Bad start to Dec . . .

. . . And a bad way to end the year. It's 6 Dec and I haven't been on the bike in over a week. And the worst part is I don't know when I'll get a chance for a good solid ride anytime soon. Maybe Tuesday afternoon at best, but other than that it looks like I'll have to drag myself out the door at 7am for some quick and cold 20 miler before work this week. If that is even worth it. Probably is. After the first time, it'll be a piece of cake. Hopefully the weather will clear up and warm up some in the next few weeks. I've ridden in worse, but I've always had lots of time to ride, now I have to squeeze rides in before and aftr work.

Wish me luck.

Ride On!
-Super Dave

DOWN, Down, down . . .

That's what my mileage has been these last two months. The weather was a big factor in Sept. Lots of rain throughout the month and I got caught out in it a couple of times. Nothing really bad. It's rejuvinating sometimes to ride in the rain. Makes you feel like a kid again. Unfortunately, it does nothing for the bike, except give me an excuse to clean it. October, on the other hand has been busy. I started working at the begining of the month and took up a second job later in the month. Trying to squeeze rides in before or after work has been tough. I tried, but it wasn't easy. November will be an easier month. No mileage goals for the rest of the year and into 2010, so I can just ride and relax.
Ride On!
-Super Dave

Rain . . .

Lots of rain this week and not a lot of riding. I've gotten out sparingly, but at least I've gotten out. Tomorrow morning I'll try to get to Java Junction for the Britton Bikes ride . This'll be my first ride with a group other than the Wheelmen. Something between 31 & 53 miles.

Driving home

WOW! I thought that the TdG was supposed to be tough. Try driving from J-ville, NC to Slidell, LA in one day, alone. Then driving from LA to Cibolo, TX two days later. The drive to LA took me 14 hours. I'm sure that it would have taken much longer had I not been by myself(so maybe I shouldn't complain). the biggest problem was boredom. Just driving and listening to the radio and driving and listening and driving and . . . you get it.
But at least I got to stop at my moms and get some down home cookin'. Wayne made Dirty Rice w/ sausage and ground beef on Friday and I went to dinner w/ Greg, Michelle and Hannah and had Red Beans & Rice with Catfish fillets. An odd combination but GOOD none-the-less. But, I had to sleep on the couch and that hurt my lower back some
The Saturday I drove from LA to Cibolo. Not as long, but still a long enough drive
with a sore back. It's good to be home, but it was relaxing being away from the stress here.
-David

Tour de Gaps

SSSSSSSSSSSSWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTT!
That's what the Tour de Gaps ride was like. I had such a great time that at times I forgot that the ride was supposed to be tough. From the start I was up in the lead group with Matt Hawkins, Steven Walker and Rod Brewster just riding like it was just a regular Saturday ride.
Unfortunately, Rowdy didn't have such a good ride. He got dropped from the lead group of 8 and couldn't get back on. Matt, Steve, Rod and I stayed on their wheel until the start of the first gap and then we decided to let them go. For me, I think that the first climb was the toughest, probably because we pushed up it harder than the rest. Steve beat me to the top followed by Matt & Rod. Larry tried the gap, but he started cramping half way up and turned around. On the way down we caught sight of Steve Mangiacaprie, Jim, Alison and James giving it a try.
After the first climb we decided to take it easier and concentrate on finishing more than on what time we finished in. The second and third gaps were great and of course between the two was Schoolhouse Rd(pictured). It's about a 1/4 mile climb that peaks at 23%. Tough for all, impossible for some. I know the pic doesn't look that bad, but I was well prepared. Coming down the second gap I misjudged a tight turn and almost went over a guard rail. Luckily, I managed to right myself in the grass and continue riding, otherwise it would have been a long drop. Of course, Steve beat me to the top of both gaps.
At the base of the last climb wer were all together ready to take it on. We were warned that it was the hardest of the four, either because it is steep early or because it's after all the others. I led Steve up about 90% of the climb, but it leveled out some towards the top and he caught and passed me. I didn't care or even try to catch him. My goal was to get to the top. Once there I knew I had conquered the ride, FINALLY!
We rode together the rest of the ride taking turns on the front, but enjoying the smaller climbs and knowing we were nearly finished.
Everything seemed surreal once we finished and part of me was ready to get some food in me, while another part of me didn't want the ride to end. My only dissappointment was that everyone wanted to leave right away and we didn't stay for the rest of our riders to finish.
I would like to thank Matt, Steve & Rod for riding with me, Larry Morton for driving me up and back, Rowdy Spuesens for letting me stay at his house for the week and Alison Seipker, Jim Blattner, William Hornback, Kendra Kane, James McLean, Seth and his friend. Also, congratulations to Steven Mangiacaprie for completing the ride for the third year in a row.

Ready for NC & TdG

Well, I know that I said that I would post after I returned from NC, but I decided to post today, before I leave. I completed my rides for the week. I hope that they have prepared me for the TdG on Saturday. I put in 180 miles since Sunday with some hard hill sessions and some solid rides.
Unfortunately, I got some bad news about this weekend, my friend Michael e-mailed me to let me know that he wouldn't be able to go to the TdG and that is a bummer for me. I probably won't get to see him until Monday at the club meeting now.

THat drops the number of riders down to 12 from J-ville and me. It should still be a blast of a ride for the rest of us. Here's hoping that I can ride that whole route. Pictures coming.
Ride On!
-Super Dave

SAWMen Cibolo Ride.

Today we(Kim & I) did the San Antonio Wheelmen Cibolo ride. I did the 50+ mile and Kim did 32. The pace was somewhat slower than last month, but there were six riders that worked well together to finish. Dale & I did about 80% of the work in the first 10 miles. He had to get back early and took a shorter route, so I let some of the others do their fair share of the work the rest of the way. We all did our pulls and finished strong in just under 3:00 with a stop at 25 miles.
Thursday I leave for NC and the Tour de Gaps on the 29th. It looks like there will be about 14 riders coming from J-ville and that is a great mark. Last year we had 11 riders, but to bring 14 is awesome.
My next update will be after the TdG and I'll let everyone know how things went.

'Til then,
Ride On!
-Super Dave

A tough ride

What a day for a ride. Everything started out pretty good, but a few miles into the ride, I hit something and flatted my front wheel. Dale stopped to help out but together we had to play catch-up to the group. I tried my hardest to keep pushing, but I quickly tired while pushing into a stiff headwind. Thanks to Dale for dragging me to the water stop, because I was whipped. I recovered somewhat but I still wasn't feeling that good. After a while I ate my br and started feeling much better. Towards the end, I did a lot of the work, but admittedly, the pace was somewhat slower. In the end I finished with 57 miles, and I felt like it.
Kim did a great ride also. She planned on doing 25, but ended up doing 36, because she missed her turn. She enjoyed her ride and also met another rider.
'til next time,
Ride On!
-Super Dave

Still riding

Well, as luck would have it, I didn't get to pull of the 40/50/60 milers in three days like I planned, but I did get in some excellant rides in the last week.
It's been tough getting ready for my morning rides when I can't get enough sleep. Tuesday night, I went to the regular ride and did a lot of work. I pulled hard for about 30 of the 35 miles. Wednesday and Thursday I did a couple of good solo rides and felt great. I decided to take a day off on Friday, but I find that after a day off I do not feel or ride as good as I should.
Two more weeks until TdG and I am hoping that all the hill work that I have been doing here helps me to do a great ride.

Ride On!
-Super Dave

Back on the Bike

Well, I had to take another day off. I wasn't feeling all that great this past Saturday so instead of pushing it I decided it would be best to stay off the bike. I helped out a friend put together a couple of bookcases for their new entertainment center. That took up most of the day, so I didn't have much time to miss riding. I think the time off will help out. Tonight I went out and did an easy 35 from the house to Marion and back. The wind was really strong so I had to work harder than I wanted, but I still took it easy.
The next three days I plan to do a 40, 50 & 60 miler. The 50 will probably be broken up into two rides, but I have to log some longer rides to get ready for the TdG at the end of the month.
More updates to come.
Ride On!
-Super Dave

Time off.

Today was an unscheduled day off.
I was out the last two days(Wedn/Thurs) and had a couple of miserable rides. Wednesday, I rode my new 40 mile course, but I did so after 3pm and man was it scorching HOT. It had to be over 103. The wind was so hot and bad that it was burning my eyes to ride into it, and I had on my shades.
Thursday, I decided to go out and do an easy 35, but I had to turn into the wind at mile 13 and it was over from then on. I eased up somewhat to conserve energy, but the wind just continued. I stopped for fluids at 20 miles, but no matter what I was cooked. I still had at least 12 miles to go so I decided to ride straight back home at an easy pace and hope that I didn't overdo it.
More fluids after I got home, nothing seemed to work, so I ate and decided to take a rest day.
Not that I got much rest. I ended up working in the garage and attic for about 6 hours today.Hopefully tomorrow goes better.
Ride On!
-Super Dave

Changed mind

Today I was set to do a 40 mile ride that I had just mapped out on Mapmyride.com and I wanted to see what the roads looked like. Well as luck would have it I got to chatting with a friend on Facebook and got fired up about riding that when I left the house I immediately changed my mind and headed out for a 60+ miler.
The winds were at my back going out so it made the start a bit better, but of course, they also picked up on the return.
I ended up riding 64 and change from the house in Cibolo out to the Sattler SacPac and back. On the return, I decided, like always, to take Green Valley instead of the access road. It's a little farther, but much more sceanic than riding next to the highway.

New Posts from Texas!!!

It's been a while and a lot has changed. I am now retired from the Marine Corps and living in Texas. We moved in June and settled in a small town called Cibolo, just northeast of San Antonio.
I have been riding daily on my new Jack Kane custom carbon bike that my wife bought me for a retirement gift. Last month I logged over 1100 miles, mostly on the Kane, but some on my Cannondale Synapse carbon.
Later this month I'll be headed back to NC to join some friends for another Tour de Gaps ride in Mt. Airy.
I 'll try to keep the blog updated from now on.
Ride On!
-Super Dave