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So, how did you guys think you could get ready for this ride? I went on the first few training rides, and I didn't think you could make it past 50 miles, honestly. Then, a few months later you dropped me on the Whittier hills, close to the end of a century. Please explain your strength.
I wish I had more screen names. RBI's new companion tears the hills up. Don't mess with her, seriously. She's fast. And hills? Forget it. She will beat you up.
and I am really excited about the image you all spread about the Midnight Ridazz. Its almost like you're martyrs for all the sinning we get to do on the rides! almost.
Thanks for the kind words. When I get off work I'll answer your question tern. But really I feel like this belongs to everyone on the team, it wouldn't be what it is without all the great people that come together to train hard and raise money for the cause.
Wooo Team Midnight Ridazz!! 20 Days left until the big ride.
tern-
In regards to the attaining core-elite rida status as mentioned in the first post, it's quite simple. We all go to secret ninja core-elite ridaism training encampments buried deep inside the earth, for extra pressurized core status...
Danny, Gary and Meghan are 3 of my favorite people, let alone ridazz!
They (and the rest of Team MR) took me under their wings when I was nothing but the lost little Canadian who had to walk her commuter bike up "dump-truck hill". Danny gave me the gift of hills, Gary gave me the gift of speed, and Meghan has been my source of strength and encouragement whenever I started to doubt myself...in all matters (cycling related or not). This whole team has MADE my L.A. experience and changed my whole lifestyle. Whoa, right?
There is more to say but I will save that for the last day of ALC when I burst into tears. I will now shut my mouf before somebody vomits.
Oh, and tern, we are powered by vegan nuggets. That's a fact. And yes, you made me blush.
i had a dream where i was talking to all of the ALC ridazz in an airport
I said, hey aren't you guys supposed to be bike riding not flying?
they laughed a whole bunch and said something to the effect of,
"didn't you know? you bike ride on the airplane"
goddamnit, always getting my transportations mixed up
"So, how did you guys think you could get ready for this ride? I went on the first few training rides, and I didn't think you could make it past 50 miles, honestly. Then, a few months later you dropped me on the Whittier hills, close to the end of a century. Please explain your strength. ...as a team, I mean." -tern
My own strength as a cyclist was quickly built in large part due to my introduction to Cubcamp combined with converting nearly all my commuting to cycling. However I knew what worked for me would not work for everyone. From the beginning I felt that as a team our training would need to be different from any other rides being done regularly on Midnight Ridazz, but I wanted to keep some of the MR vibe of people rather then rely on training with the established clubs that host training rides.
Most social rides are too easy for much training benefit, for something as big as SF to LA anyways. The trial by fire of fast paced rides like Wolfpack can be overwhelming and discouraging for someone not already in strong cycling shape, and ALC is a test of endurance, not a raging a peloton. So I wanted us to fill some kind of nitch for ridazz looking to go the distance, but not get off dropped off the backside of a fast paced ride.
That first ride you accompanied us on last year tern, was our second time riding as a team, and the first training ride we hosted. For some of our riders it was the first time they had ever ridden that far (a metric century). It was a mostly flat ride, meant to up the maximum mileage and time in the saddle for some of the team, providing a challenge while not being so taxing as to drop anyone. We had a few people bonk, but everyone pulled through to the end.
From then on focus shifted toward introducing progressively more challenging terrain and variety of hill climbs. Danny and myself were involved in most of the ride planning and routing, using the variety of terrain we have in LA county to get everyone ready for what would encounter on the big ride, and occasionally terrain more challenging then anything on the ALC route. Danny has an uncanny ability to sweet talk people up hills they would never climb on their own, like throwing a climb to the backside of the Hollywood sign to the end of a ride just to do it.
Also at the base of everyones training is self motivation and riding more on a day to day basis as well, with some of our riders taking on more commuting miles per week and supplementing training with their own rides to push them self. Team members would encourage each other with these efforts. Some of our ridazz would also attend club rides hosted by other teams that are on the official ALC calendar to round out weeks when we had no group rides planned of our own, or supplementing our rides. And of course MR rides and rides to rides all provide extra mileage.
The last ride you attended with us was the Imperial Century, which was meant to push everyone to their limits, and test how well all the training had paid off, with the combination of 100+ miles distance and numerous hill climbs of significant difficulty. I was really bummed I could only complete half the route due to trying to ride with a fever. But I was really proud of how well everyone did such an epic ride. I was worried I might have gone too far with the routing that time, but everyone started rolling up to Pure Luck with looks of accomplishment and a strong desire to put food in their face.
So in a nutshell that is our rise to cycling prowess. It seems to have worked, as everyone who has trained with us has improved by leaps and bounds from the first couple rides. We now have a couple girls on the team flirting with trying Wolfpack rides. They still struggle with it some, and our training really emphasized endurance over raw speed and power. But anyone who rides with WP knows, without Beatrice, most weeks would be powered on pure testosterone, so it's cool to see more females riding strong.
It's a great group of people we have riding together, and I've been really proud to be in a role of leadership for this team. I can't wait to ride 545 miles for a week straight together and really see fruits of our labor.
I think I've only came into contact with all of you a couple of times.
The first was the March C.R.A.N.K. Mob, then through my drunken tunnel-vision, probably the race that occurred in that brightly-lit tunnel a few, weeks ago.
But nonetheless, you guys are starting to remind me of SG-1 in a way.
Y'all seem to ride together, get lost together, assemble and generally kick all-around ass together.
That trip up to that mythical-looking, waterfall place seemed to be a
good example of my fact.
So, the assignment is ALC evidently.
All I got to say is keep doing what you're doing and take lot's of pictures.
And maybe that will inspire me to join up for next years run.
You guys are so freaking rad. I've so enjoyed going to the kickass events you've been putting on to fund-raise, and getting the chance to meet you has been really great.
I want an MR ALC shirt. I guess I have to bike 500 miles for that. Next year?
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Ridazz Roulette!
Danny, Gary and Meghan are 3 of my favorite people, let alone ridazz!