Week 5 - March 8, 2008 - Distance 33.22 Miles

Midweek training: I managed to log 35 mins on the trainer on Tuesday and ride to work and back (24 miles) on Thursday, my time was a tad slower than last week though.

Group Ride: The sun is out this week, and sunscreen is the order of the day. We started our ride from the Rosebowl in Pasadena at a later time of 8:30. This was to allow us to ride over to Pasedena Cyclery for a bike maintenance clinic.
I was assigned to a slower group for this short ride and missed riding with the faster guys.



The bike maintenance clinic took longer than anticipated and we didn't leave for our real ride till 11:00. I think a few miles were trimmed from the ride in the interest of getting back sooner, hence why we did less miles this week than last. Jose, my mentor and the leader of the fast group, asks if I like the pace of the slower group. I tell him it is a little slow and would still like to ride with him.

Riding with the faster group again was enjoyable yet it challenges me. All in all, it is a good thing. I find I am slower on the hills than the rest of the group. I am realising that it is not strength that I lack but it seems to be more of a cardiovascular limitation. I must try to work on that especially since the Tahoe ride is at high elevation (less oxygen). However, I seem to catch them up OK on the flat. Our ride is somewhat uneventful, except as a traffic light changed Tim very nearly collided with Becky. She had decided to stop, he had decided he was going through. It was close!

Last weeks nutrition clinic paid off because I had plenty of snacks to sustain me for the ride, especially since we got such a late start.

Fund-raising update: Thanks to all of you who have contributed so far. My progress towards my goal of $5000 is good. There are a substantial number of donations that are being matched by corporations. However, I still have a way to go. Family and friends in England and around the world will be on board this week as my mail went out and my e-mail will go out tomorrow. Thanks again for all your help, we can reach this goal together!

To make a donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, or to learn more go to TNT Donate

Week 4 - March 1, 2008 - Distance 33.42 miles

Last Sunday, my birthday, I was laid up with a bad back for at least half a day. It was a strange day, I missed getting a call from my Mum. It's strange how it flattens the day, even though you know you won't get, and weren't expecting, a call from her. Still, I got to talk to my brother, Russ, and my Dad.

My wife, Judy, got me a cycle trainer for my birthday and by the end of the day my back felt good enough to set it up and test it out. It's going to be great to use in the evenings (when it is dark) and when it is raining.

On Thursday I rode to work and back, 12 miles each way with a hill in between. It feels good to get my first midweek ride in.

Our Saturday training ride has 2 clinics, the first one on "interval training" (basically sprinting till tired, then recovering and repeating) followed by a second one on nutrition. The nutrition one is very interesting and serves to remind me that all I have for today's 33-mile ride is water. Oops! I wont make that mistake again. Apparently, it is important to eat the right kind of carbohydrates on a longer ride. Generally speaking they are all the kind of foods you should not consume if you are not training: white bread, sugary drinks, energy bars, etc. It seems the sudden increase in blood sugar levels will not occur because your body demands the energy - NOW! Additionally, it is important to replenish electrolyte levels to avoid muscle cramping (something I experienced a little of riding home after work on Thursday).

"Today's Team Ride has only one hill" coach Andy tells us at the Saturday pre-ride briefing, "La Tuna Canyon Rd". I recognise the name, and think to myself "isn't that up by the 210 freeway". This thought is later confirmed when we are told that the riders will re-group by the 210. It turns out that La Tuna Cyn is almost a 5-mile climb. It starts very gradually with but after a brief downhill becomes much steeper. Bottom gear all the way up the last 2 to 3-mile stretch! I am fortunately distracted from the gruelling climb by the conversation I am having with Cherie, one of the mentors, who earlier, at the pre-ride meeting, had shared, with the team, her experiences in caring for her Sister-in-Law who had passed away in 2006. The story had touched me because of the parallels with my Mum's illness and passing. It had been emotionally difficult to listen to. It seems many of the riders share a passion that goes beyond cycling, we want a cure so that others don't have to endure what our loved ones did.

The descent from the summit is long and at times fast. Our biggest challange is staying warm. The temperature is around 50F, but most of us dressed expecting the sun to put in a late morning appearance. Instead we faced light misting and a heavily overcast sky. Once back at the parking lot we are intent on getting warm and I "bundle up" as the slower riders come in.

Then it is off to lunch at Baja Fresh again where we are treated to a show and tell of coach Andy's damaged rear rim. It seems he bent the rim in a slow speed collision while climbing La Tuna, then while trying to limp the bike back he rode ove a 1 inch drywall screw that drove itself through the tire into the rim. Talk about bad luck!

To make a donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, or to learn more go to TNT Donate

Week 3 - Feb 23, 2008 - Distance 25.15 miles

I will be 44 tomorrow. Wow! I am feeling my age this week. I have a backache that started on Thursday at work. I have been sensible since then and feel that I can complete the ride sucessfully.




Jose welcomes me on arrival and tells me that he has been assigned to be my mentor for the season. Now if only I could keep up with him!

This week's ride has a new venue, Griffith Park. We meet in the LA Zoo parking lot. Our ride has one "real" hill, Chevy Chase Drive, a winding climb that starts gradually and steepens as we climb. I am, once again, in with the group of over-achievers that decide to ride further up the hill "just for fun". The ride down is fast!

I finish the ride feeling good and head to Baja Fresh for a post ride burrito with the gang.

To make a donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, or to learn more go to TNT Donate

Week 2 - Feb 16, 2008 - Distance 23.75 miles

Back to the same Rosebowl location. This time with a diference, we are climbing hills. I get assigned to the fastest group of riders. "Oh crap!" I think to myself, "maybe I should have rode much slower last week."

I should have listened to myself, because as we waited at the bottom of the first hill for all the slower riders to start climbing the testosterone started to take over. Once we were told we could go I followed mentor Jose as we climbed the hill. Turns out Jose is known for his climbing ability, but I didn't know that yet! About halfway up the hill we start passing the slow group very quickly, but Jose is leaving me behind. Jose isn't the only thing that is climbing as I notice my heart rate heading skyward. It peaks out at 198, and Jose is gone. The top of the hill comes not a moment too soon as I am panting and easing the pace letting my heart rate fall. Note to self: let Jose go, there is no way you will ever catch him going uphill!

The rest of the ride, more climbing, is done at a more enjoyable pace. I am the fourth rider of our group of six to reach the turnaround point and start the descent. Next week, I promise myself, I will ride the whole way at a sensible pace!



What follows the ride is a tire (ok! tyre for those in the UK) changing clinic. I get to use my CO2 cartridge for the first time to re-inflate my front tire.

Many of the Team head over to coach Andy's house for a letter stuffing party and lunch, but I have to get the van home for Judy to use.

To make a donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, or to learn more go to TNT Donate

Week 1 - Feb 09, 2008 - Distance 16.68 miles

Our first team ride. I arrive early at the Rosebowl (Pasadena) parking lot where we are all meeting. No worries, coach Andy and his assistant, Deborah, are the warm familiar faces that I have met before; at the kickoff event and at sign up respectively. The other mentors (individuals who have competed past events) greet me and all the new participants that are arriving. I have already forgotten the first half dozen new names. Then someone saves the day with nametags! Now, I can look like I have been paying attention all along!

We stand around in the cold waiting for the sun to rise over the hill while listening to a briefing on the day and the season. Everyone is enthusiastic. Today's ride will be low key - a warm-up lap around the 3.5 mile Rosebowl "circuit". Then a timed 4 laps around the same circuit - but this is not a race, it is to be completed at a comfortable pace.

Yeah right. I set off intending to go easy, in fact as two of the mentors disappeared into the distance I told myself not to race them, 3 laps later and after a chat with several participants, I am told I am the lead rider by one of the mentors! I finished the last lap at an easy pace while chatting away to Becca, a girl who has only been riding a couple of months. She pulled in as the lead rider, with me checking in right behind her. I was blown away, she set a fast pace, wasn't out of breath, and not even using clip ins! After a chat with coach Andy the Team dispersed and those who had time went out to eat together. A great start to the season and a nice bunch of people.

To make a donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, or to learn more go to TNT Donate