The Shafer climb was closed by the park. They had a gate across the road closed in the middle of the desert - cracked me up so I had to take a photo of it! There is no fence. Just the gate sitting closed all out in the open by itself. What was the point!   Murphy's Hogback is one of my favorite views. We had a long lunch stop here. Pillars Windows Muscleman Arch Refilling on the way. There had been so much rain we didn't need to carry much water with us as we just scooped up pothole water on the way. Although it was a 114 mile ride we took a lazy pace, made lots of stops and had a mellow time. White Rim is so beautiful is was nice to take the time to enjoy it. [link] Posted Mar 22 2006, 02:55 PM by lynda with no comments

• Big Snow Day

  We had our annual snowfall in St George today. March 10th! Just last weekend I was sweating away in the Desert Rampage xc here in short sleeves. I don't think I've ever seen snow sitting on our trampoline before. Right after this pic we piled on and jumped it off. Warm wet snow. The kids are on spring break and the snow stuck around for a couple of hours before melting away. It was kind of fun but did skuttle my ride plans for the day. It was a trailer day and wet roads & bike trailer & kids does not equal fun. So an unplanned day off the bike but some play time in the snow. [link] Posted Mar 10 2006, 10:24 PM by lynda with no comments

• Big Snow Day

  We had our annual snowfall in St George today. March 10th! Just last weekend I was sweating away in the Desert Rampage xc here in short sleeves. I don't think I've ever seen snow sitting on our trampoline before. Right after this pic we piled on and jumped it off. Warm wet snow. The kids are on spring break and the snow stuck around for a couple of hours before melting away. It was kind of fun but did skuttle my ride plans for the day. It was a trailer day and wet roads & bike trailer & kids does not equal fun. So an unplanned day off the bike but some play time in the snow. Posted Mar 10 2006, 10:24 PM by Lynda

• Desert Rampage Race Report

  Well that was a lot of fun in the wielding blunt weapons kind of sense. I think I've found my niche for local races - Single Speed! The Expert men are occasionally pouty about having me race in their category and mess up their series point accumulation quests and there is rarely a pro women field at these wee races but the single speeders heckled me on the start line, pushed me about on the course and tried to have their way with me. I felt so included. Warm and fuzzies... My thanks go out to Quinn Pratt for these photos. Quinn is another of the good guys that make the local bike scene roll. He's both a race director and president of the award winning Color Country Cycling club. He comes out to many of the races to cheer and take photos. My big 29" wheels rolled up some of the techy rock sections and made them feel a lot easier than on my 26ers. My batting average on this one below is about 0.8 on my 26ers and is a lovely 1.0 on my 29er. It is about a 3 foot lip with a wee cheater rock at the bottom. I get my back wheel hung up on the top lip on my 26er but the big wheels roll right through nicely each time. I ended up with a 32X21 for the race. Single speed honch Dejay Birtch staged beside me at the start and I asked him what gear he had on his 29er. He had on a 32X18 and I think all the other guys were geared bigger than me too. The race started on a flat road and I was spinning myself silly getting gapped right off the start. By the time the climb started I was 10th out of the 12 starters. BOP! I'd clawed myself up to 6th by the end of the first lap and third by the finish - so a splendid showing for my first adventure into the husky side of SSing. Results are posted here. Posted Mar 06 2006, 09:40 PM by Lynda

• Desert Rampage Race Report

  Well that was a lot of fun in the wielding blunt weapons kind of sense. I think I've found my niche for local races - Single Speed! The Expert men are occasionally pouty about having me race in their category and mess up their series point accumulation quests and there is rarely a pro women field at these wee races but the single speeders heckled me on the start line, pushed me about on the course and tried to have their way with me. I felt so included. Warm and fuzzies... My thanks go out to Quinn Pratt for these photos. Quinn is another of the good guys that make the local bike scene roll. He's both a race director and president of the award winning Color Country Cycling club. He comes out to many of the races to cheer and take photos. My big 29" wheels rolled up some of the techy rock sections and made them feel a lot easier than on my 26ers. My batting average on this one below is about 0.8 on my 26ers and is a lovely 1.0 on my 29er. It is about a 3 foot lip with a wee cheater rock at the bottom. I get my back wheel hung up on the top lip on my 26er but the big wheels roll right through nicely each time. I ended up with a 32X21 for the race. Single speed honch Dejay Birtch staged beside me at the start and I asked him what gear he had on his 29er. He had on a 32X18 and I think all the other guys were geared bigger than me too. The race started on a flat road and I was spinning myself silly getting gapped right off the start. By the time the climb started I was 10th out of the 12 starters. BOP! I'd clawed myself up to 6th by the end of the first lap and third by the finish - so a splendid showing for my first adventure into the husky side of SSing. Results are posted here. [link] Posted Mar 06 2006, 09:40 PM by lynda with no comments

• One of the good guys

  Here is Desert Rampage race director Glen Ames. He is one of the good guys for sure, like most race promoters are. Without them we would have nowhere to put on our show. I went out yesterday to ride a couple of laps on my SS and test out how a 32 X 21 rode - or rather if I could ride 2 laps on a 32 X 21 after smoking myself silly on one lap with a 32 X 18. I ran into Glen out raking the rubble off the course. It's only Wednesday and he is out busting his butt, rake in hand to give us a nice buff trail to tear up on Saturday. This is his 11th year running the Desert Rampage. The course is classic desert riding, dry, dusty and hardpacked with some big views. I completed 2 laps this time without killing myself on the 32 X 21 - much better. It is tough to tell from these photos but it is a climby course. I've got a long way to go before I've got this SS'ing thing figured out and should get handed a lesson or two during the race on Saturday. I'm sure there will be some fast SS guys show up to school me - I'm looking forward to it. Bring it on! [link] Posted Mar 02 2006, 03:40 PM by lynda with no comments

• One of the good guys

  Here is Desert Rampage race director Glen Ames. He is one of the good guys for sure, like most race promoters are. Without them we would have nowhere to put on our show. I went out yesterday to ride a couple of laps on my SS and test out how a 32 X 21 rode - or rather if I could ride 2 laps on a 32 X 21 after smoking myself silly on one lap with a 32 X 18. I ran into Glen out raking the rubble off the course. It's only Wednesday and he is out busting his butt, rake in hand to give us a nice buff trail to tear up on Saturday. This is his 11th year running the Desert Rampage. The course is classic desert riding, dry, dusty and hardpacked with some big views. I completed 2 laps this time without killing myself on the 32 X 21 - much better. It is tough to tell from these photos but it is a climby course. I've got a long way to go before I've got this SS'ing thing figured out and should get handed a lesson or two during the race on Saturday. I'm sure there will be some fast SS guys show up to school me - I'm looking forward to it. Bring it on! Posted Mar 02 2006, 03:40 PM by Lynda