I am getting excited to race this weekend, I haven't been to a race since July 3rd!! I took some time off the bike to get refocused. Then started training for a good showing at Chequamegon. I have been putting in some big day and long miles. Went out last night on the MTB and did some over/under's at Rockport Park. It felt really good running the legs up and spinning them down. I am getting excited about this weekend, even though I don't plan on having a stellar race, because I will be training up to and through the race more than wasting a bunch of days to rest up for it like I should to have a peak performance. It should be fun though not having the pressure to get a good finish but just to enjoy some time on the MTB.
We are finally getting some much needed rain, so it looks like my road ride tonight might be a wet one.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Monday, August 08, 2005
Weekend Worriers
I am starting to wonder what is harder, loading up for a race, camping, racing, and driving home tired and sore, OR going home for the weekend!! Don't get me wrong I have a lot of fun with our families it is just BUSY! This weekend was no exception. On Saturday it was Chris and Jenny's reception. It was fun seeing everyone again and some people we haven't seen forever. Then when it got dark we lit off fireworks that would rival New York City.
Sunday we took dad's boat to the lake for the better part of all day. This was the first time I have been back on the water for almost a year so it felt great. There is a good chance that Cathy's knee broke my nose upon her ejecting from the tube after hitting a tidal wave behind the boat. I think everyone that was there got hurt one way or another so it was a successful tubing experience.
Today we are back to the grind stone. My schedule is tapering a little for this weekend so I don't totally die at the race. I think I am officially out of the running for a top 5 in points this year so I am going to use it as a training ride, and hope to just have fun with things.
I will get some pics up here hopefully tonight, I am going to try to get more pictures with my posts, we'll see how that goes.
Thanks for reading, out
Sunday we took dad's boat to the lake for the better part of all day. This was the first time I have been back on the water for almost a year so it felt great. There is a good chance that Cathy's knee broke my nose upon her ejecting from the tube after hitting a tidal wave behind the boat. I think everyone that was there got hurt one way or another so it was a successful tubing experience.
Today we are back to the grind stone. My schedule is tapering a little for this weekend so I don't totally die at the race. I think I am officially out of the running for a top 5 in points this year so I am going to use it as a training ride, and hope to just have fun with things.
I will get some pics up here hopefully tonight, I am going to try to get more pictures with my posts, we'll see how that goes.
Thanks for reading, out
Friday, August 05, 2005
Photo blogs
I need to start taking pics of random things on my ride. I have been reading other blogs and seems like everyone is snapping shots of everything when they ride. I wonder how do you get a good ride in if you are always screwing around with the camera? I guess when I go for a ride I do just that, RIDE! That is the good thing about this blog, since I am convinced that nobody, other than Cory, actually reads this stuff I can say what I want with no consequences. SWEEEEET!! So on that subject.......well never mind.
So last night I went for a ride, without my camera. The group mt.bike ride was road tripping to Camrock so Bill and I headed up on the road bikes. Bill was going to meet Jasha up there and switch bikes to do the mt.bike ride but that kinda didn't happen, hehehe. On the way up I had a something fly into my helmet, I stuck my finger up to dig it out and it stung me, turns out it was a bee. I pulled my helmet off and dumped him out on the road. My finger didn't swell too bad, just kinda hurt. That would have sucked if it would have stung my head! I kept going to Cambridge and stopped at the BP for the usual, 1 quart of Orange & tropical punch Gatorade and a Snickers bar = $2.74 and the fuel to get home. I rolled into town with 3 hours and 55 miles, I was pretty tired but it is weird as soon as I get onto Milton Ave it is like I have a new burst of energy. It is really fun, bikes are so much faster off the line and then you hear people floor their cars because a lame biker is beating them. I did this on a couple lights and then the rest were green. I was turning 34-36 mph all the way home, I even went into the passing lane and passed two cars (the speed limit is 30mph). I was pretty shot when I got home so I mowed the yard, Cathy got home and we ate some spaghetti and called it a night.
This weekend we are heading up to Minnesota for my bros. wedding reception party. It will be a good time, sounds like we are going to spend some quality time on the lake. I will take pics and get them posted, I might even be riding a bike.
So last night I went for a ride, without my camera. The group mt.bike ride was road tripping to Camrock so Bill and I headed up on the road bikes. Bill was going to meet Jasha up there and switch bikes to do the mt.bike ride but that kinda didn't happen, hehehe. On the way up I had a something fly into my helmet, I stuck my finger up to dig it out and it stung me, turns out it was a bee. I pulled my helmet off and dumped him out on the road. My finger didn't swell too bad, just kinda hurt. That would have sucked if it would have stung my head! I kept going to Cambridge and stopped at the BP for the usual, 1 quart of Orange & tropical punch Gatorade and a Snickers bar = $2.74 and the fuel to get home. I rolled into town with 3 hours and 55 miles, I was pretty tired but it is weird as soon as I get onto Milton Ave it is like I have a new burst of energy. It is really fun, bikes are so much faster off the line and then you hear people floor their cars because a lame biker is beating them. I did this on a couple lights and then the rest were green. I was turning 34-36 mph all the way home, I even went into the passing lane and passed two cars (the speed limit is 30mph). I was pretty shot when I got home so I mowed the yard, Cathy got home and we ate some spaghetti and called it a night.
This weekend we are heading up to Minnesota for my bros. wedding reception party. It will be a good time, sounds like we are going to spend some quality time on the lake. I will take pics and get them posted, I might even be riding a bike.
Monday, August 01, 2005
long rides = weird food
I don't know what it is but it seems like after a long ride my body craves all kinds of weird food. Yesterday I was out for just under 2 hours, with 30 minutes of tempo. On the way back home I had this uncontrollable craving for jello! I got home and quickly boiled some water dumped in the jello, as I was stirring it the smell was overwhelming, I had to have it NOW. So I did. I drank the entire 2 cups of warm liquid-sugar. Then last night I was finishing my 3.5 hour ride when Cathy called and said she was making some French toast. The last 5 miles of the ride all I could think about was pouring gallons of syrup on the French toast when I got home.
I don't know what this means and don't care, if it will make basic, normally boring, food something to get uncontrollably excited about I'll keep doing it.
I don't know what this means and don't care, if it will make basic, normally boring, food something to get uncontrollably excited about I'll keep doing it.
Just riding
Well another weekend is regretfully behind us. I can't imagine what it would be like to be a professional athlete, every day would feel like a weekend! I wonder what they do on the weekend to relax then? Looks like 24-9 went really well, like any race there were a lot of almosts, it is weird how someone can train and do everything just right for months before a race and when race day comes if they are not feeling perfect it seems like all that training was useless. I sure hope that doesn't happen to me this fall. I got my Polar S-150 heart rate / cycling computer on friday. It is really cool, I don't have it connected to the bike yet but that will happen sometime this week. Cory put together a program for me to follow hoping to get in shape by Chequamegon. It has been super hot so I have been putting a majority of my hours in the evening. Most of my rides have been ending around 9:30pm. I have my niterider light on the road bike and just click it on when the going gets dark. I really like that time of day, the wind is calm, it is cooler, less traffic, and BUGS so many BUGS!!!
Well 3.5 hours tonight then some recovery and another long day before the group ride on thursday. Then we are heading home this weekend for my bro's reception party. That is going to be a lot of fun, I plan to spend at least an entire day up to my neck in water.
Hey what do you people want to read about, more product reviews, more random rants? Drop me a note in the comments, you don't have to be a member, and let me know what you think.
Out for now.
Well 3.5 hours tonight then some recovery and another long day before the group ride on thursday. Then we are heading home this weekend for my bro's reception party. That is going to be a lot of fun, I plan to spend at least an entire day up to my neck in water.
Hey what do you people want to read about, more product reviews, more random rants? Drop me a note in the comments, you don't have to be a member, and let me know what you think.
Out for now.
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Easy does it.
That is something I have been really struggling with...going easy. I think that has probably burned me this year. I started out feeling really strong and instead of maintaining the same program I followed through the winter I just went out and pounded nails every day. Cory has been working with me to get a program set up for Chequamegon. I am really hoping to pull off a solid peak for that race and turn a solid finish.
Monday I rode with Cathy for about 30 minutes, went home ate a bunch of food and then Cory stopped by and we rode another 2 hours with 40 minutes of tempo. I really felt good and had to keep telling my self to hold back and stay in the program. Last night I did a recovery ride. I have been doing a lot of late night riding. In this heat it seems like it is the best time to ride. Plus you pretty much have the trails and roads to yourself.
Anyway, today we are doing a time trial to get some base numbers and then will go from there.
There has been a lot of chat going on about the 24-9 race this weekend. I was thinking about doing that as a team or solo but I think at this point I need to get into my program, my days are numbered so I have to make everyone count. Maybe Cathy and I will do a team next year, that might be kinda fun!
Monday I rode with Cathy for about 30 minutes, went home ate a bunch of food and then Cory stopped by and we rode another 2 hours with 40 minutes of tempo. I really felt good and had to keep telling my self to hold back and stay in the program. Last night I did a recovery ride. I have been doing a lot of late night riding. In this heat it seems like it is the best time to ride. Plus you pretty much have the trails and roads to yourself.
Anyway, today we are doing a time trial to get some base numbers and then will go from there.
There has been a lot of chat going on about the 24-9 race this weekend. I was thinking about doing that as a team or solo but I think at this point I need to get into my program, my days are numbered so I have to make everyone count. Maybe Cathy and I will do a team next year, that might be kinda fun!
Monday, July 25, 2005
SDG review
I think the most important part of getting a bike to fit a rider is the seat. Some people spend a lot of time trying to find a seat that fits and then they stick with that. I have been experimenting with several styles this year and have been having some rather painful rides. As I mentioned I just got my SDG setup. They sent me an I-Fly seat as well as a Bel-Air. As you can see in the pics these seats use the new I-Beam seat post system. This is a much lighter and stronger set up than the conventional seat with metal rails. I have noticed that it hold the seat a lot better, with out it sliding around.
Ok, cut to the chase...I first tried the I-Fly seat at 120 grams and still maintaining full padding is an incredibly comfortable seat.
Like all the I-beam seats it is very easy to adjust. One bolt does everything, tilt and lateral movement. The tilt locking teeth are very fine allowing for small fine tuning adjustments. Moving the seat forward or backward is the only thing that is awkward. The seat has rough edges for the seat post clamp to lock against but when trying to adjust the seat seams to bind on these. I actually like it because I know the seat is being held solid. I suggest marking the tilt because when you move the seat you WILL loose the tilt position.
The second seat I tried was their most popular seat and for a good reason.
The Bel-Air ST could be the most comfortable seat I have ever sat on. I haven't had a chance to put too many miles on it but the time I have spent on it have been in non-padded shorts and the seat felt great!! It is a little bigger than the I-Fly and at 186 grams is a little heavier. I would highly recommend this or any of the Bel-Air seats for any type of endurance ride/race.
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