Today's Ride - Livermore winery area, then up Mines Road! 54 Miles

[burnbr...@hotmail.com]

The main topic of the day was weather. Today was a real mix. At the
start of the ride (0930), we had patches of blue sky. The ride was
beautiful. We started out in Dublin and headed out to Livermore
winery country. We passed Ruby Hill, Concannon, Wente and a couple of
others. Then we took the right to head up Mines road. Thats when
patches of blue gave way to grey cover and light rain started. As we
began our clime, the light rain turned to heavy rain. If you've ever
ridden up Mines road, you know the ascent. It is by no means totally
difficult if you compare it to Diablo, but if you add in pounding rain
and 20 mph winds blowing against you as you try to climb...well you
get the idea. The rain was coming down so hard at one point, it felt
like hale hitting your face. No kidding! Believe or not, you body is
exerting so much energy to do these types of climbs, you don't feel
cold at all. That is, unless you stop exerting that much energy and
burning all those lovely calories. We ascended to mile marker 11,
which was our turn around point. And did I mention I was the only one
to get a flat this ride - and did I also say it happened three times!
I think that's a season TNT record for number of flats on one ride. I
am now due for a tire change I believe. Coach Cyd was nice enough to
give me her front wheel for the remainder of the ride.

This was a tough climb and I was really pushing my training today.
You can bet that you go through a whole series of emotional changes
(well documented by sports psychologists). I felt everything from
elation to anger. The part most satisfying happened 3/4 the way up
the hill. I could look ahead up the mountain and saw nothing but more
mountain and consequently more climbing. My legs were sore as get all
out. My previous thoughts were along the lines of "does it ever
stop?". But I achieved something I shall call "climbing zen". A
strange and wonderful transformation happens, you come to peace with
what you are trying to accomplish. Many things went through my head
that led me to the conclusion that the hill is my friend and not my
enemy. A sampling of those thoughts: The hill is teaching me a lesson
- it is the master, The weather is the master and trying to stop me
from making friends with the hill -- Or was it my friend too?, I am
doing this for my Leukemia and my friend Victoria is my inspiration.
All of this helped me reach mile marker 11. And you know what? It
really wasn't that hard.

The turnaround at mile marker 11 and subsequent descent was the
mountain's reward to me. It was a blast! Rain and all. The best part
- at the bottom of the hill, the rain stopped and it was dry ground!
My friend the mountain rewarded my efforts and so did the weather.
The rain did return about 20 mins later, but I was too happy to worry
about it.

The rest of the ride was uneventful. We pulled back in to the
Farmer's insurance building parking lot in Dublin at around 3:15.
This ride took a long time due to the 3 mechanical failures.

And my bike is back in the shop (see previous posts). Hopefully the
cranks will be replaced and we will be looking at a new set of rims.

Tomorrow is a day of rest friends, no postings except for pictures
from the trip.