Advice/Encouragement?

[Starfish]

Hi everyone,

I'll only be online a little while tonight, but if you happen to see this, I would appreciate any input.

I am training for a long climbing ride that is in 2 weeks. Tomorrow is scheduled to be my last long, hard training ride, and I was planning 80 miles over 2 trips up and down my local mountain. It would be a really, really hard ride for me.

The problem is the weather. We have been totally socked in, with low visibility fog, cold rain, and 46 degree temps on this training route. But, it is the only truly sustained climbing...the very best route for my training. And, this weather is supposed to last for several more days.

I need a little encouragement or advice in just sucking it up, putting all my winter clothes back on, and heading out for a long, cold, hard ride tomorrow morning. I SO want to be prepared for my big event in 2 weeks. Help!

[smilingcat]

use a trainer? and adjust the resistance to max. (or adjust to something much harder than you normally work). Ride on the trainer for two to three hours as if you were climbing long hard mtn.

Before I quit riding 6/7 years ago* I used to adjust the resistance and train for several hours. 15 minutes of slow warm up. then increased my output in one to two minute interval for next 15 minutes then my real work out for about an hour and half. Follow this by cool down (important). keep water bottles in cage so you don't dehydrate. I used to listen to music to help pass the time and also used timers for the interval workout.

Sorry to hear about the weather though. And good luck with your ride. which ride??

smilingcat

* I'm back on... riding recreationally... well sort of.

[Mr. Bloom]

I think you'll feel better about it if you get out the winter clothes and go for it if it's safe for riding..

Please don't do anything unsafe

[RolliePollie]

I am sending you all the ENCOURAGEMENT I can muster!!!

I can't believe you guys aren't getting a summer up there! What a huge bummer. I agree with Mr. Silver...put on the winter clothes and go for it (only if it's safe though). Even though it completely stinks to be riding in your winter gear in July, I bet you'll feel better if you get your ride in. If it's too bad, you can always turn around and go back home.

I will try my hardest to send you some sunshine

[Starfish]

Sorry to hear about the weather though. And good luck with your ride. which ride??

Thanks, SmilingCat. I was hoping to get in a good 10 hours of riding tomorrow, but the trainer does give me an idea. If I head up the mountain and can only go part way, I could do 1/2 the workout outside, and come home and do some more on the trainer.

The ride is the Shasta Summit Century at Mt. Shasta, northern California. I'm excited and scared...I have never climbed 10,000 feet before. That's one reason why I wanted to get in my long ride tomorrow. I was shooting for that 10,000 foot mark, including the training at elevation.

Edited to thank Silver & Sara...you are right, I have to get out there!

[Veronica]

Yep, you definitely have to go for it. I know you're smart enough to stay safe. I'd go more for time though than distance. With the weather being nasty, you may ride slower than normal and that's okay. Get your ten hours in on the bike.

V.

[teigyr]

Starfish - if you ride, be careful. Tomorrow is supposed to be bad, so I hear. Monsoon type tropical rain. At least that's the rumor at the airport.

I know it's frustrating though. I agree with using an indoor trainer and if you do go out, try not to go too far from home. Unless the weather forecast changes

[bikerchick68]

I have no advice but I can't wait to hear about your ride... my ex is from Redding so I have spent time in and around Shasta... BEAUTIFUL area!!! (I love Bumpass Hell area... so cool!). Have a great ride and I'll have my fingers crossed for better visibility and no rain!!!

[maillotpois]

Winter in July stinks - at least on this side of the equator! I hope things went okay and you stayed warm and safe. Let us know how it went.

[smilingcat]

Ooooo!!! Mt. Shasta Ride. I been salivating. Maybe next year...

Do take all the good advice posted on their web site. Have a triple ring and take your time. Its not a race but a fun ride. So enjoy the scenery.

Smilingcat

[Starfish]

OK, everyone: a big Thank You!!

I have needed so much encouragement this year, and you all have really made the difference in my season. That is not an overstatement. I am deeply grateful. I did well yesterday, and your support was really the reason.

After I read the first few replies to this thread, I went home and prepared my clothes, bike, bottles, etc. The next morning, I woke up with a severely sore upper back, from moving all my things the day before, including hoisting boxes of books up a ladder onto a storage loft platform! I was starting out with sore neck, back and legs. But, knowing it was the last big ride before tapering, I decided to go. It helped that although it was dark, wet and cloudy, it wasn't actually raining at the moment I left. I did leave late, though (9:30am) because I took time to see if my neck would actually warm up and work!

So, all dressed up in my winter tights, wool socks, winter shoe covers, fleece layers, hood, long gloves, all the stuff...off I went. At the park gate, they said the wind had not really developed at the top, so I went ahead and rode all the way up to Hurricane Ridge. It spat rain and sometimes I rode through the clouds, but it actually wasn't a bad ride, and I had some laughs with a hitchhiker with whom I kept playing leapfrog!

It was cold at the top, so I rested in the lodge for a bit, and decided I would ride back down to the tunnels and come back up for a repeat. However, on the way down, the weather deteriorated into rain and true fog. The visibility was bad, so I decided not to go back up the mountain late in the day. I rode all the way to the bottom, and I only had about 5 hours of riding and 5000 feet of climbing in. I was tired, but the clothes were working, so I decided to do repeats of the lower road until I got in 8000 feet of climbing.

Once I made that decision, I turned around and started back up the 10% grade. I immediately knew it was going to be a tough slog. And then, it really started to pour. It took me another 2-3 hours to get in those last 3000 feet, and I climbed every one of them in the late afternoon pouring-@ss rain. I set my computer to show feet climbed, and I made little deals with myself with when I could eat and stop only after climbing so many more feet.

I REALLY wanted to quit and go home. But, I knew that if I did, I would feel like a quitter, and that if I stayed out there and did what I had decided to do, I would be able to look myself in the mirror at home and feel like a winner. Corny, I know. But, that is what kept me out there.

All in all, I got in 9 hours on the bike, with 8000 feet of climbing over 60 miles. I was slow, but I got it done, and now I know that I have gotten in 75-80% of the Shasta climbing 3 different times in the month prior to the ride. Now I can taper for 2 weeks! YAY!! And, I have a massage tonight to work on my neck.

I cannot thank all of you enough for your patience with my whining and shameless begging for encouragement. For me, just getting to Shasta and having a good time will be a big victory in this particular year. And, you TE members are largely responsible for helping me to get this far. Please accept my very sincere thanks. I am deeply grateful.

[maillotpois]

Congratulations on a tough ride and a great accomplishment!! You are one determined woman! You have much to be proud of.

Now enjoy your taper!!!

[Pedal Wench]

Wow!!! Your training ride sounds more epic than the event you're training for! Way to work through adversity! I'm sure 90% of the riders doing Shasta wouldn't dream about riding in the conditions you just did. Quite impressive!

[smilingcat]

Dear Starfish,

Read your training. You will make your goal at Shasta. Just remember to pace yourself. Again enjoy your wonderful ride and that beautiful scenery.

Smilingcat