Monthly Archive for June, 2007

I went for a traing ride today, Newberg - Hagg Lake - Newberg - Williamette Mission - Newberg (106 miles). I completed this in 5 hours 35 minutes.

When I arrived at Hagg Lake I found that a triathlon was going on (http://www.racecenter.com/hagglake/). What a blast! This was my fastest Hagg Lake loop ever - and to see the looks on the riders as I passed them! (passing riders as I was going 40 mph - it was as if they were standing still!)

Another fun part of today were the photographers - it was like they had never seen a trike before!

Anyway, one loop around Hagg Lake was all that was planned for me today - 50 miles round trip from Newberg to Hagg Lake.

From Hagg Lake, back to Newberg, then off to Williamette Mission. This route is fairly flat and a nice “recovery” from Hagg Lake.

The total ride I averaged 19.0 mph! A good indicator of what my STP is going to be like.

I have noticed that many successes or failures in life are a direct result of our mental attitude.

I have seen many folks not do something because it “seemed” to difficult, when in reality, it is thier thought process that is keeping them from accomplishing it.

Call it “F.E.A.R”

F alse

E vents

A ppearing

R eal

When I decided to do my first Seattle to Portland, I registered in January 2002, months before I had my trike. When I received my trike in May 2002, I had about 75 days to train and get ready for my first ever long distance ride.

Yes, it was hard. Yes it was daunting. But very doable, and in the end, well worth it!

If I had let fear get in the way, I would have said I couldn’t do it, that it was too hard, too difficult.

Now, after riding 5 Seattle to Portland rides (all one day), 200 miles isn’t really all that hard and I look forward to each coming year, training and preparing for this long ride.

For me, remembering what we “think” will happen is usually far from the truth, and that our fears are usually unfounded.

“What we think, we become”

Granted, if someone decided to ride the STP the week of the ride and never prepared for a such long ride before would be foolish - the stunt would be doable - but foolish.

Boy did that sneak up on me! Over 3000 miles ridden for the year and the Seattle to Portland is just two weeks away!

Last year I didn’t hit the 3000 mile mark until after the STP… (Actually rode almost 4000 miles for 2006). At my current pace, I am well on my way to to exceed last year’s total miles!

Looks like my riding the trainer is paying off. Last year I would ride every other day, riding 1.5 hours (25 miles or so), adding longer rides as the STP came closer.

This year, I’m riding almost every day except Sunday, putting in at least an hour on the trainer (15 to 20 miles depending how I’m feeling and if I did any long rides prior.)

I feel stronger, and I am able to ride faster and stay on the road longer…

This STP should be a great one! (lets hope for no problems like last year!)

Yesterday, my friends and I road the Wheelmen Century route - quite a ride south of Portland Oregon.

We followed the “Dan Henry” markers for the 100 mile route for this ride starting in St. Paul, and followed them through Canby and other small towns in rural Oregon.

The weather forcast predicted a dry day, however, we did get rained on a bit, and climbing the 3000 feet was made a bit difficult by the wet and cooler conditions. This ride makes the Seattle to Porltand flat!

After the long climb, the down hill was fun! Although I did have to feather my brakes to keep my speed under 35 mph (the roads were a bit slick from the rain - no need to test my bail out ability with oncoming traffic!)

At the pace I am riding at, I sould have over 3000 miles ridden by the time the STP comes around.

During my 100 mile training rides, some things I need to do manifests themselves more quickly than my shorter rides. The most important is keeping hydrated and feed. Good thing about the trike is that I can easily to both while on the go…

Hill climbing with the trike is also easier - I can go as slow as I need to go without falling over!

I did the Strawberry Century today - 5 Hours 58 minutes IN THE RAIN!

Soaked to the bone, not a dry spot on me…

As long as I moved, I wasn’t cold.

Over all I’ll say this ride was fun, and enjoyable, I’ll be adding this ride on next year’s schedule!