Lots of stuff has been going on. Updates coming. JF won his first Cat 5 a couple of weekends ago. Great leadout by MJH2.
Still looking for employment. Some promising leads, but I am the kind of guy that doesn't count anything until it's a done deal.
Family is amazing. Never underestimate it and take a minute to tell them you appreciate them every now and then.
First real race this season is tomorrow. 2 races actually. The weather looks to be horrid. Rain with a snow mix. Thinking of taking the cross bike.
Here's to keeping the rubber side down.
Working on a website to generate some income. I'll post a link when I think it's getting there....bet you can't guess the name....
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Looking
I'm currently looking for a job if anyone has leads. Manufacturing Operations. Mechanical Engineering Degree.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Perhaps a pillow?
I hate geese. Like really hate them. They're stupid beasts. I am sure that they'd drown if left to their own devices - that's why they have down. To save them from themselves.
Why this newly charged tirade against these silly creatures? Simply because they are the reason I went over the bars yet once again on Saturday. I say once again because that makes a cool 3 times in the last year and a half.
This time we were wrapping up the "developmental" version of the Bicycle Heaven ride when we jumped onto the Fox River Trail on the last leg back to the shop. I was following JF when I spotted a couple of the grass digesting swine of the air approaching from the side.
This is where geese are dumb. You see when you attempt to go anywhere near them on a bike they seem to think the way to get away from you is to run directly into your path. I was slowing and watching one of them when the other got in front of JF. Next thing I know I look up and I was on top of him. I started going over the bars as I heard my tire pop as it rammed his cassette. I tucked and rolled and thought for sure there was going to be others to follow.
Turns out it was just me. As usual the real damage wasn't felt until 2 days afterwards. I keep tearing up some muscle around my left shoulder. I chalk it up to my death grip as I go over the bars. JF thinks he might have done something wrong, but I have tried to assure him that kind of crap happens.
I haven't ridden since then. On top of that I ate ice cream tonight. First crit is on Sunday. ABD TT #4 is this Saturday as well. I think I might skip the TT. I have a feeling my time won't improve.
This is sad, but I remember the feeling in December right after the last race of the year. While a part of me was sad I have to admit I felt a lot of relief. Toeing the line and feeling that stress of anticipation followed by sheer pain is something that takes a strong stomach. Now that it will be happening again so quickly I am uneasy. Nervous actually.
Hope my shoulder holds out. Damn geese...
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Rollers
Finally got around to posting some video I think. Background...I have ridden for something like 22 years but have never ridden rollers. Seriously. Runner Susan started riding them and I just thought to myself...nah. Not going to happen.
The thing is I just never had access to them. To top it off I had an unatural fear of them. It's not "if" but rather "when" you wreck on them. I don't know about you but I don't look forward to the idea of hitting the deck...indoors....during winter....in my basement.
Well I borrowed a set form JAnd. I tried the first time in a doorway because that's what I heard you were supposed to do. It took about 1.5 minutes to get the hang of them.
Due to comments on here I decided to get some video. This is from my second time riding rollers. I cut 90% off, but boiled it down to the interesting stuff. A little bit of smoother riding followed by more interesting stuff.
So far I like rollers. That is all.
The thing is I just never had access to them. To top it off I had an unatural fear of them. It's not "if" but rather "when" you wreck on them. I don't know about you but I don't look forward to the idea of hitting the deck...indoors....during winter....in my basement.
Well I borrowed a set form JAnd. I tried the first time in a doorway because that's what I heard you were supposed to do. It took about 1.5 minutes to get the hang of them.
Due to comments on here I decided to get some video. This is from my second time riding rollers. I cut 90% off, but boiled it down to the interesting stuff. A little bit of smoother riding followed by more interesting stuff.
So far I like rollers. That is all.
Monday, February 23, 2009
ABD TT#3 Report
Another round of beating your head into a wall is over. I am happy to say I have made no gains over the last couple of months. That said I have found that have made no losses either. Meh...here's the pics. That's all any of you care about anyway...
Showed up early enough to see JAnd do his run.
Cheering section - L to R - JF, Little P, Mrs. P
GO JAND GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Time for us to go. Clipping in for torture....
"Hi...I'm f'n nuts!"
Reset the computer....and.......3.....2......1.....GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I burried my head for the first 5 minutes. I didn't look at the screen because I knew I would go too hard if I saw I was behind in order to catch up....or if I was ahead in order to maintain position. So I didn't look.
I was rocking out to a mix of punk and metal. Total "kill everyone" kind of stuff.
I hit my normal wall about 4-5 mintes in, but pushed through. I looked up to see I was behind...by a lot. JF was in front of me. Honestly he's got the chops even though he's new so I really didn't let that bother me too much, but I was at least gpong to try to pull him back.
Up until now I had been running about 270W. I shifted and started bringing around 300W in the second 5 minutes.
"OOooooo"
With a During the last set of 5 minutes I started to crack. I made myself take it easy for 1.5 minutes. Rode easier than I could just in hopes of recovering to finish strong. It kind of worked, but not really. I tried with about 2.5-3 minutes left to stand and go at it. I was within "50 or 60 feet" of JF when I did. When I stood...so did he. That just told me he wasn't going to just hand anything over.
At first I felt bad because I figured he thought I was standing to sprint to the end, but it was way too early for that. I was just hoping to get a quick jump to turn over the distance between us. Turns out when I stood I didn't upshift so my power dropped. Ooops. I sat back down to compensate, but by then JF had taken the opportunity to lay down some power.
I tried to stand and sprint at the end, but I didn't have much. Not the usual punch I have. When done...I felt like puking. So...I did it right. I definitely left some out there though. Just couldn't tap into the deep well if that makes sense.
Shoot me.
Seriously...shoot me.
JF took the win in style. The guy is a naturl athlete that will accel at this cycling thing with no problem. I keep telling him the only thing that will limit how far he goes is how much time he wants to spend on it. He won't be a 5 long and will be a 4 even shorter.
This time he won the CM 19-29. He also got to pick up his medal from the previous TT
To top it off I still owe him a beer to make up for the last $5 from registration I owe him. Will it never end?
So...I ended up 13th out of 28 who took the start out of Cat 4. Furthest up in the field so far, but 2 seconds slower than my last one on the "Flat" course. I did beat Rob Jungels...by like 7 seconds...which just means there is a story there. I'm guessing he had something go wrong or he was doing it as a recovery in street shoes and blue jeans.
Tuesday night at the shop we're doing the mother of all indoor trainer sessions. We're down to 1x45' at threshold. Those sessions have made it easier to race already. They have convinced me that I can ride at an intense effort for much longer than I thought I could.
Congrats to JAnd, JF and everyone else who went out there (MRIDan). Nothing like paying $25 so you can sit in one place and turn yourself inside out for 16 minutes.
Almost time to shave the legs. Mrs. P is thrilled.
Showed up early enough to see JAnd do his run.
Cheering section - L to R - JF, Little P, Mrs. P
GO JAND GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Time for us to go. Clipping in for torture....
"Hi...I'm f'n nuts!"
Reset the computer....and.......3.....2......1.....GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I burried my head for the first 5 minutes. I didn't look at the screen because I knew I would go too hard if I saw I was behind in order to catch up....or if I was ahead in order to maintain position. So I didn't look.
I was rocking out to a mix of punk and metal. Total "kill everyone" kind of stuff.
I hit my normal wall about 4-5 mintes in, but pushed through. I looked up to see I was behind...by a lot. JF was in front of me. Honestly he's got the chops even though he's new so I really didn't let that bother me too much, but I was at least gpong to try to pull him back.
Up until now I had been running about 270W. I shifted and started bringing around 300W in the second 5 minutes.
"OOooooo"
With a During the last set of 5 minutes I started to crack. I made myself take it easy for 1.5 minutes. Rode easier than I could just in hopes of recovering to finish strong. It kind of worked, but not really. I tried with about 2.5-3 minutes left to stand and go at it. I was within "50 or 60 feet" of JF when I did. When I stood...so did he. That just told me he wasn't going to just hand anything over.
At first I felt bad because I figured he thought I was standing to sprint to the end, but it was way too early for that. I was just hoping to get a quick jump to turn over the distance between us. Turns out when I stood I didn't upshift so my power dropped. Ooops. I sat back down to compensate, but by then JF had taken the opportunity to lay down some power.
I tried to stand and sprint at the end, but I didn't have much. Not the usual punch I have. When done...I felt like puking. So...I did it right. I definitely left some out there though. Just couldn't tap into the deep well if that makes sense.
Shoot me.
Seriously...shoot me.
JF took the win in style. The guy is a naturl athlete that will accel at this cycling thing with no problem. I keep telling him the only thing that will limit how far he goes is how much time he wants to spend on it. He won't be a 5 long and will be a 4 even shorter.
This time he won the CM 19-29. He also got to pick up his medal from the previous TT
To top it off I still owe him a beer to make up for the last $5 from registration I owe him. Will it never end?
So...I ended up 13th out of 28 who took the start out of Cat 4. Furthest up in the field so far, but 2 seconds slower than my last one on the "Flat" course. I did beat Rob Jungels...by like 7 seconds...which just means there is a story there. I'm guessing he had something go wrong or he was doing it as a recovery in street shoes and blue jeans.
Tuesday night at the shop we're doing the mother of all indoor trainer sessions. We're down to 1x45' at threshold. Those sessions have made it easier to race already. They have convinced me that I can ride at an intense effort for much longer than I thought I could.
Congrats to JAnd, JF and everyone else who went out there (MRIDan). Nothing like paying $25 so you can sit in one place and turn yourself inside out for 16 minutes.
Almost time to shave the legs. Mrs. P is thrilled.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
ABT TT #3
Today is ABD TT#3. I am something like 12th overall with 32:42 or something. Today is another "flat" course. They basically weigh you, put in a drag coefficient and let you beat your head against a wall for 10K or about 16-ish minutes.
I pulled 16:03 the last time I did a flat one. I would like to kick 10-20 seconds off of that today. I think it's possible. We'll see.
Little P is sitting here smiling, and eating cookies. I guess he's better.
I pulled 16:03 the last time I did a flat one. I would like to kick 10-20 seconds off of that today. I think it's possible. We'll see.
Little P is sitting here smiling, and eating cookies. I guess he's better.
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