So let the next Challenge Begin

During the Chan family picnic last summer, the cousin's and I talked about a new challenge for 2013.  Ya, a bunch of old guys in there 50's wanting to keep youthful, true weekend warriors.  Picture that.  We decided on the Seattle to Portland Bike ride.  A 200 mile ride over 2 days.  Seems challenging enough and doable for us old guys.  I'll be blogging about this over the next 6 to 8 months.

Today, I signed up to the Cascade Bicycling Club.  Step 1 done.  By being members of the bike club, it gives us a early opportunity to get chosen to ride this event July 13-14.  Selection of the riders is by two lotteries to choose 10k riders.  The first lottery from members of the bike club.

Here's the ride we chose: https://shop.cascade.org/content/events/stp.

oh, I need to convince my wife that I need a 3rd bike.  Got a mountain bike and a commuter bike.   For this ride, those bikes won't do.  I need a road bike for this event.  She see's this as just another toy but  biking has always been a passion of mine and I love all kids of riding.  there are much worse vices to spend your money on.

I've started to ramp up my biking mileage. I'm a bit concerned on my current injuries but I'm hoping I can resolve them before the ride.

So let the challenge begins.

First Day of Fall

I can hardly believe this location is riding distance from my home in North Vancouver.  My buddy Pete and I rode a 40k loop in Lynn Canyon Headwaters this morning, part of the ride through this marshy area in the photo.  I have to say, my legs were completely spent at around the 25k marker.  We climed some 1700 ft during, not too bad, but I had to go into survival mode to get out.  To be honest,  praying a bit that I did not have any mechanical issues.  I was completely unprepared for any issues.  Although I worked hard on the hike yesterday, it's clear to me I have to work on my distance fitness.

Summer's Done

Where does all  that time go?  It's been quite a while since my last post.  Let's try to start it up again.  Here we go.

I had quite a few injuries which prevented me from the usual running and biking this year.  It's been near 8 months since running and biking actively.  Wiped out by a Racoon, of all things, early this year while riding to work (hit the darn thing speeding just over 50k) went flying andbroke my shoulder bone and chronic back injury and a host of other ailments  will do it.  One surprise was turning to hiking and the Grouse Grind specifically.  I decided to have a goal of 10 hikes up the Grouse Grind.  Yesterday, I achieved 30,   by the last day of summer. Over 80k ascent this summer.  One thing that surprised me is how addictive the Grind was.  60 mins of hard climbing produced a lot of endorphines, and its very addictive.