I am floored about how amazing this weekend was. Nearly rendered speechless, because I don't know where to begin. When we (the girls) arrived on Friday night, a brand new cabin was awaiting us, with a fire already going in the fireplace and the bedding already made up. Then we headed over to the guys' cabin, and there was a delicious meal ready for us to eat. And then when we arose the next morning, breakfast was cooked and served. And THEN our ride was sagged by two vehicles, and they kept/took our extra clothing, gave us drink refills and energy bars and gels. This is like a real bike team. This IS a REAL bike team, with people who are friends and who support each other. I think that the boys want the girls to join them because they served us the entire weekend. I don't get this kind of royal treatment when I go on vacations at the beach. I asked if we could have a training camp every weekend from here on out. ;)

On Saturday I rode 4 hours/67 miles with 4500 estimated vertical feet of climbing. We started on top of the mountain at Mentone, descended, climbed it, descended, then climbed it again (at different location). We also rode quite a while at tempo on flat and rolling terrain. On Sunday we rode 3.5 hours/55 miles on the road that goes along the edge of Little River Canyon, which is mostly rollers, to Fort Payne, with a long climb back up the mountain at the end. The weather Saturday was nice, in the mid-50s, and rather chilly today in the mid-30s (I had toe and hand warmers as my little helpers). The pace was a bit frisky until the climbs; we utilized a double pace line to ride efficiently.

So there was the pleasure. Now for the pain:

New saddle, little padding = VERY SORE bottom. Ouch. Muscular fatigue for the latter portion of both rides; when the pace got fast I was at LT+7 and about to pop. Riding with boys is hard. But it is now time for me to ride with boys because I am done with building a base.

And the climbing. I love climbing and it is becoming evident that it is one of my strengths. First up on all big climbs for the girls; I gave some of the boys an ego check. The funny thing is, the more painful it gets, I start laughing out loud. It is hilarious and I can't figure out exactly why other than there have been many times in my life when I was in pain (mostly emotional), and climbing a hill on a bike is nothing in comparison. So I get into my little 'zone' where I settle into a pedaling rhythm, and I think about how I am using all of the muscles in my body to power up the hill and if there is anything I could be doing to make it more efficient, and sometimes I feel like I have more to give, so I change gears and speed up. And sometimes I think about how I am making other people hurt, and I enjoy that very much. I don't think I have tapped my full potential. I am going to keep developing this strength.

Wonderful, wonderful weekend. I love this sport.