Nemesis

It appears my 2010 Nemesis will be Climb 3 on Mid Hammer Loop. Although today's ride was not as bad as "Ugh" from last week, it still, played with my mind a little today. Today was the 1st really nice riding day in a long, long while, probably since last fall. The temperature approached the 50's and the orange orb in the sky popped out.

I had been doing a descent gym work out with free weights this past week. Not quite old form but enough to motivate and keep going. (Sorry, closed my eyes for a moment and it felt..good, to slip into that warm haze of drowsiness and sail, sailing away from the Now, anyway...). I had realized this week, when I 1st started working out with free weights I had great gains, my boy got muscular, defined and was immediately noticeable post work out. The last 10 years or so, I realized I had 'plateaued' or rather stopped making gains & was just going through the motions with no truly hard efforts. I believe 'that' really showed. Although working out I failed to show any progress or new speed and strength for my efforts. I was just bulky. So this week's mantra had been: "100%. 100% OF THE TIME"

And you know I think it worked. Although the 1st mile of today's ride made me question that. Legs were tight and sore from going hard on the leg routines (470 lbs on the Leg Press and the Infiniti Sets on the Calf Raises & Leg Curls). By the 2nd mile I was OK. My split time remained off, or rather not where I'd like to see them, i.e. 0:25:14 at JCT 3/165.

I just rode today, feeling how the body feels, trying to gauge a King of Burlingame TT effort. Kind've concerned. Kind've ok (not by much). Kind've let's go 2011! The week's leg routine did well. My legs felt good on the climbs and pedaling was OK. Lungs on the other hand well, that kind've sucked. They just burned and felt like I couldn't inhale enough air.

As I climbed Ventoux I tried the old tricks I used to use, don't look up, concentrate, focus, pedal smooth, don't look up to where you are-it'll only discourage you. I went OK. I climbed Ventoux @ 6.5 mph ( In shape: 10.7mph is the norm). I was OK with that Its something I'll just have to work on this season.

I turned onto WoodHill for the turn around point, where some jack ass had driven his vehicle into the sign, knocking it down. I took the camera out and started taking some shots. I must've lost 3-4 minutes of time from a 'focused-effort' but it was sunny and warm, no rush. A;though in the back of mind I was wondering, what would be my elapsed time be for today.

I began thinking of last week and how confused I had become, thinking 1 hour 17 minutes was 6 minutes faster than the day before. I felt great. I was surging with confidence. I was on track to beat the previous day's time, 01:24:00, or so I thought. I ended up 6 seconds slower. Disappointing but not discouraging. It was still a good time. Today however I was under no such falsehoods. I was very aware 01:17:00 was the time to beat, if I chose to go for it.

Climb 3 lurked on this road I knew it was coming. I wasn't dreading it. I just knew it felt steep er than Ventoux and was shorter. I kept thinking how nice today was. The sun. The comparative warmth for this time of year. In my minds eye I could see leaves on the trees. Gone was the salty taste in the air from the winter. Gone were the icy patches on the road. There was just good road traction and of course potholes, sand piles and wet puddles, the type large enough for newly washed car drivers to swerve left into oncoming traffic to avoid an immediate 2nd trip to the car was. I allowed my mind to wonder and purchase a black Hummer H2. Today is a good day to buy a new car.

I eventually put the camera away and returned to pedalling the bike. I was feeling a little more tired for this section than usual. I thought nothing of it. Things were going OK. Legs were fine. Lungs were good enough. I climbed Ventoux at 6 mph-I was going to work on that. All I had left was Climb 3 and Heartbreak hill and then a quick shot home. I wondered what the elapsed time would be.

I made the sharp left turn onto Climb 3 and was already in the small chain ring by chance rather than on purpose. No problem. I'll just ride it out. I looked up, seeing the 2 straight sections of ascent and the middle flatish area. It looked like a scene from a horror movie.

The length of the road began to stretch into infinity. The climb rose as if Dante's inferno waited at the top. It was a weird 'Alice-in Wonderland' moment. No matter. I rode on and up. Almost immediately I felt the legs quiver, the steering sway. My upper body tightened. This was not going to be easier than last week. I stood on the pedals, hoping to gain some momentum. No such luck. I was just as slow standing as I was sitting. I glanced down at my bike computer. 5 miles per hour. 5 miles per hour. I never thought a bike could move so slow and maintain its balance. I began to wonder if I was going to fall over.

I stood on the pedals again this time determined to keep standing until I crested. Up pedal. Down pedal. Tug right handle bar. Down pedal. Tug left handle bar. Correct steering. My Spinergy front wheel's shadow no longer turned in a blur. It made a very clear "X" on the road.

I glance up. " Holy Shit." I almost wandered into an on-coming Chevy Blazer, metallic sand color. The fucker could've at least honked his horn. Freaking driver's honk every other flipping time, like when your at a corner, moving briskly with the flow of traffic, stopped, just for the hell of it, but of course, not this time. Not when it clear the rider (me) had no clue a car was approaching as my head was down staring at my "X" on the ground. I crested Climb 3, without oxygen in my lungs or sense of accomplishment. I thought only of only one word: Nemesis.

Heartbreak Hill came and went. My sprint to the topped lacked top end speed and of course oxygen too. I check my HRM's clock. Whoa. I could do it. I pressed on. Legs came alive again as I called out for the speed. I checked the bike's computer. I was moving. 29 miles per hour on a section i generally do 27 mile per hour. Already I could feel the oxygen deprivation rising. I backed left onto my street and raced to the mail box. 9 minutes faster than last week!

Ipod in my head: Korn "Right Now".