The Copper Triangle (or why all I do is bike)
Posted on | July 7, 2008 |
Remember that bike I mentioned a while back? Well, we’ve gotten very well acquainted over the last year. We’ve grown especially close over the last three months as I train (a term I use loosely) for the Copper Triangle, a 77 mile alpine ride over 3 mountain passes. My training regime consists mostly of riding as much as possible, or TitS (Time in the Saddle), as my friend Rachel calls it. Rachel I also “blame” for getting me into this as she suggested the ride back in January. I hesitated, but, with several other friends on board, I decided to go for it.
Much of the winter and early spring while I waited for longer days and clear roads was spent in spin class hoping to hang on to some of last season’s legs (results: mixed). Once the days were longer, I headed out. With my TitS training plan in place, I soon realized I would need a saddle upgrade. Ouch. So, the stock Etape saddle went aside in early May. Since the middle of May, save for a few vacation days, I’ve been logging 100+ miles per week. The last month, I’ve been in the 130-150+ per week range — including at least one 50+ mile ride a week (and edging this up gradually). This past week I hit about 170, logging ~60 on Friday and ~70 on Sunday. Of course I got a flat two miles from home on Sunday.
For the most part, I just try to get in as many climbing miles as I can, mixing in some flat miles to give myself a break. As we did last year, my Rist buddies, Tracy and Catherine, (also riding the Copper Triangle) and I once again completed our Rist Canyon series. Happily, we all noted that we were stronger riders than last year.
So how’s my training plan working? Well, I think. A ride that used to be hard last year is now a standard. On tough climbs I’m seeing my speed inch up, if only by 1 or 2 mph. In mid May, a fifty mile ride meant I didn’t want to look at my bike the next day. Now I’m mostly recovered the same day and ready to do at least a recovery ride the next day. The 70 yesterday felt way better than 50 did a month ago. I think I could have done 10 more, if I wasn’t bored (iPod died 40 miles in). And, frankly, all this riding does not hurt the muscle tone of one’s legs.
But my stomach still gets squirmy when I think that the ride is less than a month away.
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3 Responses to “The Copper Triangle (or why all I do is bike)”
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July 14th, 2008 @ 6:40 am
Wow. That looks like an amazing ride! I wish we had mountains in SD…
July 14th, 2008 @ 9:29 am
Well, there are mountains, but they’re not really conveniently located for a Vermillionite.
January 18th, 2009 @ 9:41 pm
my son and I are from the flatlands of wyoming and did the triangle in 5 hrs in 2008. lots of riding small hills around home and 4 weekends worth of training in laramie wy. alt 7000 to 10800. have faith and spend time in the saddle.