Digest 2001-06

From: Eirish 
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2001 5:14 AM
To: Womens Cycling Discussion List; Vaccine Ride Discussion List
Subject: [WCDL] Stretching


this is one reason why i had such a difficult time on one ride... i was not
stretching and my muscles were contracted...  i have been stretching before
and after and what a difference!

this is a cool site ... gave me lots of info that helped me...many of you
probably already know this stuff!!

stretch on!

Donna
mavr10764


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From: Colleen Fishback 
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2001 12:52 PM
To: womens-cycling@teamestrogen.com
Subject: [WCDL] Chico Wildflower


Donna,

I rode the Chico Wildflower again this year.  I did the 100 mile route and
thought the support was awsome!  The food and scenery is so much better than
many, many rides I've done.  I commute 25 miles a day on a mountain bike but
always take 2 full days off before a ride.  Perhaps you're not letting your
body recover.  And it's possible you didn't drink enough!  This is so
important.

I just turned 50 and can crank out a century or climb Mt. Diablo with very
little effort now.  I started 4 years ago and had your experience on my
first ride around Lake Tahoe.  It does get better!

Colleen

ps:  next year you might like the Wine Century in Santa Rosa.  The Santa
Rosa Cycling club puts it on.  Scenic and the metric is quite flat.  Even
the full century isn't bad.

I'll post my experience there in another message.  It was a big day for me
:)



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From: Colleen Fishback 
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2001 1:12 PM
To: womens-cycling@teamestrogen.com
Subject: [WCDL] All kinds of things can happen on a ride!


My boyfriend and I have been quite focused on our cycling
adventures lately.  So much so that we are doing the DEATHRIDE this year and
our water-ski and wakeboard are covered with cobwebs!  As part of our
training we are doing a Century each weekend.  Sometimes, we go for more
than the 100 miles.  This is a story about what happened at
the lunch stop on Saturday, May 5th.  About mile 90 of a 115 mile ride.
This is not just about the ride :-) and it's not a request for money so
don't stop reading now!

We went to Santa Rosa for the annual Wine Century put on by the Santa Rosa
Cycling Club.  It isn't a difficult ride (i.e. only about 6k of climbing)
but it is so beautiful this time of year.  We rode from Santa Rosa to the
coast, up highway 1 and then turned inland and followed the Russian River
for awhile.  Most of the ride was on sparsely traveled back roads that were
well shaded.  We passed lots of wineries and vineyards.  We are blessed to
live in such a beautiful state.  Jim and I rode our bikes around the Big
Island of Hawaii in February (yes our snow skis have cobwebs too) and I
swear we didn't see anything as breathtaking as California''s Sonoma region.
But I digress ...

Jim (Happy Legs) is of course always ahead of me.  Used to be at least 30
minutes, but I'm closing the gap and it's now about 15 minutes if I'm not
pushing.  This was a time I pushed and forced Jim to really scramble to get
ready for the surprise.

The 10 miles before the lunch stop was on a more traveled and completely sun
exposed road.  It was very hot, over 90.  I pushed hard to get that part of
the ride over with.  All I was thinking as I rolled into the lunch stop was
"I need to pee and there better be room under a shade tree for me to lie
down and cool off"...

As I turned into the drive I saw a big sign with my name on it and balloons.
  I thought someone in the park with the same name must be having a b-day.
There were several signs (like the Burma Shave signs that some of us
remember) along the drive that said:

Colleen
The hills are steep
The roads are long
I'm yours to keep
Cause we belong

And I'm thinking ... "what's the punch line?"  and then there was Jim
running towards me wearing a Tux! Well half a tux, he still had the bike
shorts on.  You know where this is going?  As I stood over my bike trying to
get my mind around what was happening, Jim proposed and put a ring on my
finger!!!  People were taking pictures and videoing the event.  I cannot
think of a more romantic and appropriate proposal for us.  Now I know why
the same SAG car kept passing me on that stretch before lunch.

Looking back I should have been suspicious that something was up.  Jim asked
me what jersey I planned to wear (when does a guy care about such things?),
he was doing a lot of errands that week, he forgot the bike pump, he left
the hotel room the night before to check his bike and was gone for quite
awhile, the workers at the rest stops kept asking me if I was having a good
ride and they seemed particularly friendly ........ the SAG car stalking me.
All indicators that I paid no attention to.  So Jim pulled this off right
under my nose.  He even called my daughters and asked their permission
first.  Big points with the girls!

As you might guess I said YES!  But my concentration was now broken and I
wasn't sure I could ride the last 25 miles!  Of course, Jim being Jim .....
suggested he might take the ring back if I didn't finish the ride.  I'm
proud to say I did it!  Of course the ring added more weight which slowed me
down a bit :-) (My excuse and I'm sticking to it).

May 5th was the 5th anniversary of the day we met.  Jim thought it would be
appropriate to propose on that day.  We're thinking the wedding will be next
May 5th.  Jim will have a fighting chance to remember our anniversary!  I do
what I can to help ...... you guys understand!

We don't have any pictures of the proposal yet, but if you click on this url
you will see some shots of us at mile 112.
http://www.photocrazy.com/2001/0505WCC/Wcc9/WCC90040.html
Yes, we are near the back of the pack but remember most people did not do
the double metric ride and spend as much time as we did at the lunch stop.
And the other truth is .... I bonked a bit.  Too much excitement at lunch!

I turned 50 last month and started riding seriously 4 years ago.  I'm also
in the throes of menopause!  I learn something new with every ride I
complete.  My goal for the DEATHRIDE is 3 passes .... but I'll ride until
they pull me off the course.

I really believe cycling is the best sport for women my age.


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From: Susan Otcenas 
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2001 11:57 AM
To: womens-cycling@teamestrogen.com
Subject: [WCDL] Hi Everyone


[message forwarded to list by susan@teamestrogen.com]

Rita Gremillion
Hi everyone.  Just discovered this website/chat room and have thoroughly
enjoyed reading all your letters and comments.  I'm new to cycling and have
recently purchased my first road bike.  I bought it through a website on the
internet (roadbikereview.com).  I spent much time splitting hairs over the
sizing and was rewarded with a bike that fits perfectly.  The previous owner
and I are exactly the same height, weight and inseam.  The only change was
the addition of a Terry saddle.  This is my first racing bike and what an
eye-opener, fast and light.   My first ride was 30 miles in what turned out
to be a cold, rainy afternoon.  I'm up to about 40 miles now and feel I'm on
track to do our local MS 150 in about three months.  Previous messages at
this site referred to the problem of small hands and STI type shifter/brake
levers.  I have this problem.  Does anybody have suggestions?  Not shifting
just doesn't work.      Thanks, Rita



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From: Deanna Sanderson Helsten 
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2001 9:41 AM
To: Susan Otcenas; womens-cycling@teamestrogen.com
Subject: RE: [WCDL] Hi Everyone


I am thinking I have the same "small hands" problem.  I am anxious to hear
what anyone has to say on this issue.

Deanna



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From: Bridgett Backer 
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2001 1:02 PM
To: womens-cycling@teamestrogen.com
Subject: [WCDL] Alaska Update and a question


My trip to Alaska has been wonderful.  I am so glad I brought my bike.  We
have had many adventures together.  I went with a friend on a 26 mi. ride
around Eklutna Lake (north of Anchorage).  The water was the color of
turquoise.  The trail starts out at the parking lot runs along either a dirt
road or a single track, just depends on what a rider wants to do.  The
single track stayed low and followed the lakeshore, which is what we did.
The trail had just been re-opened a week earlier because debris from a huge
avalanche had not been cleared yet.  That was quite impressive.

I have also been doing a lot of riding along the Coastal trail, too.
Another riding trip I took was on a new paved trail along the road to Hope
(south of Anchorage, along the Seward Highway).   I rode for the first time
with the WOMBATS.  They were a very nice group of riders of all skill
levels.  There was not a competitive atmosphere, which was nice.  The
weather could not have been better.  It was warm enough to strip of the
leggings and take off the fleece and ride in shorts and short sleeves.  Yet
there was still snow low on the mountains.  We saw a moose, porcupine and a
beaver.  The trail itself was up and down.  Felt like mainly up on the way
back though.

Hopefully, I will get in another good ride before I leave.

As I was hauling myself up all these hills, I decided I wanted to lighten
the weight up my bike.  Where should I start?  When I was packing up my bike
to bring up here, I noticed that the frame itself was very light.    Would
just changing out the rims work?  Is there anything else I should look at
when trying to lighten the weight of my bike?

Thanks,

Bridgett



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From: Sadle Bred
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2001 1:13 PM
To: womens-cycling@teamestrogen.com
Subject: Re: [WCDL] Alaska Update and a question


Bridgett (and all),

The easiest and cheapest way to lighten the bike is to lighten ourselves :)
I know, I could lighten myself by about 10 pounds.

Depending on the quality of your mountain bike, it might be cheaper in the
long run to save up for a more expensive bike with lighter components. If
you have a $500 bike, it would be adventageous to save and buy a lighter
bike. If you have a $1000+ bike or if your mtb has LX and above components,
you might want to consider the following cheap upgrades (most under $100):
1. XT bottom bracket (lower end bottom brackets are very heavy)
2. Lighter crankset (go with the LX or a Truvativ is your BB is splined)
3. Lighter seatpost
4. Lighter cassette (XT or XTR)

If you have the money, consider:
1. Lighter fork
2. Light Wheelset. Keep in mind that a nice, really light race quality
wheelset will probably set you back a minimum of $300 and upwards of $500 is
not uncommon.

I've never ridden in Alaska, but it sounds lovely! It was nice to hear about
your rides!

Trish


Trish Albert
Starlite Farm and Southeastern Cycling On-Line
http://www.geocities.com/sadlebred
Life is Boring Without Risk...Live on the Edge!
Team Peggy-Ride Like A Girl!

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From: Julie Johnston 
Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2001 11:46 AM
To: womens-cycling@teamestrogen.com
Subject: [WCDL] Tandem Decoration


Hi there.  I'm getting married in September, and thought it would be nice if
I could find something cycling/tandem related as a cake topper.  Does anyone
have any recommendations for a cake topper, and where I could purchase the
topper?



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From: Julie Wagner 
Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2001 11:21 AM
To: 'womens-cycling@teamestrogen.com'
Subject: [WCDL] Other Women Mountain Bikers in Los Angeles





Looking for women to ride with in the Los Angeles area.  Can't find any
clubs or organizations which can assist (in this area anyway).  Let me know
if you have organization info or????





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From: Angie 
Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2001 11:27 AM
To: womens-cycling@teamestrogen.com
Subject: Re: [WCDL] Other Women Mountain Bikers in Los Angeles


check out this site..maybe there's something here

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From: Karen Kinnicutt 
Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2001 3:13 PM
To: womens-cycling@teamestrogen.com
Subject: Re: [WCDL] Other Women Mountain Bikers in Los Angeles


Hi,I'm Karen.Iam new to Team Estrogen,Mountian
Biking,and computers,so please bear with me.I am also
road riding.I'm up to 20 miles a ride.My goal is 50-65
miles on the road and 15 miles mtbing.I've recently
lost 50 LBS from riding. I used to ride all the time,I
haven't riden in like 4 years,no wonder I got Fat.I
have a horse and the wieght was making it hard to ride
him to,so I don't canter,but I am doing better since i
lost the LBS.My goal is to canter Pepper this
summer.Iused to ride my bike with my dobermans.Rosie
is going on 10 so she can only go about 7 miles.My new
boyz are not yet biking I'm trianing them now so we
can mtbing this fall.If you don't have anybody to ride
with a good dog with athletic abiltys can keep you in
safe company and they love it.I ride with my hubby we
will call him HILL HAPPY as he lives for the HILLS. So
as you vcan guess I need all the advice climbing hills
ican get,help!!!I am doing intervals on my bike
trianer it has helped a lot.But I am at a plateau.Well
by for now. 

 PS If you need any
help in trianing your dogs to bike let me know.


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