Monday, September 27, 2004
Near PR on Flagstaff and a Clean Monkey
Eric Coppock and Michelle Hsu joined me for the traditional workout and conditions were ideal. Eric is the ideal pace man for me on climbs. He's done it so many times now that I really think having someone to pace you on hills is a significant advantage. I used to think "It doesn't matter if Lance has any teammates or not on the last climb. It's just a time trial. The advantage of a draft is negligible." The draft has got to be completely negligible at the speeds I climb at, but somehow Eric's pacing really helps.
Eric asked me in jest at the start, "Want me to set a 3:50 pace up to the Flagstaff House?" I responded, "4:15 would actually be better for me." He said he was kidding and didn't plan to go hard today, but he apparently changed his mind, willing to work for me for no other reason than he could. He set a strong pace on the steep lower portion and I just grabbed his wheel and tried not to look up much. Remarkably, and without wearing a watch, Eric hit the sign just past Flagstaff House in exactly 4:15. I hit it a second later.
Normally I like to attack just past this house, as it flattens out quite a bit, but Eric kept the pace high and steady and I stayed on his wheel. We hit the Monkey Traverse parking at 9:20, about 25 seconds behind PR pace, and I knew I had a good one going. I went by here and Eric sat up, his work done. I was at the hairpin after the Monkey in 10:25, how just 20 seconds down on my PR of 15:35. I didn't think I could PR, but I have lusted after another sub-16 time for nearly a year.
At the final hairpin to the left, I was at 12 minutes and knew it was about four minutes of suffering to the finish. And suffer I did. At the speed limit sign I was at 15 minutes and knew I'd break 16. I finished in my second best time ever of 15:44. Thanks, Eric!
I descended immediately down to Michelle and biked back up with her. She was riding strong despite having two broken ribs from a mountain biking crash. She can still go hard, but she can't stand. Despite this injury, she was headed to the Monkey Traverse with Eric and I as well.
We descended to the Monkey Traverse area and switched into our climbing shoes. Eric went first and casually cruised the first third into the rest. But Eric hasn't been climbing much of late and this shot his forearms good. He made one attempt at the second third and came off pretty early. Michelle started and was stymied by a big move in the opening third, but we worked out a solution for her and she sent that move next try. She's close to linking the first third.
I got on and sent the entire Monkey, first try, but I was especially desperate at the exit. I really had to fight for the final jug and had to focus. I knew Eric was down below giving me a good spot, so I barely snagged it. I went back after resting and fell off halfway through the second third. I still have little endurance. Anyway, it was a great workout.
Bill
Eric asked me in jest at the start, "Want me to set a 3:50 pace up to the Flagstaff House?" I responded, "4:15 would actually be better for me." He said he was kidding and didn't plan to go hard today, but he apparently changed his mind, willing to work for me for no other reason than he could. He set a strong pace on the steep lower portion and I just grabbed his wheel and tried not to look up much. Remarkably, and without wearing a watch, Eric hit the sign just past Flagstaff House in exactly 4:15. I hit it a second later.
Normally I like to attack just past this house, as it flattens out quite a bit, but Eric kept the pace high and steady and I stayed on his wheel. We hit the Monkey Traverse parking at 9:20, about 25 seconds behind PR pace, and I knew I had a good one going. I went by here and Eric sat up, his work done. I was at the hairpin after the Monkey in 10:25, how just 20 seconds down on my PR of 15:35. I didn't think I could PR, but I have lusted after another sub-16 time for nearly a year.
At the final hairpin to the left, I was at 12 minutes and knew it was about four minutes of suffering to the finish. And suffer I did. At the speed limit sign I was at 15 minutes and knew I'd break 16. I finished in my second best time ever of 15:44. Thanks, Eric!
I descended immediately down to Michelle and biked back up with her. She was riding strong despite having two broken ribs from a mountain biking crash. She can still go hard, but she can't stand. Despite this injury, she was headed to the Monkey Traverse with Eric and I as well.
We descended to the Monkey Traverse area and switched into our climbing shoes. Eric went first and casually cruised the first third into the rest. But Eric hasn't been climbing much of late and this shot his forearms good. He made one attempt at the second third and came off pretty early. Michelle started and was stymied by a big move in the opening third, but we worked out a solution for her and she sent that move next try. She's close to linking the first third.
I got on and sent the entire Monkey, first try, but I was especially desperate at the exit. I really had to fight for the final jug and had to focus. I knew Eric was down below giving me a good spot, so I barely snagged it. I went back after resting and fell off halfway through the second third. I still have little endurance. Anyway, it was a great workout.
Bill
Friday, September 03, 2004
Flag and the Monkey
Hi all,
Rode Flagstaff with Mark Schwab today. He set a hard tempo pace on the climb and I hung on as long as I could and then used him as a carrot to chase. I ended up with a PCB-PR of 16:47. 4:26 to the Flagstaff House, 9:35 at the Monkey, 11:02 at the hairpin after the Monkey. It seemed like I was going faster than that, but obviously I've got a ways to go. 48 seconds to go...
We descended to the Monkey and met Eric there. Mark sends the first third and half of the next section before coming off. Eric sends the first section in his running shoes! Yikes. I'm going to encourage him to bring slippers anymore, as he'll embarrass me. I sent the first two sections and half of the last section before jumping off just before the iron cross move. I knew I didn't have it to finish. The middle third really sapped me. Better than last time though.
Bill
Rode Flagstaff with Mark Schwab today. He set a hard tempo pace on the climb and I hung on as long as I could and then used him as a carrot to chase. I ended up with a PCB-PR of 16:47. 4:26 to the Flagstaff House, 9:35 at the Monkey, 11:02 at the hairpin after the Monkey. It seemed like I was going faster than that, but obviously I've got a ways to go. 48 seconds to go...
We descended to the Monkey and met Eric there. Mark sends the first third and half of the next section before coming off. Eric sends the first section in his running shoes! Yikes. I'm going to encourage him to bring slippers anymore, as he'll embarrass me. I sent the first two sections and half of the last section before jumping off just before the iron cross move. I knew I didn't have it to finish. The middle third really sapped me. Better than last time though.
Bill
