Crit Training
I had a great ride today. I prefaced the ride by taking my rear wheel to get trued at Bicycle Emporium here in Auburn. I was told they wouldn't be able to get it back to me until Monday, but when I said I would just bring it in another time when they weren't backed up they went ahead and did a quick true on it to get me by. When he finished, Bubba told me it was no charge and that since they had so many miles on them, I should consider replacing the wheels because they were true now, but may need to be trued a lot more frequently in the near future because they've got so much time on them. I wish I could afford a new wheelset, but that just is not my reality right now. I need new shifter/brake levers as well and those would come before wheels anyway. Not that either of those are anywhere in the near future.
I was pretty well hydrated and fueled before the ride. I did, however mix and consume one packet of Hornet Juice before going out. I took one bottle of plain water and one with a lime Motor Tabs tablet in it. I chose to ride from home up Hwy 49/Grass Valley Hwy to Old Town Auburn and ride the loop I'll be doing on my criterium in May. It's a nice route, just under a mile and it starts with a 100 foot climb then a turn of almost 180 degrees for another slight graded climb of much less and a sweet killer descent back to the starting point. The course has mostly right turns with one left. All the turns are sharp, and none of them are on flats. I did 6 or 7 passes on the course to get a feel for the terrain and road textures. By the time I get to the top of the climb it always feels as though I have given all I've got, but somehow by the time I get back around to the start of it, I am able to dig and start again.
After that I headed home, deciding to try a few surface streets and see a bit of the residential part of Old Town Auburn. To my surprise I found myself spinning my way up a >21% grade for what seemed like a mile but was really only a couple hundred yards. Then I worked my way home not doing too much else except for a couple more good hidden climbs through back lots, etc. that keep me out of the heavy traffic.
It was the first day in a long while that I've been able to go out in just a short sleeve full kit with no leg or arm warmers.
I am riding for Skullcandy Racing this year, but my races provide me a platform to do fund-raising for Athletes for a Cure as well since there is no conflict of interest.