But Saturday was my divine sixty mile training ride. And it was ever so lovely. I had been tremendously nervous, but as soon as I started riding, my anxiety quickly dissipated. I think that the hardest part was the first twenty miles - after that it was forty miles, and I'd already done that (Mind over matter!). I felt clever for printing out the difficult parts of my route all on one sheet of paper and then sealing it with clear contact paper: a fold-able cheap waterproof map of exactly what I would need.
My chain slipped going up Los Feliz, but that might be because the cables have stretched (Almost 600 miles in two months!), and I took Lola in for a tune up at I Martin, so we should be good now. My jersey from Aerotech Designs is nothing fancy, but is comfortable, utilitarian (I was surprised to find that there is a Velcro security pocket within the main pocket!), successfully wicks away moisture, and cost me only twenty-five dollars. My problem is the cotton bra shirt I wear in addition to my sports bra that puddles water on my back.
I ate a huge meal of pasta the night before, had a beer in the morning and half a Clif Bar. I stopped to eat again around my thirtieth mile, inhaling one Clif Bar. It took a little bit longer than I would have liked for my energy to kick in, so I stopped in Marina Del Ray to chug a bottle of water, suck down some Gatorade (Always the blue one), and get another Bar (Which I wouldn't end up eating). I stopped again around my forty-fifth mile to stretch and drink some water, and other than that, I kept an average pace of about fourteen miles per hour. I maxed out at thirty-one-point-nine miles per hour bombing Los Feliz (Picture me screaming "STAY GREEN!" at the light as Los Feliz/Western crosses Franklin, and then having my wish granted). I finished in about four hours and twenty minutes.
I think I have my thirty mile on Thursday night to thank for that. That ride was slow, but I think it warmed me up for Saturday, and helped me avoid getting sore (I only ever felt a little stiff). I will have to do that for the century.
And yes, I did this all with flat pedals, in cheap Converse shoes from Target, and without socks.
Which just goes to show that it's not about the bike.
As of today I'm a volunteer over at Bikerowave! I'm really excited to work there, especially since they are considering organizing a women's night. I have an idea for a like, bike mentoring program I'd like to start up. I think it would get more people on bikes if they had someone to mentor them.
I'm still waiting for a report on the City Council Meeting today regarding LADOT's plans to cut out its bikeways department.
I also did some writing. I guess my weekend wasn't a loss after all.
It was Friday and it was payday, so I decided to take myself out on a date. Anticipating a sixty mile ride in the morning and with no food in my fridge (The result of a mysterious late night rampage of consumption), I smoked a bowl and hopped on my pink bicycle aimed toward a famous twenty-four hour Los Angeles Jewish deli. I dreamed of the world's largest plate of spaghetti, and, naturally, some stiff early evening drink.
Upon opening the menu, my eyes were drawn to the Bloody Mary and my waitress, a maternal yet drolly cheeky woman, commented on the "divinity" of my drink as she set it down on the table. She would prove all too perceptive.
At the table next to me a fellow ordered yet another round of the courtesy pickles and promised them to be his last, explaining apologetically, "They are just so gosh darn addictive!"
From my spot at the front (So I could watch my bike through the glass door, of course), I witnessed what may or may not have been child abuse, and the waitresses gasped all in a row as a father dragged his small child outside to discipline him and the door swung and hit the kid's leg.
Upon requesting my check, the waitress commented, "Well, you sure made good work of that," referring to my polished plate. I sleepily replied, "I have a sixty mile ride tomorrow morning, so I need all the carbs I can get."
And she said, "...and the buzz."
I laughed and gave her a big tip.
Writing May 15 2009
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