Category Archives: Uncategorized

So what does it tell me when a 65 year old guy shows up and out-climbs me?

Tues/Thurs 7:45am ride, Uncategorized
The obligatory picture of West Old LaHonda, always a beautiful view whether a clear or cloudy day!
The obligatory picture of West Old LaHonda, always a beautiful view whether a clear or cloudy day!

Warm this morning? Oh yeah, still wore leg warmers and light base layers, but definitely didn’t need the base layers. Leg warmers? It was still as cool as 51 or so early in the ride, and early-on in my racing days I was taught nothing was more-important than keeping you knees warm. 60 degrees and below, definitely keep ’em covered!

Today’s riders- Kevin, Kevin, Karl, Karen, Eric, George and that 65-year-old guy, Scott, I think? Kevin, Kevin and Scott were riding off the front a bit, although I wasn’t doing that badly behind, trying to hang with Karl. About 3/4 of the way up Kings I got to take an unexpected (but welcome) rest when Kevin “seized up” and spent just over two minutes on the ground.

You know it's a nice day when you have strong shadows! ( especially when they're chasing you, rather than beating you).
You know it’s a nice day when you have strong shadows! (
especially when they’re chasing you, rather than beating you).

Kevin sought, and got, redemption on the upper flanks of West Old LaHonda. Since Karl had to shorten the ride and leave us at Sky Londa, Kevin had the opportunity to drive the pace and do his rocket-thing on that final steep pitch up to Skyline.

But that Scott guy, 65 years old and able to ditch me on Kings. How does that make me feel? On the one hand, a sense of defeat, as in, I’m worse-off than I thought. The flip side? That I could potentially be a stronger rider in 5 or 6 years than I am today!

Yes, did ride before flying to DC

Uncategorized
wolhIMG_6951
Yet another seemingly-obligatory photo of West Old LaHonda on yet another seemingly-obligatory beautiful day in Northern California

Had to fly to DC today, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to ride in the morning! In fact, I carefully constructed an itinerary that allowed me to get in the regular Tuesday-morning ride and get to the airport in time… yes, including a shower.

This morning it was JR, Eric, Kevin, Kevin and, on Kings anyway, another guy riding up with his on one of our bikes whose name I forget. Hate that! All that matters is that he’s faster than I am.

Old-guy Kevin started up fairly fast, with me glued to his wheel, while the others rode up a bit more casually. Well maybe not JR; he just takes a bit to get warmed up. But when I got to that part where you look over the peninsula through the open spot on the left, I looked back and…. no sign of younger Kevin. Odd. Maybe he’s just feeling really slow after Sunday’s ride, or maybe a seizure.

A couple minutes later and there he is. I turn around and ride up with him and Eric, but not for long as I get ditched off the back. Why do I wait? How many times will I ask myself that question? What’s the definition of stupid? I did find out later that yes, he had a seizure, but doesn’t matter, he still gets up the hill in under 30 minutes. Despite losing 2 minutes, 2 seconds to me on the lower part of the hill.

Yes, another beautiful day up on Skyline, as the morning fog burned off before we got there (one advantage to not climbing TOO fast!). And having gotten in a good ride before spending 6 hours on planes is always a good thing.