I completed a 28-mile ride this morning, that felt like 50 miles! But I’m so impressed with my performance. The route left Roger Soler’s in Helotes, my backyard, and headed north on Highway 16. Turned left on Highway 211, to be greeted by a series of rolling hills, although the outbound journey wasn’t too bad.
The group I was with turned left off 211 at Culebra Road, and we headed for the Exxon gas station just a few hundred yards up that street for a small break. I wasn’t looking forward to the return trip, since I’ve driven SAG for many training rides on this route, and know that 211 from Culebra Road is 7 miles of HUGE, continuous hills. Anyway, I sucked it up and hit the road.
I’ve become a particular fan of the big ring on my bike, so I stayed in it, shifting as I needed, but refusing to go to a smaller ring. I had to test myself. I had to push myself. And I did.
I conquered 211 and remained in my big ring for the entire trip. Granted, there were a couple of times that I slowed. My riding companion up 211 was Lloyd Hensley, I asked him how we were doing for speed, and to my surprise up 211 I was pulling 10 MPH! For me that’s a huge accomplishment.
Anyway, we took a group photo (well my other riding companion, Lillian LaFave did) at the top of the last hill before taking an exhilarating ride down a great hill on 211 back to Highway 16, and a right-hand turn back to the start.
Many of the group had asked: “Tony, are you ready for ‘The Wall?’” That’s another huge hill that greets you as you make the right-hand turn from 211 to Hwy 16. With bravado, I said, “sure!” Anyway, Lloyd had been sharing with me the finer points of his hill work, and had demonstrated how he “walks his bike” while still in his pedals.
We made the turn, and ventured up “The Wall!” I rode seated for a couple hundred feet, but realized that if I was to remain in the big ring I was going to have to pick up some momentum. So, with Lloyd’s encouragement ringing in my ears, I stood in my pedals, leaned forward over the handlebars and proceeded to appear like I was walking in my pedals, and driving up the hill. It really was quite efficient.
Anyway, the trip from there back to Roger Soler’s was a series of rollers. I was told that in the group I was riding in we were maintaining 20 MPH on the flats. That really made me feel good.
I had a good deal of energy still to give so I sprinted off for a ways (not sure how far), just riding as fast as I could. It felt good. I feel good. I believe my training is paying off. At the end of the ride I learned that I’d covered 1,295 feet of elevation during the morning’s outing!
I’m ready for my 55-mile ride Sunday, leaving from Comal Elementary School at 7:30 a.m.
C ya on the road! Tony
Read Pauline's story and support my fundraising in her memory.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Slippery when wet...28 miles later, good ride!
So, your humble author spent time at the offices of the San Antonio Express-News today, having photographs taken to accompany a story about, well, me! Terrifying to think that my story is of interest to anyone, but if it helps further the awareness of MS then so be it! Apparently it will appear either Sept. 8 or 15.
I had to dress up in my bike-riding garb for the photo shoot. When it was all over, I just felt like riding. I knew of no training rides tonight. And, if I live up to my promise to my wife and not go out on the open roads alone…which is probably not a smart approach for anyone, I had few options.
But if you’ve been following my blog, I’ve used my neighborhood (Sedona in Helotes) as an early-morning ride, maxing at 17 miles. Well today, I re-mapped a route that helped me rack up about 28 miles, and by doing this adding at least 3 hills per circuit (about 23 circuits).
I’ve been toying with the idea of testing my experience and desire to power up hills, so tonight I shifted to the biggest ring and largest cog, and stood up to drive me through every hill. It was intoxicating as I drove the pedals down and began the slow rocking movement of the bike frame from side to side to oppose the force on each downstroke. A couple of times I thought I knew what I was doing, but was quickly reminded that I don’t as I over compensated on the rocking motion and wobbled through nearly wrecking though never lost the control. Phew…
It rained during my training tonight, but I didn’t stop my ride. MS never takes a day off, and people living with MS never have the chance to NOT have the disease be in their lives. The roads were dangerously slick, not fully being washed by the rain but wet enough to float whatever grime was on the roads. I realized there existed a potential hazard, so applied the brakes more heavily as I approached corners, applying them well before the turn in order to dry them.
But one road condition I hadn’t experienced before was how slippery those black strips of tar can be that the road crews use to just fill and seal cracks in the road. A couple of times I could feel my rear wheel “free spin” slightly as I crossed the black lines. Needless to say, I learn quickly and avoided all black lines for the remainder of the evening.
I dodged kids playing football in the streets, quickly maneuvering myself up on the sidewalk as the kids enacted a “hail Mary” long pass without noticing if any vehicles were around let alone me! On lap 5 or 6 the kids began to expect me, and so factored me into their plays.
It was a good ride, and will help me strength train as well as accumulate mileage.
C ya on the road! Tony
Read Pauline's story and support my fundraising in her memory.
I had to dress up in my bike-riding garb for the photo shoot. When it was all over, I just felt like riding. I knew of no training rides tonight. And, if I live up to my promise to my wife and not go out on the open roads alone…which is probably not a smart approach for anyone, I had few options.
But if you’ve been following my blog, I’ve used my neighborhood (Sedona in Helotes) as an early-morning ride, maxing at 17 miles. Well today, I re-mapped a route that helped me rack up about 28 miles, and by doing this adding at least 3 hills per circuit (about 23 circuits).
I’ve been toying with the idea of testing my experience and desire to power up hills, so tonight I shifted to the biggest ring and largest cog, and stood up to drive me through every hill. It was intoxicating as I drove the pedals down and began the slow rocking movement of the bike frame from side to side to oppose the force on each downstroke. A couple of times I thought I knew what I was doing, but was quickly reminded that I don’t as I over compensated on the rocking motion and wobbled through nearly wrecking though never lost the control. Phew…
It rained during my training tonight, but I didn’t stop my ride. MS never takes a day off, and people living with MS never have the chance to NOT have the disease be in their lives. The roads were dangerously slick, not fully being washed by the rain but wet enough to float whatever grime was on the roads. I realized there existed a potential hazard, so applied the brakes more heavily as I approached corners, applying them well before the turn in order to dry them.
But one road condition I hadn’t experienced before was how slippery those black strips of tar can be that the road crews use to just fill and seal cracks in the road. A couple of times I could feel my rear wheel “free spin” slightly as I crossed the black lines. Needless to say, I learn quickly and avoided all black lines for the remainder of the evening.
I dodged kids playing football in the streets, quickly maneuvering myself up on the sidewalk as the kids enacted a “hail Mary” long pass without noticing if any vehicles were around let alone me! On lap 5 or 6 the kids began to expect me, and so factored me into their plays.
It was a good ride, and will help me strength train as well as accumulate mileage.
C ya on the road! Tony
Read Pauline's story and support my fundraising in her memory.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Valero Bike to the Beach poised for new records!
The Bike MS: Valero Bike to the Beach is poised to set new records this year. Event fundraising past the quarter-million-dollar mark this past week, up 55% from this time a year ago. Last year the event realized $1.65 million, while this year’s event budget is projecting $1.80 million. So far there are over 2,350 riders registered for the year, which is about 68% of our 3,500-rider goal. We’re all making a mark, and dealing a decisive blow against the disease and in support of a world free of MS. Thank you on behalf of my family and families across the country who live with this disease every day. Tony
C ya on the road! Tony
Read Pauline's story and support my fundraising in her memory.
C ya on the road! Tony
Read Pauline's story and support my fundraising in her memory.
Pauline joined today's 45-mile training ride!
Gruene Hall and New Braunfels were welcome distractions on an enjoyable 45-mile ride today, a very special training ride (see photo) as I took Pauline out in public for the first time…well at least the team jersey for Pauline’s Last Hurrah! It was a feel-good situation for me, and helped with another MPH on my average speed as my chest swelled with pride!
We headed out from Comal Elementary School, and wound our way through some pretty scenery. We bumped and bounced along Highway 3009, a particularly challenging routing from the point of view of both the hills and constant jarring. But it was all worth the trip as we rounded the corner to be greeted by a smooth-as-silk (relatively speaking) Highway 1863. Wow, what a pleasant experience.
We headed out from Comal Elementary School, and wound our way through some pretty scenery. We bumped and bounced along Highway 3009, a particularly challenging routing from the point of view of both the hills and constant jarring. But it was all worth the trip as we rounded the corner to be greeted by a smooth-as-silk (relatively speaking) Highway 1863. Wow, what a pleasant experience.
One frustration today was that for probably 10 miles or so I had difficulty with my clip-less pedals. I couldn't "clip in." I stopped to clean out my shoes and the pedals. Carl poured water on my shoes to washout road debris, it worked for a mile or some, but was not a permanent fix. Not sure what the problem is. I'm assuming some adjustment will be needed. I'll visit my buddies at the Bicycle Shack in Boerne.
The crew, largely Valero riders, was lead by the always caring and nurturing of newbie riders (including your author) Carl Crawford. Alas, he took more than one for the group as he repaired 3 of his own flats. But believe there was some agenda behind his tire problems! We later found out that beer begins to flow at noon at Gruene Hall, so we assume he looked for sharp objects just to slow us all and so make it there for drinking time… But his attempt was foiled, we hit Gruene Hall at 11:15 a.m., still a very dry drinking establishment. :-) Next time, Carl.
Our route took us along Gruene Road, passing the Rockin’ “R” tubing area, crossing the Guadalupe River and up the shortest but very steep hill into Gruene. I had to walk. I hit the hill with some momentum but it wasn’t enough, my forward motion was stopped within 20 or 30 feet. It was difficult to get a good running start at the hill given the tubing tourists and vehicular traffic.
We headed out of Gruene (sober), out on Common Street. Headed back to New Braunfels, passing Schlitterbahn water park to the screams of fun-lovers and the over-the-top music blasting across the area. We continued out of town on Spurs Road. Turning south on the IH-35 Frontage Road and back on Farm 482 and the Start/Finish Line at the school in Comal.
This was my longest ride yet. I’m anxious to break through the 50-mile barrier, and hope to do this next weekend. Thanks Carl for a well-supported, enjoyable ride with an equally fun-loving group of riders.
ITEM: my friend and neighbor Monika believed an earlier blog entry in which I talked about being overjoyed at having to use the bathroom was, she believed, a story of me taking care of business while still on my bike! Absolutely not! My point, my fine friend, was that finally I was consuming sufficient quantities of fluid to have to use the bathroom AT OUR NEXT STOP! :-)
C ya on the road! Tony
The crew, largely Valero riders, was lead by the always caring and nurturing of newbie riders (including your author) Carl Crawford. Alas, he took more than one for the group as he repaired 3 of his own flats. But believe there was some agenda behind his tire problems! We later found out that beer begins to flow at noon at Gruene Hall, so we assume he looked for sharp objects just to slow us all and so make it there for drinking time… But his attempt was foiled, we hit Gruene Hall at 11:15 a.m., still a very dry drinking establishment. :-) Next time, Carl.
Our route took us along Gruene Road, passing the Rockin’ “R” tubing area, crossing the Guadalupe River and up the shortest but very steep hill into Gruene. I had to walk. I hit the hill with some momentum but it wasn’t enough, my forward motion was stopped within 20 or 30 feet. It was difficult to get a good running start at the hill given the tubing tourists and vehicular traffic.
We headed out of Gruene (sober), out on Common Street. Headed back to New Braunfels, passing Schlitterbahn water park to the screams of fun-lovers and the over-the-top music blasting across the area. We continued out of town on Spurs Road. Turning south on the IH-35 Frontage Road and back on Farm 482 and the Start/Finish Line at the school in Comal.
This was my longest ride yet. I’m anxious to break through the 50-mile barrier, and hope to do this next weekend. Thanks Carl for a well-supported, enjoyable ride with an equally fun-loving group of riders.
ITEM: my friend and neighbor Monika believed an earlier blog entry in which I talked about being overjoyed at having to use the bathroom was, she believed, a story of me taking care of business while still on my bike! Absolutely not! My point, my fine friend, was that finally I was consuming sufficient quantities of fluid to have to use the bathroom AT OUR NEXT STOP! :-)
C ya on the road! Tony
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Weekend in Kemah, railroad tracks, I go THUD again!
I took some time of from the Blog, lots of stuff happening at the office in preparation for the Valero Bike to the Beach. You know by now that I’m the Vice President for the National MS Society in South Texas. But I still rode this past weekend, with an incident!
I ended up in Kemah, Texas, with some cycling friends. I rode on Saturday, though it was hit and miss after a torrential downpour overnight. Anyway, after breakfast, the skies cleared and the sun came out. So we all raced back to our rooms to change into our cycling gear…though I suspect there was some disappointment, since the night before we had celebrated a little and likely more than one of us on Saturday morning was feeling a little under the weather…
Anyway, we hit the rode. I made it over the Kemah Bridge, slowly! About 10 miles into the ride the heavens opened and the group found itself in the middle of not only monsoon-style driving rain, but also the distant rumbling of thunder. But the intrepid group rode on. Somewhere around mile 15 we approached railroad tracks (still raining). Our lead rider made it over, but the second rider didn’t (I was 3rd). The tracks hit the road at a 45-degree angle, no I didn’t measure the angle, but you get the idea. All the books and cycling gurus will tell you that crossing tracks should be at 90 degrees. So I guess it was inevitable that my friend’s accident was bound to happen.
It was her rear wheel that lost traction on the tracks and skidded out from under her. This pushed her front wheel into the “groove” of the tracks and so she went down with a wet THUD! Fortunately, she was able to walk away with just a small road rash on her knee. Unfortunately, her front wheel folded like a taco. Unable to ride on, she and a fellow rider hung out at the scene as the rest of us rode back to secure a pick-up vehicle.
Riding back to the start, where the vehicles were located, a huge flash of lightning was followed by a bone-shaking thunderous boom. It set off car alarms on the parked vehicles we were passing. Not needing to prove anything, and knowing our friend was okay, we all ducked under a car awning and waited out the weather.
About 30 minutes later, the thunder let up, we hit the road. We later rescued my friend, and that evening relived the ride on the jetty of our host’s home (jutting out into Galveston Bay), grazing on a fantastic shrimp boil and home-marinated quail. And some adult beverages.
We debated the day’s ride distance, but I calculated from the conversation it was around 22 miles.
On Sunday, we awoke to a brilliant morning. I don’t think everyone had breakfast, though most had coffee. We hit the roads around Kemah and pulled off about 44 miles. I felt strong all day, so was looking forward to at least completing my first 50 miles. But before I knew it, the ride was over and we were sitting at the table eating a wonderful breakfast, before helping straighten up the home and then driving back to San Antonio.
Oh, did I forget to mention that I fell on Sunday morning? What worse is that I fell in the driveway BEFORE the ride started! And, I fell on the same knee I’d fallen on just 2 weeks earlier. I haven’t ridden this week because of the swelling and the ache as I walk. But I plan to put in a solid 40 miles on Sunday, wheels down at 7 a.m., at Comal Elementary School.
C ya on the road. Tony
Read Pauline's story and support my fundraising in her memory.
I ended up in Kemah, Texas, with some cycling friends. I rode on Saturday, though it was hit and miss after a torrential downpour overnight. Anyway, after breakfast, the skies cleared and the sun came out. So we all raced back to our rooms to change into our cycling gear…though I suspect there was some disappointment, since the night before we had celebrated a little and likely more than one of us on Saturday morning was feeling a little under the weather…
Anyway, we hit the rode. I made it over the Kemah Bridge, slowly! About 10 miles into the ride the heavens opened and the group found itself in the middle of not only monsoon-style driving rain, but also the distant rumbling of thunder. But the intrepid group rode on. Somewhere around mile 15 we approached railroad tracks (still raining). Our lead rider made it over, but the second rider didn’t (I was 3rd). The tracks hit the road at a 45-degree angle, no I didn’t measure the angle, but you get the idea. All the books and cycling gurus will tell you that crossing tracks should be at 90 degrees. So I guess it was inevitable that my friend’s accident was bound to happen.
It was her rear wheel that lost traction on the tracks and skidded out from under her. This pushed her front wheel into the “groove” of the tracks and so she went down with a wet THUD! Fortunately, she was able to walk away with just a small road rash on her knee. Unfortunately, her front wheel folded like a taco. Unable to ride on, she and a fellow rider hung out at the scene as the rest of us rode back to secure a pick-up vehicle.
Riding back to the start, where the vehicles were located, a huge flash of lightning was followed by a bone-shaking thunderous boom. It set off car alarms on the parked vehicles we were passing. Not needing to prove anything, and knowing our friend was okay, we all ducked under a car awning and waited out the weather.
About 30 minutes later, the thunder let up, we hit the road. We later rescued my friend, and that evening relived the ride on the jetty of our host’s home (jutting out into Galveston Bay), grazing on a fantastic shrimp boil and home-marinated quail. And some adult beverages.
We debated the day’s ride distance, but I calculated from the conversation it was around 22 miles.
On Sunday, we awoke to a brilliant morning. I don’t think everyone had breakfast, though most had coffee. We hit the roads around Kemah and pulled off about 44 miles. I felt strong all day, so was looking forward to at least completing my first 50 miles. But before I knew it, the ride was over and we were sitting at the table eating a wonderful breakfast, before helping straighten up the home and then driving back to San Antonio.
Oh, did I forget to mention that I fell on Sunday morning? What worse is that I fell in the driveway BEFORE the ride started! And, I fell on the same knee I’d fallen on just 2 weeks earlier. I haven’t ridden this week because of the swelling and the ache as I walk. But I plan to put in a solid 40 miles on Sunday, wheels down at 7 a.m., at Comal Elementary School.
C ya on the road. Tony
Read Pauline's story and support my fundraising in her memory.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Twenty neighborhood laps helping with my stamina
I hit the neighborhood at 6 a.m. this morning, much to the surprise of my wife (and me), after rolling from side to side in bed fighting the urge to train! But each training opportunity missed, will be one step backwards for me in my goal of riding 160 miles on October 4 and 5 in the Valero Bike to the Beach.
But I double-surprised myself this morning. Approaching the usual 15-lap mark, about 13 miles, I continued to feel strong. So with no regard for the time I just decided to round it up and rode 20 laps around the outer perimeter of the neighborhood for 17.5 miles (28km). And, for the first time since starting training, my thighs ached as I walked to the office and for much of the day…but it was a good pain. A pain that told me that it’s good to be alive and that I clearly must be doing something correct finally!
Something I didn’t share with you from Saturday was that I actually peed on that training ride! Another first for me, and I was so proud (LOL)! And I had the urge again during my 75-minute training session this morning. Many of you were telling me that I must “take care of business” while riding, and if I’m not, then I’m not drinking enough fluids.
Anyway, I pushed my envelope a little today and kept the bike operating in the big ring only, shifting up and down the rear cassette as needed. This clearly was a contributing factor to my thigh ache throughout the day, but I also felt that it pushed my bike workout to the next level.
I plan to “ride the hood” Wednesday and Thursday mornings. I’m heading out of town to Kemah, Texas, this weekend, where the event I’m involved in will hold a non-drop, relatively easy 30-mile or so ride both Saturday and Sunday. We’ll see if I can pickup my cadence and/or speed this coming weekend.
I haven’t been able to report exact, computer-generated statistics since the weekend. I found that a wire became dislodged from my bike computer, likely a result of the fall I had on Saturday. I can’t see where to plug it back in, so home my cycling buddies on the weekend can help.
C ya on the road! Tony
Read Pauline's story and support my fundraising in her memory.
But I double-surprised myself this morning. Approaching the usual 15-lap mark, about 13 miles, I continued to feel strong. So with no regard for the time I just decided to round it up and rode 20 laps around the outer perimeter of the neighborhood for 17.5 miles (28km). And, for the first time since starting training, my thighs ached as I walked to the office and for much of the day…but it was a good pain. A pain that told me that it’s good to be alive and that I clearly must be doing something correct finally!
Something I didn’t share with you from Saturday was that I actually peed on that training ride! Another first for me, and I was so proud (LOL)! And I had the urge again during my 75-minute training session this morning. Many of you were telling me that I must “take care of business” while riding, and if I’m not, then I’m not drinking enough fluids.
Anyway, I pushed my envelope a little today and kept the bike operating in the big ring only, shifting up and down the rear cassette as needed. This clearly was a contributing factor to my thigh ache throughout the day, but I also felt that it pushed my bike workout to the next level.
I plan to “ride the hood” Wednesday and Thursday mornings. I’m heading out of town to Kemah, Texas, this weekend, where the event I’m involved in will hold a non-drop, relatively easy 30-mile or so ride both Saturday and Sunday. We’ll see if I can pickup my cadence and/or speed this coming weekend.
I haven’t been able to report exact, computer-generated statistics since the weekend. I found that a wire became dislodged from my bike computer, likely a result of the fall I had on Saturday. I can’t see where to plug it back in, so home my cycling buddies on the weekend can help.
C ya on the road! Tony
Read Pauline's story and support my fundraising in her memory.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Team ETC full of zip...up and down hills
Thanks to Team ETC for taking me up on my offer to wear a team jersey, ride with the team and be photographed in that jersey, all for a $50 donation. I hooked up with this great group of people on Saturday (just rcvd the photo today). Had an excellent, very hilly ride, and the group partied hardy after the ride for their team’s Kick-Off Party for the Valero Bike to the Beach.
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