Industrial Park

There's been a typhoon off the coast of Vietnam.... in addition to the regular raining season.

I think this may actually be the first weekend I did not get up early to ride.  I had intervals planned after the regular morning ride, but since the NVL Highway was a mess, I didn't even bother to try....

Took off about 8:30 to the Industrial Park for 7 by 3min intervals.

Enjoy the following clip of me getting ready to cross one of the roads...

Local Style...

Saterday Boys Morning Ride Photo's from Toon Santen on Vimeo.

Thanks again to Toon for the great VIMEO of a typical Saturday ride.  This ride was on the 15th of September, but very typical for a Saturday.

The Final Sprint

Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings are may just be normal riding days for some, but for the good boys (or bad boys) of the Nguyen Van Linh, its a suffer fest that this bikermom continues to expose herself to!

Why?

I have no idea!

This particular Thursday morning I missed the start.  I rode hard to catch the back of the pack.. I was successful, but got dropped prior to the turn around, so I turned early and thought, "with my new handy dandy iPhone.... I want to film what I never get to experience"

So.... here it is.... for those of you that think cycling in Vietnam is dangerous... this is NOTHING to how dangerous it could be....

My hand shakes a bit..... one of these days... I'll be in the sprint.

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....

It's JUST a bike race, RIGHT?

So....why does it feel like the weight of the world?  It is JUST a BIKE race.  I am a 42 year old mother of two kids.  My life consists of hours of algebra help, leaning 6th grade science, social studies, cooking dinner somewhat 'home style' in an Asian country.  I am the PTA President and I have a job....

I ride a bike because it is fun.

I ride a bike because it is healthy, and after the third turn of the pedals.... I am near nirvana....  Its just THAT good!  Its hard to explain unless you understand the 'high'.

So.... its JUST a bike race, right?

No... its justification, it's a race, and I am very competitive....  I analyze, study, learn, work...  totally changed my training to training with a  purpose.  I have acheived levels thought impossible at my age and the complete suckiness of Ho Chi Minh City riding.

Getting really down about my climbing (or lack of) today I actually came home in tears from my ride.  I intended to do 8 bridge laps with an average speed of 22.5kph for all 16 climbs together.  I think it is very doable.  Tuesdays 6 laps were 21.5kph and without too much intensity.  Well, nine sets of intervals, so averages are not a good indicator. 

Today's wind was NUCLEAR!  It was depressing.... I could see it from the window.  I knew there was no place on the bridge to hide.  Its open over the Saigon River and today was the windiest day, EVER.

Completely demoralized after the ride..... came home in tears!  Its been a long time.  Didn't even want to look at the averages, because I didn't think there was any point. 

Alex came with me....  he's quite the friend to ride with me (there is NO ONE HERE...and those that do ride... they don't seem to invite me....whatever... i give up!  My schedule is pretty predictable...)

I was quite humiliated after the hills..... he told me where I was lacking strength (he's brutally honest - but if something is deserved, I get it)... but the damn wind.

I can't seem to stand the entire climb... I was quite shocked by this....  that's a back pocket trick... 

The wind took a LOT out of me...

That said... I finally got up the nerve to download the data....

Guess what?  Not the 22.5kph I wanted, but 21.6kph...  much better then I thought.  The average on the windy side was 19.9, the not windy side 23.3 (take that too thank you very much!)...  the winds were not head/tail, but cross....  so the 'tail wind side' not as much of a struggle, but it was no tail wind.

So.... maybe I am not as weak as I thought....

Only 8 more days before I get on the plane, 9 before Stage 1 for the girls.

The fine line between Fitness & Fatigue

 During the 1st stage of the compassion tour (the most important/moving, relevant thing I have ever done on a bike....hands DOWN), gj meets us as we climb the bridge, and we stop at the coffee shop.

Only the day before the Tour, my bike is  making a horrendous noise... YUP, BB's are SHOT!  Should be... chain too, I probably have over 20,000km on that chain.  Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know....I know.... anyhow, got a new chain and BB Cups....  will be rolling a wee bit easier come Sunday.

???  Love my bike...  too bad I look like a cow on it!

I do not enjoy HCMC cycling... its not good... but here are good things that cycling has to offer regardless.  Married 18 years.... residing in three different countries, for my husband to meet me at the top of the bridge and cheer me on (actually he pulled the peloton) while being so proud of what I was doing and the tour's purpose...

I started cycling in Taiwan, with my husband.  I never rode a bike in the US. I always enjoyed watching the Tour de France... but it NEVER crossed my mind for ME to ride a bike.

My first road bike ride was horrible.  Gj bought me a bike, he gave me a choice between a Cinelli w/ Shimano components or a Colnago w/ Campy components.  I chose the Cinelli, he bought me the Colnago.  Our very modest collection of bikes were all Campy at the time, so it was a good choice.

The first ride... we didn't even know where the airport was located, but had the driver take us 'somehwere' close by.  Gj had gone out w/ some of the other expat riders.  I had to 'clip' in my shoes to pedals..."are you kidding me?"  I never started with flat pedals.  "If you are going to ride a bike, we do it right!"... 

I wasn't convinced I wanted to ride a bike.

I was so overwhelmed living overseas, Emily was diagnosed with a learning disability, Eirik was having some issues of his own.  I was workign a lot so my social life was really hampered.

I tried to survive my new life...

So whether I LIKED or DISLIKED cycling wasn't important to me at the time... I was just floating.  It was something to do w/ my husband... and for that, I'd do ANYTHING.

*****
and we are here today:  April 1, 2011, five and half years later.  My fleet is quite indulgent, our garage is about bikes, not cars.... I'd ride to Cambodia if I were allowed.

I've won many races... flat road and climbing....

But, I never trained right!  NEVER.  I begged, I asked....  I got good old training tips from cycling friends.  But, it usually conflicted with reading from Chris Carmichael.  So, I did what I could... listened to what others told me and tried to verify w/ reading.

After moving to Vietnam....  it all changed.  Cycling completely sucks here....  most give up.   Some people think they can comprehend the change... but until you ride the suckiness of HCMC... you don't know.  You just don't know.

Finally, my training is going well.  for the first time in 2 years, I feel I have hope!!

I am no longer riding aimlessly up and down the NVL just racking up the miles because that's what someone told me to do.  My training is very focused.  My training has proven to be effective.... I don't know how I will do in May, but I will go to the start line knowing I did everything I could.... and there is nothing to stop me.

Human Compassion Cycling Tour 2011, HTNA-4

Sponsor me please!

Outside of school, a charitable organization.... my friend Long, a VietKeuw who lives in London organized this Human Compassion Tour.  Each day, the tour stops in a village and gives a part of the procedes to a selected orphanage.  I know they are worthy and non goverment and go directly to the people to help the people.... Why would Long do this for 4 years if not?
*************************
You can sponsor me with paypal, just send me a message and I will tell you how.  I will only ride two legs of the tour as I have a family and other responsiblities, but the guys are going to let me ride with them!

Its my turn to do something worthwhile and since my racing sucks, might as well do something that REALLY matters!
******************************

Some details:

Following the success of our traditional “Human Compassion Cycling Tours (HTNA) 2008, 2009 and 2010” in November 2008, April 2009 and March last year (please refer to these links for details:


HTNA-1: http://www.xedap.org/vb/showthread.php?t=2270
HTNA-2: http://www.xedap.org/vb/showthread.php?t=3579
HTNA-3: http://www.xedap.org/vb/showthread.php?t=7419 )

From the 11/3/2011 we, 16 cyclists from our Vung Tau Cycling Clubs and other Cycling Clubs (and 2 supporting members on scooters for supplying food, order and safety), shall be taking part in this small "good cause" 11 days “Human Compassion Cycling Tour 2011”. We would appreciate very much if you could spare a little time to read through the details and donate for this good cause.

Our program is as follows:

Day 1: 12/03/2011: Cycling from Vũng Tàu to Long-An (132km)
Day 2: 13/03/2011: Cyling from Long-An to Tra-Vinh (120km)
Day 3: 14/03/2011: Cycling from Tra-Vinh to Can-Tho (132km)
Day 4: 15/03/2011: Cycling from Can-Tho to Bac-Lieu (112km)
Day 5: 16/03/2011: Cycling from Bac-Lieu to Ca-Mau (70km)
Day 6: 17/03/2011: Cycling from Ca-Mau to Rach-Gia (130km)
Day 7: 18/03/2011: Rach-Gia to Phu-Quoc Island
Day 8: 19/03/2011: Phu-Quoc Island to Ha-Tien
Day 9: 20/03/2011: Cycling from Ha-Tien to Long-Xuyen (174km)
Day 10: 21/03/2011: Cycling from Long-Xuyen to My-Tho (145km)
Day 11: 21/03/2011: Cycling from My-Tho to Thu-Dau-Mot (135km)

In each city that we stop, we shall visit some charitable organisations or an individual (orphanage, elderly and/or disabled children) and unfortunate and/or poor families, after which we shall make a small donation. Please note that the cost of this trip is mostly covered by ourselves and our sponsors. Everyone of our team is making a donation for this good cause. Your donation will be presented directly to the unfortunate organisations/families and we shall be honoured to take this opportunity to present your donation on your behalf. The list of the donors, benefactors and the exact amount of donations will be posted on xedap.org website.

Please give generously to make our fourth “Human Compassion Cycling Tour 2011”. HTNA-4, a memorable one of many more tours in the future. Your donation will be acknowledged in full in xedap.org website.

Our progress, pictures of our tour and the presentation ceremonies, with the donation figures, will be posted on xedap.org for everyone to keep in touch with us.

Would you please give us the full names and addresses of the donors so that we can acknowledge their kind donation by posting our appreciation on xedap.org website within this topic:

http://www.xedap.org/vb/showthread.p...104#post111104


We are looking forward to receiving your kind donation in due course.

What goes up...

must come down as we ar taught in physics, right? 

It would be great if the up/down cycles wasn't always dramatic with training.  I understand periodization is key in raising your training cyclings and levels.  When I lived in Taiwan, our 'mandatory times off the bike', AKA vacation really helped my cycling.  Though my riding buddies insisted I would loose everything.... I would have to start o ver... my GOD how would I ever compete since I missed a 300km week?

Well, my body rested, my body recovered, and guess what...?  I improved.  They were always shocked.  My climbing inparticular improved after a period of rest.  No, not the first ride, but after a week, I'd always be hitting NEW low times on a climb... 

Finally, it just became a joke.  "I drink Italian wine when I am on my forced rests.  Italians are great climbers.... it makes perfect sence!"...  it was always a joke... but wondered if anyone really took it seriously.  I noticed Italian wines seemed to be served more often then before.

I don't pretend to have a clue about proper training, but knew enough to understand a bit of rest did do a body good.  If I actually had a coach or a training plan, I really wonder what I could have accomplished.  In vain attempts to acquire a coach, all failed.  I begged team mates, asked the e-Ma coach to coach me... he gave me a few tips.  But, being a 40 year old foreign woman living in Taiwan I apparently wasn't worth the serious effort.  Even though I only gave 3 positions in the entire 2009 racing season.  You'd think winning the Giant Cup for the 3rd year in a row would create some sort of stir. 

Well, this week, I went down.  Thankfully, not literally! 

My time on the bike was low....

Sunday:  rest
Monday:  intervals on the trainer concentrating on what I feel is my biggest weekness.
Tuesday:  went out w/ boys but went home as my brakes were rubbing and I had a horrible feeling in the air.... so I ran 5km.
Wednesdsay:  four laps in the IP
Thursday:  45km.
Friday:  rest
Saturday:  75km....

didn't get in my two 100km+ rides...

Unfortunately, absolutely rediculous drama zapped so much of my energy, there was little left for my bike. 

Miu Ne - Day 5

There was no day 4.... my stomach hurt so bad I thought I should just rest!  So, I did... I worked, read, and worked on my tan!

From the restaurant we always had lunch and dinner at (and DID not get sick from.... that was another place)

the pooch and I enjoying some quality quiet time before dinner.

Day 5:  Hoping for the 2nd 100km ride of the week, I set out to do 3 full upper road laps.  We had to clear out of the room by noon, so time was no on my side.... neither was speed apparently!  ha ha...  I felt good though, healthy and rested. 

Its not a good picture, but the ocean is right in front of me.... Today is "New Year's Day", families are out in new clothes just smiling and enjoying the day!  It's wonderful!

I decide to go home at 10:00am.  I figure if I had my 100km or not in, it is enough.  I need breakfast (the Cliff Bar isn't cutting it and have eaten so little in the last 3 days)... the wind is picking up and I am getting tossed around a bit.  So, I cut it 10km short.

Breakfast afterwards.... I was actually hungry!

Glad I was back by 10:00am....  the Dragon Dance came through the hotel and treated us to traditional dancing.  The 10km and bragging rites of a 2nd 100km ride would not have been worth missing this.

The girls were awesome with their knives.

and back home we go, about noon.... 

4 days:  310km, 2000m climbing, and definitely some endurance in the legs.

Mui Ne - Day 3

Still NOT feeling like a rock star from the stomach aches, but a recovery ride was a good idea (not that anything more THAN recovery was an option).  So, I head out by myself.  Gj decides to windsurf.  Emily's feeling a little better.

 Where the upper road, joins the main road, passes the sand dunes and down to the water.  It is VERY windy!

 My goal was 4 days of riding in a row.  Simply, so my body could get used to recover/ride the next day.  Intensity and mileage would be added after a solid endurance foundation.  But, my stomach.....oh.... my stomach....

 This bike has been from Taiwan to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand.... and several places in Vietnam, not to mention all but the southern tip of Taiwan.... 

Heading north.  I choose to go home.  I complete two full loops with the added "beach front".  this makes 70km averaging.... 25kph?  tough wind, bad stomach... but, could I sit home and NOT ride?  Riding opportunities are just not THIS in HCMC...  Unless I am truly sick, I go!  Miserable, pain, stomach ache, even if I throw up...

Sadly, that night was horrible.... what was still 'in' me made very violent exits.... Gj simply said, "I think you should stay off your bike tomorrow".... I agreed.

Miu Ne - Day 2

So, a bit tired after the 104km ride from the day before.  Hubby enjoyed boasting of his 'long ride', "Yeah, rode 60km today!!"...  he must have felt the laser glare of my eyes because then he would say, "oh, Tina did over 100".  ha ha...  He's a 40km rider....  that's what he likes, that what he does.  Just maybe 4 or 5 times a year he gets over 50, and very rarely, 100.  that said, he's a freakin' locomotive!

that said....  we ate a restaurant that we trust and have befriended the owner (not at the hotel).  But by 8pm, I was in dire pain... stomach, legs, head...

2am, though I was going to be sick.  All I could do to keep it down.  I so badly didn't want to throw up, but probably should have. 

Emily did.  She was SICK.  she threw up for about 3 hours...

Horrible stomach ache.  But, by 7:30am, I felt OK.  Gj talked me into, "an easy ride".  Well, okay.... an easy ride.

That it was for him.  Even though my overall speed was less then 25kph, the headwind was fierce.  The side wind with my big rimmed wheels took me off guard and I wasn't strong enough to 'deal' with it.  I was sooooo mad, "I am NOT going to the WATER today!"  It was late when we started, 9:30++ and the wind was really whipping out there!

We did about 45km.

The climbs were too much, I couldn't keep anywhere near Gj.  Typically, I am 200m ahead.  I felt bad at the top.

I took it as a recovery ride.  Hoping that thought the speed was very slow (out, reached 58kph fairly easy on the way back at one point), the wind would be making me stronger?

I couldn't eat much for the duration of the day....  Emily slept until 5pm, and actually, I worked.... in the room.... no beach.

Mui Ne - Day 1

Sometimes the reason I 'put up' with the Nguyen Van Linh highway is to be in decent condition.... good enough condition to ride in Miu Ne!  Oh....  it is soooo awesome.  It is really harder to think of a better place, yes, better then Taiwan, yes, at time, better the where I live in the US....

Ocean on one side, sand dunes on the other, sun beating down on me, a coconut, beach and maybe a beer waiting for me afterwards.... tell me there IS better riding and I will NOT believe you!

Day 1:

 My BFA...ha ha...  there's a bit of a head wind.  NOT enjoying the headwind.  It makes the average speed slower.  All I see from the other girls is there average speeds... and I know mine falls deeply short!  But, I don't have a wheel (regardless the size of my husband, he is NOT a group rider and he is NOT a steady wheel to be one....I try to remind him, but at no avail.... I was on his wheel and the next thing I know he's bending over trying to wipe something off his front time!)  I give him a good, "wife nagging", but... the memory of crashing is still too fresh on my old body!

 At the turn around point.

 On the way back.  This out and back is about 58km.  However, I already had 55km in when I met up with him.  I was feeling soooo good, regardless of the speed. I still beat him up any hill longer then 200m in length and definitely, the long big hills on the way home... Even did the "look over dropped shoulder - 'are you coming?'" look to him.... oh... years of that demeaning look.....  LOVE IT! (I am only teasing, of course... he is thrilled when I can out climb him).

105km, 995m climbing.... to the beach, coconut, spring rolls and some ocean time!

An Intense, low mileage week

and I am exhausted... but not for the RIGHT reasons, for the WRONG reasons... again!  So frustrating!

Monday:  IP - intervals, 5 all out for 1.1km then recover the 5.4km to complete the circle.  The 6th lap, some guy wanted to talk with me....

Tuesday:  Skipped the humilation ride... Alex said he would do the bridge and if I wanted to come along.  Well, I've climbed about 100m in the last 2 months combined, seemed like a good idea.  Three rounds of the bridge... one climb completely standing... a success for an early season session, but still... PATHETIC!

Thursday:  Humilation ride with the boys... unbelieveable speed today.. After crossing the red bridge I see that there are at LEAST 30 guys at the 'triangle', and they were the BIG, FAST buys...  Holy Smokes...  I just trot along, get through the intersection.  It took them a while to group up.  I was quite a bit ahead (not a good idea, like to be with 3 or 4, better chance to stick)...  They whiz by me, the first group... then the 2nd group... and the BIG guys... by this time, I have my speed up to catch on and jump in... but at 48kph, my speed simply WAS NOT ENOUGH!

Cried my eyes out when I got home.  It was just too much.  The little voices in my head are telling me, "all the other girls would have stuck, why can't you?"... And with work being really busy and stressful, PTA with some recent unneccesary stresses, and being bitched out by a fellow mom....  some other things.. I just had it... emotionally... completely being obliterated out there just added salt to a very deep wound.  Look in the mirror and an old lady is looking back....  just a really bad day.  funny, I have so many, but couldn't contain my tears this day.... so the family had a look at their 'rock' that actually does fall apart sometimes. 

Friday:  4 laps in the IP.  Was suppose to go to Cat Lai w/ Alex, but I had been up late working, and thought I may need to conference w/ San Mateo office... so I cancelled and just did the IP.  Really boring.... but a recovery ride... the last three were quite intense.

All in all for the week:  140km... 160km shy of my goal.

Next week:  Miu Ne! 

Chúc Mừng Năm Mới - CLB Xe Dap Quan 7

I think the Vietnamese are the strongest people in the world.  How can a group of people be so strong, so fast on a bike,  yet, they are (I assume) much older then me (and, I AM not young anymore!)... they have a cigarette or two prior to the ride...

and blow me away... like I am standing still! 
(THANKS TO SPEED from XEDAP.ORG, as I took the pictures from that site)

 I got there closer to 11:00am...

 He never took his helmet off....

 cheers!  Moit, Hai, Ba... (cheers?)

 Aaauuhh out comes the singing!

 This lovely man, clearly, and elder of the 'club'.  Out here to celebrate the New Year with everyone. 

 Happy, singing...

 Singing...cheers...good...

 "Can we have a picture with you?"....o...kay....

But, notice the man getting on the bike behind the guy with the white hair.  I just spoke with him.  The man in the plaid shirt helped translate.  This old man was really, very old.  I would say in his 80's.  He had very few teeth left, and HE came up to ME to say hello and ask where I was from.  I look at him and think, what an incredible, beautiful human!  Clearly, he's lived more then enough of the world's pains with Vietnam through so much conflict, hunger, closed to the world, and all the trying times....  If I could only know what he's been through, what was life like....  and here he is... on a bike, at the 'club' wishing his younger brothers a Happy New Year! 

I am humbled!

 Outside, a little quieter (inside/outside, in Vietnam, its covered/uncovered...) we are on the Nguyen Van Linh...

 oops, out comes the DOUBLE BLACK lable.... even I got a shot! 

 This lady was lovely and her English was great!  She came out to talk w/ Claudia and I.

and the time:  about noon!  ha ha ha... I think that's the Vietnamese secret.... play hard, party hard, and to bed early!  No doubt, they'll tear up the road by 5:30am the next day!

The 5th day

on my bike this week. 

I am a little disappointed that my brand new Garmin is not keeping speed very well. I spent some time on the bridge adjusting the magnet and reader.  Interestingly enough, it DID keep the candance perfectly.

I had 100km on the docket.  I knew the speed would be fast.  I knew I'd get blown away.  I wasn't sure how to get to 100, but some combination of NVL loops and then to the IP for a cool down lap or two.

We take off.... Alex takes the lead, I follow.  Trying to hold his wheel.  Four of us make it through the light before the peloton that's just revving up.  Sure enough, "Mr. Hot Shot" in his tri position, no helmet is calling the shots.... attack, attack...they do.... I get sucked to the back like a vaccuum.  I envision they all have a great laugh that I come out week after week, and get sucked and spit out the back.  Perhaps I expect it and don't try as hard as I should. 

The speed was intense...  and no way to catch.  Mr. Discovery also falls out.  I follow him.  It seems to be the routine.  Again, I am slow on the turn around, I am slow on the intersections...  His tire blows at the toll booth on the way back.  I stop to see if he's alright, "I am okay, GO TINA, GO FAST!"... I put on my glasses, he looks up again and yells at me, "GO FAST TINA!"  okay...

I see Alex on the other side after the white bridge.... I turn at the first available turn after the tollbooth.  We ride 2 more laps together.  Then he heads home.  He already had 1/2 hour in before the 'race'.  "Wow, you loose a lot of time crossing an intersection"... "yup"... 

I dont' really know our speed through the laps, but just before the turn around of the 2nd lap with him (the 3rd), my legs are really burning and I am exhausted....  the speed seems intense... but it was probably only 30.  Who knows... 

I take a last lap.  No intension of going hard, but just want teh 3:30 on the bike.  Ran into Kristof and the Danish guy...  we chat and I waive them off, "I am finishing up 100, and I am out of gas, period"...

Hmmm....  I know the other girls would ride this ride much faster.... and they ahve actual hills.  I know my riding isn't good.... and I am not sucking wheel tight enough.  Its costing me everything.

Good ride.... encouraging?... kinda.  Glad to not have done the first 75 alone.

Drop out

The fourth day on the bike this week.  Ride with the boys at 5:50am.  Seems to get later and later all the time.  Family is very supportive and set their alarms so they'd be awake after I got home! 

So...  out I go.  Pitch black, but tired enough that my nerves don't get the best of me.  At least not today.  We wait at the bridge for quite some time.  I don't think we even started riding until 5:55!!!  It will be nice when the days get longer again (no, the Winter Equinox is NOT 12/21, and I don't understand what the deal is and would really appreciate an explaination!)

chit chat w/ Alex and Tuan, and stretch.  My back is killing me and a good massage would do wonders.  Actually a chiropractor would be better... but...yeah...  I am in Vietnam.

Out we go.... 

I hang through and over the white bridge...yeah...

Then the next bridge....

Then the red bridge.... manage to even take the lead until I get blown away by Alex and nother on the left.  I am burning up and my thighs are on FIRE (oh, hurts SOOO GOOD!) but speed is 44kph, yeah!  I am back!  Speed is quickly reduced to 35kph....oopps...

Alex said, "The fast guys aren't here today, stay with the pack!"  So I fight.

but not hard enough.

The group doesn't know if they are turning or going straight...  for some reason, I had fallen slightly behind, but the indecision allows me to catch up.  Then we race to the end, I am one of the last on the turn around.  I don't know what it looks like as the construction is very busy.  So, I fall back but cut the corner sharp and improve position.  At this time, the peloton is a single line and who ever started the sprint is full speed and I am just getting back on the road...

I grab a truck,

aauugghh... more and more behind.  I know the result...  then at the light, there's full 3 lanes of traffic and teh Quan 4 guy is just day dreaming..  I yell at him to go.  Oh, I am going to be humilated if I can't catch up.

FINALLY, he gets out of the way, but at this time, the peloton is at the top fo the bridge, I am just approaching the bottom...hoping they are having some sort of rest/collection, I go as hard as I can...

but it's official,

I dropped out, got dropped, and in  my own words, just plain suck.

of all days, today was my day of success if I wanted it... but clearly I didn't fight hard enough, and I allow myself to fall back when tricky parts of the road approach (toll booth, turn around and scary intersection).  I have to trust my fellow riders or I will alwyas be in the back and always fall off.  I know I don't have the turbo it takes to catch a surge from so far behind.  I never have... its a gender issue I think.

and on the way home, the only thing through my head was, "I know the others would have stuck"  referring to all the girls I will race against in Thailand.

I need to toughen up, of just ride my market bike.  Its come to that!

Endurance

is improving...and that's about ALL I have to say!  ha!

The after ride refreshment!  Fresh coconut water is one of the best things for you!  Every time drink this, I find my recovery is better then without.  These particular kinds of coconuts are sweet and the meat is really tasty... Yes, I know, also probably full of calories... but... its not that bad!

I had 90km on the docket for the day.  Alex was unable to ride.  Who else?  haven't touched base w/ Shannon yet, I think Rachel is out of town so.... that leaves me, myself, and I. 

On the way out, I was shaking and very jumpy.  Its the end of rush hour (as if you can differenciate bad from bad bad traffic here)... eventually I settle down.  With going solo and during work hours, my goal is just to get on the road and relax. 

It was a horrible slow ride....  I felt like Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights after his crash when he was test driving his new car on the track after his crash....  the guys in the control room were saying, "Yeah.... he's up to 25mph now!"...  but he's all alone on the track and should be going 100! 

That's how I felt today.... my speed was slow, and I felt quite pathetic.

I eventually see a group of 20+ riders on the other side of the highway.  I am hoping they will catch up with me.  They are escorted by a motorcycle for safety.  Their speed isn't fast fast, and was really hoping to catch a ride.  It'd be good for me.

I never saw them again, perhaps they went to the East-West highway instead?  who knows....

I talk myself into going home after 50km.  I didn't have the nerve to even manage the traffic down to the park.  And, at my speed.... I'd be there for E V E R!!

Tomorrow will be better... I know I have to just get through this...

In time, it will pass!

My 5th crash

And yet, all I can think about it my next ride...  I guess I am a junkie...

My first crash was because Xiao Hung was a head of me in the paceline, he went down, I was went down even trying to avoid...

My 2nd crash was just after I found out I was moving to Vietnam, only 1km from home, a scooter crossed the street and just stopped.... 

The 3rd crash happened on the Nguyen Van Linh highway, crossing crazy intersection, I got nicked on the back wheel and was slamming my breaks as I knew I was going down...

The 4th was on the 1st day of last year's Tour of Friendship... the guy in front of me swerved to miss something totally taking me out!  that was an expensive crash as I STILL need to replace my front break lever, but Campy Record, isn't cheap!

Then there was today!  today... of all days.... 

I am feeling SOOO GOOD!  After Saturday's ride, I had a 12 hour sleep and woke up feeling like a rock star!  I am not tired any more, and I am going to TRAIN!

So, I set out for about 60km... I saw some dude on a mountain bike who was just cruising through crazy scooter lane.  I catch up with him and he is married to a teacher at school.  He is subbing awaiting for a permanent position.  We chat... our speed is great!  I am so happy to have someone to talk with.  We finish the lap, he goes home, I head over the bridge.

I start my next lap again, so pleased with how I feel and my average speed is quite decent for riding mostly solo.  I choose crazy scooter lane as the truck lane has TOO much traffic at this time of the day.  I remember thinking to myself... "If I crash with a truck , I probably won't survive, but a scooter, I will.   In the early morning, there aren't many, if any trucks, so why go in the scooter lane?  But after 8am, there are LOTS of trucks and why risk it?  also, the scooters are quite behaved (unlike the early morning).

GEtting towards the end of out part of my 2nd lap, I start to feel very tired.  I don't know if it is the wind, but all of a sudden my bike feels super sluggish.  Just like Saturday (but that was the Opera and there WAS a small issue).  So I start to veer to the right as I want to get off my bike and check a few things out.

Either I didn't clearly look when I was veering to the right, or the guy on his motorbike didn't see me...  he hits me dead on the back wheel....

I crash!  I remember falling to the ground and so many things go through my head:
-DAMN IT!  This is really going to ruin my ride!
-DAMN IT!  I hope my wheels aren't damaged!
then I hit the ground,
am I okay?  what hurts?  I can't believe this...
I just lay there for a moment, then I slowly get up...
there is a small crowd around me.

the man who hit me also crashed.  I believe he was very sorry and felt very bad.  There was no laughing.  He said to me in English, "I am sorry".  I knew he was.  Maybe it was my fault, maybe his... it was an accident.

The women who appeard out of no where help me get my bike off the ground.  They are touching me and looking concerned.  One starts to put bandades on my knee...  (how sweet!)  They want to ask if I am okay.

I get out my phone, but who am I goign to call?  Gjermund can't help me and he will really worry!  It's better to tell him when I get home.  Mr. Cuong?  What can he do?  I can't ask for damages, he has damages too... if I ask him to replace my helmet, it may be close to 1/2 of his monthly salary.

He is genuinely sorry.
They are all concerned.

I tell them I am okay and it is okay.  My chain fell so we put it back on.  I spin the wheels, adjust my front brakes and the bike appears to be okay.

I guess I ride home.

I go to the top of the bridge I was on and just look over for a few minutes and have a little cry... I am so mad as I know I will be sore, maybe there is damage to my bike, my helmet is broke, and my nerves are probably shattered.  Gjermund always fears me crashing and I always come up unscathed... jsut some bike damage.  How will he react?  If he asks me to take a break from my bike, I will.  But, I don't want to.

I was so excited, I found a new rider who is also available during the weekdays!  Wednesday, I am going to check out a new route that will get us off the NVL and see something more exciting then scooters and heavy trucks. 

District 7 boys just gave me their jersey!  Now, its ruined.

 Home safe.

 The bandaids the old lady put on seemed to fall off on my ride back home... 

 You can see the deep crack/break...  Thank  you Giro!  You did your job.  No one plans to get hit, no one plans to crash, but when you do, its best to be prepared!

 more damage.

 Can't really see the other smaller cracks.

 Will ask the teachers if I can show the kiddies my helmet as a safety lesson.  Do you think someone can learn something from this?  If someone puts on a helmet and we can promote bicycle safety for our kids at school, the crash was well worth it!

The jersey....