So Much For SCMC

After all that prep for SCMC, when I got to the parking lot, I went to get my stuff (helmet, shoes, gloves, etc) the bag is not there.  Noooo!!!!!

It turns out I didn’t put the bag in the car.  Damn, looks like I’m not doing the ride.

Went back home and there it is .. The bag lying right next to the parking space where my car was parked.

I decided to ride from home, to v try to meet up with Karen and Ramon at the rest stop at Hwy 9 and Skyline, but I was either too early or too late.  I decided to just complete the Page Mill route.

On the way home, my knees felt a little fatigue pain, so it’s probably a good idea that I didn’t do the ride.

I guess it’s rest day time, and time for some icing.

Preparing For Another Organized Ride But Not Routine

Well it’s a day before Santa Cruz Mountain Challenge, and I’m still questioning my sanity.  This is a really hard century/double metric, with majorly difficult climbs, and I’ve only really been climbing again for the past 3 weeks.  But this is a special ride.  Karen and as bunch of other riders from Southern California are coming up to do this, so I cannot disappoint by not riding   As Karen says, it’s an annual event, must do.

I think I’m OK to do the climbs, but don’t think my endurance is quite there.  I’ll probably start with the first spur, then follow the rest of the metric century route.  I’d still have to do Jameson Creek, which is tough even when I’m 100%, and it’s just before lunch.  Man, what torture.  I think I’ll channel my Andrew Talansky in me, off in the back.

I was going to try hitting some hills a week before the ride, but when I got to Boulder Creek, I got a flat, and thought it best to come back along Hwy 9, so that in case I got another flat, I would be in range of help.  So no Jameson Creek prep ride .. I’ll just have to wing it.

The last prep I had was Montebello on Sunday, and Mira (which is only a short 0.5 mile climb but pitches to 20%).  I figure a couple if days rest off the bike is in order (not even commuting in).

Longest I’ve done since my accident was 65 miles, and I figure this will be close to a full century.  I’m actually pretty nervous about this …. About as nervous as I was for DMD, but for very different reasons.  But I’m also excited to ride with Karen, Ramon, and the rest of the gang making the trip from LA.

Wish me luck.

Recovering From Crash with Tandem with Sore Ribs

It’s been about 6 weeks since my accident with the tandem, where I suffered cracked ribs.  I fell on my right side, and getting in and out of bed was a painful ordeal.  In fact, I had to sleep in my lounge chair for about 3 weeks.  This is probably the most painful accident I’ve endured, only because it’s the ribs.  They take a long time to recover from.

The first few weeks, I couldn’t really do any sudden movements.  Any laughs or coughs would make it really painful.  Then, I suffered a cold and cough. which set me back some time too.

After a month, I was able to get some flexibility back, and was able to get back on the bike.  However, not only did I lose fitness, but my core strength was gone.

I got back with the Meetup group for a Sunday ride, and it was great to be back with the gang.  I was able to climb Old LA Honda, but the time was painfully slow.  I just barely made it in 40 minutes (15 minutes slower than my Personal Best).  I ride up with Rhysly, who was also recovering from her own fall in the velodrome.

For the 4th of July weekend, I went down to LA, and we had a ride going up GMR then to Baldy Village.  GMR was closed to car traffic, so I had to take advantage of this.  It was tough but I did make it up to the junction of GMR and GRR, and that’s as far as I would go.

I was at least able to revisit my favorite past time on these rides, taking in terrific views before heading down the mountain.

A few days later, I did some more climbing with my friends Ken and Vic in PV (Palos Verdes).  That was nice.  Short climbs, so that my endurance wouldn’t suffer too much, and of course, spectacular views.  We did around 40 miles that day, with about 3000 feet climbing, and I was still feeling the fatigue.

This past weekend, I did a climb up Redwood Gulch and onto Kennedy and Shannon in Los Gatos.  That was tough, and I could feel myself struggling to make it back .. Another 40 miler. 

I decided to try my hands at a longer distance, a 70 miler that my friend John was leading for Western Wheelers, going to Devil’s Slide bike trail.  The pace was easy going in the beginning which was good.  As with most rides to Pacifica and Half Moon Bay, fog could be an issue, and it was this day.  Too bad we really couldn’t see anything.

The hard part was climbing over Higgins, Lobitos, and Tunitas.  That really took a lot out of me.  I struggled through this, but wasn’t feeling the pain I thought I would.  Instead of lower back pains, my legs were feeling it.  This is different than before, and it seems that my climbing is coming back, but it is slower.

My friend Karen wants me to do Santa Cruz Mountain Challenge with her.  Last week, I would have said no way, but now, I might consider it.  I’ll have to do my Big Basin loop, and see how I feel there before I make a decision.