Ready to MTB and Race

Ankle continues to improve, getting stronger with greater range of motion. So, I ventured out on the mountain bike and Donna and I both signed-up for the Whiteface Mountain Uphill Bike Race, coming up shortly on June 14.

I have purposefully stayed off the trails until the ankle was in better condition. No sense in cutting my recovery short when I can ride on the road and the trails were muddy and full of turkey hunters. But the trails are drying out, and turkey season is now over, so to move things along I went out on our home trails for a good ride.

Our home trails are one reason we have not moved from our present location. A half-mile down our road begins a 6-mile network of trails that are a result of years of 2- and 4-wheeler, snowmobile, and motocross activity. They include a short stretch of recently added single-track, some rocks and roots (but not much compared to other sites), a few short, step climbs - but mostly flat, a challenging motocross racing track, a heart-pounding G-drop, long open field runs and plenty of fast twisty trails through the mostly pine woods. When I go "end-to-end and back again" it is a 12-mile, ~1:20 workout/ride.

Depending on what I want to accomplish, I can go slow and steady (usually doesn't happen), spend time doing intervals on the motocross course, which I run backwards (to the direction the motocross bikes run) , and is a great way to get the heart rate up, or just cruise it as fast as I can go- which is usually what I do, and what I did this time. Result of this ride on the home trails was a new eagerness to go on some group mountain bike rides, and assurance that the ankle will withstand the jolting of some rougher trails.

At the same time, Donna and I have been talking about doing the Whiteface race together. I have encouraged her to do the race, knowing she would enjoy the challenge and do well. Last year I did the race and she did a hike and then we stayed at a B+B in Keene Valley. This year we are both registered for the race and we are looking for a place to stay. I have begun (way too late) to get some good climbing rides in. Friday morning of this week I awoke to 65 degree temperature with sunny weather and the prospect of rain and hot weather later, as well as an appointment with Donato and varied work commitments filling up my day. It was a no-brainer -- I was on the bike rolling out of the driveway at 7:45 am. My goal was to get some climbing in on Willard Mountain, which is home to a local Ski Mountain only 8 miles from our door. My usual "Willard ride" is to go into Greenwich, then up a small climb on Burton Rd. to warm up, then the big climb up Interval Road, which is about 400 feet of elevation gain in about a mile of riding. I then go down on Vly Summit Rd. to Rt. 40 in North Easton, and climb back up the other way. Then repeat. And repeat again, and again, if the legs can handle it. Then it is a 8 mile ride back by way of town to warm down.

Looking for a new version to spice up the ride, I decided to get to the top, go down to Route 40, but then climb past the turn for the Ski area, all the way to another high spot on Vly Summit Road (550 feet over 2 miles). Then go down to Rt. 74, and go over to Herrington Hill Road, which is a steep, long climb (550 feet over 1 1/2 miles) on a well-packed dirt road that takes you back to the ski area a different way. My legs and time only allowed for one set of each climbs, but it was enough to get in 30 miles and about 2200 feet of climbing, before a late breakfast.

The climbing I just started doing should have been done three weeks ago to properly prepare for the Whiteface Race, but that will have to do. Donna and I will have fun challenging ourselves on the 8 mile, 8% slope race in less than 2 weeks!