66... a Highway speaks

What a weekend. It all started at Beecher’s Pad where we embarked on our 18 hour trek to trek. Highway 40 was our route of choice. It runs along to O.G. highway 66. Bono paid homage to this road in the song “heartland”. It was only fitting that we used it. The drive was full of anticipation…which made it much longer. But we pressed on. I even got pulled over and placed in the cop car close to Amarillo,TX. I decided to turn on my San Antonio charm mingled with some talk about how the cop’s wife can use eBay better…..and I got off with a warning.
The next day we finished the final leg to meet up with Mark Bennett…AKA..Yoda....(needs no explanation)….and new AKA…Cole Trickle…(needs some explanation). I enjoyed spending the day with them as we checked in, ate some grub, checked out all the new bikes and expensive things you could add to your bike. We all bought a jersey and agreed to wear the team colors. We also agreed to make new team jerseys for next year. Just need to think of a team name and design. That night we played some madden. I allowed Beecher the pleasure of beating me. We finally got to bed after fighting with the AC. The repair man came by to fix it and Beecher was the only one who understood him. Of-course the AC did not work as it should have and we went to bed sweating and woke up shivering.
The day of the ride was intense. My heart rate was pumping already. I just wanted to get going. 11,900 riders had the same feeling as well. We stood right by the howitzer as it shot off….and we were off. The first few miles were typical 24 mph movin…until the event happened. Just as Cole Trickle decided to go through the smoke, Mark decided to bunny-hop a group of riders that had crashed in front of him. Amazingly, he was fine and we can all laugh about it now. He kept moving. I felt like a million bucks for the first 65 miles. I felt like I could take on anybody and kept a good pace. Even at mile 75 I was a little spent, but I still felt I had some juice in the legs. I took off from the rest stop feeling pretty good. I saw Cole T come in for a pit stop which was a good sign since he could have given up miles ago. As I turned that infamous corner for the remaining 20 miles it hit me, the wall, the bonk, the wind and the stomach. I was in bad shape. I thought I could just hang behind some guys and draft in….nothing doing. I finally made it to the Hot dog stop and but some food in the belly. I could not hold anything down. I could not even drink any water. Really weird. My mind was playing games with me. “Just quit, the other guys on the side of the road are…You need to survive, this is insane just jump on the sag…don’t be a whimp…be a man…is that a rest stop over the hill there?” Yes and it saved me. Mile 90 was where I gathered myself for a good 30 min. I laid on the cot stripped down and just chilled. I was determined I was going all the way. I was about to head out when I saw Cole T. Like a 7th grader in the corner of the gym at the dance. I walked over and asked him to dance. It was nice to see him there and we decided to finish this thing together. We paced ourselves the last few miles and crossed together. What a feeling. I don’t even know my ride time. I just know it was not better then last year. The win in all this was that I finished…and I finished with a great group of guys. We all went to eat that night and I was toast. I could not function until later that night.
The next day we kissed and said goodbye. 19 hours back to the valley. It was good hanging with Beecher on the ride and glad he came along….His kids made a sign for us that said Welcome back. It was also nice to see my kids as well. A special thanks to all the wives…Sam-Christine and Kristin. Thanks for the support. It create a great memory for your husbands……having said all that…here are my lessons learned:
· Drink more water
· It’s not about the bike….I would have finished in the same time with a 5000$ bike then I did with my “lady”
· Pickles really do taste good at mile 90 (if you know me…I hate pickles)
· San Felipe was 80 miles shorter then the HHH
· I have good friends
· There is a Dairy Queen in every small town
· You really can Bunny-hop a road bike
· Heat does crazy Shiz
· Oranges don’t really work for me

Until next year….this chapter has closed. I have another ride in Oct. that I will prepare for…just won’t be the same….

TO ALL the LADIES in the HOUSE!!!!

It's about that time, I will consider this my last post until after the ride. I leave Wed eve, pick-up Beecher then hit the road. I can't wait. My mind has been on it all day. One spin class tomorrow to keep the legs loose. Even considering a Firday afternoon ride to get out of travel mode depending on what time we arrive. Maybe Friday morning where ever we are. I just want to ride. It is like Christmas, this only comes once a year. And this is the grand-daddy of em all. Tonight I clean the bike, just like washing down your race horse before the derby. He knows something is about to happen. The oats I feed him are extra crunchy. Rubbin down those rims will feel very nice to him...or is it a her? And then a touch of the Magic "purple lightning chain lube" tradition from last year. No need this time of taking my bike to some dude who gives me dirty looks because of the way I treated her in the past. I understand now, how I used her and did not take care of her. (He still was a pompus jerk who forgot about the fact he was cleaning bikes for charity). I should have been better to her, but I been this year. I gave her a new chain..(last year I carried a chain in my back pocket because the "jerk" again said it was going to snap any minute....btw...I put on another 700 miles after that race with no issues). I gave her some new handle-bar juice, I gave her some new tires...GP's 4000, and finally I gave her the TLC she deserves.....Sure I have looked for others to replace her...she does'nt need to know that, that's between me and this blog, it ain't cheating, someone once said..."If you look once..your a man...if you look twice.....your still a man. So now I will go clean her up for the big parade, her signal will not be the sounding of a bell but that of two jets and a mini howitzer. To all the other 15,000 riders out there with their "trophy wives", take a good look at my lady as we roll on by....and ask your own lady..."Why can't you be more like her"? And all she will be thinking is......why can't you be more like him!!

10 days

San felipe split...20::26.... That is as good as I get for now. I was flying up the hill...for my standards. Kristin is back and it is nice to have her and the kids here. It is not good for man to be alone. I will be working from home tommorrow so that will be nice to hang with the kids some more....
I have two spin classes left, one 50 miler on Saturday and I should be ready. I bought a new from tire to match the back so no more party in the front....it's all BIZNEZZ. Anyway, things are going good at home and work....peace out

The Ride vs. the Rider

What a day, I kind of discounted the title of my last blog by calling it "Nappy". So I apollocreedigize. It was an epic ride. You can follow along with a Map if you would like. I arrived in Younville around 8am. It was kinda cold and misty. I parked at the Veterans home and saw a bunch of guys in eletric wheelcahirs with American Flags on the back. Kinda got my juices going. Yountville is a really nice town. Tons of shops and roadies on their bikes sippin their Java. I headed out to the Silverado trail which is the main-strip of wine tasting and bike tours. I turned left and headed towards Sage Canyon road. Enough of the flat stuff....head to the hills I say. The sun came out just as I hit the lake. I made a left turn on Chiles Pope Valley road. This was another canyon that puts the "Scenic Loop" in San Antonio to shame. It was sweet....and 15 miles of riding along a river grapes. I thought, not too many hills...this is nice. I finally got to Pope Vally and made a left on Howard hill road..(I think that is what it is called). I hit a wall. They call it "ink Grade". 3rd toughest climb in all the valley and it smacked me in the face. I said bring it....It now made sense all the days on San Felipe....I have prepared for this moment. After about an hour and close to 3000 ft of climbing...I made it to the top. Up and over into a Seventh-day adventist College town that looked over the valley and you could even see the Golden Gate bridge in the distance. The descent was crazy...but it felt good to get in some "free" miles. I came back to the floor and hit the Silverado trail. I headed back to the truck to re-charge and fill up the fluids. THen back on the trail to Napa city. All in all, 67 miles. Not too bad. I feel I might have gone longer....but that hill toasted my legs. Next week it's Hamilton...and I will be ready. I am debating on doing a long flat ride to stay on the bike some more because my back was not feeling too good after today. That seems to be my Kryptonite. A little late now to have discovered it....but every Superman has one. I would have enjoyed it more with Beecher or even Salty on my wheel....maybe someday....They will be on my wheel soon enough.....

Nappy Valley

I have 2 Saturdays left before big Papi. I have this weekend to myself since Kristin has extened her Vacation a few more days. I am going to drive up to Napa Vally and ride all day. I look to put in at least 75 miles. Next Saturday will be a 50 spot to the top of the col de Hamilton...and I should be ready!! I am geeked up for the ride tomorrow. I hear Napa has some of the best rides so I should be able to go long and mingle in some climbs. Yesterday in spin class I saw my dos hombres in the mirror behing me. Yoda and ob1. I was in pain because they were. That's the thing about biking. The guy next to you is also about to crack. The question is, do you have what it takes that day? Did you prepare, did you sleep well, are you eating the right foods today, have you paced yourself just enough to make the other doubt, when will you make the break? 2 Weeks we will be able to answer these questions. Anything can happen. It all depends on who shows up. I can't wait...

San Felipe update....

8/8....San Felipe Hill,,,,,,,20:45........OHHHH Snaaapppp. I might get under 20....

Can you smell what the Rock is Cookin??

Yesterday I did a 50+ mile ride. I heard about Uvas Canyon was a nice place to go hiking and see some good waterfalls. I gave Kristin a Map on how to get there and told her I would meet her there. The ride takes you through my side of town and along 1/2 half of the Tour De California time trial. While I was on that road, I met up an adult cycling team. They were leaving at 30 second intervals...so I joined right in. I caught the person in front of me and almost the person in front of him. I was movin. I will mention I had a few others who kicked my butt as well. Even two girls. I swear they had some synthetic testosterone in them. I think their mustaches gave it away. Well, they turned and I kept going around 2 lakes. A really nice ride in some wine country and over some good hills. I finally turned down the road to Uvas Canyon park. You should look it up on line. It was really nice. It is 4 miles off the main road and you wind through the bottom of a huge valley. Near the end you slow your speed down to 5 mph as you pass through a "Sweedish" community that lives up there. Kinda weird..almost cultish but they all seemed really nice and it looked like a big Family reunion. Kristin was already there with the kids. I was shakin because I did not anticipate 50 miles of hills. I had originally planned on riding back....but the quarterback was toast. We went on a mile hike with the kids on "waterfall loop". They really liked that. Eryn just wanted to play in the water so hung with her and Briggs while Kristin and Reagan kept marching up and down the loop. Briggs used the Bug catcher that Oma got him to collect his victims. It was a long day but I felt really good. I only have two more Saturdays left to put in some good rides. I also only have 5 spin classes remaining to get into shape. I feel like I am at least at par or better then i was last year. The true test will be in a few weeks. Master Yoda and OB1, you boys keep playin your games.
It's August baby and the Hogg is in the kitchen cookin up something special. You won't know what it is until you are at the table. It will be a full course meal with all the fixins. Topped of with a 42 oz. can of whoop-ass....