Cycling Foodie

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Oh my goodness, what month is this?

On my ride this morning I looked down at my bike computer and it was registering 99 degrees for a while.

It finally cooled to 95.

 … more later …

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Three weeks until the Napa Valley Tour de Cure!

My training partner says I’m ready, so today I’m riding this: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/355543

More later!!!

Later  … Wow oh wow oh WOW! That was AWESOME!! 

No time for pictures, just riding … there was a little bit of butt kicking today (mine, LOL) but I held my own pretty well on the hills. Where I started to struggle was right about half way through the ride on Wooden Valley Road. The group took off, and even though I was riding as fast and hard as I could (19-23 mph which is fast for me), I found myself dropping behind the group. Dang it! I was with the “slow” group. I’ve got some work to do this summer!!! I need to build my stamina back up.

One of the ride leaders waited for me and took me on a shortcut so we could make up some time and catch back up with the group. I was quite thankful, especially because I was getting pretty fatigued and I wasn’t very familiar with this area anymore, and it would not have been fun to get lost.

The group stopped for lunch in Fairfield. After having a little lunch (whole grain bagel, banana, and coconut water for me … no way my belly would have handled much more than that!) I rode pretty strong most of the way back, but there was a couple mile stretch of Pleasants Valley Road where I lost momentum. I regained momentum when I rolled past the bottom of Cantelow, and eventually caught back up with the portion of the group I was riding with when they stopped for a regroup at Putah Creek & Pleasants Valley Road. I kept pace pretty well most of the way from there.

What a nice day! I am looking forward to many more rides with DBC.

Now I’ve got to get ready to cook dinner. My training partner, who did a different ride today, is coming for dinner tonight. It will be a light, healthy, high protein dinner of chicken breasts, brown rice, veggies, and salad.

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After a rainy week … here’s to a GLORIOUS, sunny Saturday!

Heading out soon for a ride … just need to decide where to go.

Not quite ready for this ride, but bet this would be fun … http://www.davisbikeclub.org/rides-and-events/upcoming_events/davis-400k-brevet

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My coach planned a great training ride today. We started out riding on Hwy 128 a few miles past Moskowite Corner. We parked alongside the road and started right into a hill. I have to be honest, there was a bit of “oh no … what did I get myself into today?” fear as we set out. I’m not used to jumping straight into any kind of hills; I’ve gotten used to starting out on the flats and taking some time to warm up. My knee was feeling it a little, so I just granny geared it and stuck it out. It sure felt GREAT to get to the top of that first little climb. We rode along Lower Chiles Valley Road together for a while and then I turned on Pope Valley Road and my coach set off on his far more ambitious ride heading out the other way on Pope Valley Road and on towards Angwin.

My direction turned out to be a great downhill.  I only saw one other cyclist on Pope Valley Road and he was riding up. I thought, “Oh, I’m going to have to ride up this on the way back!” Only a handful of cars passed. It was delightful!

I continued on until I connected with Hwy 128 again, and headed towards Lake Hennessey.

Lake Hennessey, Napa, California

Lake Hennessey, Napa, California

I stopped just for a few moments, and headed back up the road towards the Napa Valley. Our goal was to meet back up in St. Helena at the park off Pope Street by 1:30. It wasn’t even 1:00 and I was this close already?!

Hwy 128 & The Silverado Trail

Woo hoo!! Got there first! Haha! Not sure I can really brag much about that in light of the ride that he did compared to mine, but ... at least I know that there was one part of the ride where I didn't keep my coach waiting or having to turn around to check if I was still there and still OK.

I rested a couple of minutes and took a few photos.

Interesting bee-like insect ...

Itty bitty daisy-like flower

... in pink

I headed back towards the Silverado Trail and my coach was rolling over the Pope Street bridge. We rode together to downtown St. Helena, in hopes of having lunch at the Model Bakery.

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Lesson learned … Google first to make sure your destination will actually be open on a holiday and at the time you expect to arrive.

We ended up getting some food at the Safeway and then having a latte at the Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company.

Napa Valley Coffee Roasters' (surprisingly average) latte

A busy bee tending to the lemon trees at the Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company

We rode back on the Silverado Trail and on to Hwy 128. We stayed on 128 all the way to the car. Most of it was pretty manageable for me, but a few parts were quite challenging, especially with a little wind. I got some great encouragement from my coach and that kept me motivated and going. He said that my pedal stroke is getting better (I’ve been working on it). I really do need to get some new pedals and shoes. Real cycling shoes with the clip-in things … yeh, I’m a bit behind the times … ’nuff said about that.

One hill just kept going, and going, and going … I fell quite a bit behind and had to literally talk myself up part of the hill. “You got it … Almost there!” That happened through a few false peaks, and at one point I found myself really wanting to get off my bike and walk, but I kept on going and made it to the top.

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Happy Easter!

Heading out soon to ride to St. Helena with my “coach” … just hoping that our idea of “rolling hills” is the same … LOL!

I hope to get some nice photos to post later.

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This morning was stunningly beautiful for a ride!

Davis … Winters … Cantelow … Winters … Davis

55.3 miles

It took me less time to get to the top of Cantelow today!

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Hey Everyone!

It’s hard to believe that it’s almost the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure time again. It’s less than 5 weeks away! This is an AWESOME ride and for a GREAT cause. Please help me to raise money to fight diabetes.

If you haven’t had a chance to donate to my Tour de Cure ride, it’s not too late! Here’s the link: http://tour.diabetes.org/site/TR?pg=pfind&fr_id=6830

Type in my name: Elizabeth Dudley

Thank you for your support!

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Today I made it to the top of Cantelow by pedal power only, no pushing … I thought I was going to cry. Shortly after I got to the top, a couple of guys from DBC came up the other side. One of them stopped to wait for the other and in my excitement I told him how the last time up here I had to push my bike up and that this time I made it and thought I was going to cry. He laughed and said that crying and throwing up are OK. Fortunately, there was none of either involved!

My riding partner took the long way up, I rode the short way and he got to the top a few minutes after I did. Damn. I am slow. Then we rode back to Winters together. I did my best to keep up, but I fell behind a few times.

We came back to Davis and now I’m bored. Would it be crazy to head out again? I do have a big ride to get ready for, so endurance, endurance, endurance is important, right?

See ya’ in a few hours.

Well, I’m back! I did my Lake Solano loop, which is about 38 miles, for a total of 63.4 miles today. I didn’t stop for any photos, but I rode the last 10 miles with another DBC newcomer and that was helpful because I was starting to get a bit fatigued.

OK, now it’s time for chores …

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At the base of Cardiac Hill ...

Rode out to Markley Cove and back from home.

57.5 miles

It wasn’t supposed to be so breezy today; that’s all I could do!

There were lots of big pickup trucks hauling big campers or boats out there today, and it just didn’t seem wise (or safe) for me to try to take on Cardiac Hill today. So I wimped out and came home.

More pics later.