DNF

A rare occasion for me. The race took another victim. It was pouring rain at the start, coming down so hard I could barely see. I felt like I was drowning between the rain and the snot (sorry, it was cold). Guys started bailing out before we'd even gone 15 miles. The wind was fierce and blew the rain into my face so hard it hurt. There was water flowing across the road nearly everywhere, and if water was flowing, so was the mud. In some places it was so bad the highway department marked them as "Flooded". They were right. For about 15 minutes or so on the second lap the rain quit and I began to think I would be able to do it (finish), but by the climb it came back in. By the summit it was pouring again, and fog had rolled in so thick you could only see about 20 yards or so. So I bagged it after 45 miles. I was soaked to the skin and had signs of hypothermia (I could barely form words). I nearly fell asleep in the tub while soaking in hot water. It was epic. Tonight it's supposed to snow. What is it about this place on the Mexican border that has weather more akin to Canada?

I saw John Rubcic there. He was one of the motor cycle escorts today. He told me before the race how terrible it was, and he looked it. Bundled up like the Michelin man, he still looked soaked to the core. He was right. It was terrible.

So, no more races until the Callville Classic Stage Race at the end of this month. That one is the real season opener, and a big race for me, as it's hilly, long, and there's an "age appropriate" category for me! (It's been hard for me to accept that I'm 60, and things just don't work like they used to.)

I'm Here At An Even Worse Motel Than Last Year!

The internet connection is even crappier than the motel (I’ll have pictures later. You wouldn’t believe it otherwise). I'm sitting out in my car because I get a marginal connection here. I rode the course this afternoon in cloudy and windy conditions. It wasn't as bad as I remembered it. It's hard, no getting around that, but the climbs and descents weren't bad to take at all(that's the result of good training!). What was alarming was the evidence of recent mud slides from previous rains, and if it rains hard tomorrow, the mud may slide across the road in many places, making for a treacherous race. The Weather Bug is forecasting some showers but a lot of wind. The Weather Channel is forecasting rain all day. The radar shows a huge swath of rain moving into San Diego right this minute (7:02 p.m.). Time will tell. Some light rain is falling now.

I got a call on the road today from my friend Bruce Steele wishing me well. He also told me that Jean-Louie (spelling?), a guy who rode with me at Devil's Punchbowl and the Acorn version of the Boulevard race last April. He's a great climber and a good guy to ride with. So at least I'll have someone in the race I know (he's also my age, as well). So good night for now. Updates when possible tomorrow.

Rain Back On At Boulevard

Chance of rain is now 70% again. WTF? Dry on the days leading up to it, even drier going away, but Saturday is going to be a soaker again, and cold. Why do I do this?

Oh yes, for the challenge! Another thought is that I could do the hardest race of the year first thing, complete with difficult course and awful weather against guys up to 16 years my junior. Everything after that would seem easy. Or maybe I'm a dedicated masochist? Tomorrow I'll drive approximately 380 miles to the race site, spend the night (a different motel this time), and have all morning to get my shorts in a knot before the 1:00 start time.

I took an easy 31 mile ride this morning as the clouds were already coming in. Forty one degrees, no wind to speak of, two sunbonnets out walking, one hot air balloon, and a handful of cyclists. My weight is good, pulse good, and my rain tires are ready to be mounted on my race wheels.

January Recap

The current forecast for Boulevard is now 30% chance of rain and a high of 51F. That's an improvement for sure. I'll be prepared for any eventuality, though. I took a good, strong 60 mile ride on Saturday and had very good timed effort up the Scenic Loop climb and subsequent descent. The whole ride was done solo and even with all the climbing I still came in at just slightly over three hours. I'm as ready as I can be at this time.

January's Stats:
Miles: 1049. Base, tempo, climbing, and uphill sprinting.
Days on the bike: 29 (I took two days off to go hiking)
Weight: 148.6
Pulse: 50
Lifetime Miles: 406,063 (best estimate)

Rain Forecast for Boulevard Road Race

Boulevard is up to its usual tricks. Good weather all next week, but 60% chance of rain on Saturday the 6th. Grr! I looked at who's signed up so far, and there are 20 riders, including the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place riders from last year, some unknowns, and some young guys moving up from the 35+ category. There were a few names (so far) notably absent as well. Whatever happens, it will be interesting.

I was the first to sign up for the 60+ category at the Callville Classic Stage Race. Guess who was second (and so far, the only two already signed up)? Kenny Fuller.

Thursday's Stats:
Pulse: 52
Weight: 150
Miles: 31, with Scenic Loop climbing
Not a sunbonnet to be seen.

Rain and More Rain

For such a long time rain had vanished from the Las Vegas Valley; suffering a drought that has gone on for more than a decade.  In 2005 there was a very wet winter and spring, but other than that, drought, dust, and not much else.  In the past two weeks it has rained more than it did all last year.  Not much by many people's standards, but a lot for here.  I rode once again in the rain today, the fourth time in two weeks, give or take.  I never see anyone else out on the road in conditions like these.  Riders have become complacent and spoiled, riding only when it's dry.  My SoCal competitors stay inside, complaining of the rain drenching Southern California.  I would, in the past, have joined them.  Even though I've ridden many times in the rain and snow, I rarely would go out if it was already raining, or even if the streets were wet; if I got caught out in it, well OK.  If it was a race and it was raining, well OK.  But now, I don't have time to waste.  I go out anyway, seeking a way to minimize the discomfort.  I want to be ready for anything this year, and weather isn't going to be one of those things that will make me cringe.  After a decade in the Rocky Mountains, riding year 'round in bitter cold, wind, rain,  hail, and snow, little is left that will keep me off my bike.  I'm old.  I don't have forever anymore.  I have to do it now.  Otherwise, what's the use?  There's only ten days left until the Boulevard Road Race, and then the fun begins.  I will be there.

Sunday's Stats:
Pulse:  50
Weight: 149.4
Miles: 37.6, tempo with climbing, uphill sprint(s)
Temperature: 41F

Monday's Stats:
Pulse: 50
Weight: 149.8
Miles:30.3, tempo with climbing, uphill sprint
Temperature: 39F

Tuesday's Stats:
Pulse: 52
Miles: 31, Scenic Loop climb
Temperature: 34F (an amazing amount of snow still on the higher parts of the course)

Wednesday's Stats:
Pulse: 50
Weight: 151.2
Miles: 30.3, steady
Temperature: 42F, light to moderate rain

So when the weather's bad, sit back and watch this (I own it, and watched it once again tonight.  Brilliant. And then go out and ride. Ride the bike, ride the bike, ride the bike.)

Closed Because of Snow!

My usual Saturday morning training ride has me climbing the notorious Scenic Loop in Red Rock Canyon, and now that it's within two weeks of my first race of the season, the notorious and nefarious Boulevard Road Race, I look to that climb as a measure of my fitness.  Not so today.  With all the wet weather that has come through here in the past week, the cold air in the higher elevations turned the last storm into a blanket of snow.  It's stunning to look at, and yesterday morning I ran into increasing amounts of snow and slush on the road the higher I got.  Today, it was still bad enough on the loop to close it to traffic in the early morning hours.  Oh well.  I went on and climbed Mount Potosi instead, which offers a long gradient that gets steeper the higher you go.  The last mile of what amounted to a six mile climb went at a 10% gradient, all into a head wind.  The weather is supposed to clear over the next few days, but another system is coming in mid week.  So far, I haven't missed a day because of inclement weather.  I figure it's good training for the awful weather commonly found down at Boulevard.  (For those of you who don't know, Boulevard is in the mountains of eastern San Diego County, California, right on the Mexican border.  Strangely enough, it's often colder there than it is in British Columbia, Canada.)

Other news:

The new Paramount racing kit arrived at my door last week, and it is handsome.

Friday's Stats:

Pulse: 50

Weight: 149.4

Miles: 31.1, tempo riding

Temperature at 6:55 a.m.: 37F, cloudy, breezy, snow on the road.

Number of sunbonnets out walking: 1 (not the same one this time... what is it with older women and sunbonnets in Las Vegas?  I've never seen such a phenomenon before.)

Saturday's Stats:

Weight: 149.0

Miles: 61, tempo with climbing

Temperature at 7:55 a.m.: 39 F and windy

Number of tourists who pulled in front of me, parked, and took their ham fists and pointed their tiny digital point and shoot cameras at the snow, all the while oblivious that they nearly killed a cyclist:  4

Number of tourists who didn't impact me directly, but would have if they could:  too many to count.  It was frightening.  What, they never saw snow before?