Foo - Whatcha doin'?

You know that average grade is very deceiving. Part of the climb could be at 2% and the rest at 10% or any combination.
True dat. About ten years ago, on a tour from Mt. Shasta to Yosemite through the Sierras (we had a sag wagon, but macho idiot that I was, I still carried all my camping gear :eek:), we were at the end of a rather warm, fairly hilly (hey, it was the Sierras, after all) September day. The campground near the highway we wanted to use was closed. Durn. Ah, but there was a State Park about 5 miles off the main drag. 5 miles, about 450-500 feet elevation gain, so 100 feet per mile, give or take - no problem, right?

Wrong. Virtually all of that elevation gain came in a one-mile stretch. I thought I was going to die. Looking at it as we came around a corner, I thought I would at least need pitons, crampons, Sherpas, and maybe a defibrillator. One of my friends who was along later got out the USGS topo maps and calculated that one significant stretch (about a quarter mile, maybe more) was 16%. Not what the doctor ordered at the end of the day under a full load.

Right in the middle of that gawd-awful stretch, this enormous diesel-powered pick-up truck pulled up next to me, the window rolled down, and the woman in the passenger seat asked, pleasantly in a Texas drawl, if this was the road to somewhere or other. Understand, at this point it was taking every ounce of my concentration and energy just to stay upright and turn over a ridiculously low gear - I doubt if I was going 3 mph, and I was doing that purely by focusing as hard as I could about a foot ahead of my front tire. Conversation was not on my "to do" list. I sucked in a lungful of air and said as loudly as I could (I was not about to have to repeat myself): "CAN'T TALK NOW." The woman looked at me like I was a space alien (probably looked like one, too - I was pretty wrung out), the window rolled back up, and the truck took off in a cloud of diesel exhaust. Two friends were a good ways up the road, another was pushing his bike a fair ways behind me - and they all heard me loud and clear and started laughing their butts off. Lordy, that was a nasty climb.

One of the most beautiful campgrounds I ever stayed in, though, complete with steaming hot showers with limitless hot water - and the place almost to ourselves. Yeah, it was worth it.

It's 9:00pm on a Friday night. What am I doing? Going to bed so I can wake up in 7 hours to go to work on Saturday morning. I have no life. Good night.

Hey MTBLover - I also use a Garmin Edge 305 and VV got this plot from the graph that's in the Training Center program.

Thanks Wolfpack! I was thinking about getting a 205- I think this comes with the same software, but is there any benefit of one over the other?

BTW, ^5 on your good news from the PT!

I'd like it, if you can send it to me:)

Please remind me later, it's gonna be a while. I'll start a thread, and anybody who wants it can pm or post that they want it. (I don't post pics of my face, only show it by private means, yes I know, I'm paranoid)

Sweet. It looks like the last puzzle piece has just fallen into place for my trip. I just got back from Hertz downtown, and my Toyota Corolla/Hyundai Sonata/(I forget the third possibility) will be ready to be picked up Monday morning at 9am. Then I just have to throw my junk in it and hit the open road [movie announcer voice] for the adventure of a lifetime.[/voice]

i haven't looked much at the 205...i believe the 205 doesn't have HR or cadence nor does it have a barimetric altimeter. here's the comparison (http://https://buy.garmin.com/shop/compare.do?compareProduct=6400&compareProduct=331&compare=compare).

Thanks- I have a Polar so the lack of a HR monitor wasn't a big deal o me, but the lack of a barometric altimeter could be. I'll probably go with the 305 as a result.

i'm gonna go take a melatonin or lunesta and get a really good nights sleep in prep for my longest ride since injury tomorrow - 44miles. my legs are already slightly sore due to the PT session last night (they might not've been had i done my exercises as i shouldve been doing the past week...)

so...night ya'll.

i'm gonna go take a melatonin or lunesta and get a really good nights sleep in prep for my longest ride since injury tomorrow - 44miles. my legs are already slightly sore due to the PT session last night (they might not've been had i done my exercises as i shouldve been doing the past week...)

so...night ya'll.

Have a good ride tomorrow. Wish I could join you guys.

Home from the restaurant! :)

Going to try to wake up relatively early for the TdF TT tomorrow.

Hey Foo! I suppose I should be in bed. I'm gonna take close outta the dryer and hit the hay.

Back from seeing Ratatouille. I loved it. :love: And, to anyone thinking of seeing this film, please do stay through the credits. I was farkin' flabbergasted at the sheer number of people involved in bringing this film to the cinema. It's farkin' awesome! There are just no words for the incredible attention to detail, and the minute and subtle facial/eye/body expressions.... :)

And, there is a rat who slinks right at the end of the credits. Heh.

Meh, actually, I stopped over at my neighbors' house (where my two friends are staying while my neighbors are away), for some very excellent red wine (Rothschild from Chile, of all places -- VERY nice) and conversation. We talked of many things, including my late husband, also a friend of theirs, as well as my attempt to start a new life for me. Was very nice. :)

Malistryx, again, good luck! Especially with getting there on time and not emotionally worn out from the deadlines! :eek:

Mich, nice pics. Look forward to seeing a few on Foo, somewhere, as it's not so easy for me to view slideshows. :o

wolfie, please be careful. You are goin' on distance rides that I've not yet even dreamed of. :eek: Take care of that knee, and I do hope to see you able to get in at least one more TT this season. I have no doubt that you can better your previous time. :) F'shizzle.

MTBLover, definitely get a 305. You'll never regret it. The Polar has some issues with regard to electrical interference sometimes. The Edge 305, not so much. Also, cadence and HR are so important to training/physical fitness. Just go for it. You'll never regret the extra cost. And, do shop around -- you can find it less than $300.... And it's well-worth the extra $$$....

BDG, sharing food with the dog??? I'd never have any to spare. :lol: ;)

Jon, don't worry. In a way, goin' for ugly is some form of OCP. :p

BS, I hear ya, baybuh. And I know that feeling of lookin' up an insane grade. But, as you say, there are sometimes rewards that are worth it. I guess if BikeWNC is willing to stick me in his hot-tub and bring me complimentary drinks, I could very gung-ho-ingly go riding in the mountains tomorrow!

mmkay. Foo is a bit slow tonight. I need to sleep, for I want to be up in just six or so hours to ride the local neighborhood without a lot of traffic.... Then I need to see if "that guy" who was interested in ridin' with me and polara on Sunday is still interested.... Otherwise, polara, looks like you and me, ridin' all out on the 22-miler on Sunday morn. You game? <curious Vega look>

you call this slow?

Heh. Yeah. I've seen worse, as you probably well know, dauph....

I'll check back in with polara in the a.m. If nothing, then I will ride on my trainer. <shrug>

It'll have to be somewhat early, I have to work at noon.

Ride on your trainer? :eek: That's no fun! :o

I don't have to be at work until 3 tomorrow, and only have one errand to run, so I can ride tomorrow also.

Ride on your trainer? :eek: That's no fun! :o

She still hasn't told me who her trainer is! :eek::D

Man vs. Wild FTW! (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=323406)


She still hasn't told me who her trainer is! :eek::D I won't even comment on this one... :p

Okay, me thinks it is time for bed.

G'night foo!

Wow, I think riding a bike has taken all my walking endurance. My feet are killing me. But I had a camera w/ me and took some snaps.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1114/862477935_a6a80ba109.jpg

Morning.

Coffee.!

You're up bright and early :eek:

You're up bright and early :eek:

Unfortunately. I don't have to be to work for another 4 hours, but I'm going to go in early to help a coworker unload this week's shipment. It's supposed to be huge this week, and I would feel sorry for her if she had to do it alone.

Gosh. Well, good luck... Now I've got to get back to taking notes on a conference call :(

Thinking of making another pot o coffee.

<yawn>

Need to get my gear all loaded up and hit up the grocery store soon, I convinced my step-dad to leave at 6:30, spend ~15 mins at the grocery store, then 1.5 hours to get up there and get our paperwork done and get set up to ride.

I need to find a watch or some sort of time keeping device... And I forgot to clean my mtbs chain after my last ride, I'll need to remember to bring something to do that or it's not going to shift right. I hope this race goes well... It could be really long since I'll spend about half of it just sitting around by myself :(

Now off to get ready and head out!

Bye!

Good luck, have fun

morning foo

off for my group ride this morning! hope i can make it through the whole 44 miles today...

I guess if BikeWNC is willing to stick me in his hot-tub and bring me complimentary drinks, I could very gung-ho-ingly go riding in the mountains tomorrow!

I don't have a hot tub. :( I guess that's why you haven't ridden up here yet. :rolleyes: I do have a very cold stream you could soak in though. :eek: Would that be OK? :)

Good morning, Foo!

I actually have the whole weekend off-yup, two whole days off--consecutively! I'm not on call, and I don't have to set foot in the hospital. As an added bonus, the weather here in DC is beautiful!

There will be much riding this weekend. :D:D:D:D:D

Good morning Foo! Wow, about an hour since the last post in this thread. Is anyone here? :rolleyes:

Morning <YAAAWN!>

G'morning Foo!

Just woke up in time to see Vino blast off!

Morning <YAAAWN!>

Hiya Tom!

Hiya, R-dad, Tom, Randomus. :) <sippin' coffee>

G'morning VV!

I don't drink much coffee, so perhaps I will drink a nice cup of tea.

Sitting here "recovering" from my 15-mile ride. Pitiful, I know. It was supposed to be 40 miles, but we got surprised by a downpour (in a cold 15 mph headwind), and I turned around and went home. I was freezing... still kind of am. :(

*passing cup of hot chocolate to aprilm* :o

((hugs)) :)

This morning's TdF TT appears to be pretty scary - nice and slick! :eek:

*"watchin'" TdF TT vicariously through R's reports*

Must be nice to have cable. :o

:(

mooooooorning!!!
just came back from a ride, enjoying coffee before everyone gets up!!

Good morning everyone- I hope all who are out (or about to be) on a ride are having a good time. Stuck inside with work :(, but I'll get out later (hopefully!).

VV, thanks for the advice- in reading the reviews of both the 205 and the 305, one consistent complaint about the former was the lack of cadence and baro. I've been able to find 305s online for $230-250, which isn't all that much more than a 205 (cheapest was $150).

So in an effort to break free of the bonds of Norton Ghost (which crashed my laptop no end), I downloaded SelfImage to image my laptop drive. So far, so good- even works on all the Windows partitions as well as my Linux partitions. And it's free, free, free! We'll see how good the restored image looks, though.

*passing cup of hot chocolate to aprilm* :o

((hugs)) :)

Thanks... feeling kinda sorry for myself, heh.


This morning's TdF TT appears to be pretty scary - nice and slick!

No kidding! I'm watching, too...

Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to work I go.... :o

Thanks... feeling kinda sorry for myself, heh.



No kidding! I'm watching, too...

what's the matter April? :( let me scroll back and see if I missed something

And today's TdF TT was... lkjgalkjgljkasldglajkgljkaljkg! :eek: