GEORGIA, 2012 EDITION

     Again this year, we had our family get-together in Suches, Georgia.  Again this year, since this is a cycling blog, I'll skip details of all the fun we had hiking the Appalachian Trail (completing all of the trail in Georgia), swimming at Lake Winfield Scott (not me, of course), and the fireworks display in Suches.
     My concern that I had lost some training was alleviated on my first ride.  We arrived at the cabin on Monday and around 9am on Tuesday (allowing folks to get to work and clear the roads), I began the traditional 3 Gap inaugural ride.  That is, I always do this ride first.  Woody Gap is only three miles from the cabin, and the climb only a mile, followed by a five mile downhill.  The wind in my face necessitated pedalling down the mountain in order to maintain a decent speed.  Mostly I stayed in the 25-30mph range, but did manage 35mph on one stretch.
      A nice, rolling transition of four miles brought me to Turner's Corner, the start of the nine mile climb to Neel's Gap.  I always allow an hour and it usually takes me 50-55 minutes to complete.  The start is gradual, and several miles into it you receive relief in the form of a slight downhill for about a mile.  Then it is three miles of 6-8% grade.

On the Skeenah Gap ride

     The reward for such hard work is a three mile descent, mostly without vehicles, thus allowing me to use all of the road.  My GPS indicates four spikes over 35mph, and nothing under 30mph once I got moving going down.  A left turn onto GA 180 put me immediately onto the climb up Wolf Pen Gap.  This three mile climb, mostly in the 8-10% range, usually takes half an hour and is my favorite of all the gaps.  The two mile descent of corkscrew turns is a lot of fun, and as usual I braked too much on my first run.  Generally it takes two or three times to re-familiarize myself with this section before I can zip around and fully enjoy the experience.  After Winfield Scott, it is another five miles of rolling hills to the cabin.
     In all, I did the 3 Gap ride, either clockwise or counter-clockwise, five times and on two other occasions rode from the cabin up Wolf Pen and back.  I also did the Hogpen Gap loop twice.
     The Hogpen Gap loop starts at the base of Brasstown Bald, or Jack's Gap if you prefer.  The eastern descent of Jack's Gap is a real bummer.  Five miles of downhill, but only the first mile is fun and after that it is so gradual that you sometimes wonder (as you have to pedal) if you are going down at all.  However the right turn and ascent up Unicoi Gap is just as gradual, and short, like three miles.
     The downhill of Unicoi is eight miles of sheer fun, with sweeping curves that can be taken as speed.  My top speed was 40mph at the very start, with lots of peaks over 35mph and nothing under 30mph for the first three miles.  Soon enough, sigh, came the right turn and transition to Hogpen Gap.
     Hogpen is similar to Neel's, in that the beginning is not-as-steep and there is a short downhill relief before the real climbing begins.  The difference is Hogpen's "gradual" is just under 10%, and the "steep" has a lot of over 10%, including a 15% pitch of about a quarter mile (perhaps less).  I'm proud to say I made it, for the first time, without stopping.  As a matter of fact, at the beginning of the climb I had been passed by a guy (cyclist) playing loud music (the tune the same as I hear at Gold's).  He also passed me as I took a short break at the top (thus he apparently took a break somewhere along the way).  But I didn't see him again, even though the downhill brought me to 45mph.  It would have been faster but a car (one of the few I saw) was in my way.  I could smell his brakes about halfway down, so obviously he didn't like using his gears to adjust his speed.
     Hogpen takes a lot of energy, but after a rolling transition, I still had to climb up Jack's Gap to get to the car.  This is another six and a half miles of climbing, although to be truthful, it also has a few relief parts.  Still, it was a slow slog.  I did the Hogpen loop twice.  The second time, I had to stop after the 15% grade.
     The other loop I do is over Skeena Gap.  This is a fifty-one mile loop.  The day I picked to ride it had heavy humidity and I felt blah.  Even small inclines gave my legs fits.  After thirty-eight miles I called Marilane to come pick me up.  I didn't have enough oomph to make it over Wolf Pen.  And, I never attempted Brasstown Bald.  Usually I build up the strength to tackle the 16%, 16%, 24% grades, but since I couldn't do the 15% and had trouble with the 12%'s, this seemed out of my reach for this year.
     All in all, I had 334 miles of mountain riding, and 33,900 feet of climb.  After returning home I signed up for the State Road Race Championships in Killeen.  This course has some heavy hills, and with my mountain training as a base, I hope to achieve some sort of recognition this year.

SOME DAYS ARE LIKE THAT

     It started yesterday.  Once again, due to lack of riding Monday-Thursday, I felt the need to cycle the weekend.  Friday I did hill work.  Saturday came the University (32 miles) ride.  Also on Saturday, my chain started acting up, jumping a gear unexpectedly.  More precisely, just going up or down a cog, then coming back to the original.  I played with the cable tension, inspected the chain and the quick link (finding them suspiciously flexible sideways), and the cogs.  It seemed better, but I determined that my Sunday ride would have me taking the hills seated.
     Also, my Saturday ride clued me in that there would be no resting my back in the aero position, as I had removed the aerobars in anticipation of riding the Georgia mountains.  So, here is Sunday's recap, short and sweet: my legs were dead from the start, no push; no aero position; a jumping chain (on the middle cogs); and super high humidity.  I can't remember the last time sweat rolled off my chin (yes, it was sweat) like a dripping faucet.  The wind today decided not to be a factor.  I was pleasantly surprised to only come in ten minutes slow.
     I'm reconsidering the aerobars for the mountains.  Even if not useful going up and down, the transition miles would certainly help my recovery and back.  Oh, and I'll be at the bike shop first thing in the morning.

WASHED BIKE

     This is more of a big deal than most folks think.  I joke that I wash my bike twice a year whether it needs it or not.  This is not far from the truth.  It's titanium.  Only if I get caught unexpectedly does it go out in wet weather.  I lot of the time I use my Camelbak, thus avoiding sticky crud on the down tubes.  Therefore, before big races (not time-trials, my tt bike has never been washed), I'll spruce it up a bit and take off the bottle brackets and tt bars.  This year my big race was in February.  But soon we'll be in the North Georgia mountains, and I will start with a clean bike.
     I'll also have new tires.  Up until last year I would get a new set of Continental 4000s at the beginning of each race season.  After seeing the treadwear marks on my tires, I skipped new ones last year, but didn't want to be swooping around the curves of Wolf Pen Gap on old ones this year.  I also purchased a tool to remove my quick link on the chain.  When they first came out, I had no problem getting them off by hand.  I suspect they are new and improved, because there is no movement at all with my fingers.  Easily removed with minor pressure with the tool.
     Anyhow, I use my carwash liquid, which works quite well in removing the crud and leaving the metal bright and shiny.  Simple green and a stiff brush left the chain bright and shiny.  I actually washed the old tires while still on the wheels, so I could inspect just how worn they were.  Truthfully, I could have gone another year on them, were it not for a rip in the bottom of the rear one.  Had we been short on cash, I would have put a dab of duct tape on the inside and switched it to the front.  Besides, with urging from my friend Barry, and a few articles in Velonews, I experimented with 25mm tires, up from the 23s I've been on for years.
     The bike wash was Monday and today was the first ride on my clean bike, freshly lubed chain, and new tires.  Hot, humid, windy weather deterred any great times or speed, other than at the bottom of one hill where I usually can take the corner (merging onto Loop 360) 24-26mph. I had no difficulties leaning a bit and seeing 28.4.  Once again, the humidity zapped me, and after struggling up Courtyard, had to skip Jester.  I won't worry about it unless I return from Georgia and am still unable to do both.

RPM'S

     I don't like riding on Saturdays.  Being retired, I can ride during the week.  I don't have to ride on the weekend.  However, this past Saturday I did my "University" ride, 31 miles.  I did it because on Wednesday in doing my hill ride, I hit the highest heart-rate in two-plus years, 166.  I felt I needed a day off, and it turned into two.  So, with the weather almost perfect, I took advantage and started out about 8:15am.
     My FB posting describes it quite succinctly: Fastest time, highest average speed, highest average RPMs, EVER.  Of course, the wind always plays a part, and in this case, it proved to be negligible.  For whatever reason, I held a high cadence the whole way (it is an out-and-back, mostly east-west).  My average jumped from 70-71 to 76.  Don't let the number fool you, this includes coasting downhill, going uphill in the big ring, and waiting at red lights.  Most of my time was spent in the mid-80s. My glutes screamed at me all afternoon, finally subsiding after ingestion of aspirin.
     I know from years of looking at my stats, high rpms are good.  But you need good energy to keep it up for a whole ride.  This was one of those days.
     Not to be confused with my Sunday ride.  One of the reasons for taking Saturday off is to be rested for my Sunday morning (like starting 10 minutes before daylight, or 30 minutes before official sunrise) 360 Loop ride.  This 42 mile ride has 18 (or 24, depending on definitions) climbs, 6 of which I'd call significant.  My plan to continue glute punishment never materialized, in view of the stiff wind in my face for the first 75 minutes.  Nevertheless, I had fun, my time average, and my legs were not impaired by the previous day's activity.
   
Generally speaking, the strength and endurance now exhibited, I expected two months ago.  Let me rephrase that.  I hoped for.  Indeed, cycling is very honest: if you put in the miles, you will get the results.  I just need to get in the miles.  Shouldn't be a problem getting miles now, since a cycling vacation in the mountains of North Georgia is looming on the horizon.

CHRIS HORNER AND THE 2012 AMGEN

     As an earlier post will verify, I'm a Chris Horner fan.  Given the crappy results of the time-trial, he did the only thing possible to try to salvage something from this year's ToC.  His form wasn't as good as it was last year, and sitting in and trying to dislodge a plethora of mountain goats in the last 5k would probably not have worked.  As it is, he moved up a slew of places to finish 8th (but I do note that Levi finished 6th, 36 seconds faster).
     It was pretty much a Forelorn Hope, but thrilling, nonetheless.  As I watched, I couldn't believe the time kept increasing between the leaders and the peloton.  But, like everyone else, when the time started coming down, I could see there was too much flat ground where the peloton gobbled up the time.  But the other riders in the breakaway should have helped more rather than just sitting-on.
     My reasoning is thus: Knowing they weren't going to stay away, this would have been an excellent time to gain payback-chips.  That is, somewhere down the road in another race, Horner might be in the position to give you a hand when it really matters.  Sitting-on merely makes you remembered in a negative fashion.  In the post-race interview, Horner named the guys (not on his team) who lent a hand, and conversely, he also remembers, but didn't name, those who didn't.  Atapuma was one who sat on.  Surely he is having second thoughts about what might have been, had he done a few hard pulls and gained just a few more seconds.  True, once it came down to him and Horner, he took a few turns, after some urging from Chris.  And, when Horner couldn't help him anymore, he left him.
     Horner's attack took a lot of strength from the younger guys.  Let's call this a learning experience for them.  Nobody goes this hard in practice!  A similar leg-breaking tactic gave Carlos Sastre the win on Alpe d'Huez (and the TdF), although there was no breakaway, just CSC stringing everybody out.  As a matter of fact, I believe Jens Voigt played a hand in that one too.  Can't say enough good things about Jens.  You might say I had a snack with him (it would be a stretch, but yes, our Marty Jemison group stopped to say hi to the guys, who were riding on their rest day.  Only the two ladies (Bambi and Jen) were allowed close.  You might notice Bambi is next to Frank Schleck.

     I had been reading about Horner for years, but not paying much attention until an article came out about some racer who had broken his bike (apparently more than a flat tire).  Horner stopped, put him, holding his bike, on his (Chris') saddle and gave him a ride to the finish line.  Right then I became a fan. 

     Well, Chris, you didn't have the fastest time, but you're still a winner of this year's Amgen.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES

Monday was supposed to be a 55 miler, just to log miles in the legs.  However, as soon as I opened the garage door, I realized I wasn't going that far.  This time, when the sun came up, the wind did also.  I determined the direction to be ENE and the first 15 miles I headed either east or north, mainly east.  I decided to play it by ear, making a final determination around 8 miles, or the turn on University Blvd that would put me head-on into the wind.

My first inclination was to turn around and not do another half-hour into the wind.  But the sun shown brightly in a clear blue sky and I had nothing on the agenda at home, so I leaned over the (now installed) aerobars and battled onward.  Truthfully, I geared down and saved my legs for the return trip, anticipating a lot of fun.  The turn-around came at 67 minutes, or about 12 minutes slower than average.

Within seconds of beginning the return trip, I pushed the front derailleur over to the big ring and enjoyed the wind at my back.  The ride itself had no incidents, as traffic did not materialize.  My final time showed 1hour, 59 minutes, or 15 minutes faster on the way back. 

Today I planned another short ride, after working out at the gym, but the wind is much stronger today, and I don't care to have it beat me up.  Tomorrow is another day.

CATCHING UP IS HARD TO DO

     I had good intentions: come home from The Netherlands and get on the bike.  Didn't happen.  Other than the 1.5 mile ride to the gas station, the bike stayed in the garage.  I managed to get to the gym for Body Flow on Tuesday, that wiped me out (actually the weight work-out before Body Flow did it), and spin class on Friday, so it wasn't like I'd become a couch potato.  Saturday was gorgeous, but a tad windy and rather than ride I opted to dig four holes and plant three trees (the nursery sold the other tree before I could get back to it).  The trees had been on the agenda for quite awhile and it was either now or wait 'til next year.
     So, Sunday, three weeks after my last ride, became the day to start catching up.  My Sunday "360 ride" begins (usually) 10 minutes before sunrise, in this case 6:35am.  I glanced at the thermometer as I left the house: 48 degrees, and went back for another layer on my chest.  The flashing lights at Big Lots, where I start, showed a comforting 57 degrees.  Two things: I was running late, and "wheels down" didn't happen until 6:45am; and I know that seven minutes into the ride a series of ups and downs will drop the temperature at least ten degrees.  Nevertheless, I left the wind jacket in the car and went with the long sleeve undershirt and jersey, and of course, tights.
     Just because I started at sunrise didn't mean I had warming rays hitting my back.  What with the hills, it took 37 minutes before the sun actually got to my body.  No wind.  Body working smoothly, if somewhat weak.  I felt great, albeit a gear or two short.  At the turn onto Bee Cave Road, I had lost five minutes (off average time), but didn't feel stressed about it.  For one thing, I hadn't touched the bike (gas station ride notwithstanding) since State Finals on the 1st.  That meant I had not replaced the aerobars.  My water bottle holder broke as I readied to start, forcing me to put the bottle in my Camelbak, which meant an additional stop to change bottles.  Bottom line: I knew at the beginning that my time would be less than average, so relaxed and enjoyed the ride.
   

You know a fun place when you see it

Even though the sun came up, the wind didn't.  Flags were limp the whole morning.  The best part of today's ride was how good the legs felt.  Earlier in the year, there was always something missing.  Yesterday I had "good sensations" (as the pros say).  Hopefully, they will stay that way as I try to catch up on missed mileage.