tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59485799719743445392024-03-13T10:43:32.563-07:00Ramblings Over a Post-Ride Recovery DrinkErik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948579971974344539.post-18043820032147225272017-01-17T16:06:00.002-08:002017-01-17T16:06:33.779-08:00Wake Up Call<div class="MsoNormal">
This is my wake up call. I note to myself, from myself. Not to share with others, not to show off. But for me to yell at myself for making excuses for my health. I'm done.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Time to get back into it. Restart. Reboot. Mid life crisis. Name it whatever I want, it all means the
same thing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I'm sadly out of shape.
I've lost all my form over the last two years. And I'm done with this downward spiral.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also, I turned 40 twenty three days ago. So there's that.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just to recap, last year I had my lowest total miles ridden
on the bike since 2008, the middle of my first transformation. That went from Summer of 2007 to 2009. In the Summer of 2007 I was depressed,
overweight, and out of shape. I weighed
230 pounds. I was inactive, sedentary, and weak.
And I ate like crap. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I made a conscious change. I made it over several months, slowly but
surely changing everything. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And it worked. When I
set off on my first AIDS/Lifecycle in June of 2009 I was in the best shape of
my life, I weighed 162, and I managed to keep it that way for a few years. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, the last 2 years I have been slipping. I still eat rather well, aiming for whole,
natural foods. Avoiding sugar. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I've been slipping.
2014, 2015, and 2016 saw massive drops in total miles ridden, and
constant weight gain.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, here I am. Out of shape.
My bathroom scale says 195. The
doctor's scale today said 200.5. That
scared me. Aside from the fact of why I
was there, having gone through several allergic reactions over the last 2
months, and finally getting sick of not knowing what is going on. So today I gave blood, and next week I will
go back and get the results. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is going to be my wake up call. My jolt of reality. It's been screaming at me for months now, but
in my stubborn mindset I ignore it and push it aside. My health will now be a larger priority for
me. I'm an old man, after all.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, here's my plan.
18 months. From now, the middle
of January, 2017, to the Summer of 2018.
I will food journal, paying close attention to serving portions. Portion control is something I am not good
at, I admit. Something to focus on.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will ride whenever I can.
I will ride through Summer, I will ride through Fall, I will ride
through Winter. I will ride smart. I will ride hard.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will buy running shoes and start cross training. I do love trail running. Time to get back into that.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will fix me. Inside
and out. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And the goal will be the California Triple Crown in
2018. Solvang, <st1:city>Davis</st1:city>,
and <st1:place><st1:placename>Devil</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>Mountain</st1:placetype></st1:place>. I did it in 2013. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will do it again. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The journey starts today.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
-E</div>
Erik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948579971974344539.post-86661230849694459812013-11-25T14:35:00.002-08:002013-11-25T14:40:32.435-08:00You Have Arrived<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
So, here we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
2:30 on a Monday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know exactly where I would rather be.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3wHEIO9PiWDSPLhFtTMQlvWy_eJjBcz3WFYvvysF5nK-O9lFu0Ts3e_JmFQTJIbfLLreZc8kyemRTwPFPKtkk25iPzgb9Af1xM3gcQ9FHtIrFMRI1OblTzsjESHjjNVZr0zILKw/s1600/Finals+March+Off.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3wHEIO9PiWDSPLhFtTMQlvWy_eJjBcz3WFYvvysF5nK-O9lFu0Ts3e_JmFQTJIbfLLreZc8kyemRTwPFPKtkk25iPzgb9Af1xM3gcQ9FHtIrFMRI1OblTzsjESHjjNVZr0zILKw/s400/Finals+March+Off.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is a poem I love by a famous Buddhist monk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To me, it portrays the feeling of being
grounded, truly comfortable with yourself, in the now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I have arrived. I am home. </i><i><br />
<i>In the here. In the now. </i><br />
<i>I am solid. I am free. </i><br />
<i>In the ultimate I dwell.</i></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- Thich Nhat Hanh</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think of this poem when I think of this season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you know something so well, when you are
truly no longer thinking, your body reacts to its surroundings, almost like
it’s in auto drive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are truly calm,
relaxed, and able to be at peace with yourself, even while doing something
highly technical and physically demanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You reached that point in your show performance this year, where mind
and body meld, and both work together, without thought, and you perform with
the utmost in confidence and compose.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past weekend was quite the whirlwind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t express in words just how proud I am
of the STHS Marching Band.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Breaking
school records for highest score several times, finally making it into WBA
Finals for the 1<sup>st</sup> time ever, and being truly in the mix and
competitive with the best of the best in 4A all year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At Prelims on Saturday, you beat Oak Grove
and Granite Bay
in Music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you know that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You beat Clovis
in Visual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you know that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You beat Oak Grove and Clovis
in General Effect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you know
that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are in the mix, and in some
spots beating, the elite 4A bands in the state of California.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best of the best now includes Santa
Teresa High School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never thought I would be able to say
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But here you are!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You have arrived!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I pushed you all so hard throughout the season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I demanded more from you than ever before,
and pushed you harder and harder each rehearsal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some days, I literally worked you into the
ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Literally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I yelled and I screamed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I may or may not have even thrown
things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could have pushed back, you
could have rolled over and given up, you could have gone home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You fought through it and forced more from
yourselves and each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in the
end, that’s how you got to where you are now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By demanding more from yourself, by forcing a higher level of
performance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And now, after all these years of working towards it, after
all the years of heartbreak and tears, you finally know what it feels like to
be able to hang with the best of the best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You finally know what it’s like to be a member of that elite Top 5 at
Finals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you like it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you want more?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You got here, now do you want to stay here?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You see, I’m not just the Brass Caption Head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m also an Alumni.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Class of 1995. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So you can add 4 years, plus 1 more as a staff
member the year after I graduated, to the 11 years I have been on staff under
Ms. Bounds. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That means I have 16 years
invested in this program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know exactly
where we are coming from and just what our roots are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The marching band season of 1991, my freshman
year, was the first year of the return of the Santa Teresa marching band field
show program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t compete that
first year, as none of us had a clue what we were doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A whole band entirely of rookies, imagine
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the years following, we
competed here and there, had some successes, and had a great time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I remember back then watching schools like Oak Grove, Clovis,
and Granite Bay,
and thinking that they were unbeatable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
another level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would watch them
perform with my jaw dropped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And to know
now that you are competing right up with them…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m still speechless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You have arrived.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have heard so many comments and compliments about your
show this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>STHS Alumni are loud and
proud of you right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Former members
from the last 11 years, to all the way back to my era, over 20 years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They loved the show, they have been following
you all year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never forget, their hard
work to continually improve every year is a very big part of your success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This hasn’t been a one year journey, or even
a four year journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This journey spans
decades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it is not done.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You have also gotten many comments and compliments from
folks outside this program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At a Fremont
High School rehearsal a few weeks
ago the tuba soloist added robot moves while he rested between phrases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wanted to be like The Machine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>True story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And hearing the chatter in the stands is amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Parents of other schools love your show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You continually got the best response both
during and after your performances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
got many compliments and well wishes from the parents, alumni, and fans from
other schools as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even parents from
competing schools, including the Granite
Bay parents, loved your show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Members of other schools would run back to
the back stands to be able to catch your performance when they see the fog pillars
rolling out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s the smokestack
school!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Run, we have to catch
them!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is the ultimate
compliment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They know you’ve arrived.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even staff members of other schools are in on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t count the number of times I have run
into friends on staff at other schools at shows, and they stop me to tell me
that they caught your show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every time
they loved it, thought it was amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Bands and staff members waiting on the ramp or in the end zone to go on
after us were amazed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one show, right
when the smokestacks go off after the drum break, one staff member from the
waiting school threw his hands in the air and said, “Ah crap, they just won.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This season has been a dream, it has been my pleasure to
work with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will miss it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life goes on, time moves forward, and next
Band Camp is only months away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
journey continues, some folks are moving on to bigger and better things, some
get to go through the same journey again next year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But there will never be another 2013 Santa Teresa High
School Marching Band.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Seniors, you were an absolute dream to work with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You absorbed everything I threw at you, you
raised the performance level beyond my expectations again and again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will always be the senior class that
broke through, the class that played on Sunday for the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish I could have put that into words this
past weekend, but I simply could not speak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Congratulations.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Returning members:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Get ready now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next year I want top
5, to be right in the mix and competitive with Oak Grove, Clovis,
and Granite Bay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The better you can get now, the more you can
help the incoming freshmen next year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Which is, of course, what really makes a band as good as they are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Band members helping and teaching other band
members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Internal improvement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get on it!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thank you all so much for an absolutely incredible
season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t express in words just
how proud I am of every one of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
saw me try on Saturday, and again and Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Speechless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Happiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You Have Arrived.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRmz5stH4LS4TRgUGjVqeWFNeT1dZDe0zYkFz6qhCoVSogjOlcMh7lZmwg7jiVIRTa3B4HgRxOWbqSYw-j7xtT335o6DgZq1SSw9rQ3UPWUVM7p7f5sTqjY90w8jhRrHLf9zPXlqU/s1600/Finals+Retreat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRmz5stH4LS4TRgUGjVqeWFNeT1dZDe0zYkFz6qhCoVSogjOlcMh7lZmwg7jiVIRTa3B4HgRxOWbqSYw-j7xtT335o6DgZq1SSw9rQ3UPWUVM7p7f5sTqjY90w8jhRrHLf9zPXlqU/s400/Finals+Retreat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- Erik Dabel </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
STHS Marching Band Member 91-94</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
STHS Class of 95 </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
STHS Marching Band Staff 95</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
STHS Marching Band Brass Caption Head 03-13</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
p.s. And brass, you owe me 440 seconds of banana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get that too me when you can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">p.p.s. Thanks for Matt Vaughan and Lisa Thornburg for these wonderful pictures, and to the rest of the parents, family, friends and acquaintances that helped make this season into what it was! </span></div>
Erik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948579971974344539.post-8842970424959961482013-11-01T09:54:00.003-07:002013-11-01T09:55:28.923-07:00AIDS/Lifecycle2014 Fundraising Letter #1<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://www.tofighthiv.org/goto/ErikDabel2014">Erik
Dabel’s Personal Fundraising Page</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hey all, I am back at it again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On June 1<sup>st</sup> through 7<sup>th</sup>,
2014, I will be taking part in my 5<sup>th</sup> AIDS/Lifecycle bike ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will yet again be riding my bike from San
Francisco to Los Angeles,
545 miles over 7 days, to help raise money for HIV/AIDS research, support,
education and awareness. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past year, we broke our old record by raising $14.2
million.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This money is directly used to
save lives, both in treatment and care of folks already living with HIV/AIDS,
but also prevention, education, and awareness campaigns to prevent future
infections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like they say, we will keep
riding until HIV/AIDS is a thing of the past!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I am calling out to everyone I know, through every medium
I use, to ask for help in raising money for this great cause. Any amount
you can donate can and will make a difference in the life of someone living
with HIV/AIDS, be it $5, $50, or $500.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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And remember, your donation is fully tax deductible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.tofighthiv.org/goto/ErikDabel2014">Just
click this link</a>, which will take you to my <a href="http://www.tofighthiv.org/goto/ErikDabel2014">Personal Fundraising Page</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From there, click on the “Donate to support
Erik” button.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything is very easy
and very quick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It only takes a few
minutes out of your day to do what you can to help save lives.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you can’t donate at this time, there are other ways you
can help. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forward this letter to anyone
you know that might be interested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Thank you all so much ahead of time!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Erik</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.tofighthiv.org/goto/ErikDabel2014">Erik
Dabel’s Personal Fundraising Page</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UkoUVESutymscSlmJ4HYGn8J_B5-63s_UPrRxUm5dUYbX7WDeQNzOd64aKn-PkNPV8GNRLWu8oqaUnjxs_C0URUNwIwPnVqULLpDREIBKhtSOWB2NKt66ItN5xlNQ2poC1AWIP4/s1600/Day+6+Rest+Stop+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UkoUVESutymscSlmJ4HYGn8J_B5-63s_UPrRxUm5dUYbX7WDeQNzOd64aKn-PkNPV8GNRLWu8oqaUnjxs_C0URUNwIwPnVqULLpDREIBKhtSOWB2NKt66ItN5xlNQ2poC1AWIP4/s400/Day+6+Rest+Stop+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Erik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948579971974344539.post-17352690900883271862013-04-29T11:44:00.001-07:002013-04-29T11:49:27.653-07:002013 Devil Mountain Double Century<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><b><u>Pre-Ride Brain Boondoggling
</u></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had no idea just what I was getting into when I put this
on my calendar as an event I might want to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had no idea what I was thinking when I said, “Screw it, no more
toddling around, I’m just going to sign up for this thing and see what
happens.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some great things happen when we fight through our
reservations and fears and tackle the things we’re afraid of, things we think we
cannot do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was one of those
things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The <a href="http://www.quackcyclists.com/dmd.htm">2013 Devil
Mountain Double Century</a> (DMD) would be my 3<sup>rd</sup> different double
century, the 4<sup>th</sup> overall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have done the <a href="http://planetultra.com/portfolio/solvang-double-century/">Solvang
Double</a> twice, and the <a href="http://www.davisbikeclub.org/annual_events/organized_rides/davis_double_century">Davis
Double</a> once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Solvang and Davis are
two of the easier rides on the <a href="http://www.caltriplecrown.com/schedule.htm">California Triple Crown
calendar</a>, ranked #22 and #23 out of 26, and are both given a difficulty of
“Medium”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
DMD?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>#2 with a
difficulty of “Radically High”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But,
it’s my backyard, the closest double on the Triple Crown calendar to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it goes over one of my favorite places in
the whole world, Mt Hamilton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I had
to try it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That was the original goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m not that great of a climber.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s something I work on quite a bit, but it’s still not my strong
point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew going into this thing that
I might not finish, and that would be OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was time to push myself beyond my limits again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to do that every now and then to
keep an eye on just where those limits are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Life is just no fun if you never tighten the screws, let loose and do
something crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, here I went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>206
miles and 21,000 feet of climbing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mt
Diablo, Mt Hamilton, and Sierra Road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well as Morgan
Territory, Altamont
Pass, Patterson Pass,
Mines Road/Junction, Palomares and Norris Canyon Roads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave myself a 50/50 chance of
finishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNwDZIfiBV9s3zMqCXS4GOgN8MNnX_74gELe1vJSoZoo5JztCqWjTuPa0nzVSyRkXnLzFo94wfYc_iTuuuEcVdSvqG30blPBSCi3Y10g9FRgKuwdLONbjjxdBXnl-I0jBIvnOJnSY/s1600/2013+Devil+Mountain+Doule+Race+Number.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNwDZIfiBV9s3zMqCXS4GOgN8MNnX_74gELe1vJSoZoo5JztCqWjTuPa0nzVSyRkXnLzFo94wfYc_iTuuuEcVdSvqG30blPBSCi3Y10g9FRgKuwdLONbjjxdBXnl-I0jBIvnOJnSY/s400/2013+Devil+Mountain+Doule+Race+Number.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><b>The Ride Itself</b></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was a pre ride meeting at 4:55am and we would all ride out at 5:00am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OK, most
would ride out at 5:00am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fast riders would ride out at 6:00am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
the majority of the ride rolled out at 5:01am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The beginning was great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was cold, but I warmed up quick on the way
to the base of Mt Diablo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My how quickly things turn from great to shit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At mile 8.7 there’s a Stop Sign where we turn right onto Mt
Diablo Scenic Blvd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was riding in a pack, on the inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We began to make the right turn, and I must
have either turned early or just cut it to much, because suddenly there was a
gigantic hole in front of me, and I went right through it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I managed to keep the bike upright while
cyclists around me yelled “HOLE!” and “STAY LEFT!” and “WIDE RIGHT! STAY
WIDE!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I thought I had made it through, another cyclist riding next
to me actually said he was convinced I was going down and was surprised when I
saved it and kept riding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As he finished
that statement, the air from my rear tire began saying goodbye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pulled over with a blown rear tire before
mile 9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of 206.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a great start.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucky for me, SAG showed up quickly and let me use a floor
pump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unluckily for me, in the confusion
of trying to change a tire at night, I didn’t get the spare tube seated
correctly and it blew out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two tubes
down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The SAG guy let me borrow one, and
as I got it ready I noticed that my rear tire itself had a gash in it from the
hole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tire was beyond dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily (again) SAG had an extra tire and let
me use it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took my time setting it up,
made sure it was all seated correctly, and pumped it up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
I was on my way, but not before I wasted 25 minutes sitting at the side of the
road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That meant 2 things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was now 25 minutes down on a ride that I already didn’t know whether I could
finish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More importantly, I was 25 minutes behind the
rest of the pack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would be riding solo
from here on out, playing catch up the rest of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No pack, no drafting, no encouragement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just me, myself, and I.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sort of an inauspicious start to the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told myself to be patient and to sit and
spin comfortably up Mt Diablo, which started pretty much right away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once I got going, I started to feel better.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the top, I lost even more time due to a recumbent rider
with a broken chain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a chain tool,
and of course I let him use it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I filled
my bottles, used the bathroom, got a stretch, and he still wasn’t done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another 15 minutes gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That put me 40-45 minutes behind my goal and
the pack.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I suddenly had a new goal:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Time to suck it up and play catch up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are two cutoff points for this ride:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to leave Rest Stop 3 (mile 91) by 1:00, and Lunch (mile 116) by 4:30.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My goal was to make it to Rest Stop 3 in time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was time to push.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hard.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The descent down Mt Diablo would be a lot better without the
speed limit, I had to ride the brakes hard to keep it below 25.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But once I got to the bottom, it was time to
open it up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Morgan Territory
was pretty tough, but I was able to push through and even start passing some
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we had some flat roads
before Altamont and Patterson
Passes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Altamont was AWESOME.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A nice little tailwind let me do it wide
open, climbing at close to 20mph.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
felt great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Patterson Pass
was next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tough one, but not too
long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I was really catching and
passing folks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was starting to get
hot, and the little end bit at 15%+ gradient didn’t help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I made it over and then BOMBED the
descent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was greeted with more flat
roads at the bottom, which I can cruise pretty well on, before turning onto Mines
Road and beginning the long trek up to Mt
Hamilton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But first, Rest Stop 3!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I MADE IT!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Quick refill, quick snack, and I rolled out at 12:35.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still more
work to do, it was time to continue my game of leap frog.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mines Road was great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lots of climbing, some descending, but fairly consistent, right up my
alley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also hot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No problem, just keep cranking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Made up a lot of time here, passed a LOT of
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Got to lunch, which was at
Junction (Mt Hamilton fans, you know…) in plenty of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now it was time to start heading up the
mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sit and spin, you can make it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was a mini stop somewhere in here, and I started
noticing the same riders resting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had
found the riders at my level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now the
only question was, just how far was I going to go today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was I really going to attempt Sierra
Road at mile 150, after 15,000 feet of climbing
already?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that moment, my answer was
no, my new goal would be to make it over Hamilton
to the next Rest Stop at Crothers Road
and reassess my goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the top of Hamilton
I met a guy that I had been riding with on and off for probably 20-30
miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was thinking the same thing, about
probably not finishing, and about rethinking his goals at the Crothers Road
Rest Stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, we started our descent down Hamilton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured this very well might be the last
leg of this ride, so I would enjoy it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We made it to Crothers Road
at around 6:30.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had some Cup-O-Noodles, V8, and a Coke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jason and I made the decision to keep
pushing, and if we rode together, pushing each other and supporting each other,
we might stand a chance of finishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course, the next major hurdle was Sierra
Road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Whoever planned out Sierra Road,
I have some questions for you:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mainly,
why the hell did you run it STRAIGHT up the side of the mountain?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, that hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we got to the top where the next rest
stop was at 8:15.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With 47 miles to go, we knew it would be at
night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it would be quite a while.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lights went on, the vest went back on, and we started
pushing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This portion of the ride was what I can only describe as “terrifying”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not a fan of riding at night, especially
back country roads with lots of tree cover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was PITCH BLACK out on Calaveras, luckily Jason and I road together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guarantee, without a doubt, if he had not
been there I would not have attempted that road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I did, and we pushed through and made it to the Sunol Train
Station Rest Stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had chili
dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And hot tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, we chilled here for a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
27 miles to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Niles
Canyon Road, Palomares
Road, Crow Canyon Road,
Norris Canyon Road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All had some climbing, all at night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some was nice, through towns, with street
lights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I say “some”, I mean almost
none.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The vast majority was out on
country roads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, Jason and I kept
pushing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were patient, took it easy,
and just kept cranking.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then it happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
light was dimming and going out, so he turned it off up one of the climbs and
we road side by side to save what battery it had left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned my light up to full power, which I
now know was a mistake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It went
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It shut off like, well, like a
light switch.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, I have to tell you about a bit of luck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I read somewhere that lots of riders used a
high powered light for full darkness, but for dawn and dusk they would use a
cheaper, weaker light that lasted much longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I almost didn’t put it on that morning, but at the last second I
figured, meh, I’ll pop it on and see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So,
I had my powerful, expensive, super nice light AND my old, cheap, AAA powered
light that lasted dozens of hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
sucked, but it gave us something to get through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His light fading fast, my light illuminating
a small circle of road in front of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>10ish miles to go.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We took a small break right before the last climb up Norris
Canyon Road, and while we chatted on the side of
the road, my Garmin Edge 500 finally died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well, it made it longer than it should have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was rated for 16 hours of battery life, it
made it over 18.5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, with under 6
miles to go, it was dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of our
electronics were failing us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, we were pretty much there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once we were over that last hill, it was a
short, straight, bomb down into San Ramon and back to the San Ramon
Marriott.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I couldn’t believe it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A ride I gave myself a 50/50 chance of completing before I started,
loosing 25 minutes to a botched road side repair, 15 more to helping another
rider with his chain, not being a strong climber, having my light go out on a
pitch black country road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the
problems I ran into seemed to be matched by some good luck, perseverance, the
will to finish at any cost, and a cat named Jason Mills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If it wasn’t for him, there is no way I would have finished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And vice versa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pushed each other, helped each other
through our bad luck and benefited from each others good luck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We pulled in to the San Ramon Marriott to finish the ride at
12:14am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was freezing, I was tired, everything
hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My legs were screaming at me, my
feet throbbed, my back hurt, my neck was sore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was cold in that way that feels like you will never defrost
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chilled to the bone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
None of that mattered, I felt like I floated down the hall
into the victory dinner room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lasagna.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Salad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And a big bottle of orange juice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think it was orange juice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Whatever it was, it tasted glorious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It tasted like success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was too
tired and sore to really realize what I had just been through, but I knew that
I had finished, and that is all that mattered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I did it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had made it all the way back.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now I know where my limit is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I know that I can push myself to that
next level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I’ll leave it here
for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, eventually, I’ll have
to push that point again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just how and with what, I don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some day I’ll have to figure that out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For now, my next ride is in 3 weeks on May 18<sup>th</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Davis
Double Century.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I finish it, I will
have completed my first <a href="http://www.caltriplecrown.com/">California
Triple Crown</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for the moment, I
will continue to relish my current success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And maybe go lay down again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I still hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All
over.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now for numbers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
Garmin died with about 6 miles to go, but I mapped those 6 miles into MapMyRide
to estimate what I missed and to get the full picture.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Numbers:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Garmin:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
201.4 Miles</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
19,153 feet climbing</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8,175 calories</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
18:36:37 total
time</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Garmin + MapMyRide:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
207.2 Miles</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
19,658 feet climbing</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
19:13:00 (have to
wait for organizers to release official finishing times)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Or, just view the whole <a href="http://app.strava.com/activities/51193814">Strava Report</a>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Time to go lay down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Erik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948579971974344539.post-39745493664145162382013-04-25T08:58:00.002-07:002013-04-25T09:01:47.079-07:00Fear<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span class="st"> "<em>Do one thing every day that scares you</em>." </span><br />
<br />
<span class="st"> </span><span class="st">Eleanor Roosevelt. Smart lady. </span><br />
<!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s been a long time since I was genuinely afraid of an
upcoming bike ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first time I road around <a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/5658427">Lake Tahoe</a>,
in 1997 or 1998, was one of them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had
never ridden more than 50 miles, and the Lake Tahoe ride
was 79 miles at 6,000+ feet elevation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Oh yeah, I did that on a mountain bike with mountain bike gearing,
knobby tires, the whole deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Took me almost
10 hours, but I finished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember
having 20 or so miles to go sitting in a carport at Harvey’s
Casino in Stateline hardly able to stand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I pushed through and made it back to the campsite, sat in a chair and
did not move for hours.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I really had no idea what I was doing that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember riding with baggy shorts, a tee
shirt, a regular backpack overloaded with water, way too much food, a change of
clothes, cold weather gear, I had everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For a 79 mile ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I brought an MRE
for lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tuna casserole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With pound cake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wow, the things I learned on that ride…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next was the first time I did <a href="http://www.aidslifecycle.org/">AIDS/Lifecycle</a> in 2009.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not so much for the miles, but just because I
didn’t know what to expect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was riding
in a 7 day tour alone, not knowing a single other person there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did get some great advice from friends that
had ridden the event before, and that helped a huge amount, so I made it
through that week surprisingly easily.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next was my first double century, last year’s <a href="http://planetultra.com/portfolio/solvang-double-century/">Solvang DC</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Again, I had no idea what to expect, and again, I was taking part
alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had upped my training the year
before and had a great year, so I wanted to stretch into that next distance
level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the time my long ride was 180
(<a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/5658375">2 laps around Lake Tahoe, with a kicker out to Truckeeand back</a>) but it would still be a looooong day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I knew that the weather was not going to cooperate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A15-20 mph headwind for 60+ miles on the
second half of the ride was going to be the death of me, I just knew it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, it was a long day, but I made it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fast forward to right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The <a href="http://www.quackcyclists.com/dmd.htm">Devil Mountain Double Century</a> is in two days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>206 miles with 21,000+ feet of climbing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The distance I have done, but that is more
than twice the amount I have climbed in one ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last year’s <a href="http://www.davisbikeclub.org/annual_events/organized_rides/davis_double_century">Davis Double Century</a> had 9,500+
feet of climbing over 202 miles, and my <a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/6542115">South San Jose to Santa Cruz ride</a> has around 9,000
over only 135 miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But 21,000?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the first time in a very long time, I am starting a ride
in which I don’t know if I will finish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
training has been great, I have been climbing better than I ever have the last
couple months, breaking old personal records on all kinds of local climbs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But seriously, 21,000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mt Diablo, Mt Hamilton, and Sierra
Road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve done everything in my power to be ready for this event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My training has been great, much smarter than
years past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have everything I
need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve done everything I can to
prepare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know what to do to get going,
and I am confident enough in my abilities and what they contribute on the ride
itself that I have some decisions I will make on the road, and I am OK with
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
I think I know what I’m doing, even though in reality I know I don’t.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, it’s time again to push myself beyond previous
limits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully in a few years I will
have other mind blowing distances that I will be preparing for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Distances that seem crazy and impossible now,
that will scare me when they get closer, but will all be part of the natural
evolution and development of an endurance cyclist.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After all, if you told me in 1997 after that 79 mile ride
around Lake Tahoe that felt like it damn near killed me, that I would be riding
in a 7 day, 545 mile bike tour that I now considered “easy”, not to mention multiple
double centuries per year, I would have said you are crazy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two days. In two days I will be on the bike, probably already suffering. And in for a LONG day. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can't wait!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
Erik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948579971974344539.post-30618545396272623322013-04-21T10:24:00.001-07:002013-04-21T10:24:57.221-07:00How Not To Draft A Stranger<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m shy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Certainly quite the introvert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To be perfectly honest, sometimes I find myself doing things the
hard way or going the long way around simply so that I don’t have to interact
with someone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, I will
put myself in more pain on bike rides by staying solo rather then asking
someone if it’s OK to take a draft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or
worse yet, when it comes time to pass, I will turn myself inside out to get a
bit of a distance ahead of them so they don’t tag along with me, “joining in”
on my ride.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve always been like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nothing wrong with it, I actually prefer it that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m happier sometimes by myself then with
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On my ride yesterday, as I was heading up Highway 9 between Los
Gatos and Saratoga,
I caught up to an older gentlemen on a really nice bike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t want to bother him, so I hung back
20 yards or so in order to not bother him and stay out of his draft.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After abut a mile and a half, I wanted to pick it up and get
going, so I accelerated, called out, “On your left!”, and made my pass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another mile or so up the road, I felt a hand
on my left shoulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It scared the crap
out of me since he didn’t call out and grabbed me with no warning, which damn
near put us both on the ground (no crash thanks to my bike handling skills from
my mountain bike roots), and yelled, “When someone is right behind you, it’s
not polite to empty your nose on them.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Before I could even think of a response he gave me a (probably friendly)
push forward and disappeared behind me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
OK, yes, I did it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
am the king of snot rockets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can hit a
sign post 10 feet off the road at 30 miles per hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I might send off a couple hundred on a single
ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gross habit?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Necessary? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fun?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Absolutely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it is my fault
that I did it without checking to make sure the coast was clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do the same thing when I moo at cows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always check to see if the coast is clear <i>after</i>
I have already made a fool of myself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
HOWEVER:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cyclists, if you are going to draft someone, especially a
stranger you don’t know, have never seen before, and will more than likely
never see again, it’s common courtesy to ask them if it’s OK to take a
draft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, at the very least, let them
know you’re there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a safety thing,
first off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will ride differently
knowing there is someone inches from my back tire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will ride more defensively, I will call out
road hazards, I will brake earlier, I will give more space around hazards and
obstacles knowing there is someone behind me that can’t see them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you don’t let me know you’re that close, do NOT assume I
will just know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moving at 25+ miles per
hour I can’t hear much else besides wind noise, and I don’t have eyes in the
back of my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to tell me if
you want me to know.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you don’t care whether I know you are there or not, you
don’t get to get mad when a snot rocket leaves my nose and sprays you in the
face. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Erik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948579971974344539.post-22035065652631915232013-04-04T12:19:00.000-07:002013-04-04T12:19:00.404-07:00AIDS/Lifecycle Fundraising Letter #6<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<h1 class="ha">
<span class="hP" id=":278" tabindex="-1">AIDS/Lifec<wbr></wbr>ycle Fundraisin<wbr></wbr>g Letter #6</span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.tofighthiv.org/goto/ErikDabel">Click
this link to donate!</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hey all, quick one today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am VERY close to my minimum fundraising goal of $3,000, and there is a
challenge the folks at <a href="http://www.aidslifecycle.org/">AIDS/Lifecycle</a>
are running this week:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Raise $500
between April 1<sup>st,</sup> and 11:59PM,
April 5<sup>th</sup>, and I get a pair of ALC12 socks!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I really need new socks…)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the moment, I have $275 more to raise and
I’m there!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course, my personal goal is still $5,000 by June 1<sup>st</sup>,
which gives me a little more than 8 weeks left to reach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only 8 weeks to go and I will be getting on
my bike with 2,500 other riders and 500 volunteers and riding from San
Francisco to Los Angeles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All in the name of doing what we can to
eliminate HIV/AIDS.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s where you come in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you have already donated, thank you so very much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have been waiting for the right time,
now would be one of them!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any amount
helps save lives, be it $5, $50, or $500.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anything you can spare goes directly to HIV/AIDS research, support,
education and awareness. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just click <a href="http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR?px=1306461&fr_id=1550&pg=personal">this
link</a> to go to my personal fundraising page, and from there click “Donate to
support Erik!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, better yet, forward
this message to anyone you think might be interested in this cause.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more people we can get the word out to,
the better!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Again, any amount you can spare would be greatly
appreciated, not only by folks that depend on it for their very survival, but
also every one of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether we realize
it or not, we are all effected by this pandemic, which is why we say, “We'll
keep riding until AIDS and HIV are a thing of the past!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thank you in advance for you support, however you choose to
do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Erik</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rider # 3492</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.tofighthiv.org/goto/ErikDabel">Click
this link to donate!</a></div>
Erik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948579971974344539.post-90766714071370238062013-04-01T11:30:00.002-07:002013-04-01T11:30:20.007-07:002013 Solvang Double Century<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/485955_10151384178494671_897001854_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/485955_10151384178494671_897001854_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Friday, March 22<sup>nd</sup>, I pulled into Solvang
early and got to see some great old friends, hang out in a neat little town, <a href="http://www.mortensensbakery.com/">eatwonderful pastries</a>, got horrible service and ate quite possibly the worst Mac
and Cheese I’ve ever had at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=e7HdLm58jiltuDU4KrgplQ">Firestone Walker Brewery</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then crashed early.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next day, Saturday, March 23<sup>rd</sup>, was the
<a href="http://app.strava.com/activities/45737029">Solvang Double Century</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had much less
training time and miles under my belt, so I was really unsure how it would all
turn out, but I did know one thing:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
weather was better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sunny in the 70’s
and 80’s, a strong wind going the right way this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was planning on beating my time from last
year by a bit, but I wasn’t sure how much.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I started a bit later, I figured since the wind and weather
was much better than last year, that I would do it a bit quicker, so I planned
on rolling out at 6:00 instead of last year’s 5:15.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, paranoid on being late to anything
like I am (damn musician’s mind) I set alarm clocks like crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A wake up call, six alarms on my phone and
four more on my tablet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eleven alarm
clocks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And when did I wake up?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Seven minutes before the first alarm went off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I was up and eating early, which is fine,
I told myself I would take my time getting ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently I didn’t listen to myself, because
I was ready to roll at 5:10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I chilled for a bit, got bored, and took
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My hotel (<a href="http://www.peasoupandersens.net/">Pea Soup Andersen’s</a>, I
highly recommend) was a bit less than a mile from the start line, so I headed
out, made some adjustments to my light and everything I was carrying, and went
through the timing gate at 5:37 AM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I started the ride about ten to fifteen minutes later than
last year, but my goal remained the same:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At all costs, no matter what, I would finish before the sun went
down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last year I didn’t, and that was
the worst part about the ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So this
year, I would be done before sundown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Goal set.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first leg, the first forty-ish miles, was great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bit of steady climbing, what I’m good at,
and long trains defined the start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got
into a good pace line early, and we cranked all the way to the first rest
stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were anywhere between five
and twenty people in it, and the bulk of the work was done by four or five
people, me being one of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was
fun, sitting at the front of a pace line cranking away, doing 25+ mph knowing I
was pulling people along with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fun
stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we pulled into the first
rest stop, one guy walked up to me and said, “I can’t believe how strong you
guys are!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s right, stroke the ego.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, I made my first mistake of the day soon after that
at rest stop one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Water/Hammer refill,
quick stretch, update Facebook, and out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>¼ mile down the road my body decided it had to pee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So I turned back knowing the next rest stop would be a couple hours
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The line for the Porta-Johns took
about 20 minutes, which really bit into my total time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lesson learned for next year.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After the first rest stop, I was riding solo for much of the
rest of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fine by me, that’s how
I train, so that’s how I’m comfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I spent much of the day spotting other riders up the road and seeing if
I could catch them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the time I
did, I only got passed a few times, which felt good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The legs were definitely on that day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Between the first rest stop and lunch (and a bit after), we
dealt with on and off headwinds, sometimes as strong as forcing me down onto
the aero bars and cranking as hard as I could to keep 10 mph.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once we hit lunch, it was crazy tailwinds all
the way to rest stop five.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At times I
was all by myself, no drafting, doing 30 mph in the flats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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After rest stop five we started getting to the hills heading
back into Solvang, but before we got to them we hit a private road that was not
maintained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, that’s not
true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It clearly was maintained, there
were piles of asphalt all over the place, I’m assuming to fill potholes and
cracks, but leaving the opposite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It felt
like cobbles, quite painful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I saw a
group of riders about ¼ to ½ mile ahead of me, and imagined myself as Tom
Boonen and started to kill it to catch them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I eventually did, right as we started to hit the hills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The hills towards the end of the Solvang Double Century are
SO MUCH easier in daylight!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was able
to push pretty hard climbing up, passing several people, and since I could
actually see, I was able to really open up on the descent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I rolled back through the timing gate at the <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.santaynezhotels.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Santa Ynez Valley Marriott</span></a> in Buellton at </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6:30 PM</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, at least a full hour before the sun went
down!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Goal achieved!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shaved a full hour and a half off last
year’s time, finished in daylight, and was back at my hotel, showered and
looking for dinner before night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Which of course was at the Pea Soup Andersen's restaurant. Couldn't come all the way down and not get some of that yummy soup! </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Overall, an incredible day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The legs felt great, I was still able to push quite a bit in the flats
and hills at the end, and my post ride soreness was nowhere near what it was
last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So overall, the <a href="http://app.strava.com/activities/45737029">2013 SolvangDouble Century</a> was quite a success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Numbers:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Start Time: 5:37:05 AM</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
End Time: 6:31:50 PM</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Total Time: 12:54:45</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Moving Time: 11:30:30</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Miles: 201.1</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Feet Climbed: 7,614 feet</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Calories: 7,184</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next year’s goal:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Close down that gap between total time and moving time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much of that was the Porta-John delay at rest
stop one, but I should be able to shave a bit off at every rest stop and finish
in under 12 hours total next year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>GOAL
SET.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A couple days later I signed up for the <a href="http://www.quackcyclists.com/dmd.htm">Devil MountainDouble</a>, a 200 mile ride on Saturday April 27<sup>th</sup>, starting and ending
in San Ramon, with around 20,000 feet of climbing, going over Mt Diablo, Mt
Hamilton, and at mile 150, Sierra Road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time
to work on the climbing legs!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And, as I write this, I got a confirmation email from the
good folks at Devil Mountain Double confirming my registration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I really, really, really, really, really, really, need to start working
on climbing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This ride is going to
hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>IAt this point, I honestly don’t know if I
will finish.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the challenge is part of the fun!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">-E </span></div>
Erik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948579971974344539.post-74349403763024056622013-03-19T09:40:00.003-07:002013-03-19T09:41:52.496-07:00Ready?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--> Today is Tuesday the 19<sup>th</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <a href="http://planetultra.com/portfolio/solvang-double-century/">Solvang Double Century</a>, my first event of
the year, is Saturday the 23<sup>rd</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Four days. Am I ready?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did my training
work?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess I’ll just have to find out
in four days.
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
I made some changes in my training
regimen this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last year, it was all
about miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get in as many miles as
possible, and when I’m done, get in even more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This time last year, I had 2,364 miles in, starting in late
November.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had several centuries, but
not much climbing, and I spent a lot of time riding through pain and
soreness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And weather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
This year I trained a bit
differently, the reasons for that below, but mainly what I read in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Cyclists-Training-Bible-Friel/dp/1934030201/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363710351&sr=8-1&keywords=the+cyclists+training+bible">The Cyclists Training Bible</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried to get smarter
miles in, rather then lots of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
worked more specifically on climbing, which is still my weak link, by a
bunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m 6’0” and 175 pounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just not built to climb, so it needs
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it will still get more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year’s to-date mileage:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1,595, starting in early/mid-December.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Far under last year, but I actually feel
better, stronger, and fresher. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only
thing that worries me is that I don’t have as many long distance rides in.
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
But not this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is taper week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I finish writing this, I will head out for
a 2.5 hour ride, mainly to test the work I just did on the rig, specifically to
check the chain I just bought and installed, the new cleats I just put on my
shoes, and to make sure everything else is in good working order, mechanically,
physically, and mentally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wednesday is an
off day, Thursday a 1 hour spin, and Friday a ½ hour neighborhood ride/stroll
before driving down to Solvang.
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are more specific changes I
made to this year’s training, and I’m looking forward to finding out which ones
work and which ones do not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here they
are:
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=36728&pvID=102389"></a></span></span></span><a href="https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=36728&pvID=102389"><span dir="LTR">Garmin Edge 500</span></a></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In September, I jumped in and bought a Garmin Edge 500,
replacing a then 14 year old cyclocomputer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I loved that thing, it was one of the first units to show altimeter
readings for not a crazy amount of money. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The new Garmin gave me crazy data, which did take me a while
to figure out how to benefit from, but what I have noticed is the importance of
a proper cadence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mine was inconsistent before,
since I relied on my musicians head to keep time as I pedaled. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Innacurate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now I have a MUCH better grasp on cadence, and that has helped me greatly
both on the long flats and in climbing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not to mention cranking for days into a headwind.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><a href="http://app.strava.com/athletes/577205"><span dir="LTR">Strava</span></a></li>
</ul>
Along with a new Garmin must come
Strava.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the past, I had several Excel
files to track ride records, climb stats and records, and several other
things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strava does it all for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And with Segments, I can tell how I stack up
to other folks (which I don’t really care about) and how specific rides, and
climbs stack up against myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
starting to see those records fall, just because I have a better way to record,
look at, and keep track of, my data.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>LOVE IT!
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Cyclists-Training-Bible-Friel/dp/1934030201/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363710351&sr=8-1&keywords=the+cyclists+training+bible"><span dir="LTR">Cyclists Training Bible</span></a></li>
</ul>
Every cyclist serious about taking
their training to the next level for events and races should get this
book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Granted, lots of it was over my
head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t train with a power meter,
and I don’t do regular races.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I did
learn a lot about training in general, and more specifically how to break down
my season to benefit the most from my training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Which is the main reason why my mileage is down this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s smarter, not longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll just have to wait and see how that
worked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span dir="LTR">Feet Fix</span></li>
</ul>
Last year’s <a href="http://www.davisbikeclub.org/annual_events/organized_rides/davis_double_century">Davis Double Century</a>
was one of the most painful events I have done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My feet literally ripped me off my bike and forced me to sit in a kiddiepool at a rest stop for ½ hour to cool them down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (Picture below) </span>So, into the shop I went, asked all kinds of
questions, and came out with <a href="http://www.specialized.com/us/en/ftr/shoes/equipsparepartsshoes/body-geometry-high-performance-footbeds">Specialized Foot Beds</a> and <a href="http://www.specialized.com/us/en/ftr/shoes/equipsparepartsshoes/body-geometry-shim-kit">Shim Kit</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I noticed a difference immediately, with much
less pain in every condition, and greatly reduced hot spots. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>We’ll see how they work over 200 miles, but I’m
betting they will alleviate a lot of issues.
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li> <a href="http://www.hammernutrition.com/"><span dir="LTR">Dialed in Nutrition</span></a></li>
</ul>
I’ll be honest, last year I still
didn’t have my Hammer Nutrition use dialed in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was drinking waaaay too much <a href="http://www.hammernutrition.com/products/perpetuem.pp.html?navcat=fuels-energy-drinks">Perpetuem</a>, and not enough just water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year, I have the Perpetuem dialed back a
bit, and I’m going to carry a bottle of just water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><span dir="LTR">New seatpost and handlebars</span></li>
</ul>
When I bought the rig, I was never
fully fitted to it, we just went through a rather quick one to get things like
saddle height, angle, and fore/aft, handlebar position, and stem angle. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I didn’t change anything else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The handlebars I replaced right away, but
still wasn’t completely satisfied with what I put on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, after many long months of researching and
searching, I found what I was looking for, and it is perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Same with the seatpost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really needed a zero-setback post, and now
I have one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, my bike is better fitted
to me now.
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, with all these changes, I
should, in theory, have a better, smarter season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will just have to wait and see how it all
pans out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stay tuned to find out
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-E</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9a1OD_S3fhVDib2td16ZQ2gWPX8utqAHC0qrYJfhX7oGFIWKIUHo8aLNu5UMG4rJ7abLzJS0fbUtdkah-o4tIuLriwSsfzknVn286-9jCi4qY3MZKz3xLRUm31GqUgA_KbfwdJsc/s1600/120519_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9a1OD_S3fhVDib2td16ZQ2gWPX8utqAHC0qrYJfhX7oGFIWKIUHo8aLNu5UMG4rJ7abLzJS0fbUtdkah-o4tIuLriwSsfzknVn286-9jCi4qY3MZKz3xLRUm31GqUgA_KbfwdJsc/s400/120519_001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Erik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948579971974344539.post-87675598818702223682013-02-25T10:58:00.003-08:002013-02-25T10:58:49.304-08:00AIDS/Lifecycle Fundraising Letter #5<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]-->Boring blog today: Just a copy of the fundraising email I sent out earlier. <br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dear friends,
family, and total strangers that want to make a difference:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hey all, I hope
you are doing well and staying healthy. I write yet again asking for your help.
I am trying to raise money for HIV/AIDS research, treatment, education and
awareness by taking part in <a href="http://www.aidslifecycle.org/">AIDS/Lifecycle
12</a>, a 7-day, 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco
to Los Angeles on June 2<sup>nd</sup>-8<sup>th</sup>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ride is under
14 weeks away, but, as we all know, this time of year those weeks start to fly
by. The minimum to take part in the ride is $3,000, and I am just over 2/3 of
the way there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I’m trying to
reach $5,000. I reached this goal the last time I rode this event two years
ago, and I would love to match that, or even pass it, if possible.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is where you
come in. Any amount helps, be it $5, $50, or $500. Any amount big or small will
help save lives right now. And remember, your donation is fully tax deductible.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR?px=1306461&fr_id=1550&pg=personal">Simply
click this link</a> (or the one at the bottom of this message) to go to my
personal ALC 12 homepage, and then click on “Donate to support Erik” which will
bring you to my personal donation page. It’s as easy as that! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you all ahead of time for whatever you
choose to do to help out!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Erik Dabel</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Rider # 3492</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR?px=1306461&fr_id=1550&pg=personal">Click
here to donate to ALC 12!</a></div>
Erik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948579971974344539.post-25087072652198499222013-02-18T10:40:00.002-08:002013-02-18T10:40:13.162-08:00Technology<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The past 6
months have seen the addition of several pieces of technology into my training
arsenal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before the book and “The Big Purchase” that
started it all, I used a few simple products that seemed to get the job done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I used <a href="http://www.bikejournal.com/">BikeJournal.com</a> to track
ride stats and <a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/">MapMyRide.com</a> to, well, map my rides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been using both of these for years,
BikeJournal to enter all kinds of ride data to compare and contrast later,
and MapMyRide to create maps, which I would then enter onto Facebook before
I left for each ride so folks would know where I am in case I didn’t
return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a rider such as myself who
almost always rides alone and has had some pretty bad crashes in the past, that
seems like a smart thing to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also,
off and on, used <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/">Livestrong.com</a> to track meals and eating habits, as well as
workout data.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That site gets much of the
credit for helping me go from 230 pounds to 160 in just under 2 years, and keeping
it off since then.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I have several Excel spreadsheets
keeping track of different stats ranging from specific ride and climb records,
month to month yearly stats, training plans (both yearly and short term for specific events), and parts use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One spreadsheet itself was dedicated to my
personal experience and reviews of all the different tires and tubes I’ve used
over the past few years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I'll admit it. I'm a stats geek.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
For a cyclocomputer, I used a
Cateye AT-100 that I bought in 1998 with my Specialized Stumpjumper FSR-XC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was one of the first cycling computers
that had all the regular data plus an altimeter giving you current altitude and
total altitude gain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I LOVED that thing! (The Stumpjumper, too!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
In 2012, I read “<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cyclists-Training-Bible-Joe-Friel/dp/1934030201">The Cyclist’s Training Bible</a>” by Joel Friel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That book changed the way I viewed
training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll admit, a lot of it was
well over my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have a power
meter, nor am I anywhere near affording one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I don’t train to race several times per year at Pro Level events,
and the events I do are not Criteriums, Triathlons, Time Trials, or Stage
Races.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are ultra endurance, long
distance events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there is much in
this book for every serious cyclist, and it doesn’t take much adjusting to
logically fit the information given into a training regimen for what I do. They do help you with that, forming a training regimen to fit your specific needs and desires. It's a VERY good book for an serious cyclist, just know that it is very advanced, almost as if it is oriented more towards the coach than the rider.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
On September 4<sup>th</sup>, 2012, I decided to take
the plunge and bought a <a href="https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=36728&ra=true">Garmin Edge 500</a>, replacing my then 14 year old Cateye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That little computer changed everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was overwhelmed by how much data it would
collect, I spent days setting it up to show what I wanted and to figure out how
I wanted the different pages of screens to be arranged.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Of course, when you buy a Garmin,
you pretty much have to get onto <a href="http://www.strava.com/">Strava.com</a> as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, as soon as I had my Garmin in my hands, I
went on Strava and got started, replacing BikeJournal as my
primary source for data input.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
immediately fell in love with all it had to offer, and I ran with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love that it’s more social oriented, and
the achievements and segments are a lot of fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And the sheer amount of information it will give you linked with a
source like my Garmin Edge 500 is immense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, fortunately, not overwhelming. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Then, through <a href="http://www.trainingbible.com/">TrainingBible.com</a>, the website associated with "Cyclist's Training Bible", I stumbled on
<a href="http://home.trainingpeaks.com/">TrainingPeaks.com</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is a powerful training site. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want to get serious about your training
and health, take a look at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been
using it for about two weeks now, and it will record your training data (I
upload mine straight from the Garmin) as well as meal and food data, giving you
daily, weekly, or monthly wrap-ups on workout and food information.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
It can be expensive for some folks,
at $20 for 1 month, or $120 for a full year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m still using the free version, which gives you quite a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For someone that loves data and stats like
me, you can geek out on it all day long.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
So, this year, I’m experimenting
with the training program I formed for myself after reading the book, linked with
my Garmin Edge 500 for data gathering, Strava.com for social data collection,
TrainingPeaks.com for detailed training data gathering, and a solid, logical,
and smart training program. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll find
out just how much training smarter with a detailed plan works out!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Now if only they would invent a
piece of technology that would make riding in the wet and rain not suck…<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
My personal pages:<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.strava.com/athletes/577205">My Strava Page</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/profile/603072/">My MapMyRide Page</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.trainingpeaks.com/ui/public/profile.aspx?p=ErikDabel">My TrainingPeaks Page</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Erik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948579971974344539.post-78293916460934230292013-02-15T09:43:00.002-08:002013-02-15T09:43:35.518-08:00One More Day Off<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I’ll be
taking one more day off from training today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Certainly not what I wanted out of a strong Winter/Spring training
program, but I guess it is what it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And what it is, is this:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013, so
far, kinda sucks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I had a
decent December, not great by any means, but better than years past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nearly 300 miles, starting on December 2<sup>nd</sup>,
was maybe not as much as I wanted, but still more than I had averaged the last
few years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it was smarter…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would have been a good start for Base Work.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And then
came January.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 1<sup>st</sup> half of
the month was a good mix of bad timing, lots of rain on days I should have
ridden, stuff like that, with some really great training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt like I was getting some great early
season hills work, and my climbing legs where really coming along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Then those timing issues got
interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Between work, helping
family, and myself catching the evil flu going around this year, training has
been placed on the back burner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did
try to ride when I thought I was better, but then I learned the lesson of,
“It’s better to take more time off and make sure you are completely recovered
and well, rather than rush in and delay recovery.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure I should be better now, but since I
rode twice earlier this week, the sickness came back with force, and I’m still
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Tomorrow will mark two weeks since
my last serious training ride, not counting the two short spinning rides a few
days ago.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
So, here I sit, bored, listening to
The Cure on iTunes, drinking copious amounts of tea, and longing to be out
enjoying the nice weather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to
keep telling myself, “No, it’s not going to happen today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just stop dreaming.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Tomorrow, hopefully, training can
resume.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With exactly five weeks to go
before the Solvang Double Century.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
should get interesting…</div>
Erik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948579971974344539.post-41796316952505193702012-11-29T13:35:00.000-08:002012-11-29T13:35:20.120-08:00AIDS/Lifecycle 12 Fundraising Letter #2<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.tofighthiv.org/goto/ErikDabel">http://www.tofighthiv.org/goto/ErikDabel</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hey there,
I hope your Holiday weekend went well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know mine did, I must have read for 15
hours, at least.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stephen King, wordy
writer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
There is another holiday coming up,
one that does not get nearly as much media attention and love as Thanksgiving,
Black Friday, or even Cyber Monday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
Saturday, December 1<sup>st</sup>, is World AIDS Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There isn’t a better time to show your
support to help end this global killer than now by donating to a great cause, <a href="http://www.aidslifecycle.org/">AIDS/Lifecycle</a>.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Long story short, on June 2<sup>nd</sup>-8<sup>th</sup>, 2013,
I will be riding my bike, with 2,500 other riders and 500 volunteer support
staff, 545 miles over 7 days from The Cow Palace in San
Francisco to The Vet Center in Los
Angeles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
goal is to raise money for HIV/AIDS research, support, education and
awareness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My personal goal is to raise
$5,000 by June, $1,500 of that before December 31<sup>st</sup>.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That’s
where you come in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your donation is tax
deductible, so for those of you looking for an end of the year charity to donate
to, this is a great one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any amount
works, $5, $50, or $500.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somewhere,
someone will benefit significantly from your generosity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ever dollar counts, every dollar directly
saves lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both to folks living with
HIV/AIDS now, and those who might contract it in the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There is
also an incentive for donors:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
commemorate World AIDS Day, donate at least $125 dollars by December 1<sup>st</sup>
and receive a free commemorative World AIDS Day magnet!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Donating is
simple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just <a href="http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR?px=1306461&fr_id=1550&pg=personal">click
this link</a>, also located at the top and bottom of this message, to go to my
personal donation page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From there,
click on “Donate to Support Erik” to make your donation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From that page, if you so desire, you can
also download a <a href="http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TRGiftForm?form=SFAF.OfflineDonForm.1550&fr_id=1550&px=1306461&JServSessionIdr004=2n80eotz26.app205b">mail
in order form</a> to fill out to donate by mail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Again,
thank you all so much in advance for any support you can show for this
wonderful cause!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And please, pass this
message on to anyone who might be interested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The more people we get involved, the better!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Thank you!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Erik
Dabel</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Rider
#3492</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.tofighthiv.org/goto/ErikDabel">http://www.tofighthiv.org/goto/ErikDabel</a></div>
Erik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948579971974344539.post-72773929470961010032012-05-24T13:38:00.002-07:002012-05-24T13:40:07.656-07:00Davis Double Century<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, the
Davis Double is in the books. Some good
parts, some bad parts, some things I’ve learned that I need to improve or
simply totally change, and some things I will just have to put up with. Let’s start with numbers:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
208.1 miles (4.5 bonus miles, I’ll get to that)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
15:11:07 total
time, 12:45:04 time on bike</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9,560 feet climbed</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9,972 calories used</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Leg #2 of my California Triple Crown in the books</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The night
before, check in was at a park in Davis, right next to the US Cycling Hall of
Fame. I got to say hello to a couple of old school heroes, folks that got me not just interested, but head over heals addicted to, the sport of cycling. Here's Ned Overend, one of the best of all time. Now at 57 years old, he still schools young folks in off road endurance races.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUoJyMmPK7i1oOkfy7rK8Qgm2e3RGEATtcwUTqNrz1cycmzowEPoAVSY_FIeOfb_gfiSg37eyffsg5H_Vv3VQG6NvtsF2ps6BwuS_b7PBunKKVo9udfqJlY9V32BqcVMuJjeMhUA/s1600/IMG_0459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUoJyMmPK7i1oOkfy7rK8Qgm2e3RGEATtcwUTqNrz1cycmzowEPoAVSY_FIeOfb_gfiSg37eyffsg5H_Vv3VQG6NvtsF2ps6BwuS_b7PBunKKVo9udfqJlY9V32BqcVMuJjeMhUA/s400/IMG_0459.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I elected to pay for an
all-you-can-eat pasta feed at the Cycling HOF, and I did. While I was eating and people watching at the
park, I overheard some folks talking to the owner of a tandem that was parked
right outside the building. Apparently,
this guy was going to ride the Davis Double on a tandem with his 12 year old
daughter. I thought that was awesome,
and then he said this year would be their 3<sup>rd</sup> year! She was more of a grizzled vet than I was!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
As he was talking to folks, she was
off running around like any 12 year old would, running on the grass, exploring
the jungle gym, and doing cartwheels.
All of this in cycling cleats, you could hear the usual
click-click-click as she did cartwheels.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But she was
all about it. She had her whole set up
on the back side of her dad’s tandem, and she was a vet. She knew it all. Awesome.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next
morning, the ride started off great. I
was rolling out from the start just after 5:30,
and I forced myself into a long, relaxed warm up. It felt great, even in the cold. The beginning of the ride was on long, flat,
straight roads, so I took it easy knowing it would be a LONG day. </div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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I started to feel like I wanted to pick it
up, so I made the decision to hook onto the next tandem that passed.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tandems are
interesting on these kinds of rides, especially in the flats. I could feel like I’m cranking out a great
tempo, absolutely flying, and a tandem can suddenly appear on my left, passing
me 5-10 mph faster, with anywhere between 5 and 50 riders drafting behind it. So, they say the best way to do a double is
to find a tandem and hook right on. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before long
I get passed by a tandem in that early morning cold, and when the train already
drafting it finally passes me, I hook on.
I’m maybe number 25 or 30 on the train, and we’re doing 25-30 mph. A little fast for me, I had to struggle to
hold on at times and that may have effected me later when I got to the
mountains, but it was still fun!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then we
reached Cobb Mountain. I was not expecting that. 2000 feet of elevation gain in about 6
miles. They said the grade doesn’t get
much more that 8%, but I don’t believe them.
It had to get up to 10-12%, upwards of 15% in some spots. For 6 miles.
Did I mention it was A) miles 96-104, and B) already well over 90
degrees? Someone said it was between 95 and 97. Yeah, Cobb
Mountain hurt.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next came
the descent, which is my forte. I pass folks, but also got
passed some climbing, and in the flats, because I ride solo and at my own
pace. Descending, it’s game on. I don’t get passed descending. I didn’t get passed descending all day at the Davis Double, or earlier this year at the Solvang Double. I
would have to think about the last time I did get passed. Maybe not yet this year. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think I
frustrated some folks as well, they would work and work and work to catch and
pass me going up, and once over the top I would catch, pass, and have a ¼ mile
gap by the bottom of a small hill. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is
also where I may or may not have made a large mistake. I passed a group descending, came around a
corner and saw a sign pointing to a right turn.
I had seen these particular signs several times pointing the same
direction my cue sheet told me to go, so I made a split second decision,
signaled right and went for it. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Two guys followed. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
About two miles down that road,
without seeing anyone else in any direction, I started second guessing myself
and my decision to turn. So I told the
other guys I didn’t think this was right, and we went back and sure enough, it
was a wrong turn. I’m glad I noticed and
was able to catch one of the guys that had passed me, the second guy was still with me. That would have been bad. I felt horrible, so I tried to convince
myself that I at least partially redeemed myself from the wrong turn by also
figuring it out and minimizing our losses.
I don’t think the other two guys were all that stoked.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After Cobb
Mountain the rest of the day was a
game in ignoring, and dealing with, pain.
Everything hurt. I probably overate
at lunch, so that didn’t help. My back
hurt, my right side felt like I pulled a muscle and would scream at me every
time I breathed in, my legs where al dente, my neck hurt, my shoulders hurt, and my
feet hurt so bad that later I would have to stop a few times to rest them.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then came
Resurrection. 900 feet up in about 5
miles. But it was consistent and not as
steep over all as Cobb. This was my kind
of climb. Get in a groove, get a good
song in the head, sit and spin. Even at
mile 136 it wasn’t too bad. I could even push my groove some. And before I
knew it I was at the top and ready to kill another descent.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The rest of
the day was a game of trying to relax and stay comfortable, keep my cadence up,
and deal with excruciating pain. The
pain in my feet, in particular my left foot, got so bad at times I simply couldn't pedal. I would un-clip, stretch it,
bend it, point it, clip back in a keep going.
It’s all I could do.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, at
this point the route was following Cache Creek.
It looked amazing. Cold, clear,
beautiful water. For about 20+ miles I
watched the creek on my right and thought about stopping. I kept looking for a good spot to pull over
and dunk my feet and head, hoping in the process to see others who where doing
the same thing. Never did….</div>
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<br /></div>
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HOWEVER… I got to the next rest stop in Guinda at
their little fire station, and what do I see?
KIDDIE POOLS! Two of them, full
of cold water and surrounded by chairs, many of which where already occupied by
barefoot riders talking about the same thoughts I had: Of stopping to dunk feet
and head in Cache Creek.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I did this for about 20 minutes while Facebooking. </div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1RCAeLahSQZltRABTZ2idL2ohZ8hWS440AU4Hilu4xpc-5AqcQIvCIgExlYNNmZhjPeTXUdM_-2A83E4cufLAZdCuHWgnR0Iz5xQEB6GkFocT4J3I397OE3npbMiJAfdmvKr33k/s1600/120519_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1RCAeLahSQZltRABTZ2idL2ohZ8hWS440AU4Hilu4xpc-5AqcQIvCIgExlYNNmZhjPeTXUdM_-2A83E4cufLAZdCuHWgnR0Iz5xQEB6GkFocT4J3I397OE3npbMiJAfdmvKr33k/s400/120519_001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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A few more
miles and we were out of the hills, back on the long, flat, straight roads of
the central valley farmlands. 40 miles
to go, and I was feeling pretty done. A
bit heat exhaustion, probably some dehydration, cramping feet, a left foot that
screamed every pedal stroke, a right rib that did the same on every breath, legs
that felt weaker then the spaghetti I had for dinner the night before. They were well beyond al dente at this point. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I would
keep pushing. I hooked on to a few trains
passing here and there to draft and get a short respite from the wind, but I’m more
of a solo rider, so after a few miles I would tail off, get comfy on my aero bars, (In my head I call them my La-Z-Boy) and regain my
rhythm. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then I
saw it. Just a simple little sign, but
it was enough to lift the spirits and keep them high and happy all the way
in. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1d3rqxrNdGbdeokVPTcp9M_nBgL8mQRiQO5mwLDpVE5CvkfqRjAhTM0WH2wg_96qhrrsYW6KCquFJEETJFaO5WxN1dc9L6OnaJAcuUDvc6acH2LMlewPB2KHn-l3he7zVs0yq5k/s1600/IMG_0467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1d3rqxrNdGbdeokVPTcp9M_nBgL8mQRiQO5mwLDpVE5CvkfqRjAhTM0WH2wg_96qhrrsYW6KCquFJEETJFaO5WxN1dc9L6OnaJAcuUDvc6acH2LMlewPB2KHn-l3he7zVs0yq5k/s400/IMG_0467.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All in all,
the Davis Double was pretty amazing.
Some of the roads absolutely sucked, like they had not been paved in 30
years. Some were awesome. The scenery was amazing, and I actually like
riding in the heat, so that was fine.
And, now that I know what to expect, if I plan to do it next year, I’ll
have a much better and easier time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ll just
make sure not to try to draft the fastest tandem train of the day in the first
25 miles. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few notes:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I need inserts for my cycling
shoes. That pain is not something I can
deal with again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I need a new seatpost so I can move
my saddle forward and alleviate some stress on my sides and back, as well as my
knees.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I need to trust my hydration and
food schedules. No more sandwiches for
lunch. Fruit only. Hammer to do the rest. That turkey sammich hurt…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Don’t hook onto the first train
that flies past. Wait for one my speed.</div>
<br />
<br />
Now all I need to do is figure out what will be my third Triple Crown ride. It's looking more and more like it will have to be a climbing double, so I guess it's about time to hit the mountains and start training!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Erik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948579971974344539.post-3260873073314751782012-05-02T14:45:00.001-07:002012-05-02T14:45:26.167-07:00Todays' Rant: Earphones<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>-Sorry if this offends any of you.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
/start rant</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I regularly ride on the <a href="http://www.sjparks.org/Trails/LosAlamitos/LosAlamitos.asp">Los Alamitos Creek Trail</a> in Almaden
for a short time, under 2 miles, between Camden Avenue
and <a href="http://www.sjparks.org/regional/almadenlake.asp">Almaden Lake</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s either that or ride on Almaden
Expressway, which I am not a fan of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am so sick and tired of seeing every other person on
multi-use trails with headphones stuffed into not one, but both, ears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s a very good reason <a href="http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc27400.htm">this is illegal</a>
while driving (or cycling, yes it is) on the road, and I am a strict believer
that it should also be illegal for all users on multi-use and
wilderness trails as well.<br />
<br />
It’s not just that these folks have both ears plugged, taking them away from
the scenery and beauty of simply being outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are responsible ways to use them, i.e. having a bud
in one ear, so the other can keep track of outside sounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see many people doing this. Great. Even having them turned way down but in each ear doesn’t
really work, since not only is there music, albeit soft, but both ears
are plugged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even with the music off, having
something in each ear still blocks sound, creating a dangerous situation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On a track or at the gym, fine, there is little to no danger
of being passed by folks moving at much higher speeds, and for the most part
everyone is going the same direction and there aren’t line-of-sight problems or
issues.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My pet peeves about these damned things lie in the
irresponsible ways many people use them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Parents/Pet owners:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span></span>People with
headphones in both ears with children or pets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see this quite
regularly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when I see it, I am
dumbfounded every time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
unbelievable how irresponsible and dangerous that is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you're out walking your pet, or out for a
walk with small children, you are in charge of their safety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can you possibly do that without being
able to hear past your own earlobe?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kids, and obviously, animals, don’t understand the rules or dangers of
using a multi-use trail, so it's the job of the adult with them to pay extra
attention to what's going on, where other users are passing in either direction, and
what their kids are doing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For this very reason, I once had to bunny-hop a poodle,
because the owner didn’t hear me call out, and the dog darted out in front of
me just as I passed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span><b>Sudden Mergers: </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span>If you're going to make a lane change on the road in your car, you would look first, yeah? At least to make sure there isn't a car right there? So many folks out on these trails randomly pull into the left lane with no warning, without looking, no signal, no glance back, or forward for that matter, they just suddenly go for it. For whatever reason, to pass someone slower, to look at a flower or stream out to the left, whatever. My favorites are the people with headphones stuffed in that merge into the passing lane <i>after I have called out</i> "On your left", and then get mad at me at the ensuing near collision. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span>Or simply people that can't walk a straight line. Wandering all around the trail, left to right, back to left, over to center, suddenly stopping, then going again in who-knows-what direction. Of course, with their ears full. Um, wow.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Roadhogs:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wearing earphones
and walking down the middle of the trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Really?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you assuming you're
the only person out here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That no one
could possibly be going faster and thusly might want to pass?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are reasons there are signs posted at
every trail entrance that talk about STAYING TO THE RIGHT!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been stuck behind these people as well,
with bushes overgrown on both sides and some jerk walking down the middle of
the path with music blasting in both ears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I yell, more than once, “On your left!” and “TRAIL!” but it does
nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally I pass very slowly on
their left, squeezing between them and nature, and after scaring the piss out
of them, they give me an angry glare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
few times they even say something. Like it was my fault they were blocking the entire trail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The Oblivious:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Having ear buds/phones turned
up so damn loud the listener can’t hear anything outside of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I yell “On your left!” as loud as I can, and
sometimes people don’t hear me, even after a second or third calling, and are startled when I pass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several times the person has been so startled
after not hearing me call out that they stumble or jump, endangering themselves
as well as me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I can actually hear
your music through your ear buds as I pass you, they are WAY too high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To all these people I now have a ritual. Whenever I call out and
then pass someone with headphones in who is then startled or says something to
that effect as I pass, as soon as I am in front of them, I sit up, take both
hands off the bars, and imitate me taking something out of both ears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overdramatic, overacted, and exaggerated, of
course. Maybe eventually they’ll get the message.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably not.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Today's Examples:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hell, just today in the 1.5ish miles I'm actually on the
trail, I saw 3 people, all with buds in both ears, walking down the center of
the path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right along the dotted yellow
line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2 of them heard me, although one of
them I startled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The third person did
not, even after I called out a louder, closer second time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He jumped as I passed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then there was the two cyclists, riding together, each with
buds in both ears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Riding with someone else and you still have to have your ears full?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had to call out to them 3 times and one of
them still didn't hear, as they rode side by side taking the whole trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I had to sneak up next to them, and <i>then </i>they finally let me pass.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then there was the group of moms pushing strollers coming straight at me from the other direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OK, they didn’t have buds or earphones in at
all, but they were taking up the <i>entire </i>trail, side to side, three wide, all the while
making eye contact with me as I rolled towards them, never budging an inch to give me
room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To the dirt I went. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And how about the runner running the wrong direction?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The signs say all users need to stay right
for a reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not like it mattered, she
had buds in both ears, and even going the opposite direction and running
straight toward me in the same lane, I don’t think she saw me until the last second
when she looked up from the ground for some random reason. And no, she still didn't bother to move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes, people amaze me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m surprised I haven’t hit someone yet.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>(Yet, cause I missed that poodle)</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
/end rant</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Erik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948579971974344539.post-18716395009978657122012-04-05T10:41:00.006-07:002012-04-05T11:04:42.502-07:00GoalsGoals.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They’re like dreams that you have to work for.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> M</span>ore accurately for me, it' putting just the <span style="font-style: italic;">idea </span>of a challenge into the head of someone with a bit of OCD.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It would be like saying to an alcoholic, “Hey, I bet you can’t drink 12 beers at the party tonight.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Challenge accepted.<br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"> Two weeks ago I rode the <a href="http://www.planetultra.com/solvang/index.html">Solvang Double Century</a>, my very first organized double.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>OK, OK, my first double ever, boosting my 1 day record for miles from 180.6 to 203.3.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Good numbers.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Now, my time on the Solvang Double wasn’t great, but it was my first ride, so I took it easy in some spots, and was patient and relaxed at the 5 rest stops.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My total time was 14:25:31, which was nearly 1.5 hours longer than my goal of 13 hours.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There are good reasons for that, it was extremely windy that day, and on these distances, that can mean having a headwind blowing in our faces for 80+ miles.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Which we did.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They say the winds were 20+mph sustained, with gusts to 30-35.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was the worst wind they have had on the Solvang Double in many years, some said.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> So, I’m not too surprised that my time was on the low side, since I spent hours out there struggling to keep my speed over 12, and at some times found myself cranking full out and cruising at just over 8.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In the end, I figured it was a good thing I train so much in the wind down in South County.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A LOT of people sagged and got a ride back after rest stop 5, some even after 4.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was a tough day all around.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Of course, people were doing whatever they could to keep spirits up. I over heard a guy with a thick German (?) accent who was standing next to his fixie at Rest Stop 4 getting ready to head back out say, "Yeah, it's time to head out and help pull people through this wind. It all feels the same on the fixie, headwind, tailwind, uphill, downhill, it's all the same old shit. It all sucks." Everyone around laughed as we realized just how shitty it would be for us all very soon.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> It was just a tough day.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was the first 100 miles that I did in just under 5:15:00 that saved my day.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Hot damn that first half felt great.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> And I won’t even get into my bonus miles.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I stopped to read my que sheet (directions) at a turn with about 10-15 miles to go, when I rider passed me who said, “You’re going the right way, trust me, I used to live here.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Famous last words.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He did know the roads, so we did get back into town, but it added about 3-4 miles to our total. Also more hills. Glad I like climbing...</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> That being said, my total ride time was 12:26:14.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So, I lost about 2 hours in a combination of rest stops, an early stop to help a tandem fix a broken chain, and a couple other short pauses. In the end, even with the wind, I managed to keep my moving average at 16.3 mph for the day.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> So, the next double I’m signed up for is the <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2834675591?utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=new_eventv2&utm_term=eventurl_text">Davis Double Century</a> on May 19<sup>th</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Solvang and Davis Doubles were the two I really wanted to do first in order to get into this part of the sport, since I’m a huge fan of both towns, and have heard great things about both rides.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> So, my goal for Davis is as follows:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If the wind isn’t a killer the day of the ride, I’d like to beat 12 hours.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That’s the lofty goal.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Screw 13.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If I’m going to make a goal, I’m at least going to make one I have to work for.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My mild OCD will take care of the rest.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> If it’s windy, well, we’ll just have to see what happens.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Now for the fun part of training.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I took last week off to chill and relax, and then I ended up taking this week off as well.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Next week I’ll be in Hawaii with the STHS Band.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Which means I will have had 3 weeks off, and then 5 weeks to train for the Davis Double.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Hopefully that should work out just fine, if the weather can be nice enough to cooperate.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Knock on wood.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><br /><br />In the hotel getting ready to head out.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJV7LVmtsY_uGQXBqyJDFmm2BXJIKZYxPAMw-kSMA2fyyTNB18v_kTA4XPmbHNLMB7PWtAccSqs1BJnuv1ok7AFd_6PDDekXcs2mM6HEFIdf3PXRXpNxDRDKS2ZJjhMyAdsa1PeZg/s1600/IMG_0010+s.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJV7LVmtsY_uGQXBqyJDFmm2BXJIKZYxPAMw-kSMA2fyyTNB18v_kTA4XPmbHNLMB7PWtAccSqs1BJnuv1ok7AFd_6PDDekXcs2mM6HEFIdf3PXRXpNxDRDKS2ZJjhMyAdsa1PeZg/s400/IMG_0010+s.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727974845645083202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Rest Stop 4, 10+ miles into the crazy wind.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ceQxNMPCw8EDipYiNzmAhjea9-ITqBs5-dvgYCr-Mi7RK85XKN6DaWv6Fi2zwGEWpzluQ5-vYrcUDe1-A1DMOvZ3QfNr6vNaZQs9CQ4X9rvHDQlC2BSMH85YdSmnxD9kbFuqPvM/s1600/IMG_0012+s.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ceQxNMPCw8EDipYiNzmAhjea9-ITqBs5-dvgYCr-Mi7RK85XKN6DaWv6Fi2zwGEWpzluQ5-vYrcUDe1-A1DMOvZ3QfNr6vNaZQs9CQ4X9rvHDQlC2BSMH85YdSmnxD9kbFuqPvM/s400/IMG_0012+s.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727974852197492530" border="0" /></a>Erik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948579971974344539.post-80390076999251129122012-02-28T15:22:00.004-08:002012-02-28T15:42:23.049-08:00Training Plan Curiosity<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif][if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif][if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Oh, the things that run through my head during long rides. Welcome to the thought of the day. (One of the many)</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">When I teach private music lessons, one of the first things I work on is setting the student up with a good practice technique and a consistent practice schedule.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Without those two things, never practicing and practicing 10-12 hours a day will give the same result.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You can’t just have a regular practice routine, you have to have good practice technique, and vise versa.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Without both of those things present, you’re just spinning your wheels.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(waka waka)</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>The same thing goes for training for an event.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I feel like in the past I have had a good training technique, but not always a consistent training schedule.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So, this year I’m trying something different.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Granted, I’m also training for something different. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Seeing how far and how long I will be pushing myself for these events, I’ll need some help on the training front.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So, for the first time, I downloaded a basic 16 week training plan for riding your first double century.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>It’s just a day by day schedule that gives you a certain mileage to aim for, and a weekly total for each of the 16 weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s definitely not a modern training program, and if I really wanted to get everything out of myself and my body that I can, I would hire a human trainer, or pay big bucks for training software.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And get a human trainer.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You can’t beat real, human feedback.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>But I wanted to keep things simple.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(Also I’m cheap)<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So, I found and downloaded this little free 16 week training schedule, entered the date of my first event, the <a href="http://www.planetultra.com/solvang/index.html">Solvang Double Century</a>, and realized I was, at the time, already on week 3.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Time to get cracking.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Now, it seemed to be set up for non-distance riders that are unfamiliar with and have not attempted long distances in the past.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That’s not me; I did a 180 mile ride last August in under 12.5 hours.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But, I still wanted to try going the structured way, just to see how it worked.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After all, I tell every one of my students these very things, I might as well try some of my own medicine.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>I’m currently in week 13, and things seem to be going pretty well.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Sure, I missed part of week 5 due to weather and nearly all of week 6 due to sickness.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Rain again took out most of week 8.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So, sometimes I missed my daily/weekly mileage goals, but other weeks I went over.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(Definitely more under then over, I’ll admit)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>All of that being sad, when I first started on this program, I told myself I didn’t need to ride everyday.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That this plan would be an encouragement, a helpful, albeit silent, plan, prodding from the depths of my computer, pushing me by forcing me to think about how my real miles add up to those on paper.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My mild OCD certainly helped.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>And now that I look back on all the riding I have done up to this point, with 4 weeks still remaining, it has been incredibly effective.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Even with viewing the whole thing as loose encouragement, and that missing rides or days don’t really matter.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After all, no one is paying me to ride, it’s not a living, just a hobby of mine.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A self-possessing, time-swallowing, all-encompassing hobby of mine.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Nothing really depends on me completing all these miles and training rides.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’m not letting a team down, or in danger of failing to meet a goal.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Or worse yet a paycheck or someone else’s goal.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>So, with that loose of a grip on this whole training program, with an attitude of, “It’s OK to miss, to not ride” but still having a schedule to follow in general, I compared my fitness and the amount of miles and hours riding I have completed this year compared to last.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> 2011 through February:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>733.9 miles in 52:08:48, 16.1mph, 36,170 feet altitude gain</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> 2012 through February:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>1,508.7 miles in 88:23:14, 17.18mph, 63,460 feet altitude gain.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>It’s amazing what a loose, partially ignored plan can do for you.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> Now if I can just figure out how to like riding in the cold...</span><br /><span style=""></span></p>Erik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948579971974344539.post-11917165130927926762012-02-13T11:10:00.000-08:002012-02-13T12:29:05.345-08:00Venting<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif][if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif][if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>OK, I’m going to complain a little bit.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s raining, so here I sit a little grumpy.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Sorry ahead of time.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Yesterday’s bike ride was incredible.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>One of the better rides of the year so far.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My legs felt great, I was able to push hard all day.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Everything seemed to be falling into place.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I caught, passed, and demolished a pack of 15 riders, leaving only 2 that could keep up with me by the time we hit Gilroy, and my turn off.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Even my flat tire at the beginning of the ride rewarded me with a quick trip over to <a href="http://www.conceptfitstudio.com/">Concept Cyclery</a> in Morgan Hill for the use of their floor pump to top off, which gave me time to drool over new fun <a href="http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCProduct.jsp?spid=61548&scid=1101&scname=Road">bikes </a>and <a href="http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=64393">bike </a><a href="http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=64474">parts</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Geek.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Yes.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Yet, despite all of that, one little thing can throw off all my good juju.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Cars passing too close and unsafely, or simply not understanding how to act and drive safely around cyclists or other slower moving vehicles.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Is it really that hard?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It seems like some folks out there are so self-centered, so caught up in the own heads, that they can’t be inconvenienced to budge even the tiniest bit, and that putting someone else’s life in danger is a better option that simply moving over the tiniest bit to pass, or waiting until it is safe to do so.</p><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>So, for anyone out there that may not realize how dangerous it can be, here are some tips:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">1.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Hearing</b>:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Some cyclists actually like it when you honk as you come up behind them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Even though it may seem like a rude thing to do, it can save a life.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Here’s why:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Get going 20 miles per hour in your car and stick your head out the window.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Now tell me if you can hear the car behind you.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Or your passenger 3 feet away, for that matter.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That’s how loud wind noise can be.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So yeah, a lot of the time we actually <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">don’t</i> hear you, and when a car suddenly appears next to us going 20-40 mph faster, it can be frightening.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Yes, I can hear your Harley, and I can usually hear larger trucks.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But smaller cars, Hybrids especially, are silent as they approach me.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Yet another reason cyclists should NEVER wear ear phones.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(See previous <a href="http://erikanthonydabel.blogspot.com/2012/01/safety-first-or-luck-be-lady.html">blog post</a>)</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">2.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Passing</b>:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When passing a cyclist, or pedestrian, equestrian, skateboarder, rollerblader, or any other “slow moving vehicle”, give them some room.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s not that hard.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You don’t have to cross all the way over into oncoming traffic.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The vast majority of the time, simply feeling the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botts%27_dots">Botts’ Dots</a> under you left tires is more than enough, especially for drivers of smaller cars.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the Sate of California, according to <a href="http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LocalPrograms/lam/prog_p/p11stand.pdf">Chapter 11</a> of the <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><a href="http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LocalPrograms/lam/lapm.htm">Local Assistance Procedures Manual</a>, which “</span>describes the various procedures required to process Federal and State funded local transportation projects”,<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> </span>the minimum lane width is 10 feet on low traffic country and city roads, and 12 feet on higher traffic versions.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That means if I am on the white line, and you put your left tires on the Botts’ Dots, or better yet onto the center stripe, there is more than enough room for both of us, and everyone is happy!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And if there isn’t enough room for me to safely ride to right of, or even on, the white line and I have to take part of the lane, it is your job to move over enough to safely pass.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">For example:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My car, a 1993 Ford Ranger pickup, is slightly over 6 feet wide at it’s widest point, mirror to mirror.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(6’3”)<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That means if I ride the Bott’s Dots to pass a cyclist on the white line, there is slightly under 4 feet of leeway.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Plenty of room.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If I don’t, if I drive down the center of the road, there is under 3 feet, or even less.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That just isn’t safe enough to justify.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s really not that hard to move over that 1-2 feet, so why do so many drivers insist on not doing so?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">3.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">When NOT to pass</b>:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I can’t count the number of times I’ve been out on a country road, and a car or truck coming up behind me decides to NOT wait for oncoming traffic to pass by before overtaking me.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That makes a three-wide scenario on a two lane road.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Now, granted, if both cars in this scenario are small (say, Prius sized) it can work.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But I have had several experiences where BOTH vehicles are pickup trucks or larger, which means with 10 foot wide lanes, there is less than a foot from a multi ton vehicle traveling at twice my speed to my elbow.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now, imagine this:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>How much time would you realistically loose if you were to slow down just a bit, let the oncoming car pass, and then proceed by the cyclist safely?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A few seconds?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>10-20 at the most?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">4.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">3 foot rule</b>:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Some states have initiated a “<a href="http://www.3footrule.com/">3 foot rule</a>”, meaning it is illegal to pass any slower moving vehicle if you cannot give a minimum of 3 feet of space between you and them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Cyclists, pedestrians, equestrians, motorized bikes, slower cars, everything.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If you can’t give them 3 feet, you have to wait until you can.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>California tried to pass this, but it was <a href="http://www.cyclelicio.us/2011/brown-veto-3-foot-law/">defeated</a> <span style="mso-spacerun:yes">for a questionable reason. </span>Hopefully some day it will pass, but for now, I’ll follow it anyway, and I ask that others do so as well.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s not hard, and does not inconvenience you in the slightest, especially compared to the safety and lives of other road users.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">5.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Sight</b>:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Cyclists (and all those slow moving vehicles) can see things better than a motorist can.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So as you pull up to that cyclist that is not to the right of the white line, or is making strange movements, there might be reasons for those that you cannot see.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Yes, that cyclist could also be new, or drunk, or just dumb.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Or, they could be seeing things in the road that you cannot see. Things like glass, rocks, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/philly_bike_coalition/5402023090/">debris</a>, <a href="http://bikinginla.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/0-imperial-highway-bike-lane.jpg">piles of dirt</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/breathingplanet/2864681097/">plants growing over</a> the bike lane, <a href="http://orange20bikes.com/2011/12/99-only/">potholes or cracks in the road</a>, <a href="http://www.velodramatic.com/images/trash-2.jpg">some assholes trash</a>, <a href="http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/11/bicoastal-garbage-disposal-practices/">trashcans</a>, <a href="http://www.stevestenzel.com/photos4/mary26.jpg">roadkill</a>, live animals ranging from <a href="http://free-extras.com/images/cute_squirrel-486.htm">cute little squirrels</a> that could dart out and get <a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/6/76039319_f5e81e4f93.jpg">sucked up</a> in to your front tire sending you over the bars to <a href="http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-photo/lstoneham/1/1242759180/mountain-lion-crossing.jpg/tpod.html">Oh-crap-a-mountain-lion</a>, <a href="http://bikeportland.org/photos/photo/4908836144/construction-blocking-bike-lane-on-williams-1.html">road construction signs</a> in the middle of the bike lane, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOv2Qx1cgJ-j53JX9wLssUzWSnRAe3171yu1HR0khf4vjH9lqIipspaHhNlbwv4uHysiAruH9KPKLd72HsSd11VNKq0kwMr6B13BuUpu3BhDax-KRCp61tN9RCFp5rLBaBg0M4F_FQWo/s1600/bike_lane.jpg">bike lane signs</a> in the middle of the bike lane (seriously...), <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/brightblightcafe/2178474746/">idiots in general</a>, or a <a href="http://antranik.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/improperly-designed-bike-lane.jpg">plethora </a>of other things.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You might be surprised at the <a href="http://definitiveink.typepad.com/definitiveink/2010/09/now-look-whos-blocking-bike-lanes-gothamist.html">things I’ve seen</a> in bike lanes over the years.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">There is a reason many cyclists call the bike lane the danger zone, or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Door_zone">door zone</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It takes a very small amount of trust to say, “That cyclist is not in the bike lane, maybe there’s a reason for that I can’t see.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I should try to be safe while passing”.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">6.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Where cyclists must actually ride</b>:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I can’t count the number of times I’ve been told that I need to be riding at all times “to the right of the white line” or “in the bike lane” or “on the sidewalk”.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>All of these are incorrect.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The <a href="http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21654.htm">California Vehicle Code Section 21654</a> clearly states:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >“any vehicle proceeding upon a highway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time shall be driven in the right-hand lane for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand edge or curb, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>“…as close as practicable”.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>All those things I mentioned seeing in the bike lane?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They make that lane not “practicable”.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Which means if we are not to the right of the white line there’s a reason for it. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Many times the motorist cannot see or be made aware of that reason.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So, please, for the safety of all of us out on the roads, just trust that we are riding where we are for a reason.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Yes, a lot of times cyclists are acting like they own the road by riding multiple wide, taking the full lane when they don’t need to, or simply riding like jerks and not allowing cars to pass.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I really do wish cops would ticket unsafe cyclists more often.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After all, we follow the same rules and regulations set forth for motorists. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That would be the <a href="http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/vc.htm">California Vehicle Code</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>But not all of us are those jerks.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Some of us are actually very adamant about safe riding.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So PLEASE, in the future, for all of our safety and sanity, don’t treat every cyclist like the jerks you have seen in the past, and in turn we cyclists will not treat you like the motorist jerks we have all experienced in the past.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikdabel/6267001070/in/set-72157627253778101">Thanks!</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikdabel/6267001070/in/set-72157627253778101"><br /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>-E</p>Erik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948579971974344539.post-22726508115553057222012-01-31T09:56:00.000-08:002012-01-31T10:55:06.986-08:00RootsPeople often ask me what I think about while riding. Well, the answer depends on the ride, or even the particular part of the ride at any given moment. <br /><br /> During long, tricky, technical descents, there are only two things on my mind. 1: ohmygawd, this is TOTALLY RAD. 2: What do I need to do to not die? Really, that’s about it. You don’t have time for much else.<br /><br /> Much the opposite, when climbing, especially those long, seemingly never ending climbs, my mind races between telling my body things like, “Keep pedaling!” “Keep spinning!” “Cadence!” “Spin to win!!” (with more potty mouth and violent statements directed towards myself, of course) mixed with trying to keep the right song stuck in my head. Which is always an adventure. No matter what songs I listen to while I get ready to ride, it’s always something else that pops in there when the pain actually starts. For example, on yesterdays ride, even after listening to great jams like "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-Q43RLJcvA">Hoosier Love</a>", "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hcyzb9xGqvM">Ten in 2010</a>", <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7BUvmIshKQ">Miss Alissa</a>, "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXrkUmurptY">Indians</a>" and “<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnWgsPqNi9k">Aloha Means Goodbye</a>”, the 3 songs I remember actually popping into the noodle were “<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmcA9LIIXWw&ob=av3e">Karma Chameleon</a>”, “<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwBbMXYDsXw">Footloose</a>”, and a plethura of Sousa Marches. WTF?<br /><br /> I can’t count the number of times I’ve been climbing and all of a sudden burst out (yes, out loud) with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63nMcrwporQ">The Bumble Bee Tuna Song</a>. You in the know, you know.<br /><br /> On a side note, I have the same problem with belting out song lyrics that I do with seeing cows. I moo at them <span style="font-style: italic;">before </span>I look around to make sure I’m actually alone. Yes, that has caused me a couple of possibly embarrassing moments in my past. A couple as in several. Several as in nearly every ride. Good thing I don’t mind looking like a complete dork while riding!<br /><br /> Now, the flats are a different world. Those long, never ending, straight, flat roads that take you to the mountains. Or not. This is where your mind can really start to wander. It’s nice to imagine songs, or even run stories through your head in between running through your cycling checklist. But in reality, your mind just floats around from subject to subject, like a kid with ADD at the County Fair. <br /><br /> These subjects can run anywhere from fantasies of your own future, to rehashing memories of your past, to conversations or arguments from earlier in the day or week.<br /><br /> Well, there are a lot of long, flat roads between South San Jose and the beginning of the climb up to Gilroy Hot Springs, so a couple days ago I had a lot of thinking to do. For some reason, I wondered how I got addicted to this long distance, endurance cycling thing in the first place, and my brain flashed back to my first foray into long distance.<br /><br /> Of course, it wasn’t really long distance at all; today I would consider this ride in particular a short, flat, spinning recovery ride. But back then, it was epic. Legendary. Heroic. Larger than life. <br /><br /> It was somewhere between ‘92 and ‘94. I don’t remember, but I do remember a few details. The bike was a Specialized Hard Rock. This was before every mountain bike came with suspension, even front shocks. That sort of thing was only for the extreme high end rigs, and this was not. This was my first transition bike from the BMX bikes of my childhood to the mountain and road bikes of adulthood. So, no shocks, front or rear. Which, on this ride, on this day, helped.<br /><br /> I don’t know why we decided to do this, but a good friend and I decided to go on a ride. It was winter, so it was a bit cold and looked like it might rain. So, I put on hiking boots, jeans, a baseball hat under my helmet, and a flannel shirt over my tee shirt, and we set out.<br /><br /> The idea was to ride from my house in South San Jose to Morgan Hill and back. I think we even had a goal in Morgan Hill, some certain shop or restaurant. Thinking back on it, it was probably <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/sno-white-drive-in-morgan-hill">Sno White’s Drive In</a>. Remember that place? Me too. Sweet.<br /><br /> Anyway, that was the plan. We filled up our water bottles with Coke and set off. I don’t remember much about heading south towards Morgan Hill, it must have been pretty uneventful. I do remember heading back home. That was the day I figured out that the wind in Coyote Valley is strong and consistent, to say the least. And more often than not, it’s going North to South. Or, more accurately, North-West to South-East. Which set up a perfect headwind for the entire way home. <br /><br /> But that wasn’t enough. Right as we set off from Morgan Hill, the rain came. And stayed. The entire ride home was a constant pelting of wind and rain. It was like getting punched in the face, not over and over, but continuously, for nearly an hour. We took turns drafting on one another, but it didn’t do much good. The poor choice of clothing pretty much stole every amount of hope and promise I had for ever reaching home again. If you’ve ever been stuck in a downpour for 30-45 minutes wearing jeans and a flannel shirt you know what I mean. They soak up water and hold it better than anything I can think of. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppKajMQVO8k">Vince Shlomi</a> could have made some money.<br /><br /> So, after what seemed like an eternity, we FINALLY arrived in my driveway. We were so soaked and covered in road grit and grime that my mom would not allow us into the house. My friend took off for home, he lived down the street, and I changed in the garage and went in to shower.<br /><br /> During that time sitting in the shower slowly but surely defrosting and recovering from this epic(ly stupid) event, I got to think about what I had just been through. It was frightening. It was the most excruciatingly painful, exhausting, grueling, agonizing thing I had ever put myself through. At times it was depressing, even heartbreaking. It seemed like all hope had vanished. Every pedal stroke felt like the end of the world, like it would be the last one I would ever turn over.<br /><br /> And I learned at that moment that I loved every bit of it. <br /><br />And for nearly the last 20 years, I’ve been stretching that pain out for longer and longer. I’ve replaced the jeans and flannel for lycra and racing jerseys. I replaced the hiking boots with carbon fiber soled cycling shoes. I’ve replaced the Specialized Hard Rock with a RockHopper Comp, then a StumpJumper FSR XC, then a Performance R-101 (my first road bike), and now a Specialized Tarmac SL3. I’ve replaced the water bottles of Coke with bottles of Hammer Nutrition. <br /><br /> But I haven't replaced the search for epic, painful, exhausting rides. I learned that day not only how to push myself so far beyond the point of painful exhaustion that dying is an option in order to reach a goal, but also that I loved every second of it.<br /><br /> And now that I have this down, it’s time for a ride!Erik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948579971974344539.post-18227610077702082482012-01-20T12:44:00.000-08:002012-01-20T13:15:17.776-08:00Safety First! Or, Luck Be A LadyThere’s a woman I often see around my neighborhood at the beginning or end of my bike rides. Other than a few mind boggling nuances, she is just a normal cyclist out for a ride. She has nearly all the gear, good shoes, cycling clothing, the right bike, nearly everything one would need to be successful in this activity.<br /><br /> But.<br /><br /> Ignoring her cadence, which turns at about 30-40 rpm, (uber slow) which in itself is not at all annoying, just a little odd, there are a few other aspects about her riding style that annoy the living hell out of me. <br /><br /> Let’s start with what she isn’t wearing. Aside from having all the right cycling gear, she lacks a helmet. I have NEVER seen her wear one, and I see her regularly, and have for several years. There’s no law saying you have to wear a helmet if you’re over 18, per <a href="http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21212.htm">California Vehicle Code Section 21212</a>. But seriously, anyone who rides on the street, specifically on streets as busy as Santa Teresa Blvd, has got to be pretty dumb to not use one. OK, maybe ignorant, but still.<br /><br /> Match the non-use of a helmet with my next quip about her and, well, you’ll get the point. She rides slow. With that ultra-slow cadence, you’re not going to gain much speed. No problem with that, that’s not my quip. She rides at the far left hand side of the bike lane, which makes passing her extremely difficult and dangerous, since I have to enter a lane of traffic to get around her. But she just keeps chugging along, oblivious to anyone else who might be out there.<br /><br /> Now for the best part: Once I do get passed, if a light ahead of me changes and I have to stop, she rolls through the red light, passing me. Granted, I do see her look both ways, but she usually doesn’t even touch the brakes and rolls right on through. Now, one complaint I have is that now I have to try to get around her again, but my other complaint is much more important.<br /><br /> Riders that ride like this don’t just make it dangerous for themselves. They make it dangerous for ALL of us. I can’t count the number of times I have been yelled at, honked at, received amusing gestures, buzzed (passed by a car at a very high rate of speed inches from my left elbow), cut off at the last second on purpose, or even the few thrilling times when objects have been hurled at me from automobiles. For having done nothing but ride down the street.<br /><br /> What are motorists' biggest complaints about cyclists? A quick innerwebs search, mixed with over 20 years of cycling experience, tells me these include cyclists that run red lights and stop signs, and riders that ride in the lane, or two or more abreast, making passing difficult. When cyclists do this, it doesn’t just endanger themselves. It gives motorists that see them doing these things a “here we go again, yet another cyclist that’s too good for the rules of the road” attitude. They then think this same statement the next time they see a cyclist, whether or not that cyclist is actually guilty of that infraction. <br /><br /> Because of this, when I ride, many drivers see me as, “just another one of those asshole cyclists that run red lights and stop signs, and are always in my way.” I know they do, they let me know all the time, between arguments in person or online, or out on the road shouting at me out of their car windows. And guess what? It’s DIRECTLY the fault of the many riders out there that ignore these rules and regulations.<br /><br /> Now for the best part, Are you ready? I can’t tell her about what she is doing, or how it endangers me. Hell, I can’t even call out to pass her when she's hugging the left corner of the bike lane, blocking anyone else from passing safely. Why? Headphones. Ear buds. Ear plugs. In both ears. I call out anyway, but she doesn’t hear. I know she doesn’t because no matter how loud I call out, “ON YOUR LEFT!” she is still startled and surprised when I pass her. Sometimes to the point of nearly crashing. Here’s my viewpoint:<br /><br /> 1. Ear phones/buds/plugs are illegal. In the state of California, as stated in <a href="http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21200.htm">Vehicle Code Section 21200</a>, “A person riding a bicycle… has all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this division…” Going on, <a href="http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc27400.htm">Vehicle Code Section 27400</a> states, “No person operating any vehicle, including a bicycle shall wear any headset covering, or any earplugs in, both ears.” Pretty plain and simple, yeah?<br /><br /> 2. They are just plain unsafe. VERY unsafe. As a cyclist, our ears are our second lifeline, right behind our eyes. If we block that sense, we make our every day average bike ride infinitely more dangerous. We NEED to hear what we can’t see, be it a car coming up behind us or honking at us, another cyclist trying to pass or get our attention for something, or the sirens of emergency vehicles. It’s bad enough seeing the amount of folks on multi-purpose trails with plugs in both ears. But on a busy major road? Really? <br /><br /> Just take them out. Enjoy the outdoors, or ride inside. <br /><br /> I see this lady all the time. At least once a week, for several years. Always the same. Chugging along at a snails pace due to the ultra low cadence, no helmet, ear buds in both ears, running stop lights and stop signs. Granted, she’s not the only one. There are lots of cyclists out there that ignore the rules, making the lives of those of us that don’t that much harder, but she is the one I see most often. Completing the tri-fecta of douche-baggie cyclist stereotypes. And when I hear or read stories of the stereotypical cyclist scofflaw, I always think of her first.<br /><br /> I just wish motorists would think of her, and others like her, and not all cyclists. Because most of us out there <a href="http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/bicycleriding.html">try very hard</a> to not have to tangle with multi-ton automobiles carrying angry, road-raged drivers. The vast majority of us really are <a href="http://www.bikelink.com/law_safety.htm">safe riders</a>. <br /><br /> Perception is a bitch.<br /><br /><br />Added: Expect another blog later on the importance of helmet laws, earphone laws, and other rules of the road followed by both cyclists and motorists.Erik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948579971974344539.post-55996129842231720712012-01-09T21:19:00.000-08:002012-01-09T21:21:24.196-08:00Baby You’re A Rich ManGoals. Life would be so much easier without them. Just cruise through and take what comes as it does. No planning ahead, no working towards an end purpose. No last minute scrambling to meet a particularly lofty goal set at a particularly lofty point in life. <br /><br /> However, life would be pretty boring without goals. Never pushing yourself past your current potential, never realizing just what really is possible, all the while settling for the mediocre, the mundane, the humdrum, the routine. <br /><br /> 99% of what we do day to day is just that. Survival. Wading through the bog that is life alongside everyone else. But that extra 1%, that little bit that gives you that excitement, that thrill, that hyper-sensitive feeling of accomplishment. That is what really matters. That is what defines us.<br /><br /> Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Do something every day that scares you.” That phrase was used again in the “Wear Sunscreen” speech, written by Mary Schmich and published in the Chicago Tribune, remixed by Baz Luhrmann, and often mistaken for Kurt Vonnegut. Pretty much everything that piece inspires and encourages me, but that one phrase sticks out a little more then the rest.<br /><br /> So here I sit, 9:09 PM, The Beatles’ “Baby You’re A Rich Man” playing on the iTunes, thinking about what I can do tomorrow that scares me. 80 miles isn’t an extremely long ride for me any more, even in January with the colder weather, the wind in the valley, the shorter days, and the winter legs. Last year there is no way I could ride 80 miles on January 10th. <br /><br /> “Do something every day that scares you.” <br /><br /> My goals this year are as lofty as they have ever been. Last year was the first year I topped 5,000 total miles, and reached triple metric (near) miles logged in a single ride with 180.6 around Lake Tahoe in late July. <br /><br /> This year? 6,213.71 miles. Or, 10,000 kilometers. Seems a bit lofty, yes, as it took three years with 5K as a goal to finally hit it. But, that’s not the part that scares me. That would be the California Triple Crown. I barely passed 180 in a ride last year and my new goal is to pass 200 three times. Three times. Not once, not twice, but thrice. Three. 3. <br /><br /> This should be interesting.<br /><br /> Let’s see how this 1% turns out.Erik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948579971974344539.post-36715499090747485052011-06-03T09:45:00.000-07:002011-06-03T09:46:22.946-07:00ALC 10 Pre-Ride Thank YouALC 10 Pre-Ride Thank You<br /><br /> Hey everyone! First things first: The final count, as of right now, of my personal fundraising efforts: $5,235. A new record for me, I’ve never broken the $5K barrier before. So thank you! Of course, donations are still being accepted, so that number could still go up. I had to reach the minimum by tomorrow, June 4th, in order to take part in the event, which I did months ago (because you people ROCK!) but donations usually continue to trickle in throughout the ride. <br /><br /> And that means, yes, I will be climbing “Quadbuster” not once, not twice, but thrice! Woooohoooooo!!!<br /><br /> That being said, in two days time from right now, I’ll be well on my way to Santa Cruz from The Cow Palace in San Francisco on Day 1 of AIDS/Lifecycle 10. It’s amazing how time flies, it seems like just the other day I was arriving in Los Angeles after ALC 9, sitting in my hotel room with my mind jumping back and forth from the collection of William Faulkner short stories I was trying (unsuccessfully) to read, to still trying to process the 7 days I had just been through, to thinking to the future on fundraising and training for ALC 10.<br /><br /> Well, here I am. The floor of my room is covered with bits and pieces that need to eventually get packed into my backpacking pack, and I still have a large list of things to do before that can happen. (The last training ride, a short 20 mile recovery ride, being at the top of that list!) <br /><br /> I do want to take this time to thank each one of you for your help. I’ll be honest. I didn’t originally do this ride two years ago because I was personally affected by HIV/AIDS, or because I had friends affected, or living, with it. Or so I thought. It’s amazing what one can learn when one opens their mind and consciousness to lifestyles and cultures different from their own. I did it because as a cyclist, I wanted to ride down the coast, and to do that with this type of support would be amazing. And I was right! <br /><br /> But since then, having done this ride twice before already, it has taken on a different meaning and purpose. You learn a lot out there on ALC. You learn about people, you learn about friendship, camaraderie, and heart. And you learn a lot about yourself. So now I do this ride for a different purpose. Not only to raise money for research, prevention and education surrounding HIV/AIDS, but more importantly to raise awareness and spread knowledge about this global killer. The more we know, the better we can protect ourselves and future generations from a very frightening current reality, and the more willing we are to help those already suffering from it.<br /><br /> So, thank you all for the support you have shown. Whether you contributed to help fight HIV/AIDS, or to support me in my quest, or simply for the tax deduction. Whatever your purpose, I thank you for it, from the bottom of my heart. And not just for monetary support. Money is important, it makes the world go round; but sometimes knowledge, hope, faith, and simple words of encouragement are more important in the greater scheme of things. (I would say those things are ALWAYS more important then money, but that’s me…)<br /><br /> And like I already mentioned, the biggest goal here, in my view at least, is awareness. So to all of you how have shown support in whatever way you have chosen, be it a donation, words of encouragement, or passing on and forwarding my endless fundraising emails and messages, or even simple word of mouth gossiping. You have all done a great thing, and I cannot thank you enough! <br /><br /> Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you THANK YOU!!!!<br /><br /> Stay tuned for online ride updates (see below) and another wrap-up email complete with tons of pictures and stories in the weeks following ALC 10.<br /><br /> Erik A. Dabel<br /> <br /><br /> Now for some helpful information: I will be updating periodically throughout the week on my Facebook and Twitter accounts. If you haven’t already, look me up on either. <br /><br /> Facebook: If you’re on Facebook and are not yet friends with me, just search for Erik Dabel. You can’t miss me. However, add me before Saturday night, as I won’t be able to confirm once I start the ride. <br /><br /> Twitter: If you’re on Twitter, I’m under @ErikDabel. Follow me. Simple.<br /><br /> The good folks at ALC also do their own updates, although they can be hard to find and I don’t think they are even up until the event starts. From the ALC homepage, find the link that says something along the lines of “Experience the Event”. There should be blogs, daily updates, rider and fan posts, and pictures posted each day.<br /><br /> Enjoy!<br /><br /> Once again, thank you for all that you have done. I couldn’t do this without you, and more importantly, you are doing your part to make the world a better place. Thank you!Erik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948579971974344539.post-13108626887880143202010-10-03T15:04:00.000-07:002010-10-03T15:05:43.433-07:00AIDS/Lifecycle 10 Kickoff LetterHey everyone! Hope all of your summers have gone well!<br /><br />Well, here we are again. I am signed up for AIDS Lifecycle yet again, the 560 mile, 7 day bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles, taking place June 6th – 12th, 2011. It is a fully supported, organized, massive event with nearly 3000 riders and over 500 volunteers.<br /><br />However this year seems to be a little different. This is the 10th anniversary of AIDS/Lifecycle, and because of that they are saying it’s going to be huge, with lots of press, lots of attention, and lots of riders and workers!<br /><br />Just as before, my goal is to raise $3000 for the fight against AIDS. This money will go to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, which in turn uses the money to fund research, prevention, education and awareness for HIV/AIDS. Last year we raised over $10 Million dollars for this cause, and this year looks to raise even more!<br /><br />This is very important right now, since AIDS programs are continually facing massive cuts due to the economy. I know we are all feeling the pinch, but for some folks out there, those cuts versus getting the funding they need is a direct life-versus-death predicament.<br /><br />So, please join me this year in donating money to a great cause that directly saves the lives of people already living with this global killer, as well as those who are in danger of contracting it in the future. (Basically, all of us) Simply click on the link, which will bring you to my homepage for this event, and click on “Donate to Support Erik”. Anything you can spare would be greatly appreciated.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.tofighthiv.org/goto/ErikDabel">My personal ALC 10 donation page</a><br /><br /><br />Last year, I added the challenge of an additional climb up the fabled “Quadbuster” for each $1K I raised over the minimum. I ended up riding “Quadbuster” twice, the best part of which was riding back down and watching the masses climbing up the hill, the never-ending line of cyclists all putting themselves through a little pain for a good cause. And, of course, the odd looks as they noticed one of their own riding back down the hill for another go at it.<br /><br />This year, however, I would like to do it differently. My goal is to have to ride it 5 or 6 times. That is all up to you, my beloved donors. So, forward this to anyone who may (or may not) be interested, and help me inflict some serious pain for a great cause!!<br /><br />Thank you all in advance, for whatever support you can give, whether it is monetary, or the forwarding of this (and future) emails, or even the occasional thumbs up. It all means something in the end! Thanks!<br /><br />Erik<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.tofighthiv.org/goto/ErikDabel">My personal ALC 10 donation page</a>Erik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948579971974344539.post-6556370211487817862010-08-20T13:02:00.000-07:002010-08-20T13:04:25.422-07:00AIDS/Lifecycle 9 Recap and Thank YousFirst off, here is the link to the pictures I took on the ride:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikdabel/sets/72157624283412194/"></a><br />http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikdabel/sets/72157624283412194<br /><br /> Hello everyone. I wanted to start just by saying thank you so very much to all of you for your generosity and help. Lots of folks out there benefit a great deal from your donations, and I know they appreciate it a great deal. It’s going to take everyone, not only those affected by it directly, or those living with it, to finally kill AIDS/HIV once and for all. So, thank you for helping me do my little part to chip in.<br /><br /> In the end, you all helped me raise $4,475 for the San Francisco AIDS foundation. Which, of course, meant that I climbed “Quadbuster” an additional time. Looking back on it, the 1st or 2nd climbs were not what I remembered about that day. It was flying down the hill back to the start of the climb to do it again, and watching the steady, hard-packed line of cyclists suffering up the hill looking back at me flying down it, like I was crazy. Maybe so, maybe so. And yes, I’ll be doing the same thing next year!<br /><br /> Altogether, the nearly 2,000 riders raised $10 million to help fight the AIDS pandemic. Our numbers were lower, both in participants and in the total money raised, due probably to the economy, but we did have an important stat: We raised more per person then any ALC ride in the past! So thank you!<br /><br /> Now for the ride itself:<br /> <br /> There were parts of this year that were easier than last year, mostly simply because I had done it before, but also some things that were harder. I had a friend ride with me (you kicked butt, Eric!), and several people came out and visited, (thanks Anna, Rob and Michelle!) and I knew several people from last year right from the start, so I wasn’t as bored this time around. The weather was also more helpful. We didn’t get any rain, and a couple of days it actually got pretty warm. The Starbucks in Paso Robles was filled to the brim with riders and roadies escaping the heat. That day was especially tough since the camp site where the tents go was not grass like in years past, but now hard pack ground up cement, like a parking lot. And with the temperatures well over 90 that day, everyone was looking for an escape. <br /><br /> I also experienced quite possibly one of the hardest things I have ever had to endure on a bicycle. Going from lunch in Solvang to camp in Lompoc, we were told we would have “a bit of a headwind”, with “gusts up to 15 to 20 miles per hour.” Yeah, no. How about sustained winds at 20-25 miles per hour, with “gusts” up to 30 – 40? All directly into our faces, for about 25 miles. There was a rider who was an Iron Man finisher and ultra-marathoner, who said that 25 mile section was the hardest, most painful thing he has ever done. Which made sense, since I remember being down on my aero bars, practically laying down to stay out of the wind, pedaling as hard as I possibly could, doing about 10-12 miles per hour, DOWNHILL. I laugh about it now, I spent most of that day screaming and yelling at anything that would listen, then looking around embarrassed if anyone was within earshot…<br /><br /><br /> I did run into some flat tire trouble this year. I guess I used up my luck last year, not having a single flat, because this year I had several. A couple out on the road, and one right before closing ceremonies. I came back to my bike for the Mass Ride-In to the Closing Ceremonies, and I had a flat. I fixed it with my last patch, having already used my last spare tube, and pumped it up and it blew again. So, I missed the ride in. I did walk part of the way with the rest of the riders, then turned away and watched from the back entrance of the stadium as everyone else rode in and went through the Closing Ceremonies process. So it was nice to see it from a distance, and it was definitely easy to get out afterwards. <br /><br /> Aside from the flats, and the headwind on day 5, and the heat in Paso Robles, everything else went rather smoothly. Just like last year, it’s simply amazing how nice everyone is out there. It really is like a perfect little society for seven days. Everyone is nice, courteous, helpful, thankful, friendly. I saw ultra-fit riders pushing and helping slower riders up hills. I saw people forgo showers and food to sit at the camp entrance at the end of the day to cheer in later riders. I saw nonstop assistance in the tent area setting up tents and camps. For those seven days, I don’t think I saw a single frown or negative attitude. Aside from that headwind, of course.<br /><br /> I guess in the end it’s something I can’t explain with words. You literally just have to experience it to believe it. It’s like nothing else. <br /><br /> So, of course, while waiting for Closing Ceremonies, I signed up for AIDS/Lifecycle 10, running June 5th to June 11th, 2011. Which is the 10th anniversary of the ride, so it will be a big one. I can’t wait!<br /><br />So, expect more emails in the coming weeks as I begin my fundraising adventure yet again.<br /><br />Again, thank you all so very, very much for your help, in all the ways you do it. You not only enabled me to take the ride of my life with the most amazing people out there, as well as the support of angels in the form of our roadies, but you also saved lives in the process! So again, from the bottom of my heart thank you. Thank you thank you thank you thank you!<br /><br /><br /><br />Now who’s riding with me next year???<br /><br /> Erik A. DabelErik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948579971974344539.post-52130658914594309952010-02-19T12:27:00.000-08:002010-02-19T12:29:04.723-08:00James Lick Observatory, 2-17-10I like to go up to the Observatory a few times per year. Usually it’s on the bike, in a painful and epic, full day, 6,000 feet of climbing scorcher. But sometimes it’s also nice to drive and be able to chill up there a little longer. After all, it’s a 45 minute drive, translated to the bike it’s nearly 2 hours of pedaling just up Mt Hamilton. Of course, I have to do things the hard way, starting from home and going first over Silver Creek Road, then over Quimby Road, then meeting Mt Hamilton Road about 1/3 of the way up and climbing the last 11 miles to the top of the world. Well, the top of the South Bay, which is pretty much the world, right? Right? So to drive up there means I have more time and energy to walk around and really see everything, or at least more of it.<br /><br /> Anyway, the other day turned out a little different. My regular schedule going up there is pretty simple. Check out the visitor’s center, look at the artwork, wander the gift shop, and take the tour, then head up the road to the other public area, the 120 Inch Shane Reflector. Sit down in there for a while, look at the info posters, watch the video.<br /><br /> Well, as I was watching the video, a guy came in and asked if we wanted to see the inside. I probably looked like I had just won the lottery. I have always had kind of a hidden love for sciences especially Earth sciences like Astronomy, so to see the inside of one of the most advanced, as well as famous, domes on the planet was pretty awesome. <br /> So, he brought us in the employee only door, and the mini tour started. We started out on the control room, a small room with several computers, and he explained what each station did, and who worked where. The remote station, where you can control and use the telescope from anywhere in the world, the laser station that controls the Adaptive Optics/Laser Guide Star Program, and the various control stations around. We left that room and walked around the main room with the telescope in it, and he explained a lot of the things they do, how they do it, and some of the equipment they use. The multiple types of lenses they can switch in and out, the laser system riding side saddle to the main telescope used for sort of cheating the atmosphere that normally interferes with light traveling here, the computer systems, the pros and cons of all these things. I won’t get technical, if you want that, go to the website:<br /><br />http://mthamilton.ucolick.org/. <br /> <br /> He then asked if we wanted to see what they called the “Fallout Shelter”. I had never thought of this before, even having been there all the times I had, but this dome was built in the late 50’s, the height of the Cold War, so it had a fully functional Nuclear Fallout Shelter in the basement. Seriously. <br /><br /> Of course, they only use it for storage and work these days, but it was pretty neat. The big project right now is preparing the 120 inch mirror, and the equipment required, for re-aluminizing. So, they had a de-compression chamber basically right below the telescope, on the first level of the basement. There was a guy inside carefully hanging aluminum pieces all over the place. This site is the re-aluminizing of the Palomar 200 inch reflector, but it will explain a little of what the hell I’m talking about without getting long winded here. <br /><br />http://www.astro.caltech.edu/palomar/aluminization.html. <br /><br /> Anyway, the tour continued. He brought us further down, into the depths of the sub basement, and past a sign that read “Fallout Shelter beyond this point”. It was sort of starting to feel like an episode of Lost. He showed us the grinding stone for the 120 inch mirror, and several other things, including one of the things they used back in the day. You see, in order to take photo plate images, it would took a long time of exposure, so they would have to keep the telescope moving along with the stars. So, they would have some lucky dude in this bucket looking thing, up near the top of the telescope, keeping everything lined up. All night long. <br /><br />Under that, he pointed out some of the remnants of the Cold War era Fallout Shelter. Tanks of water, a water purification system, and food rations in buckets, the expiration dates reading probably from the 60’s. <br /><br /> Then, I had a triple take. On the wall, in the back of the room, was something very large behind the ride-in bucket. I couldn’t tell what it was, it may have just been art on the wall, but either way, it was a large octagon with a design in the middle. Large, like probably 20 or 25 feet across. I couldn’t see the whole thing, but coupled with the fact I was in a Fallout Shelter built in the 50’s (it had the feel, you know?) with food and water rations all over the place, and then I see the massive Dharma Initiative looking thing on the wall… Awesome.<br /><br /> Anyway, we left there and headed back up, and he showed us another telescope attached to the side of the larger dome, one of the pieces he personally worked more with, as well as the control room for that. The Coude Auxiliary Telescope, or CAT system. The control room for the CAT system was pretty neat. A couple computer stations here and there, but not what you would expect. Most of the telescopes on the mountain could be controlled by computer, but not this one. He flipped a switch on a large computer rack setup, and up come the guidance system, all manual. You had a joystick looking thing that was used to slowly aim it where you wanted, instead of just typing coordinates into the system.<br />We then went outside, and chatted about the history of the place, what each telescope could do and what they were used for, as well as what it’s like to live up there. Just as I always expected: Absolutely, without a doubt, incredible. His house, which he pointed out, had a 180 degree view of the massive valleys and peaks to the North of Mt. Hamilton. Amazing. He showed us the other buildings, some still used, some long abandoned, full of Asbestos and lead. The leaky pool, next to the Rec Center, which they refer to as the Wreck Center.<br /> We then chatted about San Jose’s plan of changing out the street lights from the low light sodium vapor lights to more energy efficient, but much brighter, LED lights. It really is a great idea, which would save a lot of money, after the initial installation costs, as well as energy, which is what we want.<br /><br /> However, the LED lights give out a lot more light. That means the folks that have been doing research for the good of all mankind on top of Mt. Hamilton for over 120 years, would be severely hampered in their work. The more light pollution they get from the Valley Floor, the less they can see.<br /><br /> But also, it has damaging effects for all of us city dwellers as well. Do you like to be able to see the starts at night? Do you even wonder why we in San Jose can see the night’s stars, and cities like Los Angeles can’t? That’s why. Because of the low light streetlights we use. So, soon we will join the ranks of other large cities and loose something really cool.<br /><br /> But, I digest. The tour itself was amazing. It was simply a matter of being in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. The main building tour got out, and we walked instead of drove up the road to the 120 inch telescope building, and arrived just before our guide, who was bored while waiting for some computer programmers to do some work on something, who knows what. From the inside of the main telescope room, I could see the others folks from the main building tour arrive, but they didn’t get what we got. So, to the guy that was gracious enough to give us an incredible extended tour, by a scientist, not a tour guide, thank you! I’ve been going up there since I was a kid, and it never gets old. It’s one of my favorite places on the planet, and now it just managed to get a little bit more personal. Thanks!<br /><br /> I just love that stuff!Erik Dabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00832428562431477119noreply@blogger.com0