drove the course- freaking insane - gonna be EPIC
still snow on that last section of dirt wet dirt...
raining right now...
chillin in the hotel at the best western in bennington...
racing tomorrow - ate a ton of food - staring at the bikes...
not feeling like saying much more than this is going to be fucking EPIC...
hopefully will have photos post race of us covered in milk choco colored mud....
gonna try and get some sleep...
Friday, April 13, 2007
Thursday, April 12, 2007
After the Race - Come hear some music!
SATURDAY, APRIL 14 at 8:00 pm
Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland
549 Broad Street
Philip and Pam Boulding of MAGICAL STRINGS create their distinctive music with a tightly knit blend of Celtic harps and hammered dulcimers, augmented by pennywhistles, concertina, valiha (Malagasy bamboo harp) and storytelling. Since 1978 they have toured throughout the U.S., Canada, Ireland and Japan, including touring and recording with Dan Fogelberg and appearances on "A Prairie Home Companion." Their ’06 tour concluded with a debut performance at the Kennedy Center in DC. With twelve previous CDs on Flying Fish, Rounder, EarthBeat Records, and their own label, Magic Hill Music, their latest title Where Dragons Dance appears on Allegro’s Alula label. They will be touring the East coast in April of 2007.
For ticket information call 401-725-9272
“…Warm, graceful, and sonically gorgeous” —The Washington Post
two days? two days to go?
crazy...
Yeah...
As Murat noted we crossed paths...
I'm cruisin home and there's this yellow and blue rider headed my way - damn who is that? couldn't be murat - he's a west bay'r - damn it's murat... HEY! he doesn't stop - ah well - he must be late if he is out on my turf.
It was a nice head wind heading home. I was slightly overdressed but it served a good purpose. Limiting my work. IE a physical restriction to me going too hard. ?? yeah - gewilli likes to be at a thermal equilibrium.
How do you stay warm in the cold? work harder. IE cyclocross.
It was a nice 40 degrees this morning. Roughly the same temp forcast for Saturday.
I put on the craft sleeveless base layer, arm warmers, jersey and bib shorts. Perfect. Slightly cool, but not cold at all. Working hard but not really that hard. Only averaged255 watts just under 3 w/kg on the way in today. No trailer.
The thread of rain meant that since the little one was probably going to be picked up anyway why not dropped off as well.
Have i mentioned that i like my bike? W/o the trailer there is no squirrelly tippy feeling. That or i've timed the acclimation perfectly. Its a freaking rocket. At least that is the feeling today. It was head down and hammer time... and i had ticked over the display to show cadence, but clicked once too many and was looking at average cadence... and so i worked on getting that to go up... not really thinking anything of it till i slowed down for the crossing...
Oh...
i was spinning like a washin' machine! Felt great... Definitely blew a few cobwebs out and made myself work for some sections there. Ticking along at 40+ kph was kinda fun, esp with as little effort as it took on this bike... Sooooo coool.
It has been a grooveradio.com morning - needed to clear some annoying song and get the final unpacking done in the office -
so i'm grooving today... sub thumping under the desk.. things are good...
looking at the accuweather.com's radar right now for Salem, things look like they could be way worse! Maybe the course won't be completely hosed after all!
Still gonna be epic... Traveling up there tomorrow... Gonna be so damn cool. Now here's to hoping flights from sunny Cali land no problem at Logan!
respect
G
Yeah...
As Murat noted we crossed paths...
I'm cruisin home and there's this yellow and blue rider headed my way - damn who is that? couldn't be murat - he's a west bay'r - damn it's murat... HEY! he doesn't stop - ah well - he must be late if he is out on my turf.
It was a nice head wind heading home. I was slightly overdressed but it served a good purpose. Limiting my work. IE a physical restriction to me going too hard. ?? yeah - gewilli likes to be at a thermal equilibrium.
How do you stay warm in the cold? work harder. IE cyclocross.
It was a nice 40 degrees this morning. Roughly the same temp forcast for Saturday.
I put on the craft sleeveless base layer, arm warmers, jersey and bib shorts. Perfect. Slightly cool, but not cold at all. Working hard but not really that hard. Only averaged
The thread of rain meant that since the little one was probably going to be picked up anyway why not dropped off as well.
Have i mentioned that i like my bike? W/o the trailer there is no squirrelly tippy feeling. That or i've timed the acclimation perfectly. Its a freaking rocket. At least that is the feeling today. It was head down and hammer time... and i had ticked over the display to show cadence, but clicked once too many and was looking at average cadence... and so i worked on getting that to go up... not really thinking anything of it till i slowed down for the crossing...
Oh...
i was spinning like a washin' machine! Felt great... Definitely blew a few cobwebs out and made myself work for some sections there. Ticking along at 40+ kph was kinda fun, esp with as little effort as it took on this bike... Sooooo coool.
It has been a grooveradio.com morning - needed to clear some annoying song and get the final unpacking done in the office -
so i'm grooving today... sub thumping under the desk.. things are good...
looking at the accuweather.com's radar right now for Salem, things look like they could be way worse! Maybe the course won't be completely hosed after all!
Still gonna be epic... Traveling up there tomorrow... Gonna be so damn cool. Now here's to hoping flights from sunny Cali land no problem at Logan!
respect
G
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
The Weather
what else is there to talk about?
Oh i am sure there is a ton...
but the weather for the battenkill should make it prettyeffinFucking (need for full emphasis) epic.
Wed night Snow
Thursday 4-8 inches of SNOW
Thurs night - more snow
Friday Snow and then maybe some rain on top
30°C Friday overnight...
Saturday... high of 41°F and calling for mostly cloudy... not even much solar exposure to be soaked in by the team kit!
Phuuuuuuuck...
But...
I like the cold and sloppy stuff...
It triggers some genetic freak inside me to get all giddy...
I must have bitched so much about the mellow nature of the weather during cross to bring this upon all of us!
Epic... epic in nature eh? Maybe this will cause a field pruning pre-race. Maybe a handful of those in the solobreak vein of "racing should be done when warm outside, getting cold and wet doesn't seem smart, racing in cold and wet seems less smart..."
maybe...
but...
Heck maybe i'll slap a fender on the rear! But you can be sure it ain't gonna look all hoopty like Yogurt Boy's (i'd link it but i'll keep the reference 'inside')
Looking at the projected details. The weather map says the wind'll be out of the north. Meaning tail wind on the 1/2 half of the course and head wind heading back home... Oh joy... nothing like hanging on for dear life to a peleton making 30 mph with the wind only to turn around into it for the killer stretch!
Happy happy joy joy...
Maybe we'll get a WickNasty style board somewhere "TURN THE SUCK KNOB DOWN" hopefully on every climb...
Maybe i need to write that on the top tube or something...
TURN THE SUCK KNOB DOWN...
The good news is my sinus infection is getting the hard core smack down...
That and i'm begining to turn the page on dropping the caffeine intake. All week no coffee pre-ride. So far so good. Caffeine intake is down to three scoops instead of 5-6... that and i'm not waking up with the withdrawal symptoms. So i can maximize the caffeine loading prior to the event, using it purely as an ergogenic aid, not habitual maintenance of symptoms.
Now that the gearing is all sorted out i can start agonizing over how i am going to dress for the race. But then even with that i'm pretty solid on how it'll be. No real debate in honesty. If it really will peak at 41°F and we'll be riding into the wind on the last section, coupled with the potentially wet roads and downhill runs, lack of sun. The choice is a no brainer. No need to be tough. Bare knees would probably render me like Jill after her big ol'race.
Props to Joel for reposting the image.
We may dissagree on running stop lights and stop signs on bikes but we are in agreement on this.
not just bicycle... but the walkers, joggers and others on multi-use trails and roads.
On the trainer. In the gym. In a close environment where you don't need to interact with your surroundings it is one thing.
And trust me, few people get as amped from listening to music as GeWilli does (walk by getting reading at the car pre-cross race for a sneak peak).
I just suggest folks not do it.
A fellow commuter here was given an iPod for Christmas, he was so happy that he could download a hour or two if NPR podcasts for the day. And for a few days it was great. He did turn it off when getting off the bike path and in the city. But.
The path does cross a few streets. He didn't realize until almost getting run over just how much he'd been used to having all senses functioning when approaching a slightly blind corner crossing. Normally he would have heard the car before he could see it.
Yes you can make other senses take over. But why? for what purpose? "Motivation" i don't buy it.
Anyway... I'm thinking i need a race radio headset for about 6 guys and a driver/chase vehicle. Anyone have some kicking around charged up not being used?
The ride home looks to be a blast! Wind out of the south blowin 17 mph. "SUPER" one of those headwind heading in, headwind heading home days.
Nothing like that to add to the kJ total for the day. The rain tomorrow may dampen my desire to get out and rip some hills up before work. Might have to do some trainer/roller intervals to 'wake' things up tomorrow...
Well, there are 108 riders registered for the 30+ race. Although i haven't looked beyond Aspholm to see if others are double registered... that'd be one hella long day to do both races... But the total registered number jumped to 1025!
It will be nice to get the race behind me - give me a couple days of "THAT WAS AWESOME" and then i can move on to something else...
Diggin through the event page - i'm struck now with the fact that the pics all show it being sunny, everyone in shorts sun drenched sections... shadows...
I fear that we'll be in the shadow of the clouds all day... no "drying out" of the course...
Mud mud mud - can you pedal? conditions are telling me 39x27 is absolutely correct.
Okay - enough of me torturing my blood pressure contemplating the potential pain the excitement... and the getting dropped, the cracking, the dangling off the back...
so much to look forward to...
All in the name of CROSS... Cross... Cross... Cyclocross makes this epic suffering worth attempting. Knowing that even now, this wee bit of pain to endure... can help in Cross, glorious, wonderful, magical, Cross!
RESPECT (the hills)
G
Oh i am sure there is a ton...
but the weather for the battenkill should make it pretty
Wed night Snow
Thursday 4-8 inches of SNOW
Thurs night - more snow
Friday Snow and then maybe some rain on top
30°C Friday overnight...
Saturday... high of 41°F and calling for mostly cloudy... not even much solar exposure to be soaked in by the team kit!
Phuuuuuuuck...
But...
I like the cold and sloppy stuff...
It triggers some genetic freak inside me to get all giddy...
I must have bitched so much about the mellow nature of the weather during cross to bring this upon all of us!
Epic... epic in nature eh? Maybe this will cause a field pruning pre-race. Maybe a handful of those in the solobreak vein of "racing should be done when warm outside, getting cold and wet doesn't seem smart, racing in cold and wet seems less smart..."
maybe...
but...
Heck maybe i'll slap a fender on the rear! But you can be sure it ain't gonna look all hoopty like Yogurt Boy's (i'd link it but i'll keep the reference 'inside')
Looking at the projected details. The weather map says the wind'll be out of the north. Meaning tail wind on the 1/2 half of the course and head wind heading back home... Oh joy... nothing like hanging on for dear life to a peleton making 30 mph with the wind only to turn around into it for the killer stretch!
Happy happy joy joy...
Maybe we'll get a WickNasty style board somewhere "TURN THE SUCK KNOB DOWN" hopefully on every climb...
Maybe i need to write that on the top tube or something...
TURN THE SUCK KNOB DOWN...
The good news is my sinus infection is getting the hard core smack down...
That and i'm begining to turn the page on dropping the caffeine intake. All week no coffee pre-ride. So far so good. Caffeine intake is down to three scoops instead of 5-6... that and i'm not waking up with the withdrawal symptoms. So i can maximize the caffeine loading prior to the event, using it purely as an ergogenic aid, not habitual maintenance of symptoms.
Now that the gearing is all sorted out i can start agonizing over how i am going to dress for the race. But then even with that i'm pretty solid on how it'll be. No real debate in honesty. If it really will peak at 41°F and we'll be riding into the wind on the last section, coupled with the potentially wet roads and downhill runs, lack of sun. The choice is a no brainer. No need to be tough. Bare knees would probably render me like Jill after her big ol'race.
Props to Joel for reposting the image.
We may dissagree on running stop lights and stop signs on bikes but we are in agreement on this.
not just bicycle... but the walkers, joggers and others on multi-use trails and roads.
On the trainer. In the gym. In a close environment where you don't need to interact with your surroundings it is one thing.
And trust me, few people get as amped from listening to music as GeWilli does (walk by getting reading at the car pre-cross race for a sneak peak).
I just suggest folks not do it.
A fellow commuter here was given an iPod for Christmas, he was so happy that he could download a hour or two if NPR podcasts for the day. And for a few days it was great. He did turn it off when getting off the bike path and in the city. But.
The path does cross a few streets. He didn't realize until almost getting run over just how much he'd been used to having all senses functioning when approaching a slightly blind corner crossing. Normally he would have heard the car before he could see it.
Yes you can make other senses take over. But why? for what purpose? "Motivation" i don't buy it.
Anyway... I'm thinking i need a race radio headset for about 6 guys and a driver/chase vehicle. Anyone have some kicking around charged up not being used?
The ride home looks to be a blast! Wind out of the south blowin 17 mph. "SUPER" one of those headwind heading in, headwind heading home days.
Nothing like that to add to the kJ total for the day. The rain tomorrow may dampen my desire to get out and rip some hills up before work. Might have to do some trainer/roller intervals to 'wake' things up tomorrow...
Well, there are 108 riders registered for the 30+ race. Although i haven't looked beyond Aspholm to see if others are double registered... that'd be one hella long day to do both races... But the total registered number jumped to 1025!
It will be nice to get the race behind me - give me a couple days of "THAT WAS AWESOME" and then i can move on to something else...
Diggin through the event page - i'm struck now with the fact that the pics all show it being sunny, everyone in shorts sun drenched sections... shadows...
I fear that we'll be in the shadow of the clouds all day... no "drying out" of the course...
Mud mud mud - can you pedal? conditions are telling me 39x27 is absolutely correct.
Okay - enough of me torturing my blood pressure contemplating the potential pain the excitement... and the getting dropped, the cracking, the dangling off the back...
so much to look forward to...
All in the name of CROSS... Cross... Cross... Cyclocross makes this epic suffering worth attempting. Knowing that even now, this wee bit of pain to endure... can help in Cross, glorious, wonderful, magical, Cross!
RESPECT (the hills)
G
day half over already?
Wow...
Killer TT on the way home last night. Felt pretty good. Nice and strong. Killer work at home alone with the two little girls... me and the two of them and the youngest was a bit tired and particular.
Fun...
Looking at the tap data for other days i did the same commute (pick up in evening only) speed was up and power was down. Pretty much all is the bike, but part must be me getting somewhat better...
I gotta say, small things didn't let us down. Her comments were on the freaking mark and brilliant. (no not going to link - read about the lazy teacher and find your own links).
Writing is something that requires practice. And, if you've ever had to critically evaluate a stack of papers you can appreciate the time involved. There is nothing more frustrating to sit down and read a cheater's paper. Usually it isn't even all that well written. writing needs practice. feedback is critical.
Writing about genetics - what ever aspect you want to look at could be a good exercise. Hell writing about your belly button is a good exercise.
GeWilli's style in the blog land is night and day from his critical writing. Which, i'm sure many will say, is a good thing. content, flow, transitions, phrasing, economy of words, clarity of meaning and intended connotations. Writing for science is formulaic. I was fortunate enough to have been given the tools and secrets to writing in middle school and then given the opportunity in high school to practice and practice. So college time came and i was able to focus more on content than format, while still honing the formating/style range.
The Yips were ALWAYS my favorite bit... loved em - still do - the phone one is probably the all-time best bit they did... thanks Biketopia!
Well, bike racers, and non-bike racers... (thanks for that tag Ctoddski)
be well, be safe, smile at others because a simple smile is one of the most underestimated gestures you can offer and it works on friends and strangers alike!
respect,
G
Killer TT on the way home last night. Felt pretty good. Nice and strong. Killer work at home alone with the two little girls... me and the two of them and the youngest was a bit tired and particular.
Fun...
Looking at the tap data for other days i did the same commute (pick up in evening only) speed was up and power was down. Pretty much all is the bike, but part must be me getting somewhat better...
I gotta say, small things didn't let us down. Her comments were on the freaking mark and brilliant. (no not going to link - read about the lazy teacher and find your own links).
Writing is something that requires practice. And, if you've ever had to critically evaluate a stack of papers you can appreciate the time involved. There is nothing more frustrating to sit down and read a cheater's paper. Usually it isn't even all that well written. writing needs practice. feedback is critical.
Writing about genetics - what ever aspect you want to look at could be a good exercise. Hell writing about your belly button is a good exercise.
GeWilli's style in the blog land is night and day from his critical writing. Which, i'm sure many will say, is a good thing. content, flow, transitions, phrasing, economy of words, clarity of meaning and intended connotations. Writing for science is formulaic. I was fortunate enough to have been given the tools and secrets to writing in middle school and then given the opportunity in high school to practice and practice. So college time came and i was able to focus more on content than format, while still honing the formating/style range.
The Yips were ALWAYS my favorite bit... loved em - still do - the phone one is probably the all-time best bit they did... thanks Biketopia!
Well, bike racers, and non-bike racers... (thanks for that tag Ctoddski)
be well, be safe, smile at others because a simple smile is one of the most underestimated gestures you can offer and it works on friends and strangers alike!
respect,
G
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
teachers are lazy
he thinks so
sailorman has a history of raising my hackles and getting me going - often w/o good reason and often in circles around each other type arguments...
i know there might be a teacher or two reading this - give that a read...
Off the bat i'm hugely in favor of writing.
there is huge benefit to writing review articles "research papers" if you will...
there is a process of writing, fact gathering and so on and so on...
i'll save it for later...
gonna finish my lunch...
but whadda yall think eh? (rhetorical no need to respond)
sailorman has a history of raising my hackles and getting me going - often w/o good reason and often in circles around each other type arguments...
i know there might be a teacher or two reading this - give that a read...
Off the bat i'm hugely in favor of writing.
there is huge benefit to writing review articles "research papers" if you will...
there is a process of writing, fact gathering and so on and so on...
i'll save it for later...
gonna finish my lunch...
but whadda yall think eh? (rhetorical no need to respond)
Tap is on
yup and initially it seems i'm going faster and making fewer watts than the Croll...
which is good - supporting the empirical evidence gained riding with others...
An analogy popped in my head on the way in...
The Croll, it is wicked stable, slow but mechanically the same, just more efficient.
Alot like one of those big wide bathtub sculls they give to newbies on the water.
The Klein feels like a racing scull... (or shell whatever you wanna call them) twitchy, almost a tippy feeling, reminding you: pay attention! But you can feel and see that every ounce of energy applied seems to make you go forward... the bike leaps forward instead of digging in and resisting for a second like the Croll does with those monster truck tires on there.
The Power Tap added a bit more weight to the bike... now tipping the scale just over 20 pounds instead of 19 pounds. But that is still a little less than 1% of the total bike+rider weight (minus water bottles and stuff in pockets).
Well I don't have nine bags of my own blood in some freezer, nor do i have a staff of doctors on retainer. I gotta do this all on my own...
Its gonna be a freaking blast, this race. Esp with the snow that is forecast to fall on thursday...
Snow, on the course, Thursday. 30 some odd degrees friday night/saturday morning. Sounds like perfect weather for a bike race! "Oi Vay"
That and i can hold off my acclimation to the heat for another week...
If only Klein had made a cross bike in 1998 or when ever it was they were still making the 63cm Q-pro... i can't imagine how freaking amazing it would be - so light - so stiff - so fast...
Well...
Well... this is taking forever to get published...
and it looks like it won't publish it self...
clicky boom!
which is good - supporting the empirical evidence gained riding with others...
An analogy popped in my head on the way in...
The Croll, it is wicked stable, slow but mechanically the same, just more efficient.
Alot like one of those big wide bathtub sculls they give to newbies on the water.
The Klein feels like a racing scull... (or shell whatever you wanna call them) twitchy, almost a tippy feeling, reminding you: pay attention! But you can feel and see that every ounce of energy applied seems to make you go forward... the bike leaps forward instead of digging in and resisting for a second like the Croll does with those monster truck tires on there.
The Power Tap added a bit more weight to the bike... now tipping the scale just over 20 pounds instead of 19 pounds. But that is still a little less than 1% of the total bike+rider weight (minus water bottles and stuff in pockets).
Well I don't have nine bags of my own blood in some freezer, nor do i have a staff of doctors on retainer. I gotta do this all on my own...
Its gonna be a freaking blast, this race. Esp with the snow that is forecast to fall on thursday...
Snow, on the course, Thursday. 30 some odd degrees friday night/saturday morning. Sounds like perfect weather for a bike race! "Oi Vay"
That and i can hold off my acclimation to the heat for another week...
If only Klein had made a cross bike in 1998 or when ever it was they were still making the 63cm Q-pro... i can't imagine how freaking amazing it would be - so light - so stiff - so fast...
Well...
Well... this is taking forever to get published...
and it looks like it won't publish it self...
clicky boom!
Monday, April 09, 2007
GO SPARTANS #1 Go State Go
"Victory for MSU"
What is the Hulla Balloo?
National Champs! Beating Boston College for the Hockey Title.
They WON!
First they blew apart Maine, then... BC...
Amazing.
Some folks i've talked to called it the Greatest Game of Hockey since the USA beat Russia... It is almost the same level of upset. Word has it that the Vegas line was 9:1 against the Spartans winning the title... Them is some long odds...
But they did it. The Spartans won. They won the national title.
How freaking damn cool is that!!!
GO STATE
g
What is the Hulla Balloo?
National Champs! Beating Boston College for the Hockey Title.
They WON!
First they blew apart Maine, then... BC...
Amazing.
Some folks i've talked to called it the Greatest Game of Hockey since the USA beat Russia... It is almost the same level of upset. Word has it that the Vegas line was 9:1 against the Spartans winning the title... Them is some long odds...
But they did it. The Spartans won. They won the national title.
How freaking damn cool is that!!!
GO STATE
g
I've realized something
didn't read ctodd's comments till this morning about being a tool if i don't use my tool...
and riding in on the QP this morning - no dashboard, not feed back other than the legs...
i've realized that over the last few months - this little yellow thing is like a speedometer and a tach for a rally car driver...
knowing how fast ya going and what the rpms/power ya doing is good, and yeah - you can race instrumentless but only if you've been training with them...
I was going to claim weight means i don't need it, i was going to claim, racing without knowing the speed/time/HR would be good thing...
But... it ain't really, maybe if i'd been instrumentless for the last few months...
but i haven't...
After this morning's ride in on the "race bike" with the trailer hooked up, i can say... as beautiful as the rear cluster is with the brand new 12-27 and the cleaned up Hugi rear hub it doesn't give me the info that the heavy ass slow ass thing does.
Besides, I weighed the bikes last night - the Croll is almost 26 pounds... The Klein just 19...
It felt like i was on a track bike. wicked narrow bars (compared to the Bontragers on the Croll)... responsive, not an ounce of flex lost in the frame or crank or tires... silent... freaking spooky...
I guess i'm going to be playing with some Zip-ties tonight.
Lots of love to send out in blogger land...
maybe i'm the last one to find Gunnar's blog links - thanks for posting that up Joel!
This is the best:
That's a Shogrenism if i've ever heard one. His positive, fun, laid back energy is just that - taking greatest satisfaction in participating it seems. Sure he kicks ass as well... but it seems more like a side effect than a focus... But then - the most recent updates from them are '04...
I loved the 29vs26 vid that GoClipless links...
Solo must have been bored, tired, or resting to write the thesis he did for the Monday april 9th entry... maybe he's just telecommuting and all that... But i'll throw some praise out. solobreak does write well... quite well indeed.
Maybe he has a good copy editor up north that checks over his stuff prior to posting. Or maybe he is really quite smart, as those who know him are not shy to mention.
Instead of heading down to the Chris Hinds... I did the normal, ballet, weekly trip to wholepaycheck, thing, then worked on cleaning and setting up the Klein. And topped off the day with 2.5 hour spend under/over/under/over/under/over/under/over the hood of the car... went out to the farm where the tools and ramps live and replaced the hose lines for the oil bypass/cooler setup. The hose i'd used on the initial install in 2000 were only supposed to be in service for 2 years, per manufacture's spec. They were also quick connect. Which meant, (and i didn't realize) the hose i'd purchased to replace it wouldn't work with those fittings. I was one male 1/8" NPT with 1/4" hose barb short of a complete install. Fark. Bro was at Lowes. They didn't have anything. I rigged it so it was drivable and loade the fam in the car and check Home Depot. Nope. Got tons of weird wary stares as i strode through Home Depot, covered in oily dirt...
I'm like pigpen when it comes to working on my car. Just no way in hell can i do it and not get filthy. Was like that at the bike shop too. There are mechanics who stay clean and mechanics who get dirty - and from what i've seen it can never be used as an indicator of their abilities.
Anyway - Pep boys finally had a part but the nipple side was a wee bit short. Workable but short.
The hose i picked up caused me most problems. I had overlooked or just didn't grasp the challenge of cutting wire braid reinforced synthetic rubber hose. That and it grabbs the freaking hose barbs tightly... And there's no way in hell it slides on to the quick lok style hose barbs.
Its running. Fixed and i think leak free. So while i didn't race, i worked on "core" strength with the constant hours of routing running cutting fitting pulling changing the lines... Of course my little bro pulled out some cutters yesterday and said - you shoulda used these... well one of the lines (the one i couldn't hook up w/o the barb) is a bit long... so i've got em and will hope to effect a nice quick cut and fix-up tonight or tomorrow.
Friday night i hit a local GTG of the TDI gang (VW diesel car heads). They meet on the first friday of the month and for a change it was in RI. So i went... spend a couple hours and got home just in time to tuck the girls in and sing them a lullaby. Great to see some friends that i haven't in a while. They are a good bunch, scratch that, a great bunch.
Just before hitting that group i stopped in to visit our team's Title Sponsor. And spend a few minutes watching an accountant flip papers around and punch numbers... More $$ than doing it myself, but i'd wager he save'd me way more than the price difference between the TurboTax Fed+State and his fee... That and other than writing a check it was painless. So i can mark finally the big bit of anxiety off the list. The only thing left to do is ditch the lingering sinus infection... That and to see about somehow getting the youngest to sleep through the night. The last week it seems she's been waking up and man it just cuts into that much needed rest. I think one of the few nights she actually slept through was when Cronoman crashed at our place.
Easter was pretty insane. But quite fun. As one would expect, with two little girls eagerly anticipating the arrival of the Easter Bunny it was an early morning. But that was great. We had plans to go out for a special easter breakfast at the JWInn at 8:30. Heck we'd finished the easter egg hunt (the Easter bunny hides eggs for the girls) by 7 and were ready to roll by 7:15... hit the buffet with the first wave (only one other table was there) and the girls had the place to themselves. Which was good. Then headed back home - then to Church. It was the first time i'd driven to an easter service arriving 30 minutes early to a completely empty parking lot. Wow... so we toured the town a bit and returning 15 minutes later it was starting to fill up. It is a small church, beautiful interior and very traditional. The sermon was conservative in the religious sense. No revival mass market church style preaching about money and sin and all that... it was a kick ass (dryly delivered tho) bit about how people handle death. It also was the first time i'd been to a catholic service that actually sang all 4 verses of the hymns. And the first time in a very long time that i wasn't enraged and uber grumpy leaving 'church' normally i don't go because i get really aggravated. It was a nice change.
Back home - made a big salad to take to Easter Dinner (lunch) at the farm. Then after that we hit the Carousel. The one by our house. An old wicked fast one. Very cool with brass rings and everything. It opened yesterday (easter) and we of course had to go ride. It was fun. Headed back home, i continued working on the bike, and we just hung out and had a mellow evening.
Got a lot done. Had some great family time. Just a wonderful weekend. And off the bike completely. I did some stretching through out the weekend but that was the extent of it. Taking it easy the next few days... then well... then it will be time to get into race mode... Woooot... or Uh Oh... mostly woot... i'm really looking forward to this. It probably (like all the races I did last year) will set an initial mark that i will be able to shoot for improving next year, but that itself, as gunnar said: "Matters not to win, just to participate. Get up, get out, get going."
respect,
g
and riding in on the QP this morning - no dashboard, not feed back other than the legs...
i've realized that over the last few months - this little yellow thing is like a speedometer and a tach for a rally car driver...
knowing how fast ya going and what the rpms/power ya doing is good, and yeah - you can race instrumentless but only if you've been training with them...
I was going to claim weight means i don't need it, i was going to claim, racing without knowing the speed/time/HR would be good thing...
But... it ain't really, maybe if i'd been instrumentless for the last few months...
but i haven't...
After this morning's ride in on the "race bike" with the trailer hooked up, i can say... as beautiful as the rear cluster is with the brand new 12-27 and the cleaned up Hugi rear hub it doesn't give me the info that the heavy ass slow ass thing does.
Besides, I weighed the bikes last night - the Croll is almost 26 pounds... The Klein just 19...
It felt like i was on a track bike. wicked narrow bars (compared to the Bontragers on the Croll)... responsive, not an ounce of flex lost in the frame or crank or tires... silent... freaking spooky...
I guess i'm going to be playing with some Zip-ties tonight.
Lots of love to send out in blogger land...
maybe i'm the last one to find Gunnar's blog links - thanks for posting that up Joel!
This is the best:
Never mind the turtle. Don't you think you're sure to win?
Matters not to win, just to participate. Get up, get out, get going.
That's a Shogrenism if i've ever heard one. His positive, fun, laid back energy is just that - taking greatest satisfaction in participating it seems. Sure he kicks ass as well... but it seems more like a side effect than a focus... But then - the most recent updates from them are '04...
I loved the 29vs26 vid that GoClipless links...
Solo must have been bored, tired, or resting to write the thesis he did for the Monday april 9th entry... maybe he's just telecommuting and all that... But i'll throw some praise out. solobreak does write well... quite well indeed.
Maybe he has a good copy editor up north that checks over his stuff prior to posting. Or maybe he is really quite smart, as those who know him are not shy to mention.
Instead of heading down to the Chris Hinds... I did the normal, ballet, weekly trip to wholepaycheck, thing, then worked on cleaning and setting up the Klein. And topped off the day with 2.5 hour spend under/over/under/over/under/over/under/over the hood of the car... went out to the farm where the tools and ramps live and replaced the hose lines for the oil bypass/cooler setup. The hose i'd used on the initial install in 2000 were only supposed to be in service for 2 years, per manufacture's spec. They were also quick connect. Which meant, (and i didn't realize) the hose i'd purchased to replace it wouldn't work with those fittings. I was one male 1/8" NPT with 1/4" hose barb short of a complete install. Fark. Bro was at Lowes. They didn't have anything. I rigged it so it was drivable and loade the fam in the car and check Home Depot. Nope. Got tons of weird wary stares as i strode through Home Depot, covered in oily dirt...
I'm like pigpen when it comes to working on my car. Just no way in hell can i do it and not get filthy. Was like that at the bike shop too. There are mechanics who stay clean and mechanics who get dirty - and from what i've seen it can never be used as an indicator of their abilities.
Anyway - Pep boys finally had a part but the nipple side was a wee bit short. Workable but short.
The hose i picked up caused me most problems. I had overlooked or just didn't grasp the challenge of cutting wire braid reinforced synthetic rubber hose. That and it grabbs the freaking hose barbs tightly... And there's no way in hell it slides on to the quick lok style hose barbs.
Its running. Fixed and i think leak free. So while i didn't race, i worked on "core" strength with the constant hours of routing running cutting fitting pulling changing the lines... Of course my little bro pulled out some cutters yesterday and said - you shoulda used these... well one of the lines (the one i couldn't hook up w/o the barb) is a bit long... so i've got em and will hope to effect a nice quick cut and fix-up tonight or tomorrow.
Friday night i hit a local GTG of the TDI gang (VW diesel car heads). They meet on the first friday of the month and for a change it was in RI. So i went... spend a couple hours and got home just in time to tuck the girls in and sing them a lullaby. Great to see some friends that i haven't in a while. They are a good bunch, scratch that, a great bunch.
Just before hitting that group i stopped in to visit our team's Title Sponsor. And spend a few minutes watching an accountant flip papers around and punch numbers... More $$ than doing it myself, but i'd wager he save'd me way more than the price difference between the TurboTax Fed+State and his fee... That and other than writing a check it was painless. So i can mark finally the big bit of anxiety off the list. The only thing left to do is ditch the lingering sinus infection... That and to see about somehow getting the youngest to sleep through the night. The last week it seems she's been waking up and man it just cuts into that much needed rest. I think one of the few nights she actually slept through was when Cronoman crashed at our place.
Easter was pretty insane. But quite fun. As one would expect, with two little girls eagerly anticipating the arrival of the Easter Bunny it was an early morning. But that was great. We had plans to go out for a special easter breakfast at the JWInn at 8:30. Heck we'd finished the easter egg hunt (the Easter bunny hides eggs for the girls) by 7 and were ready to roll by 7:15... hit the buffet with the first wave (only one other table was there) and the girls had the place to themselves. Which was good. Then headed back home - then to Church. It was the first time i'd driven to an easter service arriving 30 minutes early to a completely empty parking lot. Wow... so we toured the town a bit and returning 15 minutes later it was starting to fill up. It is a small church, beautiful interior and very traditional. The sermon was conservative in the religious sense. No revival mass market church style preaching about money and sin and all that... it was a kick ass (dryly delivered tho) bit about how people handle death. It also was the first time i'd been to a catholic service that actually sang all 4 verses of the hymns. And the first time in a very long time that i wasn't enraged and uber grumpy leaving 'church' normally i don't go because i get really aggravated. It was a nice change.
Back home - made a big salad to take to Easter Dinner (lunch) at the farm. Then after that we hit the Carousel. The one by our house. An old wicked fast one. Very cool with brass rings and everything. It opened yesterday (easter) and we of course had to go ride. It was fun. Headed back home, i continued working on the bike, and we just hung out and had a mellow evening.
Got a lot done. Had some great family time. Just a wonderful weekend. And off the bike completely. I did some stretching through out the weekend but that was the extent of it. Taking it easy the next few days... then well... then it will be time to get into race mode... Woooot... or Uh Oh... mostly woot... i'm really looking forward to this. It probably (like all the races I did last year) will set an initial mark that i will be able to shoot for improving next year, but that itself, as gunnar said: "Matters not to win, just to participate. Get up, get out, get going."
respect,
g
Friday, April 06, 2007
Finally Friday, here at last
Driving in - yup - drove. GeWilli got in the car. Why? Well my bike trailer doesn't fit two girls.
The morning radio stinks... i, for some reason, didn't buzz through the NPR station... i just wanted some music. Hahah, Music? In the morning? On the radio? Hahahah.
Here's the current debate in my head right now:
Race with the powertap at BKR or not.
In the w/'Tap side:
-record the race power and all that
-have cadence to focus on as motivation
-keep me from blowing up early (my tendency)
-know how many miles ridden, time, all that stuff
-best way to add the race to the riding log in power agent software...
In the w/o'Tap side:
-its heavy, not aero
-would need to move wiring harness from current bike to other bike (or get second one)
-will it make me race faster or harder?
-the weight penalty could be a big factor, esp relative to the Rolfs
-bearings are better on the Rolfs
-cronoman didn't race with his at BKR
If i don't have it and blow up early cause i'm amped and not listening to the legs then any gains from not having it would be for naught.
Just an insight into G's head right now...
To Tap or Not To Tap... that is the question i'm pondering...
yeah - really world changing stuff there - lemme tell ya...
respect,
G
The morning radio stinks... i, for some reason, didn't buzz through the NPR station... i just wanted some music. Hahah, Music? In the morning? On the radio? Hahahah.
Here's the current debate in my head right now:
Race with the powertap at BKR or not.
In the w/'Tap side:
-record the race power and all that
-have cadence to focus on as motivation
-keep me from blowing up early (my tendency)
-know how many miles ridden, time, all that stuff
-best way to add the race to the riding log in power agent software...
In the w/o'Tap side:
-its heavy, not aero
-would need to move wiring harness from current bike to other bike (or get second one)
-will it make me race faster or harder?
-the weight penalty could be a big factor, esp relative to the Rolfs
-bearings are better on the Rolfs
-cronoman didn't race with his at BKR
If i don't have it and blow up early cause i'm amped and not listening to the legs then any gains from not having it would be for naught.
Just an insight into G's head right now...
To Tap or Not To Tap... that is the question i'm pondering...
yeah - really world changing stuff there - lemme tell ya...
respect,
G
Thursday, April 05, 2007
world's BEST toy store
No question...
No doubt...
it is THIS PLACE
if they have it - and you order it - ship it ground it's usually at your door the next day.
might not apply to those living out in the boonies away from a shipping hub/warehouse...
I might have mentioned them before - but i tell ya - it is just a great way to get some education as to what stuff is available how things work and alternative ways to get something done not to mention look at all the cool shit you could make with the stuff...
Home fix-it, lab, school, shop, car, boat, you name it - they got the stuff...
need some odd sized bolt or something... they prolly got it.
On other news - i'm beat. wiped out.
the littlest one has been waking me up between 1 and 2 am... that's early and right in the middle of a sleep cycle - as soon as i go in she lays back down and goes to sleep but for some reason she wants/needs me to come in and give her a hug before all that will happen... hey at least she's not demanding to get in bed with us anymore... progress - progress...
Speaking of kids - congrats go out to Yogurt Boy. And the rest of the 30+ crew can sleep easier knowing that the hard core #1 thread will be coming to the event sleep deprived. That is unless he gets lucky and the new kid sleeps round the clock for the first week... then we ain't lucky cause he'll be motivated to get finished as fast as possible to get back to his new addition!
Either way - I'm stoked for him and his family. Great news.
'bout time to saddle up and see if i can actually turn the pedals over... no trailer to slow me down on the way home... and the WNW wind at 13-15 mph should give me a nice push... but... i'll be surprised if i make 3 digits of power on the way home...
And i think that'd be a good thing to spend 30 minutes trying to blow the stuff out of the legs today... after this morning...
respect!
g
No doubt...
it is THIS PLACE
if they have it - and you order it - ship it ground it's usually at your door the next day.
might not apply to those living out in the boonies away from a shipping hub/warehouse...
I might have mentioned them before - but i tell ya - it is just a great way to get some education as to what stuff is available how things work and alternative ways to get something done not to mention look at all the cool shit you could make with the stuff...
Home fix-it, lab, school, shop, car, boat, you name it - they got the stuff...
need some odd sized bolt or something... they prolly got it.
On other news - i'm beat. wiped out.
the littlest one has been waking me up between 1 and 2 am... that's early and right in the middle of a sleep cycle - as soon as i go in she lays back down and goes to sleep but for some reason she wants/needs me to come in and give her a hug before all that will happen... hey at least she's not demanding to get in bed with us anymore... progress - progress...
Speaking of kids - congrats go out to Yogurt Boy. And the rest of the 30+ crew can sleep easier knowing that the hard core #1 thread will be coming to the event sleep deprived. That is unless he gets lucky and the new kid sleeps round the clock for the first week... then we ain't lucky cause he'll be motivated to get finished as fast as possible to get back to his new addition!
Either way - I'm stoked for him and his family. Great news.
'bout time to saddle up and see if i can actually turn the pedals over... no trailer to slow me down on the way home... and the WNW wind at 13-15 mph should give me a nice push... but... i'll be surprised if i make 3 digits of power on the way home...
And i think that'd be a good thing to spend 30 minutes trying to blow the stuff out of the legs today... after this morning...
respect!
g
ahhh suckfest
I was slow today - coupled with riding with a teammate who was not also on a cross bike made for a demoralizing ride... that Ridley Excaliber is a wicked fast machine... and light - my Croll is heavy, slow, and heavy...
And i was tired, wait - still am tired...
had a good ride - fortunately the wind wasn't nearly as bad as it was last week. And i only generated 2000 kJ on the ride this morning. 3 hours and something total...
Lookin at the mileage totals i've only got about 1300-1400 total miles on the bike, nearly all of that with the trailer...
Today my body was on strike. It wanted to rest. It wanted sunday back as a rest day. It wanted to stop at every breakfast joint to sit down and drink coffee and eat piles of eggs potatoes sausage bacon and toast... i would be ticking along up hill - workin hard - holding a good rhythm and then like a wet bar of soap shooting across the shower off flew big M. Everytime he did that it was like he would unplug me... like the cord powering me was connected to his bike and he'd take off and i'd come un-fucking-glued... Last week he claims he was struggling to stay with me on his cross bike... now - hell he made it up tower hill road minutes faster than me... bike + shitty day = GeWilli slow as hell...
But...
It didn't snow down here. I left work just as the heaviest rain swept through Providence, so i was riding in windy drizzle instead of a blinding rainstorm on the way home. The precipitation stopped long before i left the house this morning, and the roads, while wet, were not impassible. We finally saw a dusting of snow as we tooled around West Wrentham road on the down hill heading north after passing the top of Towerhill road.
I need to remember to turn the suck knob down i think... That or maybe just start getting some sleep.
Probably a bit of both...
Gonna be off the bike tomorrow, sat and sunday... and i think it can't be soon enough. That and as long as i limit myself to just eating food at brunch on sunday i'll be doing great...
well - yal have fun now 'hear?
-G
And i was tired, wait - still am tired...
had a good ride - fortunately the wind wasn't nearly as bad as it was last week. And i only generated 2000 kJ on the ride this morning. 3 hours and something total...
Lookin at the mileage totals i've only got about 1300-1400 total miles on the bike, nearly all of that with the trailer...
Today my body was on strike. It wanted to rest. It wanted sunday back as a rest day. It wanted to stop at every breakfast joint to sit down and drink coffee and eat piles of eggs potatoes sausage bacon and toast... i would be ticking along up hill - workin hard - holding a good rhythm and then like a wet bar of soap shooting across the shower off flew big M. Everytime he did that it was like he would unplug me... like the cord powering me was connected to his bike and he'd take off and i'd come un-fucking-glued... Last week he claims he was struggling to stay with me on his cross bike... now - hell he made it up tower hill road minutes faster than me... bike + shitty day = GeWilli slow as hell...
But...
It didn't snow down here. I left work just as the heaviest rain swept through Providence, so i was riding in windy drizzle instead of a blinding rainstorm on the way home. The precipitation stopped long before i left the house this morning, and the roads, while wet, were not impassible. We finally saw a dusting of snow as we tooled around West Wrentham road on the down hill heading north after passing the top of Towerhill road.
I need to remember to turn the suck knob down i think... That or maybe just start getting some sleep.
Probably a bit of both...
Gonna be off the bike tomorrow, sat and sunday... and i think it can't be soon enough. That and as long as i limit myself to just eating food at brunch on sunday i'll be doing great...
well - yal have fun now 'hear?
-G
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
a few random thoughts... linked? who knows
It takes hundreds of nuts to hold a car together, but it takes only one of them to scatter it all over the highway.
- Evan Esar
The best minds are not in government. If any were, business would hire them away.
- Ronald Reagan
That might just be the only smart thing Ronny said...
Got the hill work out in this morning, same route as last week - torched it up one of them... middle of Jenkes on the last stretch a car was waiting for me to back out so i thought "more power Scotty" and i got some response out of the legs... they kicked in and all that. On the first and second hill i was mentally feeling like crap, the legs were burning a bit more than i felt that they should have been, and i almost packed it in. But i stuck with it. I did the next one, and the next one, and the next one... and kept on going until i was finished with the circuit.
Had to bag the 20 minute cool down to get back to the brain enlarging gig here. Time to eat. Eat more food. Must replenish the glycogen, cause that was no way shape or form anything resembling a slow twitch fest - it was fast twitch glycogen love fest...
Rode in in the big ring to prep the legs for the force fest of the hills- felt pretty good... But could also use some more rest i think...
Have not yet managed to put the Klein back together again so it'll be yet another epic on the cross bike... Hell at this rate maybe i'll just slap some light wheels on that sunovabitch and race that thing (kidding - for real). Why'd i give my self a 4 pound handicap in just the frame weight - not to mention the stiffness and control??? The 53x39 rings are installed - Fder needs adjusting, Rder needs to be cleaned and chain/wheels all need to be installed...
My wife was at the boston food show yesterday - she came home with some cool schwag. Peak Brewing company was there but not handing stuff out (other than samples) but some fruit company unloaded their display and we've got two nice big bags of pink organic grapefruit, some kiwis (organic) and some gala (organic) apples... couple different spices and other stuff... chef hats for the girls...
Stonyfield farms was there somewhere - she grabbed the food service promo pack out of curiosity. Sounded like a blast!
And yes - Solo is correct - that's a damn good interview of our little friend. Almost as funny as the Greg Randolph or Patty O'G interview at drunkcyclist. Language and everything!
In defense of the geeks and info hungry folks riding (i'll call it riding as training is independent of actually owning/using a power meter) with power meters recording what you have done, is a good indication and potentially better for evaluating progress than HR alone. Yes. No argument that HR for someone who has tracked it and is wicked attune to how their body works... But just as fat people who own scales use them to see change over time, the healthy ones use it to track their progress in life. And hopefully wind up not so fat, just as shedding pounds is a gradual process , so is gaining power and speed... hopping on the scale can be the mental edge that empower certain mindsets to success... tracking power is the same...
Its a mental tool. Some people can benefit from it. Some people have no need. Those who don't need it should be a bit more positive and recognize that some folks can benefit from it.
That and some people just need some sort of recording device to track their riding time and effort and HR and cadence and all that jazz...
Having an opinion should be the result of THOUGHT not a substitute for it...
I like that...
Who over thinks things more than GeWilli? Very few people... who has more opinions than GeWilli? Again... very few people... coincidence? I doubt it...
Jef Mallett is a freaking genius!
And speaking of people being fat!? check Go Clipless... un-fucking-believable
Terry Kerry finally has some cycling related shizzle up... and who doesn't like to slip into some pink now and then... girls or guys... wait... that might not have come out right - i'm talking clothes... unless - nevermind... i should just let that be... Did you know that pink was originally a color for boys and men and girls were blue? Quick Google search pulls up this blog's entry about it with a few links to peruse...
If that isn't enough head over to About.com and read the entry "Real Men Wear Pink"
I wonder if that is enough of a James Joycean stream of consciousness... flow... or do i need to add something so almost unrelated to keep the flow going...
ooh - flow maybe isn't the right word to use...
one thing i've noticed since fighting the sinus bug - on the bike my sinuses actually drain properly... its amazing... days off the bike the sinus almost blasts me to pain... but if i stay hydrated enough and on the bike - esp in cooler mucus producing weather - i get to the office clear and in no need of a tissue to blast snot out all day! MUST ride... colder the better... Lungs clear, breathing good... cycling must have been made for me and my messed up poorly draining sinuses... I've tried that nose flushing thing and all it does is put more fluid in there that doesn't drain... I'd love to see an MRI of this cranium of mine to see just how the sinus cavities are shaped...
Speaking of shape - the Mandy made it on Pez... yet again...
and then you can't but envy Peanut hanging out in Provence France... ahh to have a house in the hills above Nice... long rides... great food... Chagal and Matisse Museums to go to, winding old historical shop streets... great outdoor markets... beaches... hills... and France...
And further evidence that cyclists are an opinionated bunch and they all have different ones... how does it go? Opinions are like a$$holes, everyone's is different and they ALL stink!
And yes - finally speaking of stinking, and maybe hoping it doesn't stink for the sake of the zine... USAC sent me a magazine... Road Bike Action. I'm sure many of the "bike racers" out there got a copy in the mail.
First reaction: WTF is Zapp doing anywhere near a Road bike mag? Seriously? Zapp? Roadie? No Effin Way?!!
The mag not bad. Bob Roll has a nice little feature -too contrived to be super funny but there are some nuggets of goodness... Subscribe? $10 for 6 issues? Nah... prolly not - i'll stick with dirt rag for now...
And for now - between the constant barrage and interruption (although fortunately it has all be mid thought and it hasn't disrupted the laying of this track) (multi-string tasking sort of thing is something i like doing alot)...
And on that note - Peace, Respect, Ride with respect for the laws if you expect respect in turn... Karma's an effin pain...
-G
- Evan Esar
The best minds are not in government. If any were, business would hire them away.
- Ronald Reagan
That might just be the only smart thing Ronny said...
Got the hill work out in this morning, same route as last week - torched it up one of them... middle of Jenkes on the last stretch a car was waiting for me to back out so i thought "more power Scotty" and i got some response out of the legs... they kicked in and all that. On the first and second hill i was mentally feeling like crap, the legs were burning a bit more than i felt that they should have been, and i almost packed it in. But i stuck with it. I did the next one, and the next one, and the next one... and kept on going until i was finished with the circuit.
Had to bag the 20 minute cool down to get back to the brain enlarging gig here. Time to eat. Eat more food. Must replenish the glycogen, cause that was no way shape or form anything resembling a slow twitch fest - it was fast twitch glycogen love fest...
Rode in in the big ring to prep the legs for the force fest of the hills- felt pretty good... But could also use some more rest i think...
Have not yet managed to put the Klein back together again so it'll be yet another epic on the cross bike... Hell at this rate maybe i'll just slap some light wheels on that sunovabitch and race that thing (kidding - for real). Why'd i give my self a 4 pound handicap in just the frame weight - not to mention the stiffness and control??? The 53x39 rings are installed - Fder needs adjusting, Rder needs to be cleaned and chain/wheels all need to be installed...
My wife was at the boston food show yesterday - she came home with some cool schwag. Peak Brewing company was there but not handing stuff out (other than samples) but some fruit company unloaded their display and we've got two nice big bags of pink organic grapefruit, some kiwis (organic) and some gala (organic) apples... couple different spices and other stuff... chef hats for the girls...
Stonyfield farms was there somewhere - she grabbed the food service promo pack out of curiosity. Sounded like a blast!
And yes - Solo is correct - that's a damn good interview of our little friend. Almost as funny as the Greg Randolph or Patty O'G interview at drunkcyclist. Language and everything!
In defense of the geeks and info hungry folks riding (i'll call it riding as training is independent of actually owning/using a power meter) with power meters recording what you have done, is a good indication and potentially better for evaluating progress than HR alone. Yes. No argument that HR for someone who has tracked it and is wicked attune to how their body works... But just as fat people who own scales use them to see change over time, the healthy ones use it to track their progress in life. And hopefully wind up not so fat, just as shedding pounds is a gradual process , so is gaining power and speed... hopping on the scale can be the mental edge that empower certain mindsets to success... tracking power is the same...
Its a mental tool. Some people can benefit from it. Some people have no need. Those who don't need it should be a bit more positive and recognize that some folks can benefit from it.
That and some people just need some sort of recording device to track their riding time and effort and HR and cadence and all that jazz...
Having an opinion should be the result of THOUGHT not a substitute for it...
I like that...
Who over thinks things more than GeWilli? Very few people... who has more opinions than GeWilli? Again... very few people... coincidence? I doubt it...
Jef Mallett is a freaking genius!
And speaking of people being fat!? check Go Clipless... un-fucking-believable
Terry Kerry finally has some cycling related shizzle up... and who doesn't like to slip into some pink now and then... girls or guys... wait... that might not have come out right - i'm talking clothes... unless - nevermind... i should just let that be... Did you know that pink was originally a color for boys and men and girls were blue? Quick Google search pulls up this blog's entry about it with a few links to peruse...
If that isn't enough head over to About.com and read the entry "Real Men Wear Pink"
I wonder if that is enough of a James Joycean stream of consciousness... flow... or do i need to add something so almost unrelated to keep the flow going...
ooh - flow maybe isn't the right word to use...
one thing i've noticed since fighting the sinus bug - on the bike my sinuses actually drain properly... its amazing... days off the bike the sinus almost blasts me to pain... but if i stay hydrated enough and on the bike - esp in cooler mucus producing weather - i get to the office clear and in no need of a tissue to blast snot out all day! MUST ride... colder the better... Lungs clear, breathing good... cycling must have been made for me and my messed up poorly draining sinuses... I've tried that nose flushing thing and all it does is put more fluid in there that doesn't drain... I'd love to see an MRI of this cranium of mine to see just how the sinus cavities are shaped...
Speaking of shape - the Mandy made it on Pez... yet again...
and then you can't but envy Peanut hanging out in Provence France... ahh to have a house in the hills above Nice... long rides... great food... Chagal and Matisse Museums to go to, winding old historical shop streets... great outdoor markets... beaches... hills... and France...
And further evidence that cyclists are an opinionated bunch and they all have different ones... how does it go? Opinions are like a$$holes, everyone's is different and they ALL stink!
And yes - finally speaking of stinking, and maybe hoping it doesn't stink for the sake of the zine... USAC sent me a magazine... Road Bike Action. I'm sure many of the "bike racers" out there got a copy in the mail.
First reaction: WTF is Zapp doing anywhere near a Road bike mag? Seriously? Zapp? Roadie? No Effin Way?!!
The mag not bad. Bob Roll has a nice little feature -too contrived to be super funny but there are some nuggets of goodness... Subscribe? $10 for 6 issues? Nah... prolly not - i'll stick with dirt rag for now...
And for now - between the constant barrage and interruption (although fortunately it has all be mid thought and it hasn't disrupted the laying of this track) (multi-string tasking sort of thing is something i like doing alot)...
And on that note - Peace, Respect, Ride with respect for the laws if you expect respect in turn... Karma's an effin pain...
-G
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Go Easy on the Easy days
Easy as in easy enough! Well after the racing yesterday was an easy day... today i decided the morning will have to be easy but focus on the spin (100+ rpm up to the bridge at least). This evening heading home will be TT mode to grab the internal combustion engine powered vehicle and collect both girls... Those xtracycles with the two seats are looking mighty tempting on days like this...
Results from Burlingame are up... 9th in the catagory... acceptable, out of 22 in my group... not bad for never riding the course... and 14th overall in the whole sport division... I wonder tho if i'd had the mantra if i coulda squeezed an extra minute or two out of the course - maybe not... Somewhat dissapointed in the placing but happy i rode and motivated to do better... i left it mostly all out there on the course - but probably could have found a few seconds here or there if i was to do it again... wicked damn fun... wicked damn fun this mt bike stuff is...
That's it for now...
Respect, in all aspects of life...
-G
Results from Burlingame are up... 9th in the catagory... acceptable, out of 22 in my group... not bad for never riding the course... and 14th overall in the whole sport division... I wonder tho if i'd had the mantra if i coulda squeezed an extra minute or two out of the course - maybe not... Somewhat dissapointed in the placing but happy i rode and motivated to do better... i left it mostly all out there on the course - but probably could have found a few seconds here or there if i was to do it again... wicked damn fun... wicked damn fun this mt bike stuff is...
That's it for now...
Respect, in all aspects of life...
-G
Monday, April 02, 2007
ever had one of those days?
that just seem like ya firing on 3 of 8 cylinders?
Not sure why i'm feeling so slow - worn out - trying some tunage to see if it gets me jazzed...
it was a slow mellow ride in... legs feel pretty cooked right now... yes... legs legs legs...
after work on saturday my wife came home and said "i was reading your blog, and it was all about "My Legs" my legs legs legs legs legs...."
yeah... so a cyclist has an abnormal obsession with how the legs feel...
It is the same as a driver/mechanic. Always obsessing about the engine, listening, aware, all that stuff... the engine/legs drive us...
Maybe the slow start this morning in the foggy mist set the tone... it was mellow, slow paced... Replaying some of the race in my head - wondering where i could have gone harder - faster, smoother - where i should have gotten off and run (can't kick the crosser out of my riding it seems)... Wondering if the Mantra and the granny gear might have made a difference spinning through some of the more technical sections instead of grinding it out in the 36x28 low gear... There is always next year...
Course - pre-ride... or take both Mt Bikes next time... thinking i gotta just put the suspended fork back on the mantra... stuff like that - post race wondering...
realization: despite the number of miles, the time spend on the bike, even the numbers of races i've done, the race series that i've won, and all that stuff... until 2006 and even only 1/2 way through it, i haven't put a consistent string of races together since 1998... the time off seems to have erased or pushed WAY back out into the remote archives in my brain all the racing knowledge... kinda strange...
That and my flow just sucked on the Mt Bike... it wasn't bad, and the power made the simple sections pay dividends... but... i just wasn't feeling the groove that i'm used to... It was a freaking BLAST... but the groove, the smooth, the flow... not quite there...
it'll be interesting to see how the times spread out between the different classes and age groups... when they are all posted...
Gonna eat some food - maybe that'll help wake me up...
Oh and linkage - Murat's wells ave vid... worth a look - maybe i should head up one day and hang in a race or two for the hell of it...
respect
G
Not sure why i'm feeling so slow - worn out - trying some tunage to see if it gets me jazzed...
it was a slow mellow ride in... legs feel pretty cooked right now... yes... legs legs legs...
after work on saturday my wife came home and said "i was reading your blog, and it was all about "My Legs" my legs legs legs legs legs...."
yeah... so a cyclist has an abnormal obsession with how the legs feel...
It is the same as a driver/mechanic. Always obsessing about the engine, listening, aware, all that stuff... the engine/legs drive us...
Maybe the slow start this morning in the foggy mist set the tone... it was mellow, slow paced... Replaying some of the race in my head - wondering where i could have gone harder - faster, smoother - where i should have gotten off and run (can't kick the crosser out of my riding it seems)... Wondering if the Mantra and the granny gear might have made a difference spinning through some of the more technical sections instead of grinding it out in the 36x28 low gear... There is always next year...
Course - pre-ride... or take both Mt Bikes next time... thinking i gotta just put the suspended fork back on the mantra... stuff like that - post race wondering...
realization: despite the number of miles, the time spend on the bike, even the numbers of races i've done, the race series that i've won, and all that stuff... until 2006 and even only 1/2 way through it, i haven't put a consistent string of races together since 1998... the time off seems to have erased or pushed WAY back out into the remote archives in my brain all the racing knowledge... kinda strange...
That and my flow just sucked on the Mt Bike... it wasn't bad, and the power made the simple sections pay dividends... but... i just wasn't feeling the groove that i'm used to... It was a freaking BLAST... but the groove, the smooth, the flow... not quite there...
it'll be interesting to see how the times spread out between the different classes and age groups... when they are all posted...
Gonna eat some food - maybe that'll help wake me up...
Oh and linkage - Murat's wells ave vid... worth a look - maybe i should head up one day and hang in a race or two for the hell of it...
respect
G
Link-o-rama
Old lady pissed at car...
The ONLY way to clean your chain...
April Fools - ah hell ain't gonna link KL or Ctodd wait i just did - which is which - funniest thing in a long time...
My friend Lee's kickin ass ride around NH... Maybe the bunch of bikers crew knows the roads he poked around on...
From Mad Dog:
on other stuff -
the wise and knowledgeable Cronoman paid a visit to our humble abode Saturday in anticipation of Sunday's King of Burlingame Mt TT. Was great chatting and hangin with the legend in a more relaxing environment than before or after a bike race...
drove down - raced - headed back... I'll get some commentary of that race written up at some point.
If nothing else the experience increased my admiration and respect for Cronoman exponentially. Thanks for hangin out Sir! And the race was fun too. Gleaned some great info about the BKR would love to be able to take the time to do the pre-ride this weekend but... will have to wait to see the epic... was dreaming about it last night - it is starting to consume me... i must decrease the anticipation some how...
i might pop back and edit this and add more linkage but for now... this'll have ta do...
peace
G
The ONLY way to clean your chain...
April Fools - ah hell ain't gonna link KL or Ctodd wait i just did - which is which - funniest thing in a long time...
My friend Lee's kickin ass ride around NH... Maybe the bunch of bikers crew knows the roads he poked around on...
From Mad Dog:
Now, back to business as usual: John McCain is an asshole. Read that, then read this, and if you still think McCain is a straight-talker, then please do the nation a service and kill yourself before the 2008 elections. Better yet, join the Army, ship out to Iraq and replace some smart person who wants to come home to friends and family to help strip the weak links from the chain of command.
on other stuff -
the wise and knowledgeable Cronoman paid a visit to our humble abode Saturday in anticipation of Sunday's King of Burlingame Mt TT. Was great chatting and hangin with the legend in a more relaxing environment than before or after a bike race...
drove down - raced - headed back... I'll get some commentary of that race written up at some point.
If nothing else the experience increased my admiration and respect for Cronoman exponentially. Thanks for hangin out Sir! And the race was fun too. Gleaned some great info about the BKR would love to be able to take the time to do the pre-ride this weekend but... will have to wait to see the epic... was dreaming about it last night - it is starting to consume me... i must decrease the anticipation some how...
i might pop back and edit this and add more linkage but for now... this'll have ta do...
peace
G
Friday, March 30, 2007
grrrr
i need to fit 3 hours between now and 5pm...
i also need to eat lunch... i've had 5 minute snacks since 11:30 but i'm wicked damn hungry...
i DID make it out to the shop sponsor to pick up a 12-27 ultegra 9 speed cassette and chain pin... looking at Sheldon's gear chart i'm sticking with the chainrings on the Klein and just adding this cassette... identical gearing to what the "race guide" calls for (39-25) or more or less close enough...
ran into a gal who raced it last year - said descents were nothing to hairy just rocks flying everywhere... oh and pain - she mentioned that alot too...
anyway - gonna see if i can make the best of the rest of the day before blasting for the weekend!!! Wooooo ho...
g
i also need to eat lunch... i've had 5 minute snacks since 11:30 but i'm wicked damn hungry...
i DID make it out to the shop sponsor to pick up a 12-27 ultegra 9 speed cassette and chain pin... looking at Sheldon's gear chart i'm sticking with the chainrings on the Klein and just adding this cassette... identical gearing to what the "race guide" calls for (39-25) or more or less close enough...
ran into a gal who raced it last year - said descents were nothing to hairy just rocks flying everywhere... oh and pain - she mentioned that alot too...
anyway - gonna see if i can make the best of the rest of the day before blasting for the weekend!!! Wooooo ho...
g
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