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...

My first sprint win, PIR 7-16 Hot Lap #3

No one more surprised than me!

Do I have a photo?
Do I have a video?
Did I even bring my Garmin?

No to all the above.  But OBRA did verify, I was the winner of the 3rd and final hot lap, and did place 4th (out of 8) for the race.  The top three, really fine, fine athletes.

If there really is a cloud 9, I suppose I am there!

Anyhow, one for the Home Boys!  Thanks so much for the support and kicking my @$$ every T/R/S/S in Vietnam... Thanks to PIR, my cornering has gone from completely horrid to just plain, bad!

Monday Night PIR - July 9

Never raced in the USA!  Funny!  Got my bike in Taiwan, raced in Taiwan... later Cambodia, Thailand, and Indonesia but never the USA.

I have always wanted to so this race at the Portland International Raceway.

www.racemondaynights.com

There is 'Novice Women', and 'Open'.  Hmmm... I am not a member of OBRA, and I am not 'Categorized'. I have a fantasy that I am a Cat 3 rider.  I have won a lot of races over the years and place well in stage races.  I am not new to racing, but we don't race every week.

I live in Vietnam and every T/R/S/S feel much like a race.

Well...

I am learning a LOT

Here's Lap 11 of last weeks.  Two got away in front and we lost a few on the back.  I was smart on this lap and kept to the front.  Sadly... not every lap.  When the Cat 2 gals dig deep, I fly off the back.  But, an area for improvement.  That's what I am here for!

Lap 1 or 2, don't know...

Lap 2 or 3, I think they rang for the "hot lap" after this....

And that is what happens to me after a HOT LAP... I am in deep trouble!  Need to work on some sprinting???  maybe some speed?

and after the next hot lap...

regular lap...

I am the 2nd girl...

This was the prior lap, and more representative of the 13 laps....

Hangin' off the back.  dyin' to survive....

The last lap, I took the lead and pulled around the last corner... I got squashed... of course, the final sprint I was wasted.  I figured since I did very little work in the race, I should work at the end... the girls thanked me for it.

I finished in the pack of 6, 2 escaped off the front and we lost a few off the back.  So... happier with this performance than the prior weeks.

Monday nights are tough for me.  I think the girls are mostly Cat 2 and 3... Don't know what I would classify myself as...3 or 4.

better luck next Monday!

In search of a mountain...

With this years unbeleivably intimidating Tour of Friendship coming in just two short weeks, I am desperate for some real climbing.  The race profiles show pitches of over 20% in some places and 10% as an average! 

My little Phu My Bridge is 4.8% at best....

So... off to Vung Tau, there is a hill with some steeper pitches and for teh effort, its the best climbing that can be done here in a day.

From Russia with Love.... I board the noisy HydroFoil for a $10.  Easy trip down teh Saigon river to the Ocean and dropped off at Vung Tau.

 The other side of the Industrial Park.

 My Phu My Bridge....how I don't miss climbing IT today....

 The top of the hill, the "Lighthouse Hill".  It is a 2.3km hill, probably 2.5 from the main road, but the first stretch is really dodgy.  The last bit is also really bad, rough road, broken harsh pavement and very narrow.

 WHOA....what is that in the background?  Trees?  Blue Sky?  OMG...  its nature!  Where are the 24 wheeler trucks?  Where's the exhaust?  My lungs are in SHOCK!

 So pretty!

 Peaceful..

 Serene....

 I am still smiling....  sweated through at least 4 water bottles....  super hot and windy..

 But, I gott'r done!  Eight climbs, 1050m.  I knew I didn't climb 'well', but nothing was a struggle.  I tried harder gearing trying to come up with some idea of HOW 24% would feel. 

 My hostess, Ms. Sang (Mr. Thang's girlfriend) cooked an AMAZING meal for us and her middle daughter.  Quite honestly, it was THE best Vietnamese food I have ever tasted!  I met her at the HTNA tour.  She travelled along with the team.  She was so helpful and clearly, very delightful.  when I told Long I was coming for some mountain training and unsure if Alex could come, he arranged for Thanh to meet me.  He also looked after me during the ride.

 Traditional style eating, on the floor.  Sadly, I am so inflexible, I had to stretch my legs.  I was a bit embarassed.

 Thuy, Sang's daugther (came home early from work to help her mom w/ me!!) Sang, and Thanh.  They treated me like a princess. 

On the ferry at 1:00pm, home by 2:45.... exhausted, sunburned, and happy!

Happy until I analyzed my climbs.... but that's another story!

Sunrise delight....

Everytime I hear the word delight, I think of "Turkish Delight" a candy that the white witch gave Edmund....

Then of course there's Afternoon delight...

But, I enjoy....the sunrise delight...  a fast paced morning ride.  I am happy to report I am no longer in the back of the pack, but rather mid to front... I pull, I get my put in my place, I laugh, I have a blast!  All of this great fun happens before 6:30am.

A dutch man named Toon filmed the following from his handlebars.  It was his first ride with us...

I am in the bright green jersey and black shorts.  Rather, I am the only one with hair sticking out of my helmet.


Daily morning ride in Saigon, district 7 from Toon Santen on Vimeo.

Mui Ne again...

I was emailing a friend and he reminded me that my blog has been quiet.  Yeah, probably.  I don't really find a lot of fulfillment in writing about our daily rides in teh Nguyen Van Linh.  I have been much more successful sticking with the guys, even on fast days.  I pull on the top and no longer vie for the not so coveted 'caboose' position.  Mr. Back of the Pack and I.... no longer are riding partners.

Gjermund's folks are in town so we planned a two day trip to Mui Ne (my favorite riding place that is accessible).  I took off at 6am and did some hill repeats, then Gj met me and we headed north to this really great area.  There are a few lakes and the scenery is beautiful with the red sand/soil and trees.  The environment is quiet and serene (as serene as it can be with motorcycles...)

Just beautiful and peaceful.  So happy I am in the kind of condition to enjoy this ride and see this part of Vietnam.  So glad Gjermund joined me for the last part of the ride too.  Unfortunately, he rolled over some glass and got a flat.  He was able to ride back to teh sand dunes and took a Xe Om back to the hote.

Nothing like the name of a Singaporean Pub on your b-hind to accentuate its size!  LOL!

Quieter ride...

Feeling a little distraught (I am half junkie here....) about not getting to ride, Gjermund suggested, "hey, lower the seat on my bike!"....

HEY?!?
WHY NOT?!?

 It is about 7:30am in the above photo.  There are several kilometers of riding with the beach on one side, the sand dunes on the other.  It is easily understandable why a person could be so upset if not able to ride.  It is so calm, peaceful, and recharging.  I rode to the 'turn around' and back, about 60km.  Completely soaked up the conditions, scenery, and enjoyed the ride.

 There was no traffic on this day.  It was the 2nd day of Tet and most locals are celebrating with their families...  It was a beautiful sight to see everyone basking in their traditions!  I think as Americans we often feel we should show the world how to live, but what I have learned living over seas... especially in developing countries, us Americans should step back and take a lesson! 

 There was a mine on this stretch of the road.  Most of the big machinery is gone now, but this sign remains a reminder....

 Pity my camera didn't take a better shot, the mine is on the right directly across the street from the ocean. 

Close up of one of the mine shacks.

Sometimes riding a bike should just be for the fun of it.  If you don't step on the pedals and feel like you are 12 years old again.... you are truly missing out! 

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?

Mui Ne

After a quick 8 hour drive (200km - think I could RIDE it faster!)... we arrived to Miu Ne about 11pm.  Gotta remember, holiday weekends, everyone is out, so are the police ticketing and making trouble EVERYWHERE.  It took over 1 hour just to get Gj from work...

Packed our bikes, looking forward to some good riding.  The day before on bridge repeats, it was very windy.  Alex said, "Oh, yeah, it will be windy up there!"...

Sure enough..... nuclear winds.... windsurfers delight, cyclists nightmare.  I was really looking forward to one of the great facebook posts, "Rode 110km, 33kph average, blah, blah, blah"... Nope...

no such luck.

Friday's ride I wanted easy and short, recovery from bridge intervals... its in the training plan, but Gj wanted to ride longer.  So, humor him....  considering the garbage we ride in in HCMC and the amazing scenery, open roads, its hard to say no.  Even if I risk overtraining....  my legs are a little achy from Thursday's bridge repeats.  Alex met me about the 7th trip and I though he'd visit, nope, he drafted behind an oil truck and I had to move it!  Set a PR on that climb, 7th climb no less... so pleased.  Ended up doing 8 climbs that day.

So, Friday, we head to the end of the beach road and back.  60km for Gj, 57 for me.  Our bike computers are 'off'.  Well, at least I feel better about that!

Saturday, my long day.  The day I build my endurance about 10km per week.  I was slated for 110km and really looking forward to it.  I got out on the road at 6:45 and knew I could get in at least 50km before I saw Gj.  If we road to the end of the beach and back, I'd have between 105 and 115 depending on where I saw him.

He didn't feel that hot.... we turn around 12km early making the day's ride 25km short.  I was pissed all day.  Trying to console myself in the fact that I did work hard in those 85km, climbed only 70% probably, but tried to keep the heart rate up and cadence up.  Also, doing some intervals that are part of my Saturday routine. 

And today... we go back to HCMC....

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....

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.

Tour de Vung Tau

Thanks Long for the above picture... a little coffee before the return ferry.   Can't wait to come back!!!!


So, when I went to Vung Tau on the ferry the night before the Tour, I was pleasantly surprised how nice Vung Tau was.  Our first trip left us with an unfavorable impression, and I can't exactly say why.  Perhaps it was becasue we went by car, the roads were busy as it was a Saturday mid morning.  We couldn't find the great beach everyone talked about.... it started to rain...  and of course, not knowing where to eat, we ended up at a "Good Morning Vietnam", which is good, but its foreign food, and really..... whats the point?!?

November 21st (day before my 41st birthday)... not a hot day.

Sand...10 year old boy... need I say more?

Pooch not so sure.... 

But, a good meal.

So, we left with an unfavorable impression....  its a real pity too!  We missed a lot of good opportunities to do fun things....

So.... back to my story....  after sitting in the taxi from the ferry to the hotel back in March, I thought, "was this the Vung Tau from November of 2009?"...  After riding only one day w/ the boys for the 'tour', I wanted to ride in Vung Tau again...

"So...Long, I am thinking of coming down to ride your hills and a look see tour?"

"Sure, let me know when"

"How about next Thursday?"

Well, it wasn't exactly like that, but close enough.  Told Alex what I was doing.... and gives Gjermund some ease when I don't do things solo.  Gjermund had met Long on the tour and knew I was in good hands.... these ARE good guys! 

Long says, "We'll do our two hills = 45km, then ride to Long Hai and back, thats 90km, so we are looking at 135km"...  "oh....hmm.... I think....that's kinda a long way..."

We arrive to the ferry at 6:00am by taxi.  We have to bag up our bikes (why??? - kinda defeats the purpose of public transport, doesn't it??).. anyhow, the porter insisted we needed to pay him $10 more because the size of the bags....  anyhow, we didn't pay!

We get to Vung Tau about 8:30, across the street is a coffee shop where more then 10 fellow cylists are waiting....  two or three WOMEN!  NO KIDDING! and lots of guys... most I had met either on the tour, or they ride our lustrious Nguyen Van Linh with us...

After crossing the street to the coffee shop, the guys swarm us and pull our bikes out of the bags and put them together immediately!  It was awesome.... like a princess!

Alex who is clearly more coordinated on a bike then me (sorry, not much of a compliment!) took these photos....I just stole them.

Yeah...thunder thighs here.... we take an out and back warm up for about 12km.  Then we climb the 'hill'.....oh...la..la... the 'hill'.....  aauugghh.... we start to climb (some sidewalk looking approach) 2.5km, 140m...  oohhh....yeah... my PHU MY BRIDGE.... well, I'll just stop there.  Oh... the heart  is pumping, I feel sick (because I am in NO climbing shape) but manage to be the third to the top, behind Duy and Alex.  Neither of which tried their hardest.  We come down and skip the 2nd hill.  The sun was super hot.

We head out on the ocean front....  and ride towards the ocean and north.

Long looks at me and says, "Is this better then the Nguyen Van Linh?"...  I thought I was going to choke when he asked....

"uh...yes!"

You know when you are stuck in an airplane for a 10 hour flight... or you are on an airplane for about 2 hours longer then your threshhold, then you get out of the airplane and and walk, stretch your legs, breath fresh air?  that's how this felt.... like we'd been locked in an airplane for tooo long and we finally got to RUN AND PLAY!

We had a BLAST!  I enjoyed the ride so much, I didn't want it to end... the ocean was so blue and beautiful, the sand, the air, the open roads....  good company.... OMG, I felt like I died and went to heaven.

We take a break at the turn around point. 

The guy is 64 years old....  his girlfriend  followed us on the motorcycle. 

Long bought us lunch.... and at a proper Vietnamese restaurant.... steel tables, steel chairs and food that was amazing!  Now.... that's good food!  None of this 'import' stuff....  this was fresh, healthy, hearty, and sooooo tasty....  we mentioned how good the lunch was several times!  Thankfully I have my Garmin, and can find again.

Long, and boys of Vung Tau (and lovely ladies that rode the first 15km and the woman who followed us)... thank you for a blessed day! 

You have NO IDEA how bad.... I needed that!  I feel recharged.

We'll be back... hopefully soon!

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.