Adventures of the Northwest

Riding the Lemond like there's no gearing...

Sunday I went for one of Gary's rides. It left Marymoor and went over through Redmond, down to Carnation and then up the Issaquah plateau, through Sammamish and then back to Marymoor. We climbed Novelty Hill, Union Hill, Ames Lake Road then dropped into Carnation. At first I wanted to ride Novelty Hill as if I was on Milly. I slammed the gears into the proper 'simulating gears' and started out. It kept getting harder and harder and I didn't see the hill coming to an end. I decided I had enough and I would go to granny. So I made it up about a 1/3 of the way to the first light then I slammed it back up and did about another 1/4 of it to the light. So I did about 1/2 of it. I didn't do much more of that... I was tired.... I stayed in granny or close to it to the most part until we were done.

There were areas I jammed going 20+ and 34+ on flats, slight declines and such. It felt good... I felt strong, invigorated and had fun!!! :) I didn't feel cold as I was trying the new warming cream - greyhound juice - and was loving it. As we were heading towards Carnation, I decided I would tackle the hill out of the "Nestle valley". I was even excited that the hill coming away from Nestle and going into
Carnation - I did in my big ring in the front and 2nd to 3rd from the biggest in the back and still going 11 mph. That is the best I have ever done that. I remember a few years ago I could barely do that hill in granny. :) I am DEFINITELY getting stronger. Then we left the Starbuck's/QFC in Carnation and went up the Issaquah-Fall City Road to climb up the plateau. That was exhilirating. It was a bit tiring and I felt really hot as all of a sudden with the 'spitting' we got it felt 'humid'. UGH! But I kept pushing harder and harder as hard as I could to get me up. My heart rate was 180-185. I backed off a bit and then would push a bit harder again and kept repeating until I got up the dang thing. We then were in Sammamish and it was a bit more flat and then a decent descent down to the water. It was great. When I got back to the park I had 46.23 miles with a 15.2 average! AWESOME speed for me on such a 'hilly' route. :) WOOHOOO!!! It just keeps getting better... it's like a drug. oh yeah!!! :)

So perhaps riding the Lemond like there was no gearing helped a bit but it was tough. Thank goodness for SOME gearing on rides like that. However, I would love to do some tough ride like that on a fixed gear. Hell yeah! Wouldn't that be sweet to do in a year?! To just take it the way it is and work my way up all those hills? SWEET!

Oh... then in Fall City area we were talking about my bike.... Milly. Louise stated she names her bikes 'male' bikes. I told the people around hey now... that means NOTHING about my sexuality. Otherwise, I could... then I realized... heck ya.... I could start calling my Titanium Vin Diesel. HELL YEAH!!!! ;) Sleek, strong, bold, attractive... hmmmmm Vin Diesel between my legs... what more could a woman ask for?! LOL!!! :)

We also all went to dinner at the Pizza Time restaurant. It was a fun time! :) I really enjoy hanging out on a social level with the riders. :) What a way to end the weekend.

posted by Seattlebiker @ 4:41 PM