The posts I want to write.
The whole creme/taint condition catch 22.
Now I have a good coffee dialog resulting from Twitter this morning - it brewed and stewed in my head on the ride in.
Also on the ride in a don't to this to get faster stronger post.
Like don't decide to put one 20# rock in a trailer and ride all the way to work with an extra set of clothes tons of food and too much stuff in a heavier than average trailer when it there is a strong headwind. And by all means don't shift into the big ring for the whole ride esp with the hills.
That and I just realized I pulled a double.
Two weeks in a row, no car. Which also means two week (since the 16th) that I have pedaled the bike. Only one of those days was without a trailer (Monday's 128 mile ride), two of those days were smackdowns one was the velosprints.
I got some sweet pictures Wed night that haven't made it over here yet.
Getting backlogged.
oh well.
no want for content. Content that I want to write. Content that anyone wants to read? Not my problem, not my motivation. Just need to find time.
Hmm... ain't it funny how that works.
heddwch
G
Friday, March 30, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
FINALLY
I saw Brants on the way home tonight. Haven't seen a single one all winter with the bike path closed. No rides along the waters edge. No birds.
On the way home from the Smackdown tonight they were there. I snapped a few shots off.
Was awesome seeing them.
I've missed them this year.
On the way home from the Smackdown tonight they were there. I snapped a few shots off.
Was awesome seeing them.
I've missed them this year.
the phoenix...
Rises again. The Quantum Pro has been resurrected. Okay fine, it never died, just went into a Coma after the last road race last year. Hmm that would have been Mystic Velo on the 15th of May last year. Long time to be hanging from the rafters.
Took a bit to find the bits removed from it. First the Reynolds Carbon brake pads that I sold with the Reynolds Strikes (had to pay for CX season somehow) were removed, but I didn't put the old pads, and the cassette was removed, and well both have been sort of MIA lately.
A bit ago I did find all the bits of the cassette (chain is still under 0.75 on the park tool for stretch) mixed in with a 10sp one. Easy enough to sort out. And last night I got ready to steal pads from the Tektro 720s to put in there and I found one block, then two, three and finally dug some more and found the 4th. Funny that. They were right where I had put them and thought that I put them, but some how the light or something was right and I saw them. Yeah I should clean up the kuck piles. I'd rather ride bikes or get paid to work on bikes or cook food for the family. Maybe I'll get to it sooner than later.
End result? It is functional, it carried me into work (with the trailer even), but man these bars are wicked strange. Old Mavic 350s. Yes. Mavic 350s. They be old and stuff. Like me. Old but still functional.
Feels strange to have my knees near a top tube instead of brushing the top tube with my calf (on the blue, yes maybe the bike is too small). Enough drop that sprinting in the hoods isn't a handicap, but yes, I can still get in the drops.
No bottle cages for tonight. Fox didn't ride with one last week "Who needs water for an hour long ride?" Good point. That and I didn't want to swap shit around or put the ejecto-cage on the seat tube with a few of the rougher roads we ride on. Just took the wheels off the blue, swapped cassette and boom, in business.
The bike actually felt pretty might spot on, saddle might be a tiny bit too far forward, but not by much, reach and drop feel good. But after 8 hours with the new (2010 shimano) levers these old 7700 hoods are strange, but not foreign.
A big question for tonight is how the legs are. The bike is ready to go, but do I have any snap after monday's slog in the wind? Tough to say.
Weather looks to be clearing though. Which is good. I forgot the front headlight AND the selfish fender, hoping i don't get striped on the way home. Better than showing up at work with a dripping crack.
heddwch
G
Took a bit to find the bits removed from it. First the Reynolds Carbon brake pads that I sold with the Reynolds Strikes (had to pay for CX season somehow) were removed, but I didn't put the old pads, and the cassette was removed, and well both have been sort of MIA lately.
A bit ago I did find all the bits of the cassette (chain is still under 0.75 on the park tool for stretch) mixed in with a 10sp one. Easy enough to sort out. And last night I got ready to steal pads from the Tektro 720s to put in there and I found one block, then two, three and finally dug some more and found the 4th. Funny that. They were right where I had put them and thought that I put them, but some how the light or something was right and I saw them. Yeah I should clean up the kuck piles. I'd rather ride bikes or get paid to work on bikes or cook food for the family. Maybe I'll get to it sooner than later.
End result? It is functional, it carried me into work (with the trailer even), but man these bars are wicked strange. Old Mavic 350s. Yes. Mavic 350s. They be old and stuff. Like me. Old but still functional.
Feels strange to have my knees near a top tube instead of brushing the top tube with my calf (on the blue, yes maybe the bike is too small). Enough drop that sprinting in the hoods isn't a handicap, but yes, I can still get in the drops.
No bottle cages for tonight. Fox didn't ride with one last week "Who needs water for an hour long ride?" Good point. That and I didn't want to swap shit around or put the ejecto-cage on the seat tube with a few of the rougher roads we ride on. Just took the wheels off the blue, swapped cassette and boom, in business.
The bike actually felt pretty might spot on, saddle might be a tiny bit too far forward, but not by much, reach and drop feel good. But after 8 hours with the new (2010 shimano) levers these old 7700 hoods are strange, but not foreign.
A big question for tonight is how the legs are. The bike is ready to go, but do I have any snap after monday's slog in the wind? Tough to say.
Weather looks to be clearing though. Which is good. I forgot the front headlight AND the selfish fender, hoping i don't get striped on the way home. Better than showing up at work with a dripping crack.
heddwch
G
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
of note from this AM
one incident stood out this morning...
heading in, past the school, I have to go from the right lane to the next lane over so I can go straight. Problem is there isn't really room for cars to go around me and they often back up in the 200-400 meter stretch there.
Today wasn't much different. normal day.
But there is this taurus there, I merged over and he pulls up along side and matches pace and out of the corner of my eye I notice his window rolling down...
then he draws even with me, i look over at him and he rolls his window up without saying anything and heads off north.
first thought: this massive amount of facial hair scared him.
second thought: maybe he rolled his window down and realized it was too cold to start something (i love cold winters that keep the motorists from rolling them down and shouting)
I get that a bit, a few honks shaking of heads, esp with the trailer.
this morning was just rather interesting. maybe the beard is getting to be a bit too scary.
heddwch
G
heading in, past the school, I have to go from the right lane to the next lane over so I can go straight. Problem is there isn't really room for cars to go around me and they often back up in the 200-400 meter stretch there.
Today wasn't much different. normal day.
But there is this taurus there, I merged over and he pulls up along side and matches pace and out of the corner of my eye I notice his window rolling down...
then he draws even with me, i look over at him and he rolls his window up without saying anything and heads off north.
first thought: this massive amount of facial hair scared him.
second thought: maybe he rolled his window down and realized it was too cold to start something (i love cold winters that keep the motorists from rolling them down and shouting)
I get that a bit, a few honks shaking of heads, esp with the trailer.
this morning was just rather interesting. maybe the beard is getting to be a bit too scary.
heddwch
G
The March Madness Ride
Yesterday was nuts. Plain and simple.
Looking at the calendar a week out, the only days I had options on for meeting the challenge of riding to Boston once a month until CX season starts were Monday and Tuesday. Monday seemed the better choice. Seemed it at the end of last week. Mostly because the wind should have been pretty calm to start the day and Tuesday looked to just be f'n windy all day.
The plan was to ride up and have coffee with Nick (lunch just makes you fat™) in Cambridge, then swing over and finally try the Barrington Roaster's coffee over in Fox Point.
Team mate Dean agreed to join me. Dean's a wicked cool crazy amazing guy. Professor of Sculpture at RISD, and not a shabby bike rider. He's headed up to Battenkill because that's home turf, and he had the day to spend on the bike and figured why not.
I was headed up to battle the wind regardless of company. Dean tagged along well prepared (couple sandwiches, blocks, bars, money, tubes, tires) he was rolling on a sweet painted 'Nago with Campy, with some Ultremo DD rubber. And he's not terribly short. A passable draft.
All good things.
One thing in the back of my mind leading up to it was the fact that I had ridden the bike every day since the 16th. All with the trailer, sometimes full of rocks, but usually not empty, groceries some days, stuff others, rocks, and then there was the Velosprints on the 19th, Smackdown on Wed. Saturday AM I was late, so I blitzed it to work. Worked both Sat and Sun at the shop. Hit the store Sun AM and loaded the trailer up, for some reason I didn't want to have an easy ride home.
Looking at the calendar a week out, the only days I had options on for meeting the challenge of riding to Boston once a month until CX season starts were Monday and Tuesday. Monday seemed the better choice. Seemed it at the end of last week. Mostly because the wind should have been pretty calm to start the day and Tuesday looked to just be f'n windy all day.
The plan was to ride up and have coffee with Nick (lunch just makes you fat™) in Cambridge, then swing over and finally try the Barrington Roaster's coffee over in Fox Point.
Team mate Dean agreed to join me. Dean's a wicked cool crazy amazing guy. Professor of Sculpture at RISD, and not a shabby bike rider. He's headed up to Battenkill because that's home turf, and he had the day to spend on the bike and figured why not.
I was headed up to battle the wind regardless of company. Dean tagged along well prepared (couple sandwiches, blocks, bars, money, tubes, tires) he was rolling on a sweet painted 'Nago with Campy, with some Ultremo DD rubber. And he's not terribly short. A passable draft.
All good things.
One thing in the back of my mind leading up to it was the fact that I had ridden the bike every day since the 16th. All with the trailer, sometimes full of rocks, but usually not empty, groceries some days, stuff others, rocks, and then there was the Velosprints on the 19th, Smackdown on Wed. Saturday AM I was late, so I blitzed it to work. Worked both Sat and Sun at the shop. Hit the store Sun AM and loaded the trailer up, for some reason I didn't want to have an easy ride home.
Monday, March 26, 2012
PVD-BOS-PVD march edition (brief)
today:
long ride with +dean snyder
Providence RI up to Cambridge to meet +Nick Czerula for coffee.
Then headed to Barrington Roasters there on Congress (Fox Point), and home.
Left at 7:40am, Got home at 5:50pm
stats from the old fashioned bike computer:
128.5 miles
7:57:05 pedaling time (yeah 7 hrs 57 mins)
If you are in Southern New England today, well it is windy. Not just a little windy. Like 20+ gusting to 40 mph windy. From the N over to the NW. The way up was all the way in the wind.
Not an easy day. But man, what a day on the bike.
time to eat all the food, actually not so hungry, mostly just f'n tired. And wow... the wind.
long ride with +dean snyder
Providence RI up to Cambridge to meet +Nick Czerula for coffee.
Then headed to Barrington Roasters there on Congress (Fox Point), and home.
Left at 7:40am, Got home at 5:50pm
stats from the old fashioned bike computer:
128.5 miles
7:57:05 pedaling time (yeah 7 hrs 57 mins)
If you are in Southern New England today, well it is windy. Not just a little windy. Like 20+ gusting to 40 mph windy. From the N over to the NW. The way up was all the way in the wind.
Not an easy day. But man, what a day on the bike.
time to eat all the food, actually not so hungry, mostly just f'n tired. And wow... the wind.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Forsythia in Bloom
I've been watching the buds swell for a few days now, this morning is the first morning I would say they are in bloom. I like data and would be curious to see a log for when a small local population, just to see how their timing. Degree day information is out there as is daylight, but botanical triggers for flower opening, but those are less tangible metrics. There is something a bit more beautiful and variable about tracking flower blooming.
Just a random short thought sipping a cup of coffee looking out the kitchen window over the sink at the Forsythia covered in yellow flowers.
I tried to get a snapshot, but the overcast morning light and shooting through the window are a less than successful combination.
Another botanical pondering recently was about the beard. Winter beard must be more like a Blue Spruce than an Englemann spruce. Two very similar trees. Some have suggested that there is continuous variation from one to the other with significant overlap and potential ability to cross-pollinate (as in they aren't distinct species in the sexual (reproductive) isolation sense. There is a practical difference that works to isolate them, the timing of bud/flower breaking.
Englemann spruce (Picea englemannii) tends to set bud as soon as it "warms up" once a certain degree day accumulation has been reached and the daylight is appropriate - the vasculature starts up and the cells in the buds begin to swell. They are all tiny and small cells for plants, no vacuoles, meristematic by definition. The initial expansion isn't driven by division, but by cell growth. Division happens, but not initially.
The bud scales do a great job of insulating and protecting the vegetative of reproductive bud inside, but Englemann spruce is a high altitude, rocky mountain species. It breaks dormancy aggressively, at first warmth more or less. And in the native habitat that works, esp with such a short growing season. If it waits to make sure it is for real, it misses out on critical days or weeks of growth. This same thing makes it terribly unsuitable to grow anywhere else. You see it in trees planted at low elevation, early bud sets routinely get killed by spring frosts. Trees that primarily cue off temperature get in trouble like that. They wind up ugly and stunted. Not the majestic specimens they can be in their native habitat.
The Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) is different. This is a clever tree with a mechanism that allows it to succeed where the P englemannii fails. The trees wait. Patiently. They know at lower elevations they have a bit more warmth, water, soil, nutrients, they can grow faster than their counterparts up higher. And they've figured out that the first warm day never signals the end of the winter.
They wait.
The know it will get cold again. And finally they break bud and go like gang busters. By May the female cones are erect, pink and dripping with resin and ready to exude their pollination drop. But sometimes they hold out a bit longer or go a bit earlier. I found that out the hard way one field season collecting female cones. Timing is variable. And thus I needed an extra year to collect the data that I needed.
And in a few too many words, my winter beard is going to be more like the Blue Spruce. A bit patient, not ready to reveal the face hiding under the fur. Easter may be too long to wait, but unlike the Spruce trees I can look at the long range forecast and see that we've got a 20°F morning coming up next week. Would be a shame to have to put a balaclava on for the first time all year now.
Time for a bit more coffee, get cleaned up and then a slow ride into the bike shop for the day.
Heddwch
G
Just a random short thought sipping a cup of coffee looking out the kitchen window over the sink at the Forsythia covered in yellow flowers.
I tried to get a snapshot, but the overcast morning light and shooting through the window are a less than successful combination.
Another botanical pondering recently was about the beard. Winter beard must be more like a Blue Spruce than an Englemann spruce. Two very similar trees. Some have suggested that there is continuous variation from one to the other with significant overlap and potential ability to cross-pollinate (as in they aren't distinct species in the sexual (reproductive) isolation sense. There is a practical difference that works to isolate them, the timing of bud/flower breaking.
Englemann spruce (Picea englemannii) tends to set bud as soon as it "warms up" once a certain degree day accumulation has been reached and the daylight is appropriate - the vasculature starts up and the cells in the buds begin to swell. They are all tiny and small cells for plants, no vacuoles, meristematic by definition. The initial expansion isn't driven by division, but by cell growth. Division happens, but not initially.
The bud scales do a great job of insulating and protecting the vegetative of reproductive bud inside, but Englemann spruce is a high altitude, rocky mountain species. It breaks dormancy aggressively, at first warmth more or less. And in the native habitat that works, esp with such a short growing season. If it waits to make sure it is for real, it misses out on critical days or weeks of growth. This same thing makes it terribly unsuitable to grow anywhere else. You see it in trees planted at low elevation, early bud sets routinely get killed by spring frosts. Trees that primarily cue off temperature get in trouble like that. They wind up ugly and stunted. Not the majestic specimens they can be in their native habitat.
The Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) is different. This is a clever tree with a mechanism that allows it to succeed where the P englemannii fails. The trees wait. Patiently. They know at lower elevations they have a bit more warmth, water, soil, nutrients, they can grow faster than their counterparts up higher. And they've figured out that the first warm day never signals the end of the winter.
They wait.
The know it will get cold again. And finally they break bud and go like gang busters. By May the female cones are erect, pink and dripping with resin and ready to exude their pollination drop. But sometimes they hold out a bit longer or go a bit earlier. I found that out the hard way one field season collecting female cones. Timing is variable. And thus I needed an extra year to collect the data that I needed.
And in a few too many words, my winter beard is going to be more like the Blue Spruce. A bit patient, not ready to reveal the face hiding under the fur. Easter may be too long to wait, but unlike the Spruce trees I can look at the long range forecast and see that we've got a 20°F morning coming up next week. Would be a shame to have to put a balaclava on for the first time all year now.
Time for a bit more coffee, get cleaned up and then a slow ride into the bike shop for the day.
Heddwch
G
Friday, March 23, 2012
nanoscape
Tried a bit of SEM therapy today.
Imaged some of the Zanconato milling scraps:
http://nanoscape.tumblr.com/
Imaged some of the Zanconato milling scraps:
http://nanoscape.tumblr.com/
Thursday, March 22, 2012
No Rocks today and a sunset
Just a couple shots.
Ditched the rocks, and even finally hosed the dirt off the Blue that has been there since the last big ride. Of course now the BB bearings are crunching. Guess I need to order another set of BB30 bearings. The boxes of tires and tubes worked well enough, rode home w/o them though.
Rode home after sunset. Worked a bit at the shop tonight after the other work and well the sunset was pretty spectacular. Weather is insanely hot, for March at least. I'm not complaining, just observing. I shouldn't be riding to work in short sleeves and shorts at this time of year and arriving sweaty. Not right, but hey, it is what it is, could be 35 and raining, I'll take this over that.
Heddwch
G
Ditched the rocks, and even finally hosed the dirt off the Blue that has been there since the last big ride. Of course now the BB bearings are crunching. Guess I need to order another set of BB30 bearings. The boxes of tires and tubes worked well enough, rode home w/o them though.
Rode home after sunset. Worked a bit at the shop tonight after the other work and well the sunset was pretty spectacular. Weather is insanely hot, for March at least. I'm not complaining, just observing. I shouldn't be riding to work in short sleeves and shorts at this time of year and arriving sweaty. Not right, but hey, it is what it is, could be 35 and raining, I'll take this over that.
Heddwch
G
Wed AM breakfast
And what was sitting in my belly at the start of the ride. Yeah I ate a pint of my final mix at 3:30pm, a mere 90 min before the start of the smackdown. That or be famished on the ride. Catch 22 situation.
Right so what was it?
This
Except not quite that.
I didn't have scottish oats but the Bob's Red Mill Scottish ones I tried at Bend Nats were pretty awesome.
I used some steel cut oats. I toasted them on high heat with the butter till it smelled toasty and the butter was all absorbed. Certainly could use Coconut fat or other veggie fat to make it vegan. Cooked it up nice and toasty, popped in some water, brought it to a boil, and covered and set it on the back of the stove for the night.
Best to add a touch of salt with the water. Why not. Helps with flavor, esp if you use unsalted butter (if you use unsalted butter make sure you're purchasing butter w/o the flavor added - if it needs flavor the butter is shit quality - not real food IOW).
For my 'toppings'
A bit of Bob's Red Mill ground flax seed (store in fridge)
Rasins
Sugar (brown or vegan usually)
dark chocolate peanut butter
I added a touch of whole milk at the end of the morning cooking.
But simple. Melt butter, put in oats, crank heat, toast, add water, bring to boil, turn off heat, cover, put on back of stove, wake up in the am, crank heat back up to boil, finish cooking (couple minutes) and dress it and eat it.
So
good
yum
but a bit dense to eat 90 min before the smackdown
Right so what was it?
This
Except not quite that.
I didn't have scottish oats but the Bob's Red Mill Scottish ones I tried at Bend Nats were pretty awesome.
I used some steel cut oats. I toasted them on high heat with the butter till it smelled toasty and the butter was all absorbed. Certainly could use Coconut fat or other veggie fat to make it vegan. Cooked it up nice and toasty, popped in some water, brought it to a boil, and covered and set it on the back of the stove for the night.
Best to add a touch of salt with the water. Why not. Helps with flavor, esp if you use unsalted butter (if you use unsalted butter make sure you're purchasing butter w/o the flavor added - if it needs flavor the butter is shit quality - not real food IOW).
For my 'toppings'
A bit of Bob's Red Mill ground flax seed (store in fridge)
Rasins
Sugar (brown or vegan usually)
dark chocolate peanut butter
I added a touch of whole milk at the end of the morning cooking.
But simple. Melt butter, put in oats, crank heat, toast, add water, bring to boil, turn off heat, cover, put on back of stove, wake up in the am, crank heat back up to boil, finish cooking (couple minutes) and dress it and eat it.
So
good
yum
but a bit dense to eat 90 min before the smackdown
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Smackdown decompression
Thanks to a wrong turn I managed to claim 3 of the 4 sprint lines. We were back across the bridge 68 min after leaving. That includes a mellow cool down for the last couple miles after the State line sprint.
Today was a bit crazy, felt dead. Probably eating a bit of food too close to the ride.
We has a bit of a shake up in the attendees. Good showing by Brown, couple other folks, Myles, Brier, the Fox showed up too. A couple guys I didn't get their names of, one of them made it to the end.
No Kellogg or Eddy G, two of the strongest guys out there last week. Kellogg was equally instrumental at driving the pace in the beginning and shared pulls with me. So smooth. No Kellogg. No Derdowski (another very smooth strong rider), no Syl either (climbs pretty damn well for a Mt biker). Ed pushed the pace at the end and won all but the Rocky Hill sprint that I did.
Foggy ride in
Mark Nicholson Smackdown March edition tonight (5pm Waterman Circle).
Rode the blue in (Klein is still out of action). With the trailer. Unloaded and on the fast bike it felt pretty effortless.
maybe the cool fog helped.
We'll see what tonight brings as far as legs and riders and weather. Rumors of 80°F.
Couple shots from this morning (untouched - crooked horizon and lots of pixels)
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Rocks rocks rocks
So yesterday I weighed them. 15, 20, 20, 25 lbs. The rocks that were in the trailer on the ride home Saturday night.
Or was it Sunday. I don't remember now.
With velosprints yesterday I headed in with an unloaded trailer. Okay loaded with clothes, lunch, stuff. But no rocks. The ride home was made fun by the headwind and tagging along with a friend. Mostly trying to keep up.
This morning, well it looks like I'll be off the bike Thursday and Friday so that leaves today and tomorrow for some work, and tomorrow is smackdown (5pm Waterman Circle) so rocks it is. Got the leg speed yesterday, today was torque.
But I didn't put all three in there. I left out a 20 pounder. Three of them only. That was enough to make me work pretty hard on the hills, hard enough that I was not just at the limit with the low gear up the grade, but heavy enough that I still could create a trailer load of torque.
Glassy calm on the way in, that was nice.
Popped up to grab some Turmeric and rescue a waterbottle left at the Ballet studio last night, with the trailer, up the hill, after lunch. Felt good. But again work.
Work good. Work as in physics not paycheck. I was doing that today, first with the regular stuff, then a whole lot of sitting around first waiting for the service engineer to show up, then for him to finish. Oh well. Sometimes things are more mellow than others. It balances out the insane days (like tomorrow and Thursday are lining up to be).
Headed home, short sleeves. legit shortsleeves. no arm warmers or knee warmers. And I was even sweating with that. This was no borderline lets just wear them because. it was warm.
So I'm cranking up the entrance hill at the Vet parkway and one of the Brown kids rolls up along side. No idea that the path is still closed so here I am, dragging sixty pounds of rocks in the trailer, into a 10-20mph headwind. At least he's just out for a mellow ride. So I show him the way around, how to connect the bike path with the closure.
Except he's on a sweet Scott plastic bike with wicked fancy HED wheels. And well yeah, I'm on the Croll with the trailer full of rocks.
But let me back up. Just for a second.
Before I hit the washington bridge, I passed this:
And thought, damn there are some nice rocks in there, they would make great trailer weights.
What? Are you listening to yourself? You're thinking about more rocks? Adding MORE? But those do look good. Nice and dense, either some granite or gneiss. Look good. Obviously there are a few that are more than 100#s and the trailer has a published limit of 100#s. I wasn't going to add any more for the ride home (good thing in retrospect), but I thought it was funny enough that I thought about it that I turned around and took a picture.
Rocks for brains.
Anyway. So we head down around past the construction site and then we start up the rollers to the top of the hill by the mental health hospital. First one is long and gradual, second one is steep. I'm at the limit on the first one, but I'm talking with him, answering a few questions as he lightly spins up. We hit the second roller and my HR is pegged and it is all i can do to keep up.
We hit the red light and I roll in front and set tempo into the wind. 18-22mph the whole stretch, HR slowly creeps up and I'm cooked by the time we hit the Dairy Bee.
Good over all soreness fatigue level in the legs right now. The other thing is, hauling the trailer with that much weight is a great core and arm workout climbing out of the saddle. And it is specific. And that's not a bad thing. Although unless a miracle happens and I find the 9sp cassette I took off the Klein Quantum Pro tonight I'll be gear limited for the smack down tomorrow. 46x12 should be plenty of gear... we'll see though. I would like to get the thing up and running though. Esp after this morning's twitter fest with the Klein Adept hybrid/flatbarroadbike/touring/hybrid. It was cool.
So yeah. Rocks. I might have to spend some time converting this trailer into cargo specific before too long, and re-working some of the fabric, it is getting pretty tired. Couple blown out zippers aren't helping matters either.
Taking the rocks out for tomorrow's ride in though. Still with the trailer though. I'll try not to flip it (not as stable when empty).
Time to be making the food for the troops. Right now I'm thinking pasta, sound good? It does to me.
Heddwch and creigiau am byth
G
Or was it Sunday. I don't remember now.
With velosprints yesterday I headed in with an unloaded trailer. Okay loaded with clothes, lunch, stuff. But no rocks. The ride home was made fun by the headwind and tagging along with a friend. Mostly trying to keep up.
This morning, well it looks like I'll be off the bike Thursday and Friday so that leaves today and tomorrow for some work, and tomorrow is smackdown (5pm Waterman Circle) so rocks it is. Got the leg speed yesterday, today was torque.
But I didn't put all three in there. I left out a 20 pounder. Three of them only. That was enough to make me work pretty hard on the hills, hard enough that I was not just at the limit with the low gear up the grade, but heavy enough that I still could create a trailer load of torque.
Glassy calm on the way in, that was nice.
Popped up to grab some Turmeric and rescue a waterbottle left at the Ballet studio last night, with the trailer, up the hill, after lunch. Felt good. But again work.
Work good. Work as in physics not paycheck. I was doing that today, first with the regular stuff, then a whole lot of sitting around first waiting for the service engineer to show up, then for him to finish. Oh well. Sometimes things are more mellow than others. It balances out the insane days (like tomorrow and Thursday are lining up to be).
Headed home, short sleeves. legit shortsleeves. no arm warmers or knee warmers. And I was even sweating with that. This was no borderline lets just wear them because. it was warm.
So I'm cranking up the entrance hill at the Vet parkway and one of the Brown kids rolls up along side. No idea that the path is still closed so here I am, dragging sixty pounds of rocks in the trailer, into a 10-20mph headwind. At least he's just out for a mellow ride. So I show him the way around, how to connect the bike path with the closure.
Except he's on a sweet Scott plastic bike with wicked fancy HED wheels. And well yeah, I'm on the Croll with the trailer full of rocks.
But let me back up. Just for a second.
Before I hit the washington bridge, I passed this:
And thought, damn there are some nice rocks in there, they would make great trailer weights.
What? Are you listening to yourself? You're thinking about more rocks? Adding MORE? But those do look good. Nice and dense, either some granite or gneiss. Look good. Obviously there are a few that are more than 100#s and the trailer has a published limit of 100#s. I wasn't going to add any more for the ride home (good thing in retrospect), but I thought it was funny enough that I thought about it that I turned around and took a picture.
Rocks for brains.
Anyway. So we head down around past the construction site and then we start up the rollers to the top of the hill by the mental health hospital. First one is long and gradual, second one is steep. I'm at the limit on the first one, but I'm talking with him, answering a few questions as he lightly spins up. We hit the second roller and my HR is pegged and it is all i can do to keep up.
We hit the red light and I roll in front and set tempo into the wind. 18-22mph the whole stretch, HR slowly creeps up and I'm cooked by the time we hit the Dairy Bee.
Good over all soreness fatigue level in the legs right now. The other thing is, hauling the trailer with that much weight is a great core and arm workout climbing out of the saddle. And it is specific. And that's not a bad thing. Although unless a miracle happens and I find the 9sp cassette I took off the Klein Quantum Pro tonight I'll be gear limited for the smack down tomorrow. 46x12 should be plenty of gear... we'll see though. I would like to get the thing up and running though. Esp after this morning's twitter fest with the Klein Adept hybrid/flatbarroadbike/touring/hybrid. It was cool.
So yeah. Rocks. I might have to spend some time converting this trailer into cargo specific before too long, and re-working some of the fabric, it is getting pretty tired. Couple blown out zippers aren't helping matters either.
Taking the rocks out for tomorrow's ride in though. Still with the trailer though. I'll try not to flip it (not as stable when empty).
Time to be making the food for the troops. Right now I'm thinking pasta, sound good? It does to me.
Heddwch and creigiau am byth
G
Monday, March 19, 2012
please pass the coffee
How the heck did I survive from 2008 until 2011 w/o drinking coffee regularly? I'm totally and completely dependant on it again, which while slightly scary is mitigated by the fact that it is plant sourced and so far as long as I don't go David Grohl and drink multiple pots every day I should be okay. Sleeping is fine and all that so there's that. Day off? What? Weekend? Worked right through it. Yeah, you hear people say they work two jobs for their kids, that's me. At least neither are crazy high stress, and I enjoy them both.
Taking a rare lunch out of the office today. Heading to McFadden's for the Velosprints. The thing I was in the paper about. That cover shot. Yeah that's today at lunch. Normally it is straight through here, on call, answering questions while my lunch gets cold or ignored. Which is fine. I'm used to it, doesn't bother me. Tunes, internet, food, answering questions, it works.
If it wasn't for the bike commute I might mind it a bit more. The ride in and the promise of the ride home get me through the day in the office w/o windows, in the basement where I never know what is going on outside.
Yesterday's commute was nice, on the weekend there are more people out there on bikes on the bike path. I almost prefer the current detour on the surface street with the bike path closed as there are no walkers, joggers, dogs on leashes in the street. Just cars. Going in my direction, some 2x as fast as I am, some a bit faster, but mostly far more predictable than the bike path traffic.
Twitter's been lighting up discussing/complaining/observing the changes out there that the new season is bringing. "We" used to have the roads/paths/lockers to our selves. Cold shitty weather is "our" weather. We ride year round, and when it gets nice, all the rookies, amateurs and part timers come out and mess it up.
Yes. It is awesome that they are on their bike. Getting outside, getting some exercise, riding to work, for fun, for whatever. Awesome. Great stuff.
But this time of year, us regulars, are reminded of how nice it is when the weather sucks and we have our bike path all to ourselves. Or the Bike lane. When we can ride, stop at stop lights, yield at stop signs, go with the flow w/o having someone mess it all up.
I was close to being t'boned a couple times this morning at 4 way stops by other people on bikes. Really. Come on. At least make an effort to appear like you could stop if I had been 2' further through the intersection. I guess they are lucky that my brakes work and I know how to use them.
Frustrating but at the same time, I wish more people would be able to find the joy I do commuting by bike. Yes, it would mean it is more crowded out there. But after a few months everyone will be used to it and how it works and won't be as much of an idiot. That or I will slowly be desensitized to the stupidity and my tolerance will increase to the point of acceptance.
I really would like to see more people out there. The bike path south of us was a mad house yesterday with the weather as warm and sunny as it was. Like 4th of July crazy from what I heard. So many different users, walkers, joggers, runners and then the various speeds of cyclists, from too fast to too slow and everything in between.
So many people with bikes on the back of the cars going south on the road while I was going north. Why can't they just get on their bikes at their house? Why drive to a ride. I really don't like driving to a ride. To a race is barely tolerable and I only rationalize it to myself because I'm driving that ancient rusty race wagon burning Biodiesel (20-100% bioD) getting 35-50 mpg (city -highway, again, it is old and imperfect, like me).
I'm trying not to think too much about the TJROW gang. Getting fed all that Lim and Biju food. I might have to try making those rice cakes sometime. But hey - hopefully they can all live up to the promise and not just turn all this fundraising and riding into a big exclusive frat party bike ride from BOS to DC (trying to be optimistic and not letting my jealousy color anything towards the negative - so wish I was riding with them honestly).
It is getting on close to sunburn season. I'll get a post for the taint and sun at some point. I know. I keep saying I'll write the taint care for chipstick but it hasn't happened yet. suncare/sunscreen might happen right after, or before, or since everyone here has probably heard me talk about it before maybe never, but hell, it is important... Spin time. Be good.
Heddwch
G
Taking a rare lunch out of the office today. Heading to McFadden's for the Velosprints. The thing I was in the paper about. That cover shot. Yeah that's today at lunch. Normally it is straight through here, on call, answering questions while my lunch gets cold or ignored. Which is fine. I'm used to it, doesn't bother me. Tunes, internet, food, answering questions, it works.
If it wasn't for the bike commute I might mind it a bit more. The ride in and the promise of the ride home get me through the day in the office w/o windows, in the basement where I never know what is going on outside.
Yesterday's commute was nice, on the weekend there are more people out there on bikes on the bike path. I almost prefer the current detour on the surface street with the bike path closed as there are no walkers, joggers, dogs on leashes in the street. Just cars. Going in my direction, some 2x as fast as I am, some a bit faster, but mostly far more predictable than the bike path traffic.
Twitter's been lighting up discussing/complaining/observing the changes out there that the new season is bringing. "We" used to have the roads/paths/lockers to our selves. Cold shitty weather is "our" weather. We ride year round, and when it gets nice, all the rookies, amateurs and part timers come out and mess it up.
Yes. It is awesome that they are on their bike. Getting outside, getting some exercise, riding to work, for fun, for whatever. Awesome. Great stuff.
But this time of year, us regulars, are reminded of how nice it is when the weather sucks and we have our bike path all to ourselves. Or the Bike lane. When we can ride, stop at stop lights, yield at stop signs, go with the flow w/o having someone mess it all up.
I was close to being t'boned a couple times this morning at 4 way stops by other people on bikes. Really. Come on. At least make an effort to appear like you could stop if I had been 2' further through the intersection. I guess they are lucky that my brakes work and I know how to use them.
Frustrating but at the same time, I wish more people would be able to find the joy I do commuting by bike. Yes, it would mean it is more crowded out there. But after a few months everyone will be used to it and how it works and won't be as much of an idiot. That or I will slowly be desensitized to the stupidity and my tolerance will increase to the point of acceptance.
I really would like to see more people out there. The bike path south of us was a mad house yesterday with the weather as warm and sunny as it was. Like 4th of July crazy from what I heard. So many different users, walkers, joggers, runners and then the various speeds of cyclists, from too fast to too slow and everything in between.
So many people with bikes on the back of the cars going south on the road while I was going north. Why can't they just get on their bikes at their house? Why drive to a ride. I really don't like driving to a ride. To a race is barely tolerable and I only rationalize it to myself because I'm driving that ancient rusty race wagon burning Biodiesel (20-100% bioD) getting 35-50 mpg (city -highway, again, it is old and imperfect, like me).
I'm trying not to think too much about the TJROW gang. Getting fed all that Lim and Biju food. I might have to try making those rice cakes sometime. But hey - hopefully they can all live up to the promise and not just turn all this fundraising and riding into a big exclusive frat party bike ride from BOS to DC (trying to be optimistic and not letting my jealousy color anything towards the negative - so wish I was riding with them honestly).
It is getting on close to sunburn season. I'll get a post for the taint and sun at some point. I know. I keep saying I'll write the taint care for chipstick but it hasn't happened yet. suncare/sunscreen might happen right after, or before, or since everyone here has probably heard me talk about it before maybe never, but hell, it is important... Spin time. Be good.
Heddwch
G
fired up
If that doesn't get the blood flowing, what a way to prep for a commute in. MSR, what a race.
Hearing King Kelly call the race on saturday was pretty awesome too. there's magic in them bike racing.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Rocks for brains
Is what everyone seems to think seeing this photo.
That pair of rocks I picked up on Wednesday after the Smackdown when taking the sunset shot are bookended by a pair I picked up tonight on the side of the path. random odd and scarred by the mower blades laying there at the start of the path. and they were heavy.
So i have a bag with change of clothes and shoes, my backpack with thermos, stainless mug, laptop, and assorted shit, and then the rocks. Heavy f'n rocks. The trailer hitch is pulled basically straight down there was so much tongue weight even with the largest one sitting on the frame in the back cargo area of the trailer.
It was slow going up the hill and actually hard work on the flat sections too (good bit of drag in that thing i guess).
I don't particularly like the gym. I don't particularly have the time to go somewhere to work out and lift weights even if i did enjoy working out, inside, with other people.
With the Velosprints tomorrow I'm leaving the rocks out of the trailer for the commute to the bike shop today. Two weeks ago I did 5 4-6 min 53x12 standing max torque intervals in the middle of the 60-90 min on the trainer watching TV and I could definitely tell i wasn't in form for the roller racing. Still didn't post a shitty time, and it got me in the paper, but I'm thinking today, as a bike day, will be mellow, slow and easy. Although I probably have to pick up a few things from the store on the way home, esp since I'm not doing a weekend food run, so that will add a bit of weight for the ride home and standing all day certainly isn't the same as feet up eating, but hey... life, it is what it is. The benefits seem to be there. I'm going to see if I can get 5 runs in tomorrow too. Hopefully i'll be able to walk after the 5th one tomorrow if i make it that far.
I've been doing remarkably well at building speed and strength lately but I can feel that it is going to be more of a challenge adding weekends to the work schedule on top of the normal week. Have to do it, opportunity is there, need is there, and yeah, I'm one of those who is working two jobs to be able to let his kids follow their passion. Oldest is going "en pointe" and that means toe shoes, rumor is they aren't cheap and they don't last long. Man is she excited about it though.
The day has started off on the cold side, but there isn't a cloud in the bright blue sky and from the looks of it very little wind at the moment. It is supposed to warm up.
Winter beard is in danger... weather is getting warmer. Now it is just a game of chicken and timing. Can I make it to April? Do I want to make it to April? It would be cool to line up at Ninigret with it but I think that's going to be pushing it too far. Looks like this week has a packed schedule. Going to have to be next week. If Chipstick is reading he has a second chance, to hop on the GeWilli road train (Aussie reference btw) Firefly to RSC (leg two for the March edition of PVD-BOS-PVD). Last week in March, looking like Monday or Tuesday at this point. Will winter beard make it that far? we'll see. We'll see.
MOAH COFEETS time, gotta make some FRESH POTS and then get some pedaling in and some bikes built and sold.
heddwch
G
That pair of rocks I picked up on Wednesday after the Smackdown when taking the sunset shot are bookended by a pair I picked up tonight on the side of the path. random odd and scarred by the mower blades laying there at the start of the path. and they were heavy.
So i have a bag with change of clothes and shoes, my backpack with thermos, stainless mug, laptop, and assorted shit, and then the rocks. Heavy f'n rocks. The trailer hitch is pulled basically straight down there was so much tongue weight even with the largest one sitting on the frame in the back cargo area of the trailer.
It was slow going up the hill and actually hard work on the flat sections too (good bit of drag in that thing i guess).
I don't particularly like the gym. I don't particularly have the time to go somewhere to work out and lift weights even if i did enjoy working out, inside, with other people.
With the Velosprints tomorrow I'm leaving the rocks out of the trailer for the commute to the bike shop today. Two weeks ago I did 5 4-6 min 53x12 standing max torque intervals in the middle of the 60-90 min on the trainer watching TV and I could definitely tell i wasn't in form for the roller racing. Still didn't post a shitty time, and it got me in the paper, but I'm thinking today, as a bike day, will be mellow, slow and easy. Although I probably have to pick up a few things from the store on the way home, esp since I'm not doing a weekend food run, so that will add a bit of weight for the ride home and standing all day certainly isn't the same as feet up eating, but hey... life, it is what it is. The benefits seem to be there. I'm going to see if I can get 5 runs in tomorrow too. Hopefully i'll be able to walk after the 5th one tomorrow if i make it that far.
I've been doing remarkably well at building speed and strength lately but I can feel that it is going to be more of a challenge adding weekends to the work schedule on top of the normal week. Have to do it, opportunity is there, need is there, and yeah, I'm one of those who is working two jobs to be able to let his kids follow their passion. Oldest is going "en pointe" and that means toe shoes, rumor is they aren't cheap and they don't last long. Man is she excited about it though.
The day has started off on the cold side, but there isn't a cloud in the bright blue sky and from the looks of it very little wind at the moment. It is supposed to warm up.
Winter beard is in danger... weather is getting warmer. Now it is just a game of chicken and timing. Can I make it to April? Do I want to make it to April? It would be cool to line up at Ninigret with it but I think that's going to be pushing it too far. Looks like this week has a packed schedule. Going to have to be next week. If Chipstick is reading he has a second chance, to hop on the GeWilli road train (Aussie reference btw) Firefly to RSC (leg two for the March edition of PVD-BOS-PVD). Last week in March, looking like Monday or Tuesday at this point. Will winter beard make it that far? we'll see. We'll see.
MOAH COFEETS time, gotta make some FRESH POTS and then get some pedaling in and some bikes built and sold.
heddwch
G
Thursday, March 15, 2012
The Morning After and a few links
RSS peeps - you can click through, or not, whatever, if this doesn't get you to check the linkage you'll be missing out on keeping your index shifters working properly (unless you have SRAM, in that case just break them like resultsboy does and get new ones when they stop working right), missing out on a killer write up about Cilantro including references to a book that I never read and am not sure I want to, then you have some killer shit that Steve wrote, and after last night, that stuff he wrote sinks home a bit more (RUN ON SENTENCE FTW - fuck it who needs a period, they just get in the way #TWSS <-- had to be said)
Oh and some stress and the last bit being the most important - but then if you're RSS'n this you're probably already hooked into the #TJROW thing just 'cause that's how connected you are. (it is lunch - I'm going to be writing for a bit - lots of words most likely - oh well - some days you write - some days you don't)
Oh and some stress and the last bit being the most important - but then if you're RSS'n this you're probably already hooked into the #TJROW thing just 'cause that's how connected you are. (it is lunch - I'm going to be writing for a bit - lots of words most likely - oh well - some days you write - some days you don't)
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
ouch, i needed that
Tough ride tonight. A very solid showing for the humble PVD. Good mix of Brown Collegiate racers and old dudes. That Eddy kid has a motor on him. Dang.
Felt pretty awesome. We rolled back into the city with a bit of attrition. The legend himself Kipp Bradford showed up on his Cyfac, but bailed after the Pine street sprint and headed back early, electing to skip the insanity that was to follow shortly.
Curious about the ride? I dunno if these are visible or ya gotta be strava enabled or what, but here's the ride from two different people that were there:
http://app.strava.com/rides/5217881
and
http://app.strava.com/rides/5221341
The KOM they 'won/tied' was the only sprint line I won tonight. That said I turned myself inside out riding the whole time, no saving it for the sprints, if I had it? I had it. And even coming up Hillside I lost contact for a touch, fell back a bit but still managed to keep Dave Kellogg and Eddy and the rest visible.
Dave's riding a brand new beautifully painted (by his brother) Spectrum. Di2 with a slick mounting location for the factory shimano battery and internal wiring. Really neat bike. That and I forget just how skinny pure climber types are. I counter jumped his attack on Rocky Hill and won the sprint from Eddy, only though because I knew where the line was and he wasn't quite sure. I probably won't be so fortunate, but hey he got the other three sprint lines.
Fox kicked ass and hung with the gang. Did better than I did up Hillside, but then he did run a 17:30 5k on Saturday. I unloaded when we hit Read. Sat behind Kellogg there as we turned but #1 he is almost not worth drafting, and #2 I was coasting in his draft and hell I like that downhill run and a couple minutes at 33-34 mph is always fun.
The three old dudes who wore their Prov Velo Club kit did not get dropped. Syl (mt biker dude), Derdowski and me. Eddy, Yi Peng, and one other Brown kid hung on, Andrew, Fox the two free agents and the unstoppable Dave made up the group of 9 that rolled across the Henderson together. The other's either got dropped or in Bradford's case bowed out due to prior engagements to return to.
What a ride though. Ripped my damn legs off. I rode dumb for a guy who was trying to win the sprints but, I haven't hit the cramping from exertion in a while like I did there. So good.
Couple shots. First one is a Beard Documentary:
I got to Waterman Grill a bit before everyone else and heck what else do you do, take pictures of course. I had meant to get a photo of the group to post, but I forgot. Oops. Next week maybe.
After the ride I headed back to the office, picked up the trailer, put on the LS jersey on top of the armwarmers, put some knee warmers on (should have worn them) - it was getting cold, and headed home.
Sunset. Perfect timing. Stopped at the one good clear treeless vantage point and shot a series of images as the sun was emerging below the cloud line. This is the one I liked the best tonight:
From the bluff overlooking the river.
And there were two big flat rocks there, ah hell I should put them in the trailer or someone is just going to roll them down the hill. I put them in the trailer. Just what I needed. More weight.
Rolling along I grabbed a quick panda shot:
Yes the Gripshift/SRAM trekking reflective stickers are a new addition to the commuter helmet, found em the other day.
Was a good ride.
A good day.
If you're in the area on Wed next week, join us. I'll try to rip your legs off. But mostly thanks to those who showed up and did rip my legs off. That was awesome.
Heddwch™
G
Felt pretty awesome. We rolled back into the city with a bit of attrition. The legend himself Kipp Bradford showed up on his Cyfac, but bailed after the Pine street sprint and headed back early, electing to skip the insanity that was to follow shortly.
Curious about the ride? I dunno if these are visible or ya gotta be strava enabled or what, but here's the ride from two different people that were there:
http://app.strava.com/rides/5217881
and
http://app.strava.com/rides/5221341
The KOM they 'won/tied' was the only sprint line I won tonight. That said I turned myself inside out riding the whole time, no saving it for the sprints, if I had it? I had it. And even coming up Hillside I lost contact for a touch, fell back a bit but still managed to keep Dave Kellogg and Eddy and the rest visible.
Dave's riding a brand new beautifully painted (by his brother) Spectrum. Di2 with a slick mounting location for the factory shimano battery and internal wiring. Really neat bike. That and I forget just how skinny pure climber types are. I counter jumped his attack on Rocky Hill and won the sprint from Eddy, only though because I knew where the line was and he wasn't quite sure. I probably won't be so fortunate, but hey he got the other three sprint lines.
Fox kicked ass and hung with the gang. Did better than I did up Hillside, but then he did run a 17:30 5k on Saturday. I unloaded when we hit Read. Sat behind Kellogg there as we turned but #1 he is almost not worth drafting, and #2 I was coasting in his draft and hell I like that downhill run and a couple minutes at 33-34 mph is always fun.
The three old dudes who wore their Prov Velo Club kit did not get dropped. Syl (mt biker dude), Derdowski and me. Eddy, Yi Peng, and one other Brown kid hung on, Andrew, Fox the two free agents and the unstoppable Dave made up the group of 9 that rolled across the Henderson together. The other's either got dropped or in Bradford's case bowed out due to prior engagements to return to.
What a ride though. Ripped my damn legs off. I rode dumb for a guy who was trying to win the sprints but, I haven't hit the cramping from exertion in a while like I did there. So good.
Couple shots. First one is a Beard Documentary:
I got to Waterman Grill a bit before everyone else and heck what else do you do, take pictures of course. I had meant to get a photo of the group to post, but I forgot. Oops. Next week maybe.
After the ride I headed back to the office, picked up the trailer, put on the LS jersey on top of the armwarmers, put some knee warmers on (should have worn them) - it was getting cold, and headed home.
Sunset. Perfect timing. Stopped at the one good clear treeless vantage point and shot a series of images as the sun was emerging below the cloud line. This is the one I liked the best tonight:
From the bluff overlooking the river.
And there were two big flat rocks there, ah hell I should put them in the trailer or someone is just going to roll them down the hill. I put them in the trailer. Just what I needed. More weight.
Rolling along I grabbed a quick panda shot:
Yes the Gripshift/SRAM trekking reflective stickers are a new addition to the commuter helmet, found em the other day.
Was a good ride.
A good day.
If you're in the area on Wed next week, join us. I'll try to rip your legs off. But mostly thanks to those who showed up and did rip my legs off. That was awesome.
Heddwch™
G
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