Base training in NoCal

OK grrls... I'm almost there. And I'm in pretty bad shape physically and emotionally BUT there is hope. It's winter here in New England so my bikes been in mothballs for months.

I need the resident (sane) training program to get back in the saddle when you ain't never seen hills like the Bay area. I've designed training programs for myself for cycling and running before, but I've not had to deal with verticle grades greater than 3% consistently.

I figure my trainer and I are gonna be pretty intimate for a while.

Post them programs here grrls! I need help!

See you soon.

spazz-o-moving

Spazz, the 7.0 Spinervals (The Uphill Grind) DVD workout has helped me a lot. Apparently they just came out with a new one focused on hill climbing that's about 20 minutes longer. I'd like to get that one, too.

If you go on their site www.spinervals.com, they're selling the VHS versions of some of the older workouts for half price.

Other than that, come ride with me. I'm slow and I plod up hills. We'll hang together. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by slinkedog

Spazz, the 7.0 Spinervals (The Uphill Grind) DVD workout has helped me a lot. Apparently they just came out with a new one focused on hill climbing that's about 20 minutes longer.

---

OMG! Which one? I turned up the resistance on the trainer for this one the other day. Hadn't realized how far into slobdom I'd slid.

Spazz, do any of the LunaChix rides look inviting? It sounds like they have different speed groups.

Remember the Cinderella is more about training your butt for distance than climbing. I know, I know, you say I'm lying but you'll have more miles under your posterior this year than last.

It's called Competition 24.0 HILLacious (oy vey!) with Great Harvest Bread Co. I've never seen it... I've only read the description. Looks good. Their workouts are good for me. They're convenient and get me motivated to rise above the hamster-like spinning-boredom that overtakes me during trainer workouts.

I loathe the Uphill Grind - it's harder than any hill I've ever climbed! :) Forget the trainer and come ride Diablo, and the Oakland hills, and the Bay Trail, and the Cinderella training rides...

what kim sez, lunachix has a beginner series, velo girls has the "melo velo" ride and just get out and ride with us gals. Or go up your street there's a great local bike shop on t'other end of Piedmont Ave, Jason the owner there worked with our bud Chris Robinson for years and years before setting out on his own. There are probably rides that set out right from there....

I'd be willing to put together a "hills training series" via the lunachix, starting in April, post Cinderella training.

IDEAS WELCOME!

edit: just look at my avitar - I love hills!

speaking of hills, this week's Cinderella training ride has an optional 35 miles/3500 feet of climbing!

Sounding oh so fun (ack!). I do have several Speinerval DVDs... of course any training has to wait until mystuff arrives. I get there on Feb 8, my stuff Feb 10-16, so my initial week of 'training' will be walking my boy Quidditch around the new neighborhood.

Keep posting the ideas ladies... i'm sure there are several of us that need the inspiration.

yee-hah!
spazzdog

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by aka_kim

I loathe the Uphill Grind - it's harder than any hill I've ever climbed! :) Forget the trainer and come ride Diablo, and the Oakland hills, and the Bay Trail, and the Cinderella training rides...

---

I actually like the Uphill Grind because the hills are all only 4 minutes long. If every hill around here were only 4 minutes long, I'd be doing great on my hill climbing!! :)

I'd LOVE to do a hill training series, Cindy! That sounds like a great idea!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by slinkedog

I actually like the Uphill Grind because the hills are all only 4 minutes long. If every hill around here were only 4 minutes long, I'd be doing great on my hill climbing!! :)

---

What I dislike about the Uphill Grind is all the 53x12 work - only a few real-life climbs have ever felt as hard as the simulated climbs at 53x12 (of course I sing along to the Ode to My 30x27).

Unfortunately, SK never copyrighted the TE Girls' Hill Training Program of 2005, but I'm sure she'll share her secrets. ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by aka_kim

Unfortunately, SK never copyrighted the TE Girls' Hill Training Program of 2005, but I'm sure she'll share her secrets. ;)

---

Sure, here is is in its entirety - ride hills with, erm, behind Yellow, Kim and Veronica. Eat pizza with Jo.

Works wonders. I put on a wool skirt this morning that I hadn't worn since last winter before the program had really made an impact. I had to leave my sweater untucked so you can't see that the waistband is down around my hips.:cool:

So it's no longer a "mom skirt." :p

V.

Yup, and it's still a stylishly above the knee length.;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by aka_kim

Unfortunately, SK never copyrighted the TE Girls' Hill Training Program of 2005, but I'm sure she'll share her secrets. ;)

---

or was that BikerZ ?: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...=hill+training

we don't have any secrets, right girls? :rolleyes:

I just try to keep up (... umm, upright!)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SadieKate

Sure, here is is in its entirety - ride hills with, erm, behind Yellow, Kim and Veronica. Eat pizza with Jo.

---

Some of us clearly have our priorities straight. :cool:

You're the Special Teams and Nutrition Coach!

I ordered a Illuminite jacket and gaaack! size L fit me 6 months ago, now it's tight. wha happened?

I could send it back and bite the bullet and go back to XL. Nah, gonna start riding to work often and get back into it. Nice weather today, off to pump up the tires. :cool: :rolleyes:

Ok, I'm at work. I give this ride 4 chainrings. 2 carbon Campy compact chainrings to the driver who waved me through on my right turn which is really a u-turn cross traffic in front of him at the lake, 1 each to the two "helmetless" cyclists who said a cheery "hi".

No chaingring to the Hayward gal on the custom 'bent" who ignored my wave. Guess that's just not cool or wasn't subtle enough, I'm supposed to just nod.

If you're lurking, say "hi" next time.

How come the guys are more friendly than the girls?

Speaking of friendly, has anyone heard from AG lately? I haven't seen her around much!

slinkedog "How come the guys are more friendly than the girls?"

I dunno, but I'm sure we have a thread here somewhere with theories of why :)

"Speaking of friendly, has anyone heard from AG lately? I haven't seen her around much!"

No, and it's your week to keep track of her ;-)

Hope she's ok, last we "spoke" were IM's to get the Cindy form faxed to her and I think she got that thanks to BG.

I PM'd her and she's fine and getting lots of mountain biking in. She's doing the Cinderella, so we'll hopefully see her at a training ride soon!! :)