Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Fried
I arrived at Ben Guriun Airport at 4 a.m. Friday morning. By 7 a.m. I was on a rented road bike flying down the 3.5 mile hill from Neis Harim to Beit Shemesh at speeds easily exceeding 40 mph. The rub, of course, is that I had to climb back up that self same hill. This climb is the one we will be doing on the last day of the Alyn ride and one which I've done many times over the years. All in all, the climb went well even though I didn't have my bike shoes with cleats.
Then came Sunday. Despite the heat wave that had affected the country, I bravely (or stupidly?) decided to ride that morning again, doing the same ride. I figured, "how hot can it get at 8 a.m.?" The answer? Very, very hot.
I knew I was in trouble when I was actually hot on the way down the hill despite the extreme speed of the descent. When I got to the bottom I reloaded my water at a kiosk that sits just at the foot of the hill. That move may have saved me.
I made it about halfway up the hill when I became overwhelmed by the heat. I had been drinking constantly and even pouring water over my head from time to time. To no avail. I was cooked.
Finally, I hopped off the bike. This was the first time I've had to stop on that hill in about ten tries over the last few years.
I drank some more and then poured a quarter of one of my water bottles over my head. After about three minutes, I started to feel better and got back on the bike. I made it to the top uneventfully.
When I finished my ride I bought another bottle of water and a can of coke. I also poured another bottle full of tap water over my head. I changed out of my bike clothes. I was fried.
It took me all day to recover. I kept drinking liquids and spent much of the rest of the day in air conditioned rooms but I didn't feel ok until around 9 p.m.
Sometimes you have to know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em. Riding on Sunday morning was just plain dumb.
Then came Sunday. Despite the heat wave that had affected the country, I bravely (or stupidly?) decided to ride that morning again, doing the same ride. I figured, "how hot can it get at 8 a.m.?" The answer? Very, very hot.
I knew I was in trouble when I was actually hot on the way down the hill despite the extreme speed of the descent. When I got to the bottom I reloaded my water at a kiosk that sits just at the foot of the hill. That move may have saved me.
I made it about halfway up the hill when I became overwhelmed by the heat. I had been drinking constantly and even pouring water over my head from time to time. To no avail. I was cooked.
Finally, I hopped off the bike. This was the first time I've had to stop on that hill in about ten tries over the last few years.
I drank some more and then poured a quarter of one of my water bottles over my head. After about three minutes, I started to feel better and got back on the bike. I made it to the top uneventfully.
When I finished my ride I bought another bottle of water and a can of coke. I also poured another bottle full of tap water over my head. I changed out of my bike clothes. I was fried.
It took me all day to recover. I kept drinking liquids and spent much of the rest of the day in air conditioned rooms but I didn't feel ok until around 9 p.m.
Sometimes you have to know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em. Riding on Sunday morning was just plain dumb.
Labels: The Alyn Ride
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
The 2007 Alyn Ride
Registration just opened for the 8th annual Alyn Hospital Bike Ride. This will be my fourth.
This year's ride looks well thought out. We will be strating from Tiveria and, great news, will actually be using it as a hub for three nights. (This makes life much simpler than having to move every night.) We will also be staying in Zichron Yaakov one night and Tel Aviv another. Much more civilized than any previous ride.
I am not going to do the Challenge Ride this year because I can rarely get time to train and I stunk last year when I did train. The regular on road route is challenging enough, thank you very much.
My goal is to raise $25,000 for the hospital plus the $15,000 I usually get from my old company. That is a very high goal but I'm pretty connected at work so I should have a lot of people to call upon.
More about the ride over the next few weeks.
This year's ride looks well thought out. We will be strating from Tiveria and, great news, will actually be using it as a hub for three nights. (This makes life much simpler than having to move every night.) We will also be staying in Zichron Yaakov one night and Tel Aviv another. Much more civilized than any previous ride.
I am not going to do the Challenge Ride this year because I can rarely get time to train and I stunk last year when I did train. The regular on road route is challenging enough, thank you very much.
My goal is to raise $25,000 for the hospital plus the $15,000 I usually get from my old company. That is a very high goal but I'm pretty connected at work so I should have a lot of people to call upon.
More about the ride over the next few weeks.
Labels: The Alyn Ride
