Showing posts with label cycling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cycling. Show all posts
Friday, September 5, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
A Climatic Weekend of Training
Provided by Martin- Edited/published and modified with permission by lynn and joy.
Sunday: Lynn headed out sometime between 5:45am and 6:00am, again with the "blinkie." A storm was brewing so before I got into the car, I decided that the smarter thing to do was to wait. Then BIG lightening and thunder started! I thought, "CRAP!" I searched and found some rain gear. Aha! A gallon sized zip-lock bag with wind-breaker and rain jacket. I put this in a handy position near the door and left a message for Lynn that I was headed out to Pleasant Union Elementary, so that I could get it to her before the storm reached her.
I (Martin) was a mile down the road when Lynn called. She was sheltering under the carport at one of the churches at the corner of Bruce Garner and Rock Springs roads. She was dry because she stopped riding when she saw the lightening. It had not started raining where she was. I arrived at the church where Lynn was trying to decide what to do. It looked like the storm was easing off and was less threatening north. Lynn didn’t want to ride farther north. I offered to "leapfrog SAG" and direct Lynn onto lightly traveled roads. Lynn didn’t want to ride farther north. We loaded up her bike and headed for Raleigh.
We headed directly into some tremendous cloudbursts and lightening. It was very dark. Some (a few) cyclists were still riding through this?!? The storm finally passed. Lynn decided to re-start her ride after refilling her water bottles and making a quick wardrobe change.
Lynn re-started her ride around 10am or 10:30am. She called around 2:00pm to say she was doing all right. I mentioned that she doesn’t have to do an entire 150 miles. I knew I was wasting my breath. The next thing I knew, she was finished at around 5:00pm. Lucky’s odometer read 150.06 miles. Now that is what I call careful planning. Was that the longest solo ride of all training this year? Ask Lynn….
Sunday: Lynn headed out sometime between 5:45am and 6:00am, again with the "blinkie." A storm was brewing so before I got into the car, I decided that the smarter thing to do was to wait. Then BIG lightening and thunder started! I thought, "CRAP!" I searched and found some rain gear. Aha! A gallon sized zip-lock bag with wind-breaker and rain jacket. I put this in a handy position near the door and left a message for Lynn that I was headed out to Pleasant Union Elementary, so that I could get it to her before the storm reached her.
I (Martin) was a mile down the road when Lynn called. She was sheltering under the carport at one of the churches at the corner of Bruce Garner and Rock Springs roads. She was dry because she stopped riding when she saw the lightening. It had not started raining where she was. I arrived at the church where Lynn was trying to decide what to do. It looked like the storm was easing off and was less threatening north. Lynn didn’t want to ride farther north. I offered to "leapfrog SAG" and direct Lynn onto lightly traveled roads. Lynn didn’t want to ride farther north. We loaded up her bike and headed for Raleigh.
We headed directly into some tremendous cloudbursts and lightening. It was very dark. Some (a few) cyclists were still riding through this?!? The storm finally passed. Lynn decided to re-start her ride after refilling her water bottles and making a quick wardrobe change.
Lynn re-started her ride around 10am or 10:30am. She called around 2:00pm to say she was doing all right. I mentioned that she doesn’t have to do an entire 150 miles. I knew I was wasting my breath. The next thing I knew, she was finished at around 5:00pm. Lucky’s odometer read 150.06 miles. Now that is what I call careful planning. Was that the longest solo ride of all training this year? Ask Lynn….
Lucky To the Rescue! (and a ride for Walter)
Weekend Training
Provided to us by Martin Edited/Modified and published with permission by Lynn and Joy
Provided to us by Martin Edited/Modified and published with permission by Lynn and Joy
Lynn’s training schedule had been getting tougher the last few weekends, with back to back 100-milers July 26 & 27, back to back 120 milers Aug 2 & 3, and then back to back 150 milers the weekend of Aug 9&10.
Those of you who know Lynn, will not be surprised to hear that it is difficult to get her to talk about her training rides or to search more vigorously for riding partners.
Her Saturday ride started from her house at about 5:45am in the complete darkness that encompasses that hour this time of the year. With her rear "blinkie" in full operation, she set out to meet "Lucky" at the Finley YMCA about three miles from her house. No traffic.
At the Y, Lucky, who recently completed the Lake Placid Ironman in under 11 hours and a bonus riding partner, Mark wear waiting. Mark is a fairly regular Y riding partner and CNC riding partner from last fall.
The intrepid trio headed out on Six forks Rd across I-540 and points north. All "blinkies" were in operation. Sometime before reaching Franklinton, the "blinkies" were retired for the day, and Lynn’s cycling computer stared acting up, actually blinking at her. They turned around upon reaching US-1 just west of Franklinton and headed back toward Raleigh where Lynn’s computer finally died. Lynn didn’t care much about speed only the odometer reading—how else was she to be sure she was not cheating on her training schedule?!
Lucky to the rescue! He offered Lynn his wireless cycling computer for the weekend, or longer if she needed it. They stopped at the Stoney Hill Fire station and Lucky (with knife and zip ties supplied from the fireman) installed his computer on Lynn’s bike.
Somewhere around 50 miles, Lucky and Mark split off their separate ways for their respective homes. 50 miles of riding with partners: pretty good compared to some of the training rides, especially since the "Lake Placid" training group finished their training (and the Ironman). Lynn continued to the Y, refilled her water bottles, and decided to repeat the trip up Six Forks ->New Light->Bruce Garner->Pokomoke Road…to Franklinton, and returned. Rather than completely retrace the route on the return, Lynn decided to make a four-mile loop side trip across the flat Pleasant Union Church Rd. I (Martin) had finished my metric ride and was standing in the parking lot as Lynn rode by Pleasant Union Elementary – I don’t even know that she noticed me, or anyone else for that matter.
Soon thereafter, Lynn called from Finley Y to say she had completed a bit over 100 miles and was trying to figure out where to ride next. Walter and I drove out to meet her at 1pm at the Subway at Patterson and NC-98. Walter likes going for rides.
We got to the Subway about four minutes after 1pm, just as Lynn arrived on her bike. Walter was very excited! Lynn was also happy to see Walter. Walter enjoyed helping eat our tuna subs. Lynn remounted and headed out to ride her last 25 or so miles. She finished about an hour and a half later. Saturday done. Average pace about 18.2.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Last Ride
Lynn's last ride yesterday was a short ride (56 miles) and flat. There was one stretch of shake and bake but that was not too bad. Mostly, she rode alone on this ride. Riding into St Simon's there was a lot more traffic than there had been --but as she said that, it didn't seem to phase her either.
After the ride, Lynn said she saw Crazy Tom in tights and a cape and he was wearing a bright pink wig. Can you imagine him on the bike trying to get into a superman pose in that outfit?
Lynn also went by a dead armadillo without decorations. But, she asked Lamar who was behind her if the animal had beads when he went by and he said, "Yes" and just shook his head. She could just imagine Crazy Tom in that "get-up" riding over the armadillo decorating it as he zoomed past.
She then took a long bus ride back to Oxford where her brother picked her up and took her to Atlanta to spend the night.
This morning, she is on the way back to the good state of NC. There was sadness and fatigue in her voice. She was really worried about this week but she said everyone was so good to her there. She met some fantastic people. Louis seemed to be very special to her. Dave and Lamar and Audrey were also apparently great. She was very thankful to Dave for introducing her to Audrey. The whole Posse will definitely be missed by her. I'm sure she will try to keep in touch with them all. She asked me to extend a big thank you to everyone who made her feel so loved this week.
Lynn's ankle held up good, though the swelling is still there. Over this week, she logged about 555 miles of riding! Yet, she is worried about not working out today. Can you believe her?
After the ride, Lynn said she saw Crazy Tom in tights and a cape and he was wearing a bright pink wig. Can you imagine him on the bike trying to get into a superman pose in that outfit?
Lynn also went by a dead armadillo without decorations. But, she asked Lamar who was behind her if the animal had beads when he went by and he said, "Yes" and just shook his head. She could just imagine Crazy Tom in that "get-up" riding over the armadillo decorating it as he zoomed past.
She then took a long bus ride back to Oxford where her brother picked her up and took her to Atlanta to spend the night.
This morning, she is on the way back to the good state of NC. There was sadness and fatigue in her voice. She was really worried about this week but she said everyone was so good to her there. She met some fantastic people. Louis seemed to be very special to her. Dave and Lamar and Audrey were also apparently great. She was very thankful to Dave for introducing her to Audrey. The whole Posse will definitely be missed by her. I'm sure she will try to keep in touch with them all. She asked me to extend a big thank you to everyone who made her feel so loved this week.
Lynn's ankle held up good, though the swelling is still there. Over this week, she logged about 555 miles of riding! Yet, she is worried about not working out today. Can you believe her?
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Official Cycling Report
I am extremely busy into the night with my conference-Also wireless problems so I was glad to get an official report - using cycling language and everything!! So here it is copied and pasted for your reading pleasure. Thank you, Martin--Joy
Official Report By Martin:
"...Lynn and Audrey started riding at 6:00 a.m.. They were still in warm-up mode when two sets of two riders joined up with them, so there was six total riders, I guess. Soon after, Audrey turned off to do the 60-ish mile option, so that left five. A little after that, a really fast pace-line, headed by Aaron’s Racing Team with some strong-strong riders caught Lynn’s group … and Lynn’s group tacked onto that fast group.
About 30 miles into the ride, Lynn reports that she commented to Tom – whom she had not previously met – that if she attempted to hang on to 24-25 mph for the rest of the ride that she would be toast, and Tom responded “oh, we’re not going to keep up this pace the rest of the way”. Soon thereafter, the entire group stopped at a rest stop for water, etc.. “Crazy” Tom, the Chapel Hill med student from the other day, and Lynn left before the Aaron’s part of the group in order to separate themselves.
A couple miles later, the med student being at the end of the three person pace-line, started giving a countdown: here they come ... 300 yards ... 200 yards ... 100 yards ... 100 feet ... Whoosh! ... Gone past. The med student went with the Aaron’s group, so Tom and Lynn traded off the lead on their two-person “pace-line” for the rest of the ride (much of which was apparently on very rough “shake and bake” roads).
It was during the 2-person “pace-line” riding that Lynn discovered at least one reason why she would label Tom as “crazy”. Coasting downhill, Tom used his tri-bars and the saddle to get into a perfectly horizontal position with his legs extended back over the rear wheel. For those of us that know Lynn, even if she did not have her core and balance issues, there is no way she would ever contemplate riding in such a position on the bike.
Tom and Lynn finished their 104 mile century a little before noon. Lynn’s stats were 104 miles in 5 hrs, 24 min of ride time...."
Official Report By Martin:
"...Lynn and Audrey started riding at 6:00 a.m.. They were still in warm-up mode when two sets of two riders joined up with them, so there was six total riders, I guess. Soon after, Audrey turned off to do the 60-ish mile option, so that left five. A little after that, a really fast pace-line, headed by Aaron’s Racing Team with some strong-strong riders caught Lynn’s group … and Lynn’s group tacked onto that fast group.
About 30 miles into the ride, Lynn reports that she commented to Tom – whom she had not previously met – that if she attempted to hang on to 24-25 mph for the rest of the ride that she would be toast, and Tom responded “oh, we’re not going to keep up this pace the rest of the way”. Soon thereafter, the entire group stopped at a rest stop for water, etc.. “Crazy” Tom, the Chapel Hill med student from the other day, and Lynn left before the Aaron’s part of the group in order to separate themselves.
A couple miles later, the med student being at the end of the three person pace-line, started giving a countdown: here they come ... 300 yards ... 200 yards ... 100 yards ... 100 feet ... Whoosh! ... Gone past. The med student went with the Aaron’s group, so Tom and Lynn traded off the lead on their two-person “pace-line” for the rest of the ride (much of which was apparently on very rough “shake and bake” roads).
It was during the 2-person “pace-line” riding that Lynn discovered at least one reason why she would label Tom as “crazy”. Coasting downhill, Tom used his tri-bars and the saddle to get into a perfectly horizontal position with his legs extended back over the rear wheel. For those of us that know Lynn, even if she did not have her core and balance issues, there is no way she would ever contemplate riding in such a position on the bike.
Tom and Lynn finished their 104 mile century a little before noon. Lynn’s stats were 104 miles in 5 hrs, 24 min of ride time...."
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Lynn and Audrey
I'm pretty sure this is Lynn and her new riding buddy- Audrey. I think Audrey had to leave the ride today. I know that's sad for Lynn. She seemed to really enjoy Audrey's company. I'm sure she has been looking for a new riding partner and I hope she will find someone for that 100 mile ride in the morning. Isn't it funny how their shirts match?!?! Kindred spirits-- I suppose.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Ready, Set, Go
Well, she's off... 100 degree weather and a swollen ankle did not stop her. Lynn is officially on the go. It sounds like she searched and searched for anyone she knew and then searched and searched for someone who would ride as far and as fast as she does. She ended up finding someone to ride at her speed and an early riser too! I think that must have worked out well as her most recent voicemail indicated she was going to be dining with this woman and some of her friends tonight. I hope she is eating and drinking enough. We know how vital that is for anyone on a ride like this. Her voicemail also sounded very chipper! Lamar, Louis and Dave seem to be her new "peeps".... it sounds like they have fun together. Hopefully, by this hour she has iced her ankle and despite the heat is getting some good rest in that little tent of hers.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Ride of passage
To me, Lynn already embodies the spirit of American adventure- but I believe this ride will be in a way- a rite of passage for her or in this case a Ride of passage. It's interesting to me that she has chosen this particular moment in time-in her life- for the longest, hardest ride of her life-a ride that will take her - alone and collectively with others- through many cities, towns, cultures and I'd suppose- changes. What changes? I don't know. I'm sure she doesn't know. But - sometimes you just know that you know you are going to be changed by something. I think this will change her. I'm "joy"-My part is to share with the world or rather Lynn's circle of friends, whatever she wants shared while on her cycling adventures...and of course to add my own commentaries on the journey. So, as the journey unfolds, I'll be here-writing for or as "Lynn." I don't know much about "cycling language" or what it could possibly feel like to ride hundreds of miles a day. But, I'll use my imagination to report to you whatever I hear in Lynn's voice or whatever I feel through her words or pictures.
I'm proud of Lynn-all that she is and might continue to become in this life-She is a wonderfully unique person and just as E.E. Cummings said, "To be nothing but yourself ...in a world which is doing its best, night and day to make you somebody else – Means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight and never stop fighting." That-- I understand. So my words to Lynn are trust in your own unfolding- It just happens. Even if you think this is just going to be one heck of a good workout.
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