I was 2:46 back from Chris Phipps at the Hill Climb today at 17:37.  I felt like a slug.  I remember climbing hills fast at one point in my life.  This really motivates me.  Eric, Justin, Brian and James all had great rides.  Eric Wright was the best of the OAers.   Go team!

-b

We're going to have to work on Justin.  Ben obviously has it down.

Charity and I are house sitting for the next 3 weeks. There are some advantages and disadvantages to this. Advantages -The house is up a very steep hill -It's a nice house Disadvantages -The house is up a very steep hill -It's an extra 10 miles to town Charity thinks that people should only build houses where they can bike or walk to it from town. She's smart.

"You asked me how I was doing?
Was that some kind of joke?"

-Bob Dylan

On Sunday, I had to go explore.  My legs ached when I woke up in the morning, but I'd been thinking about Sunday's ride all week.  I had this idea to a King Ridge/Skaggs Springs loop.  I'd heard stories about the difficulty of this road, yet I'd never been down Tin Barn Rd into the northern, desolate regions of Sonoma County.  I had to experience it first hand. 

I left Cazadero - St. Peter's gate to cycling heaven - at around noon.  The climb up King Ridge Road is just astonishingly beautiful - and difficult.  I think 5 cars passed me in 16 miles.  When I reached the Stewarts Point turn after 3 hours, I saw a sign that said "Healdsburg 45 miles."  Ok, I thought, I can handle that, but I'm going to be pushing daylight.  

My training schedule called for 5+ hours of riding at a heart rate of 115-120.  I knew with the loop I  chose 5 hours wouldn't be a problem, but with all the climbing, keeping my heart rate in that zone was a challenge.  I rode the climbs slowly, and traversed the roads where needed.

But when I reached the top of Skaggs Springs Road at the 5 hour point, I was ready to get home.  This is where the ride gets difficult.  I didn't to expect 5 or 6 MASSIVE hills in a row to get back to Dry Creek Road.  I would descend and think "this has got to be it."  After the 4th climb, I just had to laugh. 

By the time, I finally reached the visitor center at Lake Sonoma, the sun was setting behind the hills.  I called Charity.  "I'm alive honey," I said, and then I lost signal. 

I stopped at Dry Creek Grocery to grab a bite to eat.  I'd eaten all my figs after 6 hours of riding.  I had to buy a couple Odwalla smoothies, as that was the most decent food I could find.  I went to the bar to get some water.  "Hey buddy, you want a shot?"  Someone heckled me.  "No thanks."

I called Charity again.  I could tell she was worried.  I was not too far from home, but the light had all but disappeared.  Charity came to my rescue.  "I don't want to be a widow at 26," she chastised me.

I'd been out almost 7 hours at this point, and I felt just great.  That was truly one of the most incredible rides I'd ever done.  I can't help but wonder if someone wants to help me organize the King Ridge Century and Road Race?

I made it!  Today is the last day of a 3 week training block.  I put in about 65 hours on the bike in the past 3 weeks.  I feel fine, but I could definitely use a rest week.  Today I had to drag myself onto the bike.  I was schedule to meet Justin at 10am in Cazadero to do a King Ridge Loop.  Justin was vacationing this weekend at Sea Ranch, which is north of Jenner on HWY. 1.

I'm kinda glad he didn't show up.  I sat around freezing my butt off for several minutes, and then turned my back on the mountains.  I headed down the coast for a more gentle ride.  I still put in 4+ hours.

I had to walk up the hill we're staying on.  I flatted about 1 mile from the bottom of the hill.  After fooling with patches, tubes, and tires for about 20 minutes (it was one of those days), I finally gave up and walked home.
 

On our OA Sonoma group ride today with Lowell, Charity, and Charlie, I wanted to do a little test up Graton Road.  I sometimes use this road to test my fitness.  I went up in about 7:40.  I thought I had a few old times logged on the blog, but I couldn't find them.  I think I remember going up in the 8:15 range last year.  Not bad.  I checked the Sonoma County climbs database (find climb #60), and it looks like I'm doing OK.

On the way back to town, Lowell introduced us to a farm at the top of Harrison Grade Road.  I was excited to discover an organic farm run by a vegan chef!  This is a perfect stop for the Tour d'Organics route, and Leo (the farmer) is excited to have the ride come to his place.

Here's dinner tonight.  3 heads of lettuce, 1 bag of meclun mix, a carrot, some cauliflower, and 1 tomato topped with a dressing of 1 tomato, 2 oranges, 3 sticks of celery, and a handful of spinach. 

On Wednesday I met with my coach for a lactate test check-up.  My last test showed that I was, well, not were I needed to be.  My how 3 months of training can change things.   We saw 25-30% improvement across the board.  I still have some work to do at the top end, but that will come.  It's only the end of January after all.  July is 6 months away. 

Organizing these bike rides isn't easy.  I just found out today that the Portland Livestrong ride is scheduled on the same date as the Portland Tour d'Organics.  Ah.  Back to the drawing board.

Sonoma County just rocks.  You can do rides like this.  I took Andy up the Geysers today.  I hadn't been up there in at least a couple of years, and it felt great to get up there.