Football vs Cycling

Well, I was hoping to get a good, long ride in on the computrainer today - was thinking about doing "the assault on Mt. Mitchell" just to see how badly it would hurt. But, alas, it was not to be.

Yesterday morning my wife took off to Vancouver (about 1200km away) to help out a friend. She's supposed to be back tomorrow night - which is good, 'cause I'm leaving for Fort McMurray (about 1000kms away) for a week on Monday morning. Guess we'll literally be saying hello as we pass each other in the doorway. Yuck.

Anyway, today I had both of my football boys playing games. First up at 12 noon was Brady. He's in Pee Wee, and it's great to see him learning something that he really loves. I hope he continues to love sports. I suspect that next year he's gonna be tearing it up on a roadbike. Anyway, he played well, his team played well, and they came away with a tie. They learned a whole bunch. He made some great tackles in the second half that made me wonder how a little body like his can take that kind of impact. He bounces right back up, but if he doesn't get a little bigger he's gonna have to find something else.

Next up was Khan. They were playing Raymond. Arch rivals. Now you have to understand something about football in this part of the world. While Football here is nothing like football in Texas, it's treated about as strong. Both Cardston and Raymond are communities of 3500 - and the schools are little schools. Both high schools play in the 4A league (in Canada 4A is the biggest, single A the smallest) so they play against schools with as many as 2000 students. Raymond has won provincials so many times that I've lost count - I remember 3 years straight while we lived there a few years ago.

Anyway, this is Bantam age kids (Jr. High) In the Southern Alberta League, coming into this game, neither Cardston or Raymond had lost a game - and neither team had had a point scored against them yet. (They really dominate down here - it's sad they don't have more competition.) Anyway, we usually play one game during the season, and then usually meet in the league championships - and the winner goes onto the provincial finals.

This year we have a home and home series (today and next Sat.) My boy was excited for the game - and I knew it would be a hard fought learning experience for him. Game ended up 15 - 8 for Raymond, they scored a touchdown with 1:07 left on the clock on a great flee-flicker play from their own 35. Just one of those things (I won't go into how a rookie referee missed a clipping call right in front of him 'cuase he had his back turned to the play running for the end-zone...)

This year the Bantam league will be taking two teams from our league to the provincial playoffs. That means we could potentially play Raymond 4 times - twice during league play, once during league playoffs, and then possibly again in the provincial final. Wow, wouldn't that be something!

Anyway, getting pictures showing my boy in action is tough, as he was always buried in red shirts (every play he was double-teamed, occassionaly triple teamed. he still managed to get his share of tackles, plus two fumble recoveries.) Here's a pic of my boy - #62 - after having come all the way around and about to lay the big one on #20.



Here's another of him being triple-teamed (he made the tackle on this one, too.)



So, by the time I was finished with football I had just one chance left to ride, as Steve had made arrangements to do a 75km tailwinds ride into Lethbridge - but with me having the kids here... well, no riding for me today. But the football was great fun!

Not a gentleman like Kin

Well, I don't rate like Kin does - oh well.

You Are 76% Gentleman

You are definitely a gentleman. You're very considerate and you have excellent manners. Occasionally, you slip and do something foolish... but usually no one notices!

Are You A Gentleman?

OUCH!

Well, the last couple of days I have begun in earnest my "program" - which really just consists of higher protein and not alot of calories - and a whole lotta pain. I've started using my new computrainer (thanx again Slantz!!) and it's everything it's been hyped up to be. It has the ability to 'cause pain like I haven't felt in a VERY long time.

That's all I've got to say for today - oh, current weight - after this morning's work-out - was 84.3kg. I don't want to hear any comments about how fast weight loss isn't healthy, etc. I'm not advocating what I'm doing to anybody else, it's what seems to be working for me.

It's Time

No, I ain't gonna take no pictures of myself naked on a bike ala Mike Magnuson - but it's time to enter "The Magnuson Zone". Being the OCD that I am, jumping in and dedicating myself 100% is the only way I'm gonna get my weight down. I stepped on the scales this morning and cried when I saw 87kg - that's about 191.4 lbs. Took me awhile to be able to actually write that - it hurts. Now I must begin to pay the price for my slothfulness. I began my diet today - and will begin the work-out phase this afternoon. It's gonna hurt - alot - but I need to pay the penance.

Ridin' some lil' hills

This last week I had to head out to Kelowna, BC for a business conference. My wife wasn't attending this year's event with me, as once again it was falling on the twins birthday. I really wish they'd change the date! Anyway, because it was just me, I loaded my golf clubs (which I hadn't even picked up since last year's conference) and my bike into the car (any guesses at to which was gonna get used more?) and headed for Kelowna - 857km away.

The trip out was pretty fast and uneventful - got behind some folks who wanted to act as rabbits for me and so I just cruised along at - ummmm, maybe I won't post the speed here - anyway... I usually don't book a hotel or anything when I'm travelling - more fun to just play it by ear and see what kind of an adventure I end up with. About 5 hours into the trip my cell phone rings and it's my partner, Kent, telling me he's got me a place to stay. Turns out to be at a resort, and I'm staying in a 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath condo. Would be really fun with the family - with just me it feel like a big, empty house.

The last 16km from the hiway to the resort it up and down and round and round - this road twists and turns every which way! It was dusk when I got out there, but the whole drive I'm thinking "I can't wait to ride this!" Then I get into the resort and find some really STEEP hills! (they don't let the staff try and drive the carts up these babies!) First thing next morning I went out and did a little loop on the bike - didn't have much time, so was only able to get in a few of the hills. I couldn't wait for the big event the next morning.

Next morning I jumped out of bed early. Phone calls and necessary emails conspired to slow up my exit, so I knew I wasn't gonna have as much time for the ride.

Geared up and out the door. The first km was a slight 1% grade, just enough to get me warmed up a little bit - then I headed out to the highway and down a gentle slope. Then the climbing began.

First climb was a nice little 6% grade - not really long, only about 1.5km. Fast decent - didn't think about it at the time, but I was gonna have to go back this way... next climb was about 9% for 1km. Again, not being very long, I kept a pretty good pace up it. A nice long, gentle descent - I didn't look at the grade on the way down, but on the way up I discovered it wasn't as gentle as I thought...

Next climb started off at a nice easy 7%, that changed to 8, then 9, then 10, then 11, then 12, then 13... I'd call this "the wall" but a hill coming up later gets that honor.

Did I mention that I'd forgotten to change my cassette from my nice, fast 11-23 used at HHH back to the 12-27? Yeah, that's right, I'm running my 11-23. The only saving grace is that I'm running compact cranks - but I've changed the rings out on those for racing, so the gearing is 52/36 instead of the 50/34 I'd have loved a little more.

I pass a couple out for a walk - they give me one of those looks that say "are you NUTS?! There's hills around here" - I wave, call out a friendly greeting and keep on. I'm still feeling petty good.

The next descent is steep - and long. Speed limit is 60km/hr, with signs posted for corners at 40km/hour. I hit 75km/hr as I passed a car just before the corner - leaned hard and held the speed as good as I could for the coming hill - car passes me with a wave and a honk. They passed 'cause this hill kinda slowed me down a little. Not a lot, just a little. I think my top speed climbing on this one was around 15km/hr, bottom speed was 12km/hr. It lasted for about 5km and averaged 12%. I turned around at the top.

Passed two cars on the decent. Did I mention before how fast I was able to go down this next hill? Well, going up wasn't a case of holding speed - it was more like - AGHHHH! The couple I'd passed earlier were near the top of this one. I thought I was smiling at them as I went by, but the look they gave me makes me believe that maybe it was more like a grimace of pain. I didn't say much, I guess. I thought I said hello, but it may have sounded more like "ugh". They clapped and cheered me on.

The next few hills go by relatively uneventfully, but I'm starting to feel pretty tired. My knees feel fine, no pain there, just the quads yelling at me. Seems that not riding for a couple of weeks and then subjecting them to this wasn't what they were thinking when I said "business conference." Oh well, they'll adapt or I'll die.

I get back into the Resort and head for "the loop" - going down to the bottom is hard. It's rained a little, so the roads are wet. Corners have some sand in them, and it's switchbacks all the way down. I'm riding the brakes hard and leaning back. I feel like I'm back on my mountain bike going down stairs.

There's the lake - the hill bottoms out at lake level, and immediately begins the climb up the other side. The climb weaves around the resort rooms on this end and through a couple of parking lots. The first 300m isn't too bad - only about a 8% grade, turn the corner and it kicks up to 13% really fast. I call out a couple of friendly hellos to the pretty girls getting into their cars in the parking lot - they just shake their heads. My speed is down to 12km/hr - and I'm solidly in the granny. A couple of more switchbacks at 12-15% and I turn the last switchback to meet THE WALL. HOLY COW! The grade climbs as I grunt it out. My back is HURTING! Knees are fine. Back is killing me. I'm down to 3.8km/hr at 26%! I'm forcing myself to not stop, knowing if I do there's no way I'll be getting back on. 'Sides, I ain't EVER let a hill beat me. My legs are threatening me. I know they'll really get their revenge in the next few hours/days. But for now, they will listen to ME!

I also refuse to zig zag up this hill. I've had to do that on climbs in the past (Talimena Parkway) - of course, it might have had something to do with the fact that the road is only 8 feet wide (it's one-way) and just not enough room to zig if you zag anyway. (I didn't even try.) I was gonna beat this hill straight up (and I do mean STRAIGHT UP!) With about 25m left to go I glanced down at my HR - 188. Yup, I'm working hard on this one! I begin to wonder if these nice, light handlebars can take the pounding that I"m giving them right now. My mind starts to wonder (I think it's a self-defense mechanism to keep from really feeling the pain I'm putting my body through.) I start to wonder what would happen if the bars broke right now (would be pretty.) I start thinking about all these emails I keep getting from Graham something or other re: building core muscles for cycling. Hmmm, maybe I should read those more carefully.

Finally I crest. I hear some noise off beside me and look across to see people out on a few of the balconies cheering and a few others looking not as happy. I found out later they were making bets on whether the fat man would make it up the hill. That made me smile.

A slight climb (only 5% - amazing how flat 5% can feel.) and then the km long coast back down to my room.

Whew!! That was some work. I can't wait for an excuse to go back there and see how many more of these little hills I can find! Of course, by then I hope I'm 30lbs lighter - and maybe I'll do some of that core work-out routine...

Random catch-up thoughts

Last Thursday I underwent the knife - well, not a knife, actually a lazer. I got my eyes Lasik'd!

The procedure itself was pretty non-eventful. I got a little nervous before hand when a lady before me had taken 1mg of whatever relaxant drug they give you - and then just before surgery had come back out all shaken, was given another mg, went back in, 10 minutes later came out for a 3rd shot... Holy Cow!

I remember that JohnnyE had taken something - and I decided that being the rock I am, and much tougher than John, I'd take NOTHING. (I'm sure Mr Pharmacist will give me a rough time about that just 'cause it would've been a great excuse to take some drugs legally!)

My wife watched the surgery - and now I don't think she's going to be getting it done - it kind of freaked her out. (When I heard the nurse asking her if she was going to need to run to the bathroom I figured she was having a tough go of it.) I wished they'd have had it on DVD for me - I'd like to have seen it.

Anyway, the surgery went fine, that night I couldn't see much, but by morning and my post-op exam I was already seeing at 20/20. My eyes get tired by the end of the day, but my vision is getting sharper by the day. I still see halos around lights at night. If that stays forever, I'll live with it. Being able to see cleary during the day is worth it.

Now - onto my weight loss challenges.

I've put weight on this last month or two. It's frustrating. I know why - I haven't been riding much, and I've been on the road alot eating crappy food, and when I wasn't on the road I was still eating crappy food. I can't even guess at how much pizza and ice cream I've downed the last couple of months.

The only eating plan that has consistently worked for me in the past, and where I lost the first big bunch of weight, has been a low carb/high protein diet. So, as of yesterday, that's what I've returned to. It's not a "no carb" plan - I'm eating veggies like spinach, carrots, and other yellow/orange veggies so that I'm making sure I get what my eyes need to heal.

Work-outs are still in slow-motion, but I'm getting better. I know I really need to work on doing some weight lifting and working on my core - so I'm building a plan.

I guess that's what frustrates me so much. I KNOW what I should be doing. I know HOW to do it, I've just been too lazy to do it. No more. By next spring I'm gonna be a lean, fast machine!

To make my cardio work-outs more regular and effective (I want to do a good interval program) I'm looking at picking up a computrainer. Yes, lots of money - but I've already spent a ton of money on my bikes, shouldn't be such a big deal to spend the money on the trainer. Next year is Triple Bypass, and I'm gonna make Shadowcat hurt in the hills!! *grin*

My boys ROCK!

Saturday was a day of football. First up was one of my twin sons playing Pee Wee football. He plays on the grade 4,5,&6 team and they were playing against the big boys from the grade 7 & 8's. Kind of an inter-squad game.

Brady, my son, is a small guy - probably one of the smallest on the field. But, he's got heart, and he's fast. I honestly don't know how many tackles he had (he plays defense) but it seemed he was in on every play. I'll post pics after I get them uploaded. The offense didn't do so well and the team lost, but it was a close game - literally 3 broken plays that went for touch-downs against them and 3 dropped passes for touchdowns for them, and the little guys would've won! Was really fun watching him go at it. It's his first year, and he's still got lots to learn, but wow - he's FAST!

Next up, my oldest son, Khan. Khan's not the biggest kid on the team (though he is one of the top 3 or 4) - and not the fastest kid on the team (though he's one of the top 3 or 4) He is very strong, powerful, and fast - especially for a lineman! He plays both ways, and even plays on a couple of the special teams - he's rarely on the sidelines!

Poor Coaldale. The got clobbered by my boys team. Khan's official stats were 7 tackles and one sack - but I'm positive that when we watch the game tape tonight that we'll see it was more like 10 tackles. That doesn't tell the whole story. One of his team mates was in for 7 tackles, too - and most of them were him just running through the hole that Khan opened up for him.

I've got a picture of him on offense opening up a hole by blocking 3 guys at once. I've got a couple of other really cool pictures of him that I'll post here, too.

I'm not a football guy - I got cut from my high school team 'cause the coach was too scared I was too little and would get hurt. But I'm learning now, and it's way more fun learning by watching my kids play!

After the game coach asked me if I'd be interested in driving out and taping a game of the two main rivals that were playing about an hour away. So Khan and I did a road trip out to the game. Raymond vs. Claresholm. Raymond always has a good team - really strong program there. It's usually Raymond vs Cardston for the semi-finals (they are the two strongest teams in the league, but the league just can't stand to have to teams from the same area in the final, so they put them up against each other every year. The winner of this game always wins the league championship.)

We used to live in Raymond, so I know alot of the fans and players at the game. Was fun to chat with old friends I hadn't seen in awhile - though a few of them are more than just a little arrogant about their team. One in particular went on and on about how Cardston could never beat Raymond (never mind that last year the score was 14-7, and Cardston was playing with 5 starters, including their QB and my son, injured.) I hope my boys team kicks their butts this year!

We ended up leaving at half time - the score was 27-0, and we obviously weren't going to learn very much about Raymond watching this game.

More football to come!!

C/Ya Zin!

Well, the plan was to leave Cardston around 2pm, drive down to Great Falls (just over 3 hours away) and take Zin out for a farewell dinner. Sometimes my life just doesn't go according to plan - okay, maybe most of the time, but I really thought that getting out of the office by 2pm was doable.

As it turned out, I had clients stopping by all afternoon - and didn't get done until 4:22pm - I fired an email off to Zin letting him know that I was just leaving, and jumped in the car for the trip - of course, by the time I actually got out of Cardston it was almost 5pm.

Turned the radar detector on and headed for the border. Fortunately I managed to pass alot of people on the way down and got to the border without a line to have to wait for. Border guards were friendly and had me on my way quickly.

I don't know exactly how fast I averaged - but it was quick. I pulled into Great Falls at about 7pm. I made a quick call to Zin and zipped over to his place to pick him up to go for dinner.

We chatted for a bit before we actually got out of the door - and then had to hit a couple of places before we found a retaurant that didn't have an hour's line waiting to get in. We ended up at Tony Roma's. What are ya gonna eat at TR? RIBS! Both Zin and I order a full rack of beef ribs... holy cow that's a lot of food! I really should have just ordered the half. (Zin was thinking the same thing.)

Zin spilled a little sauce on himself and our friendly waitress asked if he wanted a bib - no says he - YES! says I! I had the waitress bring us bibs and we got a photo taken of it. Great thing is, you can't tell in the photo that I'm wearing a bib!! (but you sure can tell that Zin is wearing one!! hehhehehehe) I'll post the pic as soon as I get it off my phone. (not a high quality pic, but both zin and I had managed to forget our cameras.)

Dinner was great - good food, but even better company. Zin has become one of my very good friends over the last couple of years, and I really do think of him as "my brother from another mother."

After dinner we chatted for awhile longer, and then it was time for me to hit the road. I drove the speed limit going home, and it took me about 3 hours 15 minutes to get back. I lucked out at the border again and didn't get stuck in a long line - even though I was crossing at Coutts (notoriously long lines.) -- It was 1:30am before I dragged my butt into bed, but well worth the trip.

Running in the Northern Pines

I spent all day yesterday driving up to Fort McMurray - yes, the bike and gear is loaded in the car. It was a long drive, but I impressed myself with my eating habits for the day - I ate alot of fruit! Only stopped for a bathroom break and to fuel up, so it was a straight 9 hours.

This morning I got up and was planning on going for a bike ride with Kent. I brought him up a new set of Neuvation M28 wheels to replace his 105 wheels with. But then I had another idea.

Last night my wife had mentioned I should go for a run in the forest just outside of Kent's door. She said there's some great trails there - so I convinced Kent to lace up the runners and we headed out the door for the trail. The trail head is literally across the street from his front door and off we went.

Wow. This is what I remember running to be like. It was nice and cool, the air felt crisp and fresh. Pine trees on both sides of the trail reached a hundred feet straight up to the sky. The trail was well groomed (except for a few mud holes) and we saw a few other runners out on the trail. Kent hasn't been runnning in years, so we kept a pretty easy pace - and after about 10 minutes had to slow to a walk for him to recover a bit. No record 5km times today, but wow, what an enjoyable hour out on the trail! I stopped the timer every time Kent needed to stop and so we actually ran for 30 minutes - I estimated it to be about 5km. We walked for another 15 or 20 minutes. I lost satallite reception, so don't know exactly how far we went. My HR never got over 165 (I sprinted a couple of hills to do some light intervals), so I know I really wansn't pushing myself hard.

It absolutely amazes me how beautiful this country is up here. These trails all turn into cross-country ski trails in the winter. The trails are all marked with sign markers (just like the ones on street corners) all over the place. We followed "deer trail" until it met up with "Beaver trail" - and then followed that all the way up to the end of it - there were lots of other trails that branched off. Then we turned around and came back. I think I might make a point of doing a little run like this every morning I'm here this week.

I'm hoping to get a bike ride in this evening. For now, it's off to the office for a full day. We've got lots to do there!

Recovery riding?

After yesterday's hammerfest with Bart trying to drop John and I, I was looking forward to a nice, easy recovery spin. John's wife Sheri and my wife Melanie joined us, so I knew it wouldn't be a hammerfest. My wife is still a much slower rider, and insists that we just go enjoy our ride and that she'll see us later. It's an out-and-back loop, so I wasn't worried about her, we'd see her on the way back, and then when I got back I'd jump in the van and go track her down.

Chico showed up - hmmmmm, he's a hammer monster that takes some work to tame even on recovery rides.

Melanie dropped back at the 3rd or 4th kilometer. Chico took the pull up the first hill and kicked the pace up a bit - I jumped on his wheel. As we climbed he kept kicking the pace up higher and higher. "hey!" I thought to myself, "this is stupid." I looked back and saw Bart, Sheri, & John a fair ways back. I eased off and let Chico go.

Most of the ride out to the turn-around was like that - generally a nice, easy pace punctuated by the occassional flat-out sprint. I didn't get involved in any of those. My legs were feeling really heavy today. John and Chico hammered for a couple of signs.

A couple of kilometers after the turn-around I saw my wife coming towards us - she was looking really strong, but I thought she could probably use a food-break, so I turned around and rode for a bit with her and checked to make sure all was good. She was wearing a wind-breaker that was acting as a pretty good parachute - I suspect next time she'll take me up on the offer to get her cycling jacket... She sounded good, and looked good, so I turned around and realized that my friends had continued at a nice little clip and were now about 1km away. AGGGHHHH! Oh well, so much for a recovery ride!

I jumped back into the big ring, dropped to my 14tooth cog and began spinning madly. My HR started to inch up. I'd been careful to keep it around 135-140 except on a few short climbs - it was now inching up past 160. I got down low and wished I'd left my Zipps on. Hmmm, aerobars would be nice right now, too. I could see the gap coming down, but so slowly! On the hills I tried to push it extra hard, knowing that they wouldn't be hammering on the hills. Finally, I caught up to them (after chasing for a good 6 or 7km!) and tucked into a wheel. Whew! Now I get to recover - don't think this is what a recovery ride is supposed to mean.

We got to my favorite false-flats section. There's two of them on this ride, and this is the longest. Usually we have a bit of a tailwind through here and can easily hold speeds in excess of 60km/hr without pushing the heart rate. I called out, let's go! And off we went. Of course, we had a HEADWIND today, and top speed was only about 50km/hr, but it was still fun! The pace was too high for Sheri and she got dropped. We gathered a little at Leavitt and prepared for the assault on Monson's hill. Bart dropped off a bit as he took a drink. John went to the front and began the initial pull up the hill. This is always funny 'cause we all know how much this hill hurts at speed, and we all want to draft, but nobody wants to change their pace. John ended up being forced to the front. Then Chico went by him and I stuck to his wheel. Half-way up Bart came spinning by, looking really strong. Chico jumped on his wheel and I had to sprint to catch back on. Then Chico waves me by - it threw my pace out as I had to slow a bit as he eased up. I jumped onto Bart's wheel and we continued a pretty quick climb. Suddenly Bart eased up and said "I'm done." My HR was only at 173 (great advantage to sucking a wheel into a headwind! - Bart's was 185) - and then Chico accelerated past us. I knew I COULD have jumped on his wheel, but I just didn't want to hurt that much! Bart and I eased up and took it easy while we waited for John to catch back on.

The next hill was more of the same, but it's not much more than a roller. Then, the last "climb" - the back side of the first one that Chico and I hammered up. We all took it fairly easy, except for Chico who just blew us all away. The power he's been able to harness out of those legs this year is really impressive. As we crested Bart took the first pull. This is the beginning of the second "false flat" of the ride.

I took the next pull. We went by Chico with what I figured was about a 7 or 8km/hr differential. Amazingly he sprinted up and got on to a wheel. He really was riding strong! As we approached the corner everybody started to get nervous - the first traditional sign sprint was approaching - who would go? Bart was pulling, and pulling at a pretty good clip - about 50km/hr - so I know it would take a hard effort to get around him - the sign sits at the crest of a little hill, so it makes for a pretty good sprint effort.

I was 3rd wheel - John had dropped back a bit out of contention for the sprint. I decided to go early and started to swing out - just as I got my front wheel even with Chico's rear wheel Bart must have had eyes out of the back of his head, 'cause he kicked it up. Suddenly he was pulling at 54km/hr up hill into a headwind. Chico couldn't get around him, and I couldn't get around Chico - that's how we crossed the line. Chico kept hammering for a bit after the crest - Bart and I let him go. John joined us and we reeled Chico back in.

As you enter town we used to have to take a quick right hand turn and then a left on the access road - now that there's a good second lane on the highway we typically don't take that and stay on the highway - out of the corner of my eye I saw that Bart had gone hard at the corner and was hammering away on the access road. I yelled, "Bart's taken the access... Go! Go! Go!" Chico and I hammered for all we were worth - Chico got a gap on me right away, John dropped off, so I knew this would be all about time trialing it in. I knew I could make up alot of ground on the corner, 'cause I can pedal through some pretty tight lines. (165 cranks with Speedplays make for LOTS of clearance!) Bart and Chico got to the interesection at the same time, I cornered hard and closed the gap. Then I hammered for the last corner - oh oh, somebody's having a garage sale and lots of traffic at this corner. I shoulder check and only Chico is there - I cut hard to the inside and sprint through the corner - Chico stays with me for about 25 yards and then eases up - I continued on down the line. Admittedly, it was a rough finish as they are tearing roads up all over the place, but I won the final sprint!

So, our little recovery ride turned out to be another hammerfest. In actuality, this is what I really needed. Good riding, good friends. So what if it's not the best thing for building performance right now - it's good for me just to have some good motivation to get out and ride again!

I jumped in the van and went back to see how my wife was doing. Sheri had gone straight down to the bike shop, and we met her there later. Melanie's hip had really started to hurt, and I told her to stop and get in the van. She was disappointed at not finishing the ride, but better to prevent an injury and be able to ride again next week. It was great to be able to sit back and relive the adventure with my wife. She rode really strong and it won't be long before she'll be hanging with Sheri on these rides.

Let's go for a spin

September 1, 2006

I had to head into Lethbridge to visit with some clients today - didn't think it would take too long, so called John and asked him if he'd be interested in catching lunch. He suggested I bring my bike in and we go for a spin. Sounds good, I've been feeling a little unmotivated to ride lately and thought this might be a good chance, weather was nice (about 27C) and very little wind. John's always fun to ride with, so yeah, I'll bring my bike.

Client meetings go a little longer than planned. I'm finally down to the last one, and call John at 3pm - he's got one meeting left. I agree to call him when I'm done and we can head out.

4:30pm and I'm finally done - John's running late, so I meet him at his office. He didn't bring his bike! So, it's off to Magrath to suit up and ride. While there we decide to call Bart, and the plan quickly becomes "we'll ride towards Cardston, you ride towards us, we'll turn around and ride back to Magrath together - then Bart and I will leave our bikes there, John and his wife can bring them up in the morning when we go for a spin in the morning." Great.

6:15pm - John and I are on the road heading towards Cardston. No wind, this is great! I haven't been on the bike since HHH, so my legs aren't feeling really active. We're cruising along at a comfy 30km/hr, nothing too hard. Riding side-by-side and chatting. Then we hit Shearer's Hill. It's about 2.5km long, and averages about 5%, with a couple of kicks up to 8%. John picks up the pace.

Now, generally I slow down a little while going up hill. Apparantly John hasn't figured this out yet, and drops the hammer. We're climbing at 32km/hr. OUCH! This hurts. I manage to hold John's wheel until the first ease of grade, and then I take the pull. I pull pretty hard the first third of the next climb - and then I just can't hold it, so John comes around. I grab his wheel again - for about the 2nd third, and then I pop. John hammers up to the top and then waits for me on the descent.

We alternate back and forth for the next 15km or so with some pretty good hammering along the way. At the 22km mark we're both looking for Bart, but don't see him yet. Man. This is getting hard! Finally, at the top of the climb at km #25 we see Bart and swing around to meet him.

Now we find out that there's actually been a bit of an East wind pushing us, 'cause now we're fighting it. It doesn't make sense, 'cause the grass isn't moving, the flags are hanging limp, and the windmills ain't turnin' - but the resistance is sure there! You'd think that Bart would be a little tired and not want to hammer too hard after fighting that by himself for the previous 20km he'd riddin' - or that John and I wouldn't want to hammer to hard after having laid it down against each other for the last 25km - and it seemed to be going that way for the first couple of km while we grouped and chatted.

Then we hit a coulee - nothing really steep, but a good descent to pick up speed, and then a climb back out. Somehow I ended up pulling on the climb. I was only trying to maintain pace, but by the time we got to the top the game was on - John hammered around me and I was struggling to hold a wheel. This went on for the next 10km.

Then we hit the false flats coming into Magrath. I can usually pull at around 55km/hr through here, and love the feeling of speed while pulling my friends along, so as I came around to the front I called out "hop on the Barfuss train, boys, I'll pull ya home." I hammered for the next kilometer at a lowly 44km/hr and had to give it up. Bart was next, and he ratched it up more than just a notch. He admitted later he was trying to ride us off his wheel, just to see if he could. I didn't have my HR monitor on, but I"m sure it must have been around 185 - I wasn't getting dizzy yet, but I knew I wasn't far from it. The only thing that kept me holding on through the pain was the fact that I knew it would hurt more if I got dropped and tried to catch back on.

Finally pulled into town, and Bart absolutely killed us. Great, I thought, I'm dead. No more pain. In the morning John's wife and my wife is gonna ride with us, so it should be a nice easy spin, which after this effort I'm really gonna need. A spin in John's book really means a hammerfest these days! Thanx for ripping my legs off and feeding them to me boys!