"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, January 30, 2012

Riding should be quiet....

We took our bikes to Mui Ne for a 6 day vacation.  Gjermund was quite sick with food poisoning...it took him 3 days to recover and I am not completely convinced he's even recovered now!

Sunday I typically ride long.  So, arriving on a Saturday kept me on schedule!  I planned out a great ride, riding north along the coast turning around then a few laps of the upper road.

My bottom bracket was a bit noisy a few weeks ago.  I INTENDED to get it pulled apart, cleaned, greased, and ready to go.... but I didn't.  I had a LOT of work, house work, kids, blah, blah, blah... Also, the noise seems to have disappeared. Or....maybe because where I ride I simply can't hear it? 

I head out.... and within the first hill, click, click....  not good.  I take it easy on the hills knowing I need to get this fixed... but there goes 5 good days of riding....

I was on my way back from the turn around point and the noise in my bottom bracket was horrible.... to a cyclist who knows her vehicle... it was heart breaking!  My bike was sick... I was really upset, only 40km logged and thought, it is a week of rest.

I was wearing my full ANZA kit... then someone going in the opposite direction passed, we did the obligatory, "hey, I am a cyclist, you are to so we shoudl say hi" wave...  I saw he turned around.  I was NOT in the mood for company.... or gettin my ass kicked.  (actually, I thought it was a girl)... then HE said, "I never thought I'd see an ANZA rider out here".. Oh, hey... dude was really nice.  He's a South African guy living in Hong Kong on vacation with his family here.  As it turned out, he'd done the Tour AND Bintan.  WE had a nice chat.  He was recovering from a hamstring injury so kept him to my pace.

I manage to get in nearly 110km with 1000m of climbing.

Recovering with a coconut, fresh vegetable rolls and a swim in the ocean....  They are just base miles, right?

















Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Chúc Mừng Năm Mới


Its always a party before and during Tet.  My first party I was invited to (aside from the obligatroy company party... not that I am complaining, just saying)....

Thought I wouldn't get do participate in a 'Cycling Boyz Tet' party.  Most of the big club house gatherings happened while we were out over break.

But...Alex orgainzed this one at the last minute...wanting to do something nice for the guys.


Some place behind FV hospital, near the market.....Trong Tri III.  I pedalled my market bike and hoped to find it....





Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Its a new year!

On so many fronts:

A new age:  43
New calendar year:  2012
New lunar year:  ???  Year of the???  CYCLIST, how 'bout CYCLIST?!?

I have come to realize as I enter my mid 40's so many things.

*  I no longer worry so much about what I look like....but, I will never admit to the grey!
*  Scars, wrinkles, stretch marks are evidence that I have LIVED, not that I am weak
*  The thrill of riding my bike is still a thrill, a luxury, and on so many levels, my salvation!
*  Somethings just are NOT worth being upset over anymore.
*  Life simply happens, how you react defines you....

I am looking forward to a better year.  The troubles and situations that arose in 2011 won't go away, but I hope I can deal with it all a bit better and let more just roll over my back.

That said, having a blast riding with the boys for the first time in over 2 years.  It was so much fun riding with them when I first got here.  Back then, the average speed was 40 to 42.  That was HIGH to me then.

I don't know what happened, but over the past two years, these boys are getting increasingly faster.  Bar none, it is still the best ride in town.  I have yet to venture out on many more rides.  As I know the traffic here.... and I am not in a long ride for a LONG DAY... just bike, please!  A little water please...lets be on our way.  I'll do lunch at home.

Lately, I have been hanging with them the entire stretch.  I have a 2/3 success rate.   The speed has increased, quite a bit to be honest.  My PR for thursday's ride was 40kph for the 27km I measure.  This includes a few stop lights.

My pack skills have improved tremendously.  Also, I am riding more on the front longer then ever before.  I am not staying there the entire ride, but I AM on the front....

So, here's to 43, 2012, and year of the 'cyclist'!