Pat and Jim Wright's Century Report

Santa Fe Century Ride May 19^th, 2013

At 5:45 Sunday I checked the latest Santa Fe forecast and it looked promising. Zero percent chance of rain, seventy degree temperature and winds only up to 22mph. Next I looked at our outdoor thermometer and it read a reassuring 50 F. When I stepped outside to get our bikes ready I noticed how calm the morning was.

At 6:00 Pat my wife and I road over to SpinDoc to see who was there. We met two riders who were waiting for Kirk to go riding with him. I informed them that Kirk was leaving with a group at 7:00.  So the four of us got onto Interstate 25; once on the Highway we saw a long line of riders ahead of us. I wondered, how can this be it’s only a few minutes after 6:00 and just getting light. The line of riders ahead of us exited onto Old Pecos Trail and went towards St. Vincent Hospital where the official start of the Santa Fe Century is. Pat and I decided to skip the official starting point and coasted down Rodeo Road. We now felt the thrill of being on our way.

The first thing we noticed when we merged with the riders coming from the hospital was there were fewer riders than we saw last year. Also nobody was peddling outdated machinery as they sped along at a fast pace. I saw a lot more police stationed at hazardous intersections. This was reassuring for us because motorists behave better with a large presence of the law.

It was a perfect 31 miles to Madrid, and at the Madrid food stop we met up with some fellow riders who we trained with for the century with last year. The Madrid food stop is the most festive place on the entire ride. Nobody is tired yet and the town of Madrid is like no other, maybe in the whole country. It’s always tempting for me to stay too long just looking at the place -- which is not smart because we know on the day of the century time speeds up.

Fifteen minutes later we started plodding the five mile climb out of Madrid on Highway 14, going next to Golden, New Mexico. “This is one of the most dreaded parts of the trip,” one avid rider said. “I’ll only do this once a year.” From the top of the climb to Heart Break Hill was a lot of easy fast riding. At the Heart Break food stop we took a short rest and visited with some friends. Then we partly rode up the half mile very steep incline of Heart Break.

The ride to Cedar Grove was mostly downhill with a tail wind. This was fantastic until Kirk and Chandler passed us by just a few miles before Cedar Grove; we were then hit in the face with a wall of fast moving air.  By the time we inched our way into the Cedar Grove food stop, dust and sand were blowing over the trail mix and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches but no one seemed to notice or care. The good news was after we made our way out of Cedar Grove and turned left the wind was at our backs again all the way to Stanley. It was another fast, easy ride even though it was raining a little as we watched a gigantic dust storm underway to the north of us.

The Stanley food stop was a repeat of what we had in Cedar Grove so we didn’t spent much time visiting or eating dust-covered sandwiches. Upon leaving Stanley tumble weeds were blowing across the road and getting caught in riders’ wheels. Shortly out of Stanley there was a sign that read 18 miles to Galisteo. This was the most challenging part of the ride and when I forgot Chandler’s pace line rule, (don’t stop suddenly without signaling) Pat bumped into me and almost fell over while I was trying to grab the number off my helmet as the wind whisked it away.

It was hard to stay upright let alone make any time, and it was close to three o’clock when we reached Galisteo with the wind still howling. Pat and many others decided to call it quits and sag back. I decided to continue and this was the right decision. The wind riding out of Galisteo was at my back. I smiled to myself as I peddled along at a good clip watching a parade of vehicles passing me by and almost every one of them had a collection of bikes packed in them. When I made the turn onto 285 going north the wind was to my left and had subsided to about 15 miles an hour; there were no tumble weeds blowing across the road to dodge any more. I got back to Spin Doc at 4:25.

How Was Your Century?

We had a great ride yesterday, in spite of the wind.  Saturday was crazy busy both at the shop and at packet pick-up, where Ashleigh and I set up the SpinDoc vendor booth.  Sunday found us feeling a little "flat," and I admit I thought about turning around after passing the half-century turn-off and taking it.

We had a good-sized group leave the shop at 7:00 AM, many doing the half, some doing the full. It was cool so most donned windbreakers as we prepared to leave, but the wind wasn't bad yet and clouds were just rolling in.

After fueling up in Madrid, I felt a little better. I was determined to stay ahead of the curve, and ate and drank at each stop whether I felt like it or not. Shortly after Madrid, we came across a couple having mechanical problems with one of the bikes. Thankfully it was an easy fix; one of our ride companions, Tom, had a multi-tool so Kirk made the repair and before long everyone was back on the road.

The long climb out of Madrid wasn't nearly as tough as I found it last year, but the descent was unnerving as the crosswinds had really picked up. The next challenge was Heartbreak; Kirk rode straight up, Knute made it a bit farther than I before staring to serpentine. I made it about half way, then serpentined the remainder. I think Heartbreak got Tom off finally, and he walked the last bit.

From there we rode to the next aid station, got yet another PB&J, and jumped back on the bikes in anticipation of the one bit of push we were going to get from the wind at that next left turn. Sure enough, we had an amazing, fast and easy ride across to Stanley. It was amazing to be able to ride so fast without any real effort. At that point, too, I was appreciative of the miles passing quickly and easily.

We made the next stop as short as possible -- mostly just topping off bottles, and then keeping the legs moving. Lauren had texted that she had finished the half century, and was resting up at the shop before riding another 10 miles to her dad's house. We were pleased to see it was only shortly after 12 noon at that point.

The wind was tough; it was a full on cross-wind as we took the next left, but as the road curved to the right on occasion we'd get a bit of a push. By the time we got to Galisteo, we were catching up with more and more riders. It was quite the party at Galisteo. As people were petering out, they were resting longer and longer at each stop. We ran into one of the out-of-towners who had rented a bike from us for the ride and snagged one of the few new SpinDoc jerseys that had come in; we had our shop friend Ramon take a picture of us in our new (and original) jerseys.

                                         Tom, Me, Kirk, Knute and new shop friend Craig

The final push from Galisteo to 285 was pretty easy; with it being such a frequent ride, it was nice to know we were on the last leg of the route.  At the bottom of Lamy Hill Kirk and Knute both claimed popsickles, but I didn't feel confident grabbing and eating one on the fly. I felt too tired by then, and that would have required an extra bit of concentration that I was afraid I might not have.

I admit Lamy Hill felt hard, but the descent helped with the final push up 285. It was by far the hardest part of the ride for me. By the time I got to the vet's office I was pretty much used up. Knowing Knute's wife Beth was waiting at the shop with margaritas for us was just the "carrot" I needed for those last few miles.

I am so thankful I got the training I did this year; it made the ride so much more fun. And how was your Century? Please post an entry and let us know!

CENTURY RIDE PREPARATION

CENTURY RIDE PREPARATION

Whether you are riding the 25, the 50 or the entire 100 miles of the Century, the following preparations and suggestions apply.

PREPARE YOURSELF

Practice good nutrition leading into the ride (see the Nutrition hand-out).

Get those miles in leading up to the ride. If you are riding the full Century, you should be able to complete a 70-mile ride before riding the Century.

Plan to get a good night’s sleep Friday night.  Then you won’t feel sleep deprived if nervousness makes sleep difficult the night before.

Of course, do your best to get a good night of sleep the night before. It is not a race so don’t be nervous!

Don’t test ride new clothing or shoes on the ride itself. Tried and true gear is your safest bet.

Make sure your helmet fits properly. If you have had a hard crash in it, it is best to replace it.

The week leading into the Century should be a taper.

For a Sunday Century, we recommend taking Friday off the bike, and doing an easy, short, fun ride Saturday.

It may be cool at the start. If you can ride without leg warmers go without. If you need arm warmers, make sure you have reserved space for them in your jersey pockets when it comes time to stow them.

Santa Fe Prep’s Bike TAP (Teen Action Program) will be providing a valet service to transport personal belongings from Madrid to the finish line at the hospital; anything you might want to unload can be turned over at that time. Don’t forget to reclaim your belongings at the end of the ride!

Use sunscreen at home before putting on arm warmers and/or leg warmers. Don’t forget your face, neck, and the tops of your ears! More is available at all aid stations.

PREPARE YOUR BIKE AND EQUIPMENT

Make sure your bike is ready to go; if you have any doubts, get it serviced.

Don’t plan on riding a new or borrowed bike.

Make certain you have a spare tube, tire levers, and a pump or CO2 and know how to use them.

Inspect your tires for signs of wear.

Lube your bike before you leave home that morning.

THINGS TO TAKE ON THE RIDE

Two water bottles, filled from home

Snacks, a sandwich or two, electrolyte tabs, shots, etc.

Lip balm

In a small zip lock put your cell phone, an ID, a credit card, and a small amount of cash.

THINGS NOT TO TAKE ON THE RIDE

We strongly suggest against using a camel back or other back pack on the Century. It adds a lot of weight to your back and pulls on your shoulders. No matter how adapted to it you are, your body will compensate for carrying it. Over the course of 100 miles, those compensations will start to show up in potentially very uncomfortable areas. Since this ride is supported, you don’t need to carry 8 hours of food and drink for yourself.

You want to carry as little as possible on your body. What you do carry can be stowed as follows:

Saddle bag: spare tube, patch kit, tire levers, CO2 and/or small pump

Bottle cages: two for two bottles, or if on a small frame, plan on stowing one in a jersey pocket or purchase a bar-mount or seat-post mount for a second cage

Bento box: if you need to carry a lot of extra food/nutrition, purchase a bento box for your top tube

Jersey pockets: a sandwich or two, snacks, the zip lock with phone/cash/card/ID (unless it fits in your saddle bag), and lip balm, leaving a pocket or two for a bottle or clothing as it is shed

You do not need a tool kit beyond tire levers and possibly a small multi-tool. Every aid stop is manned by mechanics with a good range of tools. If you break down between aide stops, a SAG wagon will come by and drive you to the next aide station, unless you are opting out of the rest of the ride in which case they will transport your and your bike to the start/finish at the Hospital.

TIPS

Get a good night’s sleep.

Ease into the ride. It is not a race! Pace yourself.

Change your position on the bike often: move your hands around, move your butt around on the saddle. Stand up.

Don’t be surprised when you get back on the bike after a rest stop and your legs feel stiff and heavy. They will warm back up and feel fine in no time.

Always refill your bottles at the rest stops even if they only need a top-off.

Don’t forget your sunglasses!

Apply a high SPF sunscreen before you leave your house.

Lube your chain before you take off on the ride.

Enjoy the ride! You are well trained and prepared, so now sit back and enjoy the scenery and your accomplishment.

NUTRITION: Pre-Ride and During the Santa Fe Century

NUTRITION

Pre-Ride and During the Century

PRE-RIDE NUTRITION

Several days before the Century, you will want to start hydrating. Drink water frequently to ensure hydration on ride day.

Practice good eating habits leading into the Century. You do not need to start consuming lots of extra calories before the ride. Instead, eat a well-rounded diet, supplementing calories on the days of training rides without going overboard. You can use the following chart to get an estimate of calories burned per hour of riding:

Average Speed                                    Coefficient

(mph)                                                            (cal./lb./min.)

15                                                            0.0561

16                                                            0.0615

17                                                            0.0675

18                                                            0.0740

19                                                            0.0811

20                                                            0.0891

21                                                            0.0975

23                                                            0.1173

25                                                            0.1411

Multiply your average speed coefficient by your body weight; multiply that figure by 60 minutes. This is your estimated hourly calorie expenditure. This of course is based on a flat course; you will burn more with climbing.  But it will give you an idea of what you are burning, and therefore what you need to consume in addition to your regular diet on training days. Although you don’t want to go on an aggressive weight loss regimen leading into the Century, you don’t want to add pounds, either. The closer to your ideal weight you are, the better you will perform during your Century ride.

It’s imperative that you practice good nutrition during your training, so your body is counting on those habits come ride day. Your training rides are your opportunity to determine what works for you in terms of consumables. Some people don’t like to eat anything solid, and take in all their calories in drinks. If this includes you, look for energy drinks that include carbohydrates, a little sodium and other electrolytes. If you prefer solid foods, energy bars or protein ‘bites’ might work for you. If you want ‘real’ food, PB&J sandwiches, bananas, oranges, bread products and the like are good choices.  Use your training rides as test runs for these items; see what works for you.

NUTRITION ON THE CENTURY

With supported century rides taking upward of six, seven, or even more hours for many, you will likely be relying on aide stations. The Santa Fe Century aide stations generally offer the following food and drink: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on whole wheat, bananas, oranges, chex mix, pretzels, water, and Gatorade. While there will generally be something to eat at any given rest stop, we strongly suggest you still come prepared with your own snacks. If you like to have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, bring one from home. Gel shots, protein bars, shot blocks and other items are small and densely packed with calories and electrolytes. In our experience, the longer you take to ride the route, the less food may be available at aide stations when you get there.

For those who supplement primarily with drinks, we suggest you plan on taking two bottles. Fill one with plain water, and plan on refilling that bottle at every rest stop – even if you are just topping it off. The other bottle should be mixed with a sports drink like Gatorade or Hammer Heed, Cytomax, or other product, or you can use an endurance mix such as Hammer Perpetuem. Mix it four to five times more concentrated than recommended, almost to a pasty consistency.  As you ride you will take small sips from this bottle, getting your primary hydration from the water bottle. You can start to dilute the mixed bottle at aid stations as you ride if you like. You might also want to take a small zip lock with a second batch of powder to mix into your bottle if you think you might consume the entire bottle before the end of the ride.  Endurance formulas cause lesser blood sugar / insulin spikes and don’t leave you with a sticky mouth.

If you prefer only water for drinking but need to replace electrolytes, Hammer makes an easy-to-swallow capsule called Endurolytes that replaces electrolytes without having to eat or drink them. On a long, hot ride they can make a huge difference.

Again, these are suggestions you should be testing on your training rides. See what works for you (and your stomach) and what doesn’t.

Your goal for hydration is a minimum of one large bottle per hour of riding.

With your nutritional needs sussed out before the Century, you can relax and enjoy your ride knowing you are prepared to sustain the energy you’ll need.

They're Coming: New SpinDoc Shop Jersey!

We're very excited around here: we're about to order the newly designed SpinDoc shop jerseys to commemorate our new location. The art is done, we have some local Old Las Vegas Highway/285 Corridor team sponsors whose jazzy logos will adorn the jerseys, and we're just selecting the vendor for  production -- and that final decision is imminent.

Check it out!

Jersey Back -- local sponsor logos will replace the logos on the drawing

The artwork for the back of the jersey will also be painted on the kiva fireplace in the garment room at the shop

The front of the jersey

Journal North Article 2/19/13

Nice little article in last Tuesday's Journal North; when we looked at it on-line, it had over 5,000 likes! Now THAT's cool!

Location, location, location! By Vince Kong
Journal Staff Writer

A staple of the Eldorado bicycling scene for the past three years has officially relocated.
The Spindoc and Indoor Cycling Studio now calls 628 Old Las Vegas Highway, next to Cafe Fina, its home. When business owner Chandler Rhinehart was asked what prompted the move, she replied simply: “Location, location, location and overhead — those were the four reasons.”
That’s because, aside from less expensive rent, the new shop is situated at the intersection of U.S. 285 and Old Las Vegas Highway, which is part of the Santa Fe Century route, as well as a popular cycling destination for riders from throughout the state.
“It’s shocking how much more foot traffic there is now,” said Rhinehart, who runs the business with her husband Kirk. “... Kirk and I spent five weeks painting in here, trying to get everything ready. And one Sunday, taking a day off, we went next door to Cafe Fina. We were sitting there looking out a picture window and saw at least 20 cyclists in a course of an hour. ... At the old location, we weren’t off the street so you would have to know we were there, which was part of the problem.
“We have people now who live in Eldorado come into our shop here saying that they never knew there was a bike shop in Eldorado.”
Spindoc is a full-service bicycle shop, specializing in custom fitting bikes with rid ers, while an indoor cycling studio provides spin classes seven days a week.
“We’re trying to be the go-to store for anything anybody might need, whether they’re on a ride just passing through or if they have an hour and a half to invest for a fitting,” Rhinehart said.
The shop moved from La Tienda Shopping Center to its new location on Jan. 29, and held a grand opening this past weekend.
And as an added bonus for visitors to the new location, Spindoc sales associate Colin Strauch said: “The food across the parking lot is amazing. We get tons of people who would never come into a bike shop simply by being next to Cafe Fina.
“People can now exercise here and then eat a made-from-scratch, gluten-free cookie.”

EDDIE MOORE/JOURNAL
(Photo Won't Import)
Kirk Rhinehart, co-owner of SpinDoc, sets up a fit bike for a customer at the store’s new location on Old Las Vegas Highway. The business also includes an indoor cycling studio.

(Photo Won't Import)
Chandler Rhinehart, who co-owns SpinDoc with her husband Kirk, completes some of the setup at the store’s new location. 

Indoor Cycling Reservations Policy

SpinDoc/Go Go a-Velo Indoor Cycling

Reservation/Cancellation Policy

Please note this policy is subject to change at any time; we will publish any policy and procedure changes. We will always do our best to accommodate riders in the most equitable manner possible.

1.            You may reserve a bike in a scheduled class the day before it is held. The only exception is reservations for Monday and Tuesday classes, which may be made on the Saturday prior to the Monday or Tuesday class. The phone number for the shop is 466-4181. Please call instead of emailing your reservation; we cannot guarantee reservations submitted via email.

2.            If you are on a drop-in basis, a credit card number will be taken at the time of your reservation. Your card will not be charged until after the class if you are attending as a drop-in.

3.            You may cancel your reservation up until 30 minutes before a scheduled class time by calling SpinDoc and speaking with one of us or leaving a message. If you do not cancel your reservation and do not attend class, your class card will be punched for the class. If you are on a Monthly Unlimited class card, you will owe a drop in rate of $12.80 and you will be charged on your next month's renewal. If you are attending on a drop-in basis and make a reservation but don't ride or cancel, your credit card will be charged $12.80. 

4.             If you have a reservation you must arrive ten minutes before class time to ensure your bike is not given away and you are considered a no-show. This is not to penalize reserved riders but to enable someone else to have a chance to ride. We appreciate your understanding. 

5.            We will reserve up to six bikes for a single class. The remaining bikes will be filled on a first come, first served basis.

6.            The indoor cycling room will be open 20 minutes before a scheduled class time.

 

Settling in At the House on the Hill: Shop Pics

Greetings from our new home! We've been here and open 3 1/2 weeks now, and it just keeps getting better. Most of the pictures are up, the bib numbers are back up, wall paper style, in the indoor cycling room, and garments can be identified as women's or men's in the garment room. More is to come as we continue to settle in, but we're back to our primary objectives: classes and bike business.

Traffic is fab; we see new faces every day, and I think most of our regulars have made it by at some point. We had our official ribbon cutting with the Chamber of Commerce on Friday, 2/15, and our Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, 2/16.  I'm going to put a little overview of the Grand Opening and Fundraiser in it's own post.

In the meantime, I wanted to finally post some photos of the shop. It's SO beautiful!  If you are local and haven't made it by yet, please do so. If you're an out-of-towner, this is what you'll see next time you are in town to visit.

The Garment Room

You can see the corner of the turquoise kiva fireplace in the corner

The main retail room; this room was the formerly the kitchen. 

Kirk in the service room working on a bike

Colin at the indoor wash station -- nice thing today, as it was snowing!

The dedicated "fit" area -- with a customer's newly purchased Fuji ready to fit

Reyna (with flashbulb eyes) holding down the fort in the cycling room

The office/check-out counter, lined with Park stools inviting customers to hang out and tell their cycling version of the "Big Fish That Got Away" story