Sunday, May 21, 2006
I rode Galbraith with the Luna Chix (a total of 13 riders)...You would think that having done this ride last Sunday, I'd know better! Total time out 4:05 hours. We rode about 12 miles. For the climb, I was one of 3 bringing up the rear; and for the decent, I was in the middle of the pack. We climbed to the top (the tower). The climb was partly on single track and partly on gravel roads...And there was some hike a bike happening. The decent was very fun, and a good portion of it was very technical and steep...So there was some hike a bike happening there as well. My accomplishments included riding a couple of low skinnies, riding a couple of table tops (keeping enough speed to make it to the top), and riding a couple of good drops...Didn't ride drops as steep as I did last week. I ate better on the ride this week...I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and 3 packages of cliff bloks...The real food helped a lot. Last week I felt fairly sick by the time we made it to the car at the end of the ride. This time I felt a bit sick at hour 3 and great by the time we rode back to the cars. We also took shorter and fewer breaks this week.


Saturday, May 20, 2006
Cosmos and I did a Dog/Mountain bike ride at Tokul East. It was a bit much for him, but since it was very hilly (a lot of climbing) it was a slow ride up, and I took it slow down. He was absolutely amazing. He stayed by my side (on the gravel roads) and stayed on the trail (just in front of me on the descents). We rode slowly back to the car...Since he was really tired. We road about 12 mile in 3 hours...It was very fun. Might have been a bit much considering Sunday's ride to come...But it was sure fun to have Cosmos with me. He is going to come on more rides soon.

Sunday, May 14, 2006
Road with Speedy Beavers at Galbraith. We rode 3.5 hours. Mostly climbing. It was my first time up Galbraith and it was a tough climb. My legs were fine but my heart rate and breathing (panting actually) need some work. I climbed most of it...and then rode some smooth single track. Had a blast. We came down on some very technical terrain. I rolled the biggest drop I've ridden so far. I rode the Juliana and I must say the Nomad has improved my riding. I didn't wear leg armor (a mistake!). The Juliana climbed really well and descented incredibly. It is a great bike and handles more than I can. To date, this was the toughest ride I've done on a mountain bike.

Saturday, May 13, 2006
Wasn't up for a big ride. So I went to Bob's for an afternoon (with the Juliana) of playing on his bike toys (jumps, skinnies, and technical trail features). He has built a stellar trail on his property, and graciously invited bbtc to come ride it all. I spent a couple of hours just working on skills. The best one was the jump 8' long and 2' tall. After many tries, I got my speed up (scary fast) compressed the suspension on the way up and flew over the top to land on the back side...what fun! I also performed an absolutely perfect wheelie drop (OK it was only 6" off the ground...but it was still perfect!). Crashed doing a manual...actually the jump gave way...I remember thinking earlier in the day that the jump didn't look steady...guess I forgot that...but remembered quickly.

May 7, 2006
Road sweep for Julie's Tolt ride. Rode hard and had a blast. We rode for 2.5 hours. I've not been out chasing groups...this was a reminder that I need a fast ride every week. Was on the Nomad.

Friday, May 5, 2006
My day off - didn't even swim

Thursday, May 4, 2006
Enjoyed a relaxed mountain bike ride at Tolt with Julie. We Road a few of the trails that we will ride on Sunday. We switched bikes and I got to experience why she likes her Ventana EL Saltamontes (the Salty) so much...and she got to expience my Santa Cruz Nomad. Both spectacular bikes! Road for 2 hours including the hike to the top...we both chose to push the hill rather than ride it (or at least the first 3/4 mile of it).

Wednesday, May 3, 2006
Hill- fixed gear workout with Cheryl's group. It was a great workout. I stayed with the middle group. They would drop me on the hill (but not too bad) and I'd catch up on the down hill or when they stopped to cross a street. I was spinning at 100 rpm on the downhill and actually was at 70 rpm on one of the up hills. My legs burned on the hills. My strength is much better than it was this time last year...And I feel much more powerful on the Seven. It handles beautifully!

Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Clinic: Spent about 1.5 hours working on mountain biking skills. Track stands, skinnies, manuals, wheel lifts and wheelies...Was very fun, and I saw my skills improve. I'm going to start using the Juliana for clinic and practice sessions...Easier to do this stuff on a smaller bike.

Monday, May 1, 2006
Seatac: it was fun to ride sea-tac on the new Nomad. I worked hard! I didn't play in the jump park because I didn't have flat pedals. I rode "Holy Jesus" (steep with a drop) for the first time on the Nomad...It was easier than on the Juliana. I chased the group. I was the slowest on the hills and in the middle on the down hills (no surprise here). It was my first hard group ride in over a month and I could really feel it...My legs burned on the climbs...

Sunday, April 30, 2006
Metcalf trust with Bob's turtle group. It was a hard ride especially since it was only 8 miles in four hours. We started with a long easy climb followed by a strenuous steep climb with switch backs...Lots of hike a bike. Then did a steep descend with switch backs. I realized I like to warm up a bit before I get into technical terrain. Then we road /pushed "dirty pants." Finally we road some smooth single track. We ended by climbing up the way we came and had a sweet descent into the parking lot. Metcalf Trust is fun...But it is a whole day ordeal.

Saturday, April 29, 2006
Cheryl's group: 40 miles (south end of Lake Washington with an extra hill thrown in). I decided I wanted to ride this easy because I haven't been on the road bike much and haven't been riding as much as I'd like. I partnered with Kim at the back of the pack. I road at 75% of max and had an enjoyable ride. I'll have to step it up again on the next one...But, boy was it nice to just have a fun road bike ride.

Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Brought my bike to work, but was really tired so I went home without riding.

Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Women's ride at St. Eds. This was my first group ride in a fair while...I worked hard...Even through it wasn't a fast group of women. It was fun to ride the Nomad over things I'd never try to ride the Juliana over (log pile).

Saturday, April 22, 2006
Back to the doctor for more antibiotics - 14 day supply this time...At least I recognized the UTI signs before I got overly sick.

Friday, April 21, 2006
Easy ride at Tolt with Julie. Was tired.

Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Cheryl's group. Hills above Gas Works. I felt strong and rode much better than I did last year. Good workout. I was able to progress through my cassette from easiest to 4th from easiest!

Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Women's ride and clinic at the worm.
Used the Juliana and practiced wheel lifts and then road parasite. Had fun, and it wasn't overly exhausting.

Sunday, April 2, 2006
Hard Tolt ride with Melanie. She wanted to try out the Juliana... I had been tired and yet, I decided to ride. We had a great ride, but I ended up at the emergency room the next morning with an UTI...And was sick for the following two weeks.