Climbing Club - April Goals

Time to set those goals for April ladies.

Well I have decided not to set myself an amount for April as with Spring break thrown in there (little chance of riding that week with the boys at home) and other family stuff it will be a short riding month for me.

So instead I have decided to try and do two routes locally that I have avoided up until now. One involves riding down to the Yuba river and back (back is the scary part imagine canyon). The other involves adding an extra loop I found on routeslip to an already hilly ride.

Lets hear your goals.

Oops nearly forgot check out the March thread for some of the March results.

I got almost 25,000 feet in for March. I'd like to top that in April. I also want to climb at least two out of the three local mountains. And some mountain bike time would be nice.

V.

April....hmmm, not sure. My first mountain century is May 5th, so April will have to have a good amount of climbing in it.

I'm going to shoot for 14,000 ft. :)

I'm shooting for 18,000.

Hopefully I can start it out right with a ride tomorrow up Palomares, Crow Canyon & back down to Sunol & over Calaveras.

I have a hard time setting actual climbing footage goals because I don't have an altimeter but I will attempt to climb Knox Mountain once a week in April, AND do hill repeats on Steele road and/or Gordon Hill once a week. If that's unmanageable, I'll alternate the two - one on week, and the other the next week.

Got 34,200 for March. Probably shoot for 20,000 in April. I think it may be a quieter month. Famous last words.

TrekHawk, I hope you've been training hard. I've got the Davis tour all mapped out for you. 6 bridges and 6 tunnels in 14 miles with only 120 ft of climbing.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...DirtyDozen.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SadieKate

TrekHawk, I hope you've been training hard. I've got the Davis tour all mapped out for you. 6 bridges and 6 tunnels in 14 miles with only 120 ft of climbing.

---

:eek: :eek: Looks like a few killer climbs in there. I better up my hill training.
Lucky I have the Trek with those granny of granny gears.:D

I am shooting for 13,000 in April. Got started with 500 today! :p

Alright, I'm joining a little late but I only recently (ie in the last hour or so) figured out how to retrieve elevation data from my Garmin GPS. 8 days of April have gone by and I've logged a little over 7000 feet of climbing on my bike, 9700 running.

So I think I'll shoot for 25 000 feet riding this month. Running, maybe 20 000. I don't think I should be running hills as much as I have been.

How's everyone doing so far?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wahine

Alright, I'm joining a little late but I only recently (ie in the last hour or so) figured out how to retrieve elevation data from my Garmin GPS. 8 days of April have gone by and I've logged a little over 7000 feet of climbing on my bike, 9700 running.

So I think I'll shoot for 25 000 feet riding this month. Running, maybe 20 000. I don't think I should be running hills as much as I have been.

How's everyone doing so far?

---

Welcome to the club Wahine.
After a nice ride with some of the TE girls yesterday I have about 6500 for the month so far.
Good luck with your April targets for riding and running.:)

I think I'm on target for the number of feet, but looking at my schedule, I'm not sure when I'll have time to climb two mountains.

V.

Wahine, nice to see you here!

Boy, I am not on target at all. My mom and dad both died in the past 4 months, and we are now in the process of packing up the house to sell, and I happen to also live there currently! This week was really a lost week on the bike, and I am really noticing the difference in recovery times on days when I am also really emotionally stressed.

Anyhow, I have done a whopping 1000 feet or so over 2 short rides. I have some work to do to make my goal, but I am still committed, and I had a really relaxing day on the bike today, despite getting rained and hailed on! :)

Wow - Starfish - I am so sorry for your loss. What a tough time this must be for you.

Big hugs to you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by maillotpois

Wow - Starfish - I am so sorry for your loss. What a tough time this must be for you. Big hugs to you.

---

Thanks...I don't want to hijack this thread...but I have been thinking of starting a new thread somewhere about training/recovery in the midst of really stressful times.

The blessing is that we (my brothers and I) were able to care for both of them for their last few months in their own home, and they were able to die at home as they had always wanted. It has been a helluva 6-8 months, and amazing to experience the huge impact on my physical recovery now that I have started working out again.

Back to climbing...I decided to go ahead and target the Shasta Summit Century as a fun and motivating goal, which is why I am trying to keep up with the climbing training!

Starfish, which route are you doing? I'm thinking of it at some point but this year may be too crowded with other commitments.

You sound strong and focused. I'm sure there were times when you could barely keep your wits together, but I sure understand the training/recovery issues in stressful times. Just focusing on getting the bike down the trail for 50 ft can be a challenge.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SadieKate

Starfish, which route are you doing?

---

SK, thanks for the boost! I am not particularly strong, but I love to ride my bike! Unfortunately, I forgot that from last June through January, so I am starting pretty weak this year. Unfortunately, I also gained some stress weight.

I am shooting for the 100 mile, 10,000 foot route. I KNOW I can do the 60 miles with 4,000, and I am not at all sure that I will be able to pull off the 100 mile route. But, my goal is to climb more than ever in one day in an organized ride, to learn a lot about myself, and to enjoy the sunshine and beauty. And, with the right training and luck, I am going to try as hard as I can to do the whole 10,000 foot option.

I bought Arnie Baker's ACE climbing book online.

You know, I love Arnie Baker. I think he is a fount of info, but what is with the helmet?

http://www.arniebakercycling.com/

Are you implying AB is a Fred? ;)

I know plenty of Freds who can wear their helmets properly. Sheesh, what an example.

Agreed.

Umm..k..My goals are to do the hill ride (road) to Kalamunda twice this month. It's basically the hilliest area of Perth..

MTB goals-Be able to get up about 500m of the hill of hurt :eek: , then the hill at the goat farm & perhaps conquer the horrible hill between the Mundaring weir hotel-the dell

I know this will make very little sense to anyone outside of Perth..:rolleyes:

C

since everyone is talking about climbing hills and mts, I thought this might be a good place to seek advice regarding such. Here's the probelm, on the flats and smallish inclines, I'm ok and average 18-19 over the long haul. But when the incline goes up, I lose power and fall behind the group. I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing wrong. someone told me that my gearing is too hard, someone else said not hard enough. Can anyone tell me the basics of climbing a hill so that I'm not always pulling up the rear? I'm starting to be embarrassed. I've been riding for about a year (just started the hilly parts about a month ago) and in my own mind, I should be doing much better on the inclines. The last time I rode with the group, I saw stars by the end and almost threw up. Geeze.

Thanks for any info.

Just a quick Arnie Baker diversion - for years he was the speaker at all the TNT pre-event dinners - before centuries. He'd show up on the podium to speak wearing a pig nose. Then he'd say that we were all pigs - maybe we'd been "interested" in doing whatever century it was we were planning to ride the next day, but now we were "committed". And that's the difference between bacon and eggs. The chicken is "interested", but the pig is "committed."

I'm a pig. :rolleyes:

Staci - if you've only been riding hills a month, give yourself some time. And don't try to keep up with others on the hills until you have more riding under your belt. CLimbing at a pace that makes you see stars and want to barf means you are pushing way too hard. That's fine if you are doing interval work but not if you're trying to do a longer ride.

The thing that makes climbing hills easier is climbing hills. Practice. Hill repeats are great training - and perhaps you should do some hill work on your own, without the group, and practice until it becomes a bit easier for you.

It does get easier.

I came here for some advice about climbing and training in the midst of stress, but my stress doesn't even compare to Starfish's! I'm so sorry for your loss!

But I do still need help.

I've signed up for and am in training to complete a ride out of Chattanooga called the 3-state, 3 mountain on May 5th. 100 miles, 8k - 9k of climbing with the last climb being the worst with grades at 18% near the top. It's easily the lowest total elevation of all the mountain centuries in my area, but I still think I'm in for a shocker.

For training, I've been alternating weekends of long rides of moderate climbing (locally I live in a 'piedmont' area with rollers upon rollers upon rollers) with rides in the mountainous areas locally that are steeper but shorter. This past weekend I did 75 miles of regular hilly terrain (in unexpected winds!). The weekend before it was 55 miles with a mountain climb at 20 miles for a total of 4500 ft. Next weekend will be another 'mountianous' ride of about 65 miles and the week after that, 85 miles of moderate terrain. During the week, I typically get in one evening ride (25 miles), one lunch ride (15-18 miles) and one commute (14 miles each way). All of these are hilly but not 'mountanious' terrain.

My problem is this...work keeps getting in the way. Over the past 3 weeks, I've been lucky to squeeze in two rides during the week. I am constantly driving around with my bike on my car and constantly having to appologize to her for not actually riding her. I'm totally stressed from work, but it's even worse when I can't get out to ride. I literally just spent 10 minutes in the bathroom trying not to cry from frustration. I've had this awesome training plan pinned to my wall and I keep having to admit that I just can't always get these week day rides in.

Am I screwed? Will the weekend riding be enough, or am I going to get my rear-end handed to me on May 5th?

Oh, and top all this off with the fact that I have not lost 1 single pound in 4 weeks even though I've been trying. I'm still WAY heavier than I should be and it kills me that I'm going to be lugging all this extra 'me' up those mountains, too.

Any words of advice or encouragement?

Well, GLC, you have to ask yourself, what's the worse that can happen?

Perhaps you'll be slower than you'd like to be, and finish towards the back of the pack. A bit bruising to the ego, for sure, but you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you finished a realy tough ride.

Perhaps you'll have to stop and rest a few times going up some of the hills (infinitely better than barfing, methinks).

Perhaps you'll have to walk up a hill or two. I've seen experienced riders doing that!

And if worse comes to worse, you might have to call it a day at some point and SAG back.

But c'mon, really, is any of that so awful ??

And then next year, with another years' experience and training under your belt, do it again, and you'll be really happy with how much you improved! :D

Thanks, jobob!

My problem is two-fold...1) I am extremely stubborn so admitting defeat and accepting a SAG ride back may never happen. :o 2) I'm also extremely competitive - so I am more likely to hurt myself by pushing too hard, than to admit that I'm not capable of something.

That said...my main goal is to finish. I don't care about time, I don't care about speed...I just want to finish. I'd really like to finish with enough energy to appreciate it, but if self-congratulation has to wait until the next day, I'm ok with that. :p

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by annisk2000

since everyone is talking about climbing hills and mts, I thought this might be a good place to seek advice regarding such. Here's the probelm, on the flats and smallish inclines, I'm ok and average 18-19 over the long haul. But when the incline goes up, I lose power and fall behind the group. I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing wrong. someone told me that my gearing is too hard, someone else said not hard enough. Can anyone tell me the basics of climbing a hill so that I'm not always pulling up the rear? I'm starting to be embarrassed. I've been riding for about a year (just started the hilly parts about a month ago) and in my own mind, I should be doing much better on the inclines. The last time I rode with the group, I saw stars by the end and almost threw up. Geeze.

Thanks for any info.

---

It's okay to bring up the rear on the hills -- I do it all the time! I stop and rest on the hills if I want to (or need to!) EVENTUALLY I get to the top of them, and then I get to enjoy the ride down. Last summer, ONE TIME, I rode a whole ride, with hills that I didn't stop to rest because of the hills, and I think I celebrated for a week! So far, I haven't done any real hill practice this year, except for one ride, where I rode to a hill that I decided would be "my" hill this year, and I struggled up it once, even thought, "next time I stop, I'm just turning around and going back down DAMMIT," but kept on, and enjoyed the HECK out of the celebratory lap in the parking lot at the top of the hill! I don't even want to know how long it took me to get there, I think it was less than a mile and a half, and I'm pretty sure there was more time recovering than riding. I'll hang my head and cover my fingers as I key in that it was under 300 ft. of elevation -- but everyone starts somewhere!

I've been sulking today, there's a wicked wind here in Boise that is keeping me in the house, or I'd go give "my" hill a try with the new bike. Maybe tomorrow is going to be better! (I hate wind more than cold!)

Karen in Boise

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kano

It's okay to bring up the rear on the hills -- I do it all the time!

---

I'm usually (but not always) the last one down, but that's okay. It just averages out in the end and then I don't have to listen to my husband whine on the climbs.:p

Well, got in 1011 feet today. Only went 8 miles, and it took me almost an hour! Kind of a sad little ride. I had set out to do more, but felt pretty crummy and decided to do a nice recovery swim tomorrow and live again to fight another day.

Hi fellow climbers!

I could use a little encouragement and/or advice. It has been a week since I have been on my bike or worked out :( , and I don't think I will make my goal for the month. I am in the midst of serious house packing/sorting, and dealing with siblings, and trying to grieve my parents, continuing to work of course, etc.

I know that I need to be gentle with myself right now, and I also know that one of the best things I can do is keep moving toward my biking goals. My goal event is not for another 16 weeks, so it is too soon to throw in the towel! Yet, I feel like I have lost so much fitness in the past week or two, not to mention mental momentum.

Any words for me?

You have a lot going on in your life. It's okay to take some time off. But you also have to take time to do things for you. You know you can go for a ride or a swim without it being a workout.

I see you do an after school program. Is it all academic? Can you make some of that time playtime? Every now and then I play with my students at recess. It's fun for everybody.

V.

Veronica, thanks.

The after school program is all academic, unfortunately, although we do some funky lateral thinking exercises, so I try to get some laughs in and so forth. I have been wondering if I should try riding my bike there. I am at two different schools, so the rides would vary. I am just a little concerned about bike security, frankly. Maybe I could sneak my bike inside with me. My other excuse there is that we are having a lot of dreary, overcast and rainy days. I have become weary, not with riding in the rain so much, but with the intense clean-up on my bike!

I had been doing a lot of cross-training...swimming and so forth, and for some reason, I just haven't in the past couple of weeks. I simply need to get moving again, and cutting out the time for it.

One thing that is good: I also do janitorial work in our business at night, so I get in about 3 hours on my feet and moving around. It is not a workout, but at least it is activity (if not exactly play time!) ;)

PS: Warning to anyone who is wonderful enough to reply...I am a bit down. I am in that space where I know a lot of what would help, but I am fighting negative internal responses to very good suggestions. I know from experience I need to dial it waaaaay back and start again with tiny little baby steps, laced with a dose of real TLC for myself.

I keep my bike in my classroom. My principal likes that I'm a "poster child" for a healthy lifestyle.

Hang in there, don't beat yourself and DON'T eat a bag of chocolate chips a week. I'm speaking from experience. :)

V.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Veronica

I keep my bike in my classroom. My principal likes that I'm a "poster child" for a healthy lifestyle.

Hang in there, don't beat yourself and DON'T eat a bag of chocolate chips a week. I'm speaking from experience. :)

V.

---

Yeah, I'm thinking about riding to the program. There are hills with both routes, so they wouldn't be too long, but there would be a little interval work.

Re: the chocolate chips...tonight it was Wendy's. :mad:

Oh, anyhow, V, thanks for your thoughts tonight. I have to run, but I really appreciated your replies tonight. Seems I hit a little low point and needed to reach out. THANKS! :)

Wow, Starfish - I just saw this. You're entitled to you low point, given what's be going on. Don't worry about goals for a month and just have fun riding your bike when you are able to do so. There'll always be time for goals.

But if you can use your bike as a diversion from what's going on and the stress then by all means do so!

Big hug to you.

That Shasta Summit thing sounds great. I have a friend who was trying to talk me into doing it. I had another ride planned for that day so not sure if it can work. Never say never, though!

Hi wonderful climbers. Finally, we had a break in the rain for a couple hours today, and I got out for 16 mostly flat miles, with a couple of hills (400'). I neglected a bunch of work to do it, but when the rain started up again this afternoon, I was glad I had gone! I felt really out of shape, but I was truly grateful to be out on my bike in the sunshine. I REALLY needed that. Thanks for all your words of support. What a wonderful forum this is.