April 2006 in Review April 30, 2006
Posted by Amber D. Evans in : Assessments, Chico CA, Training Stats , 8 commentsWhat I’ve done between the 1st and the end of the month.
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I rocked that ride! Boo-yah!
Posted by Amber D. Evans in : Cycling, Assessments, Chico CA, Training Stats , 7 commentsI am a rockstar, baby! I did it! I did it well! Damn well, I say. I just finished the Mildflower! My first metric century of 65 miles (with 1,900′ elevation gain). Boo-yah! Go me! Go me! Go-go-go me! I am soooooo ridiculously psyched-up I can’t even begin to explain it. This is the most accomplished I have felt in such a long while. I’m just so darn HAPPY! Ha, ha!
I should be exhausted, but I’m not (yet). I’m so amped up! It was a worthwhile ride, that’s for sure. Including breaks at the rest stops, the whole 65 miles took me a total time of 5 hours, 4 minutes, and 25 seconds to cross the finish line. As far as actual riding goes, I completed the 65 miles in only 4 hours, 4 minutes, and 17 seconds! Isn’t that awesome? That’s an average of 16 mph which I think is really great considering there’s this “hill” (called Honey Run) which I went up at between 6-9mph. Of course, there’s also the downhill stretch which topped out at 39.0 mph–so freaky! Honey Run was da’ bomb for me! I passed 120+ people (by the midpoint) going up that thing and I NEVER STOPPED ONCE! (I passed a handful of the Chico Women’s Tri group members, too.) I just kept my cadence steady and my breathing controlled as I cruised up that thing. For a while during the ascent, I was even riding with a fast pack of guys. The best part was that I still had plenty of energy after climbing it. It was a total rush for me!
And the food! Oh, the food! Food, food, yummy food! If I wasn’t so adrenalized, I would’ve eaten more! There were delicious muffins, struedels, coffee cakes, cookies, fruits, and lots of juice and water! Even sandwiches! It was unreal!
The weather was terrific, although there was the horrible (yet expected) headwind all through Durham, Ord Bend, and on River Rd. It was everything I could do to keep my speed above 12 mph at times! I felt like I was a kite! Ha, ha! Thank goodness for big, beefy guys who ride; they make terrific windblocks and make drafting that much better. 
I only felt “pain” in the last 10 miles. My sit-bones were really starting to complain and although they’re feeling a little tender right now, I know they’ll be just fine in a day or two. I am also now the proud wearer of a hilarious looking sunburn/tan where my hands are white between the knuckles and my wrist with my Farmer John arms and legs to complete the look. Grrrrowl! “Sexy!”
Overall, it’s quite possibly one of the best things I’ve ever experienced and am already looking forward to the next one like it! W00t!
Added 5/1/06: Dude, is it possible to eat so much you’ll explode? I have never been so hungry in my entire life (not even after swimming)! Once I was done and showered after the ride, I was so hungry. I never stopped eating. I literally ate from 2 PM until 8 PM. Even this morning, I’ve already downed two bananas, 1 cup of Kashi GoLean cereal, two pieces of whole wheat toast–piled w/vegan butter and jelly, ha, ha–16 fl. oz of orange juice an ice cream cone–a weird craving, I know–and I’m still hungry. It’s only 9:21 AM.
Oh, and for some good laughs which also rang true in so many ways, read “The Ten Milestones of a Century Ride.” (And for the record, “Yes, I wore the support-my-hometown-brewery Sierra Nevada team jersey with the “flattering, sexy” short cycling shorts which I layed out the night before my sleepless, giddy night.” 
Another bug party in the mountains. April 28, 2006
Posted by Amber D. Evans in : Cycling, Chico CA, Training Stats , add a commentSo, went cycling again in the evening. Bugs galore. Another hot day starting with the jersey zipper 1/2 the way down. Guess that’s the invite for another bug party in the mountains. Well, at least they looked like they were having fun. Of course, I wasn’t enjoying it quite as much. (Upon fishing most of them out, I zipped up and finished the ride in perspiration.) At least I enjoyed the ride with sunglasses this time ’round! (I can see! It’s so much better when I can see!)