Go TEAMobile Go!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Have you IBEXed yet?

So I am about three weeks away from D-Day or the actual STP and I have been asked the same question multiple times recently: Doesn't your butt hurt from all that riding?

NO!
Why you ask? IBEX.

I have a pair of IBEX knickers (or for those of you out of the lingo- 3/4 length bike pants) and I love them. They are made out of this great wool fabric which at first thought to a novice like myself, seemed odd and suepr hot for summer bike riding. But it actually keeps you cool and wicks the sweat away from your body.

The knickers fit true to size and the padding is just the right amount, not so much that I walk funny (which we have all seen), but enough that my butt has yet to hurt or cramp up. I also love elastic around the calf, keeps it from riding up and down. THe other great part is that the back waist band sits a bit higher than the front so you don't get a plumber's crack.

Bottom line, I love these pants and I am in the process of buying the bike shorts to add to my collection.

Side note: I also bought the arm warmers and the Indie Jersey and all have done me well. Hmmm, makes me wonder if I am the UNOFFICIAL IBEX SPONSORED RIDER?

Check it out for yourself:

http://www.ibexwear.com/shop/product/1646/8990/womens-el-fito-three-quarter-bike-knickers

Friday, June 18, 2010

Flying Wheels 65 Mile Ride

The sun was out, the birds were chirping and my nerves were kept to a minimum. The ride was great minus a few hills. Especially the first heading up the plateau within the first 4 miles of the ride. I wish we had more time to warm up before throwing us into a big hill. Not to brag or anything, but I actually shocked myself. I was really freaked out ahead of time doing a group ride, especially with the hills. My fear all comes down to the clipless pedals. I have a fear that I won't be able to make it to the top and won't be able to clip out with the hundreds of other riders around me. But I'm proud to say...I did make it and was able to clip out and rest when needed. I did scream a few times, but hey, I'm a girl and that's what girls do. And quite frankly I kept my complaining down to a minimum (or at least the best I could) and never cried.

The ride took us over the plateau, through Duvall, Carnation and I think Fall City. It was so gorgeous and the sun made it even more amazing. Note to self: Always bring suncreen. My sunburned arms will thank me later! Hillary was speaking the truth...the ride was pretty much all hills. Pretty rough, but a great way to prepare for STP. There was the dreaded hill at the end, that everyone warned us about along the way. And yes, it was miserable. We walked a little and took breaks along the way. But the fact is we finished and I'm so proud of my team.

Poor Leo started cramping up in the beginning, so I'm not sure he enjoyed the ride as much as the rest of us. But he was a trooper and pushed his way through as any good soldier would. Especially a soldier that has been to war 3 times:)

I do have to admit that I started to get bored about 4 hours in and the last 7 miles was dreadful. Mostly just boring, repetitive and long! I'm a little nervous about STP now. Not for the physical aspect, but mentally. I'm a self diagnosed ADD victim and my attention span runs out rather quickly. Not sure how I'm going to push through 100 miles 2 days in a row...but somehow I'm sure our team will. I just wish I could hook up a tv with The Housewives of New Jersey to my bike. That would definitely keep me entertained.

Just another few weeks until STP. Hopefully Tom will join us for 1 ride before the big day. Tom, tell us when you are free. We miss you...and if we don't hear from you soon we are changing our team name to Team Where is (fill in the blank)?

Flying Wheels

Team, Where is Tom (might have to change our name because TOM our inspiration is MIA...) rode in our second group ride last Saturday- on a glorious sunny day. The ride we did was 70 miles OF HILLS! Oh my goodness, there were hills of all sorts and sizes and none that were mild or easy. Luckily it was nice out, weird tan lines to prove it and we made it. Sore, tired and sweaty- but we made it. Joc has more pictures and we will upload those soon.

http://cascade.org/EandR/flying/pdf/fw_45_100_mile_map_2010.pdf

Some Highlights:
Lots of randmon roadkill- rats, crows, and deer
Going 1 mph up a hill and praying we would make it
Barely getting off to walk
Going through gallons of water
My computer breaking again! UGH

WE FINISHED AND WERE TOLD IF WE CAN DO THIS RACE, STP will be a breeze!!!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

The Applebees Ride

Joc and I (Minus one team member---- LEO) rode through the torrential downpour on Monday. We decided that if we didn't ride on crummy weather days, well we wouldn't ride at all. We did the South Lake Washington Route.

Essentially we met in Factoria, rode across I90 West and circled Mercer Island then continued I90 across the Lake and took Lake Wa blvd through Seward park and wound around until we made it to Boeing Field. Now, up until this point it was (as my BRILLIANT 3 year old says ) only misting. It was actually nicer than either of us expected... Notice I wrote, up until this point.

Yup as soon as we hit Boeing the sky literally opened up and sheets of water poured on us, literally a pontoon boat would have helped. Luckily we became hysterical which helped pass the time as we made our way around the South end of the Lake through the Landing and back to Factoria.

Ironically, later Monday night, it was actually SUNNY outside. Damn Seattle Weather.

All in all we logged another 40 miles and realized that we can ride through all sorts of inclement weather.

Oh and the best part, apparently Memorial Day is a holiday where all the good post-ride restaurants close down so we ended our ride with a bite at a fantastic, 4 star establishment known as Applebees. (If any of our foodie friends are reading this, bite your tongue, we know we sinned!)

Monday, May 24, 2010

Why oh why is the weather so crummy here?

Team WHERE IS TOM took off on a training ride on what we hoped would be a glorious Saturday morning ride. In fact, look at our previous post and you can see what our goal was. Well, anyone out there recall the weather early Saturday morning. WE DO! It rained and rained and then rained some more. Reluctantly we still set out on a shortened version (though we were mighty tempted to hit a bar and or movie instead). As we rode out of Bellevue and into the rain clouds our day was looking dismal. Right about 10 miles in, near but not on the 520 trail the SKY LITERALLY OPENED UP AND DUMPED ON US. So we did what any pro street racing team would do, we hid under a bus stop waiting for it to pass. IT didn't at least not right away.

Soggy and shivering we headed towards Redmond- making this our second attempt to use the 520 bike trail and our second time not really finding it. THough we did find the world's steepest street and then an oportune time to mountaineer with our bikes from said street to the trail. We headed into Totem Lake, felt a bit of sun and hit the Samammish trail into Redmond. Ironically we found lunch just as it got sunny out. So we ate some soup and warmed up our bodies and our shriveled feet.

Then our ride led us down East Lake Samammish and through Issaquah back on the I90 trail home, totalling about 40 miles. While not uneventful, no ride of ours has been, I learned some valuable lessons:

1. The 520 trail is quite elusive- I wonder if it truly exists?
2. Jocelyn lies- NOT EVERYTHING IS DOWNHILL!
3. THe padding on bike shorts soaks up rain water nicely, a bit like a GIANT DIAPER.
4. Riding whether sunny or cold is fun with my team, I kinda dig them

Lastly, Tom if you are reading, isn't it time you join us for a ride?