That's as much as I could stomach on yesterday's ride through what felt like sauna temperatures. The ride wasn't very long but the heat made it incredibly difficult. Jerry and I stopped several times--not necessarily because we were tired, but to cool off in the shade. I went through two camelbaks of water, highly unusual for me.
I woke up not feeling that great. I had been out to dinner the night before, and I think the tiny bit of crab dip I had upset my stomach. Between the heat and the upset stomach, I did not sleep well, but I was so anxious to ride after not having been on the tandem since the end of AIDS Lifecycle.
We had signed up for the monthly Positive Pedalers ride and I was anxious to get back in the saddle, and to also see my friends. We met up at Mike's Bikes in Sausalito. The lot was crowded. There was a Leukemia Society Team in Training ride that day, and one of their staff approached us. We let her know we did the AIDS ride and she said something like, well, when you finish that join Team in Training. I retorted that sure, as soon as there was a cure for AIDS we'd be there. That did bring laughter from my fellow ALC'ers.
We headed out with me not feeling up to par, but glad to be pedaling. In Fairfax I got a ginger ale which went a long way to settling my stomach.
On White's Hill, we stopped once or twice to cool down a bit, then headed to Woodacre. Another ginger ale made me feel almost normal.
The ride back to Mike's is far easier hill-wise, but head and I do not agree in a big way. I was happy to get back to the car and air conditioning.
While I'm not sorry we did the ride, my hope is that will be the last one in such hot weather.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
It WAS more than just potato chips
While I realized in my last post I focused on the endless supply of junk food, the ride, eating-wise was much more.
I'll start by saying breakfast and dinner, by and large, were really good. Lunch, not so much.
I usually started the day in the Express Line with oatmeal and a cup of yogurt. That was accompanied by a wonderful cup of coffee made in my Aeropress. To me, Aeropress is far superior to French press, and oh so much easier to clean up. I made a strong Americano every morning and it got my day started off right. That was my only caffeine of the day.
I was once again a vegetarian on the ride, and with the exception of the tofu with orange and balsamic, dinner every night was a hit. I loved the veggie meatloaf and the enchiladas, though generally I skipped the vegetables because they appeared to have come out of the freezer or a can and were significantly overcooked. The exception was broccoli one night. I had seconds. I generally skipped the wrapped in plastic desserts. After all, I had spent the day eating snickerdoodles and fig newtons. Who needed mass-produced cheesecake!
Lunch, unfortunately did not rank high for me and many others. I wish I had a solution, but serving close to 3,000 bag lunches would be difficult for most anyone. The sandwiches were boring, the pasta salad so-so and the fruit, unless it was an apple, was unripe and tasteless. It was my one chance to have a significant portion of Powerade. While not my drink of choice, I know I need to replace those electrolytes, so I'd down a small bottle of it to get it over with.
The once solace at lunch were the potato chips. Little bags of crisp salt, grease and goodness. I did limit myself to one bag this year, despite boxes and boxes of them screaming to me to eat, eat, eat. Talk about willpower.
I've been back at home now for close to a week, and my roaring metabolism seems to have slowed down to its usual crawl, thank goodness. The first day or two after the ride I wanted to shove everything I could into my mouth. Now it's back to the usual trying to eat a healthy diet. With strawberries and blueberries in season, it's not too hard.
I'll start by saying breakfast and dinner, by and large, were really good. Lunch, not so much.
I usually started the day in the Express Line with oatmeal and a cup of yogurt. That was accompanied by a wonderful cup of coffee made in my Aeropress. To me, Aeropress is far superior to French press, and oh so much easier to clean up. I made a strong Americano every morning and it got my day started off right. That was my only caffeine of the day.
I was once again a vegetarian on the ride, and with the exception of the tofu with orange and balsamic, dinner every night was a hit. I loved the veggie meatloaf and the enchiladas, though generally I skipped the vegetables because they appeared to have come out of the freezer or a can and were significantly overcooked. The exception was broccoli one night. I had seconds. I generally skipped the wrapped in plastic desserts. After all, I had spent the day eating snickerdoodles and fig newtons. Who needed mass-produced cheesecake!
Lunch, unfortunately did not rank high for me and many others. I wish I had a solution, but serving close to 3,000 bag lunches would be difficult for most anyone. The sandwiches were boring, the pasta salad so-so and the fruit, unless it was an apple, was unripe and tasteless. It was my one chance to have a significant portion of Powerade. While not my drink of choice, I know I need to replace those electrolytes, so I'd down a small bottle of it to get it over with.
The once solace at lunch were the potato chips. Little bags of crisp salt, grease and goodness. I did limit myself to one bag this year, despite boxes and boxes of them screaming to me to eat, eat, eat. Talk about willpower.
I've been back at home now for close to a week, and my roaring metabolism seems to have slowed down to its usual crawl, thank goodness. The first day or two after the ride I wanted to shove everything I could into my mouth. Now it's back to the usual trying to eat a healthy diet. With strawberries and blueberries in season, it's not too hard.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
The Week of Potato Chips
and Chex Mix and Fig Newtons and Pop Tarts and endless Clif Bars and five meals a day is over.
But what a week it was! Once again, Jerry and I rode every single mile of the ALC Lifecycle ride. We laughed a lot with our tent neighbors and cried when we thought about those we have lost, or could lose, to HIV and AIDS.
We rode through small towns and talked to people about what we were doing. We got cheered by people driving by in cars or standing by the side of the road holding posters to encourage and praise us. The group of us raised close to $12 million. Jerry and I raised about $11,000 again this year.
On Day 7, my friend Buzz had to get in one of the sweep vehicles because his knees just wouldn't let him ride. I hugged him as he cried. But really, the ride part was for him. He had already done the important part-- he had raised money to make sure people with HIV get the services and support they need. I was glad though, when later in the day I saw him back on the route so he could ride into Closing Ceremonies.
And the riding into the arena really was the highlight of closing ceremonies. That, and then cheering in the roadies as they walked into the center of the arena, spraying us with Silly String and water.
Jerry and I know more and more people associated with the ride, so it was great to be at Rest Stop 1 and see my friend Carey at Medical; at Rest Stop 2 Nancy and George were fixing bikes and Lee, a nurse, was looking at road rash, and then along the route Cindy and Alisa, in two different sweep vehicles, would be yelling "Go Carol! Go Jerry!" as they motored by.
We "princessed" lunch twice on the ride. On day 3 or 4, can't remember which, Jerry had gotten chilled so we stopped at a Roundtable Pizza for lunch. We warmed up and used the luxurious porta-potties that flushed, had real running water and most unfortunately, mirrors. It was definitely scary to see oneself after days on the road.
On the last day we also went out to lunch so we wouldn't have to just hang around waiting for closing ceremonies. We couldn't find the charming Italian restaurant we went to last year, so we settled for comfort turkey burgers and skinny fries at Barney's. The familiar is sometimes not so bad. The people sitting next to us asked lots of questions about the ride. We were happy to oblige with details.
That evening Alaska Airlines, full of riders wearing their Victory shirts, flew us back to San Francisco, where our friends Thom and Jeff picked us up. We had left our car at their house, so it was a simple matter of unloading their car, loading ours and getting home to our real bed and real kitties.
We're already planning for next year.
But what a week it was! Once again, Jerry and I rode every single mile of the ALC Lifecycle ride. We laughed a lot with our tent neighbors and cried when we thought about those we have lost, or could lose, to HIV and AIDS.
We rode through small towns and talked to people about what we were doing. We got cheered by people driving by in cars or standing by the side of the road holding posters to encourage and praise us. The group of us raised close to $12 million. Jerry and I raised about $11,000 again this year.
On Day 7, my friend Buzz had to get in one of the sweep vehicles because his knees just wouldn't let him ride. I hugged him as he cried. But really, the ride part was for him. He had already done the important part-- he had raised money to make sure people with HIV get the services and support they need. I was glad though, when later in the day I saw him back on the route so he could ride into Closing Ceremonies.
And the riding into the arena really was the highlight of closing ceremonies. That, and then cheering in the roadies as they walked into the center of the arena, spraying us with Silly String and water.
Jerry and I know more and more people associated with the ride, so it was great to be at Rest Stop 1 and see my friend Carey at Medical; at Rest Stop 2 Nancy and George were fixing bikes and Lee, a nurse, was looking at road rash, and then along the route Cindy and Alisa, in two different sweep vehicles, would be yelling "Go Carol! Go Jerry!" as they motored by.
We "princessed" lunch twice on the ride. On day 3 or 4, can't remember which, Jerry had gotten chilled so we stopped at a Roundtable Pizza for lunch. We warmed up and used the luxurious porta-potties that flushed, had real running water and most unfortunately, mirrors. It was definitely scary to see oneself after days on the road.
On the last day we also went out to lunch so we wouldn't have to just hang around waiting for closing ceremonies. We couldn't find the charming Italian restaurant we went to last year, so we settled for comfort turkey burgers and skinny fries at Barney's. The familiar is sometimes not so bad. The people sitting next to us asked lots of questions about the ride. We were happy to oblige with details.
That evening Alaska Airlines, full of riders wearing their Victory shirts, flew us back to San Francisco, where our friends Thom and Jeff picked us up. We had left our car at their house, so it was a simple matter of unloading their car, loading ours and getting home to our real bed and real kitties.
We're already planning for next year.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Day 0 and Turkey Burgers
Today was orientation day for AIDS Lifecycle, aka Day Zero. A safety film to be watched tent assignment to be gotten, and two jerseys to be picked up. One is a Positive Pedaler Supporter jersey, the other is, what I like to call, the $5000 jersey. It is the incentive award for raising $5000 and Jerry and I both got them.
All of the running from table to table, signing forms, putting numbers on the bike, was not too arduous. We were done by about 1 pm.
We headed back home, detouring onto Irving for a turkey burger and fries and a little coffee shop on Irving near 9th. Was okay-- not great, but we're spoiled by Comfort Food Cafe.
Now is back to making sure we have packed everything we need and to see if it will all actually fit into our suitcases.
The ride starts tomorrow. I am so excited.
All of the running from table to table, signing forms, putting numbers on the bike, was not too arduous. We were done by about 1 pm.
We headed back home, detouring onto Irving for a turkey burger and fries and a little coffee shop on Irving near 9th. Was okay-- not great, but we're spoiled by Comfort Food Cafe.
Now is back to making sure we have packed everything we need and to see if it will all actually fit into our suitcases.
The ride starts tomorrow. I am so excited.
Monday, May 26, 2008
White's Hill and Lingonberries
Today was the last "official" ride before THE ride, though Jerry and I will probably do a little cycling this week.
Though a much shorter ride, what a contrast from Friday's ride. It never felt as if the parking brake was on and we sailed up and down White's and Nicasio Hills. Definitely helped get my confidence back.
For a potluck at Julie's afterwards, she had asked me to bake Bob Katz a birthday cake, to which I readily agreed. I read recipe after recipe online and in my cookbooks, looking for a chocolate cake, but I decided to go with something a little different, and, in my mind, more interesting. I did a lingonberry spice cake, and since it needed to be frosted (it being a birthday cake, after all), I whipped up a thin coffee buttercream. I know how good the cake is on its own, and I didn't want a heavy icing.
I thought, all in all, it was pretty successful, but I'm not sure others felt that way. There were gooey storebought desserts that seemed to be what everyone went for-- thick chocolate cake, carrot cake with perfect God knows what icing. Perhaps I should have made something more traditional, but I'm happy with the way the cake turned out, and I'll leave it at that.
We have only a few more days to get everything ready for our ride. But after today's ride, despite it's brevity, I feel much more prepared.
Though a much shorter ride, what a contrast from Friday's ride. It never felt as if the parking brake was on and we sailed up and down White's and Nicasio Hills. Definitely helped get my confidence back.
For a potluck at Julie's afterwards, she had asked me to bake Bob Katz a birthday cake, to which I readily agreed. I read recipe after recipe online and in my cookbooks, looking for a chocolate cake, but I decided to go with something a little different, and, in my mind, more interesting. I did a lingonberry spice cake, and since it needed to be frosted (it being a birthday cake, after all), I whipped up a thin coffee buttercream. I know how good the cake is on its own, and I didn't want a heavy icing.
I thought, all in all, it was pretty successful, but I'm not sure others felt that way. There were gooey storebought desserts that seemed to be what everyone went for-- thick chocolate cake, carrot cake with perfect God knows what icing. Perhaps I should have made something more traditional, but I'm happy with the way the cake turned out, and I'll leave it at that.
We have only a few more days to get everything ready for our ride. But after today's ride, despite it's brevity, I feel much more prepared.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Where did it go?
Our strength, that is. We did a 76-mile ride yesterday, and you'd have thought we had never ridden that far before. Truth is, we haven't ridden that far in a long time, and it showed. And we felt it. The last 20 miles, it felt like the parking brake on the bike was on. It was a struggle. We are never the fastest kids on the block, but yesterday we were really dragging. But I do have to note that some of the riders got in only five minutes before we did. But they weren't struggling, and we certainly were. We cobbled together a dinner of protein and carbs and were in bed at 9:30.
We were planning on riding today, but it's actually showery and cold, so instead we may go down to the south bay and look at tandems.
We were planning on riding today, but it's actually showery and cold, so instead we may go down to the south bay and look at tandems.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Back in the Saddle
Jerry finally felt well enough to ride today, so we loaded up the tandem and did an 18 mile ride around Paradise Loop. It felt good. It gave me a lot more confidence with the ride coming up so soon. As the week progresses, we'll do a couple more rides that will have some major climbs to let us know that we are, indeed, ready for Carback Mountain and Quadbuster.
Woo hoo!!
Woo hoo!!
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