Now matter what one does in life, the last 8 minutes is always the worst.
Think about pretty much anything that takes time. Now think about the last 8 minutes.
Ok, there are a few things where the last 8 minutes are pretty cool, but this is a PG13 show...
Not in the mood to go out in the damp, cold darkness last night, I rode the Infernal Machine again. I had no urge to do anything that would take me near my vomit threshold, so I put my effort at about one notch above comfortable, and left it there for the better part of an hour.
2011 Flanders kept me company...
Now, one would think that 80-85% wouldn't be too tough, and it really isn't...except for that last 8 minutes. It really started to sting...
I'm riding outside this weekend. I don't care what the weather brings....
If I could only own ONE bike, it would look something like this...possibly even with the discs...
Yes...Yes...and Yes. Shut up and take my money. Probably better that I don't have money...
And some bold claims were made by a wheel builder yesterday. Something about a 50% savings in watts as it pertains to seal drag. Well, seeing as seal drag on a rear wheel is about 3w MAX, it's pretty inconsequential, and can be marked down as BS marketing hype. Your FTP will still suck.
That same amount of "speed" can be attained by putting good tires and latex tubes on the wheels you already own. AND you'll save $1000+.
And if you've ever wondered what would happen if a nuke went off over you town, there's a tool...
WTF? This is SC, not the Midwest! Enough with the mid-30s and rain. I want to ride outside. I've ridden the trainer more thus far in 2015 than I did in ALL of 2014. Have I mentioned that I HATE the trainer?
I feel pretty sure I have...
Rode the infernal machine again last night. I'm approaching it differently now, however. No more just riding. If I'm on the turbo, there's a plan. Most of the plans involve making the time spent short, yet effective.
No, I have no plan to race...too old...too many kids...other things interest me far more.
The only objective is to get the time on the hamster wheel over with ASAFP.
Last night? Warm-up for 10 mins. 8x3 @ 90-94% w/1min. rest between. Yeah...it sucked, but it made the time pass really quickly.
10 minute spin down, and I was done. 50 minutes +/-. A good sweat. A little taste of pain.
People that ride the trainer for hours on end are a special sort. I really don't get it. I did 2 hours once. Thoughts of self harm were becoming pervasive. And don't say "base miles". If you need "base", you don't ride enough in the first damn place.
And the weather looks like it's going to be crap tomorrow night too. I guess I'll go back down to Service Course, and ride nowhere.
C'mon Spring...we're all pulling for you...
E3 Harelbeke's poster for this year's race.
It hearkens back to Sagan's little squeeze of the podium girl a couple of years ago. Kind of funny if you ask me. People are all foamed up though. I understand why, but many are using the term 'sexual assault'. Really? It's a poster for a bike race, and it's photoshopped. And Sagan immediately apologized for his transgression.
The very people who are all twisted up should Google "E3 Harelbeke poster". Where was their righteous indignation years ago?
Sure, I'll agree that using semi-naked women is bad form...not even going to argue that point, so keep it to yourselves.
The organizers of the race wanted people to talk about the race, and it seems that their marketing efforts have succeeded.
Wait...Hincapie produced a design that doesn't suck? (JB reminded me that Hincapie only produced the kit. The design was likely from the folks at Betty Designs.) <<<
Also, check out the guys at Zevlin. I especially like the Ti bar end plugs.
Can you please figure out what you want to do? PLEASE?
Cold last week. Warm over the weekend. Rainy and cold today. Forecast to be in the 70s next week. And I wonder why my sinuses are staging a coup d'etat...
Tour of Oman $ list
And people wonder why sponsors leave cycling. It's not the doping. It's the fact that pro racing is largely a losing proposition.
After salaries are paid to riders and staff, fees and taxes are removed, and the UCI takes their chunk, going to Oman COST the teams money.
Meeusen showed some style over the barriers last weekend...
I wear my Road ID. Every ride...
Dean and I met Saturday for a road spin. On the way out of the 'wood, HWF, Chad and Timmy caught up with us. Kind of nice to have a little group on a Saturday morning.
Once out, Dean wanted to go long, and turned off. I had furniture shopping to do, so I rolled shorter with the others.
It was a nice little ride. Even turns on the front. Nice and steady...until we encountered a broken bottle...
Chad nailed it, and cut a Gatorskin. A GATORSKIN. At least our stopping spot was in the sun.
And a couple of guys in an old truck stopped to make sure we were okay. Sorta random. Definitely cool.
Once booted, we rolled on, and finished a nice 65km spin.
And instead of furniture shopping, I played futbol in the yard with Junior Management, and cleaned some mystery crust off the Ridley. Solid afternoon.
Sunday's wake-up call was met with rain, so I rolled over. After sleeping in until 8:30 (what?), and noticing the rain had stopped...for a while...I kitted up, and got out on the bike.
Funny how one has the road to one's self when it's 60 and damp.
I honestly don't think it rained at the far end of The Powerstation.
And where's Ricky when he's needed?
No moving this one. It's solid, and entirely too heavy. I did use my superior skills, and rode over it though. Doubt me? Chainring marks tell the tale.
Oh, and did I mention I rode in shorts? All that was needed was some Mad Alchemy Russian Tea...
It was 65 by the time I got back to Service Course, and the rain had begun again. Timed that ride just right!
And if you missed Lady Gaga on the Oscars last night, you missed something very special...
And she did it while Julie Andrews watched from stage left!!
The Boss got home late Tuesday, and to be honest, I wasn't terribly enthused by the prospect of a dark solo ride in damp, 35 degree temps. Yeah...yeah...Rule 5 and all that crap. I just didn't want to do it.
Instead, I got dressed, and went down to Service Course.
I hate the trainer, but there are times when it's the better choice.
It was 60 degrees, there was no wind, and I could ride bathed in the pale blue glow of the TV. 2012 Roubaix kept me company.
Instead of just rolling the legs around, I warmed up for 10 minutes. Knocked down 5x5s w/2 minutes between, and then spun down for 10 minutes. 53 minutes. No more...no less. Short and sharp.
It also worked out that the last 40km of Roubaix exactly that long. Things sometimes work out...even if part of the thing sucks...
Probably do the same thing tonight, as it's supposed to be 28 degrees at ride time. Warm and dry beats dark and cold. Not often...but it happens. at least that's how I'm justifiying it.
Yeeoouuch!
I'm all for flouro, but Sagan, and Saxo in general, are taking it to the extreme. The Ale/Cipo women's team though...
When team cars had style...
Proper fitment of a black and white skinsuit...
Not #blackfish...
You're probablyriding your tires with too much pressure... (<<<
And if there was any doubt that James Garner was cool, this only serves to cement the fact that he was...
...or grey, depending on how you spell things.
It's Monday. It's not warm outside. The sky is colorless. Oh joy...
Someone asked me if I'd help them sell one of these monstrosities. I said no. I want NO part of it. They were a bad idea, and broke, when new. Used, it's litigation waiting to happen...
As we've established, I'm no fan of disc brake road bikes. It's just not needed, and will only lead to grief for a lot of people who buy them.
This DeRosa however, is beautiful. Gotta say...I'd rock it...
Another proper townie/urban assault bike. Rigid. Discs. Internal hub. All one needs...
Oh, do STFU about base miles, especially if you have NO idea what it means, nor how to go about it. Honestly, if one rides all year, and puts in any sort of actual miles, there's no need to even use the term anymore.
Four wheels good...
Giant, glowing, single turbo. No lag there...at all...
Better have that thing pointed in the desired direction when the boost comes on!
As for yours truly, we rode Saturday morning. It was pleasant. Headwind out, and a ripping tailwind home. It's nice when you fall into that pocket where effort, speed, and wind all intersect, and one certain speed is correct.
Saturday, it was somewhere between 40-50kph. Twas nice. 2.5 hours, and I was back at Service Course.
Junior Management was at the LexCo office, so The Boss and I loaded up and went to Ikea.
We picked up a few things, and came to the realization that we couldn't live in Charlotte. Urban sprawl run amok.
Nice place to visit. Wouldn't want to live there.
And I took the idiot weatherpeople at their word, and decided to sleep in on Sunday morning. They said it was going to be 20 degrees. It wasn't. They said the wind was supposed to howl. It didn't.
Sunday was actually quite a nice day. I missed the opportunity to get out on the bike. Stupid...
No ridey today, as JM is home from school today. I WILL get out tomorrow night, even if it's solo...
I guess I should get the day started...at 10:45am...
-Night Ride
-Not cold, but the wind was howling
-Lots of those little "gumdrop" things on the trails
-PowerStation in really good shape
-That little mudhole was deeper than I thought
-River trail was empty
-Climbing Gervais with a head/cross wind sucks
-Some drivers are mentally challenged (how does one miss 3000 lumens?)
-A guy in 5 Points said, "Man, those are some bright-ass lights"
-Home with two good hours in the dark...
-A properly done townie/urban assault rig...
That's about it around here. Nothing to rant, nor whinge about.
Get outside tomorrow, as Sunday is going to be COLD.
Riding in the afternoon, on a Wednesday, is something of a rarity around here.
The Boss had a business dinner last night, so she came home early, which presented the opportunity to ride in the warmth of the afternoon sun. My first thought?
Nonetheless, when she came in the door. I headed out.
Seeing that the afternoon rush was beginning, I chose a loop that would present less of a chance to get popped by a car.
I've also come to the stunning realization that I really don't like to ride the road bike solo anymore. Herd mentality...safety in numbers...that whole thing.
Around the H.5oP loop, and back up Gervais, thru town, and into the 'hood.
Gervais was actually fun because of the traffic. I quite enjoy riding past the lines of cars. It also proved the need for a Law banning the use of handheld mobile devices while behind the wheel. A SOLID 30% of drivers were more intent on checking their phones than paying attention to piloting their 2 tons of steel and plastic.
Put them down people.
The ride was good though. An easy 90 minutes to loosen up and work out a few kinks.
Once back to Service Course, Junior Management #2 was out riding his bike around, so we did a few big loops around the 'wood. It was the best part of the ride.
The trade-off was that while The Boss got to go eat at Terra, I got to stay home with Junior Management. Such is my life...
Wiggo's Tour of Qatar F8. Not wholly unattractive...
Seems there might be some X-winds in Qatar as well...
Uh...don't stand so close to the implosion. And you might want to DUCK!
Taking last week off was kind of nice, and much needed.
Getting back on the horse last weekend was even better.
As it was chilly Saturday morning, we decided to leave at 10, and do a loop of LR. Flat, easy, sunshine...it was good...
After 75km, I was back at Service Course, welcomed by the cacophony that is Junior Management playing in the backyard. You know, as children should on a sunny, nearly Spring day.
As it was in the low 60s, and the sun was shining, the remainder of my afternoon was spent in the following manner...
The Heathens met Sunday morning, and the plan was to go out and do Chaingang...until a consultation of the wind map. Realizing that a return trip for Eastover would be a cross/head wind the entire time, we opted to go to LexCo. We chose wisely.
A Kindhuman even showed...for about 10 minutes...until his rim strip failed him...sorry man, you missed a good ride.
It was a cross to block headwind on the way out, but once we turned onto Jeffcoat, the next 90 minutes home was pretty blissful. Cross/Tail to full tail winds all the way home.
It was terrible out there too. 60-65 degrees. Sunny. Horrible...
And speaking of tailwinds, it's always nice to completely, and I mean COMPLETELY spin out your biggest gear...
FYI...that's 47mph in old money...in a 52x12. Do the math...I'll wait...
Yeah...137rpm. Shocked one of my hips didn't blow off and take out those behind me.
It was a quality 95km on a beautiful Sunday morning. And John bought me a Snickers, so it was a win all the way around!
Once back to Service Course...I went to Whole Foods...hungry...bad news, man...
Rohan Dennis smashed the Hour Record over the weekend...
Ouch....
And there was some CX in Lille...
I like that course...
And a little something to give you some pucker factor on a Monday morning...
Guardrails? We don't need no stinking guardrails...
So, in lieu of my sore back and leg, I took the week off.
No sense in going out on the bike, and possibly making something worse. It's February, and no pro teams are watching a 45 year, father of three.
Hell...I haven't even been down to Service Course. I guess the bikes are still in there.
I did order two sets of Vittoria Open Corsa SCs, and a new pair of Giordana bibs...so there's that...
Guess I should go buy some ride food this morning...and get The Beast washed...
Gonna be nice this weekend though. I guess I'll get back on tomorrow.
Decaf espresso? Oh Eddy....
Looks like a bunch of races have been canceled. Tour de Moore, Rock Hill and French Broad are gone. And rumors are about that a few more are in question.
Enjoy the Spring Series...it may be all you have this year...
Here's why two abreast is safer...
And the pros take on socks...
The GCN guys offer answers to those hard-hitting questions.
And the correct sock answer is whatever you like...except those stupid, shortie, ankle socks. They have no place...anywhere.
I skipped the night ride last night. It's February 4th. My leg and back are a bit twingy. No pro teams are watching my old ass.
By the sound of things, I'm glad I stayed home. Columbia IS a train town people! And they like to stop, and block several roads at once.
Instead of riding, I made broiled salmon (in the cast iron), roasted veggies, and grits. It was a better choice.
US "bike routes". Very cool map, even if the red line running thru SC is Hwy 17. YOU go ride Hwy 17 in the Lowcountry. I'm not doing it. I value my life. NOT riding 17? Good choice.
Cosmo was/is right. vdP looks like he's made a mistake here, but he's actually showing pure skill, and natural ability. Uphill barrier hop. Dismount BETWEEN barriers. Never fell. Never let go of the bike. Enough presence of mind to know he needs to get off...
Good show...
Not eating it at WC? Good choice.
And continuing the bike porn theme...another Festka. Personally, I like the seat stay set-up...
Choosing Festka for a custom rig? Seemingly a good choice.
Time to get the day rolling, even though going back to bed seems to be a solid choice.
As most of you know, I have a BAD back. The majority of people go to the Chiro when they have an issue, or injure themselves.
I go every 15-17 days...for maintenance. It keeps me up and ambulatory, and able to ride the bike.
For the past month or so, I've had some serious SI and sciatic nerve issues.
Friday, my Chiro and I had a conversation about the nagging issues, and decided to add a few things to my protocol.
Well, the new stuff hurt...and hurt bad...but in a good way.
I woke up Saturday morning feeling like I'd been hit in the back and legs by a fungo bat. Normally, I don't ride the day of/day after treatment, to let things get settled.
Well, I had to do something, so I got on the CX bike, and spun. Just spun...
...which is really all I could do. There was NO power, and it stung a bit to put more than tertiary pressure on the pedals. Honestly, I didn't care. It was a beautiful day, and I was out on the bike.
I rode easy for just shy of two hours, and felt marginally better for it.
I also met a couple of teenage girls riding out on The PowerStation. I slowed down to chat, and I'm glad I did.
One was in a full back brace, a product of a car accident. Her Doctor said that she needed to exercise, and riding the bike was low impact, and would help her recovery.
Her friend explained that she tagged along "to get some fresh air" and to be there to help her injured friend get better.
Those two made my Grinch-like heart grow two sizes, and restored a little bit of faith that not all teenagers are empty voids. Just two friends, out enjoying the morning...on bikes.
Sort of what it's all about, no?
A select few Heathens met Sunday morning, including a new member, who is moving to town. We'll get to him in a moment....
My legs and back were still battered from Friday, and others needed to get back earlier than we have the past few weeks, so we formulated a loop, and rolled.
It was actually quite a good loop, and incorporated a section that we'd never done before. Wasn't that climb fun?
Towards the end, my legs started to get back with the program, which is always a nice feeling.
I'm not " Summer fit" at this point, but it's nice to know that fitness sometimes gets you through. On a day that "chipper" would not be an apt descriptor, 80km fell easily, and felt short. And the WX got REALLY nice on the back half of the ride. If you missed it, well...
As for "the new guy"...
He's moving to town full time in March. He'll be here on weekends (that he's not racing) until then. He's from the beach. And he's a HAMMER.
I'll let you guys meet him for yourselves...and get pounded down like an errant 10p.
One of these is now winging it's way South from Chicago...
Not gonna say much more. You'll have to wait...
CX Worlds (Again...probably Geo blocked, as the UCI are jerks. Get Chrome and Hola)
