Personal Milestone

[slinkedog]

Yesterday carimail and I did 65 miles, my longest ride to date. My tushie is sore, but otherwise I feel pretty good today. It was a windy day, but we managed to mitigate a good portion of the headwinds by going around the reservoirs. It was a long ride... over 5 hours, but we made it! Woo hoo!

[Veronica]

Yay Slinke! That's terrific. You ought to be right proud.

V.

[jobob]

You were out by the reserviors yesterday? So was I ! Maybe we passed by each other?

Lee & I were on an ACTC club ride. We started out around 11 at the VTA station at Coleman/Winfied, went out to McKean -> Uvas, up Croy Road (ugh), back down Croy (whee), back along Uvas and down Bailey Rd. (whee), up Santa Theresa into the headwind (ugh) and back to the VTA station (with a stop for burritos a few miles before the end :) )

It was a measly 40 miles, unlike you , you studette !

It occurred to me that I should be on the lookout for you, but there were so many people out there - did you see all the groups in Team-in-Training jerseys? They were taking over the place :eek: !

[slinkedog]

I think we must have missed you because there weren't all that many people out and I would have recognized you. We rode from Morgan Hill (Cari lives out off Dunne) to Gilroy, out to Burchell and Watsonville Rd., around Uvas and Calero, to my house (Almaden Valley) and back to MH via Santa Teresa and the bike trail. All I can say is, thank goodness Cari planned it so we were going south on Santa Teresa on the way back. That wind was nasty. Oy. (Come to think of it, we saw one guy by Uvas Reservoir who was in a Tierra Bella jersey who asked us where Uvas dumped out.)

Did see some TNT people... more today on Shannon on the way to church. There seriously must have been about 30 TNT riders out there this morning around 10:00 a.m.!

We also met two nice ladies that were training for the Cindy, as well. We chatted with them for a bit and kept seeing them along the way.

Thanks for the encouragement, Jo and V. It was a big accomplishment for me. It was weird, though... the last 20 miles were a suffer-fest, which I pretty much expected. But I didn't expect to really not be looking forward to my next >60 mile endeavor. Hopefully as I get more used to riding that distance, it will be more fun. I missed my kids and felt bad leaving them for so long, too.

Okay, enough typing. :) Thanks again for your encouraging words. You guys are the best!!

[bikerz]

Way to go Shannon!

But I'm sorry to hear about the sore tushie, even with the new saddle. But man, are you ever going to be ready for the Cinderella ride! I hope I can keep up with you when we finally get that Monterey ride in again! I've been laid low with a cold/flu thing this weekend (thanks to my adorable germ-vector neice and nephew!) Arggh!

[tprevost]

Great Job Slinkedog!!!!

That is a beautiful route too! Don't feel bad about your kids - one of the best things you can do for them is to be fit and healthy! Of course, I sure don't mean to do this every day though! :D AND, just think, now your 40 milers are going to seem like 'quick rides'!

Again, CONGRATS on your milestone! Whoo Hooo!!!!!

Tracy

[SadieKate]

Yeah!!!!! Bravo! Yippeee!! :D

Is the store tushie merely the sit bones? Those'll toughen up.

[cindysue]

way to go Shannon!

Can't wait to see you this coming weekend!!

[slinkedog]

Thanks, Ladies. Yup, it's just the sit bones... not used to 65 miles yet! :)

Z... sorry to hear you're sick! I hope you feel better soon!

Cindy, I'm looking forward to seeing you, as well. You're not riding this year, are you? I'll be sure to stop by the Luna tent afterwards!

[Adventure Girl]

Great job, slinkedog! That's a big accomplishment -- both physically and psychologically! Now that you've done a 60+ mile ride, the next one will be easier and will feel shorter to both your mind and body!

Is that She-Ra Princess of Power tiara around here somewhere? You should wear it proudly today!:D

[cindysue]

Cindy, I'm looking forward to seeing you, as well. You're not riding this year, are you? I'll be sure to stop by the Luna tent afterwards!

nope, gave my reg to another rider, but I'll be there early in the morning to set up our tent and stay through the end so I can see each and every one of you........

[Bike Goddess]

Slinkedog- Congrats on your new mileage! GOOD FOR YOU!

One recommendation- try raising your seat about 1mm (not much) and see if that helps your sit bones. I play around with my seat height from time to time as I often experience sore sit bones as well. Sometimes taking a little pressure off of them will make all the difference in your ride. HOWEVER, don't do much. 1mm at a time is plenty. Be sure to mark your original height so you can see what you are doing. I always have tools in my bag so I can do such adjustments on rides.

Never fear, if you keep this up, 60 miles won't seem so far. I now always do 63 miles when I go out (2 times a week) and it just seems like a normal distance for me now.

Pretty soon, you'll be tackling century rides! :D :D :D :D

[CorsairMac]

Well Done Slinke! but of course the She-Ra Tiara goes to you hun! Congrats!

[maillotpois]

Congrats - that is a great milestone!! :)

[slinkedog]

You guys are the best! :) Thanks so much for your kind words. I will look at the seat post height thing. I need to get Blaine to show me how to adjust it. I can do the saddle, but I've never raised my seat before.

I am looking forward to Saturday (if it doesn't rain too much!) and hope it will be a fun time.

[kjay]

CONGRATULATIONS! Sixty-five miles is a long way.

I want to ask you: will two-hour spinning sessions several times a week help to prepare me for a 60-mile outdoor ride? The weather's been yucky, so I have been spinning indoors, instead.

[SadieKate]

Yes.

Blah-blah-blah-just filling space because "yes" was too short a post.:rolleyes:

[slinkedog]

Hi kjay! I do a lot of time indoors as well, as I have 4 kids. I usually only ride outdoors on the weekends.

I don't really know what to tell you regarding preparedness. I will say that nothing prepared my hiney for 5 hours in the saddle except for 5 hours in the saddle. ;) Two hours spinning is a good workout, though. Are you varying your resistance at all or are you doing a spinning workout? What is your longest ride mile-wise, so far?

Are you doing the Cinderella ride?

Anyone else have words of wisdom to share?

[kjay]

Oh, goodie, SadieKate. Thanks . . . I shall therefore continue my spinning!
I am so happy! :D

[slinkedog]

Well, there you go. SK would know. :)

[kjay]

Hi kjay! I do a lot of time indoors as well, as I have 4 kids. I usually only ride outdoors on the weekends.

I don't really know what to tell you regarding preparedness. I will say that nothing prepared my hiney for 5 hours in the saddle except for 5 hours in the saddle. ;) Two hours spinning is a good workout, though. Are you varying your resistance at all or are you doing a spinning workout? What is your longest ride mile-wise, so far?

Are you doing the Cinderella ride?

Anyone else have words of wisdom to share?

Slinkedog, I do adjust the tension and ride standing up (on the spinner) but my leg muscles wear out fairly fast, although I am getting better. My longest time in the saddle was 40 miles in the rain from Volcanoes National Park to Hilo in Hawaii last November. I hurt like hell that night (my hip muscles) but was back to normal the very next day. Not doing the Cinderella, but have signed up for the 100K Wine Country ride in May. Thanks very much for your response! :)

[SadieKate]

Like slinke said though, 5 hours in the saddle is still crucial. If you can get outside 1 day a week for longer rides, your tushie and other body parts will thank you.

Are your spinning sessions structured? By that I mean taking a class or using Spinervals? You should do more than just sit and spin. Intervals, resistance, cadence changes, standing, one-legged spins, etc., etc., etc.

[maillotpois]

You should do more than just sit and spin. Intervals, resistance, cadence changes, standing, one-legged spins, etc., etc., etc.

Big fan of the whole one-leg thing here. I do about 20 minutes of 1 leg drills before my usual 2 x a week spin class starts. I think the folks at the gym all think I am a little, shall we say, eccentric. Whatever! It really evens out my pedal stroke.

[SadieKate]

You animal! Next you'll be taking rocks to class.:p

[kjay]

Yes, SadieKate, my spinning is structured, and I do all that you mention here. I've done one-leg spinning, but certainly not for 20 minutes, as mentioned by maillotpois. You're all power houses! Thanks for all the help. I really do appreciate it, as I'm more or less (more) an older newbie. ;)

[maillotpois]

You animal! Next you'll be taking rocks to class.:p


Somehow, rocks on a stationary bike just doesn't seem to have the training benefits as on the regular bike! :p

And I don't do 20 minutes on 1 leg - I alternate legs for 5 - 7 minutes at a time for a total of about 20 minutes. The spin instructor "gets it" as he is a MTB racer. But many of the folks in class think I am nutty. I got their nutty.

[Nanci]

Wow! You're right at the point where great leaps in mileage come relatively easily! I can remember almost dying at 65 miles, then being able to 75, then 85, and then suddenly I wasn't dying any more. You are over the hump!!!

Nanci

[slinkedog]

Wow! You're right at the point where great leaps in mileage come relatively easily! I can remember almost dying at 65 miles, then being able to 75, then 85, and then suddenly I wasn't dying any more. You are over the hump!!!

Nanci

Nanci, your post gives me much hope!! I actually felt pretty discouraged on Saturday after my ride that I wasn't totally looking forward to the next major ride. Yesterday I never wanted to see my bike again. Today I wish it wasn't raining and I could take a quick spin around the neighborhood, so I guess that's progress, too!! :)

[Bike Goddess]

SlinkeDog- Just think, Cinderella is 66 miles! AND you will do just fine. Sorry about the weather, though. I'm hoping for some nice weather tomorrow!

See you Friday???????