Highlander cycle tour ride report: Pedaling on

Naples, New York, one of the many beautiful scenes at the Highlander. 

This blog post was almost about quitting a century ride at Mile 30. I wrote it in my head as I looked for the SAG wagon as we turned onto Route 6, heading east toward Prattsburgh during the Highlander Cycle Tour's Corkscrew Century from Canandaigua Saturday. My quads hurt. I was exhausted.

Would I have blamed myself for quitting? No, just add it to the list of things that have gone wrong in the past few weeks. Most days have brought new challenges. Why should this slightly-chilly morning be any different? (And why didn't I wear a base layer?) Pile it on. 

Ahead were 73 miles and some brutal climbs. French Hill nearly killed me and now this flat road was fatiguing. But what if I managed to hoof it up that beast of a hill from Naples on Flower the Cannondale Synapse, my trusty companion, then five easy miles until pulled pork and a bottle of wine? 

If I could finish this ride, it would mean that all the crap life has put me through these past few weeks would not win. If I could ride 100 miles, I could definitely wake up Monday morning, bang out a few cover letters, and move forward.

Flower City: As ready as I can ever be

In two days starts the crazy three-races-in-eight-days scheme: The Flower City Duathlon, the Flower City Half Marathon and the Capital City Half Marathon.

First, check out this video I did with some of my colleagues on the Flower City course. I'm proud of it!

So... I'm ready as I'll ever be! I got my new bike...

...have picked up my race packet...

... a very pretty t-shirt...

... and am getting my information together for the Capital City Half Marathon the following weekend!

The plan is to go slow for all legs of the Flower City Half Marathon and the Flower City Duathlon. Then I'll give Capital City all I've got!

My new family member

Per the rules, as outlined by a former MIT friend, she won't officially get her name until after Saturday, when she completes her first race, but meet Flower.

Flower is a 2013 Cannondale Synapse Sora, purchased from Bert's Bikes in Henrietta. Since this photo was taken she has had an upgrade of clip-in pedals and water bottle cages (sidenote: wondering if I can buy bike water bottles in bulk somewhere, I always lose them!)

I was looking forward to a Caad 8, but there was a slight miscommunication between the bike manufacturer and the store it did not arrive as planned. So, I got the Synapse, a slightly better bike, for the same price!

We went on a few loops around Corn Hill Tuesday. I'm pretty sleepy today, but might take her out for a small chain ring ride tomorrow. Looking forward to the du on Saturday (of which she is named after!)

New bike, new bike, new bike, NEW BIKE!

I have a deposit down and it's ordered. Within a week I will be the new owner of a Cannondale Caad 8 Sora road bike. I didn't know it prior to buying but it's No. 1 on Bicycling Magazine's list of bikes on a budget (which makes me glad I picked it, my other top choices aren't on the list)! 

This stock photo will do for now.

I've been wanting a new bike for awhile. I toughed it out with a hand-me-down Giant hybrid from my mom (thanks Mom), completing my first Century with more-professional types whizzing by me like I was nuts. Sure my back hurt a little when I was done but I got my triple digits in (during a torrential downpour to boot)! 

Thanks to a nice tax return from Uncle Sam, I was finally able to make the move. 

I like the Cannondale because it's light and handles well, plus the shop I'm getting it from is nearby which will help with any repairs. 

There are a number of great bike shops in the area. I loved Full Moon Vista in the South Wedge, in Rochester, and I'll definitely support the shop in the future. Same goes for Park Ave Bike Shop in Brighton. But they had smaller selections and in the end didn't have what I needed. 

I tried a Felt (don't remember the model) at Towpath Bike in Pittsford. They didn't have one in my size so I was riding on a smaller frame, they had some on order so maybe I would have liked it had I gotten to try it! I still extended that test ride a bit because it was a beautiful day to be along the Canal Trail!

I was tempted by a Specialized Dolce Sport at RV&E Bike and Sport in Fairport. But in the end, proximity won and I got the Cannondale from Bert's Bikes and Fitness in Henrietta. 

At Bert's I first tried out a Trek Lexa (a couple different models in the $1,000 price range). I didn't like it at all, it didn't seem to handle right. I also tried a Schwinn something-or-other. Way too bulky, despite its dainty pink appearance.

I also tried the Cannondale Synapse, which I liked a lot, but I liked the Caad 8 better. 

Most of the bike stuff is basically a foreign language (I'm surprising myself at how intelligently I'm writing about it... or am I?) When I went to the store with my mom she showed me the different shifters and I realized how much better Sora 2013 is over whatever the cheaper one was on there. The one I got doesn't have the thumb thingys (technical term). I tried a bike with Tiagra, nice but out of my range!

Next up: New shoes and clip-in pedals!

I know the road bike world is a dangerous slippery slope. Sure, the entry-level road bikes are enticing now because I'm used to the hybrid, but as soon as I get it I'll be drooling over bikes that cost more than my car! 

Now Rochester's weather MUST get with the picture, the first duathlon of the season is in two weeks! 

Bike shopping, swimming mojo and speedy speediness

BIKE!

I'm in love with a Cannondale.

The IRS sure is taking it's sweet time, but I've begun the process of shopping for a road bike. Once the tax return hits my account, whatever model I'm decided on is mine.

(Addendum: In the three days it's taking me to write this post... yea I've been kind of lazy... I've gotten notice that I'll have my refund within 21 days. Hurry up, got a du at the end of April!)

With a $1,000 budget, the options are limited, but a starter road bike still beats a hybrid (thank you mom, for lending it to me.) Heck, a got through an entire Century ride on the thing though! (Only took me 8 hours.)

I've looked at two different Trek Lexa's. They were ok, felt crazy light compared to the hybrid, but there was no a-ha moment. I loved the Cannondale I tried out. I don't remember the model, I think it was this one, I'll update later. It was light and it handled really well.

Bert's Bikes had an amazing selection, that's where I tried the Cannondale. I loved loved loved Full Moon Vista Bike and Sport in the South Wedge, they really took their time in fitting me. I didn't really care for the Trek I tried there though. I might check out their shifting clinic next Saturday!

Come on, IRS (and Spring.)


SWIM!

I was always jealous of other swimmers. It seemed so smooth and so peaceful, where I've always felt so choppy in the water.

I finally did a 1,500 straight in the pool last Monday and it actually felt really great.

Tonight I'm doing 2,000. 40 laps. **CRINGE**

...and that's where I stopped writing when I abandoned this post before. I did the 2,000 and it felt AWESOME! I felt so natural and smooth in the pool. The back and forth and back and forth and back and forth of it all got to me, I'm excited/nervous to swim in open water.


RUN :)

Another post is coming (it will again take a few days at the rate I'm going) on another insane plan (or six) but I am just thrilled with my running.

A week and a half ago I did the Johnny's five-miler downtown. I crushed it.

I ran negative splits the entire way:
Mile 1: 9:25
Mile 2: 9:16
Mile 3: 9:05
Mile 4: 8:25
Mile 5: 7:55

I'm trying to be a good girl and train at 12:00. My training partner, Megan D. and I, are slowly getting up to the half marathon distance. We've got our 10-miler soon. Very soon.

Dear Musselman: Bring it.