[quote]skidmark wrote:
Stand back!
Stand Back!
An emergency beer infusion is required here!
Stand back![/quote]
The beer infusion happened at the Bucksnort Saloon where the ride finished and continued after I got home. Probably should have had more water than beer since I’ve a hangover today.
[quote]hel320 wrote:
That is some serious cardio. My lungs are hurting just looking at the map. That would be outstanding at sea level but at altitude amazing. Sure you’re not part Kenyan?[/quote]
Snort - not likely given that I sound like an asmatic steam engine on most of the uphills. It’s a stout ride.
5 September 2008
The Bucksnort Ride
Pre-ride preparation for this excursion started Saturday August 30 with a Wine tasting dinner party hosted at our house. This meant lots of good food and a mixed bag of wine. Didn’t feel too bad Sunday, so I finished off some of the leftovers both food and wine. Monday I did finish the wine along with a lot of steak and then beer and chips. The rest of the week went on in this vein resulting in a 4 pound weight gain by Friday morning - call it a super carb load week.
Friday morning at the house it was 36 degrees and sunny. Looking out over the valley, you could see the low fog moving up from the low country. A pretty sight but it meant a cold and wet ride. The ride started at 10 am from the parking lot where the organizer was tallying all that showed in an attempt to ensure that no one got left out in the middle of mountains. The temperature isn’t too bad - low 50’s and high humidity for this area (about 50%).
I’m riding today with my co-workers Larry and Mark. Larry has been riding for 16 years and has done this ride 6 years running. Mark has been out of riding for a few years and is just getting back into it this year. Mark and I are going to stick together since this level of ride is new to both of us. Larry may or may not take off with the better riders. We’re all carrying water packs with some snacks and tire repair kits. I’m probably carrying too much seeing that there will be an aid station set up at the halfway point with food and drink.
The first section I’ve ridden twice before today. That’s the part up to the first peak on the altitude graph. This section goes well although it takes a long part of the easy road part to get warmed up. Mark and I pause a couple of times on the first steep section per our plan - knowing that it will be a long day. We also rest at the first peak where Larry is waiting. He didn’t get too far ahead. I eat an apple at this pause to try and keep ahead of the energy curve.
Now Mark and I are into new trails - always a great feeling. The downhill is fun and fast, not to technical, but it ends too soon. The trail is following a ravine up into higher ground. We cross a small stream several times back and forth. Getting more technical now. Often, we must carry the bikes across rocky sections beyond our ability to ride. Many of the group around us are in the same situation. We are passing the people back and forth as rest stops happen at irregular intervals.
At last we climb out of the ravine and get to more rideable trail. It’s getting colder as we climb and the could ceiling is lower. At this point I realize that if it rains, I’m in deep doodoo. I don’t have adequate rain gear and didn’t think I’d need it based on the morning sky at my house. I thought we would be climbing out of the muck into clearing skys but instead the cold front is pushing deeper into mountains. By the time we get to the top, we are in the mist but it is actually slightly warmer.
Downhill - what can you say about downhill riding? At times it is like doing handstands on a vibrating bar that is trying to twist out of your hands. All the while squeezing the brakes as hard as you can without strangling bar. Now start doing switchbacks. The downhill side of a switchback could be a cliff or rocky hillside covered with prickly pear. Often I come to a complete stop to swing the rear of the bike around to line up with the next trail section. Another thing about going downhill, you have to keep your weight back behind the seat or else you go over the handles, but going fast over the rocks means that you and the bike are going different directions at times. Gotta watch that, getting racked going down a steep section is not helpful. Getting in front of the pointy end of the seat is also not a good thing - I’ll let you think about that one…
The aid station is setup along the South Platte River. It is cold and windy now. The support crew is wearing full winter gear and having a party. Beer and wine are on the table along with a selection of energy drinks, pastries, muffins, cookies, bars, etc… I drink my kind of sports drink - a Bud Lite. Not my choice of beers but better than water right now. I have a couple of chocolate chip cookies and an apple as well, trying to keep the faster acting energy stuff in my system.
At this point, there are two options trailwise. Follow the river road or take the single track over another mountain. Mark and I take the road while Larry takes the single track.
Along the road moving around 12-15 mph, I’m getting chilled. Fortunately, Mark did bring an extra light shell that is sufficient to keep the wind out and lets me warm up after a few miles. The road doesn’t look steep but as you can see from the plot you gain almost another 1000 feet of elevation getting to the Bucksnort. Our legs are fairly well fried and the butt bones ache but we continue to move along at a pretty good pace for the most part. The ‘coup-de-grace’ of the entire ride is the last little steep section before getting to the Bucksnort. It’s a dirt road so the surface is good, but you are totally fried trying to keep climbing that last little bit. Finally the Bucksnort comes into view! Time for burgers and beer!
That was pretty neat.
Wow! My hat’s off to you! That’s something I could way never do, but it was fun to feel the thrill of the ride through your narrative!
I’m such a bike wuss…
Cappy
Great stuff, Soldog. The read alone practically shook my fillings out. Respect.
[b]Pre-ride preparation for this excursion started Saturday August 30 with a Wine tasting dinner party hosted at our house. This meant lots of good food and a mixed bag of wine. Didn’t feel too bad Sunday, so I finished off some of the leftovers both food and wine.
Monday I did finish the wine along with a lot of steak and then beer and chips. The rest of the week went on in this vein resulting in a 4 pound weight gain by Friday morning - call it a super carb load week.
[/b]
That is what they call it, eh? Not the hair of the dog?
Awesome soldog.
[quote]Elaikases wrote:
[b]Pre-ride preparation for this excursion started Saturday August 30 with a Wine tasting dinner party hosted at our house. This meant lots of good food and a mixed bag of wine. Didn’t feel too bad Sunday, so I finished off some of the leftovers both food and wine.
Monday I did finish the wine along with a lot of steak and then beer and chips. The rest of the week went on in this vein resulting in a 4 pound weight gain by Friday morning - call it a super carb load week.
[/b]
That is what they call it, eh? Not the hair of the dog?[/quote]
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
Oh and yesterday and today haven’t been any better - guess my excuse is recovery time now… ;}
Sounds like you had a blast. Yah I guess you really have watch those weather systems up in the high country.
8 September 2008
Getting busy at work and home, late start, short session.
Warm-up
[20 Scap-up/5 push-up/20 frog crunch/5 pull-up/30 twist crunch/20 bar squat] x2
dammit I gotta cut out the push-us
Dead-lifts
135#x5
225#x5
275#x3
315#x3 first time using my new 45#ers decided try a 15# bump over last time PR Weight and reps
315#x0 CNS jumped up and said “Hey, watcha doin’!” so I stepped away from the bar and CNS slapped me down to my hands and knees. I decided to move on to:
Bulgarian Split Squats
BWx5 ea leg CNS wasn’t finished and cramped the soles of my feet
Reverse Lunges
BWx10 ea leg
2-23.5# DBs 3x10 ea leg
Niiiice.
[b]315#x3 first time using my new 45#ers decided try a 15# bump over last time PR Weight and reps[/b}
Congrats.
And your avatar looks classier than Skidmark’s right now (Skid – is that a skidmark on your chest?)
315# for 3!! You better go out and buy a couple more 45s. You will be four plates a side before you know it.
Great work Soldog!!
Great deads. Always feels good to get a new PR.
[quote]Elaikases wrote:
315#x3 first time using my new 45#ers decided try a 15# bump over last time PR Weight and reps
Congrats.
And your avatar looks classier than Skidmark’s right now (Skid – is that a skidmark on your chest?)
[/quote]
It’s true - Soldog has style and I have none.
But at least I have one thing over him…ahhhh, no i don’t.
Dang.
[quote]skidmark wrote:
Elaikases wrote:
Congrats.
And your avatar looks classier than Skidmark’s right now (Skid – is that a skidmark on your chest?)
It’s true - Soldog has style and I have none.
But at least I have one thing over him…ahhhh, no i don’t.
Dang.[/quote]
Thanks guys - but it is obvious that we have never met in person… Style - too funny ;}
[quote]soldog wrote:
8 September 2008
315#x3 first time using my new 45#ers decided try a 15# bump over last time PR Weight and reps
[/quote]
Dig that, Soldog, taking those plates out for a spin.
Way to get it done Soldog.
Work has really spun up for the next few week to a month. I’ll be working 12-15 hours a day for the duration in front of my computer. Will try to take some breaks and do some training here and there…