Grass, grass and more grass.
The whole course was grass. Start finish on grass. And even the downhills required pedaling.
I'm exhausted.
It was awesome. Legs are pretty well cooked. Brain is fried. Writing isn't flowing smoothly. I would say I took a couple pictures, but I didn't. Someone else did, my brain is so fried that I don't remember who took a picture of me on the trainer under the kick ass team tent that GCDavid had set up early on course. All i remember is that Todd P came over to take a photo of GCD and then the second person (i'm being honest - i'm so fried I actually don't remember) had a camera with a much smaller lens.
HenryJ showed up on sunday with his video camera. I'm sure he got some good stuff.
Saturday's course was like sunday's last year except it was dry. Lots and LOTS of climbing. Even when going down hill you had to pedal. No rest and man. I was luggage. My back was affecting my riding and I just couldn't hang on.
Sunday I thought I felt better, and then I didn't.
results aren't anything special. and i did get lapped on sunday. but... last year I got lapped by everyone (top10?) on Day 1 (like day 2 course this year) and this year just the first couple guys. It was touch and go and I tried to hold off Roger but it was too little too late. Matt Wilson did and when I saw him heading out for that last lap, I was happy to be finished. very happy. it hurt. Saturday was too hot. sunday was just hard.
But I improved over last year. It is worth going to because it re-affirmed I need work. Bedford was a nice positive start, finished pretty well. I seem to have figured out how to drive the bike finally. I just don't have the massive Watts/KG of roger or kevin. Heck if Roger decided to skip VT this weekend I might not have been lapped. Curtis killed it and Kurt P did awesome. Those guy were on fire. GCDavid was up more where is normally and Chabot kicked my ass.
It was great racing. it was brutally hard. And I didn't have a great race. But hanging out with the Lehman's (Josh is one f'n funny dude) the ancient BOB crew, my team mates (Skinny, G-ride, SOUPS, GCD, C-Burke), the Corner Cycles Crew, and everyone else. Too many to mention? Graham and Giulia, Mike and Rebecca Z, Glowa, The Mayor, The Crazy Peter Sullivan, Adam and Janice, HenryJ, Buck and KPerham, CCR, ah hell i'm going to forget someone like the Rowells... or... yeah i've just about named all the people other than the Cambridge crew and the NYcross people on either side of team tent. Social? Yes. But there was focus and a race. I might have sucked big time but I gave it everything I had. Which was pretty pathetic... But not as demoralizing as it might have been.
Racing with Matt Wilson was the best part of Day 2's race. Well it was great until I couldn't keep up with him in one stretch and he somehow managed to ride away from me. He's going to be destroying the field in a year - or the end of this year.
The hard bike handling things aren't hard anymore. Riding the logs? Something that was impossible for me last year? Totally nailed all of them except the last one when I thought i'd try something different and that was just a small minor foot dab at the top. No problems with that stuff anymore. It is just I'm slow compared to everyone I'm racing with. But. I've got no where to go but better in this field. And that's a good thing.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
I'm with Dave on this one
http://davesbikeblog.squarespace.com/blog/2010/9/16/running-stop-signs.html
We'll said.
That and I think Betsy is awesome! Don't mess with Polish Michigan... Good interview.
Lots of talk about the whole jackass who admitted too. Many around here know Josh Jamner, raced with him maybe. He's got a good personal recounting of the latest cheater to fess up.
We chatted a bit - i gave him the goods from Burt Friggin Hoovis (his office don't allow that sort of stuff to be checked online). Make note of the new banner there - funny as hell.
Josh was mostly surprised by it, esp considering this kid was doing it in college. Talk about crazy. Take dope so you can kick butt in a race you won't win any money in? But then it did vault him into a Pro job.
Crazy stuff.
Has the firestorm started like Myerson suggested would be needed in the sport?
(yeah yeah two unrelated things but hey - they both bother me - idiots and jackasses blowing stop signs and lights and what not and dopers).
We'll said.
That and I think Betsy is awesome! Don't mess with Polish Michigan... Good interview.
Lots of talk about the whole jackass who admitted too. Many around here know Josh Jamner, raced with him maybe. He's got a good personal recounting of the latest cheater to fess up.
We chatted a bit - i gave him the goods from Burt Friggin Hoovis (his office don't allow that sort of stuff to be checked online). Make note of the new banner there - funny as hell.
josh: he was a so-so collegiate cyclist
then he went to arizona one winter
and came back fast
me: and doped to the gills
josh: and was sa good collegiate cyclist
and we were all like, yea, winter in tuscon, supposedly riding hard, kid is a machine, figures
then he graduated, and went pro
i used to race him all the time
in college
and outside
me: so did he take more than $5 of prize money out of your pocket?
josh: collegiate is $0
but outside
yes
Josh was mostly surprised by it, esp considering this kid was doing it in college. Talk about crazy. Take dope so you can kick butt in a race you won't win any money in? But then it did vault him into a Pro job.
Crazy stuff.
Has the firestorm started like Myerson suggested would be needed in the sport?
(yeah yeah two unrelated things but hey - they both bother me - idiots and jackasses blowing stop signs and lights and what not and dopers).
Bittman
I like it:
Link
"Here’s why we need JustFood, and why it’s important to support this organization and others like it: If you believe in society, the banding together of humans for our common good, if you believe in our obligation to to support and care for one another - not just our families or coreligionists or neighbors or compatriots but everyone - then you believe in the human right to eat food that is raised ethically.That's freaking bang on eh?
"What does this mean? This means food that is grown – or raised - with respect - not only for the earth, but for the people who eat it and the people who work the land and tend the animals. That is sustainable and ethical food, which will also necessarily – and not unimportantly – be delicious food. That’s our goal."
Link
Tomorrow Comes a Day Too Soon
Gotta get everything set for an early morning departure with C-burke. Find everything and bring it up.
The new bike is ready to go, well sort of not quite. Headset is pressed, hoping to get the bottom bracket installed this afternoon, and the crank should be delivered by the brown santa this evening. So in theory I could stay up all night, build the bike and then race it on Saturday.
But that would be something Results boy would do and, maybe me 5 years ago. Now? With the wise counseling of good friends (including my wife), I'm not even going to bring it. I'll build it Monday night most likely, and ride it next week in prep for Loon? and Suckerbrook weekend.
Murat's already talking smack, nice.
We'll see how it goes tomorrow. First of the back to back races. Going to be interesting, fun and insane all at the same time.
I'll see the non-pussyfied NECX list contingent there. And no, i'm not warming up on the course in the orange suit. We'll see if i can figure out how to make that vuvusevula work after the race...
The new bike is ready to go, well sort of not quite. Headset is pressed, hoping to get the bottom bracket installed this afternoon, and the crank should be delivered by the brown santa this evening. So in theory I could stay up all night, build the bike and then race it on Saturday.
But that would be something Results boy would do and, maybe me 5 years ago. Now? With the wise counseling of good friends (including my wife), I'm not even going to bring it. I'll build it Monday night most likely, and ride it next week in prep for Loon? and Suckerbrook weekend.
Murat's already talking smack, nice.
We'll see how it goes tomorrow. First of the back to back races. Going to be interesting, fun and insane all at the same time.
I'll see the non-pussyfied NECX list contingent there. And no, i'm not warming up on the course in the orange suit. We'll see if i can figure out how to make that vuvusevula work after the race...
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Neutered on Twitter/NECX list
I'm just going to link to Steve's blog. It is good. Still better if he'd actually used the Video from... wait for it... wait A Few Good Men
except this time the Col. doesn't get hauled off by the MPs and leave stronger and more feared than when he walked in the room... imperfect metaphors require our imagination to make it work. Exercise the brain -
Very entertaining Steve. Thanks
Oh and remember the saying from everyone's favorite Marine:
"Pain is just weakness leaving the body"
except this time the Col. doesn't get hauled off by the MPs and leave stronger and more feared than when he walked in the room... imperfect metaphors require our imagination to make it work. Exercise the brain -
Very entertaining Steve. Thanks
Oh and remember the saying from everyone's favorite Marine:
"Pain is just weakness leaving the body"
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Coming together
Got the stem, bars, shifters, seatpost and saddle installed. Fit actually seems like it will work.
BUT
the slightly smaller frame means I might go from belgian to holland carrying of the bike. specifically going from arm under the down tube to around the top tube. might be a dramatic change but, holy crap this thing kind of feels featherweight, we'll see if it maintains that svelte feeling with everything bolted on.
My wife remarked on her way of of the house for a run that "it is beautiful."
It is.
I can't wait to race it. Probably at SuckerBrook. Loon is sadly but realistically looking kind of doubtful. Got a week or so to figure it out. Ya never know...
BUT
the slightly smaller frame means I might go from belgian to holland carrying of the bike. specifically going from arm under the down tube to around the top tube. might be a dramatic change but, holy crap this thing kind of feels featherweight, we'll see if it maintains that svelte feeling with everything bolted on.
My wife remarked on her way of of the house for a run that "it is beautiful."
It is.
I can't wait to race it. Probably at SuckerBrook. Loon is sadly but realistically looking kind of doubtful. Got a week or so to figure it out. Ya never know...
Twitter balls
That's appearantly what got the whole NECX (or just JONNY B and Todd C and Wade and...) worked up.
Twitter balls. A kid got drunk and tweeted a bunch of stuff that resulted in him being "you think you can handle it? do it" out of possible combination of feigned exasperation and cunning trolling from the old man of the new england internet. The guy who was trolling on Rec.Bikes possibly before that kid was born. You can check the time line for yourself. Or if it goes away I can dig up an archived copy.
I love the whole "Why so much anger" tweeting/blogging when it was directly requested.
Masters racing is serious business. And not all of us are on $10,000 bikes. Most of us won't ever see $100 in prize money either. But old dude/women age groups are legit and a big part of the current structure of Nationals. Many people bank their whole season on going there to see how they stack up against the best from around the country. Oh and we've got Masters racing with ancient frames with busted seat posts rattling around in the seat tube even. It is a diverse field.
And a god damn fun one to compete in. There's no partying at the back of that field. You're running from the lions hoping they don't catch you. No party.
Party happens afterwards.
Or when your friend totally kicks the asses of the rest of the country for the honor of wearing the stars and stripes the next season.
We've got category and age groups here in this cx bike racing thing. learn to live with them, and never ever think you can win an internet argument that myerson sets you up in to fail.
(wasn't going to post it but JD pulled some Usenet reference on twitter tonight and i figured, wtf, lets hit publish on this thing)
Twitter balls. A kid got drunk and tweeted a bunch of stuff that resulted in him being "you think you can handle it? do it" out of possible combination of feigned exasperation and cunning trolling from the old man of the new england internet. The guy who was trolling on Rec.Bikes possibly before that kid was born. You can check the time line for yourself. Or if it goes away I can dig up an archived copy.
I love the whole "Why so much anger" tweeting/blogging when it was directly requested.
Masters racing is serious business. And not all of us are on $10,000 bikes. Most of us won't ever see $100 in prize money either. But old dude/women age groups are legit and a big part of the current structure of Nationals. Many people bank their whole season on going there to see how they stack up against the best from around the country. Oh and we've got Masters racing with ancient frames with busted seat posts rattling around in the seat tube even. It is a diverse field.
And a god damn fun one to compete in. There's no partying at the back of that field. You're running from the lions hoping they don't catch you. No party.
Party happens afterwards.
Or when your friend totally kicks the asses of the rest of the country for the honor of wearing the stars and stripes the next season.
We've got category and age groups here in this cx bike racing thing. learn to live with them, and never ever think you can win an internet argument that myerson sets you up in to fail.
(wasn't going to post it but JD pulled some Usenet reference on twitter tonight and i figured, wtf, lets hit publish on this thing)
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Found it
Thanks to BUCK!
And to Todd for taking it. I just forgot to double check Double Hop
Seriously. That's going on the wall. Or somewhere that I can see and be reminded that I need to feel like that the whole race. 100% go at the limit the whole damn time.
That ancient trainer is going to catch fire tomorrow morning.
heddwch
G
And to Todd for taking it. I just forgot to double check Double Hop
Seriously. That's going on the wall. Or somewhere that I can see and be reminded that I need to feel like that the whole race. 100% go at the limit the whole damn time.
That ancient trainer is going to catch fire tomorrow morning.
heddwch
G
Dorky Biker Convention moving?
From Vegas back to the wasteland shadow of Disneyland?
I heard it first somewhere. And man who's the moronic dumbass who decided that? Esp with Denver on the table. Okay - I know. It is business and you can't spill all the beans behind choices like this. I'm not going so I don't care one way or another, well i do. but whatever.
I read this.
It was a good read.
I always liked going to CABDA "back in the day." Boss man would get a couple hotel rooms in Rosemont and we'd drive down, prowl the floor looking at all the new shit checking the new lines of bikes we'd be fixing or selling. Some people would see how much schwag they can score, I liked the schwag. But I also liked talking to folks like Deitrick Rolf about the cool shit they designed and are selling. Seeing the new people with new products all dripping with blind enthusiasm that grips and takes down all but the best ideas. Guys with ridiculous stuff like the Crack Wax chain folks. Or avoiding the the pathetic Magura hydraulic cantilever brake display despite the pleading looks of "Hey come talk to me about it, no one is buying or spec'n it and I'm lonely and bored!"
The Boss man had a specific goal and lots of meetings. Every rep needed him to sit down and talk about the orders and commitment and if they couldn't land that then at least they would have bodies to demonstrate that they are working hard even if they aren't moving much product.
I don't suspect much has changed. Other than Trek and Specialized do their own show for their folks and someone else too? Do they show up at Inner-dorky-bike?
I tend to agree with the last comment there. Trade shows are dead.
Spend the money on a damn good internet campaign get RyantTKelly on it. Or give Results boy loads of product and let him get all spastic on it.
Most everyone at the trade show has seen everything thing there on the internet already, or will w/in weeks of the show. What do they get out of being there? Touching it? Yeah. Well. When you order the product and have it on your shelves, touch it then. Demo days? That is a good idea. Consumer demo days? EVEN BETTER.
Esp with shops carrying less and less diverse inventory (or so it seems). Consumer days might be a pain but man - there were lots of people seriously going from booth to booth trying different groups of bikes out at the show in PVD last year. Consumers are also more savy and know often as much or more about what they want than the shop employees do. Now that said, there are plenty of people who have no clue who need help at a shop.
Anyway
I got my run in this morning. 5:30am is f'n early. Not 4:30am early like Gary Loony Toons David, but it was nice. Tomorrow is intervals. On the trainer. At 5:30, with the iPod. In the dark. Maybe outside (tandem in the bike room is taking up trainer space - i hope it isn't raining).
heddwch
G
I heard it first somewhere. And man who's the moronic dumbass who decided that? Esp with Denver on the table. Okay - I know. It is business and you can't spill all the beans behind choices like this. I'm not going so I don't care one way or another, well i do. but whatever.
I read this.
It was a good read.
I always liked going to CABDA "back in the day." Boss man would get a couple hotel rooms in Rosemont and we'd drive down, prowl the floor looking at all the new shit checking the new lines of bikes we'd be fixing or selling. Some people would see how much schwag they can score, I liked the schwag. But I also liked talking to folks like Deitrick Rolf about the cool shit they designed and are selling. Seeing the new people with new products all dripping with blind enthusiasm that grips and takes down all but the best ideas. Guys with ridiculous stuff like the Crack Wax chain folks. Or avoiding the the pathetic Magura hydraulic cantilever brake display despite the pleading looks of "Hey come talk to me about it, no one is buying or spec'n it and I'm lonely and bored!"
The Boss man had a specific goal and lots of meetings. Every rep needed him to sit down and talk about the orders and commitment and if they couldn't land that then at least they would have bodies to demonstrate that they are working hard even if they aren't moving much product.
I don't suspect much has changed. Other than Trek and Specialized do their own show for their folks and someone else too? Do they show up at Inner-dorky-bike?
I tend to agree with the last comment there. Trade shows are dead.
Spend the money on a damn good internet campaign get RyantTKelly on it. Or give Results boy loads of product and let him get all spastic on it.
Most everyone at the trade show has seen everything thing there on the internet already, or will w/in weeks of the show. What do they get out of being there? Touching it? Yeah. Well. When you order the product and have it on your shelves, touch it then. Demo days? That is a good idea. Consumer demo days? EVEN BETTER.
Esp with shops carrying less and less diverse inventory (or so it seems). Consumer days might be a pain but man - there were lots of people seriously going from booth to booth trying different groups of bikes out at the show in PVD last year. Consumers are also more savy and know often as much or more about what they want than the shop employees do. Now that said, there are plenty of people who have no clue who need help at a shop.
Anyway
I got my run in this morning. 5:30am is f'n early. Not 4:30am early like Gary Loony Toons David, but it was nice. Tomorrow is intervals. On the trainer. At 5:30, with the iPod. In the dark. Maybe outside (tandem in the bike room is taking up trainer space - i hope it isn't raining).
heddwch
G
electrical tape
either the whole damn field is reading this or my water bottle bolt solution is not my own.
At the start line, no less than a half dozen of the bikes around me had little squares of electrical tape covering the bolt holes.
It
was
awesome
If G-ride hadn't lined up behind Carl "I crash everyone and myself" Ring I would have tried to point it out.
So.
Just to piss G-ride off (not that he needs anything else to get angsty about) it would be wicked cool to see every bike in the field with electrical tape over the bolt holes. (they do make it in different colors too ya know). it will save you a whopping 4-10 grams off the frame weight.
At the start line, no less than a half dozen of the bikes around me had little squares of electrical tape covering the bolt holes.
It
was
awesome
If G-ride hadn't lined up behind Carl "I crash everyone and myself" Ring I would have tried to point it out.
So.
Just to piss G-ride off (not that he needs anything else to get angsty about) it would be wicked cool to see every bike in the field with electrical tape over the bolt holes. (they do make it in different colors too ya know). it will save you a whopping 4-10 grams off the frame weight.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Post Race at Quad
Didn't take many pictures yesterday. Total of... two.
This one:
Caption is true - he wanted to zip up for the photo...
and well - i thought maybe that's not a bad idea. And took the second shot. Probably should have just left the camera at home.
It was dusty. As a shot from Andy Huff can attest:
I loved the flow of the course. The corners were on rails. Felt like riding a roller coaster I was so dialed in. But then I died in the open straight sections with my lack of fitness lately. I actually did pretty good for the first couple laps. Staying there in about 20-25th spot, then I got slower in the straight sections. I'd reel people back in on the twisties, but then would watch em power away. I'll get it figured out. 40/20s and some 5x30s. Time for the painful work. Also still, STILL have to figure out how to work as hard as looks like Pete Smith is(I saw the photo earlier today, just can't find the link now) for the whole race. Mentally I just kind of cracked after about 2.5-3 laps (when i started to drift of chabot's wheel).
Either way. I'm improving a bit from last year. Normally the 45+ guys would have caught me much sooner, and last year this time there is no doubt that Jonny BOLD and Maaaaahk would have lapped me. There were no times posted for the 35+ event and I didn't think to take a photo of the 45+ results (should have).
More later, if i have a second or two.
Heddwch
G
Oh
no more words right now but, hey - watch out for this guy, not only is his suit dirty but so is he. And I mean he's like way dirtier than zencycle.
This one:
Caption is true - he wanted to zip up for the photo...
and well - i thought maybe that's not a bad idea. And took the second shot. Probably should have just left the camera at home.
It was dusty. As a shot from Andy Huff can attest:
I loved the flow of the course. The corners were on rails. Felt like riding a roller coaster I was so dialed in. But then I died in the open straight sections with my lack of fitness lately. I actually did pretty good for the first couple laps. Staying there in about 20-25th spot, then I got slower in the straight sections. I'd reel people back in on the twisties, but then would watch em power away. I'll get it figured out. 40/20s and some 5x30s. Time for the painful work. Also still, STILL have to figure out how to work as hard as looks like Pete Smith is(I saw the photo earlier today, just can't find the link now) for the whole race. Mentally I just kind of cracked after about 2.5-3 laps (when i started to drift of chabot's wheel).
Either way. I'm improving a bit from last year. Normally the 45+ guys would have caught me much sooner, and last year this time there is no doubt that Jonny BOLD and Maaaaahk would have lapped me. There were no times posted for the 35+ event and I didn't think to take a photo of the 45+ results (should have).
More later, if i have a second or two.
Heddwch
G
Oh
no more words right now but, hey - watch out for this guy, not only is his suit dirty but so is he. And I mean he's like way dirtier than zencycle.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
T h a t w a s A w e s o m e
First race went way better than expected.
That was fun.
Dusty. Felt like I smoked three or four unfiltered camels.
Woman at the deli counter at Wholepaycheck said i needed a shower (stopped to do the weekly shopping on the way home). I'll get the photo up of the post race blogger shot.
Great to see everyone.
This morning everything sort of fell into place and the race happened. Then it was race time. The course was great. I ran those clinchers I really like. I lusted after Cronoman's 34 Cubus tires, but was HOOKED UP in the stuff with the Racing Ralphs. The old ones. I will say those new Rocket Rons look amazing.
SOOOOOO
happy that Jonny and Maaaaaahhhhhhhk didn't catch me. Stoked it took so long for Cronoman to catch me. To start off like that on a somewhat short course even if G-ride put 10 places into me and didn't blow like I did, is pretty killer. Those damn bastards in the 35+ race are getting faster and faster every year. I might be too. And that's not so bad. I'm still skeptical that I'll be happy on short cranks, esp with Garber's comments and 'Soups saying he notices a huge diff between 170 and 172.5. But ya know what? I'm okay with the experiment. We'll see what happens. Hey worst case I try to sell em for $250 and buy some Rival 180s and a GPX bottom bracket.
Race report later if I feel like it. Right now, i'm getting ready to fall asleep watching some football!
Cross season is here and it is good.
G
That was fun.
Dusty. Felt like I smoked three or four unfiltered camels.
Woman at the deli counter at Wholepaycheck said i needed a shower (stopped to do the weekly shopping on the way home). I'll get the photo up of the post race blogger shot.
Great to see everyone.
This morning everything sort of fell into place and the race happened. Then it was race time. The course was great. I ran those clinchers I really like. I lusted after Cronoman's 34 Cubus tires, but was HOOKED UP in the stuff with the Racing Ralphs. The old ones. I will say those new Rocket Rons look amazing.
SOOOOOO
happy that Jonny and Maaaaaahhhhhhhk didn't catch me. Stoked it took so long for Cronoman to catch me. To start off like that on a somewhat short course even if G-ride put 10 places into me and didn't blow like I did, is pretty killer. Those damn bastards in the 35+ race are getting faster and faster every year. I might be too. And that's not so bad. I'm still skeptical that I'll be happy on short cranks, esp with Garber's comments and 'Soups saying he notices a huge diff between 170 and 172.5. But ya know what? I'm okay with the experiment. We'll see what happens. Hey worst case I try to sell em for $250 and buy some Rival 180s and a GPX bottom bracket.
Race report later if I feel like it. Right now, i'm getting ready to fall asleep watching some football!
Cross season is here and it is good.
G
Getting closer to a cyclocross morning
Cool, 54 degrees out there this morning.
This is cyclocross weather. It will probably still heat up a bit too much today but hey a good start is important in cross. It sets the tone for the day/race.
Having some chill, quiet, centering time here with the dog before hoping to gather everything I need for the race day together.
And of course trying not to forget to get directions on how to get there. No pit bike now with the decom of the Croll, and no spare wheels set up. Might have to do something about that though. Hmm. We'll see what winds up in the car.
Actually getting excited about today, now that the prep for leaving is on hand and it really is going to happen. Oof I have a bunch of stuff to do before getting out of here. Probably should get my big butt off the couch and activate. I wonder if G-ride has left yet.
heddwch
G
This is cyclocross weather. It will probably still heat up a bit too much today but hey a good start is important in cross. It sets the tone for the day/race.
Having some chill, quiet, centering time here with the dog before hoping to gather everything I need for the race day together.
And of course trying not to forget to get directions on how to get there. No pit bike now with the decom of the Croll, and no spare wheels set up. Might have to do something about that though. Hmm. We'll see what winds up in the car.
Actually getting excited about today, now that the prep for leaving is on hand and it really is going to happen. Oof I have a bunch of stuff to do before getting out of here. Probably should get my big butt off the couch and activate. I wonder if G-ride has left yet.
heddwch
G
Saturday, September 11, 2010
wasn't going to do it
wash the Giant. I planned to show up with it nice and dirty.
Some how in getting the tires on there, cleaning and lubing the chain I started cleaning the frame.
and it felt good.
Bike's clean. Running clinchers (grass course not the worst idea) and the bike is ready to go.
Me? Openers?
Not yet - probably not today.
Got the Tent loaded up in the car, tires rotated, and just have to put the bike on the roof (tools still in there + short drive = roof rack use) and find the rest of the stuff I need for the racing.
The bars showed up for the Blue today. Despite being 46 c-c they are way stiffer than any other bar I have on a bike, not super light (at 301 grams actual - yes I put it on the digital balance), but hey, neither am i. Coolest thing was pulling it out of the box. It was exciting. New bike shit.
I think i'll be even better once the rest of the boxes start showing up.
See yall at Quad Cross tomorrow (if I can figure out how to get there).
Some how in getting the tires on there, cleaning and lubing the chain I started cleaning the frame.
and it felt good.
Bike's clean. Running clinchers (grass course not the worst idea) and the bike is ready to go.
Me? Openers?
Not yet - probably not today.
Got the Tent loaded up in the car, tires rotated, and just have to put the bike on the roof (tools still in there + short drive = roof rack use) and find the rest of the stuff I need for the racing.
The bars showed up for the Blue today. Despite being 46 c-c they are way stiffer than any other bar I have on a bike, not super light (at 301 grams actual - yes I put it on the digital balance), but hey, neither am i. Coolest thing was pulling it out of the box. It was exciting. New bike shit.
I think i'll be even better once the rest of the boxes start showing up.
See yall at Quad Cross tomorrow (if I can figure out how to get there).
about 90% there and so many years ago
yeah, baggage has mostly evaporated in the night. woke up early with the dog, headed back to bed and slept some more.
feel like i'm getting over the cold, and now just one thing let, the albatross. Need to get it owned by someone else i think.
But - no tome for thinking today. Gotta get the rusty race wagon fit for duty, take the commuter tires off the Giant and let the spark get some air. Time to let the smoldering ignite into a full flame so the smoke goes away and I can shake the shackles no matter what and enjoy it.
I can look back at this day and the weekend of insanity that preceded it in 2001.
My brother got married in Newport, I flew out for two days or so. Drove to Detroit, hopped on my first SWA flight to PVD. Headed down for the wedding, had a bunch of fun, slept for 2 hours got back on the plane and flew to PVD. Had dinner with a friend on the way home was denied beer because I couldn't find my ID. Searched the car, came back in and then found it had slipped down between the seats only after I was just about to leave. Then headed over to a big TDI gtg at Hondo's place. People had driven in from everywhere. I missed the first day but got good and dirty the second. My girls (just my wife and oldest) were in DC area visiting family. They flew out of Dulles on the 10th. On the 11th I headed to work.
It was a tuesday. Staff coffee day. The bio department technical support staff, stock room, shop, computer, lab coordinator, microscope guy and sometimes animal care. But the meeting didn't really get a chance to happen. IT guy spread the news. Robert was pale and shaking when he came down to the stock room, I was in talking to Ray and Jeff. Everyone headed back to their office and CNN's web page crashed.
We decided to head over a bit early for coffee, and stopped as we entered the Student center and watched the drama unfold from the TV there.
After a while we headed back somberly. The Prez of the place canceled all classes, and locked the whole place down. Everyone was told they could go home. I think I wound up leaving at 2pm.
I was out of fuel and had meant to fill up on the way in, but for some reason I didn't and I pulled into the BP in Ithaca to find huge lines in the gas pumps and normally the four diesel pumps were deserted, today not so much. Diesel price jumped 75 cents between the guy with the power stroke filling up in front of me and when I got the nozzle. Gasoline prices went up 3 dollars and they ran out of regular unleaded while I was there.
Then of course I wasn't done. It was just past two years on my cell phone plan (of my first cell phone) and since I rarely am in the area during the day to get the free every two year phone I headed over. Odd feeling in that it was business as usual. People were trying to carry on, pretty successfully. More out of not wanting to be paralyzed, and wanting to put on a face of "you can do that to us but it isn't going stop us" fighting back as best they could by carrying on. It was surreal almost. The Meijer's gas station's prices had gone up but not by the 3-5 dollars other places had and I could watch the long line of people filling up their cars. A run on gas like that may never have happened since? I don't remember experiencing it.
Now I'm in full on Michigan memory flood mode. The phase of working and driving 150 miles a day, not the grad student/bike shop mechanic/bike commuter phase when I discovered Cyclocross.
I hope everyone is having fun at Brockton today. After a couple years of rain and weird mud that smelled funny, roots and needles and flats and concrete bridges and the timing of the event I've sort of stopped going. I guess they redesigned it last year or the year before, I hope it is better, for the sport's sake.
To take a twist off of Eleanor Roosevelt's quote: "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." I had let myself spiral down precipitously. Irrespective of the big picture, myoptically getting weighed down with pretty insignificant issues.
The sun is shining - time to make some food, refuel, and prep for tomorrow.
It is a gorgeous day out there.
HTFU
heddwch
G
feel like i'm getting over the cold, and now just one thing let, the albatross. Need to get it owned by someone else i think.
But - no tome for thinking today. Gotta get the rusty race wagon fit for duty, take the commuter tires off the Giant and let the spark get some air. Time to let the smoldering ignite into a full flame so the smoke goes away and I can shake the shackles no matter what and enjoy it.
I can look back at this day and the weekend of insanity that preceded it in 2001.
My brother got married in Newport, I flew out for two days or so. Drove to Detroit, hopped on my first SWA flight to PVD. Headed down for the wedding, had a bunch of fun, slept for 2 hours got back on the plane and flew to PVD. Had dinner with a friend on the way home was denied beer because I couldn't find my ID. Searched the car, came back in and then found it had slipped down between the seats only after I was just about to leave. Then headed over to a big TDI gtg at Hondo's place. People had driven in from everywhere. I missed the first day but got good and dirty the second. My girls (just my wife and oldest) were in DC area visiting family. They flew out of Dulles on the 10th. On the 11th I headed to work.
It was a tuesday. Staff coffee day. The bio department technical support staff, stock room, shop, computer, lab coordinator, microscope guy and sometimes animal care. But the meeting didn't really get a chance to happen. IT guy spread the news. Robert was pale and shaking when he came down to the stock room, I was in talking to Ray and Jeff. Everyone headed back to their office and CNN's web page crashed.
We decided to head over a bit early for coffee, and stopped as we entered the Student center and watched the drama unfold from the TV there.
After a while we headed back somberly. The Prez of the place canceled all classes, and locked the whole place down. Everyone was told they could go home. I think I wound up leaving at 2pm.
I was out of fuel and had meant to fill up on the way in, but for some reason I didn't and I pulled into the BP in Ithaca to find huge lines in the gas pumps and normally the four diesel pumps were deserted, today not so much. Diesel price jumped 75 cents between the guy with the power stroke filling up in front of me and when I got the nozzle. Gasoline prices went up 3 dollars and they ran out of regular unleaded while I was there.
Then of course I wasn't done. It was just past two years on my cell phone plan (of my first cell phone) and since I rarely am in the area during the day to get the free every two year phone I headed over. Odd feeling in that it was business as usual. People were trying to carry on, pretty successfully. More out of not wanting to be paralyzed, and wanting to put on a face of "you can do that to us but it isn't going stop us" fighting back as best they could by carrying on. It was surreal almost. The Meijer's gas station's prices had gone up but not by the 3-5 dollars other places had and I could watch the long line of people filling up their cars. A run on gas like that may never have happened since? I don't remember experiencing it.
Now I'm in full on Michigan memory flood mode. The phase of working and driving 150 miles a day, not the grad student/bike shop mechanic/bike commuter phase when I discovered Cyclocross.
I hope everyone is having fun at Brockton today. After a couple years of rain and weird mud that smelled funny, roots and needles and flats and concrete bridges and the timing of the event I've sort of stopped going. I guess they redesigned it last year or the year before, I hope it is better, for the sport's sake.
To take a twist off of Eleanor Roosevelt's quote: "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." I had let myself spiral down precipitously. Irrespective of the big picture, myoptically getting weighed down with pretty insignificant issues.
The sun is shining - time to make some food, refuel, and prep for tomorrow.
It is a gorgeous day out there.
HTFU
heddwch
G
Friday, September 10, 2010
why do i
Let little things, stuff that doesn't really matter, get to me? Turning a tiny little f'n parts order (not tiny but for me a bit of cash not on hand) into a big f'n mole hill of stress.
Doesn't do me any good. That much I know. Sucks the freaking fun out of what should be wicked awesome and exciting. Seriously. Is there anything more exciting than building a new CX bike for the season?
No
there
is
NOT.
But somehow, leave it to f'n GeWilli to figure out how to make it as unfun and stressful for himself as possible. Yeah. Seriously. WHAT AN IDIOT.
Problem is I recognize the problem, know it is coming but somehow allow myself to be sucked in. One scape goat, no not G-ride. But I actually feel kind of bad sucking him down into this messed up vortex, not intentionally but this new team is his deal, and no new team, no new bike for me. So yeah. It is like totally his fault (no, it isn't, not even going to pretend to hope that comes off as it was intended). No, it isn't g-ride's damn fault.
First cross race of the season on Sunday and I'm in a g-damn funk. What do I have to complain about? Nothing. Seriously. What's my god damn problem. Not sure. Okay I know what it is. The unknown. The lack of control.
Everything was perfect two days ago. There was a sale of some fancy gear i'm never going to use that was going to happen today, the 177.5 cranks were still 180s, and I was counting on paying for the last bits of parts for the new bike from the sale today. Didn't happen. Sale that is. Cranks turned out to be 177.5s, bike I ordered was an XL but then found out after ordering that the catalog and web page were wrong, only comes in a Large. And that shit is minor. Overshawdowing some really cool shit going on at work and with my youngest (a newly minted soccer star) and to top it off weighing down and soiling the joy I have at this time of the year. Cross season is starting.
IT IS STARTING.
Cyclocross. The coolest shit on two wheels. And I've managed to find a pile of shit to jump in and torture myself. Yes. I'm actually hoping that being me and unloading my emo shit or what ever my sarcastic cynical douchebag friends want to call it will make me feel better, so I can move the fuck on and fucking enjoy the best damn sport on two wheels. I'm tired, run down, feeling on the edge of getting full blown sick (i'm fighting something and that's not helping much), got blown OUT at the smack down, but had decent success in the middle and pushed past limits in many spots to hang on, and tried to not talk about it. I haven't run since, fuck it all, I don't even remember - new school schedule and all that has messed the mornings up just enough coupled with being freaking exhausted but also dealing with mild insomnia. Shit is just adding up, piling up and I'm dealing with it all really poorly.
I don't know if I feel any better, maybe a little actually. Kind of like throwing up sort of makes you feel better.
I am signed up for Quad Cross. I have the Giant not quite ready to go but it has been put to the test on the sand and barriers and single track and grass. it is the same as it ever was. And so am i.
so
am
i
fwiw
ffs
heddwch
G
Doesn't do me any good. That much I know. Sucks the freaking fun out of what should be wicked awesome and exciting. Seriously. Is there anything more exciting than building a new CX bike for the season?
No
there
is
NOT.
But somehow, leave it to f'n GeWilli to figure out how to make it as unfun and stressful for himself as possible. Yeah. Seriously. WHAT AN IDIOT.
Problem is I recognize the problem, know it is coming but somehow allow myself to be sucked in. One scape goat, no not G-ride. But I actually feel kind of bad sucking him down into this messed up vortex, not intentionally but this new team is his deal, and no new team, no new bike for me. So yeah. It is like totally his fault (no, it isn't, not even going to pretend to hope that comes off as it was intended). No, it isn't g-ride's damn fault.
First cross race of the season on Sunday and I'm in a g-damn funk. What do I have to complain about? Nothing. Seriously. What's my god damn problem. Not sure. Okay I know what it is. The unknown. The lack of control.
Everything was perfect two days ago. There was a sale of some fancy gear i'm never going to use that was going to happen today, the 177.5 cranks were still 180s, and I was counting on paying for the last bits of parts for the new bike from the sale today. Didn't happen. Sale that is. Cranks turned out to be 177.5s, bike I ordered was an XL but then found out after ordering that the catalog and web page were wrong, only comes in a Large. And that shit is minor. Overshawdowing some really cool shit going on at work and with my youngest (a newly minted soccer star) and to top it off weighing down and soiling the joy I have at this time of the year. Cross season is starting.
IT IS STARTING.
Cyclocross. The coolest shit on two wheels. And I've managed to find a pile of shit to jump in and torture myself. Yes. I'm actually hoping that being me and unloading my emo shit or what ever my sarcastic cynical douchebag friends want to call it will make me feel better, so I can move the fuck on and fucking enjoy the best damn sport on two wheels. I'm tired, run down, feeling on the edge of getting full blown sick (i'm fighting something and that's not helping much), got blown OUT at the smack down, but had decent success in the middle and pushed past limits in many spots to hang on, and tried to not talk about it. I haven't run since, fuck it all, I don't even remember - new school schedule and all that has messed the mornings up just enough coupled with being freaking exhausted but also dealing with mild insomnia. Shit is just adding up, piling up and I'm dealing with it all really poorly.
I don't know if I feel any better, maybe a little actually. Kind of like throwing up sort of makes you feel better.
I am signed up for Quad Cross. I have the Giant not quite ready to go but it has been put to the test on the sand and barriers and single track and grass. it is the same as it ever was. And so am i.
so
am
i
fwiw
ffs
heddwch
G
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Disc wheels and cross winds
Riding home the other night with a nice solid 15+ mph gusty crosswind on the Klein, with the disc wheel cover still on it from Blount Fall River crit I tried hard to notices the effects of the wind.
And there weren't any.
I've never felt any issue with cross winds and the solid rear wheel.
The other night I realized why.
Center of Gravity.
I'm riding a 63cm frame and a huge amount of mass is way up top. And if you compare the leverage point of the disc wheel in a cross wind with my CG, and then maybe compare it to someone on a 54cm frame who weighs in 50 pounds lighter, well it makes sense that I might not feel anything from a cross wind.
Is it slowing me down? Maybe in that situation, but then maybe not. But no matter it makes sense why I don't notice it when the wind is blowing in my ear hole.
In other news, my joy and jubilation at finding the holy grail of cranks (180mm and BB30) seems to have been dashed to bits. Looks like I will be settling on a 2.5 mm shorter version. Oh well. The added stiffness and weight savings and increased power transfer probably make up for the loss of leverage (i know - G-ride's laughin, or groaning right about now).
Oh well. Some things that seem too good be true, even after repeated efforts that seem to say they are true - turn out to be ass suspected. Not so.
It'll work out. Hopefully by VT.
And there weren't any.
I've never felt any issue with cross winds and the solid rear wheel.
The other night I realized why.
Center of Gravity.
I'm riding a 63cm frame and a huge amount of mass is way up top. And if you compare the leverage point of the disc wheel in a cross wind with my CG, and then maybe compare it to someone on a 54cm frame who weighs in 50 pounds lighter, well it makes sense that I might not feel anything from a cross wind.
Is it slowing me down? Maybe in that situation, but then maybe not. But no matter it makes sense why I don't notice it when the wind is blowing in my ear hole.
In other news, my joy and jubilation at finding the holy grail of cranks (180mm and BB30) seems to have been dashed to bits. Looks like I will be settling on a 2.5 mm shorter version. Oh well. The added stiffness and weight savings and increased power transfer probably make up for the loss of leverage (i know - G-ride's laughin, or groaning right about now).
Oh well. Some things that seem too good be true, even after repeated efforts that seem to say they are true - turn out to be ass suspected. Not so.
It'll work out. Hopefully by VT.
Season Starts NOW
Cyclocross season. Rumor has it that some of the bits for the bike are on the way. Bars shipped yesterday, drive train might be in transit tomorrow from the sponsor (no - not free unfortunately), and cranks, there was a comment that they will be shipping today as well. Time will tell. Fingers and toes crossed that the Blue will be ready for VT. I may be waiting on the porch for a UPS package on Friday night before driving up to VT and building it up there, but if that's what it takes, that's what it takes.
It will be nice not to have to take anything off the old bike except wheels, and with the road season finished, and smack downs all but over - i really hope to make it out next week for what might be the last one of the season (getting pretty damn dark - yes solo it is like April or something now - i know).
NFL season starts tonight with the first Game. And for the first time in maybe 10 years I will not be playing Fantasy Football. And, ya know what? I'm okay with that. it will make it easier to be racing CX during the games. I'll be able to root for teams to win, not just throw to a certain person. I'm kind of looking forward to maybe just being a fan again. Maybe in that we'll see if I can get excited about football this fall.
I try not to get sucked into sharing stuff as results boy calls "emails from grandma" or what ever he calls it... but hey - screw it, this is my place and this made me laugh, or smile. One of these is just for Zen, or more than one but one is included with the incomparable J-hole in mind.
Oh hell i'll put em in a separate post (time stamped earlier than this one).
And yeah. I did have to go listen to The Bike Song video again. (and again right now). Good stuff.
"Gonna Ride My Bike Until I get Home!"
heddwch
G
It will be nice not to have to take anything off the old bike except wheels, and with the road season finished, and smack downs all but over - i really hope to make it out next week for what might be the last one of the season (getting pretty damn dark - yes solo it is like April or something now - i know).
NFL season starts tonight with the first Game. And for the first time in maybe 10 years I will not be playing Fantasy Football. And, ya know what? I'm okay with that. it will make it easier to be racing CX during the games. I'll be able to root for teams to win, not just throw to a certain person. I'm kind of looking forward to maybe just being a fan again. Maybe in that we'll see if I can get excited about football this fall.
I try not to get sucked into sharing stuff as results boy calls "emails from grandma" or what ever he calls it... but hey - screw it, this is my place and this made me laugh, or smile. One of these is just for Zen, or more than one but one is included with the incomparable J-hole in mind.
Oh hell i'll put em in a separate post (time stamped earlier than this one).
And yeah. I did have to go listen to The Bike Song video again. (and again right now). Good stuff.
"Gonna Ride My Bike Until I get Home!"
heddwch
G
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Reality Checks
Sometimes you're given a reality check. Cancer sucks. Not that I'm not reminded of that any time a Brown U kid shows up on a ride with last years team kit and the letters M. L. F. N. written above the name of a dear friend who died.
Or hearing about the struggles fine people like M Simpson's mother are going through.
Cancer is a challenge. One that we all will face, personally. Be it our own cancer, or a loved one.
Fast Boy Cycles AKA Ezra has had a relapse. Colon cancer. It is back. And it hit me pretty solidly today. Not a great way to hit a mid morning break.
Juxtaposition and yin and yang though...
i'm a man of contradictions so today... contradictions
This from Kent's Bike blog. Makes me smile. Good song, great video
heddwch
G
Or hearing about the struggles fine people like M Simpson's mother are going through.
Cancer is a challenge. One that we all will face, personally. Be it our own cancer, or a loved one.
Fast Boy Cycles AKA Ezra has had a relapse. Colon cancer. It is back. And it hit me pretty solidly today. Not a great way to hit a mid morning break.
Juxtaposition and yin and yang though...
i'm a man of contradictions so today... contradictions
This from Kent's Bike blog. Makes me smile. Good song, great video
heddwch
G
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Tuesday already?
While all those big guns were out racing in VT, I thought it best if I didn't do any racing this weekend at all. Maybe some riding here and there, but mostly not riding.
Plenty of thinking about it. Just not much riding, and no racing.
I keep thinking about the Blue and getting parts on it. It is all being held up at the moment. It would be really nice if the final piece of the puzzle fell into place so I felt comfortable buying the rest of the parts. New Kits look to be maybe ready for Loon, we'll see.
The Giant wasn't slowing me down that much last year, at least I didn't think it was. Comparing the Giant with the Blue I can see how the new front end and the BB30 will make a big difference. The lighter weight probably will help a touch too.
no fancy wheels though, not yet. We'll see how big the final puzzle piece is, maybe there will be a chunk big enough to push in that direction.
Untested and before somewhat less worried than I am now after the murmuring across the old masters twitters that JONNY BOLD decided to race the 35+ in Bedford. I think after a 3rd place at GMSR he should race the P/1/2/3 race, mostly because I really don't want to get lapped at the first race, again... But then VT is the next weekend and there's not enough time to get fast enough between the 12th and 18th to prevent getting lapped both weekends if it is going to happen. You know for damn sure I'm going to do what ever it takes to stay on the lead lap, but hey - sometimes my legs are just too easy to rip off.
Lots of other exciting stuff going on.
But less exciting is i think some ex-Pro tri-dude infiltrated my brain and my running has gone to hell. As in I haven't in weeks.
so i'll probably fall apart in a month or two unless i get this running back in gear...
heddwch
G
Plenty of thinking about it. Just not much riding, and no racing.
I keep thinking about the Blue and getting parts on it. It is all being held up at the moment. It would be really nice if the final piece of the puzzle fell into place so I felt comfortable buying the rest of the parts. New Kits look to be maybe ready for Loon, we'll see.
The Giant wasn't slowing me down that much last year, at least I didn't think it was. Comparing the Giant with the Blue I can see how the new front end and the BB30 will make a big difference. The lighter weight probably will help a touch too.
no fancy wheels though, not yet. We'll see how big the final puzzle piece is, maybe there will be a chunk big enough to push in that direction.
Untested and before somewhat less worried than I am now after the murmuring across the old masters twitters that JONNY BOLD decided to race the 35+ in Bedford. I think after a 3rd place at GMSR he should race the P/1/2/3 race, mostly because I really don't want to get lapped at the first race, again... But then VT is the next weekend and there's not enough time to get fast enough between the 12th and 18th to prevent getting lapped both weekends if it is going to happen. You know for damn sure I'm going to do what ever it takes to stay on the lead lap, but hey - sometimes my legs are just too easy to rip off.
Lots of other exciting stuff going on.
But less exciting is i think some ex-Pro tri-dude infiltrated my brain and my running has gone to hell. As in I haven't in weeks.
so i'll probably fall apart in a month or two unless i get this running back in gear...
heddwch
G
Friday, September 03, 2010
Ranting about bike stuff posts
Last time it was about the frame. Trying to figure out if a Large would work. And I think the post helped. Some web log commenting shy tweeter made the crystalizing suggestion that pushed me towards what I have now.
After writing that other post earlier today, there was another moment of sun shining through the clouds.
First the Bars came through - surprising how hard it is to find 46 cm bars measured C-C with a 31.8 clamp that don't cost $200+. Bikeman has some older RaceFace Cadence bars. Davis C. confirmed the c-c measurements and I pulled the trigger on those. Finally something purchased just for that bike.
Then. THEN the cranks came through. With SRAM saying they didn't exist and everyone else saying they didn't I was skeptical that these were for real.
SRAM doesn't show them on the catalog. I called Casters and they said "no dice, don't exist." Got a part number from the supplier and then Anthony called them back and actually had the person there pull them out of stock to say absolutely, yes, they have 180mm stamped on them and they are exactly as advertised. Holy shit. The grail? These cranks actually exist? But the online retailer was going to be quite a bit cheaper, like a lot, than they could sell me even with the cycling team discount.
So I pulled the trigger on those cranks. Still waiting on a pile of other stuff, and the chance that it will all get here in time for Quad is slim to none but, still VT is looking better than average to get it built.
And it is positive. I think I drove G-ride to drinking heavily tonight with all my anxiety ridden vexing today. Not helping that there is a bit of complication unloading the last of the items that are helping to pay for all this.
But hey.
It will all fall in to place.
Things are looking up.
Those late friday rants kind of work i guess. Almost like i have to get the mess out of my head to see the writing on the wall.
Maybe this web log thing is still useful.
maybe
heddwch
G
After writing that other post earlier today, there was another moment of sun shining through the clouds.
First the Bars came through - surprising how hard it is to find 46 cm bars measured C-C with a 31.8 clamp that don't cost $200+. Bikeman has some older RaceFace Cadence bars. Davis C. confirmed the c-c measurements and I pulled the trigger on those. Finally something purchased just for that bike.
Then. THEN the cranks came through. With SRAM saying they didn't exist and everyone else saying they didn't I was skeptical that these were for real.
SRAM doesn't show them on the catalog. I called Casters and they said "no dice, don't exist." Got a part number from the supplier and then Anthony called them back and actually had the person there pull them out of stock to say absolutely, yes, they have 180mm stamped on them and they are exactly as advertised. Holy shit. The grail? These cranks actually exist? But the online retailer was going to be quite a bit cheaper, like a lot, than they could sell me even with the cycling team discount.
So I pulled the trigger on those cranks. Still waiting on a pile of other stuff, and the chance that it will all get here in time for Quad is slim to none but, still VT is looking better than average to get it built.
And it is positive. I think I drove G-ride to drinking heavily tonight with all my anxiety ridden vexing today. Not helping that there is a bit of complication unloading the last of the items that are helping to pay for all this.
But hey.
It will all fall in to place.
Things are looking up.
Those late friday rants kind of work i guess. Almost like i have to get the mess out of my head to see the writing on the wall.
Maybe this web log thing is still useful.
maybe
heddwch
G
ranting about parts
Why in the world are there no reasonable 180mm BB30 crankset out there?
SRAM doesn't list one (177.5 sure, no problem, but shorter is not the right direction)
Shimano? do they even bother with BB30
Campy same thing
Zipp Makes one but damn those things cost more than the Zinn. At least with the Zinn I could get a 200mm crank.
But not with a BB30.
SRAM DOES have plenty of options with a 177.5mm crank AND a BB30.
conundrums - just kind of want to get the bike built, ya know?
trivial thing to complain about, I know... It is just that when you have a nice new frame with a BB30 shell, it would be great to stick a real BB30 in there, and not an adapter sleeve...
SRAM doesn't list one (177.5 sure, no problem, but shorter is not the right direction)
Shimano? do they even bother with BB30
Campy same thing
Zipp Makes one but damn those things cost more than the Zinn. At least with the Zinn I could get a 200mm crank.
But not with a BB30.
SRAM DOES have plenty of options with a 177.5mm crank AND a BB30.
conundrums - just kind of want to get the bike built, ya know?
trivial thing to complain about, I know... It is just that when you have a nice new frame with a BB30 shell, it would be great to stick a real BB30 in there, and not an adapter sleeve...
BRING IT ON
I'm going steal a comment from Navy Boy Ted Essssssenfeld
"Feels like Liuetenant Dan in Forest Gump... waiting for this hurricane to show up. Is this all you got??!!"
At least that's what I'm thinking I'm going to be like on the ride home tonight.
A mellow light tail wind this morning. I'm kind of hoping for something crazy and epic and awesome for the ride home.
I love being out in the weather, being part of it. Mad Watts Mother Nature! FTW
Yeah. I used a twitterism in a blog. FML
keep it straight.
Eh?
Now, if you haven't talked with results boy then the interview really doesn't work quite as well. If you have you know he shoots words out faster than a .50 cal.
Read part one -- two and three. Unless you already have, then yah whatever. Read em again (no, don't try that - colin's not that exciting to read about)
Seriously. I'm excited for the ride home.
But, I'm afraid I might be disappointed. It isn't supposed to really be all that bad out there until later tonight. If anything.
"Feels like Liuetenant Dan in Forest Gump... waiting for this hurricane to show up. Is this all you got??!!"
At least that's what I'm thinking I'm going to be like on the ride home tonight.
A mellow light tail wind this morning. I'm kind of hoping for something crazy and epic and awesome for the ride home.
I love being out in the weather, being part of it. Mad Watts Mother Nature! FTW
Yeah. I used a twitterism in a blog. FML
keep it straight.
Eh?
Now, if you haven't talked with results boy then the interview really doesn't work quite as well. If you have you know he shoots words out faster than a .50 cal.
Read part one -- two and three. Unless you already have, then yah whatever. Read em again (no, don't try that - colin's not that exciting to read about)
Seriously. I'm excited for the ride home.
But, I'm afraid I might be disappointed. It isn't supposed to really be all that bad out there until later tonight. If anything.
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
If it's true that our species is alone in the universe, then I'd have to say that the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little.
- George Carlin
There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it.
- Mary Wilson Little
Oh and it is great to find the President speaking on the TV and not feel the need to destroy said TV, turn it off or generally cringe. Thank you mr President. It isn't an easy job, keep up the good work.
- George Carlin
There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it.
- Mary Wilson Little
Oh and it is great to find the President speaking on the TV and not feel the need to destroy said TV, turn it off or generally cringe. Thank you mr President. It isn't an easy job, keep up the good work.
A Hound Dog Taylor afternoon
Oh yeah. Johnny Winter cranking on the pandora station now. Howlin' Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Guitar Shorty.
Good stuff.
Although I should make an excuse to be outside. It is hot, all the students are back and the people watching is supreme. I find the mix in this area to be entertaining, from the artsy hairy hippies to the ultra super preppy prep and everything in between.
But no, not out there right now.
Okay - I had a couple excuses to go out, and everyone must be unpacking or something. Or hiding from the heat. Not so many people out there right now.
Kerry posted this link up on FB today. And then i had to go and get the whole PDF. Because I'm so into doing tests with my power meter.
Oh.
Wait.
I don't have a power meter. And I have no plans to get one. But this test seems to be pretty cool. The article has just enough math to make me feel uncomfortable but not totally lost. Me and complex math formulas haven't ever really gotten along very well.
But, being able to determine lactate threshold with a 3 minute test is pretty fucking cool. And w/o using any fancy compu-trainer or blood analyzer.
Cool.
Tonight is the smack down. It is going off on schedule, 5pm Faunce, 5:15 depasqualle square. and I'm not going to be there.
This morning turned into a trucker morning.
Okay - not trucker, that's the tandem. This was just delivery vehicle for the tube and then the pick up of G-ride's wheels, that are now on their way to Vermont.
The ride in started off mellow enough. Sort of. last night's ride with the tailwind was fast. rolled the 46x12 spinning it somewhat easily all the way home - ticked up to the 14 to pull in.
This morning pulling out with the trailer in the 14 set the tone.
Dropped it down to the 13 for the climb up the false flat to the Dairy Bee in Riverside Square. And I did something novel for me. Alternated about 10 pedal strokes standing and 10 seated. Then once I hit the under pass going along the treatment plant and it leveled out I dropped it down to the 12 and picked up some speed. It is only a 46 so the gear isn't that massive. But I went from 10/10 to 20/20. It hurt. Wanted to stop, so i kept going. Dug down and just kept pushing through the burn. Esp with the headwind. The trailer + headwind kind of made even more delicious.
Headed up and over the red bridge, alternating the standing and sitting. Picked up the box and headed up the hill. We'll see what the legs are like on the way home.
So with the trailer and the old bike, i'm not going to be doing the smack down. maybe next week. maybe not.
maybe today was my last chance, but well... it is a chance that has slipped past.
Be what it may. I'll get back to real training sometime soon. The new school schedule means if i want to get even a short run in, shower and get everyone turned around I have to wake up at 5:30 and right now, right now that just isn't happening.
And unless you've been hiding under a rock, you've heard about the passing of one of the greats. Laurent Fignon. I came to realize the cycling thing a bit late. And by that time I had no measure of history to appreciate The Professor's career. Only that he was Lemond's nemesis. Heck I didn't even know about the Badger and Lemond until much later. I was new to the sport then. We all were new at some point. My entry point is likely later than most of my competitors and friends racing around here but, that was still a looooong fucking time ago. I'm some what ashamed to say I never held him with enough respect to name my pet fish after him. Hell I never had a pet fish, and my small animal pets were named after Edward Abby or Farley Mowat. Yeah. Those two figured far more prominently in my development than Greg and Laurent (around that time in the mid to late '80s).
I need some bits to hang on the Blue to really get excited about it. Right now, with too many unknowns as a far as where the parts are for it, I don't have a completion date so it is just a pretty frame decorating the office. nothing more. I have a parts list on a piece of scrap paper here by the keyboard with the list of what i need on it. pretty short damn list. waiting on the sponsor to get back with prices and availability for all the stuff.
There. Season is officially underway. I've registered for VT weekend and G-ster. 50th for sat, 49th for sunday. Field is already pretty large and i expect it to get much bigger. Now to see about lowering this crossresults ranking a bit more before then. Better register for Quad i suppose. Maybe i should do the 1/2/3 race for the points, Off the back and lapped three times still might get me more points. Just kidding. I'm racing "my" race. Gonna be fun. Last time at Quad I signed up for back to back races and bailed on the second one. Not doing the double this time. Hopefully I have learned from the past and won't be repeated the back to back race double anytime this season. But we will see. Plenty of time for me to do something predictably stupid.
heddwch
G
Good stuff.
Although I should make an excuse to be outside. It is hot, all the students are back and the people watching is supreme. I find the mix in this area to be entertaining, from the artsy hairy hippies to the ultra super preppy prep and everything in between.
But no, not out there right now.
Okay - I had a couple excuses to go out, and everyone must be unpacking or something. Or hiding from the heat. Not so many people out there right now.
Kerry posted this link up on FB today. And then i had to go and get the whole PDF. Because I'm so into doing tests with my power meter.
Oh.
Wait.
I don't have a power meter. And I have no plans to get one. But this test seems to be pretty cool. The article has just enough math to make me feel uncomfortable but not totally lost. Me and complex math formulas haven't ever really gotten along very well.
But, being able to determine lactate threshold with a 3 minute test is pretty fucking cool. And w/o using any fancy compu-trainer or blood analyzer.
CONCLUSIONSThe 3MT can be performed using equipment readilyavailable to cyclists without the need for indirect calorimetryor blood sampling. The average power output overthe last 30 s of the 3-min test is correlated with poweroutputs at lactate and ventilatory threshold as well as poweroutput at VO2 peak. The EP from a single session 3MT canbe used to estimate the demarcations between bothmoderate to heavy and heavy to severe exercise intensitydomains.
Cool.
Tonight is the smack down. It is going off on schedule, 5pm Faunce, 5:15 depasqualle square. and I'm not going to be there.
This morning turned into a trucker morning.
Okay - not trucker, that's the tandem. This was just delivery vehicle for the tube and then the pick up of G-ride's wheels, that are now on their way to Vermont.
The ride in started off mellow enough. Sort of. last night's ride with the tailwind was fast. rolled the 46x12 spinning it somewhat easily all the way home - ticked up to the 14 to pull in.
This morning pulling out with the trailer in the 14 set the tone.
Dropped it down to the 13 for the climb up the false flat to the Dairy Bee in Riverside Square. And I did something novel for me. Alternated about 10 pedal strokes standing and 10 seated. Then once I hit the under pass going along the treatment plant and it leveled out I dropped it down to the 12 and picked up some speed. It is only a 46 so the gear isn't that massive. But I went from 10/10 to 20/20. It hurt. Wanted to stop, so i kept going. Dug down and just kept pushing through the burn. Esp with the headwind. The trailer + headwind kind of made even more delicious.
Headed up and over the red bridge, alternating the standing and sitting. Picked up the box and headed up the hill. We'll see what the legs are like on the way home.
So with the trailer and the old bike, i'm not going to be doing the smack down. maybe next week. maybe not.
maybe today was my last chance, but well... it is a chance that has slipped past.
Be what it may. I'll get back to real training sometime soon. The new school schedule means if i want to get even a short run in, shower and get everyone turned around I have to wake up at 5:30 and right now, right now that just isn't happening.
And unless you've been hiding under a rock, you've heard about the passing of one of the greats. Laurent Fignon. I came to realize the cycling thing a bit late. And by that time I had no measure of history to appreciate The Professor's career. Only that he was Lemond's nemesis. Heck I didn't even know about the Badger and Lemond until much later. I was new to the sport then. We all were new at some point. My entry point is likely later than most of my competitors and friends racing around here but, that was still a looooong fucking time ago. I'm some what ashamed to say I never held him with enough respect to name my pet fish after him. Hell I never had a pet fish, and my small animal pets were named after Edward Abby or Farley Mowat. Yeah. Those two figured far more prominently in my development than Greg and Laurent (around that time in the mid to late '80s).
I need some bits to hang on the Blue to really get excited about it. Right now, with too many unknowns as a far as where the parts are for it, I don't have a completion date so it is just a pretty frame decorating the office. nothing more. I have a parts list on a piece of scrap paper here by the keyboard with the list of what i need on it. pretty short damn list. waiting on the sponsor to get back with prices and availability for all the stuff.
There. Season is officially underway. I've registered for VT weekend and G-ster. 50th for sat, 49th for sunday. Field is already pretty large and i expect it to get much bigger. Now to see about lowering this crossresults ranking a bit more before then. Better register for Quad i suppose. Maybe i should do the 1/2/3 race for the points, Off the back and lapped three times still might get me more points. Just kidding. I'm racing "my" race. Gonna be fun. Last time at Quad I signed up for back to back races and bailed on the second one. Not doing the double this time. Hopefully I have learned from the past and won't be repeated the back to back race double anytime this season. But we will see. Plenty of time for me to do something predictably stupid.
heddwch
G
Monday, August 30, 2010
it is here
and since so many skeptics abound i had to get some photo proof. the horizon is messed up deliberately, for one person in particular.
But the top tube is horizontal... like it is supposed to be.
There is actually enough steer tube on there that with a massive rack of spacers I could use a normal 130mm stem, but still will try to find a 17° rise to reduce the amount of carbon flexing above the top headset bearing/leverage point.
Exciting. Very exciting.
now for parts...
Let me rant and let me ramble
Let me rant and let me ramble
Let me try and get a handle
On what's knocked me for a loop
Time to let the troops regroup
Recoup, relax, collect my thoughts
Retrace my tracks, connect the dots
It will take a while just to unscramble
Let me rant and let me ramble
Let me rant and let me ramble
Let me rant and let me ramble
fitting couple of bars from TMMB
Got a bunch of crap rattling around about bikes the season and all that stuff I normally babble about but no time to rant or ramble today.
Went from messenger bag to back pack for the first time this morning. picked one up on sale on Sat after the women's clinic (my daughter participated, I just hung out with Greg Wright and rode laps of the Wrentham MRC course) at the Mansfield LL Bean. Works pretty okay. After wed last week carrying too much (but all needed) stuff and tweaking my neck/upper back vertebrae (feels good today finally) it was time for a change. If I have to carry the laptop and clothes and shoes I think i can make it all fit in here, but barely, but at least it will be easier on the shoulder. Too many issues with that region this summer. An area running wont fix. Haven't run in what?Too long. Sigh. Oh well. Might try and get motivated tomorrow morning. We'll see.
I finally reg'd for VT weekend. The rusty race wagon made it to MRC and back. I have a vibration at speed, but I think I can attribute it to tires. Going to rotate to see if it changes and if it does i'll get em all spin balanced... hopefully that fixes it, would be a long drive to VT with a buzzing wheel. That said the car was wicked smooth in the engine/power side. I've got a rattle, I think it could be exhaust resonance or a motor mount or something that makes noise as the engine revs drop down to idle. Some stuff to figure out. Sun roof is leaking. i hate sunroofs. they kill the headroom for me, AND they always wind up leaking. Golf didn't have one, the new mini doesn't have one either.
Well this has been sitting. Just when I got on a roll rambling.
Save the ranting for later.
heddwch
G
Friday, August 27, 2010
power? maybe?
Myerson or someone made a tweet about Cyclocross not being anything like a time trial at all, but i can't find it so maybe I'm imagining it. Anyway the point was that cross is the antithesis of a time trial. Never on the gas for long enough to sustain power like a TT. Of course you need the high threshold and other stuff you get and there are plenty of long sections, like in Bend last year, but those really aren't long in the TT/Road/even Crit sense.
It is all about transitions, on the gas hard, corner, gas, climb, brake, corner, power, off the bike, on the bike, off, run, power, corner....
Last year was great. I had no expectations as far as the plan went, I was just following a training plan. Right now I'm sitting here doubting myself. Should I start doing those really effective short power intervals now? Instead of waiting through a couple weeks of longer intervals? Do those longer ones provide a base for the short ones? Or do they just slow me down? Am I at a higher level than last year?
Well that last question... on the way home tonight, deadline and all to meet, kid on a 80's era road bike on my 6 coming into the hill up along the Vet parkway, I went full gas. And wasn't going slowly.
And I had the trailer. Tailwind, headwind, nowind. The trailer adds extra mass and a ton of rolling resistance with the two tires sitting at about 10psi. sure I could pump em up but then i'd have less drag. Drag is good. I was pushing over the 13 cog on the way home with the trailer like I was pushing it last night, except it felt easier to put the power down tonight.
I know, totally introspective to reflect on personal RPE or what ever. But, even with the messed up last couple weeks, after last nights ride, I felt pretty strong today. Does it translate into cross? I dunno. I'll probably be as fast as I was at the beginning of the season last year, in other words, not fast.
These last couple days i have taken the trailer along to carry stuff. And honestly I'm thinking that's really actually a good thing, for non-recovery days at least. Increases the power needs for the ride in, making it harder, no faking it.
Working on the bike build possibilities for the new cross bike. Things are hinging on a couple key elements, but it looks solidly like I'll be racing on the Giant again to start off.
I'm taking a page from Adam Craig, and am running the Giant like it should be run, with V-brakes. And damn. If it doesn't stop on a dime. With the travel agents there's even decent clearance. Crazy.
Some jackass in VT is trying to convince me to run 10sp on this new bike. 10sp? All i hear is chains wear out quick. I don't like hearing that. I've just used 9sp DA for so long I'm not sure what else to go with. Shimano is heavy but i really don't think i can adapt to SRAM double tap unless I change all the bikes and THAT isn't happening. Don't really want to try it. I'm sure it works great but why change now, I'm in the 40+ category now... (in cross at least).
Rice is cooked to the point where it is time to make the rest of the stuff for burritos tonight.
Taking my daughter to the women's cyclocross clinic tomorrow (she's SOOOO excited) - hopefully she's just as excited when we leave tomorrow. Not sure what I'm going to do, probably CX drills on what ever part of the course they aren't using and then something else. Sleeping in the car sounds good. Feels like i've said that before somewhere.
oh well
heddwch
G
It is all about transitions, on the gas hard, corner, gas, climb, brake, corner, power, off the bike, on the bike, off, run, power, corner....
Last year was great. I had no expectations as far as the plan went, I was just following a training plan. Right now I'm sitting here doubting myself. Should I start doing those really effective short power intervals now? Instead of waiting through a couple weeks of longer intervals? Do those longer ones provide a base for the short ones? Or do they just slow me down? Am I at a higher level than last year?
Well that last question... on the way home tonight, deadline and all to meet, kid on a 80's era road bike on my 6 coming into the hill up along the Vet parkway, I went full gas. And wasn't going slowly.
And I had the trailer. Tailwind, headwind, nowind. The trailer adds extra mass and a ton of rolling resistance with the two tires sitting at about 10psi. sure I could pump em up but then i'd have less drag. Drag is good. I was pushing over the 13 cog on the way home with the trailer like I was pushing it last night, except it felt easier to put the power down tonight.
I know, totally introspective to reflect on personal RPE or what ever. But, even with the messed up last couple weeks, after last nights ride, I felt pretty strong today. Does it translate into cross? I dunno. I'll probably be as fast as I was at the beginning of the season last year, in other words, not fast.
These last couple days i have taken the trailer along to carry stuff. And honestly I'm thinking that's really actually a good thing, for non-recovery days at least. Increases the power needs for the ride in, making it harder, no faking it.
Working on the bike build possibilities for the new cross bike. Things are hinging on a couple key elements, but it looks solidly like I'll be racing on the Giant again to start off.
I'm taking a page from Adam Craig, and am running the Giant like it should be run, with V-brakes. And damn. If it doesn't stop on a dime. With the travel agents there's even decent clearance. Crazy.
Some jackass in VT is trying to convince me to run 10sp on this new bike. 10sp? All i hear is chains wear out quick. I don't like hearing that. I've just used 9sp DA for so long I'm not sure what else to go with. Shimano is heavy but i really don't think i can adapt to SRAM double tap unless I change all the bikes and THAT isn't happening. Don't really want to try it. I'm sure it works great but why change now, I'm in the 40+ category now... (in cross at least).
Rice is cooked to the point where it is time to make the rest of the stuff for burritos tonight.
Taking my daughter to the women's cyclocross clinic tomorrow (she's SOOOO excited) - hopefully she's just as excited when we leave tomorrow. Not sure what I'm going to do, probably CX drills on what ever part of the course they aren't using and then something else. Sleeping in the car sounds good. Feels like i've said that before somewhere.
oh well
heddwch
G
Potatoes are smarter than they are
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| The Parent Company Trap | ||||
| ||||
Solidly seriously funny, and scary...
Thursday, August 26, 2010
cathartic
With the optimism of a myopic lemming I headed down to check and see maybe, possibly, if I could find the missing bag.
It isn't close really, 10 miles of bike path and another 3+ miles from the path to the other side of the peninsula. And I didn't manage to leave as early as I had hoped.
But that small chance that I could find it again, recover the $50+ worth of crap in it (never thought about the replacement value of it before) and get a decent bit of time on the bike w/o a trailer or a bag on my back.
My cynical side knew i'd never find it but somehow the optimism took over and kicked that pain in the ass negative side down enough that the hope was enough. Rationalizing a chance to get out for a much needed ride? Maybe.
I had a feeling that even if I didn't find it the ride down and back would be beneficial.
Maybe that's what pushed me to go. Used the lost bag as an excuse for a ride? No. Honestly I did hope to find it.
I do feel better. Sort of like I was able to shed some of the crap that was weighing me down. I had decent legs for the way down, but about 1/3 of the way home I sort of realized I hadn't eaten anything since lunch and it was getting late, and I was cramping today AND only had a glass of water when I dropped the trailer off at the house before heading south down to Bristol. I was on a bike w/o waterbottle cages, no bottle in my pocket.
So I dialed it down.
Then I smelled something.
Concord Grapes.
That distinctive, unmistakable odor.
And then I spotted them. A cluster of deep dark fruit. And I got a big handful of the thick skinned many seeded grapes. Not the easiest to eat, but the sweetness and their water content made a difference.
It was just kind of what i needed to get home to the waiting Pizza that was ordered while I was on the ride.
I do feel better now, more relaxed.
The ride was meditative, centering, and it closed the chapter on the last crazy week or so. Moving on.
It is good.
heddwch
G
It isn't close really, 10 miles of bike path and another 3+ miles from the path to the other side of the peninsula. And I didn't manage to leave as early as I had hoped.
But that small chance that I could find it again, recover the $50+ worth of crap in it (never thought about the replacement value of it before) and get a decent bit of time on the bike w/o a trailer or a bag on my back.
My cynical side knew i'd never find it but somehow the optimism took over and kicked that pain in the ass negative side down enough that the hope was enough. Rationalizing a chance to get out for a much needed ride? Maybe.
I had a feeling that even if I didn't find it the ride down and back would be beneficial.
Maybe that's what pushed me to go. Used the lost bag as an excuse for a ride? No. Honestly I did hope to find it.
I do feel better. Sort of like I was able to shed some of the crap that was weighing me down. I had decent legs for the way down, but about 1/3 of the way home I sort of realized I hadn't eaten anything since lunch and it was getting late, and I was cramping today AND only had a glass of water when I dropped the trailer off at the house before heading south down to Bristol. I was on a bike w/o waterbottle cages, no bottle in my pocket.
So I dialed it down.
Then I smelled something.
Concord Grapes.
That distinctive, unmistakable odor.
And then I spotted them. A cluster of deep dark fruit. And I got a big handful of the thick skinned many seeded grapes. Not the easiest to eat, but the sweetness and their water content made a difference.
It was just kind of what i needed to get home to the waiting Pizza that was ordered while I was on the ride.
I do feel better now, more relaxed.
The ride was meditative, centering, and it closed the chapter on the last crazy week or so. Moving on.
It is good.
heddwch
G
little things
Like getting the bike out in the morning and wondering what the fabric velocro strap is doing around the seat post...
then...
realizing it had been sewn into the seat bag, that was on the bike when i left yesterday...
but isn't now...
Lost, somewhere on the path, but more likely on the cobbled (well not cobbled just cracked asphalt that feels like cobbles) road leading to the retreat.
It was just stuff. Probably replaceable. But it was a nice topeak multi-tool, carried em in the shop back in the mid-90s nothing like it around now. And my ancient old Innovations CO2 inflator that uses threaded or non-threaded cartridges and is valved and stuff, and a tube but hopefully no slurpee money.
Bums me out more than maybe it should to have it go missing.
Oh well. Maybe I'll take a spin down tonight to try and get some of the crap out of my head and look for it. No find it? no problem, it is just stuff and can be replaced. Find it? Great.
Can someone stick a couple weeks between now and September 12th?
Please?
then...
realizing it had been sewn into the seat bag, that was on the bike when i left yesterday...
but isn't now...
Lost, somewhere on the path, but more likely on the cobbled (well not cobbled just cracked asphalt that feels like cobbles) road leading to the retreat.
It was just stuff. Probably replaceable. But it was a nice topeak multi-tool, carried em in the shop back in the mid-90s nothing like it around now. And my ancient old Innovations CO2 inflator that uses threaded or non-threaded cartridges and is valved and stuff, and a tube but hopefully no slurpee money.
Bums me out more than maybe it should to have it go missing.
Oh well. Maybe I'll take a spin down tonight to try and get some of the crap out of my head and look for it. No find it? no problem, it is just stuff and can be replaced. Find it? Great.
Can someone stick a couple weeks between now and September 12th?
Please?
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Time sneaks up on you
Time sneaks up on you like a windshield on a bug.
- John Lithgow
Ahhh. A man with a sharp wit. Someone ought to take it away from him before he cuts himself.
- Peter da Silva
-
today has been intense
coach is going to be pissed, ah he's about ready to say why bother, and yeah well i'm not going to explain who my coach is, yall know who he is, and his track record.
i need to focus on getting ready to race the Giant for cross, forget about the new bike until it is actually in race condition. that is going to be tough for me to do but i don't have much choice. too many things out of my control. i don't like that
but i'm learning to let it go and make it work
tough to teach a getting older dog new shtuff
- John Lithgow
Ahhh. A man with a sharp wit. Someone ought to take it away from him before he cuts himself.
- Peter da Silva
-
today has been intense
coach is going to be pissed, ah he's about ready to say why bother, and yeah well i'm not going to explain who my coach is, yall know who he is, and his track record.
i need to focus on getting ready to race the Giant for cross, forget about the new bike until it is actually in race condition. that is going to be tough for me to do but i don't have much choice. too many things out of my control. i don't like that
but i'm learning to let it go and make it work
tough to teach a getting older dog new shtuff
Monday, August 23, 2010
This is August?
Seriously?
I was cold all morning. Something about riding in with Short sleeves and shorts in 62 degree rainy weather didn't lend itself to me being warm this morning. So cold.
It took a long time, until lunch, before I was warm.
Talking all day, no, nothing that is beyond my ability. Somehow I have to figure out how to only talk for 20 minutes on Wed. Someone is letting me stand up in front of a group and speak. Watch out.
The ride home? cold. But you know, screw it, pedal harder mofo. And I did. It felt awesome. Arms shiny from the rain, legs churning over, darkened from the dirt kicked up by the front and rear tires (only a selfish fender on).
When I got home the place was quiet. I had a 4 pound roaster defrosting in the fridge and I diced up a sweet potato, a yam, 1 pound of yukons, 4 big carrots and an onion and a half. Popped in some dried rosemary, some bayleaves. Stuffed the cavity of the bird with dried rosemary and a quartered apple. Cook for a while. Serve and eat.
Oh so good.
Weather like this is just tailored for something roasted in the oven. Esp when the house is at 66 degrees inside. It hasn't been this cold since, WINTER. Crazy. Maybe I should close a window or something.
heddwch
G
I was cold all morning. Something about riding in with Short sleeves and shorts in 62 degree rainy weather didn't lend itself to me being warm this morning. So cold.
It took a long time, until lunch, before I was warm.
Talking all day, no, nothing that is beyond my ability. Somehow I have to figure out how to only talk for 20 minutes on Wed. Someone is letting me stand up in front of a group and speak. Watch out.
The ride home? cold. But you know, screw it, pedal harder mofo. And I did. It felt awesome. Arms shiny from the rain, legs churning over, darkened from the dirt kicked up by the front and rear tires (only a selfish fender on).
When I got home the place was quiet. I had a 4 pound roaster defrosting in the fridge and I diced up a sweet potato, a yam, 1 pound of yukons, 4 big carrots and an onion and a half. Popped in some dried rosemary, some bayleaves. Stuffed the cavity of the bird with dried rosemary and a quartered apple. Cook for a while. Serve and eat.
Oh so good.
Weather like this is just tailored for something roasted in the oven. Esp when the house is at 66 degrees inside. It hasn't been this cold since, WINTER. Crazy. Maybe I should close a window or something.
heddwch
G
Sunday, August 22, 2010
rainy afternoon
Now thinking maybe the Springfield race might not have been a bad idea. I needed the racing intensity, but instead I worked on work stuff sitting on my butt, shopped and now making some Potato salad to take over to the Farm for supper.
Try as I might I can't seem to make it out of the grocery store under $100. But then that's food for 4 people for a week, so in reality that's not too bad i guess, esp considering how well everyone eats.
Carbon bike crisis averted. Just have to source a 130mm 17 degree stem (Hello Thompson), decide on a new handlebar and order a set of BB30 compatible 180mm cranks (SRAM Apex are in the lead now), and figure out where the drive train and shifters are coming from. Wheels? Meh - will figure it out, maybe something cool will come through.
awesome idea - except maybe for the fall - i'm done with the heat and humidity - gimme the cool/cold weather.
heddwch
G
Try as I might I can't seem to make it out of the grocery store under $100. But then that's food for 4 people for a week, so in reality that's not too bad i guess, esp considering how well everyone eats.
Carbon bike crisis averted. Just have to source a 130mm 17 degree stem (Hello Thompson), decide on a new handlebar and order a set of BB30 compatible 180mm cranks (SRAM Apex are in the lead now), and figure out where the drive train and shifters are coming from. Wheels? Meh - will figure it out, maybe something cool will come through.
awesome idea - except maybe for the fall - i'm done with the heat and humidity - gimme the cool/cold weather.
heddwch
G
Saturday, August 21, 2010
simple things
Changing the oil and the transmission fluid after having the clutch off and the rest of it seems pretty darn trivial.
Simple, easy, "Wow that's it?"
Car seems to be running pretty well now. I think the noise is just either a worn motor mount or from the exhaust resonating with some noise at a specific engine frequency.
Thinking abut all those dudes out there who did the D2R2. Some day I'll be there eating some dust on the long version of it.
Can't wait for the reports.
Can't wait for the new bike to show up.
Simple, easy, "Wow that's it?"
Car seems to be running pretty well now. I think the noise is just either a worn motor mount or from the exhaust resonating with some noise at a specific engine frequency.
Thinking abut all those dudes out there who did the D2R2. Some day I'll be there eating some dust on the long version of it.
Can't wait for the reports.
Can't wait for the new bike to show up.
Friday, August 20, 2010
quick dinner?
make some chili
GeWilli Chili to be specific!
What ya need on hand:
Cinnamon
Cocoa Powder
Cumin
Chili Molido Powder
Corriander
Salt
Oregano
Garlic
Onion
olive oil
beer (12 oz for chili, couple for the cook)
tomatoes (28oz can of crushed or equal volume of diced fresh toms)
beans (2 16oz cans: Adzuki are best - black or kidney or whatever you have work)
beef (chopped or ground, pork can be used, or venison, or whatever, or make it vegan and just load up on more beans - or some fake sausage crumble).
Cilantro normally but i didn't have any last night on hand.
Brown 1 pound of beef/meat/substitute, get it nice and stuck to the bottom of the pan, add the onions and sweat them down lifting some of the stuff stuck to the pan.
While that is cooking add the chili molido powder (mild chili powder) and the rest of the aromatics except the first two on the list.
Then add the tomatoes and with the heat still on high scrape the bottom of the pot clean with the liquid from the tomatoes.
Add the beer, salt, cinnamon and cocoa powder and olive oil and 3-4 cloves of garlic (i use a press).
Drain and rinse the beans and add them.
Let is simmer and thicken, adjusting for taste. I use more chili powder than anything, and then more cumin than the rest, only a slightly cocoa powder than cumin, and roughly equal parts corriander and cinnamon and oregano. Cilantro gets added at the very end.
Simmer for as long as you can let it, it is good pretty much right away but gets better as it sits.
Serve with Tortilla Chips.
Top with grated cheese, chopped spicy peppers, sour cream or yogurt, cilantro... what ever you want on your chili.
Okay.
I'm hungry now.
GeWilli Chili to be specific!
What ya need on hand:
Cinnamon
Cocoa Powder
Cumin
Chili Molido Powder
Corriander
Salt
Oregano
Garlic
Onion
olive oil
beer (12 oz for chili, couple for the cook)
tomatoes (28oz can of crushed or equal volume of diced fresh toms)
beans (2 16oz cans: Adzuki are best - black or kidney or whatever you have work)
beef (chopped or ground, pork can be used, or venison, or whatever, or make it vegan and just load up on more beans - or some fake sausage crumble).
Cilantro normally but i didn't have any last night on hand.
Brown 1 pound of beef/meat/substitute, get it nice and stuck to the bottom of the pan, add the onions and sweat them down lifting some of the stuff stuck to the pan.
While that is cooking add the chili molido powder (mild chili powder) and the rest of the aromatics except the first two on the list.
Then add the tomatoes and with the heat still on high scrape the bottom of the pot clean with the liquid from the tomatoes.
Add the beer, salt, cinnamon and cocoa powder and olive oil and 3-4 cloves of garlic (i use a press).
Drain and rinse the beans and add them.
Let is simmer and thicken, adjusting for taste. I use more chili powder than anything, and then more cumin than the rest, only a slightly cocoa powder than cumin, and roughly equal parts corriander and cinnamon and oregano. Cilantro gets added at the very end.
Simmer for as long as you can let it, it is good pretty much right away but gets better as it sits.
Serve with Tortilla Chips.
Top with grated cheese, chopped spicy peppers, sour cream or yogurt, cilantro... what ever you want on your chili.
Okay.
I'm hungry now.
kids cross camp
So on Wed JLS packed up his manvan with bikes and kids and trundled down to Riverside (that reference is for Jack Chapman for whom I have to thank/blame for making me want to say RIVERSIDE M-er F-er every time i say the name of the town down here).
There was a chance that some team mates of mine might show up, one of them did. We did do a mini-cross clinic, then the kids got hot, wanted popsicles and the little two weren't really interested in bikes, more into playing with each other. 5 year old girls have surprisingly similar interests and a really good time together... We worked on dismounts and remounts.
Getting off the bike was no problem, and they both started getting back on pretty easily. We didn't work so much on barriers or picking up the bike.
After a bit we went over and hit the sandy bmx loopy bandit track in the park. Pretty technical actually. Awesome for handling practice. Not so much fun on my marathon plus tires with 50 psi in them, but i was fine with straight ahead traction if I kept my fat ass in the saddle.
Lots of riding around, a bit of just having fun and then we headed over to lunch. Hitched the trailer to JLS's bike and I pulled out the tandem and put the trail-a-bike on it. And we all made our way over to the Clam shack for lunch.
Then K took A and JLS for a ride up the bike path past the Lighthouse and back while the little two played with dolls and giggled inside.
We gotta do this again. Maybe we can get Chad and Chip and maybe a few others to make it a bigger deal. The plus side, even with K's crashes and wipe outs she still had fun. Shook it off and acted tough, wiped the tears away and got back on the bike, and REALLY wants to go to the Luna Chix women's cyclocross clinic. Not sure what I'll do during the clinic, maybe take a nap in the race wagon or just ride around on what ever part of the course they aren't using, who knows... but I've got a feeling there will be no keeping her from it. Will wait for weather forecast and probably register early next week. Man i should really register for a cross race or something eh?
Quad cross is online, reg opens on the 23rd. And there's a $5 cub juniors race. THAT is cool. I like that pricing for 10-14 year old races. So it looks like I'll probably be up there nice and early so we can get a couple pre-ride laps in. We'll see.
The incentive to register now for the big races isn't there yet. Still under 40 for the VT races and just at 40 for G-ster. Probably shouldn't hold off much longer.
I have a few recipes but i'll put em in a different post, eventually.
This morning's run didn't happen. Yesterday I woke up and my knee was achy, a weird pseudo inflamed sort of pressure feeling. It went away during the mellow ride into work, but it was enough that I elected to tell my coach "sorry, not this morning" to the run. And this morning? Just tired. With the days off and running around and all the rest it just works well being a rest week. Keeping it light duty. Maybe toss in some CX drills this weekend to boost the intensity. Doing loops with two sets of barriers actually is a pretty intense workout, so I'll probably try and do that to kick off the week on Sunday.
Following a plan is important but also listening and backing off before an injury. I don't want to wind up needing to take multiple weeks off to let something heal because of over-use. It didn't work very well last year, I started the season off pretty flat.
I've also managed not to get negative about the end of this month. Mostly due to just ignoring it and paying it no attention. And so far it is working.
Hey if anyone you know collects old Fly Fishing rods or reels drop me an email - i have a couple things every collector needs to own, I'll make em a great deal.
Wow - getting close to lunch time. What's on the menu today? We'll see. Not enough of dinner last night (it was very popular) and breakfast is long gone.
Cyclocross is coming.
Time to get out and do your 1000 dismounts and remounts. Yeah, I might not get them but if you are a cat 4, haven't been racing cross seriously for 5+ years, new to the sport, double hop your remounts, it is really going to make a difference in your energy expenditure to get out and do 1000 of them before your first race.
Start at a walking pace. Do about 100-200 a session. Really focus on being smooth and slow. Get the mechanics down and then the next 200 just slightly faster, and repeat until you can get on and off smoothly at a full run.
Some people (results boy) feel that it is a waste of time doing this. But hey - you can't do sprints or VO2 max intervals every day. And if you don't like running this will get your "running" without really actually "running." And who wants to be the guy double hopping, smacking their pedal, landing on their sensitive bits, bashing into barriers?
Remember you want to go forward on the saddle, not up and down.
And personally, I haven't found the step through to be any faster than the step behind. But then maybe i'm not going fast enough (doubt it). I can go as fast as anyone, just not for as long as the fastest guys (yet). I'll get there there. Watch out.
heddwch
G
There was a chance that some team mates of mine might show up, one of them did. We did do a mini-cross clinic, then the kids got hot, wanted popsicles and the little two weren't really interested in bikes, more into playing with each other. 5 year old girls have surprisingly similar interests and a really good time together... We worked on dismounts and remounts.
Getting off the bike was no problem, and they both started getting back on pretty easily. We didn't work so much on barriers or picking up the bike.
After a bit we went over and hit the sandy bmx loopy bandit track in the park. Pretty technical actually. Awesome for handling practice. Not so much fun on my marathon plus tires with 50 psi in them, but i was fine with straight ahead traction if I kept my fat ass in the saddle.
Lots of riding around, a bit of just having fun and then we headed over to lunch. Hitched the trailer to JLS's bike and I pulled out the tandem and put the trail-a-bike on it. And we all made our way over to the Clam shack for lunch.
Then K took A and JLS for a ride up the bike path past the Lighthouse and back while the little two played with dolls and giggled inside.
We gotta do this again. Maybe we can get Chad and Chip and maybe a few others to make it a bigger deal. The plus side, even with K's crashes and wipe outs she still had fun. Shook it off and acted tough, wiped the tears away and got back on the bike, and REALLY wants to go to the Luna Chix women's cyclocross clinic. Not sure what I'll do during the clinic, maybe take a nap in the race wagon or just ride around on what ever part of the course they aren't using, who knows... but I've got a feeling there will be no keeping her from it. Will wait for weather forecast and probably register early next week. Man i should really register for a cross race or something eh?
Quad cross is online, reg opens on the 23rd. And there's a $5 cub juniors race. THAT is cool. I like that pricing for 10-14 year old races. So it looks like I'll probably be up there nice and early so we can get a couple pre-ride laps in. We'll see.
The incentive to register now for the big races isn't there yet. Still under 40 for the VT races and just at 40 for G-ster. Probably shouldn't hold off much longer.
I have a few recipes but i'll put em in a different post, eventually.
This morning's run didn't happen. Yesterday I woke up and my knee was achy, a weird pseudo inflamed sort of pressure feeling. It went away during the mellow ride into work, but it was enough that I elected to tell my coach "sorry, not this morning" to the run. And this morning? Just tired. With the days off and running around and all the rest it just works well being a rest week. Keeping it light duty. Maybe toss in some CX drills this weekend to boost the intensity. Doing loops with two sets of barriers actually is a pretty intense workout, so I'll probably try and do that to kick off the week on Sunday.
Following a plan is important but also listening and backing off before an injury. I don't want to wind up needing to take multiple weeks off to let something heal because of over-use. It didn't work very well last year, I started the season off pretty flat.
I've also managed not to get negative about the end of this month. Mostly due to just ignoring it and paying it no attention. And so far it is working.
Hey if anyone you know collects old Fly Fishing rods or reels drop me an email - i have a couple things every collector needs to own, I'll make em a great deal.
Wow - getting close to lunch time. What's on the menu today? We'll see. Not enough of dinner last night (it was very popular) and breakfast is long gone.
Cyclocross is coming.
Time to get out and do your 1000 dismounts and remounts. Yeah, I might not get them but if you are a cat 4, haven't been racing cross seriously for 5+ years, new to the sport, double hop your remounts, it is really going to make a difference in your energy expenditure to get out and do 1000 of them before your first race.
Start at a walking pace. Do about 100-200 a session. Really focus on being smooth and slow. Get the mechanics down and then the next 200 just slightly faster, and repeat until you can get on and off smoothly at a full run.
Some people (results boy) feel that it is a waste of time doing this. But hey - you can't do sprints or VO2 max intervals every day. And if you don't like running this will get your "running" without really actually "running." And who wants to be the guy double hopping, smacking their pedal, landing on their sensitive bits, bashing into barriers?
Remember you want to go forward on the saddle, not up and down.
And personally, I haven't found the step through to be any faster than the step behind. But then maybe i'm not going fast enough (doubt it). I can go as fast as anyone, just not for as long as the fastest guys (yet). I'll get there there. Watch out.
heddwch
G
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Fall River Crit 2.0
Well I went back. The nice thing about this race is it serves a good yardstick to compare where i was fitness wise last year with this year.
Not much comparison.
The last two weeks the only riding I've done has been on the Tandem with the 40cm bars and the 170 cranks. Not only is it different in that the back wheel is way behind me and the handling is weird, but it is very biomechanically different. Reduces my leverage in all possible ways. #1 can't stand up, all power generating has to be done in a seated position. #2 lever points for the hands are closer together (less leverage even seated). #3 cranks are 10mm shorter, making for a 20mm smaller circle I'm pedaling through, and that's a lot. But still I managed to survive riding it. Esp fun when we added the trail-a-bike for the trip to pick up the youngest. Riding with my three girls was a blast.
But Friday was the last day on the tandem, at least planned. riding to school with the tandem will not work, weekends are going to be full of activities and my oldest has had enough of riding right behind me, she would much rather be on her own bike now.
The two weeks were up and it was Saturday, a gorgeous day. Wonderful morning and from there after everyone got up they headed to LL Bean for some school stuff and I set to work getting the old Klein ready to race. Seeing as my only rear wheel choice was the aero one I had just replaced 3 spokes and had less than full confidence to race on, or my trusty 32 GeWilli lacing special. So, I went with my trusty old rear wheel. And put the disc covers on it. They add weight but I have to say, the bike is easier to push at speeds over 25mph with the disc cover on. Just rolls faster and easier, even in a pack.
Once it was all put together it was time to start getting re-adapted to a more proper bike fit. Off the bat the bars felt wide, which is really weird, the Klein's bars are 2cm narrower than the CX bikes and usually feel narrow. And i was pedaling giant circles.
Headed down the bike path. Yes it was a gorgeous day and the path was busy, but i wasn't going fast, but i was spinning like a top. And it felt great. Light spinning down to Sowams road and I turned left and shifted up to the big ring and started some tempo. And it still felt pretty good. I had planned to do some sprints along Teddy Toeclips favorite sprint spot, the place where he taught Bill Yarbroudy how to sprint as a junior, Kent Road between New Meadow road and Sowams.
But before that a car passed and I decided that jumping up to their speed would be a good warm up. So I jumped up to how ever fast they were going, closed the distance and held it till I thought I would explode, then backed off. Once more before the left turn from NMR onto Kent and then I was gassed so I revised the plan and just sprinted up to speed every time a car passed.
Went left on Sowams again and for some reason the cars were going slower so the jump was easier and I was able to hold the 30+ pretty easily up till just before the Barneyville road turn when the car bailed to the right.
Three more sprints down NMR cooked me pretty well. My lungs were on fire. I hadn't had any super short all out efforts. The max efforts on the tandem were testing legs more than lungs.
On the way back up I had this mental image comparing my legs and lungs with as a gamer.
In away, after those sprints I had felt that my legs had leveled up but my lungs weren't quite ready to go to the next level. Not enough points yet.
After getting home, eating, chilling and whatever else happened that night (pool birthday party for my daughter's friend), and a lost tooth (it had been ready to come out for a while) we all crashed.
Then it started. The youngest was having bad dreams. All night. I got up a couple times around midnight. Once back to back. She was just sleeping, and the last time I woke her up, and she said she was fine and wanted a lullaby so i complied and then hopped back in bed. Next thing you know not 5 minutes later she's back at it.
Turns out she was dreaming about a monster coming into the house and taking the money the Tooth Fairy left for her. Awesome. Not the best night sleep pre-race.
But I managed to get enough.
Got up and made a Ted King pancake thing. Doused it in maple syrup and ate it. Pretty eggy (as my comment reflects over there). But hey, it was different. This morning was more normal, sauteed mushrooms, spicy pepper, 3 eggs scrambled, cheese, baby arugula, divided into two tortillas. That Ted King pancake thing did stick with me through the day. Very well actually.
Finished up, even put sunscreen on (i'm getting smaht as i get old) - Met up with Nathan T and we rode down to the race.
I guess that's another reason why I like this race. It is so close. about 15 miles from my house on the bike. Perfect warm up.
And The Coffee Depot is right on the way there. Stopped in for an Iced Coffee (had them put it in a 22oz in a waterbottle - don't want to incite the bloodlust of ryantkelly).
The ride down was interesting. It was a deserted morning in Barrington and there is a light where the path crosses the big road and it was deserted, and so instead of standing there and hitting the button and waiting for the light we just rolled through. Some dude in an scoobie mini-wagon with a kayak on top yelled at us "PUSH THE BUTTON AND WAIT FOR THE GREEN LIGHT!" He was pretty pissed. We both found it kind of odd. We had just barely come out in the road, he was in the other lane, we were waiting for him to clear (not another car in sight), and he yells at us.
Further down after we get into Warren a guy with his dog, yells at us again; "SLOW DOWN OR GO RIDE ON THE ROAD!!!" I can totally see this guys point. A team mate of ours likes to train on the path and terrorist the tourists and locals, but we were seriously riding very slowly. Maybe a mph faster than the older couple in street clothes riding just 20 yards in front of us on old hybrids. He was maybe even more pissed than the dude in the scoobie.
Totally weird. The rest of the ride in was pretty uneventful. Even Fall Reeev wasn't bad. But holy crap, Wilson is a bitch of a hill. But we got a decent warm up in because of it.
Signed up, grabbed some of the free powerbar samples, got pinned up, saw Steven Lehmann, talked about cross, met up with team mates, we probably had the second biggest number of riders in the field with 5 of us, Bikeworks (home team) had maybe 9? Paul was running his mouth on the mic and I didn't realize till it was over that I didn't hear him mention me once for a change, anonymity is kind of nice sometimes.
Last year I got spit out the back at the first Prime and rode the rest of the race alone. This year? There were more fit guys, fewer big dudes like me, and of course we had the McCormack brothers (the next generation of course).
My plan this year was to hang on to the group as long as possible. Sitting at the line when they announced the 1/2 way prime was for a set of Bontrager Wheels, well I got sort of excited, I could use some wheels. But that prime fell on the heals of another prime and I didn't fell confident enough to hit the last corner in the top 5 to make a run for it. Maybe I should have, I didn't. BUT. At the half way mark I was still in the pack. I never was gapped. Never had a problem with the accelerations up the hill. And was feeling good.
Chris Phenix from Bikeworks was hanging out in the back. He's had a good run at the Time Trial this year and I know he's good for a strong finish. And with about 5 to go I decided that I was going to mark him. His team has to have a plan. Either Chris was going for the win or he was going to work to set his brother up for a shot.
I marked him. We came around and on the finishing stretch before the line he started moving up, and I locked on. We hit the start finish line with the bell not quite up front but with a clear path infront of us. And Chris took off. Full on hard core jump. And I hesitated hoping maybe to make it harder for someone else to benefit from the draft (not brake checking just waiting to accelerate) and then went across and we flew down the hill, no brake turned at the bottom and he motored for a bit and then he started to fade and what did I do? I attacked him pretty hard and pulled the rest of the field out, full gas, max effort, up to the next turn, slightly overcooked the line and started to power up the hill before I detonated.
But then only one or two came around, then another couple, and a few more. Everyone seemed to be strung right out! Awesome. People were still passing me as I made it to the top of the hill. Eventually Chris came up along side me and we rode into the finish together I pushed him to make sure he finished ahead of me on the results and from looking back and not seeing anyone I assumed we were the last two to cross the line. Results show it differently but still. Mission accomplished.
I guess the eventual winner and prime beneficiary of our last lap shenanigans brake checked big Joe Phenix just before the line, someone ran into the back of Joe when he had to slow to avoid piling into the guy and he couldn't make up the difference. Dirty racing in my book. Not cool. Total douchebag move. If you can't win on your legs alone, find another tactic other than slamming on the brakes before the line in the middle of winding up for the sprint. My teammates managed a 7th and a 10th and the 7th place was to a guy in his very first cat 4 race. Paul is pretty strong. Nice to seem him do well. The winner also duped Paul out of a $20 prime with some good acting.
It wasn't an easy race, but I felt awesome being able to finish with the group and the ride back with Nathan was fun, did some tempo on 103 back to the EBBP, felt pretty good.
Hit the U Heights Wholefoods with the youngest for the weekly run and actually ran into Paul himself and even Brent and his whole family. Bike Racers stocking up on good food. Carts full of basic ingredients, very few packaged or processed foods.
Good stuff.
It was great seeing Chad there too, he did well for his first Crit. And I may be jinxing it all but Cat 4 crit racing is WAY safer than Cat 4 road racing. The pace is high enough and fast enough that people aren't talking or being distracted and going past the finish line a couple times seems to help everyone figure it out. Although we went past the S/F at TP a few times and that didn't matter.
Digging through the old posts for last years report had me clicking over here. Now i'm not really the most positive person in the world. And overly excessively happy people sometimes tend to make me want to punch them in the face but there's some good stuff that dude has compiled. Everything needs to be in balance... and often i could use a push more to the positive side, as pretty much all yall can attest to.
But it was a great and positive weekend.
This morning even was good too! It just started to rain at 5:45 when the dog and I got up. And kept raining until i was ready to leave.
And it stopped. No rain for the ride, just a light mist by the time I got to the city. And it was a great ride in.
Not too cold but not too hot. Wet from the atmosphere, not from sweating. A nice change. We'll see what the weather brings for the ride home.
heddwch
G
Not much comparison.
The last two weeks the only riding I've done has been on the Tandem with the 40cm bars and the 170 cranks. Not only is it different in that the back wheel is way behind me and the handling is weird, but it is very biomechanically different. Reduces my leverage in all possible ways. #1 can't stand up, all power generating has to be done in a seated position. #2 lever points for the hands are closer together (less leverage even seated). #3 cranks are 10mm shorter, making for a 20mm smaller circle I'm pedaling through, and that's a lot. But still I managed to survive riding it. Esp fun when we added the trail-a-bike for the trip to pick up the youngest. Riding with my three girls was a blast.
But Friday was the last day on the tandem, at least planned. riding to school with the tandem will not work, weekends are going to be full of activities and my oldest has had enough of riding right behind me, she would much rather be on her own bike now.
The two weeks were up and it was Saturday, a gorgeous day. Wonderful morning and from there after everyone got up they headed to LL Bean for some school stuff and I set to work getting the old Klein ready to race. Seeing as my only rear wheel choice was the aero one I had just replaced 3 spokes and had less than full confidence to race on, or my trusty 32 GeWilli lacing special. So, I went with my trusty old rear wheel. And put the disc covers on it. They add weight but I have to say, the bike is easier to push at speeds over 25mph with the disc cover on. Just rolls faster and easier, even in a pack.
Once it was all put together it was time to start getting re-adapted to a more proper bike fit. Off the bat the bars felt wide, which is really weird, the Klein's bars are 2cm narrower than the CX bikes and usually feel narrow. And i was pedaling giant circles.
Headed down the bike path. Yes it was a gorgeous day and the path was busy, but i wasn't going fast, but i was spinning like a top. And it felt great. Light spinning down to Sowams road and I turned left and shifted up to the big ring and started some tempo. And it still felt pretty good. I had planned to do some sprints along Teddy Toeclips favorite sprint spot, the place where he taught Bill Yarbroudy how to sprint as a junior, Kent Road between New Meadow road and Sowams.
But before that a car passed and I decided that jumping up to their speed would be a good warm up. So I jumped up to how ever fast they were going, closed the distance and held it till I thought I would explode, then backed off. Once more before the left turn from NMR onto Kent and then I was gassed so I revised the plan and just sprinted up to speed every time a car passed.
Went left on Sowams again and for some reason the cars were going slower so the jump was easier and I was able to hold the 30+ pretty easily up till just before the Barneyville road turn when the car bailed to the right.
Three more sprints down NMR cooked me pretty well. My lungs were on fire. I hadn't had any super short all out efforts. The max efforts on the tandem were testing legs more than lungs.
On the way back up I had this mental image comparing my legs and lungs with as a gamer.
In away, after those sprints I had felt that my legs had leveled up but my lungs weren't quite ready to go to the next level. Not enough points yet.
After getting home, eating, chilling and whatever else happened that night (pool birthday party for my daughter's friend), and a lost tooth (it had been ready to come out for a while) we all crashed.
Then it started. The youngest was having bad dreams. All night. I got up a couple times around midnight. Once back to back. She was just sleeping, and the last time I woke her up, and she said she was fine and wanted a lullaby so i complied and then hopped back in bed. Next thing you know not 5 minutes later she's back at it.
Turns out she was dreaming about a monster coming into the house and taking the money the Tooth Fairy left for her. Awesome. Not the best night sleep pre-race.
But I managed to get enough.
Got up and made a Ted King pancake thing. Doused it in maple syrup and ate it. Pretty eggy (as my comment reflects over there). But hey, it was different. This morning was more normal, sauteed mushrooms, spicy pepper, 3 eggs scrambled, cheese, baby arugula, divided into two tortillas. That Ted King pancake thing did stick with me through the day. Very well actually.
Finished up, even put sunscreen on (i'm getting smaht as i get old) - Met up with Nathan T and we rode down to the race.
I guess that's another reason why I like this race. It is so close. about 15 miles from my house on the bike. Perfect warm up.
And The Coffee Depot is right on the way there. Stopped in for an Iced Coffee (had them put it in a 22oz in a waterbottle - don't want to incite the bloodlust of ryantkelly).
The ride down was interesting. It was a deserted morning in Barrington and there is a light where the path crosses the big road and it was deserted, and so instead of standing there and hitting the button and waiting for the light we just rolled through. Some dude in an scoobie mini-wagon with a kayak on top yelled at us "PUSH THE BUTTON AND WAIT FOR THE GREEN LIGHT!" He was pretty pissed. We both found it kind of odd. We had just barely come out in the road, he was in the other lane, we were waiting for him to clear (not another car in sight), and he yells at us.
Further down after we get into Warren a guy with his dog, yells at us again; "SLOW DOWN OR GO RIDE ON THE ROAD!!!" I can totally see this guys point. A team mate of ours likes to train on the path and terrorist the tourists and locals, but we were seriously riding very slowly. Maybe a mph faster than the older couple in street clothes riding just 20 yards in front of us on old hybrids. He was maybe even more pissed than the dude in the scoobie.
Totally weird. The rest of the ride in was pretty uneventful. Even Fall Reeev wasn't bad. But holy crap, Wilson is a bitch of a hill. But we got a decent warm up in because of it.
Signed up, grabbed some of the free powerbar samples, got pinned up, saw Steven Lehmann, talked about cross, met up with team mates, we probably had the second biggest number of riders in the field with 5 of us, Bikeworks (home team) had maybe 9? Paul was running his mouth on the mic and I didn't realize till it was over that I didn't hear him mention me once for a change, anonymity is kind of nice sometimes.
Last year I got spit out the back at the first Prime and rode the rest of the race alone. This year? There were more fit guys, fewer big dudes like me, and of course we had the McCormack brothers (the next generation of course).
My plan this year was to hang on to the group as long as possible. Sitting at the line when they announced the 1/2 way prime was for a set of Bontrager Wheels, well I got sort of excited, I could use some wheels. But that prime fell on the heals of another prime and I didn't fell confident enough to hit the last corner in the top 5 to make a run for it. Maybe I should have, I didn't. BUT. At the half way mark I was still in the pack. I never was gapped. Never had a problem with the accelerations up the hill. And was feeling good.
Chris Phenix from Bikeworks was hanging out in the back. He's had a good run at the Time Trial this year and I know he's good for a strong finish. And with about 5 to go I decided that I was going to mark him. His team has to have a plan. Either Chris was going for the win or he was going to work to set his brother up for a shot.
I marked him. We came around and on the finishing stretch before the line he started moving up, and I locked on. We hit the start finish line with the bell not quite up front but with a clear path infront of us. And Chris took off. Full on hard core jump. And I hesitated hoping maybe to make it harder for someone else to benefit from the draft (not brake checking just waiting to accelerate) and then went across and we flew down the hill, no brake turned at the bottom and he motored for a bit and then he started to fade and what did I do? I attacked him pretty hard and pulled the rest of the field out, full gas, max effort, up to the next turn, slightly overcooked the line and started to power up the hill before I detonated.
But then only one or two came around, then another couple, and a few more. Everyone seemed to be strung right out! Awesome. People were still passing me as I made it to the top of the hill. Eventually Chris came up along side me and we rode into the finish together I pushed him to make sure he finished ahead of me on the results and from looking back and not seeing anyone I assumed we were the last two to cross the line. Results show it differently but still. Mission accomplished.
I guess the eventual winner and prime beneficiary of our last lap shenanigans brake checked big Joe Phenix just before the line, someone ran into the back of Joe when he had to slow to avoid piling into the guy and he couldn't make up the difference. Dirty racing in my book. Not cool. Total douchebag move. If you can't win on your legs alone, find another tactic other than slamming on the brakes before the line in the middle of winding up for the sprint. My teammates managed a 7th and a 10th and the 7th place was to a guy in his very first cat 4 race. Paul is pretty strong. Nice to seem him do well. The winner also duped Paul out of a $20 prime with some good acting.
It wasn't an easy race, but I felt awesome being able to finish with the group and the ride back with Nathan was fun, did some tempo on 103 back to the EBBP, felt pretty good.
Hit the U Heights Wholefoods with the youngest for the weekly run and actually ran into Paul himself and even Brent and his whole family. Bike Racers stocking up on good food. Carts full of basic ingredients, very few packaged or processed foods.
Good stuff.
It was great seeing Chad there too, he did well for his first Crit. And I may be jinxing it all but Cat 4 crit racing is WAY safer than Cat 4 road racing. The pace is high enough and fast enough that people aren't talking or being distracted and going past the finish line a couple times seems to help everyone figure it out. Although we went past the S/F at TP a few times and that didn't matter.
Digging through the old posts for last years report had me clicking over here. Now i'm not really the most positive person in the world. And overly excessively happy people sometimes tend to make me want to punch them in the face but there's some good stuff that dude has compiled. Everything needs to be in balance... and often i could use a push more to the positive side, as pretty much all yall can attest to.
But it was a great and positive weekend.
This morning even was good too! It just started to rain at 5:45 when the dog and I got up. And kept raining until i was ready to leave.
And it stopped. No rain for the ride, just a light mist by the time I got to the city. And it was a great ride in.
Not too cold but not too hot. Wet from the atmosphere, not from sweating. A nice change. We'll see what the weather brings for the ride home.
heddwch
G
Saturday, August 14, 2010
could there be
A more beautiful morning than this?
Absolutely perfectly blue skies out there, birds singing away, and a cool 58 degree temp (well it is warmed up to the 60s now). Gorgeous morning.
A bunch of friends are camped out up at the base of Mt Washington right now waking up jazzed with anticipation for the start of the race in a few hours. I saw a shot off results boy's twitter feed and I actually wished I was there. Despite a team mate who could only do one double, and a busted bike and all the hike a bike sections and the mud and the rain... I had fun. I look back on it as a memorable time. Rumor has it this year that they've removed a lot of the really technical sections. And I think that's a good idea. Make the race focus more about duration. Either way I'm not there and that's alright with me, I'm at peace with it. Maybe in a few years, maybe we'll haul the family up and camp and hang out and let them experience it with me. I'll go back I think.
D2R2 is coming up and I'm not going to that either. It sounds like a hell of a lot of fun, except for the logistics of getting there and back, it isn't worth it to trade a weekend of CX racing for that, although then again, maybe it would be. Right now with the new team sponsor and everything else cyclocross is a priority.
This morning has been great though. Everyone else is sleeping in. I'm starting to hear voices from the kids room, quiet talking but that's it. Me and the dog just hanging out listening to the birds - looking out the big window, the red leaves of the japanese maple being caught by the morning sun with the brilliant blue backdrop, just the barest of a breeze to make them dance.
It doesn't get any better than this, windows open, relaxed and feeling good.
Perfect day to make some Bacon.
heddwch
G
Absolutely perfectly blue skies out there, birds singing away, and a cool 58 degree temp (well it is warmed up to the 60s now). Gorgeous morning.
A bunch of friends are camped out up at the base of Mt Washington right now waking up jazzed with anticipation for the start of the race in a few hours. I saw a shot off results boy's twitter feed and I actually wished I was there. Despite a team mate who could only do one double, and a busted bike and all the hike a bike sections and the mud and the rain... I had fun. I look back on it as a memorable time. Rumor has it this year that they've removed a lot of the really technical sections. And I think that's a good idea. Make the race focus more about duration. Either way I'm not there and that's alright with me, I'm at peace with it. Maybe in a few years, maybe we'll haul the family up and camp and hang out and let them experience it with me. I'll go back I think.
D2R2 is coming up and I'm not going to that either. It sounds like a hell of a lot of fun, except for the logistics of getting there and back, it isn't worth it to trade a weekend of CX racing for that, although then again, maybe it would be. Right now with the new team sponsor and everything else cyclocross is a priority.
This morning has been great though. Everyone else is sleeping in. I'm starting to hear voices from the kids room, quiet talking but that's it. Me and the dog just hanging out listening to the birds - looking out the big window, the red leaves of the japanese maple being caught by the morning sun with the brilliant blue backdrop, just the barest of a breeze to make them dance.
It doesn't get any better than this, windows open, relaxed and feeling good.
Perfect day to make some Bacon.
heddwch
G
Friday, August 13, 2010
Friday the 13th
Yeah.
So last night's bit of excitement was a mess of fire and police responding to this. I saw the Fireman get hauled off - they transfered him from an EP truck to a Barrington Truck so I assume he was from the barrington FD.
Got out for a run this morning. Not so fast but I got the amount of time in I needed. The ride in was super piano except for the little rises. not so piano up that. But it felt good. quiet power lingering in my legs in a way. extra mass in my calves it seems by the extra curves and muscluar fullness they have now. My body is slow to change, takes time to expand and allocate resources. The running is helping. The high torque loads with the short cranks on the Tandem is helping. We did intervals on the tandem last night. and wow did they ever hurt. sort of like doing intervals on a 100+ pound bike with a 55 tooth chain ring, once you get it up to speed it flies but it still takes a hell of a lot of effort to keep it going. Might try a few intervals with the kids next week when we're home together.
This film is underwhelming but worth watching. You can hit the Rapha site or go right to Vimeo (Rapha's page was hosed this morning). You can check the rest of the films out. Maybe the B2B video is better/more towards one's taste- with local flair. Okay - so just watched the film. Lots of Dan Action shots - he's of course a Rapha rider not a Circle A guy anymore but I think once a Circle-A always one.
The running on the "easy" days seems to help the hard days on the bike. As much as I tried to get the 4 days in a row on the 'plan' it just isn't working. I do find it important to run at least 3 days in a row getting started, seems to accelerate the adaptation but now that is over and in the second/base phase things being regular and consistent w/o hurting the cycling legs is more important maybe than running 3 or 4 days in a row. Maybe I'm actually learning a bit, learning something about training. Or I'm just integrating and rationalizing changing to train the way some older faster friend suggested at one time upon hearing of my 4 days in a row plan.
One thing I am convinced of: Running is good for cyclocross racers. No, not running the way my new team mate GCDavid runs, or Turdowski does. No those triathletes are fucking nuts. I don't really see myself being able to do that multi-sport thing. My running wouldn't even be considered a warm up for a real runner like say Keith Kelly. No, but, it is that small addition. The little extra stress you can add. The hill intervals, or stair climbing intervals you do later on once a tolerance/base is built. That's what pays off. When you have the muscles working then you can add the anaerobic CX specific workouts. But like coming back to riding you need to have a base before you can do sprint workouts and have them be effective.
Time to motor on out for a thing with my daughter.
Feeling somewhat in a groove, not so much writing anything new or ground breaking or worth reading. But the words are flowing. If i let them roll out long enough something will certainly come out worth while. for now I suppose I will be content with just taking this moment of peace and oneness with the words and relish it.
There is actually a pretty solid rumor that I will be on a new bike this season for CX. New sponsor for the team, new team mates, and a new bike? What's a guy to do, besides try and see more stuff on ebay to pay for it all.
heddwch
G
So last night's bit of excitement was a mess of fire and police responding to this. I saw the Fireman get hauled off - they transfered him from an EP truck to a Barrington Truck so I assume he was from the barrington FD.
Got out for a run this morning. Not so fast but I got the amount of time in I needed. The ride in was super piano except for the little rises. not so piano up that. But it felt good. quiet power lingering in my legs in a way. extra mass in my calves it seems by the extra curves and muscluar fullness they have now. My body is slow to change, takes time to expand and allocate resources. The running is helping. The high torque loads with the short cranks on the Tandem is helping. We did intervals on the tandem last night. and wow did they ever hurt. sort of like doing intervals on a 100+ pound bike with a 55 tooth chain ring, once you get it up to speed it flies but it still takes a hell of a lot of effort to keep it going. Might try a few intervals with the kids next week when we're home together.
This film is underwhelming but worth watching. You can hit the Rapha site or go right to Vimeo (Rapha's page was hosed this morning). You can check the rest of the films out. Maybe the B2B video is better/more towards one's taste- with local flair. Okay - so just watched the film. Lots of Dan Action shots - he's of course a Rapha rider not a Circle A guy anymore but I think once a Circle-A always one.
The running on the "easy" days seems to help the hard days on the bike. As much as I tried to get the 4 days in a row on the 'plan' it just isn't working. I do find it important to run at least 3 days in a row getting started, seems to accelerate the adaptation but now that is over and in the second/base phase things being regular and consistent w/o hurting the cycling legs is more important maybe than running 3 or 4 days in a row. Maybe I'm actually learning a bit, learning something about training. Or I'm just integrating and rationalizing changing to train the way some older faster friend suggested at one time upon hearing of my 4 days in a row plan.
One thing I am convinced of: Running is good for cyclocross racers. No, not running the way my new team mate GCDavid runs, or Turdowski does. No those triathletes are fucking nuts. I don't really see myself being able to do that multi-sport thing. My running wouldn't even be considered a warm up for a real runner like say Keith Kelly. No, but, it is that small addition. The little extra stress you can add. The hill intervals, or stair climbing intervals you do later on once a tolerance/base is built. That's what pays off. When you have the muscles working then you can add the anaerobic CX specific workouts. But like coming back to riding you need to have a base before you can do sprint workouts and have them be effective.
Time to motor on out for a thing with my daughter.
Feeling somewhat in a groove, not so much writing anything new or ground breaking or worth reading. But the words are flowing. If i let them roll out long enough something will certainly come out worth while. for now I suppose I will be content with just taking this moment of peace and oneness with the words and relish it.
There is actually a pretty solid rumor that I will be on a new bike this season for CX. New sponsor for the team, new team mates, and a new bike? What's a guy to do, besides try and see more stuff on ebay to pay for it all.
heddwch
G
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Is this next?
Solobreak seems to have single handedly brought the 40 of malt liquor back to popularity in the New England bike racing scene.
Is this next?
Is this next?
Kitchen Stadium: Inside L.A.'s Street Food Fest - Food - The Atlantic
Kitchen Stadium: Inside L.A.'s Street Food Fest - Food - The Atlantic
Man - that looks like a BLAST... the photos, the shrimp tacos...
is it lunch time yet?
Man - that looks like a BLAST... the photos, the shrimp tacos...
is it lunch time yet?
well from 4 to every other day
I tweaked a small muscle in my back on Monday and it is still pissed at me. Esp right when i wake up. So I bagged the bleary eyed run that would have certainly been a plod like yesterday, in small hopes that I can get up and blitz it tomorrow. Plodding isn't so much fun.
Now before I forget I suppose I need to clear something up. Solo seemed to read yesterday that I suggested that there's a lot of dopers in Masters racing around here. I am very happy (or naive) to say I believe the field is pretty fucking clean. I know most people by name, many better than that and you can pretty much look down the results list and explain w/o drugs where there are. Sure there might be one or two but I actually kind of doubt it. Masters racing in New England is fucking cut throat serious but at the end of the day everyone still shows up with what they got. There are plenty of ex-pros in the ranks, past national champions, multi-podium placings in many years. Legitimately fast dudes. The race I "heard" about, oh btw, I have a hard time saying I read anything on Twitter - can you really call looking at 140 characters reading? This race where a bunch of people in the masters race DNSd or something because the vampires showed up was a big money crit in VA if the stories are true. Please don't take what I said yesterday as suggesting that any of yall you regularly kick my ass on the bike are on the juice. One of those things maybe should have left alone. Hell I figured tossing in "verge" points would be enough of a red-flag about the sarcasm/humor/joking nature of the comment.
Skipping the run actually left my legs pretty fresh for the ride in. A few yards away from jumping on the path one of my co-workers headed past, he's not one of the slower ones and I figured, no run? lets crank this up. And my legs actually responded pretty well.
Took a while to catch (on the slight rise into Riverside) and I said hey and slowed a touch to see if he was going to lift the pace to chat a bit, but nope, he kept it steady so I had no choice, keep up the speed. And keep it up we did.
My stoker actually even worked most of the ride in. Before long I caught a glimpse of saddle bagged commuter, one bag on the left, that's one of the Marks and well, i dug a bit deeper into the red and we caught him and passed him. He said it was like being passed by a Freight train. He did lift his pace and came up to speed and I managed to hold the speed up to the rise and then keep the watts up over the slight hill. Mark said even my stoker was breathing hard (i was way beyond the limit), that was a cool moment for me. She might not have many watts but it does make a difference a bit like a draft. So no run but I at least got a good Italian Tune Up this morning on the way in.
No closer to being ready for a crit on sunday but ready or not i'm racing, gonna be fun racing with a few team mates. We'll see what happens.
heddwch
G
Now before I forget I suppose I need to clear something up. Solo seemed to read yesterday that I suggested that there's a lot of dopers in Masters racing around here. I am very happy (or naive) to say I believe the field is pretty fucking clean. I know most people by name, many better than that and you can pretty much look down the results list and explain w/o drugs where there are. Sure there might be one or two but I actually kind of doubt it. Masters racing in New England is fucking cut throat serious but at the end of the day everyone still shows up with what they got. There are plenty of ex-pros in the ranks, past national champions, multi-podium placings in many years. Legitimately fast dudes. The race I "heard" about, oh btw, I have a hard time saying I read anything on Twitter - can you really call looking at 140 characters reading? This race where a bunch of people in the masters race DNSd or something because the vampires showed up was a big money crit in VA if the stories are true. Please don't take what I said yesterday as suggesting that any of yall you regularly kick my ass on the bike are on the juice. One of those things maybe should have left alone. Hell I figured tossing in "verge" points would be enough of a red-flag about the sarcasm/humor/joking nature of the comment.
Skipping the run actually left my legs pretty fresh for the ride in. A few yards away from jumping on the path one of my co-workers headed past, he's not one of the slower ones and I figured, no run? lets crank this up. And my legs actually responded pretty well.
Took a while to catch (on the slight rise into Riverside) and I said hey and slowed a touch to see if he was going to lift the pace to chat a bit, but nope, he kept it steady so I had no choice, keep up the speed. And keep it up we did.
My stoker actually even worked most of the ride in. Before long I caught a glimpse of saddle bagged commuter, one bag on the left, that's one of the Marks and well, i dug a bit deeper into the red and we caught him and passed him. He said it was like being passed by a Freight train. He did lift his pace and came up to speed and I managed to hold the speed up to the rise and then keep the watts up over the slight hill. Mark said even my stoker was breathing hard (i was way beyond the limit), that was a cool moment for me. She might not have many watts but it does make a difference a bit like a draft. So no run but I at least got a good Italian Tune Up this morning on the way in.
No closer to being ready for a crit on sunday but ready or not i'm racing, gonna be fun racing with a few team mates. We'll see what happens.
heddwch
G
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