Final TNT Training Ride: Middleburg, VA

Mount Weather. As in, a mountain. And we did it!

It was cold starting out, but we all knew it was going to warm up, so we dressed in removable layers. I was worried because I only had about 3 hours of sleep before the ride--was I ready? Could I really do the hills and the mountain? 93 miles?

We started out, going down hills, climbing, cresting, turning...most of us were taking it easy. Even the Maniacal Kelly was taking it easy. I actually got to ride with Mike for a little bit, which was nice because I hadn't ridden with him all season. Got to comingle with some of the other riders I hadn't really had a chance to talk with before.

It was all fine-and-dandy until we turned onto Snickersville Road--that's where the real climbing began, especially up to Rte.7. Ugh! Maniacal Kelly was even saying that he wasn't going to do the Naked Mountain loop because the climb was hard for him, too. But we made it to the top, to Rte.7, and rode up to Blueridge Mountain Road.

Now Kelly had a good point (and of course, since he was the one who made the cuesheet): any time you see a "Mountain" or "Manor" in the street name, it'll be on a mountain. Blueridge Mountain Road, which ascends Mt. Weather, was one such road. It was steep, and I mean steep--it was so steep that I was in the granny gear the whole way up, glancing up at nearby landmarks and then pedalling to reach each one: That signpost, that tree, that mailbox. Up and up and up and up, we climbed, reaching the top of Mt. Weather.

There was an excellent payoff for the climb: the descent, and the SAG stop at the bottom. Awesome!

Everybody gathered there--instead of the usual 5-minute stay, we all stayed for 15 minutes, watering-up and eating. Then Chuck and I headed out, along Rte.50 with some nice, flat terrain (and an awesome bomb down the road in the beginning). Curiously, we encountered a lot of other riders from the local Multiple Sclerosis ride, and we all shared the same route for about 20 miles to the next SAG stop.

The next SAG stop was easy to miss, and many of us DID miss it. But it was nice--there was lunch and drinks and bathrooms; the whole works. Wisely, we all stayed away from the brownies and cookies, which, while good, would simply sit in our stomaches and make riding that much harder. Again, it was another 15-20 minute stay. Good thing we're all in good-enough shape that such a long stay doesn't affect us too much anymore, and we all know not to hammer it out of a SAG stop, to ride easy for a few miles to get our legs back into it before really laying down the power.

I headed out alone--Kelly was waiting for his group, and he sent me ahead with his blessings to catch up with Josh and Noel, who had left not two minutes earlier. I caught up, instead, with Robert and Jordan, who both missed the 2nd SAG stop, passed them, and caught up with Josh and Noel, who had stopped to rest with two others who also missed the 2nd SAG stop. We pressed on, climbing and bombing and climbing and bombing, all the way out to The Plains, VA, where Josh blew his front tire (again!), and we stopped...not one turn away from the 3rd SAG stop (which, ironically, was also easy to miss).

At the 3rd SAG stop, we stopped to get water and food...and to gaze, slack-jawed, at B-2 Stealth Bomber, flying over head as it made an appearance at the nearby airshow. Holy cow! I never thought I'd see one in person!

We headed out once more, making it all the way to the 2nd Big Climb (Mt. Weather was the First), when we discovered that "SL" on the cue-sheet meant "Sharp Left" (not slight left), and that the road we were supposed to be climbing was all gravel and dirt, perfect for ruining a good set of tires. We found an alternate route and headed back home. It was much flatter, with smaller climbs that all of us could now manage with ease.

This time it was Jordan and me, finishing together and meeting up with those who had been warned ahead of time that the 2nd Big Climb was out and who finished earlier.

Afterwards, we stayed around for the cookout and celebration, thrown by Rob and Ruma. Good times! Good food!
Statistics:
Bike: Trek 1500
Distance: 91.80mi
Saddle Time: 6h01m36s
Actual Time: 7h
Start Time: 7:30AM
End Time: 2:30PM
Start Outside Temp: low-mid 50's
End Outside Temp: high 70's
Max Speed: 40.0mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 15.2mph
Avg Speed (actual): 13.1mph

We're all ready for Tahoe, to ride, to save lives, to honor those who aren't able to ride with us physically.

I also had my new Canon SD1100 camera, and I was snapping pictures like crazy (the fast micro-SD card makes this easy!), both at the stops and on the road. So far, I'm quite happy with the thing--here are a few choice photos; the full set is at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kent_le/sets/72157605115520193/

"YOU'RE RIDING LIKE A JACKASS!!! YOU'RE GOING TO GET SOMEBODY KILLED!!!"

That's what he said to me the second time I buzzed him (apparently) without giving any warning. In my defense, I did say "on your left", but I guess it wasn't loud enough, especially at the speeds we were going. He and I had some terse words, and then he just said "go; I don't wanna be riding anywhere near you" to which I replied with a sarcastic "Passing. On. Your. Left." at him in a tone and volume which I was certain he could hear clearly.

Though he does have a valid point: we're riding to save lives, not to risk them--that is our mission, and any (apparent) jackassery does nothing to further that mission.

We commiserated, with a gentlemanly fist-bump, and that was that.

I'll be more careful next time. Or I'll just put my bell back on my bike. Or I'll do both--I've gotta re-wrap the handlebars anyways...

Wednesday Buddy Ride: Final

Today was the last Wednesday Buddy Ride, since we're shipping our bikes next week.

Chuck and I had a plan: we'd ride out to the General Store, have some BBQ, and then ride back. And we did just that.

Statistics:
Bike: Trek 1500
Distance: 32.00mi
Saddle Time: 1h48m19s
Actual Time: 2h15m
Start Time: 5:35PM
End Time: 7:50PM
Start Outside Temp: Warmish
End Outside Temp: Warmish
Max Speed: 32.0mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 17.7mph
Avg Speed (actual): 14.2mph

Tuesday Buddy Ride

met with Roger, and we blasted it out to Clark's Gap and back, passing everyone twice =)

Statistics:
Bike: Trek 1500
Distance: 29.08mi
Saddle Time: 1h33m42s
Actual Time: 1h35m
Start Time: 6:05PM
End Time: 7:40PM
Start Outside Temp: Warm
End OUtside Temp: Cool
Max Speed: 29.6mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 18.6mph
Avg Speed (actual): 18.4mph

W&OD + Custis + Mt. Vernon + wrong turn =

The Kennedy Center. Seriously, we rode to the Kennedy Center from Vienna.

After today's ride was cancelled, Chia and Ben (who were planning on riding today separately) called me: 12:30, from Vienna to the end of the Custis and back. I agreed--it would be far shorter than the 78 miles we were supposed to ride, but it would be hilly.

So we started out, bombing down the W&OD, turning onto the Custis Trail, and following that all the way down to Lynn Street. Chia suggested we keep going, as there's a parking lot that makes for a convenient turn-around point...and then we spotted where the Mt. Vernon Trail started, and we figured we could spare another 15 minutes, so we started on that. Except I made a fortuitous wrong turn and ended up on the sidewalk alongside Rte. 66, where it passes E-street and The Kennedy Center. Then we turned around and headed back up, up, up the Custis trail and its many climbs. I've been riding so much now that the climbs were easy!
Plus, the clouds went away, the rain went away, and the sun came out...and baked me in my cold-weather clothes. I ended up rolling up my sleeves and tights to get some skin exposed to cool down.

Statistics:
Bike: Trek 1500
Distance: 27.21mi
Saddle Time: 1h55m05s
Actual Time: 2h15m
Start Time: 1:00PM
End Time: 3:15PM
Start Outside Temp: cool
End Outside Temp: Warm
Max Speed: 28.2mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 14.2mph
Avg Speed (actual): 12.1mph

In fact, I think I should do that, starting after Tahoe: start in Vienna (i.e. on Tuesdays and Thursdays), ride down the W&OD to the Custis trail, take the Custis down to the parking lot, and turn around and go back. Those hills will be easy after a few weeks of that...

TNT Training Ride: Davidsonville II -- CANCELLED!

There were many reasons not to ride today, but the main two are:

1. It was raining and wet. Yes, wet is ride-able, and yes, even if it rains in Tahoe we'll still ride, but today it would've made the roads more hazardous (some parts of this ride are known to flood in wet conditions) and we could do without any more injuries at this point (many people have fallen and hurt something on the training rides this season).

2. Most of us are already ready for Tahoe. There are several of us who don't really need to train-up anymore, myself included. Heck, I rode 108 miles last Saturday, hills and all, and totalled about 200 miles this past week alone. That's plenty for Tahoe.
I did take my bike out and rode around the parking lot a couple times, though. I drove for an hour (and an hour back), I damn-sure was gonna ride a little. Not even a tenth of a mile, though...ugh.

Well, I have a chance, now, to do other things...like exercise my muscles differently with some DDR or something.

Doesn't mean that I feel any less guilty or shameful about deciding not to ride, though (i.e. my rallying cry yesterweek: "Leukemia patients can't just quit!")...

Wednesday Buddy Ride: Warriors of the Wind

Chuck wasn't there, Jeff wasn't there, so I had little reason to go fast. Except Roger showed up, and we booked-it out of Vienna to Hunter Mill Rd., where he turned up Hunter Station and I kept going on the W&OD, kicking serious ass all the way out to SSS (at one point, I was tailed by a guy wearing an "Ireland" jersey--he was heading home to Ashburn).

Then I stopped at SSS and turned around. It was very slow going on the way back, dropping to 15mph in many places, and feeling extremely strenuous. I was bewildered--usually, I'm flying through these parts at 18, 19mph. How is today any different?

I got my answer almost immediately when I was nearly thrown sidewards by a wicked cross- and head-wind. Turns out that, heading West, I had a huge tailwind that I hadn't noticed at all. Well, going back, it became a headwind that dropped my average speed from 20mph down to 17mph.

Ugh.

I joined up with Robert, and we rode back together, me pulling him through Reston and Vienna. When we got back, we met up with Ruma (who thought the ride was supposed to start at 6:30 for some reason--it's always started at 6:00) and Greg, and then we went to dinner at Tequila Grande.

Statistics:
Bike: Trek 5200
Distance: 28.37mi
Saddle Time: 1h38m19s
Actual Time: 1h45m
Start Time: 6:05PM
End Time: 7:55PM
Start Outside Temp: warm
End Outside Temp: cool
Max Speed: 32.9mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 17.3mph
Avg Speed (actual): 16.2mph

I also moved the seat down a few millimeters (after moving it up nearly 7mm on Tuesday), and it felt just right. I won't be riding the 5200 in Tahoe (the 1500 is only a pound or two heavier, and has a triple crankset for hills), but it's nice to have two properly-adjusted bikes at my disposal.

Tuesday Buddy Ride: Speed and Assholes

my fastest Buddy Ride yet--Roger and I headed out, and were joined by Mr. Garlic, and we flew out to Clark's Gap and back (Mr. Garlic remarked that it was his fastest ride yet as well).

Along the way, however, we were passed by a very terse pair, a man and a woman. At first, I thought it was something we had done...like stay on his/her wheel and draft when they didn't want us to (if that was so, they could've said something). Or maybe Roger and I sounded too "gung ho" about trying to keep up with them? Or maybe she thought we were hitting on her? Whatever it was, when she passed me to join up with him, instead of a courteous "on your left" it was a terse "excuse me". Bewildered, I let them pass and they were gone--rude though they might be, they were certainly very fast.
Later, at dinner, Jane reported that they'd been passed by the same people and they had been very rude to Jane's group as well--Jane had been signaling a left-turn, and even looked back to check that it was safe to turn around, when the rude roadies whizzed by, yelling at Jane to get off the trail! What had she done to deserve that? From what she said, she had done everything right--signal, check, all that.

So it wasn't just Roger and Mr. Garlic and me. I still have this notion that most cyclists are nice people--there was one guy that we stopped for because his CO2 inflator wasn't working, so we let him use one of our pumps, and he was pretty nice. He was riding a beautiful Felt Time Trial bike, with the wing-bars and cranked-forward rider position--the fork and the steer-tube was even designed so that while it still pivotted in the head-tube, it was still much further forward than a regular fork. Strangely, though, he disappeared--he was heading to Clark's Gap, just as we were, when his front tire blew. After he'd gotten it fixed, he was nowhere to be seen--maybe he thought that, since he had no way of repairing a flat anymore (out of tubes? no CO2?) that he'd better not press his luck and head home--perhaps wisely so.

But he was nice and gracious. Unlike those other two people.

Oh well. Some Bad Apples indeed...

Statistics:
Bike: Trek 5200
Distance: 28.93mi
Saddle Time: 1h32m11s
Actual Time: 1h45m
Start Time: 6:10PM
End Time: 7:55PM
Start Outside Temp: Warm
End Outside Temp: Cool
Max Speed: 29.5mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 18.8mph
Avg Speed (actual): 16.5mph

We went to The Village Grill again today. The experience wasn't as good as last time--the waiter couldn't replace my normal side-order with a side-salad, and the food took a really long time to come out for just 8 people. Of course, it is a bar (or at least has a bar), so I should really just expect that bar-food will come out slow...at least, that was my experience with Attitudes in Blacksburg...

Sunday Recovery Ride

Met up with Ben and Kat and Chia and Nancy and then...Ben locked his keys in his truck! So we called in some reenforcements, and rode out and back 20 minutes until he (Ben's Dad) showed up with a spare key. Then we rode out again, this time in the opposite direction, to Leesburg and back...Nice, leisurely pace of 15mph average. But Ben, with his relatively fresh legs, kicked my ass from SSS back to W&OD/Rte.28. Oh well.

Statistics:
Bike: Trek 5200 (interesting that I don't use this lighter all-carbon bike for the training rides and the heavier aluminum bike for my mid-week training, but when the difference in weight is only 1-lb, it doesn't matter much...)
Distance: 25.79mi
Saddle Time: 1h42m59s
Actual Time: 2h
Start Time: 3:30PM
End Time: 5:30PM
Start Outside Temp: about 70°F
End Outside Temp: about the same
Max Speed: 32.0mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 15.0mph
Avg Speed (actual): 12.4mph

TNT Training Ride: White's Ferry

I did it: I woke up at 6:30, showered, dressed, and ate, and was out the door at 7:10, and rode the 11 miles up to the starting spot. Met up with Chuck and Roger and everyone else, and started promptly at 8:00. East on the W&OD to meet up with the Custis trail. Took the Custis trail to N. Lynn Street, where Jeff had set up an informal SAG stop--man, those snickerdoodles were good! Hopped back onto the route, which took us over the Key Bridge into Georgetown--sweet! My first time riding between states! Rode around and joined the Capital Crescent Trail, up to the first official SAG stop--more snickerdoodles!

Then, rode out and got on River Road. There, I linked up with Dave, who wasn't stopping for anything. He asked, "Have you ever ridden on River Road before?" "Umm, no..." I said in my best J. Geierman impression (Chia and anyone else who's worked with me/him will know what I'm talking about). "Well, it has its challenges..." he replied. I kinda knew what he meant, but I didn't know how challenging those "challenges" were: there were two brutal uphill climbs to the second SAG stop (no snickerdoodles, but the Girl Scouts had brought sandwiches--delicious!). Fed and watered we headed out, back onto River Rd. (the SAG stop was a departure from the main route on River Rd.)...and up yet another brutal climb! Josh (who had joined us by now) and Roger and I were somewhat annoyed--"Why do they always do this?" we shouted, meaning why do the ride-planners put a SAG stop right before a big climb? Wouldn't it make more sense to put it at the top of the climb? Or further out from the climb?

Anyways, we climbed River Rd., and then got to my least favorite part of Maryland: the area surrounding Poolesville. Again. Man, I'm coming to really hate that area for its rolling hills and its rough roads. Thankfully, I'm now pretty familiar with it...and I knew that I could finally rest once we hit White's Ferry road. Except for that one climb. Josh saw it and swore. "That's it! I quit!" he shouted. To which I shouted back, "You can't quit! Leukemia patients can't 'just quit'!" and gunned it up the climb. Those words would come back to motivate me later.

We bombed down to the ferry, where there was another SAG stop, but we couldn't stay for long because the Ferry was leaving.

Welcome to Virginia, where your radar detectors are illegal!

We rode out, climbing the "big scary hill" (wasn't bad at all, but it sounded bad from what Dave said) and got on Rte.15 South--y'know, I would drive this road to get home from a Ski trip--it's much more interesting by bike =) AND we went through historic Leesburg, where we picked up the trail. Dave and I hauled-ass all the way back to the start point, where I signed in, and my 84-mile ride was officially over.

BUT: I had another 11 miles to go, back to my house. 11 windy, brutal miles. Slowly, painfully, I climbed back up the trail and turned off on Ferndale--and watched my mileage tick over from 99.99mi to 100.00mi! My first true Century! And 8 miles left to go...7 miles and I was about to give up and call for a lift when my own words echoed in my head: "You can't quit! Leukemia patients can't 'just quit'!" and I pushed on, stopping at a Bloom for a Snickers bar and some powerade.

6 miles. 4 miles. 2 miles. 1 mile. And then...my personal "the wall"--the climb up Walney road to my house. After all this training, it wasn't so bad! 10mph up it felt like I was flying (compared to before, where I was doing 10mph, too, but having only ridden 7.5 miles--this time I had ridden 107.5 miles and I was still strong). My right quad started cramping up, so I grabbed my thigh with my right hand and squeezed hard, forcing the lactic acid out of the muscle, and held the pressure there while I continued climbing, holding the handlebar with my left hand.

Topped out, and I was home! I did it! I did it I did it I did it! 108 miles! More than a Century!

I was home, I was tired, I was still panting even as I stripped off my clothes and weighed myself (165.5lbs--down from this morning's 170lbs). But I felt great!

Statistics:
Bike: Trek 1500
Distance: 108.03mi
Saddle Time: 6h16m19s
Actual Time: 8h
Start Time: 7:10AM
End Time: 3:10PM
Start Outside Temp: 60°F
End Outside Temp: 80°F
Max Speed: 38.6mph (bombing down White's Ferry Rd.)
Avg Speed (saddle): 17.2mph
Avg Speed (actual): 13.5mph

Tahoe, here I come!

Wednesday Buddy Ride

No one but me and Chuck...where was everyone? Without Jeff or anyone else to motivate me, I didn't go as fast as I could have...but we did go longer, out to the General Store and back. And to think, some of our actual training rides were this long.

Statistics:
Bike: Trek 5200
Distance: 32.06mi
Saddle Time: 1h48m50s
Actual Time: 1h55m
Start Time: 6:00PM
End Time: 7:55PM
Start Outside Temp: low 60's
End Outside Temp: high 50's
Max Speed: 33.9mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 17.6mph
Avg Speed (actual): 16.7mph

Tuesday Buddy Ride

My teammates know me now...when I have "that look", I've had a bad day at work. Come to think of it, lately, when haven't I had a bad day at work? Probably the ones where I don't interact with my coworkers much...

Anyways...I got there, Jane said "go" and I went. I was alone for practically the whole ride, anger and frustration driving my pedals against the head-/cross-winds. I got out to Clark's Gap, stopped, had a bite, and then turned around and drafted behind a guy who passed me going the other way. He turned off in Leesburg, and I kept going, catching up with Jane's mini-group shortly. "If you go fast, you can catch up with the other group!" she called to me as I raced ahead. "I know! And I will!" I shouted back. And I did--not 10 minutes after leaving Jane's group did I catch up with Chris' group (Chris is Jane's husband), which had Mr. Garlic (surprise, surprise =). I darted out ahead of them, too, maintaining 20+mph up from SSS to Rte. 28--my strongest finish there yet!

Statistics:
Bike: Trek 5200
Distance: 29.09mi
Saddle Time: 1h35m46s
Actual Time: 1h40m
Start Time: 6:05PM
End Time: 7:45PM
Start Outside Temp: felt like low 60°'s
End Outside Temp: no change
Max Speed: 33.3mph (pushing it down the hill just past the roller-hockey rink)
Avg Speed (saddle): 18.2mph!!! (I should probably stop being surprised at this, now. I'm fast--get used to it =)
Avg Speed (actual): 17.5mph

Afterwards, we went to this new place in Ashburn called the "Village Grill"--basically a sports restaurant with 20 TVs and 2 big-screens, serving up pretty good food.

---

I think, really, my ideal riding-weight is about 170lbs. It's possibly due to muscle mass, though I'm not entirely sure, since I haven't been monitoring my diet all that well. But I can definitely say that I wasn't averaging 18+mph back when I was 160, but then that could also be due to all the training...Dunno!

And I can say that doing something physically strenuous, but low-impact and repetitive (i.e. cycling) and spending time with friends is a great stress reliever. Much better than going to the range, I'll tell you what.

Recovery Ride

Chia and Nancy have become my official "Recovery Team", riding with me on recovery rides (well, the two I've done since Chia got his bike).

We were supposed to ride 41 miles around Catlett, VA, but A) I honestly think Chia and Nancy will need a lot more saddle time before they can do 41 miles and not die and B) even though we scheduled this ride for this weekend, we forgot to let the weather know of our plans, and it was yucky outside when the ride was called off at 7AM. Hilarity ensued when I called around, desperate for Nancy's number, since I didn't know Chia's home phone and he wasn't picking up on his cell. Luckily, Hunley had her number, and she was able to call Chia at home in time.

Interestingly enough, this ride was planned by a bunch of people I met back in February...

So, Chia and Nancy decided to ride on our own on the W&OD--first, we met up at W&OD/Rte.28, but The Yuck was there (kinda like "The Nothing" from The Never Ending Story), so we regrouped at W&OD/Vienna Community Center, where it was dry and not-drizzling. We hopped on and made it to the Arlington-end of the W&OD in a little under an hour (I may sound like I'm bragging, but I'll bet I could've made it in half that time if I were riding alone...of course, it would've been more mentally challenging if I was riding alone). After stopping, taking pictures, and refueling, we began the arduous trek back up to the VCC--it was easy going down to Arlington, not so much going back.
Statistics:
Bike: Trek 1500
Distance: 22.67mi
Saddle Time: 1h43m07s
Actual Time: 2h
Start Time: 10:00AM
End Time: 12:00PM
Start Outside Temp: around 60°F
End Outside Temp: not much warmer
Max Speed: 29.7 (bombing it down from I-66 to I-495)
Avg Speed (saddle): 13.2mph
Avg Speed (actual): 11.3mph

Afterwards, we went to Amphora, where I learned first-hand how bad their burgers are. Breakfast and desserts from now on. In-between foods, not so much.

TNT Training Ride: Berryville

Warm today. Noel and Josh and I quickly joined up and conquered the rolling hills and sometimes-steep climbs. A Metric century (100km). I wasn't sure if I'd need my 1500, with its triple, but I made the right decision as our speed dropped to 6mph on some of the climbs. Oof.

The dogs came out to play this time, too--I was ready for the first one. A "BACK OFF!!" yell didn't work, so I sprayed it with water. That didn't really work, either, but it broke off its pursuit, probably because it was tired of running. The second two...well, they seemed to just want to run, and the "BACK OFF!!" yell didn't work there, either. I suppose I don't look authoritative enough in my superhero costume, riding a bicycle.

A happy consequence of the big climbs were the awesome descents: I hit 41.5mph on the first, and 43.5 on the second! Holy smokes!

Statistics:
Bike: Trek 1500
Distance: 66.15 miles
Saddle Time: 3h55m01s
Actual Time: 4h15m (SAG stops)
Start Time: 8:15AM
End Time: 12:30PM
Start Outside Temp: WARM
End Outside Temp: HOT
Max Speed: 43.5mph!!!
Avg Speed (saddle): 16.9mph
Avg Speed (actual): 15.6mph

Wednesday Buddy Ride

Forgot my computer, so I can only guess at my statistics, other than those supplied by Chuck's way-off GPS computer. I do know we went out to SSS, then a mile further, and then turned back, and I know that SSS is a 29-mile round trip, so we probably went 31 miles today.

Statistics:
Bike: Trek 5200
Distance: 31mi (guesstimate)
Saddle Time: 1h41m (from Chuck's computer)
Actual Time: 1h45m
Start Time: 6:10PM
End Time: 7:55PM
Start Outside Temp: WARM
End Outside Temp: WARM
Max Speed: ???
Avg Speed (saddle): 18.4mph!!!
Avg Speed (actual): 17.7mph

Afterwards, we went to the Vienna Inn and I filled up on Chilidogs. Mmm, salty. Next time, two will be enough.

Tuesday Buddy Ride

Got to the place, met up with the guy I was giving a ride home--his rear tube had leaked and he was elbows-deep into learning how to change an innertube...but his method was flawed: he was attempting to change it with the rear wheel still on the bike. Much easier to take the wheel off and manipulate the tire and tube, separate from the confines of an upturned bike.

So I took over and we had the new tire installed and inflated pretty quickly. Then he and I started riding to catch up with the rest of the group, who had decided to go on ahead--and man, were we flying! We were averaging 19.8mph on the way out! And this is just six weeks into his true training; he had a hybrid, sure, but it's nothing like a road bike. But he's a strong rider, for sure--he was keeping pace with me, without a cyclocomputer, and with a fully laden backpack.

So then we got to Leesburg...and his rear tire blew again! Not just "went flat", but we actually heard the PSSSSSSSHHHHHHH of his tube popping. Turns out that his rear tire actually had a hole that went through the threads. Lacking a spare tire (not just tube), I got to boot a tire with a dollar bill for the first time today. The idea is this: a modern bike tire is made of several layers of threads, encased in rubber. The threads are what give the tire its strength, both to resist the imperfections in the road surface and to contain the inner-tube. When the threads are severed, as in what happened here, the tube will expand into the weak spot and weaken and eventually rupture there. When a hole occurs, and no spare tire is available, it can be reinforced with something fiberous like a strip of duct-tape or...a dollar bill. This operation is called "booting" the tire.

So we replaced the tube, booted the tire, and turned back, intending to ride a little slower...except we didn't: we still booked it all the way back.

Statistics:
Bike: Trek 5200
Distance: 22.47mi
Saddle Time: 1h13m59s
Actual Time: 1h30m
Start Time: 6:10PM
End Time: 7:40PM
Start Outside Temp: COMFORTABLE
End Outside Temp: COMFORTABLE
Max Speed: 27.5mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 18.2mph!!!
Avg Speed (actual): 15.0mph

Afterward, Roger (the guy I was giving a ride home), Jane, Chris, and I went to Fuddruckers in Ashburn and had dinner: I was good and ordered a 1/3lb burger and a light beer, and did my usual salad-trick. I inhaled the food, and still felt a little hungry after finishing my food, but after a few minutes it all settled and I felt good.

I just weighed myself now, however, and I discovered that I'm at 173lbs. Maybe ~170 is my fighting weight, because today (and last week) I was flying, despite knowing how badly I ate over the weekend. Maybe. But I'd still like to be this fast and at 165lbs again...

Huckleberry II

Statistics:
Bike: Trek 1500
Distance: 12.07mi
Saddle Time: 49m15s
Actual Time: 55m
Start Time: 9:00AM
End Time: 9:55AM
Start Outside Temp: COOL
End Outside Temp: COOL
Max Speed: 27.5mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 14.7mph
Avg Speed (actual): 13.2mph

Huckleberry + Campus

Chia and I got to the 'Burg at about 2:30, got changed and got onto the Huckleberry Trail and rode from Blacksburg to Christiansburg, met up with Jacob at Jimmy John's, ate a Vito, and rode back...and then added a loop around the Drillfield, stopping at the memorial.

Statistics:
Bike: Trek 1500
Distance: 17.13mi
Saddle time: 1h21m34s
Actual time: 1h45m
Start time: 3:00PM
End time: 4:45PM
Start Outside Temp: WARM
End Outside Temp: STILL WARM
Max Speed: 36.3mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 12.6mph
Avg Speed (actual): 9.8mph

Good times! Go Hokies!

Wednesday Buddy Ride

Got to the parking lot to see Jeff already pulled in, wearing his VT Jersey--sweet! He said he was wearing it for this special day--and then I remembered that it was April 16th, one whole year after...it. Greg, Greg's Wife, Chuck, and a chick named "Erica" joined us shortly thereafter, and we started out West from Vienna.

We quickly divided into "A" and "B" groups, with Jeff, Chuck, and me in the "A" group. The three of us practically flew out to Smith's Switch Station in Ashburn, all the while taking turns pulling, sorta like a real paceline. With three people.

When we got back to Reston, we were joined by two other riders--one wearing all red and on a road-bike with the usual drop-bars, and the other wearing a white t-shirt and riding a time-trial bike (aero-bars w/ bar-end shifters, brake-levers on the wing-bullhorns, bottles mounted to the seat-post). These guys were fast, and on the Stretch of Suck riding up to Vienna, I was passed by both of them. Granted, I was only going about 17mph at that time, but still. When I was passed by the TT bike, I decided that I was going to keep up with him as best I could. When I looked down, I saw that the guy was holding a 19.5mph average up that stretch--incredible! The best I could do, alone, is usually 17mph (or 18mph if I'm with Fred, who is also pretty fast). Dang!

Statistics:
Bike: Trek 1500
Distance: 28.33mi
Saddle Time: 1h33m09s
Actual Time: 1h35m
Start Time: 6:15PM
End Time: 7:50PM
Start Outside Temp: ???
End Outside Temp: ???
Max Speed: 33.7mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 18.3mph!!!
Avg Speed (actual): 17.9mph

I also saw/noticed a lot more VT jerseys and shirts out on the trail today...maybe because it was today. I even saluted another rider who was wearing the same jersey I had on.

I'm also quite happy to note that I've definitely become a stronger rider--when I was just starting out, way back in late August/early September, I could manage just 13mph through the Stretch of Suck. Now I can regularly do 17mph, and tonight I topped out at 19mph. The Stretch of Suck, by the way, is a 2-mile stretch of a "false-flat"--it looks flat but it's really a mild incline, which makes it feel far harder than it looks. And granted, the 19mph was because I was drafting, but it sure feels sweet to see those numbers!

Tuesday Buddy Ride

got outta work a little late, and there apparently was an accident on I-495 and/or I-66, so I couldn't join the Ashburn buddy ride like I planned, so I did the Vienna ride with Chuck and Dave and...gosh, I can't remember their names, but it wasn't my normal crew. We rode out to Sterling Blvd. and back.

Statistics:
Bike: Trek 1500
Distance: 21.55mi
Saddle Time: 1h21m02s
Actual Time: 1h25m
Start Time: 5:55PM
End Time: 7:20PM
Start Outside Temp: 55°F
End OUtside Temp: ???
Max Speed: 32.3mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 15.9mph
Avg Speed (actual): 15.2mph

Afterwards, we bonded over chilidogs at the Vienna Inn. I think Dave is a Leukemia survivor--at least, he said he had his quarterly checkup the next day, which is why he wasn't drinking any beer.

Buddy/Recovery Ride

After Poolesville and then the soccer game that same evening, I was in desperate need of a recovery ride to ease my body into its resting state. So I had Chia and Nancy and my brother meet me at W&OD/Rte.28 and we rode out to Lawson Rd. in Leesburg and back.

Statistics:
Bike: Trek 5200 (my 1500 was crusty-muddy from riding it all week through wet and dry)
Distance: 18.04mi
Saddle Time: 1h14m22s
Actual Time: 1h20m
Start Time: 8:55AM
End Time: 10:15AM
Start Outside Temp: 54°F
End Outside Temp: ???
Max Speed: 29.4mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 14.5mph
Avg Speed (actual): 13.5mph

TNT Training Ride: Poolesville, MD

Ugh. With only 3 hours of sleep, getting up was hard, and it definitely affected how I felt when I rode--more sleep would be better. Especially with the hills--the first 26 miles were rolling hills (many were the same rolling hills we did in Germantown, since Germantown and Poolesville are so close that they're practically the same area).

First SAG stop, which was on a relatively flat stretch of road. So I was feeling good at that point--as long as the road stayed like that, I would've been OK for the rest of the ride.

Alas.

The next section was appropriately named "The Wall", which was nothing but a steep climb at least three miles long (I may be wrong about the distance, but it definitely felt that long). And we were going an average of 8 miles-per-hour up it. Ugh. It was actually worse than climbing Sugarloaf Mountain--at least we knew that there had to be a summit. On The Wall, I was actually getting angry and shouting "IT JUST DOESN'T STOP!!!"

Then we climbed Sugarloaf, and met up with the ride's Honored Teammate, who is currently going through chemotherapy and just turned 18. We had cake.

The descent was fun, riding my brakes the whole way down was pretty cool.

And then more hills--Chuck and I were groaning every time we crested a hill and saw the next climb on the other side, but I think we were leaning on each other for support by then. Together, we conquered the last of the hills and rode into town tired but strong and victorious.

Statistics:
Bike: Trek 1500
Distance: 55.56mi
Saddle Time: 3h26m31s
Actual Time: 4h
Start Time: 8:45AM
End Time: 12:45PM
Start Outside Temp: 60°F
End Outside Temp: ???
Max Speed: 38.00mph (A NEW PERSONAL RECORD!)
Avg Speed (saddle): 16.1mph
Avg Speed (actual): 13.9mph

Just having someone else with you, suffering the same gruelling climb up one side and sharing the same exhiliarating bomb down the other side is enough to pull/push you, mentally, through the worst. And that's really what all this is about--it isn't about riding a bike around a lake or riding up and down mountains, it's about supporting your teammates, whether they're on the bike next to yours or they're lying in the hospital bed recovering from the life-saving operation that your fundraising paid for.

Wednesday Buddy Ride

One happy consequence of going to work early is that I get done early, and then I can get some extra miles--that's just what happened today. I met up with Jeff and his wife Mary Anne at about 5PM at the Vienna Caboose, and rode out with them to Smith's Switch Station, then turned back, picked up Fred and Chuck, turned around again, rode out to Rte. 28, and then booked-it back to the Caboose. It was quite warm after riding for a few minutes--I was in my summer short-sleeves and shorts, and didn't feel that cold.

Statistics:
Bike: Trek 1500
Distance: 32.14mi
Saddle Time: 2h10m33s
Actual Time: 2h20m
Start Time: 5:00PM
End Time: 7:20PM
Start Outside Temp: 64°F
End Outside Temp: ???
Max Speed: 33.9mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 14.8mph
Avg Speed (actual): 13.8mph

Flipping the middle-chainring magically cleared up all of my shifting issues. Who'd'a'thunk it.

Tuesday Buddy Ride, Ah HA!

got to work ass-butt early, left 8 hours later, made it to the start-point well ahead of schedule...which was good, because I needed to go to the bathroom, so I jumped on the trail, rode the mile-point-five out to Smith's Switch Station with its portajohns, and then rode back just in-time to start riding with the rest of the group. There were seven of us, turned into eight when Mr. Garlic joined us.

I meant not to go fast, since I completely wiped myself out over the weekend and didn't do any sort of recovery...but the group kept egging me on to go faster, so I ended up practically gunning it all the way out and back.

After I was done with the main ride, I went back out and picked up my brother, who was flagging it back, which probably dropped my average speed down a bit...

Statistics:
Bike: Trek 1500
Distance: 27.26mi
Saddle Time: 1h40m29s
Actual Time: 1h50m
Start Time: 5:40PM
End Time: 7:30PM
Start Outside Temp: 50°F
End Outside Temp: ???
Max Speed: 30.2mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 16.3mph
Avg Speed (actual): 14.9mph

Afterward, we loaded both my and my brother's bikes into the car and started out for dinner--not 10 seconds after starting the car and starting to back out, I hear this loud hissing from behind me--my rear tire had finally given up the ghost, after nearly 2500 miles. After dinner I examined it and found a hole I had noticed before--apparently it had gotten worse. Oh well! I bought those new tires from Performance just in time! I swapped out the back...and then swapped out the front, too, since the old tires were 25C and the new ones are narrower 23C, and a 25C on the front and a 23C on the back just looks funny. Even if it's only a difference of 2mm, I can still tell. Oh well--now the black 25C tire on the front of the old Trek 420 has a black 25C to match on the back (both are Bontrager, even) and replace the even-funnier-looking yellow-striped 20C that was on the back before.

My "Ah HA!" moment came after I replaced the FD cable in an attempt to fix my shifting problems in the crankset--going from granny to middle ring, the chain wasn't catching, and I'd have to shift up to the big ring and then back down to get to the middle ring. Turns out, upon closer inspection after figuring out that changing the cable didn't fix things, that the last time I had broken down the drivetrain, I had installed the middle ring the wrong way, leaving the ramps and hooks that catch the chain and pull it up when shifting from small to middle ring on the wrong side of the ring, between the middle and big ring where they do no-good. "Ah HA!" I exclaimed, and fixed it--no more shifting problems =)

============================================
Team In Training - Tahoe '08
Want to donate or help? Simply go to:
http://www.active.com/donate/tntnca04/kentridestahoe
============================================

TNT Training Ride Option 1 (W&OD)

W&OD west to Purcellville, turned off North to Hillsboro, ate, turned back. Some good hills out there, and look off in the distance and there's the mountains. Cool stuff, and it was a wonderful day to ride. Our original ride was moved to Sunday due to the forecasted inclement weather (which, interestingly, was also moved to Sunday)--we got lucky with the nice weather. This ride was the first of two options--the other option was to ride the postponed ride on Sunday.

Statistics:
Bike: Trek 5200
Distance: 53.3mi
Saddle Time: 3h33m11s
Actual Time: 3h45m
Start Time: 8:45PM
End Time: 12:30PM
Start Outside Temp: ??? (maybe 45°F)
End Outside Temp: ??? (felt like it warmed up to 60°F)
Max Speed: 32.2mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 15.0mph
Avg Speed (actual): 14.2mph

============================================
Team In Training - Tahoe '08
Want to donate or help? Simply go to:
http://www.active.com/donate/tntnca04/kentridestahoe
============================================

Wednesday Buddy Ride

I'm of two minds: it's "convenient" that I now work so close to the starting point of my Wednesday Buddy Rides in Vienna, but unfortunately traffic getting out of Tyson's Corner sucks so much that it renders any distance advantage moot.

Anyways...'Robert' and I rode out to Sterling Blvd. while the slower riders rode out somewhere not as far, and then we turned around and went back, discussing cycling technique.

Statistics:
Bike: Trek 1500
Distance: 21.54mi
Saddle Time: 1h28m41s
Actual Time: 1h30m
Start Time: 6:00PM
End Time: 7:30PM
Start Outside Temp: 47°F
End Outside Temp: 45°F
Max Speed: 31.3mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 14.6mph
Avg Speed (actual): 14.4mph

Tuesday Buddy Ride

Eff traffic. I left work early, got home early, got on the road early...and got stuck in traffic, and wound up getting to W&OD/Rte.28 5 minutes late. Effing traffic. Never fails.

So I gunned it and caught up to (and passed) my teammates in short order. I figured that I should make up for not having been on a bike in nearly a week, so I would go further faster--I did just that, averaging 18-mph over 25 miles.

Statistics:
Bike: Trek 1500
Distance: 25.26mi
Saddle Time: 1h23m49s
Actual Time: 1h25m
Start Time: 6:05PM
End Time: 7:30PM
Start Outside Temp: 68°F
End Outside Temp: 68°F
Max Speed: 29.3mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 18.1mph
Avg Speed (actual): 17.8mph

Afterwards, we went to Bertucci's and I actually exercised restraint by getting just a half-salad and a cup of soup.

19.51 miles

met up with my brother and my Team captain at the Vienna Caboose, and we rode out to Sterling and back. Eric and I took our time, since he had already booked it out to meet us, so he was pretty dead by the time my group started.

Then I and three others (and my team captain for a short while) went to the Vienna Inn to eat.

Statistics:
Distance: 19.51mi
Saddle Time: 1h18m08s
Actual Time: 1h20m
Max Speed: 31.0mph
Start Time: 6:00PM
End Time: 7:20PM
Start Outside Temp: 68°F
End OUtside Temp: ???
Avg Speed (saddle): 15.0mph
Avg Speed (actual): 14.6mph

I also adjusted the seat up by a few millimeters, and that seems to have done the trick with regards to getting my legs to feel normal while pedaling. Good deal.

22.57 miles

Took the 1500 out for a spin on today's buddy ride...I got there late, and my group had already left by then. I got there, got my bike ready, and hopped on the trail, hoping they had gone west...luckily, they did, and luckily a guy passed me going fast, so I was able to grab his wheel and draft him to catch up faster--I picked up the tail end of my group before they crossed Ashburn Road (3 miles out), and then I picked up the lead before they entered into Leesburg (8 miles out).

Man, my 1500 feels so different from my 5200...more comfortable to ride, thanks to its more upright posture...the wind, man--I could feel the wind more with this bike (probably because my torso is more upright), but this thing was pretty nice to ride. Needs new tires, though. Maybe because it was the tires are 25c tires (as opposed to my 5200's 23c tires).

Me and Chris turned around at the same place we turned around at last week, and we picked up other members of our group who had already turned around. I gunned it out ahead (of course), got to Smith's Switch Station, and turned back to pick up the others (and turned around again after a quarter mile), which explains why I have .4 more miles than last week.

Then we all went out to Anita's, where I actually ate sensibly (and mmm, their veggie 'pizza' is pretty good; chicken, not so much).

Statistics:
Distance: 22.57mi
Saddle Time: 1h24m45s
Actual Time: 1h30m
Start Time: 6:05PM
End Time: 7:35PM
Start Outside Temp: 52°F
End Outside Temp: 51°F
Max Speed: 31.6mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 16.0mph
Avg Speed (actual): 15.0mph

Recovery Ride

Despite--or because of--yesterday's gruelling ride, I went out for a recovery ride--7 miles out, 7 back. Still pretty cold today. What the heck happened to all of that nice March weather we were having? It should be nicer on Tuesday and Wednesday (when I have my mid-week rides), so that's good, at least...

Statistics:
Distance: 14.28 miles
Saddle Time: 51m12s
Actual Time: 1h
Start Time: 12:00PM
End Time: 1:00PM
Start Outside Temp: 42°F
End Outside Temp: 43°F
Max Speed: 24.8mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 16.7mph
Avg Speed (actual): 14.3mph

Please Donate!

TNT Training Ride: Germantown, MD

Got up at the butt-crack of dawn to get ready--it would be about an hour's drive up to the ride-start. Eric was SAGging for us, which turned out to be extremely good (more on this later), and I got a ride up with him.

As soon as I stepped out of the car, I knew today's ride would be the suck: It felt like it was 35°F out, and damn was it windy. Undaunted (outwardly, anyways), we all prepped our bikes and mentally prepared for our 41-mile ride around Germantown and Poolesville. Today I'd be taking it a little slower, since my usual 'crew' of faster riders (Chuck, Chris, and Josh) weren't there (to be replaced by the maniacal and potty-mouthed Kelly), and I did 22 miles yesterday, and I had had only 4 hours of sleep after seething for a few hours yesternight before buckling down and cleaning out my bike from the week's wet rides.

We started, and I joined Sally and Coleman and we rode out, chatting it up as we (somehow) wove our way to the front of the pack (as much as I said I didn't want to go fast, we ended up going fast anyways). We had fun climbing hills and bombing it down the other side, only to have all of our speed evaporate as we climbed the next hill. Hill after annoying hill, we made our way to the SAG stop at mile-17. After stopping and munching on various complex carbohydrate-foods, we took off again with a renewed energy, helped along by the first appreciably flat stretch of road.

And then we hit the hills again. Another thing we fought against was the rough pavement--yet another reason I hate Maryland (aside from their drivers and asinine firearms laws)--none of it was smooth or uniform. Riding to the right (as we're supposed to do) left us in the super-bumpy margins, or less-traveled and therefore less well-maintained portions, and traveling in the center of the lane was bad because it forced cars to go around us on the wrong side of the road (which they did anyways, whether we were in the center or not).

Hill after hill, we climbed and bombed and climbed again, until we got to a turn on Fisher Road: we took a left and headed through Poolesville, and continued until Sally yelled that we missed a turn, according to her computer's mileage and its discrepancy with our cue sheet's directions. We turned back, intending to double-back and retrace our steps, but then we encountered Team Captain Jane and her husband Ned and Cathy, who were headed in the same direction we were headed. Figuring that, since she's a Captain she knew where we were going, we turned around again and followed her.

Lo and behold, we got more and more lost, riding all the way out to White's Ferry (which crosses the Potomac River back into Virginia). Then we were joined by two more riders, who were also lost.

After calling other team captains and our SAG support, we turned back and climbed the biggest hill ever--getting down to White's Ferry had been all-downhill, since it crosses at (practically) sea-level. Getting back up to Poolesville...sucked. A lot.

We regrouped in Poolesville and, after calling around a bit more and meeting up with still more lost riders, we discovered that the cue-sheet had been marked incorrectly: instead of a left on Fisher, we were supposed to make a right. We had just taken a 14-mile detour.

We rode on, furious about the cue sheet (which, apparently, had been mismarked in the same manner last season, and no one actually got around to fixing it). Stringing out, it became just me and Sally riding together at a slow, exhausted pace. Either of us could have physically ridden alone, but One Is The Loneliest Number, and we used each other as motivational support; I don't think either of us would've been able to finish the ride (mentally) without the other. I don't know about her, but I had something of a protective, don't-leave-your-wingman (Iceman and Maverick) mentality--I developed a habit of checking over my shoulder for her every few seconds, to make sure she was still there. If she wasn't, I'd look further back and slow to a more manageable pace until she caught up again(usually this happened on hills, which were made much harder for me because I was riding my 5200, which has a double-crankset, with no 'granny' 30-tooth chainring to make the hills easier).

After 54 cold, gruelling miles, which included hills of all sorts and sleet/freezing rain and snow pelting our faces, we made it back to our start area, and I symbolically and ceremoniously unclipped my cue sheet and threw it to the ground in mock disgust. We followed the cue sheet to the letter! Too bad the letter was "L" when it was supposed to be "R", which meant that we finished nearly last even though we had pulled to nearly the head of the pack.

Statistics:
Distance: 54.05mi
Saddle Time: 3h45m51s
Actual Time: 4h
Start Time: 8:45AM
End Time: 12:45PM
Start Outside Temp: Cold°F
End Outside Temp: Slightly-Less-Cold°F
Max Speed: 31.6mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 14.3mph
Avg Speed (actual): 13.5mph

The moral of the story? Don't blindly trust the cue-sheet--check it on a map (i.e. Google Maps) for sanity before clipping it to the bike.

22.13 angry miles

Angry? Oh yes. Why? My company's moving offices and, despite having made plans (i.e. a TNT training ride, for one, and my friend's bachelor party), I'm going to have to come in on a Saturday to fuckin' move boxes around and install shit. And we all know that things will NEVER go as smooth as we want--I've been assured that we'll be done in time for the bachelor party, but I seriously doubt it. I am hating very much my "unique" position in my company as the de facto I.T. guy, since my job function is underappreciated, and now I have to go in on a Saturday (and probably the Sunday afterwards). This is not whiney-bitching. I may work to live, but I don't live to work. "Sacrifice", yeah whatever. If only...if only we got comp-time. Or overtime pay. Good luck finding that in salaried employment.

I got home, blew off my mom's phone call, got dressed, and drove me and my bike out to W&OD/Rte. 28, and jumped on and rode, basically, the same ride I did on Tuesday: out to the far side of Leesburg and back.

Statistics:
Distance: 22.13 miles
Saddle Time: 1h14m16s
Actual Time: 1h15m (hardly waited for anything)
Start Time: 6:40PM
End Time: 7:55PM
Start Outside Temp: 56°F
End Outside Temp: 54°F (felt colder than this, though...)
Max Speed: 29.5mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 17.9mph
Avg Speed (actual): 17.7mph

22.11 cold, wet, rainy miles

While training for Tahoe, we must also train ourselves to deal with the weather--it may not be bright and sunny with a tail wind the whole way. It might rain. It might even snow (apparently one year they did it, the next day it snowed). We have to be ready to deal with it. So today, I joined Jane and her husband Ned on the weekly Ashburn ride. It threatened to start raining late in the day, and by the time we started, the weather made good on that threat. Throughout the whole ride, there was light rain falling and the ground slick with water.

Statistics:
Distance: 22.11mi
Saddle Time: 1h20m38s
Actual Time: 1h25m
Start Time: 6:00PM
End Time: 7:25PM
Start Outside Temp: ???
End Outside Temp: ???
Max Speed: 31.1mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 16.4mph
Avg Speed (actual): 15.6mph

Should've used my red bike--at least I'd have had the covered tail rack to mitigate some of the "skunk stripes". Afterwards, we went to Five Guys and replaced all of the calories we burnt with peanut oil-cooked hamburgers and fries. Good times!

TNT Training Ride: Nokesville

Last night, after getting home from the range and cleaning my equipment, I ran around the house and prepped everything--directions, water bottles, the bike, etc. When I woke up four hours later, I had little else to do but shower, dress, bolt down some food, hop in the car, and go. Good thing, too, since I was running late (I'm always running late).

I got to the starting place on-time, unpacked the bike, and did some final prep (air in the tires, reset the computer, ditch unneccessary clothes). Then we started off, with me leading. I consider today's ride to be the first actual TNT training ride, because it's the first one that we had a set course to complete, not just "ride up and down this stretch of pavement until you're done". It's also the first time I've ever actually used a cue sheet (the Seagull Century had a cue sheet, but the route was marked with little seagulls spraypainted on the road with arrows indicating the direction to go, so I didn't use the cue sheet). Not so hard.

Me and three other guys--Chris (tall guy, w/ yellow/orange Trek, sky-blue jersey with the number "6" on it), Josh (average-height guy, shaven bald, w/ prismatique green-purple Cannondale, blue jersey), and Chuck (super-tall guy, blue(?) Trek, wearing a big blue parachute of a windbreaker and with The Incredible Hulk-green-liquid-filled bottles)--rocked it all the way out to the SAG (Support And Gear) stop at 17.5 miles, stopped and ate for a few minutes, and then jumped back on the road.

On the second half, we missed a turn and wound up doing an extra half-mile on a stretch of Aden Rd. that had more traffic...oh well! We made it back first, with me in front and the rest a minute back.

Good times with the wind today, as well as the gentle rolling hills. Good thing the four of us are fairly strong riders--we got a paceline going (or at least, it was a good system of rotating who was in front, so that no one works too hard), and I actually pulled for a good chunk of that time. Unfortunately, I still have this habit of dropping the people I'm trying to pull, even though when I get to the front I try to maintain a certain speed--one that I think should be manageable by the rest of my group. Perhaps I should tell them, though: if I get to the front, I'll maintain at 16.5mph or something. Maybe. I dunno--we've got a lot of training rides left to get this sorted out, and I know communication is key.

Statistics:
Distance: 36.64mi
Saddle Time: 2h06m22s
Actual Time: 2h20m
Start Time: 8:45AM
End Time: 11:05AM
Start Outside Temp: ??? (felt like mid-40's)
End Oustide Temp: ??? (felt like high-40's/low 50's)
Max Speed: 34.5mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 17.3mph
Avg Speed (actaul): 15.7mph

Afterwards, about 20 of us went to Joe's Pizza in Nokesville and stuffed ourselves with some excellent pizza. Good times!

It's definitely weird, though, being one of the youngest members on the team and dining with people who are 20, 30, even 40 years older than I am. I'm definitely not the youngest member, as I think there are a few people in college on the team, but I think I'm the youngest to attend the after-ride lunch gatherings...

---

Addendum: One thing I forgot to report is that I had my first encounter with a loose dog today. A pitbull was loose and chased our group, darting into the road at Josh and me. Josh swerved and broke away, and the dog fixed on me, and he didn't look like he was bored of chasing cyclists as he came withing a foot of my left leg. So I yelled "HEY!!!" at it at the top of my lungs and it broke off. That was my first real fight-or-flight situation--I didn't have any sort of weapon on me, so harsh language and speed is all I had.

When I yelled and the dog broke off, I thought to myself how interesting it was that I wasn't feeling hyper adrenaline or anything...it was just something I reacted to, something very natural. I didn't tense up or panic, but when it came down to it I was calmly and deliberately reacting to it. I've played this scenario over and over in my head, ever since I started riding. I didn't think it would actually happen, but reports of it were common enough that I figured it'd be good to mentally prepare myself for it. And it paid off.

I don't think that dog actually managed to get a piece of any other rider, though I did hear during lunch that it chased down other cyclists on our team.

And there were a few other dogs that ran along with us on the home-stretch, but they seemed friendly and didn't actually come out onto the road.

---

Nokesville, in the warm spring sunlight, is quite beautiful...reminded me of the Seagull Century ride, with the rural roads and small farms along the ride. Just beautiful country to ride in, and the roads themselves were in excellent shape with no rough spots or gravel patches or anything.

Wednesday Buddy Ride

Ducked out of a meeting (alright, alright; we're moving offices, and we need to pack our stuff, I get it. Oh, and happy birthday, everyone. Okay, pep-talk over, back to work), threw on all of my clothes, and was only slightly late to today's buddy ride. There were about 12 of us, all obviously at different levels--I was at or near the front (of course) and we booked it out of Vienna all the way through Reston and Herndon to Sterling Blvd. in...Sterling. There, we made an about-face and booked it back. A good ride, and good training for riding in close proximity to other riders at high speeds (there was a core of about four of us who rode pretty close to each other--close enough that if any of us had wiped out for any reason, even the ones trailing, none of the others would've been able to dodge or even blink fast enough to avoid also crashing).

Good times! Although, since I'm such a strong rider, I should probably hold back for the team, or at least help to pull the others along, either aerodynamically by beating away the air ahead so they're traveling in my wake, or emotionally by sticking by their wheel and giving encouragement. That'd be better for a team mentality...

Not good for my own personal training, though. For that, maybe, I should use my heavier Trek 1500 and load down the tail-rack. Or maybe I can find an old steel 19" Trek 420 and use that on the training rides.

Statistics:
Distance: 21.62mi
Saddle Time: 1h17m15s
Actual Time: 1h20m
Start Time: 6:05PM
End Time: 7:25PM
Start Outside Temp: ???
End Outside Temp: ???
Max Speed: 30.0mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 16.8mph
Avg Speed (actual): 16.2mph

18.00 mile buddy ride

"Buddy Ride" -- informal mid-week ride with fellow TNTers that simultaneously build camaraderie and serve as recovery and additional training rides.

We started at the W&OD/Rte.28 and headed West. There were eight of us--Jane, Russ, Cathy, ???, Ned, me, my brother, and...Mr. Garlic?!? My Elementary School P.E. teacher? WTF! Apparently, he's known Jane for quite a while, now, and he joined us informally. Weird to see your former teachers outside of a classroom (or in this case, Gym) setting. Weirder to talk with them as equals--we both have professional and personal lives, now. I still think of him as my teacher, so much that I forgot he had a first name! It's "George"; he's always been "Mr. Garlic" to me.

My brother, Russ, and I booked it out to the general store in Ashburn, where Russ turned back and my brother and I continued on, blasting it all the way to Lawson Rd. in Leesburg before finally turning back. We picked up Russ and Ned on the way back, and then [I] picked up Jane and Cathy, and finally we picked up ??? and Mr. Garlic for the final leg back to the parking lot.

Statistics:
Distance: 18.00mi
Saddle Time: 1h9m40s
Actual Time: 1h15m
Start Time: 6:00PM
End Time: 7:15PM
Start Outside Temp: ???
End Outside Temp: ???
Max Speed: 28.6mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 15.5mph
Avg Speed (actual): 14.4mph

Fundraising's picking up, thanks to contributions from my brother and my co-workers. Just $575 more and I'll be at the half-way point to my goal of $4300. Sadly, Frank Segundo Rodriguez lost his battle with Leukemia today, and so today's ride was dedicated solely to him.

I want to attach the names of my Personal Honored Teammates to my jersey, but I need to figure out a good way to do that. Maybe some lengths of ribbon, embroidered somehow with their names, sewn onto my jersey? Maybe a patch of some sort? Anyone have any ideas? I don't wanna print them on a piece of copy paper and pin it to my jersey--that'd be lame and unfitting of their honor...

Sunday TNT Buddy Ride, Fundraising Update, Frank Segundo Rodriguez

I was late today to meet up with Jane from TNT, and Murphy was out in full-force: I was late, forgot my water bottles, and I forgot my flat-pack in the car...and I also forgot to strap on my 'lid, so it was just sitting on my head. And when I was riding, I dropped the chain...

Oh well--no blood, no foul, right? And I didn't have any flats, thankfully. I don't like operating without safety margins, though (i.e. my water bottles and my flat-pack).

Statistics:
Distance: 22.18mi
Saddle Time: 1h35m42s
Actual Time: 1h40m
Start Time: 2:00PM
End Time: 3:40PM
Start Outside Temp: 35°F
End Outside Temp: 41°F
Max Speed: 22.8mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 13.9mph
Avg Speed (actual): 13.3mph

---

On the Fundraising Front: I want to thank my friends and family for their contributions to my fundraising. In just a month, we've raised over $900 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society! That's totally awesome, and mind-boggling that people actually care! Thank you everyone!

If you'd like to contribute, please donate here: http://www.active.com/donate/tntnca04/kentridestahoe

---

I would also like to add another person to my personal Honored Teammates. Frank Segundo Rodriguez, my coworker's wife's uncle--whom I've never met--was diagnosed a few weeks ago with a form of Lymphoma. For months he'd been feeling tired and found himself sleeping a lot. He resisted going to the doctors until he'd been urged to go by one of his family, someone who normally never spoke up about those things. So he gets to the doctors and they diagnose him with Lymphoma, and start him on a very agressive chemotherapy treatment schedule, receiving the treatment once every three days. Fast forward a few weeks--he's about to have his last treatment, about to be discharged. Everything's looking good, he looks like he's going to make it. Until...

Last Sunday, he needed to go to the bathroom for a Number Two, but nothing would come out. Instead, he pushed hard and somehow, something started hurting in his bowels. Within a day, he has trouble breathing, his limbs are swollen, and he's got pneumonia. The doctors give his family a choice: they can leave him as he is, and he'll definitely die soon, or they can attempt to operate to find and fix the problem. The second option was extremely risky because he'd already been weakened so much by the chemo that he was given a 90% chance of dying on the table.

They went ahead with the operation on Monday and discovered that his large intestine had ruptured and waste matter was leaking into his abdominal cavity, spreading the cancer and causing massive infections. They managed to repair his colon and they pumped him full of antibiotics. He survived the operation, but just barely. And then his kidneys started having trouble, and his body was not taking to the dialysis machine. Things looked grim...

After a week in the I.C.U., his infections have cleared up and he's in stable condition, and even somewhat responsive to questions, able to blink a little and flex his hands.

Now the doctors want to slowly move him off of life support (i.e. removing the breathing tube to let his lungs breathe on their own), and things are looking promising. But that's the way things go with this disease, this cancer--ups and downs. Fine one day, on the brink of death the next.

And I wish to include Frank Segundo Rodriguez in my dedication for this event. A man I've never met, whose life only meets mine through my coworker and his wife.

16.15 miles

Recovery ride--Dad's first ride in forever, and Eric's first ride on his newly-built Campy Cannondale (man that thing is hot!). Rode to Eric's place, got his helmet, rode back, stopping to show Dad "the climb" that Eric used to train for Tucson (man, it was definitely killer, again!). And when we got to that dip in the trail near Franklin Farm Rd., I gunned it down the slope and hammered it up the other side--so hard that when I sat back down in the saddle and looked down, I was still going 23mph, uphill! Too bad the weather wasn't as nice as I'd have liked (it was sunny, but windy so I still had to wear my thermals and leg-warmers) but I warmed up well-enough by the end of the ride.

Statistics:
Distance: 16.15mi
Saddle Time: 1h06m42s
Actual Time: 1h15m
Start Time: 1:30PM
End Time: 2:45PM
Start Outside Temp: ???°F
End Outside Temp: ???°F
Max Speed: 34.5mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 14.5mph
Avg Speed (actual): 12.9mph

TNT Training Ride #3

On the W&OD! My neck of the woods! Started at Rte. 28, rode West for an hour, then turned around and rode back. Riding out sucked because of the winds and the slight uphill grade--I wasn't able to hold any speed much above 12mph. Then we (Mike, Matt, and Me) met up with a few people at Clark's Gap (5 miles from Purcellville, right at the switchback) and we turned around and rode home. The way home was awesome! The winds were cooperating, and the downhill grade was so nice, it was almost impossible to dip below 20mph, and there were times when I'd gotten it up to 25-28 mph, easy.

Me and Mike were jibbing on each other on the way out: I had stopped to help a guy get his chain back on his chainrings, and then stopped again to help another guy get his chain on his chainrings, and Mike went on ahead...when I caught up to him, 5 miles later, I jokingly said to him "C'mon Mike, go faster!". Well, he didn't, and I found my way to the front of our little group. After a few minutes of this, he yelled "C'mon Kent, go faster!" So I did...and left them in the dust! (Really all that happened is that I did a quick sprint, bumping my speed up to 19mph for a minute and then dropping it back to 12mph, which is what they were riding at, so I just made a gap between me and them). Then we met up with the people at Clark's Gap and turned around and booked it back to Rte. 28. After a few stoppages, I found myself clipped in with only one foot (the other used to plant during a stop) and was doing one-legged-drills on a whim, which Mike thought I was showing off (well, I was a little).

Then I found my way to the front of the group after a few rolling stops, and announced that I'd pull, and turned on the speed. When I started pulling, it was six of us. After five miles, it was two of us. At the end, it was just me. I pulled into the parkinglot, signed in, and waited for a few minutes for everyone else to show up.

After my party showed up, I waited around for 10 minutes for the rest of the TNT riders to show up. When they didn't, I went back out, getting about 7 unofficial miles (I had taken off my bike computer) and picking up another small group of TNTers and riding back for the last time with them.

Afterwards, I stood around in the freezing parking lot (cursed winds!) for about 30 or 40 minutes, waiting for more people to come in. Then 12 of us went to IHOP and tanked up on coffee and hot chocolate.

Good times!

Statistics:
Distance: 28.39mi
Saddle Time: 1h45m
Actual Time: 1h45m (NO STOPPING!)
Start Time: 9:00AM
End Time: 10:45AM
Start Outside Temp: 40°F
End Outside Temp: 40°F
Max Speed: 28.8mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 16.2mph
Avg Speed (actual): 16.2mph

Now if I can keep the names and faces straight, going around the table: Jeff (older guy, late 30s/early 40s), Marianne, Kim, ??? (Fred's wife), Fred (old guy w/ beard), Aisha (black grad student), Ned (older guy), Jane (very fit, older lady), Chris (Jane's husband, older guy), (me), Coleman (young, early/mid 20's), Kelly (young, early/mid 20's). Matt is riding that golden Trek that doesn't have a seat-tube, Josh is riding that cool prismatic purple-green Cannondale, Riad (sp?) was riding a black Klein (but usually rides on a tandem), Chuck was riding a blue bike (Cannondale?). I'll learn everyone's names yet!

72.68 Miles for George Washington's Birthday

After loafing around yesterday and doing absolutely nothing (other than feed myself and watch TV), I woke up today at 6:45Am and decided that I was going to make up for it by riding my bike 50 miles. A fitting way to celebrate George Washington's Birthday (well, aside from joining a re-enactment group and marching around with a musket).

I left the house at 9:30AM and headed for the trail, catching up with a group of 3 guys in their late 30s/early 40s (maybe older, judging from the short grey beard on one guy) heading East and I struck up a conversation, starting with "Nice shorts" to one guy, who was wearing the same shorts I was. I followed them East on the W&OD and up the Custis Trail, to the guy's house (his house is literally 30 feet from the trail) and exchanged information (remind me to carry a bunch of business cards wherever I go, now).

Then I jumped back onto the Custis, back to the W&OD-East to the Arlington end (which was my original plan for the day). Got to the end and noted the winds had picked up and it was getting a little colder, even though it was about 12:00PM at that point. After I had fed and watered and took a picture for posterity, I headed back West. I figured out why it was windy and cold: rain clouds were rolling in. Yay for low-pressure zones, sucking in the weather.

It wasn't supposed to rain today, but it did as I was passing through Reston (teh suck), and Winston Churchill's words "If you're going through hell, keep going" rang through my mind, pushing me on. I decided while it was nice and warm and sunny that I would try for a century, but now that it was cold and rainy and not-fun, I was seriously reconsidering. I decided that I would at least get to Partlow Bros. Barbecue in Ashburn and make a final decision.

So I got to Rte. 28, stopped, stretched, ate some food, and got back on the bike for the gradual-uphill slough and made it to Partlow Bros., which was open (thankfully). I went inside, had a sandwich and bought some supplies (I'd eaten both of my Clif bars by then, and I was out of Powerade and only had half a bottle of water left) and headed back out...into the cold. I decided then that I was done for the day, that I would head back.

Going back was a bit easier until just after Rte. 28, as it's all downhill and pretty easy to maintain 25mph. Then I got to The Gauntlet and my speed dropped to about 13mph--teh suck. Once I got to the parkway, I decided to make a pitstop at my parents' house, since it's essentially on the way back to my house anyways. Getting there, though, was pretty hard (and I knew it would be, so I wasn't surprised).

I pulled up, got inside, and knew that was it--I wasn't going to push it by going the final four miles to my house; I was already pushing it by going 70ish miles today, as the longest I had gone since the Sea Gull was 60 miles, and that was so long ago as to not be relevant to this season anymore (and the longest this year had been about 35 miles). My body gave up the moment I sat down inside; it was 3:30PM. I had been on my bike for 6 hours today.

My mom came home, and I got a lift to my house.

Oh, and I found out what happens when you don't clamp the cable down tight enough on the rear derailleur: your bike becomes a 2-speed, only being able to shift the front derailleur between the two chainrings of the crankset. Good times. Good thing I had my multitool--I was able to get it back to semi-working condition, but I'm going to have to go back and tweak it some more, as well as clean the whole bike now, since it was wet and muddy in some parts (like the very beginning this morning).

Statistics:
Distance: 72.68mi
Saddle Time: 4h42m09s
Actual Time: 6h
Start Time: 9:30AM
End Time: 3:30PM
Start Outside Temp: 55°F
End Outside Temp: 52°F (felt like 45°F for the wind, though)
Max Speed: 33.1mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 15.4mph
Avg SPeed (actual): 12.1mph

TNT Training Ride #2

Rode up and down Rock Creek in D.C. Beautiful ride, with the sun and clear skies and 30°F cold air =). I guestimate that I did an average of 15mph for two hours, since I didn't have my computer mounted to my bike (I forgot it was in my pocket!). And I was late to start, because I got lost in D.C. and didn't get there until 9:05AM (and the start time was supposed to be 9:00AM)--juuust missed the start, but I was able to follow where they went and I caught up pretty quickly.

Met a few more people, but I'll probably forget all of their names--I should start learning their names by their bikes. I know "Jeff" rides an old, steel Trek 520 w/ bar-end shifters and a kickstand..."Kim" is riding a comfort bike, uhh...can't remember too many other people =) Seriously, when everyone's dressed up, they all look the same to me. Once it gets warmer and the windbreakers come off, then the personalities will come out--I'll be wearing my VT or Speed Racer Jersey for most of the time, definitely =)

Good times!

Friday Training Ride: Let There Be Light!

Brought my bike to work so I could leave early and go for a ride, since it was going to be such a nice day today. Met up with my brother at the 7-Eleven, rode to Rte. 28 and back, both of us making good use of our lights, although mine kept flashing the "low batts" warning. Maybe I should look into dynamo-powered lights, hub-generators.

Statistics:
Distance: 14.47mi
Saddle Time: 1h00m01s
Actual Time: 1h10m
Start Time: 5:30PM
End Time: 6:40PM
Start Outside Temp: 55°F
End Outside Temp: 52°F
Max Speed: 29.0mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 14.4mph
Avg Speed (actual): 12.4mph

Second TNT Training ride tomorrow! W00t!

Smile! you sonnuva-

Roy Scheider, star of Jaws and SeaQuest DSV (my favorite role of his, since I grew up with it) has passed away. How does it relate to my training? It doesn't really, except that he had been diagnosed with Myeloma, one of the three main blood cancers that the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Team In Training are raising money to fight against. Even famous people die, and even famous people get Myeloma...

Call all hands to raise the anchor.
In the West, the sky is clear.
And tonight we'll sail together
For New England, home, we'll steer.
(source)

Goodbye, Mr. Scheider.

First TNT Training Ride: Hains Point

The first official TNT training ride. Rode around Hains Point, Washington, D.c. about 7 times (it's a 3+ mile loop) with the rest of the team...or at least, I leapfrogged from group to group; it was fun, albeit cold (and I forgot one of my ski gloves).

Statistics:
Distance: 22.65mi
Saddle Time: 1h30m39s
Actual Time: 1h35m
Start Time: 8:00AM
End Time: 9:35AM
Start Outside Temp: 37°F
End Outside Temp: 39°F
Max Speed: 25.9mph (I was chasing a car here; I could keep up for a minute or two =)
Avg Speed (saddle): 15.0mph
Avg Speed (actual): 14.3mph

Friday Training Ride: GO LANCE!

I got my first "GO LANCE!!!" shouted to me out of an SUV window today! W00t!

All the while I was sitting in the Great Parking Lot of Route 66 (rubberneckers for a 3-vehicle accident), I was thinking "if this takes me any longer, I might as well have ridden my bike today"--which I should have, since it was damn nice today.

Oh well. I rode when I got home, opting to go up Walney and Poplar Tree and exploring Jacob's Neighborhood instead of my "usual" route, going to my parents' house and back. I got over 12 miles out of it (up 4 from the 8 I would've gotten with my usual route), plus I learned that practically every road winds back on itself and/or leads to Stringfellow or Route 50. Good times. There was one part where I got a little more-lost than I wanted to be, but when I saw super tall, slender trees, I figured out where I was instantly and was able to orientate and bring myself back to Stringfellow...where I got my "Go Lance!" shout.

I was all ready with a "GET A HORSE!" comeback, too (preemptive against "GET ON THE SIDEWALK!"), but the shout put me off guard and all I could do was grin =)

Statistics:
Distance: 12.62miles
Saddle Time: 44m21s
Actual Time: 50m
Start Time: 5:05PM
End Time: 5:55PM
Start Outside Temp: 49°F
End Outside Temp: 49°F
Max Speed: 26.9mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 17.1mph
Avg Speed (actual): 15.1mph

First TnT ride tomorrow! 8AM! Hooray!

Wednesday Training Ride: Ride Against The Wind

Woke up early, got to work early, left work early, got home in time to ride a few miles. Better than nothing. The wind on the way back was killer--going downhill, if I wasn't pedaling, I was slowing down--it was that bad. But I made it home--thankfully, I was riding my Trek 1500, and boy did I make good use of that granny ring, I'll tell you what.

Statistics:
Distance: 8.37 miles
Saddle Time: 31m26s
Actual Time: 35m
Start Time: 5:30PM
End Time: 6:05PM
Start Outside Temp: 63°F
End Outside Temp: 62°F
Max Speed: 34.3mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 16.0mph
Avg Speed (actual): 14.3mph

Sunday Buddy Ride

Absolutely. To Partlow Bros' and back with my brother and his fiancée (my Dad and my friend Mike--who is also doing TNT--were called into work--bummer!).

Statistics:
Distance: 36.94mi
Saddle Time: 2h23m26s
Actual Time: 2h50m
Start Time: 1:50PM
End Time: 4:40PM
Start Outside Temp: 49°F
End Outside Temp: 55°F
Max Speed: 35.0mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 15.4mph
Avg Speed (actual): 13.0mph

I'm happy that my body's remembered how to go long distances, although mentally I need to remember that I need to eat every so often...nearly bonked on the Hill of Doom on Walney--I was just completely out of gas by that time that my speed dropped from a good 17mph to 10mph down to 7mph. But it was good.

Had a guy (his name is Gaston) on a Cannondale mountain bike pull up next to me and comment on how nice my bike was. Then he asked what Cat(egory) I raced, to which I said that I didn't race. And then he takes off, on his mountain bike (with full-knobby tires) at about 20mph (which is absolutely bombing-it for a MTB). Nice =)

A Day This Nice...

with a day this nice, who wouldn't? Took the 5200 out for a spin again, again to my parents' house and back (slightly different routes in and out, though). It was warm enough to wear the Under Armor, VT Jersey, shorts, and nothing else thermal. Fingers are still frozen, but they're functional enough right now =)

Statistics:
Distance: 8.83mi
Saddle Time: 30m (on the nose, according to my comp)
Actual Time: 35m
Start Time: 4:45PM
End Time: 5:20PM
Start Outside Temp: 51°F
End Outside Temp: 49°F
Max Speed: 36.3mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 17.6mph
Avg Speed (actual): 15.1mph

Good times.

The Inaugural Post

Welcome to my training blog! In the coming days, weeks, and months (and years?) I'll be posting here about my cycling training.

If you haven't heard by now, I've joined the National Capital Area chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training program. I've signed up to train for, and to participate in, the America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride around Lake Tahoe this June.

As part of the training, I've pledged to raise $4300 for LLS' cause, and I'm asking anyone who reads this to help by making a contribution. Each donation goes towards accelerating cures for leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma, and brings hope to the patients and families who are on the front lines of the battle against these diseases.

Please use the link below to donate online quickly and securely. Upon donating, you will receive a confirmation by email and I will be notified right away.

You can learn more about my efforts, check on the status of my training (I'll be updating it regularly), and make a donation by visiting:

http://www.active.com/donate/tntnca04/kentridestahoe

On behalf of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, I thank you very much for your support and generosity!