Climbing Club - Feb Goals

[Trekhawk]

Well ladies Feb is getting awful close so I thought it was time to start setting those climbing goals for next month.

Hmm I think this first month will be the hardest to set goals for after this it should be easier to set....well at least Im hoping it will.

My goal for February is to climb 17000 feet by the end of the month (no laughing from the mountain goats out there a girls got to start somewhere).:o


Ok girls lets hear them.

[jobob]

eek I was going to say 10,000 feet but you've shamed me into 12,000 :p

[five one]

Unfortunately, I can't set goals in terms of total feet to climb since I don't have an altimeter function on my computer. I plan to continue building endurance for the next month. DH has modified a Fred Matheny training plan for his preparation for C2K in July. I'm just sort of following along. Hills will begin in March. Cain't hardly wait!

[Veronica]

Two mountains, since I didn't do one in Jan.

V.

[Trekhawk]

eek I was going to say 10,000 feet but you've shamed me into 12,000 :p

LOL - who knows if Ill make it but I will give it my best shot. Seems so easy when Im sitting here in my nice warm study.:D
My sick kids are all back at school today (well at least half a day as they have parent/teacher conferences this week) so Im about to head out for a ride. LOL I told them no getting sick next month mum has to train - hee hee they just look at me like mum you are crazy.:D

[maillotpois]

Wow. 17,000 sounds ambitious!

I went back and looked through my Bike Journal, because I wasn't really conscious of how much I have been climbing per month. It's really interesting! In the last 2 years, my biggest ever month was 49,290!! (May 2005 in heavy duty Death Ride training). But (1) my Februarys(ies?) tend to be a bit slow (10260 in 2005 and 11,745 in 2006), (2) I am not able to ride much at all during the week these days and (3) I am still "medically limited" so I will set my goal at 11,000. This will be a challenge as even our DR training rides are pretty mellow in February.

My "least" climbing month was November 2005 with 6470. The last full month I rode last year I logged 37,450.

Statistics are fun!

[SadieKate]

My goal is "up." :p

[GLC1968]

Ok, here goes...

There are 4 weekends in February. I will do at least one ride every weekend with a goal to climb at least 3000 feet, so I'm setting my monthly goal at 12,000 ft. Be gentle with me...it's winter here! (Brrrr)

I promise to up my goal for March!

[SadieKate]

You made me think about it more than "up", so . . . my climbing goal is once around the circumference of Kiviuq, one of the moons of Saturn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiviuq_%28moon%29), approx. 144,291 feet or 43.9 km. Yeow, I’m going to need some help, but I liked the story of Kiviuq. According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiviuq), “Kiviuq is an eternal Inuit wanderer. Spirits, giants, cannibals, bears and sea monsters intermingle in Kiviuk's world, creating havoc for him. He walks, or travels by dog sled, kayak, or may be borne by huge fishes. His supernatural powers allow him to overcome all manner of obstacles in his travels across the North.” I guess he’ll be my spirit guide for the year. We’ve completed 3.92% of our journey so far. Hope he and Emmaline, my inner tortoise, will like each other.

[Trekhawk]

Wow. 17,000 sounds ambitious!

I went back and looked through my Bike Journal, because I wasn't really conscious of how much I have been climbing per month. It's really interesting! In the last 2 years, my biggest ever month was 49,290!! (May 2005 in heavy duty Death Ride training). But (1) my Februarys(ies?) tend to be a bit slow (10260 in 2005 and 11,745 in 2006), (2) I am not able to ride much at all during the week these days and (3) I am still "medically limited" so I will set my goal at 11,000. This will be a challenge as even our DR training rides are pretty mellow in February.

My "least" climbing month was November 2005 with 6470. The last full month I rode last year I logged 37,450.

Statistics are fun!

Great Glaux as my son would say (you can thank author Kathryn Lasky and her Guardians of Ga'Hoole series for that one) that is a lot of climbing. Yep 17000 is probably ambitious for me but I checked my stats so far for this month and Im at 10915 and I really havent been riding a lot so I hope if I put the effort in and seek out those hills I will make it. Hey thats the idea right.:D

[SadieKate]

Statistics are fun!So she says because she had bikejournal filters to do the maths.:rolleyes:

[SadieKate]

GLC, what is the climbing like in your area? Trek and MP have hills right out their doors. Even Jo has more than I do. Well, almost everybody has more than I do.

[Trekhawk]

GLC, what is the climbing like in your area? Trek and MP have hills right out their doors. Even Jo has more than I do. Well, almost everybody has more than I do.

Hee Hee - I think my ride down at Davis with you and BikerHen had the smallest amount of altitude gain that I have seen on my computer - so small I didnt even put it in my journal......now that is flat.

Now wind you sure get plenty of that down at Davis.

[SadieKate]

Nooooooo! I don't want to hear that! And you just threw it out as extraneous. Can I have it? :p

Every precious ft counts for me.

[maillotpois]

OMG Trek - you have a huge amount of climbing for the month so far! Especially for January! I am really impressed!!!


And yes, SK, since the Bike J does the math I can regurgitate it pretty articulately.

Edit: Tee hee. SK will be climbing rings around us by the end of the year...

[SadieKate]

Rings? At 144,000 ft in a year? When you can do that a 3 months? Uh huh . . .

Interesting stats thanks to bikejournal --

Jan 2005 -- 956 ft
Feb 2005 and the beginning my participation in the TE Girls' Hill Training Program and the first time up Diablo -- 9,120 ft.

Almost a ten-fold increase. Now that's a good training plan. I survived, had an epiphany and look where I am today. No, maybe better best not to look. I have to lose all those peppermint mochas I've been collecting.

[GLC1968]

GLC, what is the climbing like in your area? Trek and MP have hills right out their doors. Even Jo has more than I do. Well, almost everybody has more than I do.

I live in the 'piedmont' area of NC, which basically means that everywhere I go, there is *some* elevation change. My immediate area is rolling hills and I'd say that the longest 'flat' I've ever ridden is about 3 miles. As an example, my typical ride at lunch is about 15 - 17 miles and about 550 ft of climbing. Most of my longer weekend rides (50 miles) are about 2000 ft. No where near what you western girls are used to, I'm sure!

Since I'm training for my first 'challenge century' (9000ft), I definitely need to do more!

Of course, it would help if I actually recorded that particular statistic at BJ! :eek: I'm going to have to invest a little time tonight updating some back rides so that I know what I am up against! (I have my elevation info in my Polar computer log). Damn!

[Trekhawk]

OMG Trek - you have a huge amount of climbing for the month so far! Especially for January! I am really impressed!!!



LOL - but my hill riding still sucks so I guess I need to do more. :o

[maillotpois]

Rings? At 144,000 ft in a year?

RINGS. As in the ones around Saturn. :rolleyes:

[SadieKate]

That little pun just dawned on me but I was on the phone with a co-worker. Didn't seem the best time to say "Wait a minute. I just figured out MP's little joke. I have to post."

So I'm a little slow today and everyday.

[SadieKate]

As an example, my typical ride at lunch is about 15 - 17 miles and about 550 ft of climbing. Most of my longer weekend rides (50 miles) are about 2000 ft. No where near what you western girls are used to, I'm sure!Well, this western girl gets in a whopping 40 ft in her afterwork 23 mile ride. I can get 900 or so if I ride alllll the way out to the closest hill 28 miles away.

Actually, rolling hills are my favorite because you can use momentum and power and gravity and are just plain fun . . . rather than a 10 mile slog up and up and up.

[Veronica]

You need to come ride with me after work SK. :p I can get in about 1,000 in a twenty mile ride.

V.

[jobob]

Or you could come out with me at sunrise. :p :D
From my house, three times around Coyote Hills and back home is about 1000 feet and 20 miles.

[SadieKate]

Then, sumbody'll need to figger out a commute plan for me.:rolleyes:

[RoadRaven]

Well, everytime I bike home from work or anywhere at sea level, I climb 600 feet, as our house is 600 feet above sea level (the top of our farm is 1200 feet).

But my goal is not in elevation, but rather in training rides.

I want to do one day of hill repetitions per week - thats pushing it all the way going as hard/fast as I can to the top and only sitting - no standing to help me do the last little pinch.

The hill I have chosen is only about 3-400 metres long, and 2/3 of it is about 6% I am guessing.

Anyway, last week I did 6 reps, this week I did 8.

By the last week in February I want to be able to do 15 reps...

There, I've said it... better click "submit" before I can back out of it...

[maillotpois]

SK - Commute via my house!

I'm hoping to go up Tam today after work - if my meeting at the scary jobsite in Pittsburgh doesn't go too long. PP rode to school and wants me to ride home with her (to carry her backpack) so I am hoping to get home in time to go up Tam before that. (GP says "Well it'll only take you 10 minutes to get down..." :rolleyes: I don't care how happy I have been descending - THAT's not likely!!)

With the hours I have been putting in this month I have earned a little hooky time....

[Veronica]

You have a meeting in Pittsburgh? Geez that's just a hop, skip and a jump from me! Okay - 10 more minutes down 4. :)

V.

[maillotpois]

I was wondering that - I don't know the area too well. If I weren't trying to rush back to get a ride in and ride PP home from school I'd track you down and bug you. My meeting is probably 10 - 12, so it's right in the middle of your workday. Not the best timing.

[maillotpois]

I gotta run - but wanted to say Good Luck tomorrow w/the 200, V!! (And Jo if you're lurking, knock those speedy people over for me as the ride in okay?) I'll be in Petaluma all day for TNT kick off but will be thinking of you guys. Should be a good day.

[jobob]

(And Jo if you're lurking, knock those speedy people over for me as the ride in okay?)

heh heh, no problem ;)

Oooh, maybe I'll get to meet Curtis

[Veronica]

Thanks MP, but I'm not doing the 200 K. I'm just not excited about riding long distances right now. I canceled my reservations for Solvang too.

I know I can do the distances, but I'm just not excited about it. And those rides require you be there mentally. I guess I'm trying to find some balance in my life again.

We're actually thinking about riding up that way on the motorcycle.

V.

[jobob]

Sometimes it's good to kick back a bit.

Plus you can ride with us more. :D

[Veronica]

Yeah, it's amazing how deciding not to do these rides has relaxed me.

Now when I go out and ride, it's about riding, not about getting faster, stronger, etc. Not that those were bad things for me last year. Sometimes I just want to look at the sky and the trees. Watch out for that suicidal squirrel though. And sometimes I want to hammer up that hill, or see if I can hold my speed through a corner w/o braking.

And I want to spend more time with my family. I want to do some of the projects we've talked about doing around the house.

V.

[maillotpois]

Well, good for you. It has to be fun.

(But I seriously think our SR 200k will be fun, given the company, so you should think about it....)

After rushing home to ride, it's now raining. Conspiracy. So much for today's climbing I think.... We have to go to a memorial service tonight (40 something year old sister of our 2 riding partner sisters died of breast cancer after fighting it for 6 years. Urgh. Puts things into perspective. Their mom's an honoree for our TNT cycle team w/ lymphoma. More perspective.)

[Deanna]

My goals for February are a little different. I'm not going to set feet/month this time. I think I'll target a couple of local climbs. So, my list is the Geysers, the Harrison Grade/Sweetwater loop, and I'd like to make it up the Mill Creek ladder without having to stop because I'm seeing stars. That's the toughest 1/4 mile in the area.

[maillotpois]

where's Mill Creek??

in a few weeks we do our pine flat/geysers ride. epic! but I don't think you ever want to do the geysers alone, right?? it's creepy on the other side.

[Deanna]

Mill Creek is just outside of Healdsburg off of Westside Road, just west of West Dry Creek (that's a lot of Wests). You wouldn't know the climb is back there as you have to go in quite a bit of ways to get to it (it's a nice gradual climb most of the way). It's rural residential and very pretty when the creek is flowing and in the Spring time.

I didn't find the Geysers particularly creepy. Though there have been some "harvests" raided and during certain times of the year you might want to watch out for the gardeners. If you don't mind a non team member, I might join you for part of the Geysers/Pine Flat Epic. I certainly am not ready to do both in one day.

[maillotpois]

is mill creek the one that goes off the the right when you're going south on westside??

we'll talk about geysers. I still think you should consider signing up. you are plenty strong from what I have seen. come to our ride next week (saturday) out of finley center at 830. you can meet some of the team - that ride's open to anyone interested. 35 miles, pretty easy. (it has to be - there's not much there!)

[jobob]

Well hot dang, I climbed 16,000 ft in January :) pats self on back

I'm still sticking with my 12,000 ft goal for Feb - it's a shorter month after all.

[Fredwina]

I did 29,000 feet (remember i'm using Bikely.com To get my elevation data, so I could be off) in Jan, but i'm thinking about 20,000 feet for feb. -shorter month and some less hilly rides planned

[SadieKate]

You two are studettes!

[Fredwina]

You two are studettes!
Move down here. I can gain about 1,500 going from the south side of Rancho Cucamonga to north end, about 7 miles:
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/haven-ave
The hard part is finding a flat route! :o

[maillotpois]

Good job you guys!!

I surprised myself with over 17,000 in January. However, since February is shorter and my planned rides for February are pretty mellow (and I already got a talking to from somebody here about maybe trying to do too much too soon), I am sticking with 11,000 for February. Well, okay, 12,000.

[Trekhawk]

Well done you STUDS.:D

I just checked my total for Jan and its 14050 feet.

LOL - no avoiding those hills in Feb if I want to make 17000.:D

[jobob]

It's all your fault ! :D