Windy day builds endurance and strength. No records set

Endomondo Cycling Workout: was out cycling 22.82 miles in 1h:54m:28s using Endomondo.


Very windy 20mph, 77 degrees,  Rode with Carol. Rienstra.  Told myself I am building endurance and strength when I was struggling to get my speed over 10mph. 

Week 2- 125 mile this week 789 to go and first flat tire

Yeh the weather was much more pleasant this week and I was able to get in some longer rides.
 Monday was a great day and I biked 26 miles.
On Tuesday I thought I would beat the rain but in less than 3 miles into it, it started to rain.  I stopped under a bridge twice and stopped at a MacDonals once hoping it would stop. I finally "sucked it up" and pushed hard to ride home and finished the 27 miles with iced cold toes, had not thought to put on my bike booties. Next time will remember, but I hope will need them in the future. 
Friday and Saturday were beautiful sunny days. I rode 39 miles from Hope in Holland to Calvin in Grand Rapids, riding the planned route with Phil and Jan Quist. We found some areas that needed tweaking so Phil is revising the route a little.  On Saturday I rode 33 miles with Dale Mowry, riding part of the route we are planning to ride on May 18th as a fun(draiser training ride).

I had my fiirst flat tire for the season.  Dale, the kind gentleman he was, took out his camera and videotaped me changing the tire. He did help take it off and put it back on as it was the back tire which I always find a little harder to put back on. A kind neighbor came over to see if we needed any help , but I was in pretty well done by then.
 
You can watch this at https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=447790835310830

I found what made the tire go flat so I would not get another one soon. 

Dale tells me he does not carry a spare tire or pump.  He calls 911, his wife or has a kind stranger take him home.

Funny I can't imagine riding without a spare tube and pump. These are always on my bike as I am often out in the country somewhere and would hate to get stuck out there, depending on some else to come to my aid. A little scary thought, being a woman, but I have been fortunate thus far.

Reminds me of the need to check my tires everytime  I go out to ensure my tires do not have something stuck on that might work into making a tire flat.  On the 2008 bike ride, John VanderSteen (who did not have a flat)  was very particular with his bike everynight and would take air out of his tires to check them to ensure there was not something stuck on the tires that would work in to make a flat. Maybe I should have double checked after riding in the rain on Tuesday. I recalled we had twice as many flats on both 2005 and 2008 bike tours when it rained as things stuck and work into tires on wet roads. 

Weather for the next week looks very promising for some good riding.

Please pray that all the riders trainging for the Sea to Sea continue to be safe, have no injuries, are able to get in their training miles so they are ready for an adventure of a life time.

Endomondo Cycling Workout

Endomondo Cycling Workout: was out cycling 32.89 miles in 2h:29m:46s using Endomondo.

Week 1 of training 77 of 1000 miles in- nine weeks till start of ride

As I write this blog I note the temperature is 25 degrees early this Sunday morning. The weather this past week has not been conducive to great training rides.  Sunday to Wenesday the weather was a little reasonable with temperatures between 40-65 degrees and some sun. Late Wednesday it started raining in buckets into Thursday when we had 3.5 inches of rain in 24 hours. Grand Rapids area has record high water levels and many roads are closed due to flooding. On Friday we again had rain which turned into snow.  Ugh. Tired of the cold and snow. When will spring weather arrive? Saturday morning it was 30 degrees overcast skies  but we had no precipation. I told myself if it gets above 40 I will get out to ride, but it stayed at 38 degrees with strong cold winds. I could not convince myself to get out to ride in the cold and wind. I had managed to get in 77miles of riding in between Sunday to Wednesday. My goal for the week was to get in 100 miles.  Each ride was challenging as there were strong head winds that made me really work hard.  My average speed went from 11mph to 12 to 13 back down to 11.7mph. This is a far cry from my 14.5-15 mph I was doing last fall. 

My fund raising has gone well and I am very thankful and appreciative of all the people who have donated to Sea to Sea. I am working on helping others in my church (Church of the Servant) to meet their fund raising goal.  We are planning an area fund raising ride on May 18th and inviting people to join West Michigan Sea to Sea cyclists on one of their training rides either for 5, 15, 25, 40 or 60 miles.  We are providing snacks and support along the route and have lunch planned from 12-2 at East Paris Nature Park in Kentwood for time of sharing and meeting fellow riders.  We are looking forward to warmer, sunnier weather, but know we may have to ride in the rain  to get all our training miles in before June 24th 2013.

This week  staff at World Renew held a prayer time for Sea To Sea 2013.  The following were prayer requests:

• cyclists as they train and put in 1000 miles that they are safe and not injured, gain strength and endurance over the next 9 weeks in order to handle the challenges of each day’s ride .
• That all cyclists are able to achieve or exceed their fund raising goal.
• Additional people are lead to cycle a segment or two as we still have capacity for others to join,
• For the planning currently being undertaken for worship and Celebration events planned along the route.
• For staff who are feeling the pressure of many tasks still to be completed and praying everything is in place and in order when needed.
• For logistics to ensure a safe and enjoyable ride for everyone participating.
• Thankfulness for all the volunteers who have signed up to provide support for the tour.
• Praise and thanksgiving for the Spiritual Support committee who worked and completed the daily devotional for the tour.
• Thanks for praying for Sea to Sea. We pray it may be a blessing to all who participate but also to the agencies and the people they serve.

 If you are reading this blog will you join us in these prayers. We know that the Lord works and there is tremendous power in prayer.

 

 

 

Will I bike when it rains?

Rain Rain Rain. I know the farmers are loving the rain as the soil has been very dry in the last couple of summers, but for someone who is looking to get outside to start some serious training it is not a joy to see it rain everyday. April showers bring May flowers they say and we should be thankful, but Lord we could use some sunshine and dry days too.  I am trying not to be anxious, but with the weeks starting to count down, it will be more challening to get in the necessary training miles. My back up option is to do the bike spin classes at the gym which help with some conditioning, but does not really replace riding outside with the wind and hills. It is April 13.  9 weeks from today I will probably start my drive out to California for the start of the Sea to Sea tour in Newport Beach.  I hope to put in 1000 miles by then.

While I was laying in my soft warm bed hearing the rain, I was contemplating our bike ride this summer and wondering how much rain we might have.I thought of myself lying in my cool tent, on the hard ground, hearing the rain, wondering whether it would still be raining in the morning riding in the rain.  Not a good thought.  I had to remind myself, not to worry today, but to take one day at a time and to enjoy whatever God brought me today. I could worry and fret, but that does not change what the weather is doing outside. I could only change how I viewed my circumstances and control how it affected my attitude and feelings. Maybe not today because it is 36 degrees, but soon I will put on my bike clothes including a rain jacket, get out and bike in the rain because the Lord has brought that to nourish the earth and the farmers and the ground need it.
So Claire get ready to suck it up, get tough, get out and enjoy each day as God has given it.

This week I celebrated my 65th birthday, I am blessed with good health.  How many people do I know who at this age are preparing to bike across the continent for the 3rd time. Not many. Rejoice and be glad in this day. The Lord is good and gracious. Do not worry, trust the Lord.