Decided to do an easy recovery ride even though it was not on my training plan – the weather was just too nice not to be out on the bike.

Met up with Mark and we rode up to Dayton on Webfoot Road against the north wind where we had lunch at the Block House Cafe. The weather forecast was a bit off; it was cooler than I thought it was going to be. Mark was surprised to see my bare, uncovered knees. However, once we started moving, we were warm enough under the mostly cloudy skies.

Food at the Block House Cafe was nice. They server breakfast all day but we ordered sandwiches and I enjoyed a latte.

The ride back to home was on Dayton Highway which was quiet and peaceful. We rolled along at over seventeen miles per hour helped by the tail wind.

Ah, As the Raven Flies Time Trial. This TT is not flat, nor is it a hill climb. It is worst. The As the Raven Flies Time Trial is always changing. It goes up and it goes down, but it does not stay the same. You either are suffering up a hill or wanting to coast to catch your breath.

Well, there is some flat. Maybe 100 feet from the starting line to the first hill. I started in my small chain ring knowing that is where I would want to be when I reached the hill. At the base of the hill, I could see my rabbit, the person who started before me, reaching the top of the hill. I reached down deep to work as hard as I could climbing that hill. I stood and stomped on the pedals trying to climb as fast as I could. I wanted to catch and pass that person. Finally, I crested and started down the other side. I coasted for a brief moment trying to recover from my hill climbing effort, but soon I was on the aerobars working hard.

After the first big hill, the route in never flat but rolls up and down. On one slight climb, Joe caught me and slowly passed me, but he did not pull away. When the inclined changed to a slight downhill, I was able to pass him back. But I knew I would never be able to stay in front of Joe, and sure enough he caught me and blew by. I managed to keep him in sight for the rest of the race, but he was always slowly pulling away.

Meanwhile, I was slowly gaining my my rabbit. But Tess is a strong rider and it took me six miles to be within striking (passing) distance. Just before the turn around, I got by her. However, I was still chasing Joe, and he was still within sight, but not very close as all.

Soon, I came the the big hill and worked my way up it. I knew that once I crested it was literally all downhill to the finishing line so I gave it everything I had.

My computer reported 36:17, but I started it before I was released at the starting line and stopped it after crossing the finishing line. I either was very close to my best time of 36:09 or just barely set a personal best.

Ride Statistics

Power Detail

A short workout in consideration of tomorrow’s time trial – As the Raven Flies.

Received an e-mail today…

“Hello and congratulations, John Henry!

You have been accepted to compete in the 30th Anniversary Furnace Creek 508 on October 5-7, 2013, “The Toughest 48 hours in Sport.” Once you complete the registration process, you will be part of a select group who will participate in this world-famous spiritual odyssey through Death Valley and the Mojave Desert. We look forward to sharing the experience with you!”

I felt really tired after work today. So I turned on the TV and started watching Milan – San Remo (I had recorded it from BEIN TV). Soon my eyes began to droop so I laid down on the couch. Then I fell asleep and slept through my assigned workout. I am such a couch potato!

 
The first Spring ride was cold, windy and wet. Just as we started the ride, the rain started and then Jean’s front tire was punctured with a resulting large hole. This cause the group to loose determination and we rode over to Nancy’s Burgers for dinner.

After a great cheeseburger and greasy French fries, Joanne and I took the long way home via Windsor Island Road.

March is full of time trials, so Coach has me doing a lot of time trial work. Tonight, I had a long warm up with some short sprints and then 30 minutes at time trial effort. The training session went well; the tt pace was hard but very doable.

My first long ride of the season.

I started in Willsonville at 7:40 am in a light mist. Soon my glasses were covered with tiny water drops ans I rode south across the Boone Bridge, the I-5 bridge across the Willamette River. Traffic was light and the south bound shoulder is wide. None the less, I was a bit nervous and I was relieved when I obtained the other side. As I climb up the freeway off ramp, a motorcycle policeman passed me. I found him on the freeway overpass shooting radar. I offered “Good hunting” as I passed him.

The mist continued and I was beginning to get worried that the entire 125 mile ride would be in rain. But as I passed through the town of Aurora, the mist stopped. Now, I only the wind to fight as I road south.

The first control was in Scio 48.7 miles into the route. Despite of the wind, I was feeling good so I decided that I would not stop until I reached Scio. Soon, I entered Silverton, where I had stopped the last time I did this route, but this time I continued on. I came upon Sublimity and Stayton, and again I did not stop. Soon I turned onto Cole School Road, which is straight, but not flat. This road has the hardest rollers around and I was in my lowest gear working hard to climb up them.

I rolled into Scio and stopped at the Covered Bridge Coffee House where I hoped to have a very quick stop. This was not to be. My hoped for ten minute stop turned into a 25 minute stop, and then I had to go across the street for a receipt with the time on it as the coffeeshop does not worry about paper receipts.

As soon as I left Scio, it started to rain. I was prepared wearing my Gore Rainjacket, tights, shoe covers and long fingered gloves. I was warm enough and not all that wet. I rained all of the way to Salem, but stopped as I entered the city limits.

In Salem, I stopped at The Beanery for a snack and I was motivated to have a short stop, but not as motivated as I was in Scio. But again, I was stopped for 25 minutes.

Leaving Salem, I came upon the first cyclists I have seen all day. We rode together on Windsor Island Road where she told me we would not see rain for the rest of the afternoon. We parted at the top of Revena hill and it soon began to rain. I began to rain hard. Soon, any thoughts of staying dry melted away and I slow fought the wind as I road back toward Willsonville.

The big challenge was the I-5 Bridge northbound. After recent road work, the shoulder not is only four feet wide to allow for a fourth lane for cars. So, I slowly rolled down the center of what seemed to be the tiny shoulder was cars traveling at 70 mils per hour passed me just a couple of feet away.

I made it across the bridge without injury, except to my nerves, and rolled back to my car and then to Starbuck’s.

I was tired, but not exhausted, sore but not hurting and glad the ride was over.

A short ride as I will be going long this weekend. The weather was outstanding for March making ride a real pleasure.

With the daylight savings time change, we can begin our night rides in daylight, and the weather was warm dry, so we decided to go a bit longer tonight.