Howdy again!
Kelownagirl- Hey, congrats on 30+ miles, gives me hope<G> it's nice to see other people who start small. I'm only 26 but I seem to have the cardiovascular system of a sloth. That's what I get for curling up on the couch, reading, and eating oreos I guess I'm dreaming of slicks among many other things. No job right now though, but at least it gives me more time to ride eh?

Denise- I just want to make it through 20 miles on Sunday. The pie in the sky goal is a century in 10 weeks, realistically I will just be happy if I can make it by the time it starts snowing and I abandon myself to snowboarding. And yeah, that bike sure has a will of her own. "Wake up, bum, it's 6 am, get outta bed." she calls not so sweetly while I'm trying to doze. Oh well, I love her anyway.

Dogmama- I was figuring one long ride each weekend and 1 day of complete rest each weekend and then a slack riding day sometime in the week, that sound ok? Actually I'm going to post my goal for next week and maybe you or someone else can tell me if it's just down right silly. I learned the big gear thing the hard way. And had to remind myself that there's no pride in doing something that's too hard, doing it wrong, and hurting yourself.. my knee hurt after wednesday's ride.. I'll cheerfully use the granny gear on a flat if I need to after that. Luckily it feels fine now.

Appreciate the helmet concern but for the record- I AM screwloose but I wouldn't set foot on a peddle without my helmet. I chose against it when I first started snowboarding. A few weeks later I spent the night in the ER harfing with a concussion. At this point... if a sport has the option of wearing a helmet I buy one, name it, call it my beloved, and don't like to be parted from it. And also call myself lucky that throwing up and having an amazing headache was all it took to teach me that lesson.

Brandy- Yeay for another 30+ miler! I really want to be at that point!


My goals for the next week are pretty simple really.. if I don't make them, I don't make them, but I surely won't if I don't try.
I can only sustain a pace of 10 mph right now. It's disgruntling. I can go for 14 mph for about a mile and at that point I'm ready to curl up in a ball and look for somewhere convienent to buy coffee and sit and not move. so... My plan for the next week is.. Sleep alot tomorrow
20 miles sunday at a leisurely and frequent stopping to take picture toodling pace, just so I can KNOW that I can survive 20 miles.
Monday- 15 miles at my comfortable 10 mph pace
Tuesday- I want to do 10 miles alternating miles between 14 mph and whatever pace I need to feel human by the end of the mile and so on.. It's my gentle concept of intervals, just so that I can see it really won't kill me to push myself and I actually can travel faster than my comfy speed without spontaneous combustion
Wednesday- a lazy 10 mile ride at any speed that doesn't involve breaking a sweat and frequent stops to take pictures, smell flowers, and all that
Thursday- repeat wednesday
Friday- 15 miles at my comfy speed again, like on Monday.

I guess I'm hoping over time doing that my comfy speed will gradually increase to reach my goal speed, maybe it's just wishful thinking though heh.

for anyone who read through that though, thank you, if it's just down right weird, counterproductive, or insensible please let me know. In the very beginning of activities there seems to be a period where you progress in leaps and bounds.. like. last week I couldn't imagine surviving the ten miles. and this week I'm excited about 20. You get a brief window where you can see yourself doubling your ability in a short period of time, I guess I want to take advantage of that... habit, perserverence, and routine are hard for me to establish in myself... Really helps to see immediate payoff to build those things in me so I can see long term payoff I guess. Hope that makes sense and doesn't sound too silly..