When a team mate called Saturday’s ride “Springer’s House of Pain” I knew I was in for it.
The ride was slated to be 70 miles, and out and back over Clapshaw and up Timber Road. In case you are unaware, Clapshaw involves climbing, lots of climbing. Timber also involves climbing, and of course, riding with the PV team involves lots of speed and testosterone, to round things out.
About 35 people showed up for the ride, that sunny Saturday morning. Everyone was eager for a long, hard ride, as our team had not ridden together in a while, due to racing. I was feeling a little stiff, but figured I could hang in there. We were supposed to ride out at a “civil” pace to Clapshaw, but once my group got held up at a red light on Evergreen, a few people decided to catch up by leading us at 25mph few miles. Not such a great way to warm up.
When we hit Clapshaw, the group immediately got split up, and I flew out the back. I laughed and remembered before Banana Belt how bad I always considered myself at riding hills. Now I see why: its because all these guys are awesome at hills! By the time we reached the top of Clapshaw I was feeling it. And we were only 25 miles in the ride. Crap.
10 miles out on Timber, mostly uphill/rolling; I found a group who were taking a bit slower then mach 10, so I hung with them. I was a bit frustrated, because I wanted so badly to show off my fitness, to hang with the big boys. But we’re talking about Cat 3 riders. With something to prove, and I wasn’t feeling the top of my game. We made it out, we made it back, and rejoined the group back at the beginning of Timber. We rode up the back side of Clapshaw which was ungodly steep, and by then I was crying a little inside, my legs hurt so bad.
We were hit with a ferocious head wind on our return trip, making each pedal stroke a battle. In a big pack like that I was ok, but once I got slapped with a face full of wind, I seemed to find myself pedaling backwards. At some point in pure exhaustion I got shelled off the back with a few other riders, all pretty much ready to give up. At one point I found myself dropping the other riders, even though I was going about 12mph into the wind. It was a complete battle, but I told myself if I could just keep pedaling, at whatever speed, I would be ok. And of course, I was.
I didn’t get as whoozy as I often do on longer rides, which I attribute to eating more: I had 1.5 bottles of water + 1 bottle of electrolyte drink I bought at the Timber store, plus a Clif shot and a Clif bar. Even still by the end I felt like I could have maybe had a bit more.
A few guys in my area decided to get together on Sunday as well, slated to be a 100-miler. I did not want to ride that far, especially since its been raining today and I am pretty tired from Timber. They were going to make a 40 mile loop then go out for another 60, so we could bail halfway through. It was a seriously soggy ride out to Lake Oswego/West Linn, I remember the moment when my wool socks were finally completely soaked through. I busted out the Miyata for this one, remembering just how much I love that steel beauty. I actually felt a lot better then I thought I would, even on the climbs, and thankfully we kept the pace pretty mellow. We ended up cutting it short to about 35 miles, which I can’t say I was sad about. 
