What is it?
I have been thinking of some of the things I read about and wondering about what they mean to me, what they mean to others, and if the two are even close.
Class – What is it, do I have it, do you have it? When I see this term bandied about, I can’t help but make comparisons as to what I can see with my own eyes. Half wheelers, those who put their wheel where they shouldn’t, and those who just don’t pay attention to the situations around them. Do they have class just because they are fast? Although class seems to mean the ability to win races, I believe that it extends to other less measurable, less quantifiable standards…………
Flow – Do I have it, am I getting it, can I get it? This one is even more subjective than the first. Last night I felt “flow”. The legs were none too fresh nor strong but they seemed not to care, the attention felt focused, but the movements fluid and the feeling sublime. This, I believe, is what will pay off for me. Time spent on the bike carving turns and balancing on the pedals. Focus on the feel, the flow…………
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Race Recap - Updated!
Saturday Race:
Saturday morning dawned cold and clear, twenty eight degrees was what the thermometer read at seven o’clock, but at least it was not raining. The start line brought together what I thought was an unlikely looking group for a bunch of bike racers. These were the guys that had been training all winter to whip my narrow ass? Bring it……….
The first lap was uneventful enough with only a telltale bobble here and there and my charge seemed to be enjoying him self in the pack. I was, as usual, trying to stay out of trouble and keep an eye on the half-wheelers. The top of golf course hill is its usual bitch and never fails to sift a few fatties out of the pack. Next time around I push it to the limit on the hill and I can barely hang on at the top from the effort. I did not have it in me to look back but at some point in the second lap we lost quite a few riders. Last lap of three, everyone seemed to be really solid and I was kind of hanging back getting a good look at what we had left. My teammate was also at the back, getting pinched out I am sure as everyone was jockeying for position for the upcoming finish line. I was not too concerned as things usually favour the patient, but he seemed to get agitated and was chomping at the bit to get to the front. My team mate was trying very hard to motivate the pack fodder to pick it up or let him through as most seemed to be soft pedaling, saving up I am sure. He cannot find a hole so across the yellow line he goes and everyone starts complaining and here comes the motorbike to relegate him. With the chorus of “DQ, DQ” hanging in the air I see heads lift, a bobble, and then absolute mayhem as riders slam to the ground and into each other, loudly moaning in pain. Given, I am still fairly new to bike racing but I have not seen the like of that yet, disturbing. I manage to avoid the pileup and continue towards the line, still unsure of things. I was content to soft pedal to the line but I feel someone coming in on my wheel so I stand it up a bit to hold my place 9th and my teammate took 13th.
Sunday Race:
Although I am sure people will dispute the details and make comparisons where there are none to be made, I was there. My teammate said he wanted absolution, I sad fine but wait, he said he was going from the gun, I said rock it! Or something along those lines. And so we line up and bang, off he goes. I know Al and I have seen his TT times and that boy can hammer. Behind me I hear “he will never hold that”, at least they hope. I stay towards the front and try to disrupt the chase as best I can. A lucky few go off the front in pursuit, that would be me ordinarily but not today, I have to do my job in the pack. Holy shvazoli it was windy and I was a hurting pretty bad. I sure did get the smack down for not pulling and even got the eff bomb thrown at me. So it is, I think that I did a pretty good job for my first time. I did manage a few feeble pulls on the last lap and as we were catching the race debris, the motor bike pulls up alongside me and I know what that means, a quick look back confirms, we are all that is left, four up front and six chasing. Hammering for the line I put my head down and manage to hang on for another 9th place.
Saturday morning dawned cold and clear, twenty eight degrees was what the thermometer read at seven o’clock, but at least it was not raining. The start line brought together what I thought was an unlikely looking group for a bunch of bike racers. These were the guys that had been training all winter to whip my narrow ass? Bring it……….
The first lap was uneventful enough with only a telltale bobble here and there and my charge seemed to be enjoying him self in the pack. I was, as usual, trying to stay out of trouble and keep an eye on the half-wheelers. The top of golf course hill is its usual bitch and never fails to sift a few fatties out of the pack. Next time around I push it to the limit on the hill and I can barely hang on at the top from the effort. I did not have it in me to look back but at some point in the second lap we lost quite a few riders. Last lap of three, everyone seemed to be really solid and I was kind of hanging back getting a good look at what we had left. My teammate was also at the back, getting pinched out I am sure as everyone was jockeying for position for the upcoming finish line. I was not too concerned as things usually favour the patient, but he seemed to get agitated and was chomping at the bit to get to the front. My team mate was trying very hard to motivate the pack fodder to pick it up or let him through as most seemed to be soft pedaling, saving up I am sure. He cannot find a hole so across the yellow line he goes and everyone starts complaining and here comes the motorbike to relegate him. With the chorus of “DQ, DQ” hanging in the air I see heads lift, a bobble, and then absolute mayhem as riders slam to the ground and into each other, loudly moaning in pain. Given, I am still fairly new to bike racing but I have not seen the like of that yet, disturbing. I manage to avoid the pileup and continue towards the line, still unsure of things. I was content to soft pedal to the line but I feel someone coming in on my wheel so I stand it up a bit to hold my place 9th and my teammate took 13th.
Sunday Race:
Although I am sure people will dispute the details and make comparisons where there are none to be made, I was there. My teammate said he wanted absolution, I sad fine but wait, he said he was going from the gun, I said rock it! Or something along those lines. And so we line up and bang, off he goes. I know Al and I have seen his TT times and that boy can hammer. Behind me I hear “he will never hold that”, at least they hope. I stay towards the front and try to disrupt the chase as best I can. A lucky few go off the front in pursuit, that would be me ordinarily but not today, I have to do my job in the pack. Holy shvazoli it was windy and I was a hurting pretty bad. I sure did get the smack down for not pulling and even got the eff bomb thrown at me. So it is, I think that I did a pretty good job for my first time. I did manage a few feeble pulls on the last lap and as we were catching the race debris, the motor bike pulls up alongside me and I know what that means, a quick look back confirms, we are all that is left, four up front and six chasing. Hammering for the line I put my head down and manage to hang on for another 9th place.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Great Scott! .......The Hounds are Upon Us!
How the hell did road race season get here so soon? I can only hope that some of the other Cat 5 losers (like me) have had as much fun as I have had this winter. I keep reminding myself of how long this season will be and not to get too caught up in the now of Feb., considering that I also want to do a good cross season. Saturday, all of the fruit or lack thereof will be brought to bear with the Spring Series. I have to say that I am not very ready, as I was still trying to cough up whatever is still in my lungs last night, and there is a lot of it. Tonight’s show will be Tour de Living Room brought to you by pain and suffering. Herself and I are going to be doing beyond threshold intervals…
Workout: 10 min. spin + 5 min step up + 45 min. intervals + 5 min. cool down.
Interval: Twenty second all out max with two min. rest
Let the structured workouts begin……….
Workout: 10 min. spin + 5 min step up + 45 min. intervals + 5 min. cool down.
Interval: Twenty second all out max with two min. rest
Let the structured workouts begin……….
Monday, February 9, 2009
An open post:
In the throes:
So for further clarification, I have pulled the oh so sweet Reynolds DV46C’s off of the Look and replaced them with Shimano’s cheapest (or almost cheapest) set of wheels. This is heartbreaking for me to say the least, although I know that I should just get over it. This bike just looks so bad ass with those wheels on it. Don't you think?
But I know that in the long run I need to run the crap wheels as it will have the two fold benefit of saving the good and true wheels for race day and making my legs work a bit harder to turn the heavier wheels whilst training. They do ride fine though and I look like less of a wanker riding around town. I should count myself lucky to have the dilemma of which bike to put which wheels on, worrying about gear choices and such. Hey, I’m a gear junkie and I have the credit card bills to prove it.
On Love and Labour:
Many of the people that I have told about my recent lack of training have given me that “You’re screwed - you are screwing up” look when I say that I have been “working on the garage”. So let’s clarify- By working I mean that I have completely demolished an interior and an exterior wall of the garage, re-framed them, tied everything together structurally, drilled and screwed into concrete, and framed in for a garage door, which is now in. Talk about hard work! I now have a bike shop with a garage bay!!!
I also ordered the Ultimate Pro Classic bike stand, truing stand attachment, and all the trimmings for my shop………. So very PRO.
On Training:
Yes I have also been sick, but as far as training goes I have really gone my own way. Given the extreme length of our racing season and the burned out state that I have frequently gotten into, I have not been piling on the miles but have been trying to improve my muscular power by doing shorter (2 hour) rides involving a higher degree of power and gaining extra weight that I plan on using as a buffer to burn through as the season progresses.
On Haters:
I changed the style up…….. So let the haters hate and I’ll let the deliciousness pile up! Word.
So for further clarification, I have pulled the oh so sweet Reynolds DV46C’s off of the Look and replaced them with Shimano’s cheapest (or almost cheapest) set of wheels. This is heartbreaking for me to say the least, although I know that I should just get over it. This bike just looks so bad ass with those wheels on it. Don't you think?
But I know that in the long run I need to run the crap wheels as it will have the two fold benefit of saving the good and true wheels for race day and making my legs work a bit harder to turn the heavier wheels whilst training. They do ride fine though and I look like less of a wanker riding around town. I should count myself lucky to have the dilemma of which bike to put which wheels on, worrying about gear choices and such. Hey, I’m a gear junkie and I have the credit card bills to prove it.
On Love and Labour:
Many of the people that I have told about my recent lack of training have given me that “You’re screwed - you are screwing up” look when I say that I have been “working on the garage”. So let’s clarify- By working I mean that I have completely demolished an interior and an exterior wall of the garage, re-framed them, tied everything together structurally, drilled and screwed into concrete, and framed in for a garage door, which is now in. Talk about hard work! I now have a bike shop with a garage bay!!!
I also ordered the Ultimate Pro Classic bike stand, truing stand attachment, and all the trimmings for my shop………. So very PRO.
On Training:
Yes I have also been sick, but as far as training goes I have really gone my own way. Given the extreme length of our racing season and the burned out state that I have frequently gotten into, I have not been piling on the miles but have been trying to improve my muscular power by doing shorter (2 hour) rides involving a higher degree of power and gaining extra weight that I plan on using as a buffer to burn through as the season progresses.
On Haters:
I changed the style up…….. So let the haters hate and I’ll let the deliciousness pile up! Word.
The Long Climb Back-
Yesterday I did my first ride in weeks that I would consider “hard”. Herself and I did the weekend right! On Sat. I rode an hour or so solo before we met up at the park to loosen up the legs for Sun. I still felt pretty bad and a bit feverish Sat. night so I made sure that I got my herbs before bedtime. I did manage to get the Look sorted for the crap wheels (sniff) and the BMC’s cassette changed in time for Sundays ride. Lynn has been suffering with an 11-23 and I swapped it out for a 12-25. Between the gear set change and her burgeoning fitness Ol’ Paris never stood a chance as Lynn managed to do the entire “climbing route” in style and with class to spare.
-A big Kick Ass!
Yesterday I did my first ride in weeks that I would consider “hard”. Herself and I did the weekend right! On Sat. I rode an hour or so solo before we met up at the park to loosen up the legs for Sun. I still felt pretty bad and a bit feverish Sat. night so I made sure that I got my herbs before bedtime. I did manage to get the Look sorted for the crap wheels (sniff) and the BMC’s cassette changed in time for Sundays ride. Lynn has been suffering with an 11-23 and I swapped it out for a 12-25. Between the gear set change and her burgeoning fitness Ol’ Paris never stood a chance as Lynn managed to do the entire “climbing route” in style and with class to spare.
-A big Kick Ass!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Getting Back
First ride back:
I told Her(self) that this is why she should keep a training log. I was suffering like a dog for no reason (except that “I had been sick”). We went to the park to do some laps, all bundled up, and boy did I feel like a pile of dirty dish rags. Round and around we go and then next thing you know, She is towing my sorry ass around like nobody’s business. Just like I told her a while back, there would come a time when the stars would align and she would stick it too me……..
-And she did!
Revenge of the Nerds:
Lo how the mighty have fallen. I guess that I am getting better as I was able to give a little bit of the business to Herself in night two of the “Living Room Grand Prix”. I setup the trainers in the living room, put my homemade bootleg DVD of euro trash cross on the tele, complete with Flemish commentary, and my Bike Rock soundtrack on the stereo.
-And a good time was had by all.
I told Her(self) that this is why she should keep a training log. I was suffering like a dog for no reason (except that “I had been sick”). We went to the park to do some laps, all bundled up, and boy did I feel like a pile of dirty dish rags. Round and around we go and then next thing you know, She is towing my sorry ass around like nobody’s business. Just like I told her a while back, there would come a time when the stars would align and she would stick it too me……..
-And she did!
Revenge of the Nerds:
Lo how the mighty have fallen. I guess that I am getting better as I was able to give a little bit of the business to Herself in night two of the “Living Room Grand Prix”. I setup the trainers in the living room, put my homemade bootleg DVD of euro trash cross on the tele, complete with Flemish commentary, and my Bike Rock soundtrack on the stereo.
-And a good time was had by all.
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