Determined fun in Santa Rosa on a bike....

As the eve of my vacation draws near....

I find myself laying in bed, eyes wide open. The wonderful smell of the roast I am cooking for my boys fills the house. They are beef eaters and love sandwiches, so there you go. I decide to make my way to the warmth of the kitchen and its fantastic smells. Yeah its two in the morning. Oh well, a price will be paid later.

Part of me is excited to start this vacation, and rush the day I've been waiting since signing up for the Fondo in mid January. The day I can remember so well with a rousing, "Hells yeah, Im doing the Fondo."
This year is epic with the amount of cyclists doing it this year. Ten thousand is a cool thing indeed.
The anticipation of the difficulty of Kings Ridge Road and that of Coleman Valley Road have me mesmerized and pensive with thoughts of... Did I train enough? Were the hills we trained on sufficient? Of course training on weekends is not nearly enough, but my heart makes up for the rest. You see, to know who I am is to know that it takes a massive reason for me to give up. It just isn't in my make up of who I am.

I will chronicle every detail, in memory and that of what I can take with my camera. Looking forward to riding massive hills and enjoying the decents those climbs bring to a sure smile I will have. Breathless, breathing that follows a resounding, "shit, I made it!, and yeh, Im not embarrassed to give a little dance at the top.

I expect a cheerful laugh with me. That's who I am, believe it or not.
This is expectation at its best. Levi Leipheimer's King Ridge Gran Fondo will surely take my breath away many times, and a smile will be on my lips all day even as I suffer.

Daring yourself ....

Uncertainty is huge... I'd like to say Im a planner... As it Is I am gearing up for a few great rides this weekend. These rides will surely prove whatever tenacity I have or bust my ass doing so. Last weekend, I was sure disappointed in my ability not to finish my whole ride last week, despite the blazing heat of last weekend. I had to finally concede to 102 degree heat that was literally draining all of my energy at every pedal stroke I took. All I could think was, "Im not gonna have enough water to make the nine mile trek up Glendora Mountain Road, geez, and little to no shade to boot." Dang it, will I make it to the next tree... and its not to pee, lol! Besides I couldn't, I know I know, TMI. My pride was taking slap in the face.... as I kept getting waves of the chills with goosebumps on my arms. Scary for sure....
Note to self: drink like a horse days before, not the day of... I actually should have had at least a bottle for each hour out there.

Of course my good friends encouraged me in that I did the right thing. Thanks Ron for encouraging words indeed. So as the weekends eve is now here and an epic ride is near. I am doubting myself as weakness sure plays with the mind. I intend to do what I do and just try my very best.

The ride I will do next will take us 90 miles though beautiful canyons and neighboring cities with nothing but hills. My phone gps will run out of juice before my ride will, but I hope to charge up wherever I can.
We begin in the city of Irvine and make our way towards Santiago Canyon via Jamboree to Santiago Canyon Rd, then we head not on Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, Ortega Hwy, San Juan Capistrano and down to San Clemente. It is a ride that takes my breath away at times. On the return, we will head up PCH to Dana Point, and nothing but crazy hills through Laguna Niguel to Laguna Canyon. I know I will be spent as all heck, but loving each spin of my pedal and the sun on my face.

As the Fondo approaches... each week on the bike, the harder I have to try....
The goal is to finish with a smile... as I always do.