Monday Monday - Victory Laps
If you've been watching Olympic track and field you've seen the victory laps. The flag held streaming behind like a Superhero cape, the big smile, the glow of victory.
I had a victory of my own this past week. This was a cycling victory, not running victory since I seem to have become slightly allergic to running again but that in no way diminishes my triumph.
On Thursday I decided to ride alone. The Good Doctor is gallivanting in Hawaii and I didn't want to ride later in the day in the heat so off I went. I covered the same route the doctor and I take almost every Tuesday and Thursday only there was a difference. I decided to push the pace since I had no one to chat with. You may or may not recall that I had the ambition of riding Vineman at 16 mph avg. and I failed to do that, only managing 15.5. Thursday when I got home and consulted my Garmin I was ecstatic to see that the result was .,,,, drum roll please - 16.4 mph avg. Yeah Baby! Color me happy.
On Sunday I went on the usual Ladies ride (that included 2 hairy ladies with very unladylike anatomical parts) and we went up Mt. Diablo. I had fantasized declaring victory over the dreaded driveway (a.k.a the cherry on top) but alas, my legs were trashed from my tempo ride of Friday and I baled and walked the bike to the top. Be that as it may, I did ride this:
not bad.
There are other Big Girl things I can do on my bike now:
1). clip out on only 1 side at stops
2). bring the other pedal up so that when I start I can push down on one crank while clipping into the other instead of pushing my bike one legged to gain momentum.
3). Use my clip on aero bars and not fall over. In fact, I get aero and relaxed and push it - just like a real cyclist.
4). Take bottles out of either cage without falling over.
I may be slow in gaining skills but we all know that slow and steady wins the race. Speaking of which I just registered for 2 today. Folsom International and my "A" race - the Tri for Real. Since it's all about bike I can hardly wait to PR.
Comments
I can only do 1 and 2, and sometimes 4. I'm thinking about the Tri for Real too!
Posted by: Brenda | August 18, 2008 8:21 PM
dang, that looks HARD. seriously. almost 4000 feet of elevation gain? hm. remind me never to bring my bike when i come visit you. ;-)
Posted by: momo | August 19, 2008 4:56 AM
These hairy ladies you speak of scare me....
Way to go. :)
Posted by: Flatman | August 19, 2008 5:09 AM
No wonder that is called Mount Diablo. Insane!
Posted by: Danielle in Iowa | August 19, 2008 5:30 AM
And you deserve a victory lap! Great riding...
Posted by: swtrigal | August 19, 2008 5:35 AM
I haven't advanced to Big Girl yet, I can't do any of those things. : (
Can I have more details about the Good Doctor, please?
Posted by: runner susan | August 19, 2008 6:17 AM
Mt. Diablo is SOME victory lap!
Posted by: stronger | August 19, 2008 6:26 AM
I'm afraid of mt. diablo. but good for you getting out there! i couldn't get the folsom link to open. is that some triathlon with prisoners as volunteers? (that would actually be awesome.)
Good work!
Posted by: jeanne | August 19, 2008 9:25 AM
Yay You! Nice going.
Posted by: Juls | August 19, 2008 10:13 AM
yay you!
I'm impressed -- especially remembering how much you hated the bike previously. Look at you go, lady!
also, did you see the finish of the men's tri in the olympics?
and finally, race-related: are you still doing Nike?
Posted by: hilary | August 19, 2008 12:25 PM
Nice ride!!! Way to go!!
Now, tell more more about those "2 hairy ladies with very unladylike anatomical parts..." I NEED to know more.
;)
Posted by: Steve Stenzel | August 19, 2008 12:32 PM
Good work! I can not fathom riding up Mt. Diablo--there aren't enough gears. :-)
I bring the pedal up and push down to get started too, but I usually forget to put it in a low gear first. :-(
Posted by: Dori | August 19, 2008 3:47 PM
Good work! I can not fathom riding up Mt. Diablo--there aren't enough gears. :-)
I bring the pedal up and push down to get started too, but I usually forget to put it in a low gear first. :-(
Posted by: Dori | August 19, 2008 3:49 PM
"I went on the usual Ladies ride (that included 2 hairy ladies with very unladylike anatomical parts)"
I had to stop conjuring the thoughts this line triggered or else I would have missed the rest of your post.
Good rides!
Posted by: david | August 19, 2008 4:06 PM
Thanks for the comments!
I'm quite happy to see that the men are well covered....and the women...not so much.
Posted by: dcrainmaker | August 26, 2008 8:42 PM