Independently Wealthy-2

Part 2 of my Independently Wealthy series where I will highlight at least one thing on my mind recently that I want or want to do--if I ever strike it rich.


Garmin Edge 705 WITH maps and all the cycling accessories

Yes, this little gadget fits a lot into the mix.

-Heart rate monitor
-Speed/cadence sensor
-Stores custom created workouts
-Pace alert
-Interval training
-Barometric altimeter
-Unit-to-unit transfer
-Power meter compatible w/ ANT+ enabled power meters
-MAPS
-MicroSD card

With all the goodies, it's still under $1K, but I already have 2-3 gadgets that do most this stuff. (Maps are the exception; my GPS unit downloads the waypoints, but I can't view them while riding.)


So, I'm too cheap to buy this and can't justify it. Therefore, it goes in my wish list. And by the time my other techno widgets become obsolete, maybe there will be a better version of the Garmin Edge 705--like one that automatically routes my bike rides around ice cream parlors!

A Bad Case of Hubris

Bicycle Station Team Pic

After race pic. See my tan lines?

Down hill to the finish. Sweet!

Thanks to Matt L for the pics.

I've been on a high from the Brown County race a couple of weeks ago. With it being one of my top goals for the year, I achieved success. I raced my best and felt good doing so. Following the race, I attended skills camp. Learning good, solid techniques felt very empowering. Upon leaving, I felt I was equipped to go out and gain some seconds here and there.

So, yesterday's race at French Lick didn't go as well as the past couple of weeks. I had a superb start at the line, but when I got in to the singletrack, that LONG, long, long climb began. I thought I could try to hang with the other girls for a little while. I thought I had it in me to minimize the time gap at the finish. I thought the girls behind me would stay behind me. I thought I could push harder. I thought I wouldn't get beaten so badly. I thought I could handle what was thrown at me. I thought I wouldn't get lapped by the pro men. I was wrong on all accounts.

At some point, halfway through the lap?, I knew I had to back off. The peanut butter mud covered rocks were slick, and I was doing some really stupid stuff on the bike. Perhaps I should buy a lottery ticket b/c I didn't crash. But I knew I should back off. So I did.

One by one they passed me--Katherine and Meredith went by. I was off my bike when Meredith came up to me. She asked if I was OK.

"Yeah, I'm bonking." I said. But that wasn't it. I had plenty of food and had eaten well. What's the word? It's something else that's going on--I just couldn't think of what it was. Why did I feel like throwing up? My stomach wasn't that bad earlier. Why did my legs have NOTHING? What was wrong with my lungs?

"I'm not going to finish. I'm pulling out at the lap." I told her. She told me not to.

I was now in last place and Meredith was pulling away. It didn't matter; I wasn't finishing anyway.

I got back on the bike and pedaled some. My HR was down to an acceptable level, and I was riding quite freely now. I caught back up to Mer and started chatting.

"I'm not bonking. I think I overheated." The temp was in the high 90s, I think. For some reason, I felt a need to clarify.

We chatted some more then came upon a Cat 2 Woman rider who had blood all over face. It looked bad. We stopped to check her status. Extremely swollen cheek, cut on her face, pupils seemed fine. She was resolute in wanting to finish the race, which was this lap. However, we told her we would find someone to come back and check on her. She seemed a little shaken but got back on her bike and tried to follow us. We asked her to just take it easy and finish.

While chatting with my teammate, I forgot to pull out of the race at the lap marker. We came around and started that awful climb again, so I decided I would give it another go. This second lap felt good, so I pushed it again trying to back off when I felt bad.

On a double track section, I caught up to Katherine and passed her. With 3-4 miles or so left to go, the pressure was on to stay in front of her. I had to really focus now and try not to blow up.

Success! I finished 4th and had a pretty good 2nd lap. Unfortunately, I lost much time on the girls in front of me when I was hoping to minimize that gap.

Good news: I learned my lesson. I must keep working hard and not let one good race influence my judgment. Conversely, I must keep working hard and not let one bad race influence my attitude. So, I'm more than pleased I kept going and finished strong despite the blow up on my first of 2 laps. As for skills, they didn't come soon enough. I flailed around and am looking forward to some parking lot time to work on drills. Cheryl? When are we going to do that slow race again?

French Lick Course Map lifted from DINO's website.

Skills Camp - I'm Stuffed!

Three days of mountain bike skills camp was phenomenal! Cheryl and I headed to North Vernon to brush up on our trail skills with a Gene Hamilton clinic. We have many drills to do now! Thankfully, we can perfect our techniques right in our very own yards. The instructor was terrific, the trail conditions weren't so terrific, and we totally lucked out with the deluge of thunderstorms and rain that encompassed much of Indiana the entire weekend. Oddly, North Vernon is quite a mystery as it escaped much of the lightening, wind, and hail from nearby storms. Bored one night, we decided to cruise town snapping photos of some of the local spots. Enjoy..

Fancy Yard Sale

Storm a brewin'

The sign that started the photo rampage.

They don't make 'em like they used to.....
way back in 1985

A people shot

Creepy or Classy? Wait...that could work for the photo above, too.

Muddin' (the white truck--not the red one)

Oddly, the prettiest thing in North Vernon was on a public restroom at the park.

Who wouldn't want to eat here?

"I'm Stuffed" is the name of the dining establishment.

HOT!!!!

Hmmm. Horse on a Porch!

Glamorous--indeed.

Another statue outside a restaurant!

Sadly, we had no gold nor silver parts on our bikes.

If you're ever looking for a carpet store...

Too bad we didn't see this place BEFORE dinner.

Brown County - DINO-2

Sunday was the culmination of much training and many sacrifices. This was the day I had chosen to do my very best. So what was wrong? Why wasn't I excited? Could it be nerves? Yes, I put so much pressure on myself to do well I made it not fun. Could it be the conditions? Yes, with rain in the area over the past several days, trail conditions were questionable. I don't think it's a secret that I don't do well when it's slippery. Could it be my attitude? Yes, it was time for a mental talk.

I was already bummed at having skipped out on my friend, Season. We were going to spend this week doing girly things then I bailed after having some work issues to sort through this week. (I already have another date in mind, though, and I'm going to try to couple the trip with a race!)

I got to Brown County State Park early. After taking a team pic with the Bicycle Station team, I headed off to warm up. I didn't quite get all of my procedures accomplished as I'm still trying to figure out the routine. Nevertheless, in all cases, any warm-up has helped how I feel during a race.

Bang! We started 14 minutes behind the Pro men to a fast start with Nicole & Emily powering up the steep hill. While on road rides, I don't mind the short, steep ones, but this one gave me fits. Uh oh. Panic. Why did my legs hurt? Haven't I been resting? Oh yeah, it's a steep hill. Thankfully, when it became more gradual, I relaxed and settled in to somewhat of a rhythm before entering the singletrack.

I was breathing steady! I wasn't blowing up! THANK YOU, WARM-UP!! I focused quickly on the chase as I was the 5th (out of 6) Cat 1 into the woods. Within 10 minutes I caught 4th place and passed her and a Cat 2 rider. I was ecstatic to have caught her as she is an excellent climber and rides steadily. Now the race pressure was on. Not only did I have to defend, I had to catch!

Ordinarily I would start settling for whatever place I was in, sort of give up on the "race" aspect and finish out the ride. I've been different this year giving it my best. Sunday would be no exception. The Aynes hill was not as difficult as I remembered; I rose up the hill steadily passing several guys. I stalled at the top to let Griff go by on the downhill as I knew he would be right on my tail. He shouted, "Follow me, Ange!" However, when I started pedaling, he was already gone. Someday I'll downhill like Griff.....

I caught him again as we neared the HP connector when he crashed on a slick root. Fortune was with me; I witnessed his demise and steered clear of the peril. Thank you, Griff, for showing me the way.

One of my favorite sections is the downhill after the HP connector. It was slick on only a couple of spots, so I punched it a little gaining confidence with the conditions. Along the uphill section on the North Tower Loop, I caught Mary from Louisville. As I came behind her, she shifted gears and I heard a terrible grinding. Off her bike, she scurried out of my way to let me by. I nearly rolled over her chain that was laying in the middle of the trail. Bad day for Mary.

Now in third place, I actually thought about catching 2nd place, who I presumed was Emily. Around the lap marker, I got a time check from a spectator; Emily was only 20 seconds up!!! Then, I saw her! I can DO this. I came to the Aynes hill again with an excitement only to end it with pain. It was starting to hurt now, and I had to back off a little.

OK--new strategy. Steadily climb the Aynes, focus like hell on the downhill, then punch it with everything on the climb out on North Tower. Wait. Isn't that always the strategy? Duh...it was nearing the end of the race. Whatever.

Catching 2 guys on the last downhill I was actually thinking I should go around them b/c I could out maneuver them. I still think I could have, but it's hard to make up time on the downhill and Emily was nowhere in sight. I accepted my 3rd place position; the guys didn't slow me up that much, so I don't think it made a difference. Emily must have made another 10 seconds on my as her finishing time was around 30 seconds faster. Results are here.

Anyway, I started having fun and my attitude came around. I was surprised at how focused I was while having fun; I didn't give up in the middle or succumb to the hurt. I'm very pleased with my podium spot, enormous $$ winnings, and a PR on the home course! YAY!!!!