Recovery week and thankfully life is normal at least for a few more days . The bike hasn't seen pavement since the GranFondo, instead yoga, burlesque dancing and swimming have found their own niches. Spin cycle classes start next week. A treadmill patiently awaits its turn.
No more riding in the rain and cold, no more riding in the dark and no more riding up Capilano road at rush hour. The Hail Mary's that were repeated on Wednesday evenings are no longer required , the fear or death by being hit by a car is now gone.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
..the 'submit' button
"Just click the submit button" Moll abruptly interjected, "Just do it!!! It will be fun."
"Crap' muttered Athena as she clicked the submit button for the 2011 GranFondo. "I'm going to get some high priced psychological help to deal with this personna..."
"Crap' muttered Athena as she clicked the submit button for the 2011 GranFondo. "I'm going to get some high priced psychological help to deal with this personna..."
Sunday, September 12, 2010
7 hours and 50 minutes on bicycle seat…
“…now that wasn’t so hard was it. All that worrying for nothing.” bubbled a sparkly voiced Moll. “You climb Taylor Way, Furry Creek and Murrin Lake hills with elegance and grace.”
“Crap” blurted out Athena, ``The last 40 km’s were gross…I had to apologize to the cyclists around me for swearing loudly with words starting with the letter `F``.
Yes, Athena your language was colourful but by the 100 km mark the sentiment was shared by the other cyclists.
The morning was cool but the sunrise over the Lions Gate Bridge was spectacular. Vancouver to Squamish went well, on target for pace, speed and time. Down hill speeds were clocked at 57 km per hour and the new bike handled like a dream. No shudders, no quivers, just a solid easy, carefree ride…almost too confident of a ride. The family was in Squamish waiting with egg salad sandwiches, V8 Juice, Tomato Juice, cheese, electrolyte drinks and more power bars. Given the opportunity Athena would have quit cycling at Squamish, but the family assured her that she wasn’t going to die cycling up the Cheakamus.
The Cheakamus canyon has a spectacular rain forest at the base and high mountain vegetation near the top. The canyon is 13 kms long with a 6% grade. Not a steep grade, but enough of a grade to be a problem after riding hard for 70 kms. At the top of the Cheakamus Canyon (88 km mark) the GranFondo folks wisely set up the Salt Shed Aid station. This station has been fondly recognized as the `cramping` station because of the number of cyclists treated for cramping, nausea, dehydration etc. For Athena, the dizziness had set in - a banana, a bagel and more electrolytes consumed. Athena, Athena there was a reason for the Red Bull drink at the aid station. Next time drink some…you needed the sugar and caffeine.
Get back on that cycle Athena, coach said to minimize the stops. From the Salt Shed it`s only sixteen km’s to the next aid station at Brandywine.
The legs don’t want to move, the bike feels like it weighs a thousand pounds and the back tire feels flat. Athena, you have bonked, you bonked hard.
``…F….``, muttered Athena, ``Coach Stephanie would tell me to work on technique. Round pedal strokes, push down, scrape across and pull up with the hamstrings``.
Count Athena, Count``…One down, two across, three up…one, two, three…one, two, three.``
Climb Athena, ``Hands on top of the handle bars, open the chest, count one down, two across, three up…only 16 km’s to Brandywine.``
The highway to Brandywine is undulating with rolling hills…yes more hills, unrelenting hills. The family was cheering from the sidelines, only one more hill they called.
``Yes, lie to me`` muttered Athena.
Brandywine Falls how sweet thou are, beautiful lush forest, sounds of running water, an idyllic tourist attraction with a spectacular water fall…at least that’s what the family tells me. More egg sandwiches (all the stomach can handle) more tomato juice and more electrolyte mix. Did you know that electrolyte mix looks like and takes like urine.
``Sixteen more kilometres to whistler …you are almost there.`` whispered Athena, ``The time doesn’t matter, just get there``.
Sixteen kilometres was hell on earth. One more monster hill at the 110 km mark. The legs just don’t want to cooperate. Athena was amazed that she was able to ride at a cadence of 40 rpm and still balance upright on the bike.
Athena slowly passed a cyclist that was walking up the hill.
``You Okay?`` questioned Athena as she was grunting past the cyclist.
``Got a leg cramp`` the cyclist in the red jacket replied. ``I want to call the SAG wagon``.
Athena spoke hesitantly, ``How about we walk the rest of this hill? It’s only about 300 feet to the top and then it’s rolling hills to whistler. There’s no face lost in walking a little while``.
Three hundred feet later, the cyclist in the red jacket mounted her Trek bike and cycled away.
``F…. muttered Athena (by this time F…was Athena’s favourite word), ``that cyclist will probably beat me to the finish line.``
The rest of the 10 kms were sheer hell, always expecting the finish line to be around the next corner only to find another relentless hill. Finally Creekside village, the tourist information booth, a MOT flag person waving Athena to the right, up the hill past the convention center, a police man telling Athena to slow down. Slow down? Athena can’t slow down or she will fall off the bike.
Finally, sweet finally the big white awning of the finish line, left fist straight into the air, a cry of victory and the announcer even got her last name pronounced correctly.
``…see I told you it was going to be okay`` yelled Moll, ``you just needed to trust and believe in yourself``.
“Crap” blurted out Athena, ``The last 40 km’s were gross…I had to apologize to the cyclists around me for swearing loudly with words starting with the letter `F``.
Yes, Athena your language was colourful but by the 100 km mark the sentiment was shared by the other cyclists.
The morning was cool but the sunrise over the Lions Gate Bridge was spectacular. Vancouver to Squamish went well, on target for pace, speed and time. Down hill speeds were clocked at 57 km per hour and the new bike handled like a dream. No shudders, no quivers, just a solid easy, carefree ride…almost too confident of a ride. The family was in Squamish waiting with egg salad sandwiches, V8 Juice, Tomato Juice, cheese, electrolyte drinks and more power bars. Given the opportunity Athena would have quit cycling at Squamish, but the family assured her that she wasn’t going to die cycling up the Cheakamus.
The Cheakamus canyon has a spectacular rain forest at the base and high mountain vegetation near the top. The canyon is 13 kms long with a 6% grade. Not a steep grade, but enough of a grade to be a problem after riding hard for 70 kms. At the top of the Cheakamus Canyon (88 km mark) the GranFondo folks wisely set up the Salt Shed Aid station. This station has been fondly recognized as the `cramping` station because of the number of cyclists treated for cramping, nausea, dehydration etc. For Athena, the dizziness had set in - a banana, a bagel and more electrolytes consumed. Athena, Athena there was a reason for the Red Bull drink at the aid station. Next time drink some…you needed the sugar and caffeine.
Get back on that cycle Athena, coach said to minimize the stops. From the Salt Shed it`s only sixteen km’s to the next aid station at Brandywine.
The legs don’t want to move, the bike feels like it weighs a thousand pounds and the back tire feels flat. Athena, you have bonked, you bonked hard.
``…F….``, muttered Athena, ``Coach Stephanie would tell me to work on technique. Round pedal strokes, push down, scrape across and pull up with the hamstrings``.
Count Athena, Count``…One down, two across, three up…one, two, three…one, two, three.``
Climb Athena, ``Hands on top of the handle bars, open the chest, count one down, two across, three up…only 16 km’s to Brandywine.``
The highway to Brandywine is undulating with rolling hills…yes more hills, unrelenting hills. The family was cheering from the sidelines, only one more hill they called.
``Yes, lie to me`` muttered Athena.
Brandywine Falls how sweet thou are, beautiful lush forest, sounds of running water, an idyllic tourist attraction with a spectacular water fall…at least that’s what the family tells me. More egg sandwiches (all the stomach can handle) more tomato juice and more electrolyte mix. Did you know that electrolyte mix looks like and takes like urine.
``Sixteen more kilometres to whistler …you are almost there.`` whispered Athena, ``The time doesn’t matter, just get there``.
Sixteen kilometres was hell on earth. One more monster hill at the 110 km mark. The legs just don’t want to cooperate. Athena was amazed that she was able to ride at a cadence of 40 rpm and still balance upright on the bike.
Athena slowly passed a cyclist that was walking up the hill.
``You Okay?`` questioned Athena as she was grunting past the cyclist.
``Got a leg cramp`` the cyclist in the red jacket replied. ``I want to call the SAG wagon``.
Athena spoke hesitantly, ``How about we walk the rest of this hill? It’s only about 300 feet to the top and then it’s rolling hills to whistler. There’s no face lost in walking a little while``.
Three hundred feet later, the cyclist in the red jacket mounted her Trek bike and cycled away.
``F…. muttered Athena (by this time F…was Athena’s favourite word), ``that cyclist will probably beat me to the finish line.``
The rest of the 10 kms were sheer hell, always expecting the finish line to be around the next corner only to find another relentless hill. Finally Creekside village, the tourist information booth, a MOT flag person waving Athena to the right, up the hill past the convention center, a police man telling Athena to slow down. Slow down? Athena can’t slow down or she will fall off the bike.
Finally, sweet finally the big white awning of the finish line, left fist straight into the air, a cry of victory and the announcer even got her last name pronounced correctly.
``…see I told you it was going to be okay`` yelled Moll, ``you just needed to trust and believe in yourself``.
Friday, September 10, 2010
...big breath Athena
...take a big breath Athena, you can't do anything about the knee. Yes, the left knee has decided to make itself known. A yoga class on Wednesday has contributed to a cranky knee flare up. Ice, rest and the skillful hands of a sports chiropractor have helped the pain, the swelling is nasty.
...another big breath Athena, you've done what you can...aim for the top, picture the finish line, visualize a very consistent, methodical climbing technique, focus on your breath...it's going to be okay.
...another big breath Athena, you've done what you can...aim for the top, picture the finish line, visualize a very consistent, methodical climbing technique, focus on your breath...it's going to be okay.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Seven months later…
‘This GranFondo thing was a good idea back in January,” stammered Moll, as Athena sent a head swiveling, backward glare at her personna.
“This EVENT has taken a toll, 4000 kilometers in dark, cold, wet winter weather, through scorching heat under the Okanagan sun, one back hub, two carbon bicycle frames and NOW you want to do what? Enter again next year! We haven’t cycled the event yet and you want to register again?” Athena shuddered and showed serious signs of a melt down. “What’s next…?”
“Track Training on a fixed gear bike…it’s going to be fun…riding indoors in the winter.” Moll proudly announced.
It has been a long haul, seven months of training, 8 to 10 hours/week and cycling anywhere from 80 to 170 km/week. Cypress mountain has been conquered, Sumas mountain remains untouched. Two coaches later, yes it’s taken two coaches, and the event is Saturday.
The Specialized bike has had it’s share of problems. First, it was a creaky back hub that had to be replaced (under warranty from Specialized) and most recently a standard safety check indicated that the frame was cracked at the bottom bracket (also under warranty from Specialized).
The pre event jitters have set in, and despite the reassurance of friends and coaches, the anxiety won’t abate. Athena, you have hard, trained consistently and now you need to trust yourself to do the job. The job is 120 km’s from Vancouver to Whistler with a climb of 2800 meters (8960 feet) – no more and no less. The sun will rise and set on Saturday and everything will be okay.
“This EVENT has taken a toll, 4000 kilometers in dark, cold, wet winter weather, through scorching heat under the Okanagan sun, one back hub, two carbon bicycle frames and NOW you want to do what? Enter again next year! We haven’t cycled the event yet and you want to register again?” Athena shuddered and showed serious signs of a melt down. “What’s next…?”
“Track Training on a fixed gear bike…it’s going to be fun…riding indoors in the winter.” Moll proudly announced.
It has been a long haul, seven months of training, 8 to 10 hours/week and cycling anywhere from 80 to 170 km/week. Cypress mountain has been conquered, Sumas mountain remains untouched. Two coaches later, yes it’s taken two coaches, and the event is Saturday.
The Specialized bike has had it’s share of problems. First, it was a creaky back hub that had to be replaced (under warranty from Specialized) and most recently a standard safety check indicated that the frame was cracked at the bottom bracket (also under warranty from Specialized).
The pre event jitters have set in, and despite the reassurance of friends and coaches, the anxiety won’t abate. Athena, you have hard, trained consistently and now you need to trust yourself to do the job. The job is 120 km’s from Vancouver to Whistler with a climb of 2800 meters (8960 feet) – no more and no less. The sun will rise and set on Saturday and everything will be okay.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Athena vs. the Personna
Athena is highly, stressed, slightly overweight wanna be athlete. She’s a late blooming gal, that could run (slowly) could not ride a bike (afraid of traffic) and was deathly afraid of water.
Athena has a Personna named Moll. Moll is the rocker babe/biker chick with a take no prisoner attitude. This girl makes you think of a dangerous weapon. She has wide apple-green eyes. Her silky, long, curly brown hair is worn in a style that is a reminder of a child’s mop of fuzzy, unkept hair. She has an Amazonian build. Her skin is white. She has high cheekbones. Her wardrobe is sexy and flattering, with a lot of silver jewelry (dangly earrings, massive number of wrist bangles on her left wrist).
“Fearless”, is Moll’s motto. “Can’t swim and can’t sit a bike”, interjected Athena. “If your not living on the edge you are taking up too much room…find a tri clinic”, responded Moll with positive assertiveness.
Two years later, after dizzying hours on a bike, and endless, mind numbing hours in the pool and with the aid of an array of talented swim (TI), cycle and run coaches, the Athena emerged. A few sprint tri later Athena realized that it was not a lot of fun and highly frustrating to place DFL (dead f…… last).
“Can’t you ride faster? Find a cycle coach,” ordered Moll.
Thus six months of coaching with a coach that held Athena’s hand, reassured her that a cardiac event was not in the future and that death by hill climbing was a remote occurrence- a cyclist was born.
“Whistler GranFondo” exclaimed Moll, “SIGN UP NOW!”
“Need to stiffle this Personna ”, muttered Athena as hit she submit button on the on line entry form.
There in lies the challenge, the Vancouver to Whistler Gran Fondo in September 2010. It’s a 120 kms of uphill climbing on the very beautiful, senic sea to sky highway. It will be the adventure of the year, but there’s the challenge…there will be a lot of endurance training, hill climbing and aerobic base building in the next 6 months. Will power, confidence and discipline
One last sojourn before the cycling adventure begins – two weeks diving in the waters of Belize.
Athena has a Personna named Moll. Moll is the rocker babe/biker chick with a take no prisoner attitude. This girl makes you think of a dangerous weapon. She has wide apple-green eyes. Her silky, long, curly brown hair is worn in a style that is a reminder of a child’s mop of fuzzy, unkept hair. She has an Amazonian build. Her skin is white. She has high cheekbones. Her wardrobe is sexy and flattering, with a lot of silver jewelry (dangly earrings, massive number of wrist bangles on her left wrist).
“Fearless”, is Moll’s motto. “Can’t swim and can’t sit a bike”, interjected Athena. “If your not living on the edge you are taking up too much room…find a tri clinic”, responded Moll with positive assertiveness.
Two years later, after dizzying hours on a bike, and endless, mind numbing hours in the pool and with the aid of an array of talented swim (TI), cycle and run coaches, the Athena emerged. A few sprint tri later Athena realized that it was not a lot of fun and highly frustrating to place DFL (dead f…… last).
“Can’t you ride faster? Find a cycle coach,” ordered Moll.
Thus six months of coaching with a coach that held Athena’s hand, reassured her that a cardiac event was not in the future and that death by hill climbing was a remote occurrence- a cyclist was born.
“Whistler GranFondo” exclaimed Moll, “SIGN UP NOW!”
“Need to stiffle this Personna ”, muttered Athena as hit she submit button on the on line entry form.
There in lies the challenge, the Vancouver to Whistler Gran Fondo in September 2010. It’s a 120 kms of uphill climbing on the very beautiful, senic sea to sky highway. It will be the adventure of the year, but there’s the challenge…there will be a lot of endurance training, hill climbing and aerobic base building in the next 6 months. Will power, confidence and discipline
One last sojourn before the cycling adventure begins – two weeks diving in the waters of Belize.
Friday, February 12, 2010
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