This was a gorgeous, warm weekend, atypical for January even for us here in Northern California. I’ve been itching to get out for some climbing on the weekend, but between baby illness, adult injury, and the relative dearth of riding partners in this footbal spectacularama season, it just hadn’t happened yet. But I intend to get back to form early this year, and yesterday was as good as any to start. Baby went down for a nap, and I made a break for it on Villain, my road bike. The objective: climbing Mt. Tam.

Observations:

1. I’m carrying too much winter weight. I’m lighter than I was when I started effing AIDS LIFECYCLE, but then again, I had 6 months of riding under my belt then, despite. Here, I was coming off cold, after a pretty gruesome holiday season of illness and pelvic injury. But really, I felt it in my ride. Too heavy. Too much excess being carried up the mountain, burning off too slowly, ha. But anyway, we do what we can.

2. My back ain’t healed. I mean, certainly my chiropractor thinks so, as I’m going every week for alignment. But man my back was aching by the time I got to Four Corners. I took a few breaks (I’m not proud, and see the long view) one at Four Corners and one part way up the mountain, partially to ease the asthma, but also to ease DEM BONES.

3. The weather was incredible. It was warm enough to feel great under the heat of it, but cool enough not to overcook. There were parts that baked me and parts that were chilly, as I passed through the darker patches under tree cover. Pretty great for effing January when our friends on the East Coast are snapping thermometers.

4. I’m proud of building my first road bike, but I have to say, work needs to be done. My shifter cables are either shifting or frayed from all the adjustments I was making. I can’t get into the big 27 cog in my crazy climbing cassette (and yesterday I’d have used it) without locking up the drivetrain, and the front derailleur was slipping a bit and didn’t like the big ring. The worst was that slip between a few gears on sustained climbing, where it hops back and forth between neighboring cogs and throws you off rhythm. It’s all a matter of adjustment, but man, out on the road you’re like COME ON, COUSIN.

5. Afternoon on Mt. Tam can be a freeway in parts. That’s not right.

6. I actually did pretty well, all things considered. I was strong where I needed to be, and I did almost the whole ride seated, and I didn’t stop half the times I contemplated it. Ultimately I got up to the split, took the East Peak route at the fork, but my lungs and my back were really bothering me. By the time I got to the open-air Tam theater, I saw it was 4pm and I was in trouble… this was more than just a quick loop, and I had a sick baby and lots of tasks at home. So I flipped it 3 miles from the summit, and bombed down the mountain to get home. And FAST. Faster than I usually go. It was exhilarating and not a little scary on a few curves.

Anyway, climbing ride 1 of 2011… only uphill from here, in a good way!

Be Sociable, Share!

• 

Follow this topic in the R3 Forum here!

Related posts:

1. Torquing Your Way Through China Camp
2. Hochdorfer ATTACK!
3. Attack Of the 50 Fixed Women