It's Time to Start Training

Yesterday Lori and I went for a road bike ride through Stinson Beach and up Fairfax- Bolinas Road and the 7 sisters. Santa brought Lori a new ibike computer for measuring power (and just about every other possible parameter like temperature, altitude, wind speed, speed, grade, time, moon phase (not really but the date is recorded)) while she is riding. It's a nice piece of engineering, using all this data to calculate power as she rides. Power is the preferred parameter to measure if you are a triathlete these days. Training plans and specific workouts all use power instead of heart rate, time, or how you feel. Just another reason not to be a triathlete (but not nearly as compelling as the swimming in a non-life-threatening situation).

Lori had to perform 5 calibration rides where she rode 20mph and then coasted down to 8mph. This gives the computer enough information to calculate the bicycle friction drag and wind drag. She did those rides, then we rode the six miles to Stinson Beach for her 4-mile calibration ride. We had a low-wind day and the road is smooth and relatively flat so it was a good place to do the longer ride. It took two tries, but we got that ride done, and the computer was calibrated.

From there it was about 14 miles home, 2000' of climbing, and some beautiful scenery. Lori burned 550 calories riding home, and averaged 130 watts including downhill sections.

Today we rode again. I'm training for the Oklahoma FreeWheel ride across Oklahoma (of course) in June of 2009. Doing this ride is the brainchild of my brother, Hal. My dad, also Hal, and I have signed on. I officially started training today.

We rode to Pt. Reyes Station via Bear Valley today. We were going to come home by way of the Mountain, but it started raining at Pt. Reyes Station. 45 degrees and rain is a recipe for some cold riders, so we took the easiest path possible (which isn't saying much). We ended up just riding back up from the coast on Panoramic Highway (still 1500' of climbing). We did the ride with Dorette and the Ultraman Duane.

Duane and I had some fun on the last climb back home from Stinson Beach. Duane is 4.5 years older than me, and of course, an Ultraman. As we approached the Pantoll pass, we slowly cranked up our effort until we were both at our limit. Duane (Mr. I averaged a 105 heart rate Ultraman) peaked out at 161 bpm near the top, and I gave it my best grimace (no HR monitor to reflect my pain). I couldn't drop the old guy, but he didn't try to pass me at the top either.

Anyway, Lori and I got our 48 miles in today. It's a start for OKFree I guess. I think it will take a lot more than that to be ready though. What about you?

:-) Night night!

Merry Christmas!

It has been a good year for us, and Christmas was no exception. We had friends over for dinner last night and had the traditional Dungenous crab, salmon, and lamb. Call it a California tradition since it is crab season. We ate well, that is for sure.

Then Santa showed up. Doe and Duano gave us a gift certificate to take a seaplane flight around the Bay Area. It's going to be super cool! We will try to choose the time to get some good photos. Thaks D&D!

A couple of days ago I went for a hike down the hill in Muir Woods. I mostly took pictures with my Hasselblad, but I did snap a few with the 5D after it started to rain. Here is a look down the Fern Creek trail.


The yellow alder leaves were a nice contrast to the dark green and red-brown of the Redwood trees. The rain on the leaves gives it the contrasty look.

It has been a pretty dry year so it is nice that our weather has finally turned wet. We had the big storm our wedding weekend, then it was dry again for six weeks or so. Now, finally we are getting the daily storms blowing through. Very winter and Christmas like (in a Northern California kind of way).

Hmm, I'm rambling. Anyway, we hope you had a wonderful Christmas Day. We did!