I suppose. Blue skies, mid-40s light wind, good day for lots of stuff.
I did manage to wash the bikes a bit, clean and lube the chains on the Blue and the Croll.
One thing i've noticed that is nice about the EVrLube is to clean you need some high pressure water, hit the chain and all the dirt washes out of it and it is nice and smooth again. Relube and all set. But to take it another step, after washing the drive train with water and soap (the soap never strips the chain down to bare metal and that's a good thing), I will dry the chain off and then run it through the park chain cleaning tool using the Lube. Works so well. After the water gets the grit out the lube and the cleaner tool gets the old lube and grease off and then everything is easy to wipe clean, the chainrings, the jockey wheels too. Pretty quickly the bike is clean and the drive train is ready to go. I usually add a bit more fresh lube, work it in and then wipe off the excess before calling it done.
Getting low on lube though. Need to make a trip to the hardware store to get some more mineral spirits.
Right now, 3 quad espressos into the day, really actually not that much for me, i'm ready for a nap. falling asleep on the couch, feet up. doing nothing. being lazy. exhausting all the new naked tumblr pages i've found and too lazy and uninspired to dig for more of them, so i'm writing. the ride has worn off completely now. or i should say that was the top of the roller coaster and now i'm down in a valley trying to find the momentum to carry on a bit in a way. No sleep last night. Just couldn't fall asleep, couldn't stay asleep, and surprisingly not legs related... all in my head. would be nice to get it out...
maybe i'll manage to fall asleep inspite of the coffee today
or not... probably should get back to laundry, unloading the dishwasher, loading the dishwasher, and what ever else has to get done
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
a bit wet today
Started the ride off well, but got nailed by a bit of a rain shower up before dropping down on the parkway... by the time I hit the Washington bridge the rain had stopped. And it was just still and foggy...
Pretty amazing day. Felt great to be on the bike again, the endorphin supply from yesterday must have been still amplifying the senses because I was just digging being on the bike again. 7 hours yesterday. Completely alone on the bike, just trying to get there and back. On an adventure on a great day.
Today would have maybe not been so awesome if I had to spend 7 hours on the bike. it wasn't a problem staying warm with the temps right around 40°F yesterday (all the bank clocks were saying 39°F anytime I passed one) while it was dry. Today? Not a dry day. Supposedly 57°F when I left for the ride home. But it felt colder, esp with the rain pelting down.
Can't wait to try the round trip again. Might have to avoid Feb Break though. I expect the minivan moron contingent to be much higher during the day that week.
heddwch
G
G
Solo ride
A long solo ride.
At some point I got an idea in my head. It was after the end of cyclocross season and I was looking for something to get excited about, motivated about. Work's work and we've got cool stuff potentially coming down the pipe (after a mountain of hard work, duh), no I needed something bike related, a ride, a race. Battenkill just doesn't do it for me anymore. Road season? pfft Crits are short and like a CX and I can probably race well enough to do fine w/just the commute. I don't have a ton of time to do the hard work for Road races to be fun. Tim Johnson's ride on Washington sort of popped up on the radar but the logistics and all that and this year just aren't in the cards to lobby for an invitation. So.
Well I had this idea to ride to Boston and back. Since so many friends are working in the city up that way that I enjoy seeing in cross season, well, why not stop in and say hi. Nature of the trip though is not conducive to seeing everyone.
(lots of words below the fold, and pictures AND video!)
At some point I got an idea in my head. It was after the end of cyclocross season and I was looking for something to get excited about, motivated about. Work's work and we've got cool stuff potentially coming down the pipe (after a mountain of hard work, duh), no I needed something bike related, a ride, a race. Battenkill just doesn't do it for me anymore. Road season? pfft Crits are short and like a CX and I can probably race well enough to do fine w/just the commute. I don't have a ton of time to do the hard work for Road races to be fun. Tim Johnson's ride on Washington sort of popped up on the radar but the logistics and all that and this year just aren't in the cards to lobby for an invitation. So.
Well I had this idea to ride to Boston and back. Since so many friends are working in the city up that way that I enjoy seeing in cross season, well, why not stop in and say hi. Nature of the trip though is not conducive to seeing everyone.
(lots of words below the fold, and pictures AND video!)
Monday, January 23, 2012
who doesn't like studs
Esp for winter commutes. So nice to have this morning.
The way home there were only a few spots where they were really helpful. One loooong stretch was the washington bridge.
It was deep with drifted snow and was a challenge to ride through. Brought back memories of last year. Last year was without the trailer and a day like today would have been fast and fun. Bumpy and a challenge but with the tires traction was never an issue and it wasn't that slow.
Today. With the trailer? Oof was really tough to keep headway with the 46x23, esp after spinning my brains out at the US Open Cycling Federation's velosprints over lunch (knocked half a second off my 500m time from 2 weeks ago). Made it through though. Trailer plowed through some deep drifts with the left wheel, but it was a decent ride home. Studs are loud and I have a slight fender rub to address and when the rear tire picks up extra packed snow it can jam. These fenders are really boderline for a tire this big (35c Schwalbe Marathon Winter) Esp on this bike. But hey. My feet were dry when I got home. I like that.
Tomorrow is a car day. Can't get to demo the other SEM scope in time on the bike, so I have to resort to the MF aka Rusty Race Wagon... and with the rain potentially dumping on us tonight (so happy to not have any precipitation on my commute today) and temps staying warm for a while here's to hoping it all disappears leaving niceclean dry roads for Thursday.
Why Thursday? we'll see... might be long ride time.
okay - got some other stuff like food but i might save that for a bit...
heddwch
G
The way home there were only a few spots where they were really helpful. One loooong stretch was the washington bridge.It was deep with drifted snow and was a challenge to ride through. Brought back memories of last year. Last year was without the trailer and a day like today would have been fast and fun. Bumpy and a challenge but with the tires traction was never an issue and it wasn't that slow.
Today. With the trailer? Oof was really tough to keep headway with the 46x23, esp after spinning my brains out at the US Open Cycling Federation's velosprints over lunch (knocked half a second off my 500m time from 2 weeks ago). Made it through though. Trailer plowed through some deep drifts with the left wheel, but it was a decent ride home. Studs are loud and I have a slight fender rub to address and when the rear tire picks up extra packed snow it can jam. These fenders are really boderline for a tire this big (35c Schwalbe Marathon Winter) Esp on this bike. But hey. My feet were dry when I got home. I like that.
Tomorrow is a car day. Can't get to demo the other SEM scope in time on the bike, so I have to resort to the MF aka Rusty Race Wagon... and with the rain potentially dumping on us tonight (so happy to not have any precipitation on my commute today) and temps staying warm for a while here's to hoping it all disappears leaving nice
Why Thursday? we'll see... might be long ride time.
okay - got some other stuff like food but i might save that for a bit...
heddwch
G
obligatory
finally got duped into clicking on the link to watch it.
and am sharing it #1 for the people who made it and who they made it for...
And no, I didn't laugh, got a couple groans... but it is all accurate and well done.
and am sharing it #1 for the people who made it and who they made it for...
And no, I didn't laugh, got a couple groans... but it is all accurate and well done.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Crazy? Yes.
After riding the trainer inside yesterday for 70 minutes (20 min mid to low cadence threshold, with a bit of recovery followed by 10 min of standing in the 53x12). It was 67°F or so inside, plenty hot and sweaty. With Joe Lindsey's article still fresh in my mind, and needing to get the car spot shoveled before my wife got home I figured - what better way to get the body's core temp back down than shoveling. I did put the baselayer on (only wear it until I warm up inside). It was pretty effective, 10-15 min of shoveling snow while it was snowing in the 20°F weather helped switch from the catabolic phase, and hopefully into the anabolic phase.
The neighbor down the street was running his new snow blower wearing a full snowmobile suit while I was throwing snow in kit. Was funny but hey, it was effective, it takes a long time for those sticks I used to pedal to cool down.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Campy Delta Brakes
Maybe it is me, or my generation. Fucking Old Bike Mechanics or something but... Campy Delta Road brakes are #1 lusty coveted bit of work.
But.
So easy to fuck up the install.
I know how to set them up. How to make them work as they are supposed to. Because I have set many pairs up, either fixing hack mechanic jobs or just installing new ones.
I was never able to acquire a pair. heck my ball bearing Dura-Ace ones worked.
But a perfectly set up Campy Delta brake is something so beautiful. Sure they are heavy. But get everything perfect....
Shiny.
I had ordered a set of Mavic cranks (the ones on the Paramount) in college to replace the 170 Campy Chorus cranks. brand new.
They showed up. I tore into the box walking back to the dorm and my now wife, then just some super star on the college crew team was walking by and, man was I excited about them. Brand fucking new most gorgeous and stiff cranks on the market, in the original Mavic packaging... i had them out and I showed them to her "look at these!!!!!!"
She said, "oh shiny."
Crushed.
There's an intangible about those Delta brakes. Something magical about how they work. About how you have to cut the cable just right inside. how getting the length just right was critical. So much to fuck up in the set up. And yeah. They didn't stop for shit. But they modulated your speed. At the pro level who fucking stops in the grand tours? You just slow down here and there.
Run those brakes and you'll never brake check so hard that you'll cause a pile up and break a couple collar bones.
Brakes. Who needs them. And now the fix dorks have taken them over putting them on shitty cheap 90s bianchis Thom Kn is dead nuts to square when he said, "Sweet Jeebus! What kind of hipster d-bag puts them on a bike like that and then fukcs up the cable routing that bad?"
Would really suck if that's one of the dozen pairs of them that I've bid on over the years. Yes. I actually have placed Ebay bids on Delta brakes. Never winning. Thus preserving the lust and unsatisfied desire for something so obscure.
wrench and live
may your mechanic give as much of a shit about all this as I do
g
But.
So easy to fuck up the install.
I know how to set them up. How to make them work as they are supposed to. Because I have set many pairs up, either fixing hack mechanic jobs or just installing new ones.
I was never able to acquire a pair. heck my ball bearing Dura-Ace ones worked.
But a perfectly set up Campy Delta brake is something so beautiful. Sure they are heavy. But get everything perfect....
Shiny.
I had ordered a set of Mavic cranks (the ones on the Paramount) in college to replace the 170 Campy Chorus cranks. brand new.
They showed up. I tore into the box walking back to the dorm and my now wife, then just some super star on the college crew team was walking by and, man was I excited about them. Brand fucking new most gorgeous and stiff cranks on the market, in the original Mavic packaging... i had them out and I showed them to her "look at these!!!!!!"
She said, "oh shiny."
Crushed.
There's an intangible about those Delta brakes. Something magical about how they work. About how you have to cut the cable just right inside. how getting the length just right was critical. So much to fuck up in the set up. And yeah. They didn't stop for shit. But they modulated your speed. At the pro level who fucking stops in the grand tours? You just slow down here and there.
Run those brakes and you'll never brake check so hard that you'll cause a pile up and break a couple collar bones.
Brakes. Who needs them. And now the fix dorks have taken them over putting them on shitty cheap 90s bianchis Thom Kn is dead nuts to square when he said, "Sweet Jeebus! What kind of hipster d-bag puts them on a bike like that and then fukcs up the cable routing that bad?"
Would really suck if that's one of the dozen pairs of them that I've bid on over the years. Yes. I actually have placed Ebay bids on Delta brakes. Never winning. Thus preserving the lust and unsatisfied desire for something so obscure.
wrench and live
may your mechanic give as much of a shit about all this as I do
g
just saw this
total chain mail "email from mom/grandma" or how ever results boy calls it. but i don't give a shit
it is good
from the Whoa! (potentially NSFW)
it is good
from the Whoa! (potentially NSFW)
Compliment at least one person at least once a day. If you have something nice to say to someone... say it to their face. If they get weirded out by it, that is their problem... don't let it stop you from interacting with people. When you are amongst society take your headphones out of your ears. If you are inside take your sunglasses off. Interact with other human beings. You carry with you the potential to make another person feel good about themselves... do not let that go to waste. Compliment at least one person at least once a day. Don't say it to your phone or to Facebook, say it to someone's face. If you think someone is beautiful... tell them. If you like someone's shoes... tell them. You may make someone happy, you may even make their day, and in turn that will make you feel good about yourself. Compliment at least one person at least once a day... you will be happy that you did.
#TJROW
can you use a hash tag as a title?
no probably not.
I had the idea a bit ago to go through why I would be a great addition to the peloton headed to DC for the National Bike Summit.
Wavering about the wisdom of laying out all the reasons...
Planet Bike Supercommuter,
Commuting by bike since 1990 (with a * for the years 1999-2005 and the 150 miles a day in a car)
but then the rest sort of sound like a bit of yeah whatever...so what. So what if you did the 2 man 25HOGG, drove home and was on the bike a few days later with no issues. 2x a day 5 days a week on the bike most weeks. Halfway decent elite masters CX racer. Pretty knowledgeable about eating and fueling for long (all day) rides, mostly from fucking up. Full compliment of lights and clothing required for the trip in whatever conditions might show up. Big draft for the rest of the riders. Not a problem speaking about my passion for the bike as a mode of transportation. I can bring a totally different demographic to the fundraising angle between G+, FB, (don't worry blogger friends I don't expect anything from you two or three here), Local advocacy groups here in PVD/RI, and shop coverage that the BOS crew might not tap into. Optimistic about hitting the $2500? No clue. Not a freaking clue.
But immaterial. Do I want to make the whole trip from Boston to DC? yes. no question. Do I think I could do it? yes. no question. Esp if I add a couple trips to Boston and back over the next couple months on top of the commuting and trainer time. Would it be awesome to hang out with my friends who are already on the list? no question yes. It would be so cool.
But maybe this year I just need to pop on and hang out for the first day and split off and head home to PVD at some point and thing about it more seriously if Tim does this again next year..
Oh and if yall can talk to the weather gods/mother nature see if you can keep the weather on Thursday next week not so terrible. Might try and shoot for the first BOS trip that day.
heddwch
G
no probably not.
I had the idea a bit ago to go through why I would be a great addition to the peloton headed to DC for the National Bike Summit.
Wavering about the wisdom of laying out all the reasons...
Planet Bike Supercommuter,
Commuting by bike since 1990 (with a * for the years 1999-2005 and the 150 miles a day in a car)
but then the rest sort of sound like a bit of yeah whatever...so what. So what if you did the 2 man 25HOGG, drove home and was on the bike a few days later with no issues. 2x a day 5 days a week on the bike most weeks. Halfway decent elite masters CX racer. Pretty knowledgeable about eating and fueling for long (all day) rides, mostly from fucking up. Full compliment of lights and clothing required for the trip in whatever conditions might show up. Big draft for the rest of the riders. Not a problem speaking about my passion for the bike as a mode of transportation. I can bring a totally different demographic to the fundraising angle between G+, FB, (don't worry blogger friends I don't expect anything from you two or three here), Local advocacy groups here in PVD/RI, and shop coverage that the BOS crew might not tap into. Optimistic about hitting the $2500? No clue. Not a freaking clue.
But immaterial. Do I want to make the whole trip from Boston to DC? yes. no question. Do I think I could do it? yes. no question. Esp if I add a couple trips to Boston and back over the next couple months on top of the commuting and trainer time. Would it be awesome to hang out with my friends who are already on the list? no question yes. It would be so cool.
But maybe this year I just need to pop on and hang out for the first day and split off and head home to PVD at some point and thing about it more seriously if Tim does this again next year..
Oh and if yall can talk to the weather gods/mother nature see if you can keep the weather on Thursday next week not so terrible. Might try and shoot for the first BOS trip that day.
heddwch
G
Exercise "fads"
cross fit is not a sport
Tae Bo is not a sport
Yoga is not a sport
You can make anything a competition, but making it a competition doesn't make it a sport, no matter how seriously you take it. But then I guess maybe it does.
Just seems wrong. To me. To call it "the sport of fitness"
how about just calling it f'n fitness or something? The Sport of Fit?
I could probably go all GeWilli and be a cranky offensive bastard talking about how silly it is to discuss how many dead lifts of a 150# kettle bell you did or that you can dead lift 600# that for your body weight is an official world record but your gym isn't certified to record and report those sorts of things, or that if it was in competition it would be a WR.
I was fine with all the people talking about "oh my god cross fit is so amazing, can't wait to get punished tomorrow." Awesome. Wonderful. I guess it just means that I'm fucking old and cranky because I've heard it all before. And it all sounds the same. And people do it and then stop because the miracle of endorphins eventually wears off and the hard work becomes harder and there are fewer and fewer rewards and oh look at that shiny new thing... Does anyone do step aerobics anymore? Hell it used to be health clubs were packed with classes all day long doing only that. Now (from pictures) it seems people want a minimalistic gym, industrial, just shit piled around. Don't get me wrong, fucking K'Buck will (and can) kick my ass for disparaging it but he's smart, and he's faster than me on a bike and he runs the show. Different on that side i would think. Kind of like getting in on the top level of an MLM operation at the right time. Now maybe KBuck calls it a sport, but he races bikes. I'd wager (probably incorrectly) that he doesn't.
Lifestyle? Fitness regime? Strength conditioning? Fuck yeah that all hasn't changed and is totally noble and good.
But. Sport?
I guess if it gets people to be more active? great. But lately I think it just serves as an excuse to have that extra serving of ice cream or couple extra beers.
Now my wife was relating a story about a bunch of women runners online discussing some fast dude who was photographed mid running race in a pose that highlighted his quad definition. The women were going on at lengths (hersay via my wife) about how incredible it was that you could see three distinct quad muscles.
I looked down and then flexed and said, "like this?" One of the benefits/side effects of dropping 20 pounds. A no doubt 20 now, really actually more of a 10kg decrease currently. And i did it without touching a fucking weight, rope, kettle bell, box jump... incredible. Maybe.
Comes back to whole package.
call it a holistic approach but if you aren't paying attention to what you are eating, as well as what you are doing, you're doing it wrong. To phrase that more positively, until you focus on every aspect of what you eat, how much you rest and how much you train, you will never realize your full potential.
me? yeah i probably have realized my full potential. I have my strengths and areas that are better than others and some weaknesses that I may be able to improve on, slowly, possibly. But gone are my days of significant jumps in results/placings.
if it hadn't been for that Reebok add, well, i'd probably not have ranted at all about it. But hell it has been a long time since I've pissed anyone off...
Tae Bo is not a sport
Yoga is not a sport
You can make anything a competition, but making it a competition doesn't make it a sport, no matter how seriously you take it. But then I guess maybe it does.
Just seems wrong. To me. To call it "the sport of fitness"
how about just calling it f'n fitness or something? The Sport of Fit?
I could probably go all GeWilli and be a cranky offensive bastard talking about how silly it is to discuss how many dead lifts of a 150# kettle bell you did or that you can dead lift 600# that for your body weight is an official world record but your gym isn't certified to record and report those sorts of things, or that if it was in competition it would be a WR.
I was fine with all the people talking about "oh my god cross fit is so amazing, can't wait to get punished tomorrow." Awesome. Wonderful. I guess it just means that I'm fucking old and cranky because I've heard it all before. And it all sounds the same. And people do it and then stop because the miracle of endorphins eventually wears off and the hard work becomes harder and there are fewer and fewer rewards and oh look at that shiny new thing... Does anyone do step aerobics anymore? Hell it used to be health clubs were packed with classes all day long doing only that. Now (from pictures) it seems people want a minimalistic gym, industrial, just shit piled around. Don't get me wrong, fucking K'Buck will (and can) kick my ass for disparaging it but he's smart, and he's faster than me on a bike and he runs the show. Different on that side i would think. Kind of like getting in on the top level of an MLM operation at the right time. Now maybe KBuck calls it a sport, but he races bikes. I'd wager (probably incorrectly) that he doesn't.
Lifestyle? Fitness regime? Strength conditioning? Fuck yeah that all hasn't changed and is totally noble and good.
But. Sport?
I guess if it gets people to be more active? great. But lately I think it just serves as an excuse to have that extra serving of ice cream or couple extra beers.
Now my wife was relating a story about a bunch of women runners online discussing some fast dude who was photographed mid running race in a pose that highlighted his quad definition. The women were going on at lengths (hersay via my wife) about how incredible it was that you could see three distinct quad muscles.
I looked down and then flexed and said, "like this?" One of the benefits/side effects of dropping 20 pounds. A no doubt 20 now, really actually more of a 10kg decrease currently. And i did it without touching a fucking weight, rope, kettle bell, box jump... incredible. Maybe.
Comes back to whole package.
call it a holistic approach but if you aren't paying attention to what you are eating, as well as what you are doing, you're doing it wrong. To phrase that more positively, until you focus on every aspect of what you eat, how much you rest and how much you train, you will never realize your full potential.
me? yeah i probably have realized my full potential. I have my strengths and areas that are better than others and some weaknesses that I may be able to improve on, slowly, possibly. But gone are my days of significant jumps in results/placings.
if it hadn't been for that Reebok add, well, i'd probably not have ranted at all about it. But hell it has been a long time since I've pissed anyone off...
Thursday, January 19, 2012
hey what's this thing
Yeah, writing hasn't percolated to the top of the list for the last few days.
The lead in period to this half of the year is over, peoples stuff is ready to go and suddenly stuff is crazy here, not bad, a good change from the quiet. Although, the quiet was nice.
It does lead into some challenges with the whole planning my goal of riding to Boston and back once in each month this winter. Keeping a day on the schedule open isn't the hard part, but picking that day two or three weeks out with the wonderfully consistent weather we have here is. And the whole once per month is the kicker with January winding down fast and picking up speed.
Still a pile of stuff to do, flush this out a bit more. Maybe. I did actually manage to ride for 3 hours on the trainer on Monday. Yeah. 3 hours. Two 90 minute blocks actually. Was fun actually. Which means I probably didn't train hard enough in CX season if I'm fresh enough to pedal again. That said the last CX race was way back at Fitchburg so maybe that's long enough to reset.
Was fun enough I might actually consider doing it again... If i can find time between birthday parties and the rest of the weekend activities...
heddwch
G
The lead in period to this half of the year is over, peoples stuff is ready to go and suddenly stuff is crazy here, not bad, a good change from the quiet. Although, the quiet was nice.
It does lead into some challenges with the whole planning my goal of riding to Boston and back once in each month this winter. Keeping a day on the schedule open isn't the hard part, but picking that day two or three weeks out with the wonderfully consistent weather we have here is. And the whole once per month is the kicker with January winding down fast and picking up speed.
Still a pile of stuff to do, flush this out a bit more. Maybe. I did actually manage to ride for 3 hours on the trainer on Monday. Yeah. 3 hours. Two 90 minute blocks actually. Was fun actually. Which means I probably didn't train hard enough in CX season if I'm fresh enough to pedal again. That said the last CX race was way back at Fitchburg so maybe that's long enough to reset.
Was fun enough I might actually consider doing it again... If i can find time between birthday parties and the rest of the weekend activities...
heddwch
G
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
bikes... to lust after
High production values - wicked cool and I still totally want a Firefly
But this thing is pretty much what after all the riding of bikes I've done still is what I want, and kind of what I have in the Klein Q Pro.
Definitely would like that fancy fork in the green bike.
But this thing is pretty much what after all the riding of bikes I've done still is what I want, and kind of what I have in the Klein Q Pro.
Definitely would like that fancy fork in the green bike.
Monday, January 16, 2012
World Cup racer POV
We all get to watch the races live now, rare that anyone is complaining like last year about buffering and hanging and crappy feeds. The only thing we're still missing on the pirate feeds are the live women's races usually. Maybe that's next year's jump.
Since cyclocross season ended for me I've missed very few of the big races. and the Pros are pretty incredible. Learn much? no not anymore. But appreciate it? yes even more.
A GoPro on Christian Heule's bars was spotted by Chandler (CycloWHAT?) early in the race and well. Here's the video:
go to HD and full screen to watch it. That French course always reminds me of a bigger wider open, hillier and faster Providence at RWP, with no awkward barriers.
Watching that I can't help but thing about the Contour-Plus camera and how cool it would be to be a TV producer and put a handful of them on the bikes/riders. Not so different from auto-racing's in car cameras no? Go back and watch a crash unfold in front of the racer. Cyclocross is a challenge because of the bike changes and how well does the contour do with pressure washing and all that, best place to mount... not as easy as sticking something onto a car. But production value would be sweet I think. No, not an original idea on my part the video master HenryJ has mentioned it before. Just talking about it now, after watching Heule's footage.
Think about that sporza feed with racer pov! Although the sun angle is a challenge there in a few sections. Not quite ready for prime-time yet, but close.
Heddwch
G
Since cyclocross season ended for me I've missed very few of the big races. and the Pros are pretty incredible. Learn much? no not anymore. But appreciate it? yes even more.
A GoPro on Christian Heule's bars was spotted by Chandler (CycloWHAT?) early in the race and well. Here's the video:
go to HD and full screen to watch it. That French course always reminds me of a bigger wider open, hillier and faster Providence at RWP, with no awkward barriers.
Watching that I can't help but thing about the Contour-Plus camera and how cool it would be to be a TV producer and put a handful of them on the bikes/riders. Not so different from auto-racing's in car cameras no? Go back and watch a crash unfold in front of the racer. Cyclocross is a challenge because of the bike changes and how well does the contour do with pressure washing and all that, best place to mount... not as easy as sticking something onto a car. But production value would be sweet I think. No, not an original idea on my part the video master HenryJ has mentioned it before. Just talking about it now, after watching Heule's footage.
Think about that sporza feed with racer pov! Although the sun angle is a challenge there in a few sections. Not quite ready for prime-time yet, but close.
Heddwch
G
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Edward Abbey
From DC
I think his books might be on the list here soon after I finish 'The Wave' by Susan Casey.
definitely worth a watch...
“Men come and go, cities rise and fall, whole civilizations appear and disappear-the earth remains, slightly modified. The earth remains, and the heartbreaking beauty where there are no hearts to break….I sometimes choose to think, no doubt perversely, that man is a dream, thought an illusion, and only rock is real. Rock and sun.”Abbey was a huge influence on me growing up.
-Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness
I think his books might be on the list here soon after I finish 'The Wave' by Susan Casey.
definitely worth a watch...
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Mahogany Chicken over Salad
That's what it looked like so that's what I'm calling it.
Just a basic green salad, lettuce, shredded carrots, diced avocado, added a couple or hard boiled egg wedges and tossed it all with my trademark and perfected dressing.
The chicken, just as simple as the salad to put together. Heck almost easier because salad means washing lettuce (you're nuts if you think pre-washed lettuce is clean, but i generally just buy heads of lettuce) and all the rest of that.
So chicken, I used breasts, who doesn't love breasts. These were pretty freaking big (too big maybe) so I did a diagonal slice to get some more surface area for the marinate.
The chicken went in the marinate before I started doing the salad prep (and a few minutes watching the beginning of the NO/SF game).
The marinate gives it the color.
Shoyu sauce (use the good stuff - the crap with coloring and other stuff is just not worth anyone's time)
-----i use: SAN-J Organic Bronze Label Shoyu
Balsamic Vinegar (again there are different levels of it - basic point is that it is Balsamic and it doesn't have anything else in it).
Ginger powder (could use fresh but the powder works)
Olive oil
That's it.
get a skillet nice and hot, use a bit of fat/oil (i used some beef fat saved in the freezer) cook em hot and pour the sauce over the top. Flip them once and make sure it is cooked through but not too well done. Then slice and return to the pan to deglaze with the juices (the chicken soaks it back up, there won't be any wasted flavor or liquid).
Put the chicken on the salad and enjoy.
Not a great meal to eat the night before a race, but it is always good to mix up the ratios in the off season, for lots of reasons. You never want to get into a food rut eating the same thing and quantities every day, meals like this free up a night to go crazy with pasta or pizza.
That and no bike riding since Tuesday means no need to replace glycogen.
I did sort out the bike room a bit and set the Paramount up as a trainer bike. Not sure if I'm going to set the Croll up for the long haul bike or just stick some metal wheels and adjust the brakes on the Blue and go for some plastic for the long haul. But now it looks like winter. A century on a day that starts off at 13°F with a high of only 30°F doesn't actually sound wicked smart, staying warm for an hour is very different than 3+ even with a break to warm up at the halfway point. But it is a curious challenge and one that is intriguing and something that is oddly motivating.
heddwch
G
Just a basic green salad, lettuce, shredded carrots, diced avocado, added a couple or hard boiled egg wedges and tossed it all with my trademark and perfected dressing.
The chicken, just as simple as the salad to put together. Heck almost easier because salad means washing lettuce (you're nuts if you think pre-washed lettuce is clean, but i generally just buy heads of lettuce) and all the rest of that.
So chicken, I used breasts, who doesn't love breasts. These were pretty freaking big (too big maybe) so I did a diagonal slice to get some more surface area for the marinate.
The chicken went in the marinate before I started doing the salad prep (and a few minutes watching the beginning of the NO/SF game).
The marinate gives it the color.
Shoyu sauce (use the good stuff - the crap with coloring and other stuff is just not worth anyone's time)
-----i use: SAN-J Organic Bronze Label Shoyu
Balsamic Vinegar (again there are different levels of it - basic point is that it is Balsamic and it doesn't have anything else in it).
Ginger powder (could use fresh but the powder works)
Olive oil
That's it.
get a skillet nice and hot, use a bit of fat/oil (i used some beef fat saved in the freezer) cook em hot and pour the sauce over the top. Flip them once and make sure it is cooked through but not too well done. Then slice and return to the pan to deglaze with the juices (the chicken soaks it back up, there won't be any wasted flavor or liquid).
Put the chicken on the salad and enjoy.
Not a great meal to eat the night before a race, but it is always good to mix up the ratios in the off season, for lots of reasons. You never want to get into a food rut eating the same thing and quantities every day, meals like this free up a night to go crazy with pasta or pizza.
That and no bike riding since Tuesday means no need to replace glycogen.
I did sort out the bike room a bit and set the Paramount up as a trainer bike. Not sure if I'm going to set the Croll up for the long haul bike or just stick some metal wheels and adjust the brakes on the Blue and go for some plastic for the long haul. But now it looks like winter. A century on a day that starts off at 13°F with a high of only 30°F doesn't actually sound wicked smart, staying warm for an hour is very different than 3+ even with a break to warm up at the halfway point. But it is a curious challenge and one that is intriguing and something that is oddly motivating.
heddwch
G
Friday, January 13, 2012
recon: complete
am a bit under the weather, work had a gap mid-day and the weather was crappy for cycling so... recon time.
yes, the PVD to BOS ride. Or Ivy to Ivy (Brown to Harvard) or Art school to Tech School or just College Hill to Cambridge and back.
so i jumped on at 123 in attleboro and drove a bit of it, why not. I needed time away from the computer, from the office with something other than traffic to fight in a rush to get from point A to point B. Cranked the JPow DJ Shine mix and cruised.
The nice thing about checking new routes in the car is wrong turns don't cost you nearly as much time. But there is a spot on Bay that was wicked slick. Icey almost, and the MF decided to get a bit loose, as in SIDEWAYS - a bit of adrenaline rush but I held on (dirt track style) and stayed on the pavement. Yeah maybe the tires aren't the best eh? Ah well.
Was a bit of fun. Totally doable i think. Pretty long and not much daylight to get here to there. The drive south was f'n nuts. The wind was brutal. It would have made riding from BOS to PVD one hell of a long headwind slog. steady 20 gusting over 40 is not fun riding. that E-word? maybe.
Got back to the lab and checked out some wicked cool new (to me) samples on the SEM...
So, now, weather, schedule, timing. Days that get lightly or unscheduled (still stuff to do but ones without training sessions) with good weather, might turn into 'mileage' days. For what training good? Who cares. Time to have fun on the bike... Thinking about doing that ride up and back in the same day boosts the endorphin just based on the potential. I wasn't checking mileage today but I think it is a very easy and manageable 50 by bike each way. Providing lunch stop in BOS isn't too long I should be able to get home before dark or at least get into my home state as the sun is setting.
So windy today.
yes, the PVD to BOS ride. Or Ivy to Ivy (Brown to Harvard) or Art school to Tech School or just College Hill to Cambridge and back.
so i jumped on at 123 in attleboro and drove a bit of it, why not. I needed time away from the computer, from the office with something other than traffic to fight in a rush to get from point A to point B. Cranked the JPow DJ Shine mix and cruised.
The nice thing about checking new routes in the car is wrong turns don't cost you nearly as much time. But there is a spot on Bay that was wicked slick. Icey almost, and the MF decided to get a bit loose, as in SIDEWAYS - a bit of adrenaline rush but I held on (dirt track style) and stayed on the pavement. Yeah maybe the tires aren't the best eh? Ah well.
Was a bit of fun. Totally doable i think. Pretty long and not much daylight to get here to there. The drive south was f'n nuts. The wind was brutal. It would have made riding from BOS to PVD one hell of a long headwind slog. steady 20 gusting over 40 is not fun riding. that E-word? maybe.
Got back to the lab and checked out some wicked cool new (to me) samples on the SEM...
So, now, weather, schedule, timing. Days that get lightly or unscheduled (still stuff to do but ones without training sessions) with good weather, might turn into 'mileage' days. For what training good? Who cares. Time to have fun on the bike... Thinking about doing that ride up and back in the same day boosts the endorphin just based on the potential. I wasn't checking mileage today but I think it is a very easy and manageable 50 by bike each way. Providing lunch stop in BOS isn't too long I should be able to get home before dark or at least get into my home state as the sun is setting.
So windy today.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
now what
way back when i could write...
and write
what ever was in my head, it didn't matter who read it, but i had a chance to write it, and sort shit out in my head
now, not so much
not really a good thing but it is what it is.
i'm old now. responsibilities have changed.
racing season is over, as slow as I am i really still want to be in Louisville right now. so what if I don't make the heat.
i wanted to be in Madison too. but hey i don't have mud tires, i have the antithesis of mud tires. so yeah. i would have sucked extra. it attenuates the desire but doesn't remove it completely.
worlds.
sure - i would be a first heat participant most likely. such a tiny chance of actually making it to the main heat.
i see so many who are saying "fuck that season was long, i'm done."
i'm not feeling that now, but my season is done.
now what
guarded words
working on a sinus infection to add to it all
winter is slowly getting here
now what
and write
what ever was in my head, it didn't matter who read it, but i had a chance to write it, and sort shit out in my head
now, not so much
not really a good thing but it is what it is.
i'm old now. responsibilities have changed.
racing season is over, as slow as I am i really still want to be in Louisville right now. so what if I don't make the heat.
i wanted to be in Madison too. but hey i don't have mud tires, i have the antithesis of mud tires. so yeah. i would have sucked extra. it attenuates the desire but doesn't remove it completely.
worlds.
sure - i would be a first heat participant most likely. such a tiny chance of actually making it to the main heat.
i see so many who are saying "fuck that season was long, i'm done."
i'm not feeling that now, but my season is done.
now what
guarded words
working on a sinus infection to add to it all
winter is slowly getting here
now what
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
slacking - i know
hopefully for good reason (true)
what a weekend of CX eh?
JPOOOOOW
Behind the Barriers will have a new episode tomorrow at 8am.
I get to play with fancy scanning microscopes tomorrow, kind of excited. got the Millennium Falcon back together just in time I suppose. top off the tank tomorrow AM and see if it is any easier to drive on 95 up to Peabody MA and back with the new squish tubes and unbroken spring.
what a weekend of CX eh?
JPOOOOOW
Behind the Barriers will have a new episode tomorrow at 8am.
I get to play with fancy scanning microscopes tomorrow, kind of excited. got the Millennium Falcon back together just in time I suppose. top off the tank tomorrow AM and see if it is any easier to drive on 95 up to Peabody MA and back with the new squish tubes and unbroken spring.
Friday, January 06, 2012
Thursday, January 05, 2012
A Barenaked Ladies Afternoon
No not bare naked ladies (that would be awesome to have an afternoon full of bare naked ladies though, no?)
THESE
and then there's this one with the line: "I made you say underwear."
http://youtu.be/u3NE6UuaLiY
Parts may be going on the MF in the morning but at this rate we might be working on it this weekend, save some PTO for next week or a day when it is warm enough to get to BOS (that's the current goal adding a spark, ride to BOS and back before the end of the month - with a bigger goal of taking one day a month to make the ride). Take a day in the week when i need a mental health day... that goal alone is one I like, no where near enough volume (once a month that far is tough to make significant) but I think, that, just maybe, that extra mileage all at once (long day in the saddle no doubt) once a month has the potential to pay off for next season. That is if I actually do the trip and decide it is worth trying to do more than once. The trip with the 30 pounds of dog food in the trailer reminded me that while the empty trailer works as a highway impact zone on a truck...
yes that's how it is being used right now. Sure it isn't going to do much to slow down a car but it will give then a second to hit their brakes before i hit their windshield. And with luck give me enough of a push so that the velocity differences are slightly reduced.
So after the dog food adventure I'm now hunting for 'weights'. 30 pounds would be perfect. I'd prefer not to go the water or glass route... (just another thing to occupy my mind).
(Oh and it took me a surprisingly long time to find a picture of a truck mounted impact attenuator - like 3-5 minutes because i didn't have the wording quite right - but i won).
There is a significantly higher work requirement just hauling the trailer with my backpack in it. But getting the trailer significantly heavier makes the elevation gain on the commute very significant. And that is a good thing (when 90% of riding is between home and work on the same route).
BNL day. Yeah....
heddwch
G
THESE
and then there's this one with the line: "I made you say underwear."
http://youtu.be/u3NE6UuaLiY
Parts may be going on the MF in the morning but at this rate we might be working on it this weekend, save some PTO for next week or a day when it is warm enough to get to BOS (that's the current goal adding a spark, ride to BOS and back before the end of the month - with a bigger goal of taking one day a month to make the ride). Take a day in the week when i need a mental health day... that goal alone is one I like, no where near enough volume (once a month that far is tough to make significant) but I think, that, just maybe, that extra mileage all at once (long day in the saddle no doubt) once a month has the potential to pay off for next season. That is if I actually do the trip and decide it is worth trying to do more than once. The trip with the 30 pounds of dog food in the trailer reminded me that while the empty trailer works as a highway impact zone on a truck...
yes that's how it is being used right now. Sure it isn't going to do much to slow down a car but it will give then a second to hit their brakes before i hit their windshield. And with luck give me enough of a push so that the velocity differences are slightly reduced.
So after the dog food adventure I'm now hunting for 'weights'. 30 pounds would be perfect. I'd prefer not to go the water or glass route... (just another thing to occupy my mind).
(Oh and it took me a surprisingly long time to find a picture of a truck mounted impact attenuator - like 3-5 minutes because i didn't have the wording quite right - but i won).
There is a significantly higher work requirement just hauling the trailer with my backpack in it. But getting the trailer significantly heavier makes the elevation gain on the commute very significant. And that is a good thing (when 90% of riding is between home and work on the same route).
BNL day. Yeah....
heddwch
G
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
Dinner
So tonight I cooked food.
Yeah yeah, I cook pretty much every night, esp now that I'm not working a few nights a week.
Tonight I tried something different.
I'd cooked up some chickpeas (been buying them dry in bulk from wholefoods) and they needed to be eaten or frozen. The were going to be hummus but that didn't happen and I thought I'd go with a frugal economy dinner but still shoot for flavor and something that makes you feel full and satisfied.
Started the Rice (organic brown medium grain bulk from WF) used about 1.5 cups of rice and 3 cups of water (bring to boil, turn to low and cook till finished).
Farted around checking on the SS race from CXnats.
Then chopped up two ribs of celery, 1/2 a sweet onion, and 4 medium carrots. Popped em in some wicked hot extra virgin olive oil in my big pan and cooked em.
Then chopped up a smallish sweet potato. Made little sticks about 2cm long and 3-4mm wide. Popped em in the pan too.
Added some oregano and more olive oil, some 365 Valle Del Sol Chili Powder, paprika, salt. Cooked it for a bit.
Some water in there to steam it all a bit. stirring and cooking.
Then added a bit of turmeric and black pepper, some more salt and some x-hot chili powder and 1 chopped red pepper.
and then a bit more water.
Not soupy but liquidy.
Then the cooked chickpeas went in and 3 big cloves of crushed garlic and the rice. And water to make it kind of a thick risotto.
I kept tasting it, which is a fun departure for me. Usually I have a pretty set idea of the spices, the balance and ratios and can gauge it really well by smell, and the progression of ingredients required. Since I'm not trying to duplicate any specific dish or taste in mind the flavors always vary when I'm cooking. But they are never disappointing. Always good.
This tasted not quite right before the garlic and was still missing something. Until I added 3-4 tablespoons (not much when you're looking at all the veggies plus 1 quart of cooked chickpeas and a huge pile of rice) of some organic seasoned rice wine vinegar (the org stuff has less sugar and sodium in it oddly) and a few tablespoons of Shoyu sauce.
Mixed it all up and - NAILED IT.
So good.
I added a bit of lee kum kee shrirachi sauce when eating mine to add a bit more depth and heat. But everyone kind of looked at it funny at first, but they ate it up. And my tummy is happy and full right now.
Was fun... And different. And pretty easy on the wallet, and wicked solid good for you too.
Heddwch
G
Yeah yeah, I cook pretty much every night, esp now that I'm not working a few nights a week.
Tonight I tried something different.
I'd cooked up some chickpeas (been buying them dry in bulk from wholefoods) and they needed to be eaten or frozen. The were going to be hummus but that didn't happen and I thought I'd go with a frugal economy dinner but still shoot for flavor and something that makes you feel full and satisfied.
Started the Rice (organic brown medium grain bulk from WF) used about 1.5 cups of rice and 3 cups of water (bring to boil, turn to low and cook till finished).
Farted around checking on the SS race from CXnats.
Then chopped up two ribs of celery, 1/2 a sweet onion, and 4 medium carrots. Popped em in some wicked hot extra virgin olive oil in my big pan and cooked em.
Then chopped up a smallish sweet potato. Made little sticks about 2cm long and 3-4mm wide. Popped em in the pan too.
Added some oregano and more olive oil, some 365 Valle Del Sol Chili Powder, paprika, salt. Cooked it for a bit.
Some water in there to steam it all a bit. stirring and cooking.
Then added a bit of turmeric and black pepper, some more salt and some x-hot chili powder and 1 chopped red pepper.
and then a bit more water.
Not soupy but liquidy.
Then the cooked chickpeas went in and 3 big cloves of crushed garlic and the rice. And water to make it kind of a thick risotto.
I kept tasting it, which is a fun departure for me. Usually I have a pretty set idea of the spices, the balance and ratios and can gauge it really well by smell, and the progression of ingredients required. Since I'm not trying to duplicate any specific dish or taste in mind the flavors always vary when I'm cooking. But they are never disappointing. Always good.
This tasted not quite right before the garlic and was still missing something. Until I added 3-4 tablespoons (not much when you're looking at all the veggies plus 1 quart of cooked chickpeas and a huge pile of rice) of some organic seasoned rice wine vinegar (the org stuff has less sugar and sodium in it oddly) and a few tablespoons of Shoyu sauce.
Mixed it all up and - NAILED IT.
So good.
I added a bit of lee kum kee shrirachi sauce when eating mine to add a bit more depth and heat. But everyone kind of looked at it funny at first, but they ate it up. And my tummy is happy and full right now.
Was fun... And different. And pretty easy on the wallet, and wicked solid good for you too.
Heddwch
G
still waiting
The Millennium Falcon is still chilling on the pad.
Even if the parts are on the doorstep when I get home it is likely going to sit like that tomorrow too. Maybe I'll take a bit of time on Friday morning to put it together and take the rental tool back. Assuming it is slightly warmer.
Not sure I'll put the inside back together right away. Call it a two seat extended coupe for a bit. But right away might last until the weekend. Supposed to warm up a touch.
Dune Buggy look would be pretty funny...
Not sure I'll put the inside back together right away. Call it a two seat extended coupe for a bit. But right away might last until the weekend. Supposed to warm up a touch.
Dune Buggy look would be pretty funny...
Cold? Yeah, not too bad.
Old CCC said it best: "its all about proper layering"
(DUDES THERE IS A PASTE AS PLAIN TEXT OPTION IN RIGHT CLICK NOW #IAMEXCITE)
So how did I deal with the temps? Besides dragging the trailer?
Conditions: temp somewhere between 11°F and 14°F with a wind directly head on with speeds in this range 19/14/9 (gust, avg, lull - in mph).
In other words a solid no question Jens Factor 5 and with the peak gusts combined with over ground speed into the wind a solid no question Jens Factor HC.
Cold.
So what does GeWilli wear in those conditions?
Top down?
Hugely vented Specialized Propero Helmet.
Ibex Wool beanie
Oakley Glasses
Badger Healing Balm on exposed facial skin
Team Issue Hincapie winter jacket
Team Issue Hincapie long sleeve jersey
REI long sleeve poly-pro base layer
Team Issue bib shorts over
Pearl Izumi Thermafleece bib tights (wicked old like 1996-98 old - knees are showing age)
Pearl Izumi thermafleece tights (no pad, just running tights)
Finally the feet.
Louis Garneau 0° Egro grips
Switftwick tall wool compression socks
And on the hands? My Helly Hansen Polar Mittens (no liners - hand got cold taking panda shots).
Got a decent warm up, felt a bit cold, but after about 5 minutes into the headwind I was starting to warm up and just elevated the work until I was holding about 155 on the HRM and pegged it there until the down hill section, and brought it back up until the next one and rode at a recovery HR once I hit the city.
Just started to break a sweat once I got going, feet were fine. Once I stopped pedaling and sat down the lack of activity and the cold sole kind of cooled the feet off a bit but for those 40 minutes or so, not so bad.
Couple of shot for the hell of it. (after the fold)
(DUDES THERE IS A PASTE AS PLAIN TEXT OPTION IN RIGHT CLICK NOW #IAMEXCITE)
So how did I deal with the temps? Besides dragging the trailer?
Conditions: temp somewhere between 11°F and 14°F with a wind directly head on with speeds in this range 19/14/9 (gust, avg, lull - in mph).
In other words a solid no question Jens Factor 5 and with the peak gusts combined with over ground speed into the wind a solid no question Jens Factor HC.
Cold.
So what does GeWilli wear in those conditions?
Top down?
Hugely vented Specialized Propero Helmet.
Ibex Wool beanie
Oakley Glasses
Badger Healing Balm on exposed facial skin
Team Issue Hincapie winter jacket
Team Issue Hincapie long sleeve jersey
REI long sleeve poly-pro base layer
Team Issue bib shorts over
Pearl Izumi Thermafleece bib tights (wicked old like 1996-98 old - knees are showing age)
Pearl Izumi thermafleece tights (no pad, just running tights)
Finally the feet.
Louis Garneau 0° Egro grips
Switftwick tall wool compression socks
And on the hands? My Helly Hansen Polar Mittens (no liners - hand got cold taking panda shots).
Got a decent warm up, felt a bit cold, but after about 5 minutes into the headwind I was starting to warm up and just elevated the work until I was holding about 155 on the HRM and pegged it there until the down hill section, and brought it back up until the next one and rode at a recovery HR once I hit the city.
Just started to break a sweat once I got going, feet were fine. Once I stopped pedaling and sat down the lack of activity and the cold sole kind of cooled the feet off a bit but for those 40 minutes or so, not so bad.
Couple of shot for the hell of it. (after the fold)
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
collection of babble from this morning
Part 1 (and yeah I know, I need just as much training of the legs and lungs as I need of the brain)
Train your BRAIN! http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=9981
Alex has mentioned it in the VO2Max not max article he wrote, the brain has more control than is given credit.
it is easier to buy a power tap and pay a trainer to write you a work out schedule do FT tests and pedal harder.
but what about the brain?
Marvin's been great over the years, and I'm looking forward to his writings on his blog:http://marvzauderer.wordpress.com/
I will also be curious to see what new ideas Jim Taylor brings to PEZhttp://drjimtaylor.com/2.0/aboutdrjimtaylor/
A bit about what the kenyans eat and stuff - (they're a bunch of fatasses)
I don't like how Active dot com does their articles (no dates on when they were written and sometimes recycled content from other sources) But this is a good one. (i pulled the active link... and left one to the miami)
Oh here - quick sourcing finds:
http://www.multisportmiami.com/blog1/2010/07/262/ (with a date on it).
The article doesn't seem to be new, the sources are no more recent than 2004.
Here is a more recent primary article about Ethiopian distance runners:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3117768/?tool=pubmed
With very similar findings. High carbohydrates. But these are also 'kids.' Metabolism is not the same as old master racers or the part of the population of athletes trying to hit race weight. Also, it would seem as noted from the Kenya study that they actually are 'fat' by my elite cycling friends.
http://scholar.googleusercontent.com/scholar?q=cache:6KSTb2eXiRAJ:scholar.google.com/&hl=en&as_sdt=0,40
not sure that link will work but there is a PDF of the original floating around but it doesn't like to download well.
Interesting stuff to consider/think about. Even if I'm pretty lukewarm on Active's generation of content...
and finally
Train your BRAIN! http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=9981
Alex has mentioned it in the VO2Max not max article he wrote, the brain has more control than is given credit.
it is easier to buy a power tap and pay a trainer to write you a work out schedule do FT tests and pedal harder.
but what about the brain?
Marvin's been great over the years, and I'm looking forward to his writings on his blog:http://marvzauderer.wordpress.com/
I will also be curious to see what new ideas Jim Taylor brings to PEZhttp://drjimtaylor.com/2.0/aboutdrjimtaylor/
A bit about what the kenyans eat and stuff - (they're a bunch of fatasses)
I don't like how Active dot com does their articles (no dates on when they were written and sometimes recycled content from other sources) But this is a good one. (i pulled the active link... and left one to the miami)
Oh here - quick sourcing finds:
http://www.multisportmiami.com/blog1/2010/07/262/ (with a date on it).
The article doesn't seem to be new, the sources are no more recent than 2004.
Here is a more recent primary article about Ethiopian distance runners:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3117768/?tool=pubmed
With very similar findings. High carbohydrates. But these are also 'kids.' Metabolism is not the same as old master racers or the part of the population of athletes trying to hit race weight. Also, it would seem as noted from the Kenya study that they actually are 'fat' by my elite cycling friends.
http://scholar.googleusercontent.com/scholar?q=cache:6KSTb2eXiRAJ:scholar.google.com/&hl=en&as_sdt=0,40
not sure that link will work but there is a PDF of the original floating around but it doesn't like to download well.
Interesting stuff to consider/think about. Even if I'm pretty lukewarm on Active's generation of content...
and finally
Great Advice:
1. Stop eating diet food
2. Don’t count calories
3. Spend more time with food
4. Eat before you eat
5. Don’t even try battling temptation
6. Go to bed hungry
7. Get off the scale
8. Don’t eat when stressed
9. Be forgiving
10. Your best advice here….please share!
1. Stop eating diet food
2. Don’t count calories
3. Spend more time with food
4. Eat before you eat
5. Don’t even try battling temptation
6. Go to bed hungry
7. Get off the scale
8. Don’t eat when stressed
9. Be forgiving
10. Your best advice here….please share!
Monday, January 02, 2012
New Year Ride
I did manage to get outside for a very very brief ride yesterday between feeding the girls and sunset.
I just jumped on the Blue and hit my course for three laps, two close to race pace, then did a couple laps over on the one Curtis laid out, one of those as full speed.
I was riding at the edge of control and it was fast, and it felt awesome. Lines that i'd had trouble with by design seemed easy yesterday. There was a synergy I felt on the bike, and with the course. Sure it probably has something to do with the fact that I laid it out and have ridden a couple dozen laps over a week or so. I added a new wrinkle yesterday that I liked. Always riding it with the thought, what would I do to make it harder, longer. Where would the stakes and tape go. I like riding like that. The last lap was a slower one, thinking about placement, and the one off camber drop in section seemed ridiculously smooth and fun. Thoughts of the different courses were bouncing in my head. What makes some better than others, more fun, harder. Watching a lot of the euro CX this week was different than normal. No "why can't we have courses like that here." More of a "How could we tweak out courses to be harder and more physically demanding?" I do think Colin has a solid handle on it. Most of the turns on his course are greater than or equal to 90° (or all acute angles if you measure the inside turn angle).
Look at the nationals course map that was published some time ago. All sweeping wide open turns, seems to be like a 22psi file tread course where you just put it in the big ring, disconnect the brakes and go as hard as you can. Compared to what it could be and the land they seem to have (from the overhead shot) I would expect more of a Bend course or something. Even Catamount has some good challenging turns you can't take a full speed. Plenty that you can though.
Weather is nothing anyone can control and is a huge factor. If Belgium had been rain free for the last two or three weeks the courses would have looked very different. Bit it rained. And they chewed the hell out of the course and it made for incredible racing. Well until everyone got sick and Sven showed why he is Wonder Boy.
I set out on the ride yesterday because I was not maybe feeling as chipper as I could be. It was 55°F mid-day but I wasn't riding, and by the time it was time to head out the thermocouple was saying it 49°F and falling. And the sun had disappeared behind the clouds.
Riding fixes everything, right?
No, plenty of stuff it doesn't fix of course.
But the ride kind of made it all worse in way. Everything was perfect on the bike. But the ride can't last forever. It had to end. Much like the cyclocross season. And right now there really isn't anything on the horizon that is taking the place of it. That kind of bums me out...
And yes... the horizon in the images are not level, just tilt your head.
heddwch
G
I was riding at the edge of control and it was fast, and it felt awesome. Lines that i'd had trouble with by design seemed easy yesterday. There was a synergy I felt on the bike, and with the course. Sure it probably has something to do with the fact that I laid it out and have ridden a couple dozen laps over a week or so. I added a new wrinkle yesterday that I liked. Always riding it with the thought, what would I do to make it harder, longer. Where would the stakes and tape go. I like riding like that. The last lap was a slower one, thinking about placement, and the one off camber drop in section seemed ridiculously smooth and fun. Thoughts of the different courses were bouncing in my head. What makes some better than others, more fun, harder. Watching a lot of the euro CX this week was different than normal. No "why can't we have courses like that here." More of a "How could we tweak out courses to be harder and more physically demanding?" I do think Colin has a solid handle on it. Most of the turns on his course are greater than or equal to 90° (or all acute angles if you measure the inside turn angle).
Look at the nationals course map that was published some time ago. All sweeping wide open turns, seems to be like a 22psi file tread course where you just put it in the big ring, disconnect the brakes and go as hard as you can. Compared to what it could be and the land they seem to have (from the overhead shot) I would expect more of a Bend course or something. Even Catamount has some good challenging turns you can't take a full speed. Plenty that you can though.
Weather is nothing anyone can control and is a huge factor. If Belgium had been rain free for the last two or three weeks the courses would have looked very different. Bit it rained. And they chewed the hell out of the course and it made for incredible racing. Well until everyone got sick and Sven showed why he is Wonder Boy.
Riding fixes everything, right?
No, plenty of stuff it doesn't fix of course.
But the ride kind of made it all worse in way. Everything was perfect on the bike. But the ride can't last forever. It had to end. Much like the cyclocross season. And right now there really isn't anything on the horizon that is taking the place of it. That kind of bums me out...
And yes... the horizon in the images are not level, just tilt your head.
heddwch
G
Sunday, January 01, 2012
truth
Remember that we're all the same assholes today we were yesterday. Every day is a new chance to smash this life, not just today -AM
Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
Every year brings new challenges, what is 2012 going to offer up...
we shall see in 2013, as we don't know till we're through and can look back.
Every year brings new challenges, what is 2012 going to offer up...
we shall see in 2013, as we don't know till we're through and can look back.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Final Day of 2011
the last of the year, sands in the hour glass are slipping away on 2011.
quite a year.
Different than 2010, and quite a remarkably better start. Instead of losing the car, I won a couple pair of high zoot wheels. one set of wheels carried me through a summer of TTs and a handful of crits, the other through a season of CX.
The car still was full of pain in the assedness. First trying to pass inspection and now the broken spring and frozen strut tube, and now still sitting on parts. A battle with this thing, a love hate relationship. Resigned to it. At least until things sort themselves out. But then what to replace it with? Not a question I can ponder now. although maybe i should pick up a pile of Power Ball tickets.
I did manage to get a ride in yesterday. Was a ton of fun. Planned on a road ride but then Syl rolled out of his house on his Scott 29r hard tail. So me and the Croll with the 28c marathon tires (at 80spi - pumped em up for the ride) followed his training route and checked out a new off road loop that would work well for CX practice. Except 80psi and road tires don't quite have great traction in pine needles or mud. Still was fun. Definitely slowed him down in the sections on the trail (full fenders+ seat bag+ frame pump+ waterbottle = sub optimal cxing on an already heavy bike). But made him pay on the bike path and a few intervals he tossed in there. Couple 5 or 6 hill repeats on long gentle grades, I felt surprisingly good. Granted Syl's just starting his season, and mine just finished up so there's a bit of a miss-match. But maybe I can work to keep this level and built on it for next year. I won't be starting the year at 207, so maybe I can focus more on power, endurance and what not and less on dropping weight (but still not gaining any back). Or I can just do what I've been doing and fuck around on the bike, putting life first and all those adult responsibilities the higher priority. Kind of have to do that. So we'll see how this all pans out.
It is supposed to start raining here soon. I'm not sure I am ready to ride in the rain just go get on the bike today. Tomorrow looks pretty clear weather wise, might have to get out and pedal a bit. No snow at all this year. Just a bit around Halloween and the trace dusting on Christmas morning.
I am looking forward to 2012. Lets see what new challenges the year brings. But first we need to wrap up 2011.
heddwch
G
quite a year.
Different than 2010, and quite a remarkably better start. Instead of losing the car, I won a couple pair of high zoot wheels. one set of wheels carried me through a summer of TTs and a handful of crits, the other through a season of CX.
The car still was full of pain in the assedness. First trying to pass inspection and now the broken spring and frozen strut tube, and now still sitting on parts. A battle with this thing, a love hate relationship. Resigned to it. At least until things sort themselves out. But then what to replace it with? Not a question I can ponder now. although maybe i should pick up a pile of Power Ball tickets.
I did manage to get a ride in yesterday. Was a ton of fun. Planned on a road ride but then Syl rolled out of his house on his Scott 29r hard tail. So me and the Croll with the 28c marathon tires (at 80spi - pumped em up for the ride) followed his training route and checked out a new off road loop that would work well for CX practice. Except 80psi and road tires don't quite have great traction in pine needles or mud. Still was fun. Definitely slowed him down in the sections on the trail (full fenders+ seat bag+ frame pump+ waterbottle = sub optimal cxing on an already heavy bike). But made him pay on the bike path and a few intervals he tossed in there. Couple 5 or 6 hill repeats on long gentle grades, I felt surprisingly good. Granted Syl's just starting his season, and mine just finished up so there's a bit of a miss-match. But maybe I can work to keep this level and built on it for next year. I won't be starting the year at 207, so maybe I can focus more on power, endurance and what not and less on dropping weight (but still not gaining any back). Or I can just do what I've been doing and fuck around on the bike, putting life first and all those adult responsibilities the higher priority. Kind of have to do that. So we'll see how this all pans out.
It is supposed to start raining here soon. I'm not sure I am ready to ride in the rain just go get on the bike today. Tomorrow looks pretty clear weather wise, might have to get out and pedal a bit. No snow at all this year. Just a bit around Halloween and the trace dusting on Christmas morning.
I am looking forward to 2012. Lets see what new challenges the year brings. But first we need to wrap up 2011.
heddwch
G
Friday, December 30, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
The Millennium Falcon is still sidelined
So after a few days of it being apart, I made a big circuit and picked up the used springs, strut compressors, a 17mm deep impact socket and a Makita 1/4" impact driver with a 1/2" adapter.
Trip wound up an extra 20+ miles or so when I found out that the driver wasn't where I was driving to, but that sorted itself out and i managed to do a much needed grocery run while out.
So I had ready to go everything I was hoping i would need. Simple right? Just unbolt (driver worked perfectly - eventually - corrosion sucks) and put it all back together.
Problem is, there are a few bits that need to be re-used. Specifically a 3-4cm long sleeve that acts as a spacer between the top cap and the bottom point. Of the four possible ones to 're-use' (as per new gas tubes) three were completely and totally obliterated. Gone. Mushroomed into nothingness of rust. Awesome.
And of course no one has them in stock, on hand, of course. And of course this being the first run through with this particular job on the car I didn't know to be prepared to re-use them, honestly didn't even think there would be bits that I couldn't re-use. Esp up in the top of the strut tower where most everything looked to be in decent shape (compared to the bottom). Add to the equation that the parts had been replaced at least once before (the tubes at least) and maybe thinking the top bits would have been replaced at the same time.
I guess not.
So it sits. Waiting on a delivery. Options were paying extra 4x the cost for stuff tomorrow, or taking a chance that ground shipping would get the part here tomorrow, or the latest Monday. 2 day shipping would be the same, no faster. Next day - yeah not going that route. Other than going with the 4x more expensive part the third option would be to pick them up on the 5th.
Started off so simply. Didn't need to cut anything to get the stuff out. But the car now sits. A bit longer, looking like a dune buggy with the rear end jacked up that high. On jack stands.
Waiting.
MFA trip yesterday was pretty cool. So had hoped to button this back up today.
today started off so well, mood was good, optimistic. BOOM crashing to the floor, haha, NO RESOLUTION FOR YOU!
Humph.
Gotta ride maybe. Mt Bike still isn't ready to go do anything, today - poof, no riding today. No riding since the 26th if you can call riding around doing laps waiting for no one to show riding. I did get a hard lap in with Syl and a couple hard laps in with Burke so it wasn't a total waste of a day. But that's been it.
Trying to stay positive, but all this shit is just making it tough. Oh and the keyboard on the laptop here got hosed with some apple cider. I probably made it worse trying to clean it with windex instead of just going with water or IPA. So now it is full size keyboard and mouse. Decreases the portability/mobility of the laptop in a big way. At least there are cheap new keyboards for the laptop on fleabay. One more attempt at cleaning it with some ETOH and compressed air before that though.
New Years is coming up, locked into an event i'm not excited about in the afternoon. But the other option is out of the question now that therace wagon Millennium Falcon is still out of commission.
Might just have to say f'it and go for a long solo ride tomorrow on the road to exercise the demons in my head.
It has been great watching kick ass racing from Belgium every other day. Can't wait for tomorrow's race. Definitely wish we were still racing locally. Weather's freaking PERFECT down here.
But we're not.
And just those lucky few heading to Nationals and then to Lou'vull are keeping the edge sharp. Some how, maybe by going to Chicago this weekend.
Initially I kind of had in mind to do a bandit CX race today or Saturday, but that pretty much went out the window on Monday.
positive - gotta stay positive
heddwch
g
Trip wound up an extra 20+ miles or so when I found out that the driver wasn't where I was driving to, but that sorted itself out and i managed to do a much needed grocery run while out.
So I had ready to go everything I was hoping i would need. Simple right? Just unbolt (driver worked perfectly - eventually - corrosion sucks) and put it all back together.
Problem is, there are a few bits that need to be re-used. Specifically a 3-4cm long sleeve that acts as a spacer between the top cap and the bottom point. Of the four possible ones to 're-use' (as per new gas tubes) three were completely and totally obliterated. Gone. Mushroomed into nothingness of rust. Awesome.
And of course no one has them in stock, on hand, of course. And of course this being the first run through with this particular job on the car I didn't know to be prepared to re-use them, honestly didn't even think there would be bits that I couldn't re-use. Esp up in the top of the strut tower where most everything looked to be in decent shape (compared to the bottom). Add to the equation that the parts had been replaced at least once before (the tubes at least) and maybe thinking the top bits would have been replaced at the same time.
I guess not.
So it sits. Waiting on a delivery. Options were paying extra 4x the cost for stuff tomorrow, or taking a chance that ground shipping would get the part here tomorrow, or the latest Monday. 2 day shipping would be the same, no faster. Next day - yeah not going that route. Other than going with the 4x more expensive part the third option would be to pick them up on the 5th.
Started off so simply. Didn't need to cut anything to get the stuff out. But the car now sits. A bit longer, looking like a dune buggy with the rear end jacked up that high. On jack stands.
Waiting.
MFA trip yesterday was pretty cool. So had hoped to button this back up today.
today started off so well, mood was good, optimistic. BOOM crashing to the floor, haha, NO RESOLUTION FOR YOU!
Humph.
Gotta ride maybe. Mt Bike still isn't ready to go do anything, today - poof, no riding today. No riding since the 26th if you can call riding around doing laps waiting for no one to show riding. I did get a hard lap in with Syl and a couple hard laps in with Burke so it wasn't a total waste of a day. But that's been it.
Trying to stay positive, but all this shit is just making it tough. Oh and the keyboard on the laptop here got hosed with some apple cider. I probably made it worse trying to clean it with windex instead of just going with water or IPA. So now it is full size keyboard and mouse. Decreases the portability/mobility of the laptop in a big way. At least there are cheap new keyboards for the laptop on fleabay. One more attempt at cleaning it with some ETOH and compressed air before that though.
New Years is coming up, locked into an event i'm not excited about in the afternoon. But the other option is out of the question now that the
Might just have to say f'it and go for a long solo ride tomorrow on the road to exercise the demons in my head.
It has been great watching kick ass racing from Belgium every other day. Can't wait for tomorrow's race. Definitely wish we were still racing locally. Weather's freaking PERFECT down here.
But we're not.
And just those lucky few heading to Nationals and then to Lou'vull are keeping the edge sharp. Some how, maybe by going to Chicago this weekend.
Initially I kind of had in mind to do a bandit CX race today or Saturday, but that pretty much went out the window on Monday.
positive - gotta stay positive
heddwch
g
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Monday, December 26, 2011
not surprised
the shift key has apple juice under it. i'm not bothering trying to capitalize the web log today.
e e cummings style bitches
today there was a bandit cross race. someone (me) fell off the wagon and landed in a mug full of equal parts coffee and powers whisky after a few celebration ales from sierra nevada, and as a result, someone was up wicked late last night, didn't sleep much and woke up with a solid hangover. worth it i suppose. got up. said fuck it and got dressed and headed out to do some laps and see if the wind did anything to the course yesterday.
got an hour of riding in. there's a lot of turning on the course. a full mile long with the basic layout and honestly some tricky bits. little elevation to speak of but lots of sand and shitty traction in most of the turns.
actually a pretty fucking fun little circuit. i wish i'd worked this hard to lay something out earlier in the season.
it would so totally work well to run a full usac race on. parking is good, land use is light esp this time of year, no neighbors to bitch and moan, idyllic setting, natural dismount features and lots of space to really work up a slick course with tape and stakes.
we'll see if it happens.
got some turning in, drank some coffee, watched Zolder (in kit from the morning - chamois time is training time right?) zolder was fucking insane. sven eating it on the pavement there at the end kind of sucked for him, usa dudes weren't really anywhere close to the top, but big boom was there and did well until he must be racing on my plan - blow up and drift way back.
after zolder i took a nap. got up ate a pumpkin brioche -was supposed to bring them to dinner yesterday, oops- made some more coffee, stuck my thermos mug, a water bottle and phone and stopwatch in my jacket pockets and headed out. rode around from 12:15 until Syl showed up at 20 of maybe. he had to be home at 1 so i took him around the course. his big fat 29er tires hooked up much nicer in the loose sand than the cx wheels but the course has plenty of power flat straight stuff where the cx bike is an advantage. we did the course a few times, then burke showed up a few minutes late, syl left and burke and i did a handful of laps some faster than others, went and rode the other course across the bike path and i headed back home.
that was it. carl who said he would absolutely be there bailed. solobreak's threat to invade the house afterwards -it was ready for the old fart invasion- was an empty one...
i knew few if anyone would show up. but to be honest i was surprised kind of how disappointing it was to not have more than chris and syl show up. more so because it just brings up the old feelings i've tried to bury. having a party and no one showing up... yeah everyone is busy, hanging with their kids, at their parents house, recovering from the day before or what not. it is what it is, i didn't really expect anyone to show up. it is in rhode island for fucks sake, no one leaves the greater boston area to come down here for a bandit race. that's silly.
the course is awesome, i'm sure rooter or myerspace would tear it up w/o any challenge, but i've been doing this cx thing for a while... and i had fun with my course, it challenged me in areas i need work on -turning- but also played into my strengths of sprint, turn sprint turn sprint turn sprint turn with a couple good high speed pavement sections.
so i may not bother trying to do this again, can't take the let down, fuck it, i'm too fragile and emotional, for this shit. but i'll be out there turning laps when i can... maybe not this year... definitely next year. maybe i'll even try and put together support and permitting to make it happen this time -on a saturday or sunday- next year. at least then if there's a bikereg thing i'll know in advance if people aren't going to be there. it is like my brithday parties that no one ever came to. probably best that i didn't actually get to plan my own birthday party... that wedding saved me from the let down and realization that all my good friends live too far away to show up for something like that
getting kind of grumpy about not going to nationals. sure i have no shot or prayer at being anywhere of any significance in any race there, but, it is nationals... worlds too.
i also realized that usac is getting money from a bunch of cx racers who would normally wait a few more months to renew their license..... moving nats to jan gets them more cash sooner.
working desperately hard to stay positive with moderate success. laying out the course, practicing the turns, tweaking it, was a hell of a lot of fun. i can selfishly revel in my creation and keep it all to myself and i will
besides if people actually show up to a bandit race... well i'd get my ass kicked. as long as no one shows up i'm king of my course, no one can beat me.
heddwch
g
e e cummings style bitches
today there was a bandit cross race. someone (me) fell off the wagon and landed in a mug full of equal parts coffee and powers whisky after a few celebration ales from sierra nevada, and as a result, someone was up wicked late last night, didn't sleep much and woke up with a solid hangover. worth it i suppose. got up. said fuck it and got dressed and headed out to do some laps and see if the wind did anything to the course yesterday.
got an hour of riding in. there's a lot of turning on the course. a full mile long with the basic layout and honestly some tricky bits. little elevation to speak of but lots of sand and shitty traction in most of the turns.
actually a pretty fucking fun little circuit. i wish i'd worked this hard to lay something out earlier in the season.
it would so totally work well to run a full usac race on. parking is good, land use is light esp this time of year, no neighbors to bitch and moan, idyllic setting, natural dismount features and lots of space to really work up a slick course with tape and stakes.
we'll see if it happens.
got some turning in, drank some coffee, watched Zolder (in kit from the morning - chamois time is training time right?) zolder was fucking insane. sven eating it on the pavement there at the end kind of sucked for him, usa dudes weren't really anywhere close to the top, but big boom was there and did well until he must be racing on my plan - blow up and drift way back.
after zolder i took a nap. got up ate a pumpkin brioche -was supposed to bring them to dinner yesterday, oops- made some more coffee, stuck my thermos mug, a water bottle and phone and stopwatch in my jacket pockets and headed out. rode around from 12:15 until Syl showed up at 20 of maybe. he had to be home at 1 so i took him around the course. his big fat 29er tires hooked up much nicer in the loose sand than the cx wheels but the course has plenty of power flat straight stuff where the cx bike is an advantage. we did the course a few times, then burke showed up a few minutes late, syl left and burke and i did a handful of laps some faster than others, went and rode the other course across the bike path and i headed back home.
that was it. carl who said he would absolutely be there bailed. solobreak's threat to invade the house afterwards -it was ready for the old fart invasion- was an empty one...
i knew few if anyone would show up. but to be honest i was surprised kind of how disappointing it was to not have more than chris and syl show up. more so because it just brings up the old feelings i've tried to bury. having a party and no one showing up... yeah everyone is busy, hanging with their kids, at their parents house, recovering from the day before or what not. it is what it is, i didn't really expect anyone to show up. it is in rhode island for fucks sake, no one leaves the greater boston area to come down here for a bandit race. that's silly.
the course is awesome, i'm sure rooter or myerspace would tear it up w/o any challenge, but i've been doing this cx thing for a while... and i had fun with my course, it challenged me in areas i need work on -turning- but also played into my strengths of sprint, turn sprint turn sprint turn sprint turn with a couple good high speed pavement sections.
so i may not bother trying to do this again, can't take the let down, fuck it, i'm too fragile and emotional, for this shit. but i'll be out there turning laps when i can... maybe not this year... definitely next year. maybe i'll even try and put together support and permitting to make it happen this time -on a saturday or sunday- next year. at least then if there's a bikereg thing i'll know in advance if people aren't going to be there. it is like my brithday parties that no one ever came to. probably best that i didn't actually get to plan my own birthday party... that wedding saved me from the let down and realization that all my good friends live too far away to show up for something like that
getting kind of grumpy about not going to nationals. sure i have no shot or prayer at being anywhere of any significance in any race there, but, it is nationals... worlds too.
i also realized that usac is getting money from a bunch of cx racers who would normally wait a few more months to renew their license..... moving nats to jan gets them more cash sooner.
working desperately hard to stay positive with moderate success. laying out the course, practicing the turns, tweaking it, was a hell of a lot of fun. i can selfishly revel in my creation and keep it all to myself and i will
besides if people actually show up to a bandit race... well i'd get my ass kicked. as long as no one shows up i'm king of my course, no one can beat me.
heddwch
g
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Merry Christmas Everyone
I wish everyone the best. It is cold and sunny here today on the eve of Christmas... Good day for reading, playing with legos, snuggling with the dog and being a lazy bum drinking coffee and farting around on the internet (current activities of the house at the moment).
Nadolig Llawen
G
Nadolig Llawen
G
Friday, December 23, 2011
'bandit' CX racing?
well why not... the one person who was "NO QUESTION I WILL BE THERE" is now sort of waffling, but i'll be there. 1pm. Haines Memorial Park in Barrington, over by the boat launch (look at the sat image in maps and it will be pretty clear where we're talking about). A couple options depending on who shows up as far as courses and what not.
Dec 26th. 1pm. Haines Park boat launch.
might just be me, but ya know what? i'm cool with that
No prizes, no medals, no categories, no fame, no press, just bikes... (I will say i kind of like the course I've laid out)
also only a few cones some raked up clean lines - planning a few laps at warm up pace to get a feel for the course... then we'll see what happens
Dec 26th. 1pm. Haines Park boat launch.
might just be me, but ya know what? i'm cool with that
No prizes, no medals, no categories, no fame, no press, just bikes... (I will say i kind of like the course I've laid out)
also only a few cones some raked up clean lines - planning a few laps at warm up pace to get a feel for the course... then we'll see what happens
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
this is cyclocross
just watch it in full screen...
This makes me want to order a set of FMB super muds... makes me want to train... makes me already look forward to next season, despite what is almost a full season left for the Pros.
great video from a consistently great source...
This makes me want to order a set of FMB super muds... makes me want to train... makes me already look forward to next season, despite what is almost a full season left for the Pros.
great video from a consistently great source...
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Thank You
I have been distinctly filled with gratitude this week. For all my friends and family. Cyclocross Family and the normal kind too. For new friends and for the old friends who some how still keep putting up with me.
I can't really express my thanks enough other than just to say
Thank You.
all of you.
if you said hi, yelled/cheered my name while I was race, read this thing, thank you.
My life and journey on this planet, this short brief glimpse of time in the grand cosmic scheme of things has been made better by everyone around me. An all inclusive thank you.
heddwch
-GeWilli
I can't really express my thanks enough other than just to say
Thank You.
all of you.
if you said hi, yelled/cheered my name while I was race, read this thing, thank you.
My life and journey on this planet, this short brief glimpse of time in the grand cosmic scheme of things has been made better by everyone around me. An all inclusive thank you.
heddwch
-GeWilli
So much
To say, to write, to get down. After a couple weeks of not the best sleep, stress and other stuff things feel different. They aren't much different though. Car is now broken again and the parts are pretty hard to find (rear spring for a wagon in a 2 year USA model run). But it will work out. No races to go to for now.
Couple things since I don't have time to write a proper introspective pile of words that no one really cares to read....
After this weekend you've got a Wonder Boy and Nasty Man taking turns standing on the top step of the podium on two of the most epic true Cyclocross (why we love this f'n sport) Races.
That video just seems freaking so appropriate now, both had been written off as washed up BOOM (yeah he showed up and got crushed - but BOOM for those two).
First Check this link.
Then this one.
I'm dying laughing at the second one with the first one setting the stage. So funny...
Oh and in between WATCH OUT FOR THAT... doh! (smart horse)
One more...
After a bit of twittering last night Chip said something about his wife coming into the garage like she was driving the Millennium Falcon. No way his wife would drive something that ratty looking.
The quote from Star Wars (i ain't calling it by that new fancy rename, it will always be Star Wars to me) "She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid." (Han Solo to Luke).
That rusty race wagon with the busted rear spring... yeah Chewbacca here (me) fixes it and keeps it running. And yeah, it will make your ears hurt when it pulls into a race, and lay down a bitching smoke screen in the winter for a geataway (stops smoking after it starts driving, don't worry - Chewy is working on the fix for that). But man it still has a decent top end for an old girl. Motor purrs along.
The Rattling Rusty Race Wagon is now here by Dubbed: The Millennium Falcon.
And yes. I did see Star Wars, IN THE THEATRE, the first time around. At the Tacoma Mall. I still remember it.
Couple things since I don't have time to write a proper introspective pile of words that no one really cares to read....
After this weekend you've got a Wonder Boy and Nasty Man taking turns standing on the top step of the podium on two of the most epic true Cyclocross (why we love this f'n sport) Races.
That video just seems freaking so appropriate now, both had been written off as washed up BOOM (yeah he showed up and got crushed - but BOOM for those two).
First Check this link.
Then this one.
I'm dying laughing at the second one with the first one setting the stage. So funny...
Oh and in between WATCH OUT FOR THAT... doh! (smart horse)
One more...
After a bit of twittering last night Chip said something about his wife coming into the garage like she was driving the Millennium Falcon. No way his wife would drive something that ratty looking.
The quote from Star Wars (i ain't calling it by that new fancy rename, it will always be Star Wars to me) "She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid." (Han Solo to Luke).
That rusty race wagon with the busted rear spring... yeah Chewbacca here (me) fixes it and keeps it running. And yeah, it will make your ears hurt when it pulls into a race, and lay down a bitching smoke screen in the winter for a geataway (stops smoking after it starts driving, don't worry - Chewy is working on the fix for that). But man it still has a decent top end for an old girl. Motor purrs along.
The Rattling Rusty Race Wagon is now here by Dubbed: The Millennium Falcon.
And yes. I did see Star Wars, IN THE THEATRE, the first time around. At the Tacoma Mall. I still remember it.
Monday, December 19, 2011
post race portrait
And that's how it look like it feels after a race like that (or so I would imagine)
Friday, December 16, 2011
challenging combo
Today with the 20 mph sustained winds gusting to close to 40 mph right exactly dead on as a head wind, coupled with the trailer made for a ride that wasn't exactly what I normally plan for a day before the race. 10 mph, 159 HR, on flat level ground (not the whole thing but there were a good handful of miles like that). Got a few recovery sections with the downhill sheltered from the wind but that was about it.
Stopped to grab a few shots of the blue blue blue water... and tired a self timer shot. First attempt the camera blew off the fence post. Second and third I stuck it down on the grass looking up against the fence post. Crappy results. Ah well.
Pretty amazing day out there. Really.
Beethoven's Birthday is today. So I'm making an attempt to listen to his works. But my pretty solid Beethoven CD collection is still on CDs, and at home. Pandora is sort of working, Spotify helped with the Emperor, King.org wasn't as much help as I had hoped. They are playing Kodaly's Symphony in C right now. not quite Beethoven.
A change from the regular audio emanations in the office.
Sleep still has been elusive lately. Probably not the greatest sign for Saturday, but hey, maybe tonight will be different.
here are the shots from this morning...
Stopped to grab a few shots of the blue blue blue water... and tired a self timer shot. First attempt the camera blew off the fence post. Second and third I stuck it down on the grass looking up against the fence post. Crappy results. Ah well.
Pretty amazing day out there. Really.
Beethoven's Birthday is today. So I'm making an attempt to listen to his works. But my pretty solid Beethoven CD collection is still on CDs, and at home. Pandora is sort of working, Spotify helped with the Emperor, King.org wasn't as much help as I had hoped. They are playing Kodaly's Symphony in C right now. not quite Beethoven.
A change from the regular audio emanations in the office.
Sleep still has been elusive lately. Probably not the greatest sign for Saturday, but hey, maybe tonight will be different.
here are the shots from this morning...
Thursday, December 15, 2011
one more
One more official race on the calendar for me. Not a hugely packed race, only 14 of the baby masters, but a decent representation from front to back, reg doesn't close till tonight at 5pm, and there will probably be a few more that sign up. Weather looks to be actually cross like too, cool. A bit of rain today to make sure it isn't dry and dusty. I didn't race there last year (was in Seattle for the Concerts). I'm not headed out west this year, and even though I missed last weekend (Ice Weasels and DAS Beer Cross) I can't wrap it up yet.
Just have to race again.
Not sure how much I like the segregation of the races, going to miss hanging out with folks that only race the races on Sunday, but I can't make Sunday so that's not much of a factor.
The commute the last couple days have been focused hard commutes. And actually enjoyable. We'll see if the trailer lasts through the winter though. Already have blown out one zipper in the back.
But the whole missing the Seattle concerts seemed like a good idea, stay home, be with the family, the girls just finished a crazy week of Nutcracker, wife's working on Sunday, being gone from Thursday until Tuesday with Christmas as close on the heals of the weekend just didn't seem like the right thing to do for this side, and the last trip out there was for the wedding and that was a bit of stress which is probably still residually (sic) hanging on. But now, now that the choice is made, I'm having some regrets about not going, these concerts me a lot to many many people, (many thousands actually). But then I haven't pulled out the violin in a while to practice. But then that's where the whole talent comes in. Natural ability and muscle memory don't usually fail me. I can't play like my sister the Pro plays but like with everything else, I don't suck... and people appreciate musicians who don't suck.
Look for an announcement for a few bandit CX "races." Officially not races, mostly because i don't think i'll have an official permit for the use of the park, and there'll be a few cones and course that Paul Curley would win because there won't be stakes or tape and he's just skip the beach run, the stairs and probably turn a tree or too sooner. BUT. Honestly it should be pretty f'n fun. Might not be a 7 min lap for the 'pros' but it will be more than 2 minutes and incorporate everything. Sand, barriers, turns, pavement.
First edition is looking to be the 26th. Probably around mid-day (can't miss the live Euro CX race that morning).
If it goes well there will be more, Sundays likely. Until we get kicked out (and then I'll find another spot). And now that I've added the beach and the stairs there is a touch of elevation and... actually potential for a totally baller real race.
Okay - got some introspective shit coming up about art and impact and other stuff that came out of a meeting yesterday... want to write about it but, well we'll see what happens.
heddwch
G
Just have to race again.
Not sure how much I like the segregation of the races, going to miss hanging out with folks that only race the races on Sunday, but I can't make Sunday so that's not much of a factor.
The commute the last couple days have been focused hard commutes. And actually enjoyable. We'll see if the trailer lasts through the winter though. Already have blown out one zipper in the back.
But the whole missing the Seattle concerts seemed like a good idea, stay home, be with the family, the girls just finished a crazy week of Nutcracker, wife's working on Sunday, being gone from Thursday until Tuesday with Christmas as close on the heals of the weekend just didn't seem like the right thing to do for this side, and the last trip out there was for the wedding and that was a bit of stress which is probably still residually (sic) hanging on. But now, now that the choice is made, I'm having some regrets about not going, these concerts me a lot to many many people, (many thousands actually). But then I haven't pulled out the violin in a while to practice. But then that's where the whole talent comes in. Natural ability and muscle memory don't usually fail me. I can't play like my sister the Pro plays but like with everything else, I don't suck... and people appreciate musicians who don't suck.
Look for an announcement for a few bandit CX "races." Officially not races, mostly because i don't think i'll have an official permit for the use of the park, and there'll be a few cones and course that Paul Curley would win because there won't be stakes or tape and he's just skip the beach run, the stairs and probably turn a tree or too sooner. BUT. Honestly it should be pretty f'n fun. Might not be a 7 min lap for the 'pros' but it will be more than 2 minutes and incorporate everything. Sand, barriers, turns, pavement.
First edition is looking to be the 26th. Probably around mid-day (can't miss the live Euro CX race that morning).
If it goes well there will be more, Sundays likely. Until we get kicked out (and then I'll find another spot). And now that I've added the beach and the stairs there is a touch of elevation and... actually potential for a totally baller real race.
Okay - got some introspective shit coming up about art and impact and other stuff that came out of a meeting yesterday... want to write about it but, well we'll see what happens.
heddwch
G
Monday, December 12, 2011
Tonight
Same spot as the last one.
No racing this weekend, lots of time to think.
There's good and bad to go along with that, esp for an over-thinker.
Thursday, December 08, 2011
Great ride home...
That park bench I propped it on seems to be a bit closer to level than the railing angle I tried last time.
Pretty spectacular sky. Would have been amazing to grab a shot with the lighthouse in the foreground but, nope, besides, we've all seen that a few times before (here).
Ride home was good, wicked hard a few places. Motor pacing with the trailer isn't easy. But that's the point. I've got at least till April to make it easy. Discipline. Trailer = weight training. Focus.
Focus.
Maximize every second on the bike. Make each pedal stroke count, make it mean something. But never.
EVER
ever forgetting that riding is pretty damn awesome.
Signboard meme today:
You can't buy happiness.
But you can buy a bicycle.
And that is pretty close.
yes it is, it is pretty close...
heddwch
G
Stem angle
remember me and cranking about the stem angle?
yeah...
guess what? I looked at some pictures from Ice Weasels last year. Stem was up.
And then I remembered.
I f'n flipped the damn stem before that first TT I did on the CX bike this summer.
And...
I
NEVER
FLIPPED
IT
BACK
such
an
idiot
*facepalm*
yeah...
guess what? I looked at some pictures from Ice Weasels last year. Stem was up.
And then I remembered.
I f'n flipped the damn stem before that first TT I did on the CX bike this summer.
And...
I
NEVER
FLIPPED
IT
BACK
such
an
idiot
*facepalm*
goosebumps
No matter how many times I see this trailer, it gets me pumped. I've borrowed the DVD from friends but one of these days I may just have to get a copy of my own so I can watch the whole thing.
I'm a throwback, and I recognize why we don't do 45min or 60min plus one lap, but that's what we used to do, and i liked that. of course freak courses like that year at Catamount with a 12 minute lap for the fast guys, that's not cross. That's a circuit race.
There's magic in those words though (back to the trailer).
This morning wasn't wet but it was 15 degrees colder and I had a headwind that was pretty steady at 20 with guests up to 40 that were doing a good job of trying to stop me. Even with the rain cover on the trailer, that headwind was tough.
No rest day today. Maybe it will be easy on the way home. But no more racing so I just need to go back to the spring training program. Ride all week, balls out or slowly, and take the weekend off.
The LG 0° Egro Grip shoes were awesome. Toes were toasty warm. Heck even with what ever the wind chill was, it was a totally comfortable ride in. Pretty big difference what cold puddles of water do to the ride. No chance for the water trapped in the leg warmers and in the shoes to warm up. Wool works but not if you keep dunking it in cold water, repeatedly. Ala riding in the cold rain.
But like I said last night, one can endure most conditions for coincidentally the length of a cross race. Stretch it into a road ride over a couple hours, and then that gets a bit insane.
People still shake their heads at me with the [empty] trailer but I'm pretty much okay with begin thought of as the crazy one, not trapped in a steel box, whatever it takes to get a bit of space on the road.
Life is pretty crazy.
What it throws at us is strange... esp for the emotional over-thinkers.
heddwch
G
Wednesday, December 07, 2011
That was a cold one
Still cold. I deal with the cold pretty well but I guess I really screwed it up today.
The ride to work was great. 56 degrees and fog. No rain, not too cold. Wore my long sleeve jersey, a sleeveless baselayer, bib shorts and knee warmers. Regular shoes.
The ride home?
Well, pretty much no matter what I wore it was going to suck.
45 degrees and pouring rain. With lots of standing water.
The bike path is great. Not too much standing water, no spray, wet? for sure. But the ride home in the road, well the roads here ain't in the best shape to put it in polite terms. And there's a solid puddle of water in varying depths from the office to home. Kind of a 7.5 mile swamp ride. Sure there was a mile or two on the path before the detour and I was okay up to that point. But then, even with the Planet bike full coverage fenders, and they do cover quite a bit of the way down, I was soaked.
Cold rain too. Energy was low and I just didn't have it in me to go so hard that I could keep my toes warm. My core was plenty warm. I'll never understand vests. My chest wasn't cold. My arms, and my feet. Yeah those were cold.
I don't think full length leg warmers or tights would have made much difference. When it is cold and raining, clothing that is getting splashed with cold water constantly doesn't make much of a difference. Full waterproof gear might have been better, but, well it doesn't matter really. I will warm up, anyone can tolerate 20-30 minutes of cold and discomfort, and now I'm working on making up some dinner. Trying a bit of a beans and rice combo. Not quite black bean soup and not quite burritos.
Smells really good...
I haven't written the NBX race reports up yet. But it was awesome racing, both days, the whole race, chasing people, dropping people, catching people, not getting caught, catching a group and riding through them, racing. Actually f'n racing not doing a little TT off the back of the race.
This season was very rewarding. It is over. For me. I have to face that. Resources and time just aren't there to do the stuff in January (Nats and Worlds). These next two weekends have much higher priorities than bike racing. But I am supremely grateful to have had the distraction, the focus and the fun that racing with the fast dudes here in New England was in 2011. Looking forward to what 2012 brings, and the changes I can make to try and get just a little faster, that or at least not get slower.
heddwch
G
The ride to work was great. 56 degrees and fog. No rain, not too cold. Wore my long sleeve jersey, a sleeveless baselayer, bib shorts and knee warmers. Regular shoes.
The ride home?
Well, pretty much no matter what I wore it was going to suck.
45 degrees and pouring rain. With lots of standing water.
The bike path is great. Not too much standing water, no spray, wet? for sure. But the ride home in the road, well the roads here ain't in the best shape to put it in polite terms. And there's a solid puddle of water in varying depths from the office to home. Kind of a 7.5 mile swamp ride. Sure there was a mile or two on the path before the detour and I was okay up to that point. But then, even with the Planet bike full coverage fenders, and they do cover quite a bit of the way down, I was soaked.
Cold rain too. Energy was low and I just didn't have it in me to go so hard that I could keep my toes warm. My core was plenty warm. I'll never understand vests. My chest wasn't cold. My arms, and my feet. Yeah those were cold.
I don't think full length leg warmers or tights would have made much difference. When it is cold and raining, clothing that is getting splashed with cold water constantly doesn't make much of a difference. Full waterproof gear might have been better, but, well it doesn't matter really. I will warm up, anyone can tolerate 20-30 minutes of cold and discomfort, and now I'm working on making up some dinner. Trying a bit of a beans and rice combo. Not quite black bean soup and not quite burritos.
Smells really good...
I haven't written the NBX race reports up yet. But it was awesome racing, both days, the whole race, chasing people, dropping people, catching people, not getting caught, catching a group and riding through them, racing. Actually f'n racing not doing a little TT off the back of the race.
This season was very rewarding. It is over. For me. I have to face that. Resources and time just aren't there to do the stuff in January (Nats and Worlds). These next two weekends have much higher priorities than bike racing. But I am supremely grateful to have had the distraction, the focus and the fun that racing with the fast dudes here in New England was in 2011. Looking forward to what 2012 brings, and the changes I can make to try and get just a little faster, that or at least not get slower.
heddwch
G
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
No rain on the way in...
And wow that rain cover on the trailer cuts down drag very significantly.
There was a dump truck making the run from one end of the bike path to the other (moving soil from the north side to the south maybe?) and we wound up hitting about 30 mph at the same time after the Hospital coming down the Parkway.
A little Scooby Impreza was keen and intent on sitting 3 feet off the dump truck for some reason. And well heck I found that off the side of it at 35 mph was a good draft. Not behind it, nope, just after it off to the side. A surprisingly good draft. And well down the hill, I had to hit the brakes a few times because I was coasting faster than the dump truck down the hill in a few sections. And then we hit the flat section and he didn't speed up, but held that 35mph. So, well shit I had no choice. Trailer and all, motoring along in the slipstream of the dump truck.
Then the road tipped up.
And things got a bit more challenging. But I held his wheel until he slowed and pulled off the Parkway (to the left) and I sustained around 25 mph up the hill along the golf course. Hitting the level section I was blown and settled into a recovery. But wow that was fun.
Couple shots from the path before the road section. Essentially the only stretch of bike path left that i use. It is still very pretty along it but so short. (click more for the pictures)
There was a dump truck making the run from one end of the bike path to the other (moving soil from the north side to the south maybe?) and we wound up hitting about 30 mph at the same time after the Hospital coming down the Parkway.
A little Scooby Impreza was keen and intent on sitting 3 feet off the dump truck for some reason. And well heck I found that off the side of it at 35 mph was a good draft. Not behind it, nope, just after it off to the side. A surprisingly good draft. And well down the hill, I had to hit the brakes a few times because I was coasting faster than the dump truck down the hill in a few sections. And then we hit the flat section and he didn't speed up, but held that 35mph. So, well shit I had no choice. Trailer and all, motoring along in the slipstream of the dump truck.
Then the road tipped up.
And things got a bit more challenging. But I held his wheel until he slowed and pulled off the Parkway (to the left) and I sustained around 25 mph up the hill along the golf course. Hitting the level section I was blown and settled into a recovery. But wow that was fun.
Couple shots from the path before the road section. Essentially the only stretch of bike path left that i use. It is still very pretty along it but so short. (click more for the pictures)
Race coverage not to miss
For so many reasons it is best not to miss this, take a quick peak drinking that 3rd or 4th cup of coffee. Gotta have sound. Can't miss a gem of New England racing narrating the thing. And check out his interview with Maureeeeen Dude. Check it out. seriously funny stuff.
Watch more video of NBX GP Of Cyclocross 2011 on cyclingdirt.org
Watch more video of NBX GP Of Cyclocross 2011 on cyclingdirt.org
Monday, December 05, 2011
that's a wrap
The season that is for me. There is a small outside chance for racing once on the other side of next weekend's Insanity. But it is so slight that I'm mentally prepared for it to be over.
This one was certainly an up and down season. But finishing solidly up. I certainly learned a lot more about trying to get faster this year. The power is coming along nicely. The jump after jump after jump is there for a whole race. I still suck massively at turning relative to the guys finishing in front of me (and to the frustration of those w/o enough watts to come around me after the turns).
Plymouth weekend was pretty awesome. If I had just gotten a 3hr long hard ride in on my 'off' weekend (Velocross and Lowell weekend) and gotten some intervals done on that Wednesday I probably wouldn't have had such an off day at Day 1 Sterling.
It is what it is. There were a few compromises this year, but on the whole it was one amazing season. Getting to know some new faces, racing with the team, it was all pretty amazing. Surreal that it is more or less over though.
Ice Weasels sounds pretty amazing. Flyover, Shimano Tech Support, all the people, the Zanc SS series Final race, not to mention the beer. If you missed the beer this weekend, show up at Ice Weasels with a designated driver and prepare to have some fun. If fun = drinking beer.
Fitchburg should be good. I missed it last year, and probably will again this year. And that's about it I think. Nationals in January, and Master's worlds that week later. I gave it a shot trying to put a series on in January last year, maybe someone else wants to try setting something up between fitchburg and nationals. RI is a great place, but I might be too tapped out to contribute anything.
It is time to switch to full time commuter mode. Put some wire spoked alloy rims with slick tires on the Blue and maybe get out for a long road ride or two. One thing I'm going to try is flipping that stem around to get a bit more rise out of it. I've got some thoughts that it could help with the handling and turning thing, of course just working on it and figuring it out will help too. But I didn't want to flip with only a couple weekends left.
The flying rats have begun bombing the little bit of bike path they can still. And the last few weeks have been sort of one clam here, one clam there.
This morning? Carpet bombing has begun. Check the snapshots after the fold.
This one was certainly an up and down season. But finishing solidly up. I certainly learned a lot more about trying to get faster this year. The power is coming along nicely. The jump after jump after jump is there for a whole race. I still suck massively at turning relative to the guys finishing in front of me (and to the frustration of those w/o enough watts to come around me after the turns).
Plymouth weekend was pretty awesome. If I had just gotten a 3hr long hard ride in on my 'off' weekend (Velocross and Lowell weekend) and gotten some intervals done on that Wednesday I probably wouldn't have had such an off day at Day 1 Sterling.
It is what it is. There were a few compromises this year, but on the whole it was one amazing season. Getting to know some new faces, racing with the team, it was all pretty amazing. Surreal that it is more or less over though.
Ice Weasels sounds pretty amazing. Flyover, Shimano Tech Support, all the people, the Zanc SS series Final race, not to mention the beer. If you missed the beer this weekend, show up at Ice Weasels with a designated driver and prepare to have some fun. If fun = drinking beer.
Fitchburg should be good. I missed it last year, and probably will again this year. And that's about it I think. Nationals in January, and Master's worlds that week later. I gave it a shot trying to put a series on in January last year, maybe someone else wants to try setting something up between fitchburg and nationals. RI is a great place, but I might be too tapped out to contribute anything.
It is time to switch to full time commuter mode. Put some wire spoked alloy rims with slick tires on the Blue and maybe get out for a long road ride or two. One thing I'm going to try is flipping that stem around to get a bit more rise out of it. I've got some thoughts that it could help with the handling and turning thing, of course just working on it and figuring it out will help too. But I didn't want to flip with only a couple weekends left.
The flying rats have begun bombing the little bit of bike path they can still. And the last few weeks have been sort of one clam here, one clam there.
This morning? Carpet bombing has begun. Check the snapshots after the fold.
Thursday, December 01, 2011
pondering
in the dead link excavation i came across a cool old quote:
So well lets head to the almighty Google and search for a complete phrase above. And we get a document that pops up. (yes that is a link to a *.doc file open it in google viewer if you don't want to save as).
So I get thinking, I wonder what is out there about this Heinz Liesen doctor that the little essay is based on.
And I hit this. And feel yucky. A training document based on material from years of work by an east german doctor/trainer that is solidly Pro-Doping. There's a lot of stuff in there. His point of view is maybe not the best one, and his arguments certainly highlight why an athlete can substantially benefit from doping. Esp if you read between the lines of the Brain-Body paper in the Testosterone bullet point.
It doesn't however detract from the mental/brain side of things. And the questions asked just before 'The Long Haul."
But take a look at the der spiegel article (google translation is probably not perfect) and maybe you see a softer light.
The Long Hauland a dead link to the source
In college and at the world class level, the clock is always ticking. Athletes feel pressure to reach their peak "this year". In many cases, this leads to yearly cycles that do not consider the ongoing development of the athlete "the next year". As a masters athlete, remember that you are in this game for the long haul. Training is a long process of learning and physical and technical growth. Medals go to those who combine talent with patience, and intensity with intelligence. Ultimately, no matter what your level of performance, the satisfaction of athleticism is sweetest when it enhances your life, not just your VO2 max!
So well lets head to the almighty Google and search for a complete phrase above. And we get a document that pops up. (yes that is a link to a *.doc file open it in google viewer if you don't want to save as).
So I get thinking, I wonder what is out there about this Heinz Liesen doctor that the little essay is based on.
And I hit this. And feel yucky. A training document based on material from years of work by an east german doctor/trainer that is solidly Pro-Doping. There's a lot of stuff in there. His point of view is maybe not the best one, and his arguments certainly highlight why an athlete can substantially benefit from doping. Esp if you read between the lines of the Brain-Body paper in the Testosterone bullet point.
It doesn't however detract from the mental/brain side of things. And the questions asked just before 'The Long Haul."
But take a look at the der spiegel article (google translation is probably not perfect) and maybe you see a softer light.
Dead Velonews links?
Are you tired of going to a VeloNews link that sounds good but winding up at a
Well it seems the staff at Cyclocosm was too. And they did something about it.
They created a Dead Link Article Finder. Enter your dead link and voila no more 404!
For example. I've included this link a few times in this web log:
http://velonews.competitor.com/train/articles/9344.0.html
Go ahead click on it.
For fun take that link and plug it into the dead VeloNews finder and see what happens.
404 Not Found
and wondering okay now what?Well it seems the staff at Cyclocosm was too. And they did something about it.
They created a Dead Link Article Finder. Enter your dead link and voila no more 404!
For example. I've included this link a few times in this web log:
http://velonews.competitor.com/train/articles/9344.0.html
Go ahead click on it.
For fun take that link and plug it into the dead VeloNews finder and see what happens.
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