D.N.H.
“Competition is painful and wonderful and insane and ugly and beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Forget magazines and how-to books. The fastest, best way to get in touch with pure physical exhilaration and hardship of this sport is to race. The fastest way to go faster is to race.” - Dan Koeppel
D.N.H. -That means “Did Not Hang”.
I had felt strong after last week’s efforts at STP, so I thought I’d give Hammer and Nails a try; Portland Velo’s A+ group of racers. Described as “Sometimes you’re the Hammer, Sometimes you’re the Nail” the ride from my perspective was much like my first race. Do all you can to stay with the group; no matter what.
I kept up for sixteen miles until the first climb at Cedar Canyon. The climb is only a quarter mile long at maybe an 6-8% grade, however the pace was a little much. As I geared down and lead up the climb, I actually thought there was a car back; only to discover it was the whoosh-whoosh of everybody’s wheel getting ready to pass. I yielded and that was the end of the group ride for me.
“I have a map,” was all I could think of at the time.
Then, “You’re not gonna make up any time on these guys. Keep your pace and you’ll still finish strong. Keep this rhythm.”
It felt like March again. Being last up the hill. It felt like my first race again. Getting lapped by the field. Struggling. And I’m glad. When I used to play guitar, we’d call intense practice “Woodshedding”; locking yourself up in the wood shed to work on scales, timing, technique.
It’s been some time since I’ve had an hour or two with Carmichael’s DVD’s. It’s time to wood shed yet again. Intervals, climbing repeats, hill accelerations.
Then hit PIR in a couple weeks to go race.
That was a great ride. Thanks to all.
* Ave Speed 19.3 mph
* Time 2:10:06
* Distance 41.90 miles
* Elevation Gain 1,832 ft
