Fifty Plus (50+) - Third time's a charm?

That's what they say, isn't it?
A few months back, I set out to do my first 40 miler
This one, in fact, from Montara to the top of Stage Road.
http://home.comcast.net/%7E96omi/Montara-Stage.png

and just ran out of time. I made it as far as that dip at the 16 mile mark and had to turn back.
I wasn't really ready for that last climb anyway, truth be told.

Last week, I set out again and -nope- my FD broke and that was that.
So, I gave it another shot today and did I make it this time?
http://home.comcast.net/%7E96omi/IMG_0504.jpg
Well, there it is :D

Here's a few of the last 5 miles before the turnaround. This would be the easy way.
http://home.comcast.net/%7E96omi/Verde-Stage-Hwy-1.png

I could've gone that route but, when there's a little detour that throws in a nice set of rollers, why would I? You know me; it's all about the hills, baby.
http://home.comcast.net/%7E96omi/Verde-Stage-Verde.png

Yeah, small time stuff, I know but it all counts.

Anyway, yes, I made it up to Stage Road and that last little climb proved to be a tester. A mile and a half up at 5.5%. I was fighting my HR and finally took a quick break about .6 into it, then I was fine. I don't know, pacing is still an issue. One big problem I always have heading down Highway 1 is the urge to try to keep up with the cars passing you at 40-50 mph. I'm heading down this long, straight stretch of road and the cars make me feel like I'm crawling. I finally do convince myself that this an endurance event, not a race but I wonder how much energy I waste in the first 5 or 6 miles?

And there's always time for pie
http://home.comcast.net/%7E96omi/IMG_0508.jpg

Did I make it? Oh yeah :D Oh, and with one downhill run at 39.7mph. The LeMond just handles like a dream "at speed".
http://home.comcast.net/%7E96omi/IMG_0511.jpg

Now, truth be told, I wouldn't say I was totally cooked at the 42.7 but I was ready to head home. Only another 7.3 miles for 50 but it wasn't gonna happen today, I was done. But I sure feel good now.

Congrats! :beer:

Next stop 50 miles? Metric?

Won't even say "Pity about the 50" cos this was a good ride. Knowing the Problem you have with HR, this is a milestone you have to brag about.

Well done but 40 mph on a downhill would have been better. Got to find fault with something so try harder next time

:beer::beer:

Such success and you settle for artificial flavors... : )
peace

Many congratulations - you're doing good

And what a wonderful part of the world to be riding in - you make me so envious

'Stoker of me dreams' Seana and I have a little house in Santa Cruz - what the heck are we doing in Bahrain ---oh, oh, I remember, paying for it

Enjoy every ride, and continue to tell about it;)

Right now, to a newb like me, your 42 miles with that hilly profile looks very awesome to me. Distance and effort is relative! Congratulations.

But I sure feel good now.

Congratulations! Every milestone like this is deserving of pie. :)

-soma5

:beer:

I can tell the 50 is just around the corner. Isn't it great to break those milestones?

Hm. Metric? I have no real interest at all in doing a century (yeah, yeah... that might change later, I know) but a metric? That holds some appeal. But, yes, 50 is close and I guess the next logical step is ride my age. Were I to continue on from Stage Road to Pescadero, I 'd have this additional 12 mile round trip added on. That would get up to 58 miles. Hm.

http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/stage-pescadero.png

That drop -which would be a climb coming back- from Stage Road has always scared me. I have a gig in San Gregorio next weekend, I'll have to suss it out and see how bad it *really* looks.

I didn't take many pix yesterday -I was sooo focused- but here's a shot looking down on San Gregorio from the top of Stage. Yep, that's all there is. This part of the coast is just a whole different slice of the Bay Area. I just love dropping down into this every month when we go down for a gig. It just puts me... "there".

http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/IMG_0505.jpg

And, of course, my noble steed. That Brooks is *really* started to feel good. No real problems to speak of yesterday other just being in the saddle for 3 1/2 hours. It's a winner.

http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/IMG_0507.jpg

Hm. Metric? I have no real interest at all in doing a century (yeah, yeah... that might change later, I know) but a metric? That holds some appeal. But, yes, 50 is close and I guess the next logical step is ride my age. Were I to continue on from Stage Road to Pescadero, I 'd have this additional 12 mile round trip added on. That would get up to 58 miles. Hm.

http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/stage-pescadero.png

That drop -which would be a climb coming back- from Stage Road has always scared me. I have a gig in San Gregorio next weekend, I'll have to suss it out and see how bad it *really* looks.

I didn't take many pix yesterday -I was sooo focused- but here's a shot looking down on San Gregorio from the top of Stage. Yep, that's all there is. This part of the coast is just a whole different slice of the Bay Area. I just love dropping down into this every month when we go down for a gig. It just puts me... "there".

http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/IMG_0505.jpg

And, of course, my noble steed. That Brooks is *really* started to feel good. No real problems to speak of yesterday other just being in the saddle for 3 1/2 hours. It's a winner.

http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/IMG_0507.jpg


Am I Imagining it or are those bars set lower than when you first got the LeMond?

No, haven't played with the bar height, any. Been thinking about it, though
Haven't played with the seat height, either. I have adjusted the fore-and-aft and the tilt since I put the Brooks on it, though

Ha! I wussed out on that ride 40 years ago.
No, actually it was 39. I got home from Vietnam in October of 1968 and bought a Peugeot "10 speed racer" (it was an A-08, my first real bike) for $105. I knew I wasn't up to the ride from Redwood City to the beach and back, but I had a friend drop me in Montara and I was going to ride home (how hard could it be? I'd been humping the mountains of the Central Highlands for a year). I rode up to about where it started to get steep, then coasted home and called my brother to come get me.