caligurl
05-09-2006, 09:30 AM
ok tracy! here ya go!
another breathless agony (http://www.cyclingpros.com/onyx.htm) in the history books! i didn't get started as early as i wanted... i planned to be at sylvan park at 5:30 so i could leave as soon as they let me.... well... thanx to the dumb waitress at denny's (only thing open for food that early in the morning)... we waited over 1/2 hour to get our food.. cutting into my schedule! didn't even leave denny's til 5:30!
i literally ran to the registration table... then back to the car.... hubby concentrated on getting me and my stuff ready so i could leave since i knew i needed all the time i could get to meet the cut offs.. didn't do so bad.. left at 6:07....
even that morning, i was still undecided as to what to do about my clothes... and brought a couple of different jerseys with me.. (i did wear my breathless agony sock from last year though!) made a last minute decision for the warmer jersey.... i promptly regretted that choice when i got to the climb on redlands blvd/rd! i started getting passed up by a lot of people.... (that's the norm for me... i'm endurance not speed).... i was very happy that jack rabbit trail didn't have a muddy lake for us this year! although the road at the lake was the worst part! it was some point on JRT that hubby caught and passed me.. and the meanie didn't even give me a push! just said "on your right".... when i realized it was him... i made him slow long enough to snap a picture! then he said bye! see ya later!
speaking of pictures.... i got a new camera friday to replace the one that broke... but i only had a little bit of time that evening to play around with it.. didn't realize i had the focus on "macro".... so the majority of my pictures came out blurry... including the one of hubby *pout*
oak glen never gets easier.. no matter how many times you do it... it's still steep and not an easy ride! it took off my jersey (had another racer back on underneath just in case i got hot!) and changed to my fingerless gloves.... put my jersey back on for the descent.. but forgot to change back my gloves... my poor fingers were cold!!!!!!!
i made it to the 2nd rest stop in plenty of time (for the cut offs.. the ONLY thing i race at these rides is the cut-off clock!) then it was time for damnation alley.... by then it was warming up.. the sun was coming out... so off came the jersey again..... and up up up into the clouds! had a nice tail wind going.... i took some more pics... some are good... some are blurry (i need to get them on a site so i can post them...)
got to angeles oaks and saw a CUTE little doggie that i was feeding goldfish to! pigged out on oranges... then headed on the way again.... just as i headed out i saw a friend (not on this forum... BC68... it was richard!) so rode with him a bit... then i had to stop to put my jersey back on cuz i was getting cold again... probably a good thing.. cuz just ahead (my friend actually saw it) there was an accident between a motorcycle and car).... continued.... up.... up.... up..... did the jersey on and off a couple more times.... finally... even though i was hot.. knew the air was cool... and left it on!
saw hubby coming down the mountain while i was still heading up (i had secretly hoped he would wait at the top for me since time stopped there.. but considering he got there... i think 1.5 hours before me... i guess i don't blame him!
finally saw the top.... and almost started crying (what IS it with me and finishing these rides in tears??????) got my medal and had my picture taken with "death"... unfortunately.... that, too, came out blurry which really stinx.. cuz other than that.. it was a cute picture! she took one with her camera too... so maybe that one is clear!
i think my total overall time is actually a teeny bit faster than last year (i mean by minutes.....) however.. checking my stats from last year and this year... my ride time this year is slower than last year.... of course... i didn't have to wade through a mud hole this year! (and i weigh 6 pounds more than last year.. AND i don't have the ride time nor the climb time in that i had in last year!)
i loaded up on more oranges! grabbed some choco chip cookies... talked to my friend for a few.. then headed down the hill (bundled up with jersey back on and zipped.. wind breaker and full finger gloves! oh... and ear covers back over the ear! had lifted them at some point on the way up)
enjoyed the first part of the descent... but what i want to know is WHERE did all the climbing come from on the descent? i distinctly remember TWO climbs last year and during ride around the bear.. this year i swear there was at least 5 climbs!!!!!????? whatupwiththat?
got to angeles oaks and finally got phone signal back... called hubby... he was not only already back.. but changed and on his way to the bike store to see if they had a part he needed! (next time i swear i WILL attach a tow rope! personal sags aren't allowed.. but NO WHERE do i EVER read i can't use a tow rope and still get credit! just kidding... well.. maybe!)
finally got to the end..... bought our jerseys... i LOVE them this year!! very bright and colorful (last years were kinda dull.. uhm... red and green?) i'm going to try to figure a way to either embroider or somehow get the year put on mine.... something that won't ruin the jersey! we skipped the post ride meal... instead went to bj's for pizza (and yes... a beer for him and margarita for me!) he even got a free pizookie since it was his birthday! awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (yes... great way to spend a birthday, eh? riding breathless agony!!!!!)
i think the SAG support was even better this year than last! i constantly saw SAG vehicles on the way up! some were leap frogging.... going ahead... stopped on the side... going ahead again... some stationed themselves at the side with water and supplies.... nice to see so many vehicles ready and willing to help!
i know they learned from last year on the food... even though we didn't eat this year... i noticed there was TONS of food left and available... when i came in last year.. they were almost out and were rationing it....
this is one of those ride.. for me.. that while i'm doing it i think... "that's it.. NOT doing it next year"... but now.. just a few days past... i know i'll be signing up as soon as it becomes available!
one more ride (http://www.planetultra.com/HB100/index.html)til i'm king... errrrrr queen of the mountain (http://www.planetultra.com/KOM/index.html)
another breathless agony (http://www.cyclingpros.com/onyx.htm) in the history books! i didn't get started as early as i wanted... i planned to be at sylvan park at 5:30 so i could leave as soon as they let me.... well... thanx to the dumb waitress at denny's (only thing open for food that early in the morning)... we waited over 1/2 hour to get our food.. cutting into my schedule! didn't even leave denny's til 5:30!
i literally ran to the registration table... then back to the car.... hubby concentrated on getting me and my stuff ready so i could leave since i knew i needed all the time i could get to meet the cut offs.. didn't do so bad.. left at 6:07....
even that morning, i was still undecided as to what to do about my clothes... and brought a couple of different jerseys with me.. (i did wear my breathless agony sock from last year though!) made a last minute decision for the warmer jersey.... i promptly regretted that choice when i got to the climb on redlands blvd/rd! i started getting passed up by a lot of people.... (that's the norm for me... i'm endurance not speed).... i was very happy that jack rabbit trail didn't have a muddy lake for us this year! although the road at the lake was the worst part! it was some point on JRT that hubby caught and passed me.. and the meanie didn't even give me a push! just said "on your right".... when i realized it was him... i made him slow long enough to snap a picture! then he said bye! see ya later!
speaking of pictures.... i got a new camera friday to replace the one that broke... but i only had a little bit of time that evening to play around with it.. didn't realize i had the focus on "macro".... so the majority of my pictures came out blurry... including the one of hubby *pout*
oak glen never gets easier.. no matter how many times you do it... it's still steep and not an easy ride! it took off my jersey (had another racer back on underneath just in case i got hot!) and changed to my fingerless gloves.... put my jersey back on for the descent.. but forgot to change back my gloves... my poor fingers were cold!!!!!!!
i made it to the 2nd rest stop in plenty of time (for the cut offs.. the ONLY thing i race at these rides is the cut-off clock!) then it was time for damnation alley.... by then it was warming up.. the sun was coming out... so off came the jersey again..... and up up up into the clouds! had a nice tail wind going.... i took some more pics... some are good... some are blurry (i need to get them on a site so i can post them...)
got to angeles oaks and saw a CUTE little doggie that i was feeding goldfish to! pigged out on oranges... then headed on the way again.... just as i headed out i saw a friend (not on this forum... BC68... it was richard!) so rode with him a bit... then i had to stop to put my jersey back on cuz i was getting cold again... probably a good thing.. cuz just ahead (my friend actually saw it) there was an accident between a motorcycle and car).... continued.... up.... up.... up..... did the jersey on and off a couple more times.... finally... even though i was hot.. knew the air was cool... and left it on!
saw hubby coming down the mountain while i was still heading up (i had secretly hoped he would wait at the top for me since time stopped there.. but considering he got there... i think 1.5 hours before me... i guess i don't blame him!
finally saw the top.... and almost started crying (what IS it with me and finishing these rides in tears??????) got my medal and had my picture taken with "death"... unfortunately.... that, too, came out blurry which really stinx.. cuz other than that.. it was a cute picture! she took one with her camera too... so maybe that one is clear!
i think my total overall time is actually a teeny bit faster than last year (i mean by minutes.....) however.. checking my stats from last year and this year... my ride time this year is slower than last year.... of course... i didn't have to wade through a mud hole this year! (and i weigh 6 pounds more than last year.. AND i don't have the ride time nor the climb time in that i had in last year!)
i loaded up on more oranges! grabbed some choco chip cookies... talked to my friend for a few.. then headed down the hill (bundled up with jersey back on and zipped.. wind breaker and full finger gloves! oh... and ear covers back over the ear! had lifted them at some point on the way up)
enjoyed the first part of the descent... but what i want to know is WHERE did all the climbing come from on the descent? i distinctly remember TWO climbs last year and during ride around the bear.. this year i swear there was at least 5 climbs!!!!!????? whatupwiththat?
got to angeles oaks and finally got phone signal back... called hubby... he was not only already back.. but changed and on his way to the bike store to see if they had a part he needed! (next time i swear i WILL attach a tow rope! personal sags aren't allowed.. but NO WHERE do i EVER read i can't use a tow rope and still get credit! just kidding... well.. maybe!)
finally got to the end..... bought our jerseys... i LOVE them this year!! very bright and colorful (last years were kinda dull.. uhm... red and green?) i'm going to try to figure a way to either embroider or somehow get the year put on mine.... something that won't ruin the jersey! we skipped the post ride meal... instead went to bj's for pizza (and yes... a beer for him and margarita for me!) he even got a free pizookie since it was his birthday! awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (yes... great way to spend a birthday, eh? riding breathless agony!!!!!)
i think the SAG support was even better this year than last! i constantly saw SAG vehicles on the way up! some were leap frogging.... going ahead... stopped on the side... going ahead again... some stationed themselves at the side with water and supplies.... nice to see so many vehicles ready and willing to help!
i know they learned from last year on the food... even though we didn't eat this year... i noticed there was TONS of food left and available... when i came in last year.. they were almost out and were rationing it....
this is one of those ride.. for me.. that while i'm doing it i think... "that's it.. NOT doing it next year"... but now.. just a few days past... i know i'll be signing up as soon as it becomes available!
one more ride (http://www.planetultra.com/HB100/index.html)til i'm king... errrrrr queen of the mountain (http://www.planetultra.com/KOM/index.html)