"Let me tell you what I think about bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel.. the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood." ~ Susan B. Anthony

Monday, August 29, 2011

The Nguyen Van Linh boys....

finally found this YouTube link.  Park took this video with a helmet camera about a year ago...  especially watch about 4:34 and again at 9:15....

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Flats, Falling out, Fat and Feelings of Failure

Yes, I am hard on myself.  But I am beyond frustrated!

For the last month, I have flatted nearly every ride.  I have gone through two tubulars, and several tubes and two bike remain 'unrideable'.  today was NO different!

Oh....  so pissed!  Saturday mornings are humilating enough.  I get a GOOD warm up before I meet the boys at the bridge.  The Dane & Dutch seem to come regularily now.  They seem to push the speed a little higher then Alex and I have yet to 'stick' for a reasonable amount of time.  Today's strategy was to get in the front 1/3 of the pack before it speeds up.  This way I can speed gradually rather then have them come from behind me and fail to get on.  They ride super slow out past the red bridge intersection.  We pick up Saigon Velo and Tu Probike clubs.  Once they join and we go to the main road, the attacks start.  I gain speed with the pack, but there isn't a pack, it is a very long line... I try and try to catch a wheel, but continuously fail.  I manage to hold onto the back for a bit, and through scarey intersection.  A group of6 or 7 start to fall out.  I am already going 49 and solo... no wheel, but try to get on to the group of riders that didn't give up.  I catch the back of their wheel and after the red bridge and through the toll booth,

POP!

I was SO mad!  SO SO SO MAD!  The boys were out of my reach by then, but I never stop trying!

Well, because I have high rimmed wheels, I have to have either a tube extender OR extra long nozzled tubes.  I have NEITHER with me as we have NO extra long nozzles (wonder how many times I ask for these but reassurred we don't need them) and of course, our extender is broken....

I am SCREWED!

Its a long walk home, a solid 10km.  I guess the beauty of our small riding area is I am at most 15km from home.  I cross the Nguyen Van Linh and have banked a whopping 19km!  Hey!

Thanks to the awesome guys, many stopped to see if I was okay.  I shoo'd them away as I know the riding is bad and, I knew this could happen, just get a taxi, go home.

Eventually, one guy stopped.  He INSISTED to try...  he flagged down several others... between the efforts of three, and someone who had the correct tube, I got my flat changed!

THANK YOU!  I proceed to finish my 90km ride.

Average speed was quite slow as it accounted for 15 minutes of walking my bike.  When I took that out of the equation, it wasn't horrible, but all of a sudden Gjermund got faster.  Great for him, but being an expat wife...  he's got the life... I am the wife!  My career is...  well, NOT flourishing... cycling was the ONE thing I had.... 

I have to figure out how to stay int eh group (or the scattered line when it speeds beyond 50).... 

Coming home from break, I stepped ont he scale, a whopping 135pounds!  OMG, I haven't been this heavy for YEARS...  (62kg).  Those damn pills I have to take to keep my period under control seem to want to keep me plump!

So, I am really frustrated.  I need some encouragement... and liquid isn't the kind I am after.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Cycling in the US...

I now have two bikes here with me... the MASI


and the OPERA w/ Easton EC 90's. One at our Canal House, the other at our Beaverton house.





 Of course, my two Cervelos at home in Vietnam w/ my Colnago upstairs for 'indoor' training....

It been amazing riding.... yesterday 80km down the 101 into Shelton.  There are plenty of places to let it out and do some intervals, catch you breath... and on the MASI  - the heaviest bike of the fleet.... thrilled to lug it around... hoping some strength is building.

Riding in ORegon is also just amazing.  Though still riding alone, occasionally I do find a ride and try to out climb (thus far.... 100% success) or suck some wheel, but the really 'good' riders seem to be going in the other direction.  Perhaps I should turn around and try to catch?  Maybe tomorrow..... 

Its been an upsetting/busy homeleave. 

I return to Vietnam next week....PTA waits for me... president again... and I am EXHAUSTED and we haven't started... I have no idea how I will pull it together for next year.