Well, sort of.
The Tour de 'Toona is going to be a single day this year. And not only that, but a crit. Lame.
While crits have grown on me in recent (well, I've only been racing for two) years...err...times, my goal for the season was to wind it up at some sort of mountainous stage race this summer. Crush souls, go fast in an uphill manner, that sort of thing.
So, I'm looking to find some sort of replacement. Anyone knows of any sweet, sweet road races that feature one or several 5+ mile climbs, in the KY/PA/TN/NC/VA/WV region of the nation, let me know. I'm going to get pummeled this season, and I think it's only right that I get a chance to dish it right back, just once, to some locals out East.
Synopsis: find me a race with wicked mean climbs, out East.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Riding...Outside!
So, readers, a good thing has happened to me recently.
No, I'm not engaged.
No, I didn't win the lottery.
Nothing as nearly as cool as those two possibilities, but nice none the less.
You see, being a bit of a Nancy-boy when it comes to riding outside, I've been slacking in terms of my preparation for the upcoming season. I have pretty poor circulation in my feet, and despite various efforts to augment the situation through toe warmers, booties, chemical hand warmers and various combinations of the three, I've had trouble saving my feet from the discomfort of low blood flow and cold induced numbness. So, as of Saturday, I pretty much abandoned the idea of actually feeling good from the ankles down. Feet be damned, we'll worry about the consequences after the ride.
So, the last 5 rides I've been on have all been outside. That doubles my yearly total up to this point. Many people will find this pathetic, and I can't say I disagree with them. However, it seems that not all is lost. I've managed to trim a kilo of muscle and lard off by pudgy little body over the winter, and am coming into racing season within a pound of my lowest racing weight from all of last year. And I think I can stand to lose another 2, maybe 3kg this year. Crazy.
The biggest surprise, however, is my sustained wattage output. The few people that actually read this know that I have a decent w/kg ratio, and like most, I'm aiming to improve that every season. My first non-neighborhood test effort went down yesterday, into a headwind, north and west of town. "Spinning" 100rpm in the little ring, who knows what cog. Not only a personal best for this time of year, but an overall PR. And, even better, in my eyes, is my ability to ride tempo at a level that would have drained the batteries quickly last year.
In the end, it seems that all of those hours spent staring at a computer screen, churning away on the rollers, were not wasted. I've come to accept the indoor watts for what they are, and not worry too much about them. My goals for the season, after several good rides in the last 5 days, at least in terms of the numbers game, have been revised, and my racing focus might shift as my form builds...
...A few less 100km crits, a bit more climbing...
No, I'm not engaged.
No, I didn't win the lottery.
Nothing as nearly as cool as those two possibilities, but nice none the less.
You see, being a bit of a Nancy-boy when it comes to riding outside, I've been slacking in terms of my preparation for the upcoming season. I have pretty poor circulation in my feet, and despite various efforts to augment the situation through toe warmers, booties, chemical hand warmers and various combinations of the three, I've had trouble saving my feet from the discomfort of low blood flow and cold induced numbness. So, as of Saturday, I pretty much abandoned the idea of actually feeling good from the ankles down. Feet be damned, we'll worry about the consequences after the ride.
So, the last 5 rides I've been on have all been outside. That doubles my yearly total up to this point. Many people will find this pathetic, and I can't say I disagree with them. However, it seems that not all is lost. I've managed to trim a kilo of muscle and lard off by pudgy little body over the winter, and am coming into racing season within a pound of my lowest racing weight from all of last year. And I think I can stand to lose another 2, maybe 3kg this year. Crazy.
The biggest surprise, however, is my sustained wattage output. The few people that actually read this know that I have a decent w/kg ratio, and like most, I'm aiming to improve that every season. My first non-neighborhood test effort went down yesterday, into a headwind, north and west of town. "Spinning" 100rpm in the little ring, who knows what cog. Not only a personal best for this time of year, but an overall PR. And, even better, in my eyes, is my ability to ride tempo at a level that would have drained the batteries quickly last year.
In the end, it seems that all of those hours spent staring at a computer screen, churning away on the rollers, were not wasted. I've come to accept the indoor watts for what they are, and not worry too much about them. My goals for the season, after several good rides in the last 5 days, at least in terms of the numbers game, have been revised, and my racing focus might shift as my form builds...
...A few less 100km crits, a bit more climbing...
Sunday, March 9, 2008
That Time of Year
This will be short and sweet:
It's now March. We've been given an early time change by the powers that be. There is enough light outside now to ride, safely, in a group until 7pm.
So, I need to ask the obvious question. Why the hell isn't it warm enough for me to ride my bike outside yet? We've had one (1) day over 40 degrees so far this entire year, during which 68 days have already expired. And THAT day, it rained on and off, the roads were covered in sand, and I pretty much destroyed a brand new pair of team shorts.
The weather needs to change, ASAP. 70 and sunny, please. With a side order of 5mph or less winds, thank you.
It's now March. We've been given an early time change by the powers that be. There is enough light outside now to ride, safely, in a group until 7pm.
So, I need to ask the obvious question. Why the hell isn't it warm enough for me to ride my bike outside yet? We've had one (1) day over 40 degrees so far this entire year, during which 68 days have already expired. And THAT day, it rained on and off, the roads were covered in sand, and I pretty much destroyed a brand new pair of team shorts.
The weather needs to change, ASAP. 70 and sunny, please. With a side order of 5mph or less winds, thank you.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
C.R.E.A.M.
For those of you, particularly the pale, John Meyers-esque white folks out there, C.R.E.A.M. is a song by the WuTang Clan, a hiphop/rap group. It's an acronym for "Cash Rules Everything Around Me" and I'm finding that to be truer and truer, each and every day.
Basically, I just dropped $150 to buy some new Look Keo Carbon pedals. Well, turns out my Speedplays weren't worn out; I just had a bum left cleat. So, I'm going to be selling the new ones, not even taking them out of the packaging. Given the prices I see on Ebay, I should be able to get all of the purchase price back. But, it's still a hassle.
And, I'm going to be saddled with a $400 debt when my new wheels come in, if they ever do. Oh, and I might switch from Chorus to Rival shifters/RD. Another ~300 bones.
This isn't the most exciting news for someone trying to save up money to afford his own place, pay auto insurance, car and student loans...
Basically, I just dropped $150 to buy some new Look Keo Carbon pedals. Well, turns out my Speedplays weren't worn out; I just had a bum left cleat. So, I'm going to be selling the new ones, not even taking them out of the packaging. Given the prices I see on Ebay, I should be able to get all of the purchase price back. But, it's still a hassle.
And, I'm going to be saddled with a $400 debt when my new wheels come in, if they ever do. Oh, and I might switch from Chorus to Rival shifters/RD. Another ~300 bones.
This isn't the most exciting news for someone trying to save up money to afford his own place, pay auto insurance, car and student loans...
Sunday, February 10, 2008
I'm ready to race...*
*Disclaimer: If, and only if those races include 10-20min long climbs. A good, solid 1min effort, on the other hand, will blow me out the back faster than Robbie McEwen on the Hautacam.
I've been doing lots of threshold work of late. To call it "block training" would be an understatement. I don't even mean to do it, to be honest.
The truth is that I get bored with going along at 200w for two hours on a "recovery" ride on my rollers. I do drills, particularly one legged pedalling, to smooth out the stroke and correct any imbalances I might have. I watch movies, and try to zone out. This generally fails.
Most of the time I start going harder, or begin an interval, because I fear that I'll be out of shape and utterly useless for the first two months of the season...like last year. Fear and anger being the two most powerful motivators I've seen among the bike racer dude crowd, I think this is acceptable. I dislike letting myself and others down. That part usually suffices to get me into good enough shape to say "Yeah, dude, I finished in the main group. Hard race, fo sho."
The anger part, however, is not properly cultivated whilst riding in one's garage. Anger is generally only found when another human being, usually in an automobile or on a bicycle, does something that makes you question your values, particularly those about the value of a person's life. I'm semi-serious about this, but even if it's only for a split second, I think most people, in the deep, dark recesses of their minds, push aside the morality that has been developed in the last, oh, couple of millenia. You're thrown back, just for that instant, to a time when your primeval murderous rage meant the difference between eating and being eaten.
Now that you're all creeped out thoroughly enough, I'll explain how this relates to bike racing. In four of my best five races of the 2007 campaign, I had moments where I was temporarily incessed to the point that had I been in possession of a frame pump, I would have not only seperated the offending rider from his bike using it, but hopped off my own and beat him into a coma, at the very least. Shortly thereafter, I unleashed an effort that would normally only be capable in the early stages of an outdoor training ride. A 1250+ jump up a hill (Brewers's Hill), a minute at 550+ on the last lap (crappy little Barrington race) or a seeminly suicidal 4.0w/kg for 2.5hr break (AV RR).
In short, anger and fear are good. One to get you in decent shape, the other to push your upper limits and test the waters of Race Results Lake. I've had the latter; just need some of the former.
Until next time,
Andy
I've been doing lots of threshold work of late. To call it "block training" would be an understatement. I don't even mean to do it, to be honest.
The truth is that I get bored with going along at 200w for two hours on a "recovery" ride on my rollers. I do drills, particularly one legged pedalling, to smooth out the stroke and correct any imbalances I might have. I watch movies, and try to zone out. This generally fails.
Most of the time I start going harder, or begin an interval, because I fear that I'll be out of shape and utterly useless for the first two months of the season...like last year. Fear and anger being the two most powerful motivators I've seen among the bike racer dude crowd, I think this is acceptable. I dislike letting myself and others down. That part usually suffices to get me into good enough shape to say "Yeah, dude, I finished in the main group. Hard race, fo sho."
The anger part, however, is not properly cultivated whilst riding in one's garage. Anger is generally only found when another human being, usually in an automobile or on a bicycle, does something that makes you question your values, particularly those about the value of a person's life. I'm semi-serious about this, but even if it's only for a split second, I think most people, in the deep, dark recesses of their minds, push aside the morality that has been developed in the last, oh, couple of millenia. You're thrown back, just for that instant, to a time when your primeval murderous rage meant the difference between eating and being eaten.
Now that you're all creeped out thoroughly enough, I'll explain how this relates to bike racing. In four of my best five races of the 2007 campaign, I had moments where I was temporarily incessed to the point that had I been in possession of a frame pump, I would have not only seperated the offending rider from his bike using it, but hopped off my own and beat him into a coma, at the very least. Shortly thereafter, I unleashed an effort that would normally only be capable in the early stages of an outdoor training ride. A 1250+ jump up a hill (Brewers's Hill), a minute at 550+ on the last lap (crappy little Barrington race) or a seeminly suicidal 4.0w/kg for 2.5hr break (AV RR).
In short, anger and fear are good. One to get you in decent shape, the other to push your upper limits and test the waters of Race Results Lake. I've had the latter; just need some of the former.
Until next time,
Andy
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