I had never attempted either of these before today, but wanted to see if I could do both of them back-to-back. The beginnings of the climbs are about 25 miles apart. So I drove to Havana (that’s pronounced “Hey! Vanna”) to begin the Mt. Magazine climb. The first 4 miles took 25 minutes. Not bad considering that the next 6 miles took 59 minutes.

The most fun part was seeing the little old ladies at the visitor center who Would remark about the heat of the day and then ask where I had been riding. When I told them that I had ridden up, they pretty much always exclaimed “Up!?!?” Yes ma’am….up. It only took 24 minutes to descend.

So then I hopped over to Dardenelle to get a roll on the other climb – Mt. Nebo. This little guy is shorter and lower. It’s about a 7 mile ride and only about a 1000 ft. climb. But, the differences are pretty severe. Mt. Magazine is mostly in the 7-8% grade range with some nice stretches of less and not many of much more. It also let’s you work gradually into the serious fun. Mt. Nebo has about 3 miles of rollers on a narrow, rough road with fast busy traffic. This forces you onto an even more narrow and rougher shoulder that is studded with huge mail boxes. Today’s treat was a pack of 6 fast, aggressive, persistent, large dogs that forced a 100 yard sprint that had me on the red line right up to the climb’s first pitch. That first pitch hits you at 6% and is at 9% before you know it.

Well, I was cooked! I had wanted to sort of meander into Mt. Nebo – not sprint my butt off into it. I was really glad that I was using the incline indication on the computer. I was really struggling when all of a sudden it jumped to 10% and proceeded to increase steadily to numbers I’m not used to seeing. Long story, short the whole thing got ridiculous fast hitting 15.5% and topping out at 17.8%.

The reward? On the way down, the pack of dogs was leashed….until just at the top of one momentum-sucking roller, another fast, aggressive hound bolted into the road. WTF?

All-in-all the Magazine ride was a joy and deserves a repeat. But Nebo is No-mo for me. And before you ask, no Cyclemeter on this ride. I removed the app because I’ve been really unhappy with the inconsistency of my results. I know, bummer. But I found that interrupting rides to stand in the road and curse at my iPhone made me look a bit eccentric, even by cycling standards.

Briefly, cycling along some, but not enough. The big event was last weekend in San Francisco where I decide to swim in the Bay with Schuyler. OMG! DON’T EVER DO THAT IF YOU DON’T HAVE TO!

The water was 55 degrees; the wind was blowing in shore; the tide was making. I thought I was prepared to swim in there… but not true! It took probably 10 minutes to get acclimated to the water. Then I started swimming, made it maybe 50 yards, realized that I was completely out of my league and wasn’t going to finish the distance. I turned to head back in to the beach which was only maybe another 50 yards and discovered that I couldn’t breathe and I couldn’t raise my arms out of the water to stroke.

I was trying everything I knew to do – side stroke, getting on my back to relax and kick, turning on to my stomach to doggy paddle, anything. I pulled up once to catch my breath and that didn’t work either. So… I started calling for help. Really calling for help. For what seemed like a long time, but was probably a few seconds, I wasn’t sure anyone heard me or was responding. Finally, Kathy did hear me and she got Colin moving. Schuyler even heard me and turned around to swim back to help.

As it turns out, Colin got to me pretty quickly, we hooked up and he pulled me in a few yards until we could stand up. Fortunately, I never went under or swalllowed any water or panicked.

Someone called 911 and the response team got there in time to have recovered the body, but not in time to prevent there being a body. In fact, we were all sitting on benches, dried off, and having a laugh when they showed up. I think they were disappointed by the whole thing.

There is much work to be done.

I set out on the route below fully expecting to ride a new personal best.  Not only did a personal best not occur, I didn’t even finish the route. Ouch!  Was it the wind?   Was it the nearly crushed testicle about half way up the penultimate (as it turns out the actual ultimate) climb?  Was it the powdered sugar doughnuts instead of a banana for my mid-morning snack?  Was it the fact that I ate only peanut butter and vanilla wafers for lunch? Or, drank only coffee all morning and not really any water?  Excuses abound.  The fact remains clear, though.  I came up short and was totally wasted at the end.

It was one of those rides that makes you fell like you’re gonna puke at the end.  And, puke you would, except for pride.  It’s been a long time since I was so toasted after a ride that it took several hours to recover, but this was one of those times.  I was too tired last night to even attempt posting this.  Today, is better than I thought it might be and I’ll go out again today, only for something a little shorter and easier.

http://j.mp/blr6sA

http://j.mp/cGDXiH This was my birthday ride.  I was going to jump on here and post it from Macs, but I’ve given up on that for the moment just to get it on here.  It was a beautiful day, although a little breezier than ideal.  It was such a beautiful day that I didn’t even put on a playlist to push me along.  And, I got a tweet from Colin via Cyclemeter during the ride.  Very cool!  I got tired at the end and shortened up, skipping the last climb in the interest of getting home and having some birthday dinner.  All-in-all this went pretty well and the best thing is that the 2 “big” climbs were easier than usual.  Payoff for extra training?

I feel like I’m falling behind.  Jett’s ahead on the running of course—and maybe the swimming.  Colin’s ahead on the running and probably the cycling… and he’ll always be ahead on the swimming.  Schuyler is ahead on the running and, now that he swims IN THE BAY—YIKES!—he’s ahead on that too.

So, today I went for a 500 yd swim and will cycle for about 2 hours this afternoon.  I’m looking forward to being in SF in 3 weeks.  Schuyler is taking me to swim in the Bay!  We’ll see how that goes—at least I’ll be in some sort of swimming shape by then.  And, we’re going in trunks only – no wet suits.  There’ll also be a good bike ride in there somewhere.  I can’t wait.

The third climb though in the next higher gear was another story.  That guy was hard!  About half way up, I decided that if I hadn’t already gone to the trouble of being half way, I’d just call the day a success and head home.  By the time I made it to the top I was pretty pleased with myself.  And, I wasn’t even that tired.

That made me think that making my pre-ride goal of 4 trips in successively higher gears might be possible.  I enjoyed that third descent, made the turnaround, and went in for the fourth attack – this time in 34 x 17, a first attempt.  That halfway thing got me again.  You know, by the time you’ve invested in 50% of a climb, the thing to do is just go ahead and finish it.

The good news is that around here, the climbs are almost all short, power-type climbs.  Maybe this will make me a better climber.

http://j.mp/dmnS84

Anyway, Tuesday’s ride was a killer.  I needed a day of healing and meditation.  I put together a little playlist of “gospel” songs, which probably aren’t all technically “gospel songs”… but more of a mix of country, bluegrass, folk, and gospel… and hit the road for a short, flat, spin at a very easy pace.  Unfortunately, the head wind made keeping it chill difficult… and the inevitable tailwind made holding back a little tricky, but the resulting ride did the trick of recovering some toasted legs.  I followed it with a VibraFlex session and all is once again right with the world.  Taking the day off today… but planning something good for tomorrow maybe (if my rear end is recovered).

Armed with a brand-new playlist crafted especially for this ride (see below), the iSport ready to go, Cyclemeter all warmed up and awaiting its instructions, I hit the road about 12:15.  The set up for the ride was perfect.  Great breakfast; plenty of hydration in advance of riding; snacks for the ride; beautiful weather; a route that is safe for a solo rider and has some teeth.

Predictably, I started getting hungry at the 1.5 hour mark, in spite of Jelly Belly Sport Beans (Lemon Lime, of course) every 20 minutes.  A small break for part of a nutrition bar and some water and back in the saddle.  Happily, at the 2 hour mark I was still feeling pretty strong.  That was just about the time, though, that the last climb hits.  No problem.  Climb. Ride around.  Descend.  Simplicity itself.

But the deal is that at the bottom of that climb, I had to turn back into what had been a strong and nasty headwind.  Granted it was only for 4 miles, but suddenly everything hurt – feet, neck, shoulders, butt.  Another short break at the turn point allowed for some adjustments in equipment as well as some stretching.

Then it was just a matter of letting that nice friendly tailwind shoot me back those last 10 miles to the finish.  Ah, yes….

Suffice to say, that back at the office it took a while to recover and now my office stinks, but I liked getting this one under my belt.

http://j.mp/b9Ptx0

Big Chief – Professor Longhair

Curly Haired Baby – Professor Longhair

She Ain’t Got No Hair – Professor Longhair

I Gotta Have It – Jace Everett

Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand – Professor Longhair

Looka, No Hair – Professor Longhair

From Four Until Late – Eric Clapton

Mardi Gras In New Orleans – Professor Longhair

Marie – Randy Newman

Longhair’s Blues Rhumba – Professor Longhair

East St. Louis Baby – Professor Longhair

Bad Things (Club Mix) – Jace Everett

Her Mind Is Gone – Professor Longhair

Rednecks – Randy Newman

Bye Bye Baby – Professor Longhair

Cadillac Style – Sammy Kershaw

Hadacol Bounce – Professor Longhair

Longhair Stomp – Professor Longhair

Louisiana Hot Sauce – Sammy Kershaw

Been Foolin’ Around – Professor Longhair

Back on My Feet Again – Randy Newman

Misery – Professor Longhair

Birmingham – Randy Newman

Little Queen Of Spades – Eric Clapton

If You’re Gonna Walk, I’m Gonna Crawl – Sammy Kershaw

She Walks Right In – Professor Longhair

Boogie Woogie – Professor Longhair

Accentuate the Positive – Dr. John

Willie Mae – Professor Longhair

Oh Well – Professor Longhair

Between The Night And Day – Professor Longhair

Right Place, Wrong Time – Dr. John

Tipitina – Professor Longhair

Hey Little Girl – Professor Longhair

Kind Hearted Woman Blues – Eric Clapton

Rockin’ With Fess – Professor Longhair

Let the Good Times Roll – Dr. John

Professor Longhair Blues – Professor Longhair

No Buts – No Maybes – Professor Longhair

Take Me Out to the Ballgame – Dr. John

In The Night – Professor Longhair

Walk Your Blues Away – Professor Longhair

I Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down – Elvis Costello & The Attractions

Ball The Wall – Professor Longhair

Bald Head – Professor Longhair

Getting Mighty Crowded – Elvis Costello & The Attractions

Boyd’s Bounce – Professor Longhair

Cry Pretty Baby – Professor Longhair

(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace,

Love and Understanding? – Elvis Costello & the Attractions

Who’s Been Foolin’ You? – Professor Longhair

K.C. Blues – Professor Longhair

Guilty – Randy Newman

Traveling Riverside Blues – Eric Clapton

Byrd’s Blues – Professor Longhair

Hey Now Baby – Professor Longhair

Gone So Long – Professor Longhair

Me And The Devil Blues – Eric Clapton

Look What You’re Doing To Me – Professor Longhair

Mr. President

(Have Pity on the Working Man) – Randy Newman

Louisiana 1927 – Randy Newman

Hallelujah – Ray Charles

Nothing But The Blood – Randy Travis

Initial impressions were great. Cyclemeter is packed with nice features. In fact, I can’t think of much that’s missing (Strava support would be really cool, but I’ll get into why it’s not on my features wishlist in a minute). It seems to be geared toward the kind of user who wants as much info in as many ways as possible, which to me is always a good thing in this kind of app. Not only can I tweet my rides for everyone on Facebook to see, but they can follow along as I ride. Useful for coworkers who might start to wonder how much later I’ll be getting in to work – They can actually check the map to see where I am. Not that anyone does, as far as I know. I also have a ride report emailed to me when I finish, and have a folder in my Gmail just for recorded rides. Pretty cool.

There are, however, some drawbacks. For one, the GPS is not as accurate as in a dedicated device. Riding with a bunch of engineers, some of whom work on mobile devices, I’ve gathered that this is a weakness in all GPS-enabled phones. The GPS unit just isn’t as robust as in something like a Garmin, so phones use cell towers to assist  in finding their position. This becomes a major weakness when you have a bad signal, which is especially a problem with the iPhone in San Francisco. Most of the time it’s close enough, but occasionally it’ll lose track of a significant portion of a ride and end up drawing a straight line between points where it had a good signal. That’s fine, if you’re going in a straight line the whole time. Less fine if GPS cuts out for a longer period and misses an important turn or two (see some of Dad’s rides for an example). This is why Strava support isn’t a realistic thing to hope for. Apparently the Strava team has been working on iPhone support for some time, but the accuracy just isn’t there. Having a bike mount for my phone has alleviated some of the GPS problems, compared to when I rode with my phone in my pocket.

I had a lot of problems when I had my corporate email synced with my phone. For security reasons, the phone had to lock itself automatically and require a password to unlock. Turning this off was not an option, and it is not easy to put in a password on a phone while riding. It would have been OK if Cyclemeter could function while the screen was locked, but I never had any real success getting that to work. It’s been working fine since I unsynced my mail.

Maybe the worst thing about the app is that it can be SLOW. Yesterday when I finished my ride, it took about two minutes to “end” the ride and maybe two more to upload it. That’s a long time to stand there holding your phone when there’s bacon and pancakes waiting for you. It’s also a problem when starting after having paused the ride, which is OK if you’re riding alone but less OK if your group decides to leave the water stop suddenly. I don’t know if the iPhone 3GS, being a faster phone, has this problem or not. Maybe when I upgrade to whatever awesome new iPhone comes out next it’ll go away.

Drawbacks and caveats aside, this is still a very cool app and has become my go-to ride tracker. It has a great display screen, easy to read while on the bike:

Battery life seems to be better than on competing apps. (Note that I took the screenshot above after charging my phone, so the 78% after that ride is not accurate.) When I rode Skyline earlier this week, I finished in 3:18:41 and had 15% battery power left. Impressive, especially since the screen and wi-fi were on the entire time. It saves your routes, which makes it really easy to keep track of how this week’s ride compares to last week’s.

The Map feature is nice, not only can you use it mid-ride if you get lost, but it stores rides so you can show off later. I went to a bar last weekend and was showing my friends what this Cyclemeter stuff I’ve been spamming all over Facebook is about. On showing them the map, the common reaction was “You did THAT on a BIKE?”

It also has a nice graphing feature if you want to really geek out about stats. I don’t use this much at all, but it’s still pretty cool.

I’ve found it also works well for tracking runs. I’m not crazy about taking my iPhone running with me, but I’m also not about to go spend a couple hundred dollars on a Garmin watch for the dozen or so miles I run each month. Again, it’s comparable in performance to other apps that I’ve used. Abvio also makes Runmeter and Walkmeter, but I haven’t tried them out since Cyclemeter does everything. I suspect they’re functionally identical and the real deciding factor is which logo you like best.

One more thing to wrap up the review. Dad and I have both been using Cyclemeter to track our rides for a few weeks, and we’ve both had our share of problems. The guys at Abvio have been great about responding to tweets through @Cyclemeter when we’ve had issues. Most of the problems stemmed from inherent weaknesses in the iPhone’s GPS or from having my corporate email synced to the phone, we never took advantage of their tech support, but the fact that they were prompt and willing to help really says a lot about them. I’d definitely buy another Abvio app.

Usually when I plan to ride I bring a change of clothes to work the day before, and leave my laptop there overnight. But I just decided yesterday afternoon to do this ride, so I had to bring everything with me on the bike today. It was a bad day to travel with an extra ten pounds. Very little of the route is flat, and I am not in climbing shape. At all.

The good thing about climbs is, they always pay off. I absolutely love a good descent. Nothing like grabbing the drops and getting some face time with the handlebars. Sawyer Camp Trail (approx. miles 15.6-21.8) is the perfect combination of twisty descents, awesomely fun sharp turns, and gorgeous scenery. It is COLD though. The kind of cold that numbs your face until you can’t make consonants. The kind of cold that forces you to ball up your fists to save your fingers. The kind of cold that turns your nose into a total snotfaucet. Worth it though. Imagine if the forest portion of the Arkansas River Trail were five miles long, mostly downhill, and next to much prettier water.

And now on to the griping portion of this post. I am having a knee problem. It feels like my right patella is seriously bruised. It’s not, obviously, or I would know why it hurts. It was fine for almost the whole ride, but about three miles from Google it started bothering me, and it’s gotten worse throughout the day to the point that when I got up for water a minute ago it was hard to straighten my leg. I can walk just fine, in fact I don’t even limp… but it feels like I kneed The Thing in the crotch.

I also need a new saddle. I thought I just needed to get used to the one I have, but it seems like it’s taking fewer and fewer miles each ride to develop some serious ABS (that’s Angry Balls Syndrome). I picked up a used Fizik Alliante for my CX bike (just completed, pics forthcoming!) so we’ll see how that works out. If it’s good I’ll have to find a white and black one to match my Orbea.

So what about those of us who are aging weekend warriors, trying to ward off the ravages of time, not to mention dissolute living?  An intense workout for us is no less intense because it would be nothing to a younger elite athlete.  Intensity, afterall, is relative.  Lactic acid, fatigue, weaknesses are all amplified in us precisely because we don’t do as much, don’t have the underlying base conditioning, and are getting older.  Follow Lance’s tweets and you’ll get a picture of a guy who realizes he’s not as young as he once was.  Still great;  still competing at the highest level; still a force in his sport.  But, clearly, still on the high side of the age bracket.  Dara is the same way.

I follow their training regimens and try to get tips from what they do.  The two clearest messages seem to me to be: 1) do something every day toward your goals; and, 2) make sure that stretching and massage are always included in your recovery – every day.  The first lesson does not mean that you run every day or cycle every day or swim every day.  Cross-training is hugely important.  Variety isn’t just the spice of life – it seems to be a sure path to better health (and, if you do have a specific activity that you favor) to better performance.  The second lesson has been especially painful to me.  The single most important component to my workouts is now both stretching and massage – afterwards.

If you’ve followed the last couple of days or so, you’ve read how I raved about my pain free workout only to be almost immobile the next day.  Well, here it is 2 days post pain free workout and I’m pain free again.  Why?  If you answered “stretching and massage” go to the head of the class!  Quick re-cap: Sunday – pain free workout; Monday – can’t walk.  Monday afternoon – short, easy 1 hour spin-type ride to loosen things up some.  Then to the gym for a session on the Vibraflex.  OUCH! and WOW!  Then, home for the usual stretching and massage.  And, today?  Pain free again!

In case you’re wondering, we’re not sponsored by any of the products that we mention on here.  We’re not nearly good enough for that!  This is stuff that we use to make our training lives easier or better or happier in some way.  So when we give props to something, it’s because we’ve tried a bunch of stuff and this is something we think merits a mention.  That said, a shout out goes to the Muscle Trigger Points app for iPhone.  I love that little app!  Because of it, I have been able to discover the source of several aches and pains and take actions to alleviate the same.  Beats taking a handful of Alleve every 4 hours (which btw, I’m not necessarily opposed to).

AND I ALMOST FORGOT….eating well is very important for older athletes as well….and I dislike that part about as much as I dislike running in general.