Spring Road Riding Takes Off

May weather turns warm and dry and with it an opportunity to kick road riding into higher gear. So far this year I have gotten in 22 outside road rides for 788 miles and 35,000 feet of climbing. Since the last day of snowbording, 311 miles on 8 rides for 13,505 feet of climbing.

More importantly than the statistics, it has been great to get out in the warmer weather and to not fight rain or snow. I really enjoy road riding this time of year. First it is a great weigh to shed those last 5 pounds off - you are out later in the evening with the later sunset and it just seems that the appetite is not as strong while the activity is greater. Then there is the ability to see far into the woods as you whirl by. The leaves are just starting to come out on the maple trees. The third thing is that the farmers finally are busy out in the fields and I get more time to work from the home office - and therefore more time to get rides in during the week.

Group rides are now on the schedule, so it is a great time to ride with others after the long winter of solo riding. Donna and I have done several good rides in the area. We also joined a Cambridge Valley Cycling (CVC) club ride on a (wet) Sunday. Last weekend I did a group ride with Mohawk-Hudson Cycling Club (MHCC), a "Bruce ride" which had 15 total riders and we went around Lake Luzerne from Skidmore. The weather was brisk but bright and sunny. The 53 mile loop included going over West Mountain Rd and Conklinville Dam.

This week Donna and I got in a good 26 mile ride on Monday, I plan to try out a CVC Wednesday ride, and I will get the mountain bike out for a MHCC group ride in Pittstown State Forest on Friday. We will see how much energy is left for the weekend. As the mountain bikers say, "ride-on!"

Boarding Season Wrap-up

A season of Snowboarding finally comes to an end. Starting on 12/15 and ending 127 days later, this was a great year to get fully into snowboarding. Twenty days out on the slopes in all, 10 at Killington and 5 at Mt. Snow - making the All East Pass a $25 per day bargain. Three days in California/Nevada (Mt. Rose, Squaw Valley and Northstar), along with a day each at West Mountain and Bolton Valley, make up the remainder of the days of carving and gliding.

Keeping a regular activity log makes it easy to go back and look at the statistics. The 20 rides I did this year represent 54% of the total snowboarding I have done in my life. This year I did 83 hours of snowboarding, which if I did 4 runs per hour and each run was 1/2 mile, would work out to 166 miles of snow riding! I went by myself a total of 11 times, and with others the remaining 9 days.

More importantly I have gained much confidence and fulfillment from learning a new activity and improving my skill level. To be outdoors for those 83 hours through the dark, cold winter was exhilarating and just plain fun. My goals were to get more skilled at making carved turns and to be more comfortable in the bumps and steeps and that was accomplished. Spending quality time with Donna, Alix and others was another benefit. But, also learning to enjoy and not be afraid to go it solo was a benefit. In the past I would just not go if no one else wanted to go with me. Now I enjoy the solo efforts as well as going with someone else or a group.

As the snow season leaves and the woods dry out, soon the mountain bike will replace the board. For the present road biking and training for upcoming events like the Blackfly Challenge and the Whiteface Uphill Bike Race take precedence. Donna and I joined a local club ride this past Sunday - the Cambridge Valley Cycling club. We had fun on a nice flat and fast 25 mile loop in the rain. After my 70 mile ride to the Bruce Ride on Saturday, it was just what I needed to keep getting in shape.

Last night Donna convinced me against my better judgement to go swimming at the Y with her after supper. I predictably broke out in my Grant's Syndrome hives. Oh well, I will learn to listen to my better judgement someday, but I always think I can get away with it because sometimes I do.

2006: a Ridn Year in Review

Overall, 2006 was a good year for Riding. Injuries were few and did not keep me from doing events planned. Running was pretty well eliminated from my routine, which helped with injuries. At the start of the year I still wanted to do some brief running and elliptical training in hopes of doing some tri's. I only ran in one sprint tri and that was too much. I have finally accepted my running demise! Swimming and biking legs of team duathlons and triathlons are what I will do from now on to get my tri fix. The focus going forward is RIDN!!

Summary Statistics and Highlights - 2006:

Road Riding - 92 rides, 3408 miles

• Tour of California - rode to and on several stages in February.
• Saratoga Duathlon - 2nd year riding for Alix.
• Team Guerrilla Road Ride - 5th year in a row.
• Giving Canondale R-800 at makeover with FSA carbon and Ultegra controls.
• Whiteface Mountain Uphill Bike Race - once again to revisit the pain.
• Vermont Sun Triathlon - sprint - kicking butt on the bike.
• Teddy Roosevelt Ride - not bonking for once, but finishing strong leading a large group back to parking lot for last 8 miles - just in time to leave for Tom Petty concert.
• Winning (sandbagging) the C group Tuesday Race of Fingerlakes Cycling Club in Ithaca.
• Rupert Mountain and Washington Co. Whereabouts and other "Bruce Rides."
• Mohawk-Hudson Cycling Club Century Ride - bonking on last 10 miles.
• Tour of Great Sacanadaga club ride with Donna.
• Mild Fall temperatures - getting in good quality rides in November and December.
  

Mountain Biking - 40 rides, 60 hours, 436 miles

• Bonus riding while working: Kingdom Trails, Granite Hill, Stowe with Marty.
• Indian Ladder Trail Run - making it a MTB race for me alone, for the second year in a row.
• Lots of Friday Grafton group rides, including a night ride on snowy ground.
• Xterra Off Road Tri - swim and rode with Donna doing the very technical 'run.'
• SMBA rides with Capital MTB group.
• Finally figuring out Moreau trails.
• Lake Desolation ride with Art and group.
• Getting 2002 Yeti AS-X on Ebay - great addition to the stable.
• Dropping down to Pittstown and NOT getting dropped.
  

Snow Boarding - 13 rides, 38 hours

• Using free tickets from Miller movie to tour the Big Hills at the end of the season with Donna and a bonus day at Stowe with Marty.
• Going top-to-bottom five times in a row at Mt. Snow - "finally getting it!"
• Bonus rides on way home from working in NH at Mt. Snow - great sunset.
• Checking out new Malolo / C60 / Ion combo bought this summer at 40% discount.