Transrockies Week 1 Training

This is my first actual weekly summary of training. I will try to make it more interesting as the weeks progress. Actual stories of some of the rides can be found from the blog posts a day or two before.

Mon Nov 20 - skipped day. Excuse: 5 hour lunch break for cleat adjustment. Got almost 3 hours of personal coaching from Matt Hill who has done TR twice and Transalps once.
Tue Nov 21 - skipped day. Excuse: had to make up work for slacking on Monday
Wed Nov 22 -2 hours 15 minutes.
Rode to Rattlesnake lake and back in the morning before work. Roughly 30 miles of gravel and road riding.
Thanksgiving Th Nov 23 -2 hours 20 minutes.
From my house I took the back way from Millpond road to Reinig into North Bend, a little of SVT, and then the gate to Mt Si, for a strong hour. Then 15 minutes to the base of Teneriffe. The ride back rounded out the time for 2 hours 20 minutes. Conditions were very rainy and windy, in the dark, and hit just about snow level. Perfect training ride for base fitness.
Fri Nov 24 - Skipped day. Excuse: Sister visiting
Sat Nov 25 - 1 hours.
Tiger climb, quite a bit of snow past the 2 mile mark
Sun Nov 26 - 3.5 hours. North Bend past Rattlesnake Lake and almost to McLellum Butte. 26.6 miles. Snowy, Sleet, driving wind, cold, and rain added to the ride.

Total: 9 hours training.

Analysis: definitely fell short on time, 6 hours from goal. Must get training hours in early week so as to ensure goal attainable by end of week, especially considering lame'o excuses due to social obligations and work and shopping. Need to do more rides in 3+ hour range. Despite short time, good work on speed and riding in horrible conditions. Good discipline on taking care of equipment (clothes and bike) right after riding so as to ensure preparations for next rides.

Ironhorse in a snowstorm

Ethan and I rode from North Bend up to Rattlesnake Lake, and connected to the Ironhorse Trail for a round trip of 26.6 miles in 3.5 hours. Conditions were very rainy, windy, snow, sleet, and cold. There were actually quite a bit of, well, lack of precipitation, I would hesitate to call it the occasional clear skies, but some was found. We had a great time, who knew that a ride up the Ironhorse trail could have the word "extreme" in it? It is a beginner ride, but the weather was a bit extreme to be out for 3.5 hours, so we are calling it a fine day!

Waking up in the morning was a bit ominous, there was enough snow in my neighborhood that they had to drag out Mr. Plow!

Conditions were so bad that people were chaining up before North Bend! I literally passed hundreds of cars that were putting on chains. I think they just did not know how to drive, but to some extent is an indication of the weather.

One of many bridge crossings.

I get to make first tracks.

And Ethan gets to make first tracks as well.

Just imagine close to 30 miles of this. Add in your frequent rain snow and sleet and I wonder what could be finer (other than drinks afterwards)?

This posting seems to be limited to only 6 pictures. I will try to upload more later if possible. We got some great pictures of riding in the snow, but, you get the picture?

More snowy Ironhorse pics

Continuing from previous post, here are a few more pictures that are just too cool.

Ken crossing bridge.
Ethan.
Bridge before Butte (McClelum?)
Cars heading to Snoqualmie Pass as we are high above them.

Snowy Tiger Mountain

I rode up the fireroad to the Preston RR trailhead and down today (no trail riding today).

At MP 1.5 I saw the first traces of snow At MP 2 there was about an inch on the side of the road, but still fine.

At MP 2.5 there was around 2 inches of snow, and the only way to ride up the trail was in the ruts of a vehicle that had been up there earlier.

At the T where to turn right to finish the RATT climb to the towers, the road to the towers had enough snow that one would have to hike it to go any further. There were tire ruts but too icy and snow, possible I suppose if you have studded tires. Instead I turned left to reach the Preston trailhead.

At the Preston RR trailhead, there was over an inch of snow affixed to the seasonal closure sign. My contribution to trailwork today was to wipe the snow off the sign to discourage poachers. Sure its only 10 seconds of trailwork time, but if you include travel time by bike.... well, ok, it was nothing but a fun yet short ride.

On the descent I was able to get first tracks by riding the 2-4 inches of snow between the ruts of the car tracks. Unfortunately I cannot claim a first winter ascent because I saw tire tracks from another bike, looked like someone else went up yesterday by the iciness and partial snow covered tracks of the other bike.

Timed it perfectly to get back to the car at twilight (in other words I goofed off all day before deciding to ride my bike).

Dress warm!

Transrockies Week 0 Training

This is before official training, but got some training time in.

Sat - Teneriffe to Rattlesnake lake - 4.5 hours
Sun -