Sep 18, 04:30 PM by Steve | I'm In
Posted in Cycling & Racing
I suppose it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that knows me that I’ve decided to still go to Everest Challenge. I told myself and others that I would not make a decision until after my climb on Wednesday, so that’s what I did. Going into Wednesday I was feeling better every day and knew that my decision was becoming increasingly likely. Some of you probably think it was inevitable, but I really did give it serious consideration. The pain is nearly gone, but some discomfort lingers, especially if I move funny. I can breathe deep, cough, sneeze, and blow snot rockets. Just don’t make me laugh. The safety is my biggest concern and I’ve been very cautious on rides and especially descending yesterday. I don’t know what to say, except that I don’t think doing this will be any less safe than staying in Santa Barbara and doing the lake ride and Worlds… again…
Anyway, I’m going into this with lowered expectation. I was thinking I coud get some points out of this, but now I’ll be happy just to finish in the top half.
So, I spent this morning making final changes to my bike. I’m taking the TCR instead of the Tarmac because I want the power data, both for pacing and after-the-fact overanalysis. Pretty funny since a big motivation for getting the Tarmac was a lighter bike for Everest Challenge, and getting the CinQo for having power data when switching between race wheels and training wheels… Originally I was expecting to have the s-works CinQo version by now, but with delays and whatnot, it’s not ready yet. I was going to look into getting an adapter to put my other crank in the BB30 shell, but I dropped the ball on that one. Oh well, all I can really do at this point was swap a bunch of lightweight components onto the TCR.
Putting on my Arione CX, Ti Speedplays, and Reynolds carbon race wheels, it weighed in this morning at a svelte 15.6lbs… Nice and light to be sure, but much heavier than the 13.9lb Tarmac. I also put on some weenie 38×28 gearing for getting over the last steep climb on each day with jello for legs. Thanks Ed for the 38, it shifts just fine by the way.
I’m hoping to get into Bishop in the mid-afternoon, go spin around for an hour or so to stretch out my legs after driving, lounge around the pool/hot tub and have an early dinner at The Upper Crust, maybe 6-7ish. Of course I have a bad track record for leaving on trips in time…
i think you crazy
— jen at Sep 19, 06:42 AMgood luck. looking forward to the story and charts! later.
— aham23 at Sep 19, 10:54 AMGood luck Steve, and be sure to give us an update Saturday after stage 1. Be safe.
— mark at Sep 19, 11:05 AMI’m going to enforce rest for him afterwards.
— kim at Sep 19, 12:44 PMI’m going on a business trip right afterwards. I’ll be off the bike for 3 days. Is that enough?
— steve at Sep 19, 12:51 PMit’s a start
— Kim at Sep 19, 06:46 PM