Month: May 2008

Tail Wind

Top three things that make a great ride:
3. Newly paved roads.
2. False uphills.
1. Tail wind on the way home.
These are subject to change without notice.

As I walked out of the office at 5:05 to retrieve my biking clothes I realized there was a northwest wind and knowing how quickly the wind can change I dove into my clothes, onto the bike, and onto the Larkspur loop.

Nothing real earth shattering just a nice ride. I went up Larkspur pass, I know it’s just a hill but pass sounds so much more impressive, 2mph faster than two days ago.

The ride home was so much fun. I settled into a nice rhythm and flew home.

Here are the numbers:
21.42 miles, 15.2 mph avg, 38.5 max, 1:24:15 total time, burned 1573 total calories with an avg hrt of 163.

This weekend is packed so I don’t think I’ll get a ride in. We’ll see.

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Posted by Gary in Bicycling

Humbled

Today I had an employment law update to attend on the south side of town. Yes it was as exciting as it sounds.

Two weeks ago I met someone who rides about 200 miles a week, that should have been my first clue, he said “you ever ride up to Helen Hunt Falls? It’s a great ride.” so today I decided while I was down there I would experience the great ride up. Oh my goodness…..

I got 1 mile into the climb and had to stop my heart rate was maxed out. I hate stopping on climbs. When my heart rate got back to high I decided to press on. .6 mile ahead the road turned from steep to steeper. I stopped again, did I mention I hate stopping on climbs? only this time when I started I had to go horizontally across the road so I could clip in my second shoe. .2 mile up the road I cashed it in feeling totally defeated and disappointed.

I have decided this will be my barometer. Occasionally I will drive down to the canyon and see if I can go further. I will get to the falls before the end of the summer.

Here are the numbers:
6.92 miles, 12.2 avg mph, 36.8 mph max, 34:05 ride time, 44:51 total time, almost 11 minutes gasping for air hoping my head wouldn’t explode. Burned 796 calories, half of what I burned on a 22 mile ride yesterday, and an average hrt of 156, not sure how that works. I’m down to 164 lbs and 19.5% body fat.

I’m doing the Larkspur loop again tomorrow Lord willing and the creek don’t rise. (for all you John Wayne fans)

Blogged with the Flock Browser
Posted by Gary in Bicycling

The Larkspur Loop

The weather finally broke, a bit, and I decided it was time to ride the Larkspur loop for the first time this year.

This little loop has become a staple for me because there is not much traffic, a good climb, and plenty of recovery time. I love it.

Tonight after work I jumped on the Felt F75 and headed up through Palmer Lake to Hwy 105 and down hill for about 7 miles with a 22 mph tail wind. So much fun to go fast. This time however I knew the payback would be substantial because that 22 mph wind would be straight into my face on the way home.

Going up Larkspur pass was good I didn’t fall beneath 9mph at all on the ascent and hit the top of the two mile climb listening to SRV playing Scuttle Buttin. I love it when the iPod chooses a good climbing song for me.

Recovered nicely on the downhill and proceeded through Larkspur dreading the next 10 miles. I hit the top of the hill past Larkspur and settled in for a long ride home. It’s a gentle climb for two miles before you hit the first moderate hill. I was in the same gear going the same speed with the same heart rate that I had on the Larkspur pass climb, Wow!

The rest of the ride was good and after the bacon hill portion of the loop I time trialed it home.

Here are the numbers:
21.29 miles, 15.4mph avg, 45.8 max, 1:22:48, burned 1542 calories and 162 avg hrt.

I know the numbers are not very impressive but it was a good ride for me this early in the year and the ride home was not as bad as I expected. Tomorrow I’m at an employment law update on the south side of town so I’ll look for a new route. I let you know how it goes.

BTW. I like this Flock thing.

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Posted by Gary in Bicycling

God’s Answer – The Church.

Below is an excerpt of an article written by Pastor Gary Skinner, It’s long but I felt a bit like the men getting ready to go to war after William Wallace said “They can take our lives but they will never take our freedom”. The answers are not found in any other than Jesus. Please go read the whole thing at watoto

The world is filled with serious problems; the solution is a Church that lives out the life of Jesus not just in some building but deeply entrenched in the fabric of society.

It is to this that Jesus is calling us today, and as He calls us, He commands the Church to go and cover the planet with Himself.  This is our only hope!

Watoto – The Church – Continued

Posted by Gary in Civics

Just Discovered Flock

The never ending parade of “social media” is starting to hit critical mass. Someone just told me about Flock. the social networking browser.

It’s cool so far. Right now I’m just trying to get everything set up and figured out.

We’ll see if this post shows up and looks right. Normally I like the Windows Live Writer.

I’ll let you know.

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Posted by Gary in Personal

In Memory of Maria

this is a follow up to the last post regarding the Chapman family. this website was set up for you to get to know her.

In Memory of Maria

Posted by Gary in Faith

Steven Curtis Chapman

Today my heart is breaking for this amazing family.

I have always admired Steven; not only for his talent but for his integrity, humility, and heart after God and people. I heard him say once that he doesn’t get a big head because he knows who he is at home. (that’s an awful paraphrase I hope you understand what I’m trying to say).

The loss and grief are beyond my ability to imagine. Psalm 34:18 says He is near to the broken hearted and that is my prayer for the Chapman family today.

We just finished praying as a staff and I hope you will take a minute to do the same. This is one of the purposes of the Body of Christ. God is still on the throne and is able, and desiring, to give us peace when we walk through difficult, and seaming impossible, times like this in this fallen world.

Posted by Gary in Faith

Why I became a Christian.

Every once in awhile something happens to coalesce seemingly random events. Two weeks ago I attended the Christian Leadership Alliance annual conference in Dallas which was the biggest coalescing event for me in a long time.

Much of what happened in there is being processed in my mind and I look forward to the application in the different spheres of my life. Today I want to talk about a book I discovered on the trip called “The Shack“.

The Shack is interesting on many different levels and at times made me stop and wonder about some of the theology however; the basic premise of the book made me remember why I became a Christian.

I did not choose to give my life to Christ so I could mentor young men, or serve a ministry, or lead worship, or you fill in the blank. I chose to enter a relationship with Jesus because He saved me from an unspeakable eternity and made Himself so real to me. He became… personal.

He is the source and substance of everything I need but above that He wants to be my friend. The Bible is very clear about what friendship with God looks like and that’s another subject for another time. It’s just good to be reminded of why I, and you, chose to follow Jesus.

Blessings,

Posted by Gary in Intimacy W/God