1/24/2009 – Apiary Double Circuit

This is always a team favorite. The double has all those great climbs and surfacing challenges. It really is becoming a Classic but — “Don’t bring your race wheels” ! This time we spiced it up with a 3 mile gravel stretch down on the flats that usually only offer broken, cobbled pavement that can rip your bike in half. We had another good turnout, nice job to all of those training diligently. Oh, and Ryan flatted.

1/17 – 1/18/2009 – Cherry Pie and Headquarters

Our recon of Cherry Pie included Lance, Matthew, Chad, Ryan, Nick and Me. The weather turned out for us – we can only hope for similar on race day. Alternatively we could hope for rain, because that’s what tough guys do.  The course looked like it had just been paved, and there did not appear to be any winter damage to the roads. Good ride, but long day.

Headquarters was equally as uneventful until Matthew decided he would go cyclocross on us and consequently ripped his rear derailleur. Bummer for our dear Matthew, hopefully he can get it sorted out before the Pie. In hindsight, I think we should start to track Ryan’s flat tires.

1/10 – 1/11/2009 Dairy Creek and Brothers

Short post here. Dairy Creek was Chad, Richard, Matthew, Nick, and Jason. Great to see the Jaybird out for a fly. I actually thought this was a great route, thanks Matthew. We saw a couple other big groups out there but resisted the temptation to track them down and.

Brothers was a great idea by Mike, to finally ride South of the Lewis and Clark River without detours and route changes. Best Intentions. As far as I’m concerned that part of the world offers some of the best in road cycling, but there are so many options we invariably get crossed up. This time it was my doing, and the group split early. Luckily there were 9 of us, great turnout, so we all had friends along for the ride. Most did “Brothers”, the four of us did a mixed bag and three climbed Shirly Gorden for the finale. Its still steep, I about fell off my bike.

1/1/2009 – The Poseidon Adventure

 

Happy New Year. This may have been the rainiest ride ever. And it was definitely the windiest. The weather man delivered on 40 – 50 mph gusts and at points there was a driving headwind for extended stretches. Effectively we climbed for the whole ride. In reality we covered almost 5000′ of gain – see the post in the Ride Library. We owed Nick on a snowed – out Clackamas Classic and have made good. Good Luck to the rest of the Masters 40+ field if this is Nicks’ standard training route.

12/13/08 – Mary’s Corner

We managed. Not the fastest pace or the big climbs. But it WAS freezing and 70 miles is 70 miles.  At 25 miles we dropped in at the local yocal mini stop for a hot cocoa before leaving Toledo. From there the weather became rougher. The snow had accumulated onthe roads North to Mary’s Corner and the slush provided a great icey powerwash from passing trucks. After we finally turned South the reality that we were only halfway became more. How about that headwind for the final 30 miles! Nick says “character builder”. I imagine we’ll all be strong on the character scale before this is over…. does this add to last years’ character or did we start over?

12/06/08 – Bull Run

Ryan, Lance, and myself made it down south to hack off the Bull Run ride with Chad, Nick, and Shawn. The weather was stellar, and traffic not as bad as I was braced for. Good route by Chad, and remarkably many of the roads were familar from past rides with Nick, Mike Manning, and others. I can’t say that I saw what Bull Run was named for — a reservoir I think, but a ride worth the trip. Thanks Chad!

Winter Training Guidelines

Hello Fellow Three Rivers Racers,

As your new teammate/coach I am looking forward to providing you with training advice that will elevate your game to new heights. Over the next few months, this column will be your pipeline to training success. The real success lies in your commitment to training and racing. But it all starts with desire. If you want it badly enough, you will amaze yourself as well as others with your success. Being  a successful racing cyclist takes discipline. Every day you should give some thought to the achievement of your goals. And goals should be stated clearly and concisely with a finite timeline. This is your road map to success. Now you need the dedication to stick to your plan until you can measure your successes in terms of enjoyment. The team is already headed for success due to the right attitude and spirit, and a training plan that makes sense. Now I will do my best to provide you with any missing elements that you may need. Look for my messages every two weeks. See you on the road.

11/22/2008 – Yacolt Mountain

Of course this route never comes out just as planned. Matthew, Chad and guest, and Nick made the trip from Portland, joining the Longview regulars. We were in smaller groups all day, as this route has so many little hills, crazy turns, and getaways. Maybe we could have kept it a bit tighter, but all in all a good ride — about 57 miles all told. How about that Pup Creek bit at the end? Geez.

11/15/2008 – Wildwood w/Hale Road

This was one of my best rides in memory. Nick and Mike M. came up from the P-Crowd and rounded out a solid group of 7. In the end it was 71 miles after tacking on (although it was planned all along) the 5-mile Hale Road extension. I asked the road captain whether we should do it and he said something to the effect of “why not spoil an otherwise great ride” — I took that as an affirmative. The weather was spectacular and some great socializing afterward.

This route is now to be the official “Wildwood” route, and is found under the new Ride Library link – to the right of this entry — Cheers.

11/8/2008 — Italian Creek to China Garden

Highpoints:

Rainy and Windy with a decent turnout. Chad made it up from Portland and witnessed the evil that is Mike’s Hill. But before we ever got there Mike “The Horse” Vanhoose ripped his crankarm off…. needless to say the “Battlecruiser”, as he calls it, is sunk for now. What a monster!