31 March 2009

Three days in a row

TNCWC #4 went off tonight with a pretty damn big group. I can't decide if the ride was fast or just average. At times, it felt ripping quick, but at other times, even at 25+, I felt like we were rolling around. I guess that's a good thing and that my decision to rest last week was a good one.
I'm going to go ahead and turn this into a block.
Anyway, I felt waaay better tonight than I have in a long time. My stomach wasn't protesting and I could actually breathe...thank you Mr. Albuterol. A couple of good digs and gap closures was enough to get back into the swing. Apologies to Doog and GW...I burned a match getting across to you guys, but just couldn't help...
PV was out in force again. There was some grumbling heard from the back towards the end of the evening. If you can grumble...
Coco won the sprint, Doog was 3rd. Doog is easily leading the 'unofficial' points competition.
Supposed to rain tomorrow and maybe Thursday...

29 March 2009

Rest week over

Saturday I didn't even bothher to get dressed to go to the group ride. Turnout has been disappointing at best and the overcast and fog on Saturday morning didn't inspire confidence in estimating attendance numbers. I showered, got dressed and went to the zoo with the H.O. and the M.Ts. It was way more fun than dragging around the group for 3 hours. It started to rain @ 11, so I was right to no-show.
Sunday, the wind was blowing at high rate, so Doog and I decided to do a little bit different ride. We got on the cross bikes and headed across the river. We ended up hitting Old State Rd. and followed it all the way out to it's end, at I-26. The dirt was really wet and generally hardpacked. There were a couple of loose parts, but it was definitely a good way to get kick-started and may be added to the training repetoire in the winter. Big gears, low cadence, high rolling resistance...sounds like a recipe for building power.
After two days on the cross bike last week, it has becone clear that it needs some TLC. My usually quiet bike has begun creaking like an aged prostitute's hips. I guess a lot of rain rides and lack of general maintenance has caught up with the old gal.

Send healing thoughts to Rich. He hit the ground pretty hard on Saturday's RoP and got a slight shoulder separation for his efforts. Hey Mulo, stop going out to Salsa Cabana, messing with Eastern European immigrant women, and buy a new set of wheels!!!!!!!

27 March 2009

Feeling better

Doog and I met for an easy ride on the cross bikes last night. We just meandered around for almost two hours. It was just what I needed. I'm feeling better and some motivation seems to be sneaking back into my psyche.
It's supposed to rain all day and into tomorrow, so I hold little hope that anyone will show up for the Saturday morning ride. Bond and some of the boys are doing an easy 110 miles tomorrow...har...har...! I think I may just do another cross ride in the wet tomorrow.
Since I've been having these 'health' issues, I've decided to make this week a rest week, then ramp back up for Rock Hill, Charleston and Spartanburg/Charlotte. After those races, I'm done until June 6th in Beaufort.

I'm guessing that Il Prof will be sending out an email @ Sunday...

24 March 2009

Motivation...I no has it...

God, it was a struggle to even get dressed to go out to the TNCWC tonight. The pull of getting out of the house and away from the al Queda trainees was stronger than my lack of motivation. I just didn't have it in me tonight. The fitness is definitely there...I just didn't care.
I did 25 minutes and sat out a lap, then finally just quit with one to go.
Doog won quite easily...again! I guess his time at the hospital is 'helping' his fitness.
PV finished 1-3-4-5-6

The pollen is freaking killing me too. It looked like a duststorm in Riyadh tonight. You could literally SEE the giant plumes of yellow blowing across the course. You could feel it on your teeth. Karl likened it to eating a green banana. It supposed to rain for the rest of the week. I've never hoped for rain more...
Chest X-Ray tomorrow morning...precaution...
Another visit to the Allergist Thursday morning...

News

Lance broke his collarbone...

Jay kicked everyone's ass last weekend...(don't let Cannell bullshit you, he knows who beat him!)

Casey continued her Tour de Ass-kicking with a 13th overall @ San Dimas...including getting in the break on Stage 2...

Rich is a PV team member...welcome aboard!!!

Ladd and the gang are flirting with certain death by riding through Camden this coming Saturday...the day of the Carolina Cup...

My GD kitchen cabinets were ordered incorrectly by Creative Kitchens...another 4-6 weeks without cabinets...kitchen looks like a flat in the South Bronx...

Check out Hoovis' blog>>>>>>>>>>>>>he has his own little March Madness tourney going on!

TNCWC #3 tonight @ 6:30...be there!

22 March 2009

sat/sun

Saturday was terrible. I should have stayed in bed. Felt bad, rode bad, didn't care. Did 2.5 hours, came home and worked in my kitchen for another 5. Paid myself for the suffering and work with Dano's and a kiddie cone from Marble Slab.
Sunday...woke up feeling marginally better. Went to Il Prof's ride and actually felt better the longer the ride went on. It wasn't hard or fast, but just enough to breathe heavily a few times. Ended up with 3.5 hours. Drank a bottle of Muscle Milk, ate a sammich and now sitting on the couch watching Bristol and contemplating a nap...signs are pointing to yes.

Crit Tuesday...6:30 this week and for the rest of the season.

20 March 2009

Hey Bruce, Try NOT to be a hypocrite

So Springsteen was on The Daily Show last night. It was a lovefest with most of the love flowing forth from Jon Stewart. Any more ass-kissing and Stewart would have needed some knee pads and a warm towel.
Anyway, I cannot stand when a celebrity decides that, in their finite wisdom, they need pontificate about the state of affairs in the country. People don't pay top dollar to go to a concert to hear your views on the war, the economy or what you think of former President Bush.
Last night, "The Boss" had the church-bell-sized balls to actually say that the country had lost is 'moral center'. Are you serious with this?
Hey Bruce, back in the day, didn't you marry a Hollywood starlet, only to cheat on her with one of your backup singers? Did you not divorce this starlet, then marry the back-up singer? Yeah, that's a good model that folks should follow...
Never really liked the guy, or his music, and his appearance on TDS last night cemented it!

19 March 2009

Where is everyone?

Good Lord people, we are you? We had a small group for the Thursday ride. It's 75 degrees, the ride is waaaaay shorter than usual and not at all fast or hard yet.
We rode tempo for 90 minutes and came home....
I hope some folks show up this weekend.

9 Saturday @ the gate
9 Sunday @ for Il Prof's ride

17 March 2009

TNCWC #2

This week was a bit different. Nothing was getting away tonight...attack, chase...attack, chase...lather, rinse, repeat for 45 minutes. It seemed a bit faster than last week too. This sentiment was echoed by more than one person.
I took it relatively easy tonight, considering I really still can't breath all that well, riding only as hard as necessary. Somewhere in the middle of the race, I sneezed, HARD, and things sort of opened up. Not great, but better...
On the last lap, it was necessary to kick the TD into passing gear and get Coco to the front. I drilled it around the outside and ended up leading out the entire sprint, yet still finishing 6th.

SoPro is bringing her bike over for me to look at before she goes to San Dimas to mix it up with the pro chicks...I'd say Big Dogs, but she is a Big Dog, so there you go...

Thursday 6pm @ the gate...

STFU or follow your own advice

I usually don't post about political news and views, but this morning, I read something so hypocritical and maddening that I just cannot let it go.
It seems that Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa just doesn't understand the World around him. He actually stated that AIG Execs should either apologize or commit ritual seppuku, "like the Japanese".

LINK

I realize that the demise of AIG is terrible and that many people have suffered tremendous loses, but a Senator pointing a finger is rich. Maybe if the Senate Finance Commitee, on which Senator Grassley is the top Republican, had been paying attention before, during, or even now, after the slide, this wouldn't be news. While it's true that AIG execs are likely some seriously greedy SOBs, Congress is just as much to blame. One would think that if you lend BILLIONS and BILLIONS of dollars to a corporation to effectively keep it afloat and make it a Government entity, you'd have some sort of plan in place to see where the money actually went. The fact that the Government is buying up more and more common shares of AIG and diluting it so badly that other shareholders are losing their money is ridiculous.

And the fact that Sen. Grassley used the example of ritual seppuku is simply racist and ignorant. But, he's got those midwestern, Iowa values, so he knows what's best. And he loves the PORK !!! This is the same guy that asked for $50 million from the Government to build an indoor rainforest...in IOWA!!!!

Senator, you fouled up as badly, if not worse, than any executives at the myriad companies that are taking on water like the Lusitania. Maybe the House and Senate should dig out the Jim Jones Kool-Aid recipe and have a little party. Keep writing stimulus packages and selling the country to the Chinese...that should work out just fine in a couple of generations. I think I may tell my kids to start learning Mandarin.

Senator Grassley, I have a Katana, if you'd care to borrow it. I paid a fair amount of money for it, but you are free to have one of your aides stop by and pick it up. Put you money where your mouth is sir...



Someone needs to give our Government a copy of the History of the Roman Empire to peruse.

15 March 2009

No thank you...

Another 50 degree, rainy day...
I'm having serious breathing issues...
No ride for me today thanks...
Doog and I did go to the Crit in Forest Acres to watch for a bit. SoPro crushed her field into a fine powder. They combined the 3/4 race. Coco finished 5th. GW was somewhere in the top ten (results aren't up yet). Timberlake was a trooper and finished in what could only be described as poor conditions. Chin up JT, it's your 2nd race as a 4 and they threw you in with some of the strongest 3s in SC...you did well!!

I put together an album of the pics I took today...

Forest Acres Crit

Jay did the P-1/2 race and followed it immediately with the Masters. Jay was 1st in M35+, Bond was 2nd. Dr. LP was 2nd in 45+.
Another good showing by PVR today...

14 March 2009

wet, cold and dirty

Saturday met us with 45 degrees and just enough moisture in the air to be bothersome. The course in Blythewood was great...technical, yet still fast and fun, especially in the rain. We 'warmed' up for a few laps and then lined up, only to stand and get colder for 15 minutes before the start. The legs protested pretty much the entire race and I never got comfortable. They shortened our race in an effort to make up some time lost, so we only raced for @ 35 minutes.
Doog was 2nd yet again, GW was 6th and I finished 9th, which is fine for the fact that I just sucked today, Timberlake finished 16th in his first race since catting up. SoPro has been nominated for her C.B.A. Card. She won the Women's race, finished top ten in the 3 race and finished 3rd in the 4s. That's right, she did three races back to back to back. I've said it before and I'll say it again, SoPro is harder than you!!!!
Coco got in the front split of his race and came home 3rd. We all pulled down a little scratch and had a nice lunch at Five Guys...mmm...burgers and fries...

Edit- Ladd nabbed 2nd in the 35+ race and Jay was a strong 15th in the P-1/2

Oh, and the comedy for the day was Doog and I trying to stay warm and getting dressed INSIDE the Mini Cooper. It's a fine, fine vehicle and I'd like to own one, but it's a piss poor changing room!

13 March 2009

Pipe Hitters

The first Thursday ride of the year went off last night. Nothing exciting to report...
We rode for 90 minutes and did some good tempo work. My legs were little more than hollow meat sticks and we almost got run down by an old black man...
I guess fitness wills out though as the tempo never really hurt and I felt better as the ride progressed.
Gonna go down to the ManHole (tm) and spin a bit tonight. It's supposed to be just lovely for the race tomorrow. Nothing motivates one to race like 50 degrees and rain...

Check out this picture...the only one missing is Petacchi...

Left to right is Hushovd, Boonen, McEwen, Cavendish and Farrar...and Farrar WON!!! I think these were the guys Marcellus Wallace was talking about...
I smell a fun Spring Classics campaign this year!

11 March 2009

TNCWC #1

A big group was in attendance last night, which is a good thing for our little Tuesday night pill party. The group stayed together for the first 15 minutes or so, then the attacks came. Doog went away with a couple of guys. Coco and JayC jumped across a lap or so later. The break ended up being 7...3 of them from PV. The remaining members of PV went into cover mode and NOTHING had a chance of making a dent in the gap. 4 of us stayed on the front and simply rode a bit of tempo, covering when necessary.
Doog won, Coco and JayC diced it out for 2nd...PV went 1-2-3.
I felt pretty average as a whole, but did my part and still got a good workout. It was harder than any 'organized' race I've been in yet this year!
I cleaned the course Monday night, but in the darkness, I couldn't really tell it's condition. It looked alright, but with the amount of construction going on out there through the day, it will be a bit of a constant battle to keep it clean and safe. I think I may go rent one of those giant blowers and really get down to business...unless someone has access to one and doesn't mind me borrowing it for a day. :)
Anyway, thanks for coming out everyone...
I think we'll do 6:15 again next week and then go ahead and move it back to 6:30 for the rest of summer!
Group ride Thursday night...6pm @ the gate...

09 March 2009

Not bad...

Sunday @ BMW
Windy and warm
The pack stayed together for @ 25 minutes. A break went (7 dudes) and the group all sat up and looked around like they had all lost their puppies...at the same moment. The break had @ 30 seconds and seemed to be working together. I got a little pissy, went to the front and burned a few matches. I pulled the break back by myself...yes, it hurt!
The group got back together and stayed that way until the last lap. The speed jumped up with @ 1km to go. Doogie caught a good wheel and went straight to the front. I didn't catch a good wheel and had to force my way outside, into the wind. I picked off a good 20 guys in the last 200 meters to finish 11th. Doog was 2nd...good ride my brotha!!
It was a good day!

Oh, and SoPro fucking WON Rouge Roubaix!!! If you don't know what that is, well...here's the link...it's epic!!! That little girl is hard as nails...PERIOD!!!

07 March 2009

mmmm...warm and sunny

About a dozen met this morning for a nice spin through Lower Richland. It was warm and sunny. Nothing of any consequence occured on the ride...just an easy-ish 2-1/2 hours. Racing tomorrow, so I wasn't going to do anything dumb anyway.
I also knew that the H.O. had plans for me when I got home! I took a Mexican shower and built her a raised bed/garden on the sunny side of the house. 90 solid minutes of cutting, drilling and hammering...cross training! Filling it with dirt is on her...

Now I'm enjoying the quiet of a sleeping baby. The H.O. and #1 M.T. are out running around. Time to lay down for a minute...

Don't forget, the TNCWC starts Tuesday night...spread the word!

05 March 2009

Hump Day

Doog, Coco and I went out last night for a loop. I had zero interest in riding hard, so when Coco ramped up the pace, Doog and I let him go. Of course, the diminutive one couldn't let it go, so he chased and caught Coco at the top of Dixie. I was about 1/2 down the climb when I saw them make the turn.
I stayed right happily inside my happy little slow/spin/recovery zone and never saw the two of them again. No matter, I quite enjoyed my slow spin around the loop @ sunset. It was possibly one of the most enjoyable rides I've had in 2009. I spun home in the small ring and ended up with right at 2 hours on the bike, including the extra 30 minutes Doog and I got spinning around, waiting for Coco to show up @ 5:45 (we got out @ 5:15).
It's really nice outside today, but the H.O. is on the road today, so I haven't a clue when, or if, I can get out. It may be another session on the trainer.
I think Doog and I may meet tomorrow night at the crit course for a ride. As I am not, nor will I ever be equated with anything resembling, a climber, I'm skipping River Falls on Saturday. I will be riding Saturday morning @ 9 from the gate. 3 hours or so, at a moderate pace. May open the legs once or twice, but that's about it. It's supposed to be warm and pleasant, so pull your bikes out, dust them off, air up the tires and come out!
Sunday, we'll be @ BMW in Greenville...

04 March 2009

It still sucks, but...

Okay, maybe I'm being a bit too hard on my trainer. As much as I hate the infernal contraption, it's really not so bad when doing a structured workout.
The H.O. had a 'focus group' for their NASCAR sponsorship/marketing last night, so I hit the Manhole for some 2x20s. Now, before you say, 'it was nice, why didn't you ride outside?', I'll tell you that I had 1 hour to do something, so the turbo was my only option for any real work...so there!
Anyway, I warmed up for 10 minutes and then rolled into the first 20 minute effort. I was watching 08 Gent-Wevelgem and had the stereo on LOUD, so the pain was pushed to the back a bit.
At about minute 19, I felt really good and the 95% effort wasn't that bothersome, so I decided, on the fly, to make it a 1x40 effort. I stayed @ 177-179hr pretty much the entire time, which equates to 95-97% of my max, or @ 340w. I jacked it up to 185hr for the last 5 minutes...better to burn out than fade away! The last 5 minutes were not very enjoyable. I spun down for 10 minutes and went back into the house completely soaked and with better legs than when I started. One hour...no fuss, no muss! Well, there was a small muss...the floor under the C'dale looked like a small lake.
I know I actually DID something last night, as my ribs are sore this morning. I guess that's a good thing.
Sold the 29er in 1 day...

02 March 2009

Linky

So the H.O.'s company had gone ahead and jumped into the deep end of the pool with their NASCAR sponsorship. Here's a link...

www.gofarmbureauracing.com


Enter to contest for the VIP Experience in Darlington. It's sure to be a good time!

01 March 2009

It's Coming...

No, not the snow...Brooks Garner know exactly SHIT anyways...

Time changes NEXT Sunday @ 2am, and you know what that means...

It's on like Donkey Kong...

The TNCWC is back in just 10 short days. That's right! March 10th will be the first installment of the ever popular Tuesday Night Criterium World Champsionship.
We'll start @ 6:15 and go for 40 minutes, as it will still be getting dark kind of early.

Be there...

29er Fo' Sale

no ride it, no need it...

Or you can contact me and give me $500 and it's yours...