Goals

[Veronica]

I need to ride 108 more miles before the end of the month to get my mileage goal for March. Crummy weather and other commitments on the weekend have made it tough this month. If the weather holds I think I'll just make it.

Today I rode 37 miles in Livermore while my car was getting worked on. If you haven't ridden up to Del Valle it's a really pretty ride. It's a cheese hill in both directions so be prepared. :D

Then I headed down Tesla to Cross Road to Patterson Pass following the Cinderella route. I was doing a little over 15 MPH going down Patterson, there was a wicked head wind out there (hope it's gone before next Saturday for you all!) when I was passed by 4 guys in a paceline. None of them said anything. The last one did turn around. That got my goat! I accelerated (Thank you Coach Troy for your god awful acceration sets!) and drafted them until they went straight on Patterson and I wanted to turn left on Greenville. They were doing between 19 and 21. So it was fun while it lasted.

Happy riding!

V.

[fasteryet]

What's a cheese hill? I'm not sure that we have them in NJ :confused:

[Veronica]

It's the kind of hill you whine all the up and careen like a drunk or a mad woman down. :D

Seriously, it's a hill that's long enough and has a steep enough grade that they put a warning sign of a triiangle (looks like a wedge of cheese) with a truck on top of it. Sometimes they will add the grade.

V.

http://www.sos.state.il.us/publications/rr/images/downgrade.gif

[fasteryet]

Ahhhh..... We do have some here, but I try to avoid them. I do like cheese with my whine, though ;)

[Bike Goddess]

So, Miss Veronica- What was your goal for March??? Let's see how I stack up with yours. (I'll have to check my bike journal, but I sure did do a lot this month, come to think of it!) :D :D

[Veronica]

It's a simple plan. Twice a month up Diablo - did that!

More mileage per month this year than last year.

March of 2004 I did 398.2. BTW I had been thinking 393, so I need 113 more miles.

V.

[SadieKate]

I just looked at my totals for this month and it's not the total mileage that blows me away. It's the elevation gain. I count trainer miles because I figure time on the bike is time on the bike and if I'm going dizzy from the anaerobic interval abuse, it counts. Anyway, only 307.81 miles so far but 9,670 ft of climbing! Wahoo!

I have many, many long rides right out my door that don't involve more climbing than a freeway bridge so this just blows me away! I had no idea how it was stacking up. I would guess that my normal total would be around the 3 to 4,000 ft gain because of the mtb rides. Let’s hope it pays off this weekend.

[Veronica]

It's been raining off and on all morning here. Around 10 the sky seems to be clearing, so I decide I'll take our truck in for work and ride from there with a plan of doing somewhere between 30 - 50 miles, since I'm not sure how long the route is from the Nissan dealership.

Drive the truck over and it's beginning to cloud up. That's okay, but the wind is picking up too. Do all the paperwork and while I'm in the restroom, realize I left my water bottles on the counter. Okay, it's not that far I'll just ride home and get the bottles, it will give me more miles.

As soon as I get on my bike, I hear something rubbing. It's not too bad, I figure I'll look at it when I get home. It starts to sprinkle. Then it starts to full on rain. I continue until I get to what I feel is a safe part of town for stopping in. Check out my front tire since hey, I've stopped. It's not rubbing on the brakes, maybe on the fender, but I'm not sure. Put on my jacket, which I had thought about not bringing and continue home.

While I'm in the garage checking out my tires, the sun comes out! Arghh... but I'm home and it''s lunchtime. I had some real food instead of Red Bull and peanut butter granola bars. :D And it does look like my fender had shifted around.

I'll try for a few more miles this afternoon. Thom says we can go ride the flatlands on the tandem on Thursday before taking off for our "mini break" to get whatever miles I still need.

V.

[CorsairMac]

I'm right there with ya V! My goal for the year is 3087 give or take. (it's the distance of the RAAM) which breaks down to only 60 miles a week. But since January I've been down twice with chest colds/bronchitis/sinus infection. I figure in the past 3 months I've ridden maybe 6 wks of which 3 wks I've had to use as "comback" rides meaning I didn't ride the whole week. I just keep telling myself - the weather Will get warmer, I Will get better, and the bike will Still be there once this is over and done with - but it sure don't help!

[nuthatch]

but 9,670 ft of climbing! Wahoo!


Wow, very impressive, SadieKate! I guess I didn't realize there were trainers that kept track of your elevation gain - I'm calling my thing a trainer but it's just a resistance roller. No wonder I was huffing and puffing on those real hills the other day!! :D

[Veronica]

I need to go out and ride 38 miles this morning. Sarah we need to trade houses. :D I've gotten over 20,000 feet of climb, because I can't go anywhere without climbing, but I'm down to the wire on my mileage goal.

V.

[SadieKate]

Wow, very impressive, SadieKate! I guess I didn't realize there were trainers that kept track of your elevation gain - I'm calling my thing a trainer but it's just a resistance roller. No wonder I was huffing and puffing on those real hills the other day!! :D

I log the miles from my trainer but I only log elevation gain from outdoor rides. I should go back, subtract trainer miles and then look at the elevation gain from the miles I have left.

V, you can come up here any old time but I'll have to get my Dad to tune-up the harpsichord for Thom. 20,000 climing for March? I still remain impressed that flatlander me is pushing 10k. If only the Mt Tam ride had worked out . . .

Ok, got to get ready for work. Was defragging the old confuser last night so couldn't check up on everyone.

[Veronica]

You have a harpsichord?! Thom wants a harpischord! Bach sounds SO much better on a harpisichord.

V.

[MomOnBike]

I'll go one better on the harpsichord thing. My DH and his Dad built one (from a kit, but still...). It got sold to a good home when the in-laws moved from their big home to an elder-condo, and last I heard is still going strong.

None of us in this house plays keyboards well enough to justify the responsibility for it, or I could have had it. I was tempted...

[SadieKate]

Sorry, Mom, this is a spinet-style harspishord my dad built with the inside of the lid painted by my grandmother. She actually entered the thing in the county fair in Amarillo, TX. She said the judges weren't quite sure what to do with it, but I think she did win a ribbon.

My dad has the really nice 8 ft dble manual at his home. The universities in SoCal used to rent it from him when the big international names came in for concerts. When we moved it, the rule was if you fell, you had to fall under the harpsichord. :rolleyes:

I played Mozart in my 4th grade recital on one of the string of harpsichords that went through our house. Now, to get really weird. I actually had a few "pro" gigs (as in a college would hire me to play continuo or our group would play at a home party) back in my twenties when I was still playing the viola da gamba, recorder, krumhorn, you name it.

Ok, now you guys know more of the skeletons in my closet. :p

[SadieKate]

This is interesting. I rode twice with V this month. 70% of my climbing was done during these 2 rides, 72 miles and 6,800 ft, which means that I spent 36 of those miles riding at an average 3.6% grade (a couple hundred of the ft was at 17%). They generally don't build railroad tracks steeper than 4%. I think V is abusing her elders. ;)

[Veronica]

Thom's gaga over your harpsichord Sarah. Thet are VERY hard to find on the used market.

V.

[slinkedog]

Very cool, SadieKate! When I was in college in the chamber choir we did some concerts with authentic period instruments and the sound is just amazing. We had a cool harpsichord lab at the university, too. I considered taking it just so I could mess around on one, but I never did it. I used to play harp, but I'm harp-less right now. I hadn't played the thing since my 5 year old was born, so I sold it to buy my bike. ;)

[SadieKate]

If we can get you all up to mtbike Foresthill or Cool, I'll call my dad and arrange a visit. If he's in practice, he might play Scott Joplin for Thom. Or Thom can play it himself. :D

The little spinet at our house hasn't been tuned in years and probably has a couple broken strings. I know, I know. Neglect. Shame on me. I'm having so much fun riding. Bill only plays the harmonica and I don't believe Mozart or Bach wrote for it. Even my violin lies in the closet ignored. So sad.

[SadieKate]

Very cool, SadieKate! When I was in college in the chamber choir we did some concerts with authentic period instruments and the sound is just amazing. We had a cool harpsichord lab at the university, too. I considered taking it just so I could mess around on one, but I never did it. I used to play harp, but I'm harp-less right now. I hadn't played the thing since my 5 year old was born, so I sold it to buy my bike. ;)


Geez, wow! I drool over some of the smaller Celtic harps I've seen. I just try to stay realistic over all the stuff I want to do. I need to win the lottery (hard to do when I've never bought a ticket).

Where did you go to school?

[slinkedog]

My harp was a celtic-style harp with full levers. It was a Dusty Strings with 36 strings. I loved that thing, but it was wasting away in my closet. Now a really cool kid (a teenage boy, if you can believe it) is making beautiful music with it and I'm getting some exercise. Maybe I'll buy another harp someday. They are a lot of fun, and since you have a keyboard background, you will probably have a lot easier time learning it than I did. I played classical guitar as my main instrument (well, other than my voice as I was a voice major), and it was hard to get used to having both hands moving at the same time!! ;)

I went to San Jose State. Many moons ago. ;)

[SadieKate]

Do you know about these folks? We visited the shop a couple years ago when we were in MN for Xmas.

I gave my dad a bowed psaltery kit which is mostly done and Bill bought a dulcimer kit which he has never started. We're riding instead! Their harps had a beautiful sound. Something to do in your spare time.

Check out the cardboard kits for kids!

http://www.musikit.com/

This forum has an amazing amount of hidden talent!

[Adventure Girl]

This forum has an amazing amount of hidden talent!I can tap dance! :cool: But not in Sidis! :rolleyes:

[SadieKate]

Cool, perhaps Sidis work for clogging?

[CorsairMac]

I can tap dance! :cool: But not in Sidis! :rolleyes:
switch out the cleats for taps and there ya go!!!

[Veronica]

This is interesting. I rode twice with V this month. 70% of my climbing was done during these 2 rides, 72 miles and 6,800 ft, which means that I spent 36 of those miles riding at an average 3.6% grade (a couple hundred of the ft was at 17%). They generally don't build railroad tracks steeper than 4%. I think V is abusing her elders. ;)

I ask nothing you of that I don't ask of myself. :D

Gee maybe I'm an Italian mountain goat.

V.

[Bike Goddess]

Well, since we're into confession time- I have a Bachelor of Music from the SFConservatory of Music. My main instrument was (note past tense) viola and my other was flute. I also played the piano as well.

Re Harpsichords-I used to play in a chamber group in Berkeley. We played with a double keyboard Sperhake (Spelling) which I loved for Bach et al as well. There is nothing like a beautiful musical instrument. (V's piano fits in that category although I haven't heard who makes it!)

Now all of my time is devoted to cycling and work. :D :D I still love music, it just isn't a 12 hour a day passion anymore. Viola gone to a good home as have flute and piano. :(

Now, back to cycling..... :cool:

[Veronica]

It's a 7 foot Schimmel.

V.

[slinkedog]

Wow, Nancy... the Conservatory!! You're amazing! We have a friend from church who is studying percussion there now and he's quite the musician. My guitar teacher (past tense, also) studied with a gentleman who taught guitar there and now I'm not going to be able to remember his name... a Greek fellow... George Sakellariou, I think? Did you know him?

Anyhoo, Sadie, I'm not familiar with that particular company of kitmakers, but I looked into going that route when I bought my own harp. I was too chicken to try it, and I wanted a warranty. ;)

[Bike Goddess]

Would love to hear it sometime! Maybe we should have a ride that starts and ends at YOUR house V! :D

[CorsairMac]

It's a 7 foot Schimmel.

V.

A Schimmel!! *insert low whistle here* yup...know that name.......very nice V, very nice.

(of course, like I would expect anything less to go with that {yup...here it comes} awesome cashmere jersey!) {couldn't resist, the devil made me do it}

[BikeMomma]

Wow, all the musical talent here! My mother has a restored baby grand in her living room that she plays like a dream......unfortunately, I did not inherit her talent for music making, but I do really enjoy the other end of things - just listening. When the harmony is just so, I get goosebumps. My brother DID, however, inherit the music-making gene - drums is his instrument and he is extremely talented at the recording end of things. He converted part of his garage into a studio, where he and his band record tracks. Me...ummm... I totally flopped at the flute, and that's puttin' it nicely. I took up art and sports instead.

Ok, back to the subject at hand...goals. I haven't had a chance to work out any mileage goals, but one goal I do have at this point is to be able to stay with the Saturday morning group - the racers - and be competitive again on sprint/interval training and all-out practice race nights. If I can get to that point by the end of the season, I might seriously consider racing next year (yikes! I'll be in the Masters 35+ category!!). There alot of "if's" here, as I have time issues with the kids, job, etc., but my gut tells me I can do it if I really apply myself. It's just keeping the balance of all those time demands that will be difficult.

[nuthatch]

I think I "ouch!"......I think I "ouch!!"......I think I "Ooowwwuuuch!" <-- Me on hills

This is hilarious! I'm with you there - the only thing worse is headwinds! That giant hand pushing you backwards!! I'm usually uttering a low groan (literally!) most of the time.

Good luck with your goals (racing sounds totally scary!)

[Bike Goddess]

Re Conservatory people- Nope don't know him. I was amongst the first people to graduate after the Conservatory got accreditedin the '60s. Tells you how long ago that was (before your time, yes?) :D

[slinkedog]

I was born in '67, so it was probably right around my starting time. So now you're the Bike AND Music Goddess!

[MomOnBike]

Wow, I really let this thread go for too long.

I'm a viola major, too, and somehow I've kept it up. We have a concert coming up the 17th, then the season is over and I can ride on Thursday nights. :D

Once I started to do an inventory of instruments for insurance purposes, but was overwhelmed by the sheer number of music-making devices we have - period, working and otherwise so I never quite completed it.

I'd vote for a ride that starts and ends at V's house, we'd all have to bring either food or instruments, though. I'd hate to be a burden. (I'm ignoring the fact that I live many miles away - guess my ride will start weeks earlier.) :p

[CorsairMac]

(I'm ignoring the fact that I live many miles away - guess my ride will start weeks earlier.) :p

Well plan it so you come through Albuquerque and pick me up!! :p

[MomOnBike]

Of course, but only if you ride your new bike! :D

[CorsairMac]

Of course, but only if you ride your new bike! :D

Getting ready to take him in right now to have his checkup and of course....start the whole build him to suit me process. Don't know why but I keep hearing the 6 million dollar man music in the background with the voiceover saying: we Can rebuild him! ;)

[BikeMomma]

Don't know why but I keep hearing the 6 million dollar man music in the background with the voiceover saying: we Can rebuild him! ;)

Haa haa haaaaaa! Too funny, Corsair! As I read that I had a childhood flashback to Oscar, Max, and Steve Austin, and Jamie Summers! And the theme music Da da da dada da da dada... :D :D :D

[SnappyPix]

Ah, blast from the past - Jamie Summers always outshone Steve Austin in my book!