3 Day Shake Down Ride - Practice for Ride the Divide

Time is flying and June 11th is coming fast!

Easter Weekend I had Sun, Mon, Tuesday off. I decided to turn my three day off opportunity into a three day training ride. Saturday after work my husband and I drove out to Gruene, TX and stayed at a camp ground on The Famous River Road. The worst part was the drunks were still out partying so getting to sleep that night was a bit tough.

Sunday morning Nathanael made us breakfast while I kitted out my ride with all my gear. I wanted a realistic weight for the divide so I packed everything I currently plan to take.

After loading (54 pounds including water weight) we went out for a nice 53.5 miler with 2791 feet of climbing. This is huge for a Houston dweller. The ride started out with a nice ride down river road into downtown Gruene. I enjoyed getting a fill for downhill with a fully loaded bike.  My bike handles well and my confidence is growing a bunch. During this trip I wanted to get more familiar with my etrex 30. If you think you might want to use GPS for a big ride.. Get is way in advance and learn it. You almost need a degree to figure the thing out. I am still learning. It's not easy to operate if you have never used one. Not like your cell phone apps, Android apps are easy to understand and flow. GPS does not flow.

We stopped shortly in Gruene to walk an art show and drink some coffee. After our coffees we headed out from some more big climbs. Based on my study of the divide maps most of these climbs were steeper and shorter than the ones out on the divide. Getting an understanding for how your bike climbs with a load is very important. You have to get an idea as to how your knees and your heels are going to hold out. I felt strong and was keeping a good pace about 11 mph average. My goal wasn't to bust a move but just get miles in and feel the climbing.

After about 25 miles I was faced with my first challenge:

 

After climbing for about 3 miles into a headwind we came to this fence blocking cars from driving along the dam road we were going to traverse. Notice the tight triangle access to the left of the gate... Yeah.. Try getting a 50 pound bike in it. I was afraid we would have to turn around and ride all the way back the long way. My husband wanted to help me but I said, "I am going to have to do stuff like this on the divide. I have to figure it out." I managed to wedge and lift the bike at a very odd angle. It was tough but we made it to the other side.

After a short downhill we were on top of the dam. With a rewarding view of the lake and the valley on the other side.

Hope this levee never breaks. I was thinking of that Led Zep Tune..

"If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break,
When The Levee Breaks I'll have no place to stay."

As this tune played in my mind I pedal on back towards camp. Of course we got to sail down to the bottom of the level and then climb out of the valley to drop back down to the river.

 

Remember the learning curve for GPS.. my next challenge was at mile 34. My GPS sent us onto a ranch road. We both thought it was a bit odd riding past a gate but maybe it was one of those neighborhoods. It started as pavement and went to gravel with several creek crossings and a steady 3 mile climb. With a few real kickers when you are loaded. I was feeling strong and proud and didn't have to walk a single section. As we approached to turn off for this section we noticed a huge concrete fence with a closed gate. Oopps we just road across some ranchers land. The gate would not open. Realizing we were on private property we really didn't want to turn around. So we braced my husbands bike on the wall and he used it to climp to the top. While I power lifted my beast up to him about 5 feet off the ground. While Nathanael balanced the bike on top of the wall I scaled the wall using his bike to boost my self to the top. After dropping to the other side of the wall Nathanael handed me the beast and his bike. Sweating and a bit nervous about getting shot by a Texas Rancher we both hopped on our bikes and tore down the road like nothing ever happened. In Texas Ranch Roads are not always open to the public. However GPS on our phones and handheld seemed to think so. With this exciting moment behind us I had a renewed sense of energy and blasted the last 14 miles. I averaged about 16 mph and got back to camp quickly.

Day one profile 1

 

 

 

Day 2... Running from Yettie's

Not really. With 2500 feet in 39miles this ride was a bit tougher getting started. Tired legs and a lot of climbing for the 1st 10 miles. Not to mention the wind was in our face and much stronger on day two. We rode out from Grune North up the River Road and out to a camp ground at the bottom of Canyon Lake. Along the way we ran into an advertisement featuring Yettie's. We could not resist. We got photos of us running from them.

 The original plan was to ride around Canyon lake but Ranch Roads struck again and we had to reroute. Neither of us wanted to ride across another ranch and risk getting shot. This ride turned into a traditional out and back which was great cause you got a 10 mile down hill at the end. We decided to ride and up and down to the lake. Which gave us the chance to hit some big climbs and see some nice views of the lake.

On the way back we would take all the off shots down to the lake and back up. Resulting in some steep climbs 85 to 12% and some great training.

Profile for day 2





 

Day Three:

Nathanael and I planned to ride out together for about 10 miles. Nathanael was going to do about 10 miles with me and then head back to take down the camp and then drive to Lulling to pick me up about 50 miles away.

 

Instead of going into downtown Gruene and having to climb the massive hill going into down town I decided to ride threw New Braunfels. God decided to laugh at me. When Nathanael and I got to the 10 mile separation point this was what we got to climb:

21% Grade!! Ouch. Does my bike even have that many gears!!! From 600 ft to 800 ft in two tenths of a mile. My agony when we saw this. I would not walk. I had to zig and zag but I got my butt to the top without falling and without walking.. My accomplishment was super huge. Nathanael had never ridden up anything like it. We both were proud.

 

After our huge climb Nathanael turned back to camp and I was on my own for 40 more miles. My plan was to ride around the north side of the airport and head to Lulling. However, road closure struck! I had to reroute because of  a new air landing being built across my path. Part of me wanted to ride across it but the good side of me said no. I had to back track and reroute about 5 miles. This new route feature rice patties, corn fields, no shade, vortex winds, and burning hot pavement. The only place to get water was a church. I greeted a lady in the parking lot working the daycare program. She let me in to get some water and a bit of AC.

 

I had to push on for about 15 miles before the ride became blocked with trees and hills to slow the wind. Once in the trees and hills the road became white dusty gravel. Solar FLARE TIME. I could feel the sun burn coming. I stopped under an oak tree and lathered up again.  After a brief moment of no sun I pressed on to my final turn onto  Hwy 90. This turn would put me out on the side of a highway, no shade, headwind, no gas stations, no water, and no mercy for 13 miles. I was happy cause this meant only 13 more miles but it was hard to get above 15mph and hold it. I just trudged on. I was looking for tossed out water bottles on the side of the road to help time march on. After 10 miles and about 3 miles outside of Lulling I saw my husband drive by. He pulled to the shoulder about 500 feet in front of me and I was elated. I chugged two sodas! He drove down to a park about another 1500 ft and I took a poor mans shower in the shade of an oak tree with the water in the cooler. Refreshing! No longer being baked alive.

Profile day three. Ignore the 1st part of the chart. I have no idea what my gps was doing.

 



Random Photos:

 

Guest at our Camp ground. Kitties away from home. The neat part was the camp ground had a cat colony. They would get them fixed and take care of them. The guest get to hang out with them and enjoy kitty love away from home.

 Nathanael relaxing after day 2

Me resting after day 2 down by the river.

 

Austin Rattler - Last big race before the big day June 13th!

Austin Rattle was this past weekend and what a fun race! Four laps of 15 miles on a seriously fun course. Going into this i was thinking I would only be able to average 10 mph but I was actually at 11.3. This may sound a bit slow to all of you roadies out there but I am covering a mile every 5 mins on a mountain bike. I am proud of that!! With rocks, dirt, mud, roots, and other obstacles...

Just before the race I get a chance to have my photo with Neil Bremner. The owner of Bike Barn and my boss. It was great getting to see a big group of Bike Barn Riders out to take on this tough course. Several got coins or won a lottery spot into Leadville. I won the lottery earlier this year so my focus was to get my best time to up my spot in the leadville coral. I fortunately finished in 5:28 mins landing me a spot two up from the back. Super cool!

Lap 1 was a blistering pace for me. I was up front but I didn't want to be in the back with other riders who I didn't know were confident on a mountain bike. Main goal is to always finish and to do so safely and without issue. My time for lap one was 1:18. About a 12.8 mph average according to my computer. Remember my goal was 10 so I was happy and hurting. It was about 52 degrees when we started and warmed up to about 78 before the end of the ride. I started with arm warms and next time want do that. Just start a bit cold or get some sun covers.

The race starts with a large climb up to the top of fat chucks followed with flowing single track which drops you out on top of an treeless plain. The wind hits you and the rocks are larger than normal so you really have dig. The night before it rained making the 1st lap a bit wet and sometime slippery on the roots. A few creek crossings would leave your breaks squeaking and you butt a bit wet but not as wet as my many other jaunts and frolics at Rocky Hill.

My husband was there as usual snapping photos and making sure I was getting food and water. I could not do these races without him. Before lap 2 I snagged a bottle and headed out for lap two. I was aware of a group of about 5 other women riding around me and just kind of sizing myself up. I wanted to back my 2nd lap pace down to about 12 mph and did so with a lap finish time of about 1:20. Getting ready to head out to lap three I told Nathanael I just wanted it to be over cause I was surely hurting. Setting my mind I headed out and just did the divide slug up the hill. Sadly during lap 2 my front derailleur spring decided it was time to die. The rest of the race my chain would drag on it no matter what gear I was in. I just had to tune it out and go. I wasn't going to stop. It sounded sort of like a roller coaster chain pulling a coaster up to the big climb. Lap 3 was a slug. I thought my legs would cramp a few times and land me out of the race. I started to chug water and and eat salty gu. My mantra became Aerosmith's Living on the Edge along with the Pink Floyd The Wall and some random Prodigy Song. Anything to stop thinking about the pain. I focused myself to stay on someones wheel no matter what. I found my hero on the course... he must have pulled me a lap and a half and did so without making me feel bad. He even told me to grab his wheel. Lap three ended and I was still in the mix with the five other ladies I had been watching since the start.

Lap 4 started the dog days of the race and my mental game. I heard two of the ladies catching me on fat chucks but wasn't going to let it get me. I let them ride fast up the big climb. I tagged on with two faster men and they pulled me up to the girls. I decided I would sit in the back and eat and drink and not loose the draft. One of the girls blew and pulled out. I thought she would grab my wheel but she was toast. Encouraged and elated I told the guys to let the other girl work and I can get her in the end. I had noticed her single track technique wasn't like mine. I let her rip and she takes it slow. I knew I had her if i could just stay on the train.

I managed to stay in the back and not get hammered and caught her on one of the last two major climbs before the really fun single track. In addition to her I nipped off two more ladies struggling on the last section of single track. The last two miles of the course is my favorite, the wall, the bridges, and the awesome downhill bomber section.

I never looked back I just put the pedal to the medal and went! I finished in 5:28 and was super happy! Glad to be done. I grabbed a coke, banana, orange, and some hot fries and proceeded to eat and eat. The day was fun!

My Hero and my helper! Thanks for the Draft!

Fellow bike barn finishers! Glad to be done!

Thank you Nathanael and Great Job Kevin!