Point Reyes was the weekend ride and despite the fact that it takes 90 minutes or so to get there I was still looking forward to the ride. Despite the threat of rain, it is always great to be out with Team in Training (TNT) riding for a great cause. The terrain is also one of the lures for this ride. It is always green and the route offers the opportunity to do everything from pacelining and rollers to climbing and descending. This variety is why you see so many cyclists.
Still.... I should have never left the house. The day before our ride on Friday I realized I had the flu. Ok, so I ride quite a bit when I am sick, but usually I don't tempt fate when the flu comes knocking. However, I thought that somehow I could "ride my way through it" for short 40 miler. So, when did I realize I couldn't. Well, I kind of figured it out when I woke up and felt like I had been beaten with clubs, had an elephant on my chest, and basically couldn't keep from blowing my nose. Of course, I am a stubborn man. I was still going to be alright.
News flash --- alright as I lead out it is downhill. Hmmm, maybe this will be doable. Now we are out on the flat main road. I suppose I should bring the paceline up to around 17 or 18 mph. Uh-oh, even this pace is hurting me. My heart is at the top of my aerobic training zone; this is not good. Did I mention the road is flat? After a couple of miles, Geff wants to go to the front. Wow, this is great. I am more than willing to let someone else lead. He picks up the pace a bit so it still hurts just not quite as much. I suppose the real test will be the first short climb. Ok, now I am really feeling the pain. I head back down the climb to ask Coach Cliff if he wants to regroup at the top. He says 'Yes' and I bolt back to the front (not a good idea). My lungs and body are in complete rebellion even though the climb is really not too bad. I watch Cliff roll by all of us to the top and I continue to lead the team up the grade. I reach the top and tell Cliff about my flu symptoms and ask if I can ride on the back. He says "no problem" and I find my way to the sweeper position.
The descent to Abbotts Lagoon is no problem because it is all downhill. The only problem is I am more than a bit woozy from the flu now. Prior to the descent, I had a chance to talk with Irma about riding tactics and how to work one's way through the gears and try to flatten out rollers and short climbs through anticipation and technique. Irma listens intently and does a pretty good job at applying what I have relayed.
At the rest stop, I see my old friend Todd Bendt a former TNTer from my Death Ride/Climb to Kaiser days. He is a fantastic guy and we have lost contact over the years. I also get to meet his wonderful new (at least to me) wife, Michelle. It is a fantastic day now even though I feel absolutely horrible. I am beginning to think of requesting a SAG out (no, you can make it). I head out of the rest stop riding sweep with Vanessa and we begin talking about technique and riding approach. She has felt a bit slow on the climbs. As I ride with her I notice she is expending considerable energies on the flats and arriving at the climbs pre-fatigued from these efforts. I suggest to her that sometimes in order to go faster overall you need to go slower in spots. Vanessa gives it shot and has a good experience as we re-climb the hill we had just descended to Abbott's Lagoon.
As the ride sweeper, I am at the back of the pack to support the tail of our ride group and/or offer assistance should there be mechanical issues. On this day, Jill had a number of issues with her seat and we needed to stop a couple of times to sort them out. Once we sorted the problems via a height and angle adjustment, we aimed for Nicasio and rest stop #2. At this point, I am feeling beyond horrible. I will have to reevaluate my condition at Nicasio. I ask myself why am I even thinking about continuing to ride. I am too stubborn for the my own good. My head is foggier still now and I have no reserves of strength to fall back on. I finally pull us to Nicasio and there is Tamara. I tell her my tale and she says I should just get off the bike and SAG in. Ok, I agree. I will just have to wait and tell Coach Cliff. He and the team arrive about 20 minutes later (they had taken a restroom break and we unknowingly passed them) and I tell him I am destroyed and need to bail. I am not sure what feels worse the flu or telling Cliff I am leaving. I think the latter hurts me more. Still, it is the right thing to do. I tell Coach Doug and he razes me that it is merely too many miles for me. I defend myself for a minute, but then just smile realizing he is yanking my chain.
While I am waiting for the SAG from Tamara I see yet another old friend. It is Irene McKillop from the 2004 El Tour de Tucson team and she has come out to do roving SAG. It is great to see her as well and catch up. She tells me the family lost her sister about three years ago to leukemia and the world just kind of stopped. Irene is a wonderful, caring woman and her presence makes me feel a bit better. As we talk she tells me she may come back the fall cycling season and do El Tour de Tucson if we offer it. I tell her I may join her as well depending on how many mentors are needed.
End of story now, Tamara shuttles me back to the start and I leave her with my Togo's sandwiches for the "Recommitment Celebration" lunch and get in my car for the drive home. I love TNT and my teammates, but I should have never gotten out of bed that morning. Discretion is the better part of valor as they say.
So, what was I thinking?
Still.... I should have never left the house. The day before our ride on Friday I realized I had the flu. Ok, so I ride quite a bit when I am sick, but usually I don't tempt fate when the flu comes knocking. However, I thought that somehow I could "ride my way through it" for short 40 miler. So, when did I realize I couldn't. Well, I kind of figured it out when I woke up and felt like I had been beaten with clubs, had an elephant on my chest, and basically couldn't keep from blowing my nose. Of course, I am a stubborn man. I was still going to be alright.
News flash --- alright as I lead out it is downhill. Hmmm, maybe this will be doable. Now we are out on the flat main road. I suppose I should bring the paceline up to around 17 or 18 mph. Uh-oh, even this pace is hurting me. My heart is at the top of my aerobic training zone; this is not good. Did I mention the road is flat? After a couple of miles, Geff wants to go to the front. Wow, this is great. I am more than willing to let someone else lead. He picks up the pace a bit so it still hurts just not quite as much. I suppose the real test will be the first short climb. Ok, now I am really feeling the pain. I head back down the climb to ask Coach Cliff if he wants to regroup at the top. He says 'Yes' and I bolt back to the front (not a good idea). My lungs and body are in complete rebellion even though the climb is really not too bad. I watch Cliff roll by all of us to the top and I continue to lead the team up the grade. I reach the top and tell Cliff about my flu symptoms and ask if I can ride on the back. He says "no problem" and I find my way to the sweeper position.
The descent to Abbotts Lagoon is no problem because it is all downhill. The only problem is I am more than a bit woozy from the flu now. Prior to the descent, I had a chance to talk with Irma about riding tactics and how to work one's way through the gears and try to flatten out rollers and short climbs through anticipation and technique. Irma listens intently and does a pretty good job at applying what I have relayed.
At the rest stop, I see my old friend Todd Bendt a former TNTer from my Death Ride/Climb to Kaiser days. He is a fantastic guy and we have lost contact over the years. I also get to meet his wonderful new (at least to me) wife, Michelle. It is a fantastic day now even though I feel absolutely horrible. I am beginning to think of requesting a SAG out (no, you can make it). I head out of the rest stop riding sweep with Vanessa and we begin talking about technique and riding approach. She has felt a bit slow on the climbs. As I ride with her I notice she is expending considerable energies on the flats and arriving at the climbs pre-fatigued from these efforts. I suggest to her that sometimes in order to go faster overall you need to go slower in spots. Vanessa gives it shot and has a good experience as we re-climb the hill we had just descended to Abbott's Lagoon.
As the ride sweeper, I am at the back of the pack to support the tail of our ride group and/or offer assistance should there be mechanical issues. On this day, Jill had a number of issues with her seat and we needed to stop a couple of times to sort them out. Once we sorted the problems via a height and angle adjustment, we aimed for Nicasio and rest stop #2. At this point, I am feeling beyond horrible. I will have to reevaluate my condition at Nicasio. I ask myself why am I even thinking about continuing to ride. I am too stubborn for the my own good. My head is foggier still now and I have no reserves of strength to fall back on. I finally pull us to Nicasio and there is Tamara. I tell her my tale and she says I should just get off the bike and SAG in. Ok, I agree. I will just have to wait and tell Coach Cliff. He and the team arrive about 20 minutes later (they had taken a restroom break and we unknowingly passed them) and I tell him I am destroyed and need to bail. I am not sure what feels worse the flu or telling Cliff I am leaving. I think the latter hurts me more. Still, it is the right thing to do. I tell Coach Doug and he razes me that it is merely too many miles for me. I defend myself for a minute, but then just smile realizing he is yanking my chain.
While I am waiting for the SAG from Tamara I see yet another old friend. It is Irene McKillop from the 2004 El Tour de Tucson team and she has come out to do roving SAG. It is great to see her as well and catch up. She tells me the family lost her sister about three years ago to leukemia and the world just kind of stopped. Irene is a wonderful, caring woman and her presence makes me feel a bit better. As we talk she tells me she may come back the fall cycling season and do El Tour de Tucson if we offer it. I tell her I may join her as well depending on how many mentors are needed.
End of story now, Tamara shuttles me back to the start and I leave her with my Togo's sandwiches for the "Recommitment Celebration" lunch and get in my car for the drive home. I love TNT and my teammates, but I should have never gotten out of bed that morning. Discretion is the better part of valor as they say.
So, what was I thinking?
No comments:
Post a Comment