Lessons Learned on my Trial Run of Six Gap

The big day is next weekend.

Am I ready?  Personally?  I think absolutely not.

Mentally - YES ...Physically - it's going to be a bear.

I'm ok with that though.

The trial runs taught me that I am amazing with going downhill.  The one thing my ride buddies were worried about was me, hitting those fast speeds and panicking and wiping out.

But if you

- Feather your Brakes

- Lean into your turns

- Watch for Gravel

- And just focus on the ride - all is well.

I did amazing on that.

Going uphill however??  Yea that was rough.

There is no ...middle ground on these mountains - I mean it is the start of the Smokey/Blue Ridge Mountains.  The minute you go down hill, you better start pedaling as soon as you can to gain momentum for the climb.  And some of those climbs, can take up to over an hour to do.

Your legs will hurt, you will be tired.  You will feel like there isn't enough oxygen to breath and you WILL ASK YOURSELF WTF am I DOING THIS FOR.

And no - no gearing is ever low enough.  Even on your LAST low gear, you WILL be wishing for just ONE MORE.

I did all of these things..and yet.  I STILL want to do this..next weekend and next year.

I am going to do the best I can this year.

Where I live, does not have mountains (Central Florida).  The closest thing to training I could get was doing a interlacing type idea going back and forth from the mainland to the inter-coastal/beach area and using those bridges.  Also - heading up to Tallahassee for weekend bike adventures when I could.

I just made my ride time longer - mainly so my stamina would be up on the bike and I could determine what needed to be taken care of for long extensive riding.  I'm good with that..my stamina and resistance to the bike is ready to roll.  Just give me time to take breaks (and you're allowed) and I will be able to tackle this thing I think.

So - here goes for next weekend.  :)

SIgns that Fall is coming

You have to change your ride route so that the North wind is providing a nice resistance at the start and a nice push on your way home :)

I've been bad about updating this blog this year

When you're focused on training and work and living life..you rarely get time to actually sit in front of a computer when you're not doing everything.

Training is going well..I have been updating another blog with life stuff and silliness
http://bikingbettie.tumblr.com


But it's nowhere near as 'serious bike business' as I would like/want this one to be.
Six Gap is less than 50 days away..and I think I'm ready.
I'm also considering doing the Spaghetti 100 up in Tallahassee as well this year.  Or at least going there for that weekend and taking photos.

Weekend you are almost here

Cycling Schedule you are almost done being made up!!

According to the training schedule that I made, I should be doing 120-150 minutes of Endurance Miles on Saturday and the same for Sunday (or a group ride)

I'm trying to figure out how to make one or both of these into night rides.  We'll see.  The thought of cycling to my favorite restaurant tonight..hanging out with friends for a few hours and then doing the late night/endurance ride thing is crossing my mind again.  We'll see.

Weather is stating 30-40% chance for rain both days.  I just hope it doesn't do it when I want to ride.

Happy Weekend everyone!

Training

Based on the information brought to me by this book

I will be training in the 11 week program it has scheduled out for me for Six Gap.

Which puts my actual nut up or shut up date the week of July 11th.

Now, I will continue to work on my training from now until then...but that is my absolute I better be ready to MOVE it date. 

So in the meantime, I will work and attempt different times to wake up, schedules, and riding as much as I can, when I can. 
Gas prices have made this a bit easier.  I have put forth the effort of if it is 5 miles or less from the house, I will bike it.  I have pannier bags and a messenger bag, and I have carried groceries in those bags and on the bike before.  Yes it means more trips as I can't carry AS many things, but...I also plan on doing a monthly jaunt to the grocery store, Target (I can't carry litter on my bike), and the recycling facility.  So that drive is the drive that I'll get all the bigger items I need that I can't carry on the bike.  

Six Gap will be accomplished this year!

Morning Catch Up

Instead of biking this morning - I have decided to drink some coffee, catch up on my internets/posts and milage updates then do my hair, finish laundry and have a wonderful Sunday afternoon.

Team Skinny has been slacking :(.  I didn't mean for it to happen, but the weather has been nothing but rainy the past week - both morning and afternoon and I dislike doing the trainer..so - the dislike took over the 'need' to do it....there it is.

We're considering the summer months our 'off season' anyways (per The Greek) since most of the time it's just too hot and too unbearable...

However, I have been riding most of the time, both days on the weekends..and taking some pretty neat photos while on my journeys...

Taking photos while on my rides really makes me apprciate the bike riding even more...and gives me a small mini break to nom and drink water moreso than I do while riding.

I think I'll be ready for Six Gap in 30 days..ACK!  Training and better eating habits start this week.  No more eating out constantly.  We're going to dinner tonight with a group of friends, but that is mainly for a person's bday and I'm going to attempt to just order something small.  

In other news - I <3 my new bike!  It's so light and fluffy ;)..ok it's not fluffy - but you can see it in most of the photos posted above.  It's comfy - I'm really really happy with it.  Best decision I ever made was to go Carbon :)

Conclusion of miles rode will be in the next post.

D had knee surgery a week and four days ago ..he's actually feeling a lot better and is actually looking forward to doing Six Gap as well.  he's been slowly getting on the bike and riding slow when he can to get  his knee in shape/physical therapy and  him and I have also started doing upper body working out.

I've learned what moleskin in for blisters and areas that rub your feet.  Why did I not hear of this stuff before??  Holy crap it is a godsend, especially with my freak feet.  The big toe constantly rubs the sides of my shoes which hurts like ungodly hell.  I thought that seamless socks would be the answer, but then realized it's also my cycle shoes and the stitching on them from the velcro.  Double wrapped the big toe in moleskin yesterday on my ride..and BAM no pain.  Amazing stuff.  And no, it's not REAL moleskin..maybe it was back in the day, but now it's just a tightly woven cotton fabric with padding. 

I think for the most part, I am ready for Six Gap ....I think.

Fingers crossed.

Six Gap, Georgia - End of September

http://www.cyclenorthgeorgia.com/

I have decided that I am going to commit to doing this.

Which means I definitely need to start training for this.

Weather is not fully agreeing with me on this - but I will start as soon as I don't hear rain in the morning when I wake up with the riding.  Including having to ride on Saturdays if I have to.  Those were supposed to be my off days, but with this coming up rapidly - I think I'm going to need to do that for the next two months..

Along with the other things I got going on (sewing for costumes, etc).

I will only be doing Three-Gap (or at least that is the one I am signing up for)...depending on how I feel after three gap, I will then determine if I can keep going or just stay back and enjoy myself/wait for B-Man and D and take photos while I'm waiting...

Fingers crossed I accomplish this...