[Sportsandrec] cardio kickboxing or aerobics class

[Joe Shaw]

Ron,
You are my hero. Good luck and fun to you this weekend! I wish I could get 
down there for the ride.
JS
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron & the bears" <rockthebike at usfamily.net>
To: "Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List" 
<sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 4:43 PM
Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] cardio kickboxing or aerobics class


> Hi Joe & all,
>
> Music is such an important part of exercise for me. It literally blocks 
> out
> the pain, or helps me maintain a certain attitude or tempo.
>
> For fast group rides, I love the B-52's "Rock Lobster".
>
> But Sir, if you like to climb, have I got a deal for you.
>
> This Saturday, I am riding my tandem in the Tour das Hugel, or Tour of the
> Hills in German. www.tourdashugel.com
>
> It is a 112 mile ride seasoned with 14,600 feet of hill climbing. For
> comparison, most 60-100  mile bike rides I do, have anywhere from 500 to
> 4,000 feet of climbing.
>
> I rode it last year with Travis, a 31-year-old, first-time tandem pilot, 
> who
> was the 2007 Texas State mountain biking champion for his category. We 
> were
> the first tandem to ever show up for, let alone  finish the event. Going 
> up
> one of the hills, I was eating a Cliff bar, with one hand on the 
> handlebar.
> As the hill became steeper, it got my attention as I felt the extra
> resistance in the pedals. I quickly grabbed the handlebar and pulled hard,
> while digging into my stroke. Travis, must have accelerated in a similar
> manner. Together, we pulled the front wheel of the tandem off the ground a
> few inches. We even had a witness next to us on his single bike. We 
> cruised
> the ride at a leisurely pace in about nine and a half hours, including 
> time
> at the rest-stops.
>
> My favorite AC/DC song for sports motivation is "Shoot to Kill". However,
> for this ride, it was not about intense power as much as survival. I had
> never ridden so many steep hills in a row before, so I rode conservatively
> all day. With one of the most daunting hills, hanging over my head, at the
> 95-mile mark, I mostly thought of that song, "Big Girl Now". I love how
> Fergie sings that one. The song kept me mellow and focused on completing 
> the
> whole thing. On that last big hill, though, I was letting it all hang out
> while hearing Motley Crue's "Kick Start My Heart". For the last 50 meters 
> of
> that climb, I became a little emotional and wanted to show the hill who 
> was
> tougher. I tried to sprint with all I had. I impressed my pilot for a few
> seconds, before my legs were full of acid at the summit.:) For the last 
> few
> miles of gently rolling terrain, back to the finish line, I meditated on 
> the
> lyric, "When we started this ride, I'd admit, maybe we wouldn't last. Some
> Hills gone by, and I'd say we kicked some..."
>
> Most of these hills are no longer than 3 or 4 blocks, but they are very
> steep, averaging around 23 percent grade. This means that as you move
> forward 100 feet, you go up 23 feet. This may be about the height of a
> 2-story house in the length of two and a half city busses??
>
> The whole ride is hosted by local volunteers and it is free to ride. Many 
> of
> the rest-stops are in peoples yards or driveways. Last year, a girl scout
> troop managed a rest-stop for one of the brownie's 15 year-old brother, 
> who
> was participating in the ride. The sense of community is a real empowering
> aspect of the event! Though the ride is over 100 miles long, it is all
> within Austin.
>
> This year, I am riding with Patricia, a 55-year-old triathlete with a PHD 
> in
> medicine. After my usual, team training ride Sunday morning, I rode a
> 25-mile practice session with her. We are riding hills again on Thursday
> night to ensure the bike is set for her and mechanically sound. She has an
> excellent  attitude and wants to finish the whole enchilada.
>
> I think I rode 80-85 miles on Sunday, but it has been a while since I have
> ridden a century, maybe back in May? The temps will range from 47 to about
> 67, good hill-climbing weather, but it will be windy, which means that 
> much
> more work. It will be a real challenge, but I try not to think about it 
> too
> much. Mindset is important for this event. Just one hill at a time, then
> recover for the next.
>
> Regards,
>
> Ron & the uphill all day bears
> Austin, Texas
>
> "Joe Shaw" <jrs3147 at comcast.net>, wrote, "AC/DC is great climbing music. 
> For
> Those about to Rock is a fantastic spin song.
> : Joe
>
>
>
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