Climbing Club Feb results and March goals

[jobob]

You're so sweet, Starfish !

But you know what? When I first started riding, only a few years ago, a 5 mile flat ride was a big deal for me. Then, eventually, I could manage a 10 mile ride. And so on.

And hills? Hah! There's a hill near my home I call my nemesis hill. It's about a half-mile long, about 250 feet of climbing, and fairly steep in parts. It took me months to finally make it 2/3 of the way up that sucker, and then when I finally got up there I realized there was more to it. I think it was another couple of months before I finally slogged up the whole thing.

The first time Veronica asked me to ride up Mt. Diablo with her, I was scared sh!tless. You could imagine my relief when she emailed me that morning saying she had to bail on the ride because her cat was sick and she had to take it to the vet (cat turned out fine, otherwise I would have felt a bit guilty doing the happy dance under those circumstances).

Fast forward a few years later. This weekend Veronica & I are doing a 300K brevet (that's about 188 miles) with about 7000 feet of climbing. I'm fairly confident I can finish it - not at a rip-roaring pace mind you, but within the 20 hours allotted, yeah, that I think I can do.

It took me a few years to get to this point, and I don't consider myself athletic. I'm just your average Jo who likes to ride her bike.

[Starfish]

Jobob, thank you for your description of how far you have come. I find it very inspirational. Four years ago, I was thrilled to ride 12 flat miles on a bike path. This year, I am setting as my main goal ride the Shasta Summit Century, hoping for the 100 mile finish.

I really appreciate your stories, because although I have become a better cyclist, and fitter on the bike, than I was when I started about 3-4 years ago, I have not gotten better/faster at the rate I thought I might. My average MPH is quite slow, and there are a lot of people I cannot go on rides with because of it.

This is despite reading books, setting up periodization, and working with a heart rate monitor. But, this year I am trying to work more with how my body feels, doing more cross-training, and trying new approaches. So, I am hoping for a different result this year.

I have gotten in about 6500 feet or so this month, and my goal was 10,000, so with two more long rides yet to get in, I think I might make it.

[SadieKate]

I gotta hang out with Jobob more. I set a goal of 12,400 ft this month. After yesterday, 14,235 with the great majority of that accomplished with Miss Jobob in 3 rides (cause we know the speedbumps around here don't add up to much). I woke up this morning thinking I still needed more before the end of the month so I got out my little Excel spreadsheet and plugged in the numbers. 1,834 ft over goal and the month isn't over. I'm even looking forward to some more. Woo-ee that feels good.

[Fredwina]

44,000 and that brevet with 8,000 feet - it turned in to 12,000 at least we didn't get to the 21% grade

[Trekhawk]

44,000 and that brevet with 8,000 feet - it turned in to 12,000 at least we didn't get to the 21% grade

WOOHOO Fredwina that is a huge amount of climbing.

Well this month I managed to get to and pass my target for March. My goal was 17000 and I managed 20500. Yipee

I will start another thread for our April goals.

[Veronica]

I'll have 11,500 feet or so after tomorrow. Maybe more if it's not raining after school.

I have two goals. I still want to climb at least one mountain. And climb more next month than I did this month.

V.

Well gosh, I did well. I have 24, 915 feet this month and I climbed Sonoma Mountain twice, Diablo once and Tam once.

Cool!

V.

[GLC1968]

Well, I didn't make it in March, either!!

My goal was 12,000. I finished with 11,695! Only 305 ft short....some stupid lunch ride I had to miss due to work, I'm sure.

We ended the month with a bang though. I just finished a 53 mile ride with 4435 ft of climbing including my very first mountain ascent (not the biggest mountain in the area, but hey...I'll take it!).

Next month the goal must go up.

[jobob]

Lordy Fredwina that's awesome !

And great job, Trek & V.

GLC, these altimeters aren't super-accurate. You're within 3% of your goal, that's probably less than the error range of your altimeter, so I'd say you were plenty close enough! But we need to ask the One in Charge - what do you think, Trekhawk?



This has been a really good month for me. My goal was 15,000 and I did 26,000. booyah.

I'm not sure if I'll be able to pass that so I'll set next month's goal at 18,000.

[Trekhawk]

GLC, these altimeters aren't super-accurate. You're within 3% of your goal, that's probably less than the error range of your altimeter, so I'd say you were plenty close enough! But we need to ask the One in Charge - what do you think, Trekhawk?

LOL - I cant be the one in charge Im not responsible enough.
GLC Im with Jo thats plenty close enough. GOOD JOB.

[Starfish]

You guys are all so very inspiring!!

But, celebrate with me, too! My goal for March was 10,000 feet, and I got it done, almost to the foot. It was a big goal for me, given the state of my fitness & training.

On Saturday, I still needed 2300 feet, so I did two repeats of the foot of our mountain, and got the 2300' in 17 miles! Pretty good for me. Even though my HR was too high (90-93% for a lot of the ride), I was surprised that I didn't feel a lot of burn, and I felt pretty good after and the next day, rather than trashed.

[jobob]

Most excellent, starfish !

[SadieKate]

Tres magnifique! I'm having fun concentrating on the climbing also and am actually ahead of schedule. Now if the 6 extra pounds of gearage would go away with all this climbing.

[Trekhawk]

Tres magnifique! I'm having fun concentrating on the climbing also and am actually ahead of schedule. Now if the 6 extra pounds of gearage would go away with all this climbing.

LOL - yep whats with that. I also want to know why after doing all this Im still so slow going up those hills. Oh well at least I havent been passed by the cutoff jeans guy on his clunker bike drinking beer for awhile.

[Starfish]

LOL - yep whats with that. I also want to know why after doing all this Im still so slow going up those hills. Oh well at least I havent been passed by the cutoff jeans guy on his clunker bike drinking beer for awhile.

I hear you! I need to lose some weight, and I have really been having a hard time with that discipline this spring. But, I keep thinking, well, if I keep doing this hill climbing with these extra pounds I've put on, when I do start losing some, I am going to be STRONG after hauling it all up the hills! My legs are getting harder, though not smaller, so I know I am building some muscle!