All posts by Mike

Kevin was hot, West Old LaHonda was hot, other Kevin and I were not

Tues/Thurs 7:45am ride

After Sunday’s ride I really didn’t know what to expect. Overall, I felt OK, but there wasn’t much power. Sometimes, most of the time, when there’s no power, you find yourself wishing you were somewhere else and not particularly enjoying the climb. But today was somehow different; I really didn’t feel that bad, certainly not uncomfortable. Just really low power reading. The sort of thing where you question if the power is calibrated correctly. Except-

Except that Kevin took off shortly into the climb and I didn’t see him again until the top. He had power, maybe the power that I was missing. He didn’t launch himself like a rocket, but rather gradually gained speed. I found him at the top of the hill, along with ex-pilot Kevin, and discovered he’d done a 25-something. Wow. Turn back the clock three decades and maybe that could be me? But not today.

Have to convince ex-pilot that he doesn’t need to ride up ahead of us; my current speed isn’t going to leave many in the dust. The younger Kevin though, different story.

Funny how uncomfortable everyone is today, with the heat. It was considerably hotter and more humid in France. True, the apartment and hotel we stayed in were air conditioned, but we spent a lot of time outside. I think my body is simply made for France. Kevin’s certainly is; he didn’t have a single seizure the entire trip, but before and after he’s been averaging probably one every other day.

It’s going to take a while to get France out of my system. It was a really good trip this year, a lot of great rides to look back upon, a great race to watch. And the riding every day really helps get me in shape. Kevin enjoys rest days; I just want to get out on my bike and ride. So how did I switch gears to France?

Died on Page Mill, recovered nicely on Tunitas

Ride reports (not Tu/Th)

It’s not always about the cookie in Pescadero.
Sometimes you make up the ride on the go; this was one of those times. Kevin didn’t want to do the usual Pescadero/Tunitas; not really sure why, but it was kind of nice to ride past Old LaHonda without making that right turn up the hill. I’d thought about Page Mill, but didn’t want to bring it up. Kevin’s original idea was a short ride, up Old LaHonda and back via West Alpine, but I wanted something longer and Kevin went for Page Mill/San Gregorio/Tunitas.

Climbing Page Mill was the least fun I’ve had on a bike in a long time. Normally it’s tough because it’s difficult finding a rhythm; today it was tough just because… well, just because. I was sweating like crazy, constantly having to press my helmet against my headband, trying to squeeze out the salty water before it got to my eyes. Eye I should say; for some reason, it’s only an issue on the right side of my head. Whatever the case, 53:20 was one of my slowest-ever times up Page Mill, and it’s not like I wasn’t trying. The engine room just couldn’t deliver anything. Kevin actually stopped twice to wait for me.

Yes, I was thinking terrible things, like maybe I should just turn back, or find some other way to shorten the ride. But if a very long history of rides has taught me anything, it’s that I generally feel much better later on, and today wasn’t an exception. I did cheat though; the entire run to the coast on 84, I was glued to Kevin’s wheel.

At San Gregorio we stopped for a coke and sandwich; not the usual coffee, as it wasn’t the usual cold. First sandwich at San Gregorio I think? Not bad; turkey, cheese & lettuce. Leaving San Gregorio I didn’t have that post-meal-sluggishness associated with the half-sandwich and pastry when in Pescadero.

There was a favorable breeze from the coast as we headed east on Tunitas, so I tried to “launch” Kevin so he could get a good time, but he didn’t seem very interested. He finally ditched me just before the bridge of death (beginning of Strava’s “Hammer of Thor” segment). I was determined not to fall apart on Tunitas, and succeeded; it was as different from my earlier climb up Page Mill as could be. And I managed to challege the upper part too, and thought I did pretty well until I just looked up Kevin’s time and found him a full minute faster. Hate that.

Overall a good ride.