Okay on a serious note, seems our leader has suffer a potentially serious injury riding a jetski. Yep, he didn't know what he was doing, yes he had a few dozen beers but so what--it's why he is our leader!! Hopefully it is not as bad as suspected but it does not sound good. The WRFB team will struggle without him so let's all hope for the best. Doc sees him on Thursday. He has whipped his ass into great shape and it would be a shame for him to be out of commission for a while.
If worst case happens and the biermeister can't pedal, I feel certain we can find other useful things for him to do to support the team. One would be to give his start number for BS&G to little brother Phillip (more on him later). Phillip found it convenient to register late so as to not get a start number for the 100 miler. He could also drive a personal sag wagon around the course and provide us with some really good drugs, especially at Snake Mountain. He could also sag for the team on the beach ride, ice down all the beer in advance, make dinner reservations etc.. he'd be a natural!! But mainly he's our leader and we need him even if he's gimpy.
Now a quick note about brother Phil and I's ride on Monday. As Phil posted, we rode the Assault on Mt Mitchell / Marion on Monday. Our assault was to Marion for two reasons, one; we registered late and Mitchell was full and two; we're not stupid!! Big, well run ride with lots of riders and great community support. It is really nice to ride a 75 mile course where all intersections were controlled by local law enforcement and car traffic going in our direction was non existent. So we started in the front third of the field but had to fight for position over the first 5 miles, lots of hard efforts before settling in with a group of 80 or so riders. First 35 miles were easy as far as pace and terrain goes but overall it was a very nervous group, lot's of near misses, a few crashes and constant braking for no reason. At 35 miles the course became lumpy and this is where it became evident that Phillip was having a good day. There were two good hills preceding the the first "big " climb of the day. Phillip and I found ourselves at the front over the second one and off we went. There was several miles along a nice valley before a right turn to climb Bill's Mountain. This climb is maybe two miles but not all that bad. It did however allow alot of the previously dropped riders to catch and pass us both, a fact that did not sit well with Phillip. We made our only scheduled stop of the day at the rest station on top and set off to recapture our track position. Unfortunately, I had a flat within a couple of miles costing us more time and track position. This was the time in our ride (about 50 miles) that something happened to Phillip. He stood there while we changed my tire and as he watched all these riders stream by, his eyes narrowed, he started snorting & pawing the ground like a wild animal and I knew I was in trouble! Back on the road he took off like he was shot out of a cannon. For 25 miles he pulled his guts out on the flats, bombed the descents and climbed like a pro. He reeled in everybody he saw and I was hanging on for dear life! Finally at mile 73, as we approached a steep hill that was no more that a half mile long, he moved to the left side of the road and ripped a final violent attack so vicious that I exploded like the JeagerBomb I consumed late the night before!!
He waited for me at the top, being the good guy he is, and we were done. After a quick change and a bite to eat and we drove to Spartanburg for a couple of beers at the Wild Wing Cafe and a return trip home. It was a great trip and one the entire team should put on the calendar for next year.
Be warned though--these Welch boys are not like the rest of us! This ain't your average cycling team!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Injury
I took last week off completly because of exhaustion, thinking I would start my comeback this week. My bike has been in the shop for 5 days and should be ready today. Unfortunatly I'm not ready. Part of my relaxation consisted of sitting on my butt drinking beer all weekend at the lake. Beer and jet skis don't mix. Took the jet ski out and had a bad wreck. I thought you couldn't hurt yourself in one of those things - I've had tumbles before where I just fall off into the water. However, this time I bounced up high and landed on the jet ski as the jet ski was hitting another wave and bouncing up. The full impact hit my right shin and I bounced a second time. The noise my leg made when it hit the jet ski didn't sound like a body hitting plastic - more like a gun shot. I thought I had shattered my leg into pieces. That happened Saturday. Today is Tuesday and I know I didn't shatter the leg, but am concerned that there is some very bad damage. My self diagnoses after scanning the internet is very bad, so I'll spare you my thoughts until I see the doctor on Thursday. At this point I would say there is a 95% chance I'm out for BS&G. I can't walk or move my leg so that would make riding a bike a little difficult. It's too far away yet and don't know exactly what I did, so I can't say yet if the beach ride is out for me, but I think right now I am very doubtful for that. If it is what I think it is, I'm just hoping I can make next year's ride. More after Thursday's prognosis.
Assualt To Marion
Assault to Mount Mitchell/Assault to Marion
I agreed to a ride with animal Carl and had no idea what I was agreeing to. Like some little kid I said yes. I had no idea what I was getting into until signing up for this MOUNTAIN ride at the last minute. I decided to get to Marion early and check it out. As I was heading north from the starting point of Spartanburgh, I realized the hills were getting more and more steep. As Marion came closer I realized that this was a mountain ride, idiot I am. I was to meet Carl in Marion so we could leave one car in Marion and one in Spartanburgh, I was hoping Carl would cancel. Come to find out, Carl was hoping I would to. We got a hotel in Spartanburgh and animal Carl sets our alarm clock for 4:45 am so we can get up early, eat breakfast and make the starting line at 6:30 a.m. Now this is a bike ride understand and there is no prize or money involved just the pleasure of wearing ourselves down and say we did the assault to Marion. Carl and I decided to have a few drinks the night before and a shot to give us our necessary energy for the morning bike ride.
It was a beautiful morning at the starting line and over 1000 riders lined up to assault this organized bike ride that I have not done since I did the death ride in Tahoe when I was 23. Carl said we will have to push ourselves the first hour in order to stay up with the group and then it will calm down and we will be with a group doing around 20 mph up and down hills with very little effort. I do not start well the first hour and or 17 miles. We were flying and getting to the front and I thought I was going to have to quit if the pace remained as it did for 74 miles.I was out of breath and was already thinking I am not going to make it. Well animal Carl was right, after about an hour we got up with a group and went up hills and mountains more easily than I thought. We got in a grove and it was so pleasurable to do about 20 mph and talk to another biker next to you like you were sipping tea or in our case drinking a beer watching a basketball game.
This ride was so well organized. The police stopped cars for us at every turn. There was even sag cars around to help when there was trouble. Carl got a flat tire, of course the back tire and a sag car came out of no where, jumped out of the vehicle with a pump and change the tire for him. The driver even gave Carl another extra tube and offered me one if I wanted it. Wow, what an experience. After the flat, Carl and I exploded to the finish line like no one's business. We caught up with the riders we were riding with that we lost due to the flat. I kid you not, the last 20 miles the other riders looked like they were going backwards. We were flying through the last 20 miles.We picked up one more rider who was going all the way to Mount Mitchell and he was so impressed and thankful for the way we rode the last leg. It was awesome. Carl did not feel well and we all know Carl, he still pushes it harder than we do when we feel great. I am still on a high from this ride and want to do more of these in the future.
The worry is this however, we must get our gears changed. I was at such a disadvantage going up the one big hill as I was getting passed by cyclists spinning their wheels as I am working so hard and getting passed like a turtle. Blood sweat and Gears is not going to be fun without the proper gears and training. BSG is not going to be fun anyhow who am I fooling. Anyhow what a great time Carl and I had. Thanks for the invite animal, had no idea how much fun these rides can be.
Phil
I agreed to a ride with animal Carl and had no idea what I was agreeing to. Like some little kid I said yes. I had no idea what I was getting into until signing up for this MOUNTAIN ride at the last minute. I decided to get to Marion early and check it out. As I was heading north from the starting point of Spartanburgh, I realized the hills were getting more and more steep. As Marion came closer I realized that this was a mountain ride, idiot I am. I was to meet Carl in Marion so we could leave one car in Marion and one in Spartanburgh, I was hoping Carl would cancel. Come to find out, Carl was hoping I would to. We got a hotel in Spartanburgh and animal Carl sets our alarm clock for 4:45 am so we can get up early, eat breakfast and make the starting line at 6:30 a.m. Now this is a bike ride understand and there is no prize or money involved just the pleasure of wearing ourselves down and say we did the assault to Marion. Carl and I decided to have a few drinks the night before and a shot to give us our necessary energy for the morning bike ride.
It was a beautiful morning at the starting line and over 1000 riders lined up to assault this organized bike ride that I have not done since I did the death ride in Tahoe when I was 23. Carl said we will have to push ourselves the first hour in order to stay up with the group and then it will calm down and we will be with a group doing around 20 mph up and down hills with very little effort. I do not start well the first hour and or 17 miles. We were flying and getting to the front and I thought I was going to have to quit if the pace remained as it did for 74 miles.I was out of breath and was already thinking I am not going to make it. Well animal Carl was right, after about an hour we got up with a group and went up hills and mountains more easily than I thought. We got in a grove and it was so pleasurable to do about 20 mph and talk to another biker next to you like you were sipping tea or in our case drinking a beer watching a basketball game.
This ride was so well organized. The police stopped cars for us at every turn. There was even sag cars around to help when there was trouble. Carl got a flat tire, of course the back tire and a sag car came out of no where, jumped out of the vehicle with a pump and change the tire for him. The driver even gave Carl another extra tube and offered me one if I wanted it. Wow, what an experience. After the flat, Carl and I exploded to the finish line like no one's business. We caught up with the riders we were riding with that we lost due to the flat. I kid you not, the last 20 miles the other riders looked like they were going backwards. We were flying through the last 20 miles.We picked up one more rider who was going all the way to Mount Mitchell and he was so impressed and thankful for the way we rode the last leg. It was awesome. Carl did not feel well and we all know Carl, he still pushes it harder than we do when we feel great. I am still on a high from this ride and want to do more of these in the future.
The worry is this however, we must get our gears changed. I was at such a disadvantage going up the one big hill as I was getting passed by cyclists spinning their wheels as I am working so hard and getting passed like a turtle. Blood sweat and Gears is not going to be fun without the proper gears and training. BSG is not going to be fun anyhow who am I fooling. Anyhow what a great time Carl and I had. Thanks for the invite animal, had no idea how much fun these rides can be.
Phil
Friday, May 21, 2010
220 miles already ( My week goes Saturday- Friday)
I am not in shape but just realizing that I have done a heck of alot of riding this week. 74 miles with Carl and David in hanging rock about knocked me out. Just like Brew Dave, I was exhausted. However managed to do a 96 mile ride on a total flat service Wednesday and then a 50 miler yesterday. I feel good today, but did not feel good yesterday. Now I have been told by animal Carl to only do 25 miles the rest of the week which I will in order to do the 70 mile mountain ride with him on Monday from Spartanburgh SC to Marion NC. I was not going to do anymore to be honest. I did not realize this was a mountain ride on Monday so a bit concerned, no very concerned. Carl you do not need to wait on me, just wait for me in Marion so I can get a ride back to Spartanburgh SC. Carl should be able to drink plenty of beer as he waits for this tired biker. Enjoy the rest of the week guys. Very concerned about the ride at the end of June in the mountains. BRAG is coming up sooner than I thought. I am exhausted thinking about it all.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Total Exhaustion HIts The Beeremeister
My body is just worn out. I slept 13 hours last night and have gone to bed around 9:00 or earlier the last 3 days. In addition to being tired, I am sick - Awful congestion, aching, coughing - out of breath going up the stairs. All I can think about is that I'm going to loose my stamina in a few short weeks and it took me about 5 months to build up to where I was. It has been over 10 days since I did the half-iron man and I don't know at what point I can keep pointing to that as my reason for being so tired. Of course the sickness doesn't help either, but I was probably more susceptible to becoming sick because my body was exhausted and I didn't realize it. Last week I did 2 rides. One was roughly 25 miles. I had to stop once because of sugar depletion. And the second was the trip up Hanging Rock for a little over 70 miles. Close to 100 for the week, but this week is going to be zero. But I also swam over a mile one day and did a 2 runs. This week is different. No swim, no run, no bike, just sleep and recover. I hope I am able to bounce back in 5 short weeks because we should be experiencing our peak mileage weeks over these next few weeks to build up endurance. I can barely function at work. I'm too tired to drink beer!! Typing this post just wore me out. Looking forward to starting over on Monday. I've never quite experienced total exhaustion like this. Hoping extended rest will help. You guys keep me posted on your efforts - help keep my spirits up!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
I have the power
Brewster Dave has given me rights to post. YEAH!! Great ride the other days guys!! Carl, look forward to next Monday and wish me luck if I ride the 250 miler in the next couple of days!! Have a few things to do, but will feel like a long ride afterwards. Hope I don't chicken out or get rained out. I will post my riding schedule soon. I will be riding brag (Bike Ride Across Georgia) June 5Th- June 12Th or at least part of it. If I ride the whole week it is around 450 miles. OUCH!!! I have never done that much in a week. It depends if I do the century ride in the middle of it. If I don't do that it is around 350 miles. Still more miles in a week ever for me. After hanging rock I realize I am not ready for the mountain ride in June, nor do I think I will be.
Phil ( The good looking Brother)
Posted by Philip at 5:31 PM
Phil ( The good looking Brother)
Posted by Philip at 5:31 PM
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Carl's Ride Schedule
Carl has put together the tentative schedule for us to follow. Here it is:
Okay, I've finally paid attention to the calendar and it's time to get to work. We really need to do most of the following otherwise the 26th becomes more than just a hard ride.
May 15th- WS-Hanging Rock 65 miles
May 24th- Spartanburg SC to Marion NC 75ish (yes it's a Monday, yes we are supposed to work, yes we have families--so what ) ROAD TRIP
May 26th- First Wednesday nite special King to Sauratown 25-30 miles 6pm start
May 28th-31st- I'm at the lake and will be training the liver most of the weekend--make sure you ride at least 100 miles over the three days
June 5th-KEY RIDE 3 Mountain Madness 75 miles with climbs of Sauratown, Hanging Rock and Pilot in that order. Great ride, good food, cool shirt
June 9th-Second Wednesday nite special near King to Hanging Rock 30 miles 5:30 start
June 16th-Third Wednesday nite special King to Pilot 30 miles 5:30 start
The weekends of June 12th and June 19th I will not be able to ride at all so that is why THIS schedule is The schedule. I'm sure you understand.
Okay, I've finally paid attention to the calendar and it's time to get to work. We really need to do most of the following otherwise the 26th becomes more than just a hard ride.
May 15th- WS-Hanging Rock 65 miles
May 24th- Spartanburg SC to Marion NC 75ish (yes it's a Monday, yes we are supposed to work, yes we have families--so what ) ROAD TRIP
May 26th- First Wednesday nite special King to Sauratown 25-30 miles 6pm start
May 28th-31st- I'm at the lake and will be training the liver most of the weekend--make sure you ride at least 100 miles over the three days
June 5th-KEY RIDE 3 Mountain Madness 75 miles with climbs of Sauratown, Hanging Rock and Pilot in that order. Great ride, good food, cool shirt
June 9th-Second Wednesday nite special near King to Hanging Rock 30 miles 5:30 start
June 16th-Third Wednesday nite special King to Pilot 30 miles 5:30 start
The weekends of June 12th and June 19th I will not be able to ride at all so that is why THIS schedule is The schedule. I'm sure you understand.
Hanging Rock
Carl, Philip and I rode to Hanging Rock and up the mountain and back yesterday. Total round trip of just ove 70 miles, but some real good hills. I had a tough time with it. I had a blow out about 25 miles into the ride. Daddy Carl fixed it for me, but that led to about a 15 minutes undscheduled stop. Carl and Philip made it to the top without stopping, but I had nothing left and had to stop on the way up. I needed water badly and so I spent close to 30 minutes at the top preparing my camelback and eating a sandwhich. On the way back I was nothing but dead weight. I'm just breathing every body's air - just getting in the way. I didn't lead at all on the return trip and started cramping up with 10 miles left. Had to pull over and rest. I was just exhausted. My legs felt fine, but I was just tired. Either I'm in a lot poorer shape than I thought, or my body hasn't recovered yet from the 1/2 ironman last weekend. I'm using the 1/2 ironman excuse for now. I did a 3.5 mile run today, but had to walk several times - again, just worn out. Normally 3.5 miles barely gets my heart rate up. I'm going to try to rest a little better this week to recover so I can bounce back. We averaged 15 mph on the way there. I re-set my odometer at that point and showed us averaging 18.7 mph on the return trip - mine is off a little, and I really thought we were over 20 because rarely did I see my speed dip below that.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Weekly Mileage
Took a little break from just biking this week. I only did 56 miles. But I did all of those in one day, along with swimming 1.2 miles and running 13.1 miles by completing my first 1/2 ironman triathlon event. It took 6 hours and 22 minutes but it was 95 degrees and the wind stayed in my face. Given my limited training in the running category, I was pleased with my oveall performance. As soon as I get my legs back I'll be on the bike again. Roughly 6 weeks of training left before our crazy mountain ride. Are you WRFB guys out there? If so, post your weekly numbers here. We should be doing in excess of 100 miles per week by now.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Training Ride
Sunday, May 2, 2010
May 2, 2010
8 weeks until Blood, Sweat and Gears. Carl and I rode to Sauratown Mountain and back from home. Total mileage was 62. I was tired from the very beginning, but Carl had legs. Carl let 99% of the way. I just couldn't do it, but again it was another confidence boost to know that I could keep pedaling even when my body was tired and my mind was worn out, although having help from Big Carl was paramount. The ride was very hilly and the climb up Sauratown is 2.5 miles. I made the climb without stopping this year. Last year I had to stop and rest once, so again another accomplishment. We averaged 15 mph on the way there and the the total trip was 15.8. We were slow because I couldn't help and had to drage Carl down. Plus the wind was in our face on the way out and I swear it shifted directions so we had a head wind on the way back. Toal mileage this week was 87. Only did 2 rides. The other was a short 25 miler. But compared to last week's 179, I needed a break. Still need to rest a couple of days to catch up. Probably going to take 2 days off. But we plan on doing one trip per week to Sauratown, Hanging Rock and/or Pilot or something similar.
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