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!

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.

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!

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

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.

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...

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!

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!

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...

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!!!

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!

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...

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...

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!

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...

Rides

Thursday night...
Coco, Doog and I did a quick loop of the Fort, and by quick, I mean speedy, not short...
It was dark and I couldn't see...good ride though!
Saturday broke with rain...serious rain. We chose to stay in town rather than go to Greenville and race. Most of the World did the same. Every field was 15-20 guys. Bond won the 35+ race will JayC finishing 2nd. RW came home a strong 4th. Timberlake finished 10th in the 5 race. Good show boys!
Feeling pangs of guilt for not going, I cajoled Doog into riding cross bikes this morning. We left in the 50 degree rain, rode in the 50 degree rain and came home in the 50 degree rain. I can't say that it was one of the most intelligent decisions I've made in 2009!
I'm still feeling a bit guilty for not going to GVille though...
Next Saturday is River Falls and my big body has NO business getting involved in that 'skinny-climber-dude' fest! Doog should do well in that one. I'll be at BMW on Sunday though, rain, sleet, snow, poop or shine!

Tomorrow looks like another shite day...I'll be on the trainer, staying warm and dry!

Garmin Service Course

GARMIN SLIPSTREAM Service Course from Media One Multimedia on Vimeo.

DZ

DZ got cleaned OUT while he was racing the ToC...
http://velonews.com/article/88567/zabriskie-s-home-burglarized

Poor dude...I put feelers out to my boys in the 801 and 435...

Oh, and I did 10 30/30s tonight on the trainer...GOD, I hate that shit!

SoPro!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SoPro won on Sunday in Texas...

Stud...

Weekend Update...

GTS 1 & 2 went off @ Donaldson Center last weekend.
Saturday saw HUGE fields in every race. It was a really nice day...warm-ish with light wind. We took of for our little jaunt around the airport. Nothing really happened during the race other than a lot of sketchy riding and hitting brakes on the downhill...I still don't get that!
I felt pretty average for the whole race. It was never really hard and I never suffered. I really should have gone to the front more than I did and forced the issue, but it was my first actual race, other than the TNCWC in 4 years, so I figured discretion was the better part of valor.
The sprint wound up and I had HORRIBLE position...my own fault. I, literally, had to stop and start my sprint 4 or 5 times to keep from running over people in the last 200m. I finished around 15th or so. I say "or so" because the officials, in their little trailer with their 20 year old camera equipment somehow missed me on the video. Horseshit I say!!!! I was there at the finish! I know it and the guys that finished behind me know it...that's enough for me!
Sunday was a MUCH smaller field. It was cold. The wind was brutal. 20-25mph with gusts to 30+...just bad conditions. The first lap shuttled the strong to the front to fight the wind. A break got up the road on the first lap. Doog and another guy were in the middle at the start of lap 2 when myself and another rider got across to them. The four of us stood to go up the first climb and I almost took myself out. I gave the RR track a good whack on lap one and pinched the tube, cause my front tire was going down fast. Dammit!!!!! Race over for me! It was warm in the broomwagon though...
It split all to pieces in the wind for the finish. I felt better Sunday though!
Everyone in town did well this weekend. Shout out to RW for his performances this weekend in 35+! He was on the sharp end and rode well! Kudos!

Edit...
Timberlake found video on Youtube and you can plainly see my big ass crossing the line @ 15th. Hard to miss all of the white I had on...
scroll to 6:45 and watch...I cross @ 6:48...I played and paused about 6 times...
Video

Da loop...

Coco and I met for a loop last night. It was dark. It was cold. We didn't feel like riding hard. Doog bailed because of those sick kids again! This Doctor thing is really getting in the way of his ride schedule!

Probably riding Thursday night, but definitely riding Friday. A couple of us are going out to the crit course to spin around and do a couple leg openers. It won't be a long ride, but everyone is welcome.

Some folks have also expressed in interest in our new team kits. Unfortunately, after a bit of discussion, we've decided to keep them as team issue only. We've spent a lot of time and effort to secure sponsorships and to create the kits. We may revisit the topic after the season, but for now, sorry...

From the "Gimme a Break File"...

I give you fine folks this small piece of love on a Tuesday morning...

Obama License Plates

I've already ordered one for Bond...

6:00pm @ the gate tonight...

Shoulda known...(the Voice)

Saturday, I awoke to rain and a generally shitty day. I wasn't in the correct mindset to go out and get wet, dirty and cold. I opted for a far, far worse choice...the trainer. The plan was to do about 45 minutes or so, elevate the HR, get a good sweat and get off.
I decided that I really wasn't minding the drudgery, so I started doing intervals.
I started with a 20 minute SST pull @ 170-ish HR. I spun for 10 minutes and then had the brilliant idea to do another one. 20 more minutes passed at 175-ish...
Things were going along swimmingly in my little cool down, so I said to myself, "Self, you should keep going..."! Sometimes I listen and sometimes I ignore it!
I did 2 minutes on and 1 minute off, starting in the 53/17. Each successive two minutes meant a shift DOWN the cogset...all the way to the 12. Two sets of these @ 180-190 HR made me feel more than a bit sick.
Voice-1 Big Dumbass me-0
The H.O. and I go to dinner. I was still felling a bit iffy, so I thought, "get something safe, like the chicken..."! Again, I did not heed the call and ordered a heaping bowl of pasta drenched in some amalgamation of different cheeses. Felt bad eating it...felt bad when I got home...felt bad lying in bed!
Voice-2 Big Dumbass-0
Sunday met me with a sunny sky and a big feeling of malaise. My stomach was, and still is, turning inward. Instead of listening to the voice and A) staying my happy ass in the house or B)riding by myself, I chose C) go out with the group. We rolled out easy, turned on Percival and the pace shot up. I did all I could until the first bump on Screaming Eagle. My legs were heavy...my HR was just all over the place...and my stomach, well, let's say he was beyond the planning stages of a Coup d'Etat. I sat up and said ENOUGH!
Reed and I traded pulls all the way back to the Fort and I spun home slowly after we parted company.
For those keeping score at home...
Voice-3 Big Dumbass-0
Yep, I got blanked this weekend. As I sit here and type this, I'm fighting the urge to put my head down and go to sleep on the desk. I feel like complete CRAP! And the MTs will be home anytime...GREAT!!!!

Another night ride...

...only this time with different faces. Doog lamed out on us...something about sick kids at the hospital...nonsense, so Meat, Coco and I did the big loop again. We did it at a little greater clip than my last trip around, but still didn't make the effort to ride really hard. That being said, Coco and I took turns pulling out Dixie at a pretty good clip. Not enough to really suffer and have to dig, but just at the point where it was starting to sting a bit by the turn.
We kind of just rolled around at that point. The burn is still going on out there, so the smoke was plentiful and there were even a few hotspots that were still burning pretty nicely. Yes, we rode through a forest fire! We also saw a something that we believe was a coyote. It was too small and darkly colored to be a deer. Nice to know that meat-eating predators are patrolling the outer portion of the loop. If you get a flat out there, ride the bitch in!
No idea what's going on tomorrow....
We were supposed to ride in the NE @ 7am, but the fact that it's going to be 45 degrees and raining really sucks the romance out of it. A few of us may go out a bit later, unless later is noon. The MTs are going to the spa for the weekend and I'm not wasting a Saturday afternoon. I may sleep through most of it, but in my eyes, that's not waste!
It may be a cross bike kind of day...
Sunday 9am @ the normal spot for what looks like the last Il Prof ride...for the folks who plan to race at least...
That being said, I just signed up for the Spring Series and paid my money...I guess I'm committed now!

Easy spin

Doog and I met for an easy spin around Fort Jackson last night. We did the big loop and really didn't need the lights until the top of Dixie. The days are definitely getting longer.
We rode at what could be easily be considered a 'spin' pace. I was feeling the combination of the weekend rides and my 40 minute visit with the foam roller on Monday. That thing takes no prisoners, but it works wonders. There's really no need for a $75/hour massage, other than draining your checkbook.
We'll likely do the same ride Thursday night. 6pm from the gate. Come join us...bring lights if you have them!

Shout out...

Greg from www.fastsunglass.com sent me a note to check out his site...
The have all kinds of glasses, not just cycling specific stuff. Nice site...easy to navigate...check 'em out!

Weekend

Saturday was the Inaugural PalmettoVelo "Flip the Switch on Winter" ride. It was a great day for it. 65 degrees and a big warm sun. The wind didn't cooperate, but it wasn't that bad either...mostly a crosswind. The ride started with 16 and we lost some on the trip out to Sandy Run. We made the first quick stop and allowed everyone to get back on. The first climb on 21 split the group pretty evenly into climbers and non-climbers. I was, of course, in the latter. We chased and all got back together right at the turn to head back in. The run down 176 was a steady one, all the way back to the store. Shortly after the second store stop, Ward flatted and we all stopped to wait. The rest of the ride was steady...until Dixiana. Once we got on the end of Dixiana, all hell broke loose. Attacks and counters went right and left. Doog and JayC were about 100 yards up the road and didn't seem to be coming back, so I swallowed hard and ripped across the gap @ 60kmh. It kind of stung. I felt bad the entire ride and that short, but very violent, effort did nothing to help the situation. The pace stayed high and, through my own inattention, I ended up in the second group on the run down 12st extension. We chased again and caught the front right after the turn. The remnants of the group rode in together.
We ended with 105km and a 34.5kmh average. The 'meat' of the ride (the middle 80km) yielded 36kmh average, which ain't whistlin' Dixie, considering the hills and the wind.
It was a great ride with alot of familiar faces, some new faces and a couple we haven't seen for a long while. I hope everyone had a good time...I did!
Today we met for the normal Sunday ride. Coco, Doog and I felt like doing some steady effort, so we left the group and rode into Eastover, then across to the Cricket Store. The wind at the end of Bluff was BRUTAL! I was MASHING the pedals to maintain 30kmh. We passed the GMart as the rest of the group was pulling out. We figured they'd catch us before the end, but never did, even with us not really making the effort to stay away. Doog and I made a slow-motion effort at the sprint and just sat up.
We all just rolled in together from there. Another 95km and 3 hours and change in the legs. It was really windy today, but 70 and sunny.
After two long days in the sun, I have some nice new tan lines on the arms, legs and bald melon.

As seen on...

...the back of my SUV. I <3 dead dinosaurs and bikes with gears...

Get yours here...

Sad day

Big Maggie retiring...

Man, I'm bummed!

Doog and I rode the road bikes in the dark last night. First hand experience tells me that 32 degrees in the sunshine and 32 degrees in the dark are not equal.

See you guys @ CC tomorrow...10am roll out.

HoP

HoP last night. Nothing exciting to report, other than another 20 minute effort at threshold on the cross bike. Oh, and I got chased by some asshole in car, through Cottontown. While I may not be a pro in terms of power or lung capacity, I do have superior handling skills on a bike.
He pulled out in front of me (I had the right of way), so I gave him a hearty 'Hello Neighbor' (haha) and a single finger salute. He, in turn, decided to make the effort to come after me. Well, it didn't work out to well for him. I bunnyhopped two traffic islands, a curb, rode through a front yard, down some steps...and was GONE!
I channeled Fabian Cancellara all the way into the park. I was feeling okay, so the effort got turned down a small bit, but was still enough to really start to sting after the 15' point. The last 5 minutes sucked. Headwind, gravel, fat tires...

Serfas followup...
The brake pads are actually getting BETTER as they have worn in. They will stop you RIGHT NOW, if need be! And they are whisper quiet, even on the old, borderline worn out Ksyriums on the Salsa.
The bibs that JT sent me have become the de facto night ride shorts. The gel pad takes the shock out of hitting the holes that the lights sometimes miss. And yes, it happens that way, usually every ride...

I'll do a review of the Hudz and Kenda Small Block 8 tires next time around...

Happy Monday

Saturday- 90 km w/group...didn't make the RoP, as I had other obligations in the afternoon that required my attendance. Felt like crap on the bike, but still spent 80%+ of the ride on the sharp end. My grandmother ripped (literally!) her knee open to the bone last week and had orthopaedic surgery to fix the damage. I can tell you with a large degree of certainty that it is not something to look at before eating lasagna! I needed to go see her though...
Sunday- 100 km w/group. Felt much better, but tired. The pace was quicker than last week, but still subdued. I tried to spend as much time as possible on the front. It was a good ride that brought out faces not seen for a long while. Granted, most of them turned off and went home early, but at least they were out. Are you listening Meat?
As an aside, if you deem it beneath your 'training' to show up for the weekend rides, don't talk about them! Show up or shut up!
Came home and took the MTs outside to play before the SuperBowl started. I'm an old-school Steelers fan, so I'm as happy as a schoolgirl today. I did give my 1975 Steelers SuperBowl Champion can of Iron City Beer a rub before the game though, just for luck. Thankfully, it was a good game, regardless of the outcome.
I will say though, I was horribly disappointed by a few things.
Is it so hard to just SING the national anthem? I mean really! Jennifer Hudson, as talented as she may or may not be, butchered the song. I feel fairly certain that Francis Scott Key didn't sit @ Fort McHenry, watching the Battle of Baltimore, and write it as an R&B song!
And Bruce Springsteen...oy vey...! Could you suck any harder? It's proof that people just don't know music. The only highlight was seeing Silvio from the 'Sopranos' on guitar.
And Matt Millen as an expert commentator? Isn't he the guy the "lead" the Detriot Lions into the hole in which they currently reside? The Lions have had the worst 8 year run in NFL history!!! Yep, he's one to listen to...!
These things notwithstanding, it was a great game...physical, chippy, big plays and a great finish! The commercials were great. I really want a Hyundai Genesis Coupe now, so I guess the marketing worked!
Next Saturday is the Palmetto Velo team ride. Everyone is welcome. 100km through Calhoun County. 10am SHARP from Cycle Center. It's group ride, not a race. Read the RULES!

Peace!

READ THIS!!!

Yes, I'm talking to YOU!

Group ride rules

And tomorrow is Mick's last ride in Columbia. He's moving to KC full-time...no more back and forth. If you aren't doing the RoP/RoG, come and and say goodbye to the old boy.

Wait...what? or Bacon makes everything better!

My heart hurts looking at this, yet I'm strangely attracted...

A week of Mondays thus far...

Sweet Baby Jesus...
What the hell is going on this week? I must have a misaligned Chakra, or whatever the hell the non-meat eating hippies call it this week.
Monday was just a crappy day outside and I felt like hammered shit.
Tuesday was a bit better. I rode, but was not motivated at all. I kind of just spun around...well, maybe harder than that, but it definitely wasn't a go fast ride! I was forced to go to Target @ 8 last night since the people were coming to measure for our new cabinets this morning. That was the highlight of my day. I was away from the MTs and there is a lot of ass in Target at night. Are you reading this Doog?
This morning, I took #1 to school and it seems someone painted a large, red bullseye on my truck. Every late-for-work douchebag was out this morning....running red lights, turning in front of me or sliding to a stop behind me at a light. I can avoid the assholes I can see, but I will deliver an epic beating to whomever decides to rear-end me with the boys in the car, and then I will fall on the ground with a back/neck injury. "My neck, my back...my neck and my back..."!
Of course, I'll probably get hit by some immigrant with no insurance...
Here's a tip, if it's 8:58am, and you're supposed to be at work @ 9am...YOU'RE ALREADY FUCKING LATE!!!! Slow down and pay attention! The life you save may be your own!

Quick hit

Saturday-
85km
2:25 ride time
50 degrees and rain THE ENTIRE RIDE. My clothes weighed @ 12 pounds, my white shoe covers were a very nice shade of grey and I had to take my wheels apart to allow the 4+ ounces of water to escape. Once I quit dropping glasses and solved my wheel issue (always check your QR when swapping wheels!), we had a good, steady, tempo affair! No Meat, No Mula...go figure...! Of course, they would have gotten popped off as soon as we left the Fort anyway.
Sunday-
90km with Il Prof. Felt better than Saturday, but the overcast, 41 degree skies kept everyone home. I was hoping for another ride that forced the tempo a bit. You know what they say, "Wish in one hand..."! I had little motivation to ride, but am glad I did and better for it.

It's supposed to be decent next weekend...Bond is doing the "RoP/RoG" on Saturday. 95 miles of fun...
And speaking of Bond, I had the chance to work on his Madone last night. Whoever built that bike should be banned from the work area of the shop!! EVERY bolt was loose, his Speedplays where about 3 rides from backing themselves out and killing the guy, the cable housings are A)too short and B)not Shimano, and the chain is too short and has a quick link in it! Did I mention it's a Shimano chain? I wonder why it won't shift correctly?
And the Trek 'internal, super-duper, we re-invented the wheel' BB setup is Mickey Mouse at best. It's little more than two MR2437 bearings laid in the frame. All they did was mold the cups into the bottom end of the frame. Big f'in deal! The drive side bearing doesn't even have an external seal on it! Crazy...

Kinda tired

...and not from riding...
#2 has made the decision that he wants to be an early riser. The latest he's start screeching this week has been 6:15am. It's only 45 minutes sooner than I usually roll out of the rack, but I sleep hard between 5 and 7 in the morning. Oh well, I guess I'll have to watch the re-runs of Jon Stewart in the mornings.
Doog and I rode Tuesday night. HoP loop with a few garages thrown in. It was freaking cold, but bearable. People who complain about the cold here wouldn't know true cold if it bit them in the ass. When you take a deep breath in through your nose and your nostrils stay stuck to your septum...then it's cold. It was more of a screw around loop than anything.
I rode solo last night and it was really nice out. @50 degrees and a nice SW wind. I did the normal HoP loop again, only at a much greater pace. Once I hit the dirt, the pace picked up and stayed high until the end of the trail. The aforementioned SW wind was stiff and gave me a nice headwind for entire length of my interval. A headwind, crushed gravel, and 32c tires make it fun too...
I can tell I pushed harder than usual last night, as my legs are a bit stiff and my knees are sore from pushing a taller gear.
I stomped up Gervais, all the way from the bridge and then cruised through campus, harassing TVH when I passed his house.
I got home in time to see the MTs off to bed...nice!
I'm in the middle of product test as well...Kenda Small Block 8 cross tires...will write it next week. I think the reviews will become a weekly thing. JT is setting me up with some new Serfas stuff and I was given some white Hudz to try on the Dura-Ace shifters.

Saturday- 9am @ the circle
Sunday- 9am @ Outjokin'

Product review time

So, as you may know, the fine folks @ Serfas asked me to review products for them...and I quickly agreed. JT sent me a pair of their new bibshorts and a full set of brake pads for my cross rig.
The pads are a multi-compound affair. They look very nice, both in the package and on the bike. The packaging itself is superior to other brands out there. A product that is the same price, yet in a more attractive package will always sell better! Anyway, I installed the pads according to the directions, which instructs to do so with NO toe-in! Evidently, the multi-compound setup prevents the horrible howling that is often heard from poorly aligned cantilever pads.
After a few rides on them, I can say that they are all they are cracked up to be. Stopping power is superior to Kool-Stop pads and, as advertised, there is absolutely zero noise from the pads under braking. Even in wet, sloppy conditions, they slowed my big ass down with great haste. Big thumbs up for the pads...no negatives!
Now on to the bibs...
Again, Serfas seems to have actually given thought to the design and fit of a product, unlike many clothing companies. Straight out of the package, the first thing I noticed was the quality of construction. The lycra is both a bit heavier and better quality fabric than a lot of other bibs. They also feature flat-lock, double stitching, which is both more comfortable and makes the bibs last a bit longer. This is important when you are washing your bike stuff a couple of times a week.
I've never ridden a gel chamois pad before, so I was a bit leery, but so far so good. The pad is well shaped and fits very comfortably...no pinching or binding of the nether regions. Even though it's gel, it's pretty minimal and doesn't ride up into the crotch or feel like wearing a full diaper (not that I actually know what that feels like!). The silicone leg grippers do a good job of keeping the shorts where they need to be, even with knee warmers under them.
The straps are just about the perfect width, length and shape. They come up perfectly on the abdomen. Some shorts come up too far (Hincapie) and some, not far enough (Castelli). Much like the porridge in that famous story, these are 'just right'! Makes stopping for the 'break naturel' a bit easier, and since I seem to have the bladder capacity of a toddler, this is a bonus.
The inseam of the shorts is a bit shorter than some others, which is fine by me, but may be a point of contention with some folks. I never understood long inseam shorts anyway. If you want to wear knickers, buy knickers! They aren't tri-shorts by any stretch either! Granted, I have really long femurs, so they will probably fit the vast majority of folks who have normal proportions.
Overall, they are VERY true to size. I wear large bibs from most manufacturers and even XLs from a few (euro companies...skinny, musculature of a veal calf Euros....). These fit perfectly.
The only downside, and this is merely a personal observation, is the fact that they are very plain. They are straight-up, old school, black bibs. They do have two, small, reflective logos on the fronts of the thighs, but that's it. I'm sure that a lot of people LIKE simple and plain. I do too! Maybe the addition of an option to choose colored stitching (white/grey/red/etc.) or even simply sublimating the Serfas logo down the thigh panels wouldn't be a bad thing here. Offer them both ways...with logos or without...
My inner fashionista notwithstanding, these are great shorts, regardless of the cost...and they are far, far less than some brands (cough...Assos...Rapha...Pearl...cough). $90 for a pair of really good bibs is a bargain, and that's a word that usually doesn't enter into the conversation when talking about cycling clothing. Oh, and if it matters to you, they are made in the good old US of A!!! Follow the link over there >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to get to Serfas' site. They make a bunch of stuff!
I've got some other stuff I'm trying out right now...more reviews to follow!

Adios, Amiga....

SoPro is leaving for Tejas tomorrow...and from there, she'll be making her way to Europe to mix it up with the EuroDogs. We may change her nickname to SoEuroPro...

Be safe, kick ass and have fun...
Don't be afraid to call or write if you need anything!

See you in the Fall!

Saturday

No ride today as it's 38 and raining, and my contract to ride in Europe isn't on the horizon, so I stayed inside and did some much needed bike maintenance.
Yesterday was another story...
We went out @ 1pm in balmy 32 degree weather. It ended up being a PV team ride, +1...SoPro is hard, so she came out too. We meandered out of the Fort, in an effort to warm up a bit, but once we made the turn onto Old Leesburg, it was tempo time. there was no 15 or 20 minutes at SST pace. It was tempo all the way out to Willie Wilson and across 378 to Chaingang. The wind was not in our favor, so it was a nice headwind stretch down into Eastover. I tried to lead SoPro out for the sprint, but ended up leading Coco and Bond to the sign.
We stopped @ the stop in Eastover for all of two minutes and we off again. We rode steady across to Airbase and then Bond went to the front. His coach told him to do a 25' effort @ 330-360 watts...that's not a typo BTW...! We all fell in line behind him and let him pull us to the end. Sitting in wasn't difficult, but I didn't want to interrupt his workout, so we stayed in line until the sprint. I jumped in WAAAAAY too big of a gear and Coco came around me at the end.
Bond, Timberlake and Doog cut across Trotter to get home while the rest of us did the normal Double Homey. We just rode it in and no one bothered to sprint on Shop. It was a damn good ride with a damn good group. There was no complaining or whining or farting around. Everyone took their turn and stayed together.
85km rolled past quickly...2:25 ride time to be exact...
A little violence may be introduced to the program next weekend...

Night-time is the right time

...for riding the cross bike.
I went out Tuesday night, solo, and did the HoP loop downtown. I rode as hard as is possible up through campus and across downtown. I did manage to time the lights right, so I blew through Main St. like poop through a goose. A very short motorpacing session presented itself at the intersection of Main and River. Some dude on a scoot was beside me at the light and when it went green, I let him go a little and jumped on the draft. I rolled down the hill behind him @ 70kmh+, which is pretty hairy for more than a few reasons.
1) don't know the guy...he could be a lunatic and nail the brakes at any moment
2) it's dark
3) traffic on River Drive
4) cross bike with 700x35c tires does NOT like going that fast
I followed him the the bridge over the river and made my turn into the park. I felt good, so I rode hard SST/interval pace all the way to the very end of the trail. The whole episode, from tip to tail, ended up being almost 15 minutes at a pace that was borderline violent. Tempo on the cross rig makes tempo on the road bike seem easy.
Back up through downtown and home with @ 75 minutes of hard riding under the belt. And if I see those frat douchebags that buzzed me in Shandon again, there will be a beating of epic proportions. I have the tag number and am thinking about running it through the DMV and SLED. Yeah, I can do that...
Last night, Doog and I did the HoP loop again, did some decent tempo work again and added a few parking garages at the end to really make the legs happy. You guys laugh, but standing/climbing a garage from bottom to top is good for you...
We ended with almost two hours last night...it wasn't cold...and if anyone says that it was, well...
My testing period for Serfas began last night as well. I don't think that one ride with any product is enough to form an informed opinion, so I'll continue my protocol and report on the items sent to me in a week or so...the brakes pads DO match my cross bike, so that's a plus... :)
Thanks again to JT @ Serfas!

Oh, and we're riding tomorrow @ 1pm (SHARP) from the Gate. It may be cold, so HTFU!

Random Monday/Product Review

So it's been a random day...
Went and looked at a house that seemed to good to be true...and it was...nothing says lovin' like the need for $50k in foundation repairs. It was probably for the best since it was around the corner (literally) from Bond's house. I need to up my FTP, but I really don't want to take an ass-whipping more than once a week or so.
Then, I get a random email that simply says, "Product Testing" in the subject line. Of course, these emails usually include some sort of advertisement selling creams to give you a better erection, or something of that general theme. I almost deleted it w/o reading...what a mistake that would have been. The Email was from JT @ Serfas...you know, the bike parts company in Cali...
It seems that JT is a fan of the little pill party I have going on here and graciously offered me the opportunity to be a product tester for Serfas. Am I going to do it you ask? Hells yeah!!!!! I'll review whatever product companies want to send me. I've always been a fan of Serfas stuff anyway, so it's a win/win. Product is on it's way to me as we speak...watch this space for the reviews.
As far as reviews go, I've been meaning to do one of my new Diadora kicks and the email from JT was a gentle reminder...
I got some Diadora ProRacer Carbon road shoes a while back and have been wearing them for about 4 weeks now. I got them from Chain Reaction Cycles in the UK. I like to support Cycle Center, but I got them shipped from the Empire for less than dead cost...so there you go! I've always worn Diadora road shoes and always will. These have done nothing to dissuade me from this belief. They fit perfectly, are light, and are very stiff. Usually, I buy 2 or 3 pair of the same shoe for two reasons. 1) I'll always have a reserve pair and 2) When it comes time to get new shoes, there's no adjustment period to a new fit. The last time I bought shoes was 2004 and I got two pair of the Diadora Carbon Veloce. 5 years on and it was time to get some new ones, so I pulled down on the new Proracer Carbons.
At first, I kind of questioned my decision because they fit quite a bit differently than my old Veloces. They have obviously changed the last they are building these things on. The uppers were stiff and they seemed a smidge too tight. After a few rides, they started to stretch out and feel better. Then came my two week 'camp', which included more than one rain ride. Getting them wet and riding in them made all the difference in the World. I highly suggest soaking your new shoes and then riding in them to mold them to your feet. They now feel like high-dollar, carbon-soled slippers. For me, Diadora is the only way to go! If you have 'normal' feet, you'll see it the same way.

Weekend Update

As you read in my last post, I took the week off, except for Thursday night. After I rode, I decided to break out the foam roller and give myself a little rub rub. I went after my back and legs for 45 minutes. I can tell you, it works. My back feels better, but my legs have been absolute shite since Thursday night. The roller helped release all of the junk hiding in my legs. I woke up Friday more sore than if I'd ridden 4 hours at tempo.
Saturday was no different. My legs were just not in the game. Stiff, sore and the right IT band felt like I'd been shanked in the exercise yard. Just bad news. I muttled through, but it required much more effort than it should.
Along came Sunday...
I woke feeling oddly good...not great, but waaaay better than Saturday. We headed out through the Semmes gate and headed off down Leesburg towrads Congress. Some residual stiffness quickly worked itself out and I was okay. We rode tempo, never needing to come out of the big ring. We lost a few folks along the way...
As soon as we turned, Coco flatted. The group gathered back up and soldiered on towards Chaingang. SoPro said she had to do an hour @ 180HR, which is nutty to me, but she hit the front and rolled it. From Chaingang to the end of Airbase, we took turns on the front, being wise to keep the pace within SoPro's workout zone. Coco and I would go to the front when she would start to struggle and allow SoPro to recover a bit, yet keep her HR high. It was a quick run down Airbase and it felt pretty good. Again, we lost people along the way...
We just spun in from that point. It was a good ride, good pace and a good group. The legs are feeling the week of inactivity, but the rest will do me good.
After the ride, I went to Doog's house and cut down a tree for him. It was a full day...

Dark and Windy...yes, please...

So after my previous two weeks of self abuse, I've taken most of this week completely off the bike. I started to get a little itchy yesterday, so I got the cross bike set-up with the lights for a little urban assault.
It was dark and windy last night...and it seemed that the cagers were particularly stupid. Even more so than usual...
I also forgot (probably due to sheer laziness) to put in my contacts and put proper eye protection on my face. Riding in my regular glasses was a big ball of suck. I found myself looking over the lenses...air entered my eyes completely unimpeded and the wind was blowing dust and whatever environmental shit it could find directly into them. I couldn't see a thing by the time I got home. This morning, I awoke to find a sort of meringue accumulated in the corners of my eyes...lovely!

I felt better for going out on the bike though. It's actually pretty nice going out for a ride at night. It heightens your senses and allows you to get rid of some impotent rage by yelling at cars.

Palmetto Velo is also planning a ride through Calhoun County to satisfy our event requirement with USA Cycling. The likely date is February 7th. I'll post more info, the flyer and the route in the coming days.
See you folks in the morning...9am @ the Gate.
Sunday's ride will be Il Prof's normal excursion leaving OutJokin' @ 9am.

The funniest thing you've read in a long time...

...and I know funny!

ooooo, I'm suddenly all warm and fuzzy

This excites me in a special, special way....

If it doesn't do the same for you, well...you may need to buy a recumbent or something...!

And SoPro is stepping up HARD!!! Take your shot!

I'm proud of you Casey! You have an obvious talent and are doing what YOU need to do to make the most of it. You'll always have my support, no matter what you do!

Lake Loop

Not for me and the others, thank you...
If it was DECENT outside, then I'd be riding right now. It's 55 degrees (okay so far...), foggy (@2-300 meters visibility), and pissing rain (okay with that as well...)! The issue is riding around the lake in this weather. With 6 or 8 other folks, it'd be fine. With 80+ people, it holds no romance for me. Hell, we almost got run down last year by asshole drivers in Irmo...and it was a bright, clear, sunny day!!!!
Today is the perfect scenario for getting taken out by...A) some gaper with no handling skills, or B) some fat, redneck in a 10 year old Yukon who is late for, well...nothing...but he's late, so you need to get out of his way!
I don't know if I'll go out today. Doubtful...
Without doing 3+ hours today, I have 26 hours on the bike in the past two weeks! I'm taking it easy this week...maybe 10-ish hours or so.

Edit- Doog and I went out in the rain @ 1. We rode exactly 65 minutes on the cross bikes. It was enough...

Week o'riding

Sunday- 3:15 100km
Tuesday- 3:00 85km
Wednesday- 2:30 in the woods on the cross bike 45km (equiv. to road km ?)
Thursday- 1:17 35km...a clusterfuck all the way around this morning...don't ask. The Cycling Gods didn't want Doog and I on the bike today, PERIOD!!!
Friday- off...laying low...
Saturday- 3:00 85km

Check back for updates

Crusty's back....and the Sunday ride

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/dec08/dec28news


Sunday ride report

I sent out an email about a week ago, thinking that some folks might want to do something different...I guess I was wrong. Mick, Timberlake and I met @ CC this morning, only to ride up the hill and join the assembled group at OutJokin'. I wanted to go to Calhoun County, but the best laid plans...you know the rest...! People just do not know what they're missing by not riding over on that side of the river. Doog and I will be over there a couple times this week.
It was a good ride nonetheless. We had a decent group of 8, including another guest appearance by Ben Jones. Timberlake and I rode on the front for pretty much the entire way. Nose in the breeze makes you strong like bull...! No great news to report from the ride itself. Old Tuesday across to the Swamp and back in. I ended up with right at 3 hours of ride time and just shy of 60 miles once I factor in the commuting from Point A to B to C back to B and finally returning to A...did you follow that? I think I lost myself...! :)
Doog and I are riding @ 9 in the morning from the gate. 2-ish hours...easy spin...

Don't forget, this coming Sunday, January 4th, is Toby Porter's New Year's Day ride. The ride leaves the Peak DMV @ 10am, SHARP!!!!!!! 60-ish miles of fun around Lake Murray. It's a good time! Ya'll come!

2009 NYDR

Alone

Today, I woke up in Chesterfield, ate brekkie and went for a ride...alone!
I rode for 2:45...alone!
I rode 90km...alone!
I rode 4500' vertical...alone!
I rode tempo for more than half of the ride...alone!
I rode in 45 degrees and rain for more than half the ride...alone!
I got chased by 9 dogs and outran them all...alone!
I got back to the house with a big, wet, cold, dirty, shit eating grin on my face!

I am, in fact, harder than you!

Merry Christmas

Screw all that PC crap! Merry Christmas!

Meat, Mick and I met this morning for a quick jaunt through the flats. I did some SST work and felt pretty good. Not great, but the form is definitely on the upswing after being sick for a week.
Ended up with 70km in right at 2:15.
We're going to Lexington tonight and Chesterfield tomorrow afternoon. I'll be on the bike Friday for at least 3 hours. I just cannot stand the H.O.'s father, so I'll be killing two birds with one stone! I'll get some quality miles in great terrain and get away from his neuroses for a while.
Don't know about Saturday. I'll likely come home Friday afternoon, so I plan to be out.
Sunday, we're planning to ride from Cycle Center @ 9. 60-ish miles through Calhoun County and back in up through Gaston and South Congaree (just in case anyone needs to score some crank).
It''ll be a tempo-ish sort of affair, but we'll all stick together. Everyone is welcome, but there will be no whining on this ride! There seems to be too much of it for this time of year! Eat your brekkie, put on your big boy/girl pants and come out to ride.

I hope everyone has a joyous and safe holiday! Peace!

It's just not built for that...

I rode the 29er this morning, but I just wasn't motivated to go ride in the woods. Instead, I did my urban assault loop...on the 29x2.3 tires. Wow, do those tires ride like complete shit on the tarmac.
It was cold and windy and I was rolling slow.
It took me a full 30 minutes longer to do the loop on the 29er than it does on the cross rig. I had a bit of an epiphany...not a full on, single ray of sunshine on a dark day, ate the whole chocolate cake moment of clarity, but just a sliver of sun or chunk of cake.
I really don't like mountain bikes. I don't like the position. I don't like fact that they handle like ill-steering dumptrucks. I don't like the complete lack of speed when riding.
Granted, I felt pretty empty this morning, but I just didn't enjoy my ride.
To be fair, I LOVE riding my cross bike in the woods, in bad weather, in the cold, on dirt roads...pretty much anywhere. If I was forced to own one, single bike, I'd build up a super-swank cross rig because it can do everything. I guess I'm just a roadie at heart.
I'll give the 29er another chance...next time in the woods, where it belongs, cause it just ain't built for the road.

You don't know Jack...

I was just reading another 'cycling' blog...not important which, as I feel that the owner of said blog now owes me 5 minutes of my life and I wouldn't saddle you nice folks with the same waste of time.
He was talking about GOOD tubulars and actually had the balls to utter the word "Tufo". Talk about a head scratcher. I know Tufo tubs are light and they have a high thread count, but that doesn't help the fact they they are prone to failure and ride...well, like complete shit.
If you want a good tubs, either go German or Italian. Conti, Vittoria and Deda makes absolutely the BEST tubs under the sun. There's a reason pro teams ride re-labeled Vittorias, and it ain't vanity.
If anyone ever utters the "Tufo" in your general direction, laugh at them, aloud, and simply turn and walk away.
I may not know much, but I know that the only use that a Tufo tub excels at is keeping my 6 foot fence gate closed in high wind.

I don't feel bad...

...but I can tell I have a head cold.
I was supposed to go out and ride with Bond and the NE crew Saturday morning, but I woke up @ 4:15am in a cold sweat and could feel the old sinuses draining down the back of my throat. Sometimes, discretion is the better part of valor, so I bailed. Doog and Coco went out and repped PV by dropping everyone but JB. Bond didn't ride either, as he was a bit sickly and was driving the porcelin bus all Friday night and into Saturday. Treze got shelled like a boiled peanut and hitch-hiked back to Bond's house. Who the hell picks up a guy in lycra, in Ridgeway, and drives them home? Wonder how the old boy renumerated his chauffer?
This morning, Doog, Coco, Meat and I went out for an easy 2+ hour spin in the wet and wind. It was really a nice morning to ride. I'd rather go out in the crap @ 9 than piss my whole day away waiting for the weather to clear. I just can't understand waiting until 10, or after, to go ride.
I feel much better today and fortunately, my cold hasn't migrated south, into my chest. I could breathe just fine and the legs felt pretty good. I'm a bit ahead of where I need to be, but hopefully, it'll pay divedends.
The H.O. is off for the next two weeks, so a good block of training is staring me in the face. Time to start doing some structured stuff...oh joy!

I just noticed, after Coco asked me, the SoPro's link disappeared. I deleted another link and someone three got wacked. SoPro's link is back up. Sorry for any confusion. I didn't kill it on purpose...

Pine Straw

That would be a good description of my riding style last night...as I was all over the trail. I felt really good on the bike, but my already limited mental abilities went on walkabout.
The ride started off with a resounding THUD, as I caught a downed tree with my front wheel and just couldn't pull it out. The bike went right...I went left. Fortunately, the wet pinestraw provided a soft cushion for my not-so-gradual stop. No injuries, but a good bit of laughter!
From that point, I was pretty worthless. I felt good on the bike, but my admittedly limited mental abilities went on walkabout. I just couldn't concentrate on what I was doing. I must have ridden off the trail, dead into the woods, at LEAST 6 times. Poor Doog...he just followed into the thicket.
I may have been a tad overdressed and overheated, which may, or may not, have contributed to my brainfade. A longsleeve, fleece lined jersey WITH a base layer is, in fact, a bit much for 65 degrees. Oh, and knee warmers...

We went all the way out to MM8 and turned back.

Other than crashing, riding like a mentally challenged orangutan, running out of lights (battery went dead) and flatting my front tire 4 blocks from home, it was a pretty good ride. Sure as hell beat the trainer!

As an aside...
Doogie, don't blame your compact gearing for losing the bridge sprint! You have a 50 big ring...I have a 48 and I still showed you clean wheels...and I wasn't even in the 12.

what a difference...

...a day makes!
Saturday wasn't necessarily a BAD day on the bike, but things just kind didn't go in my favor. The H.O.'s Christmas Party was Friday night, and as is tradition at these things, I ate waaay too much heavy food and, at minimum, one too many desserts. Saturday morning met me with heavier legs, a bloat and general malaise.
I felt okay on the bike, but there was no snap. On Old Leesburg, my pedal stroke felt really weird and I realized that my cleat had moved. After a week with the new shoes, the bolts obviously needed to be re-torqued. I stopped and tightened everything up, but the group had other plans. Lets just say that I chased all the way to the end...alone.
The rest of the ride was uneventful and I starting feeling better the longer we were out.
Coco had a mech and brought his C'dale to the house for a repair. I knocked it out in short order, of course...
Sunday was a crap day weather-wise, but I felt pretty good on the bike today. We left with Il Prof's group from OutJokin' and headed out through W.Cola towards Calhoun County. Too much fiddling about and people blowing on the second bump on 321, in combo with wind and pissing rain, led Doog, Coco and I to up the tempo on the run out to Gaston. We weren't going to wait and get wet(ter) and cold(er), so we turned right and headed across to Hwy6, then made our way down 6, back into Columbia.
We had a great tempo section of the ride, took equal pulls and stayed between 35 and 45 kmh for the hour or so before we got back into town. That may be our new loop to get some hard wok in...
8 hours on the bike makes a good rest week...

Ahhh...the weather...

The weather is just plain wacky around here right now. I'm sure the tree-hugging, Love your Mother, do-gooders will blame global warming, and to be honest, I'm fine with that...! Go drive your hybrids and shut up!

Nothing says lovin' like riding, at night, in the pissy rain, in a SS jersey and shorts.
Doog and I did a very easy urban loop last night. Pretty much just spinning around and yapping at each other. My legs were shit after the weekend, so I just needed to get them going around and spin out some garbage...and I did just that.

The H.O. is sick, so I'm on the VitaminC, Zinc, stay the hell away from her program. I slept on the pull-out last night in an effort to separate my self from the Harbor Seal-like coughing/barking that was coming from the bedroom. I actually slept for once. It's funny, when I'm sick or the MTs are sick, she's up my ass, and their little asses, with advice and medicine, yet she'll just lay around, coughing, snotty and miserable. If you don't want to do anything to either hurry the illness along, or eradicate it altogether, keep how bad you feel to yourself!

I think I'm gonna stay off the bike until Saturday...
Saturday 9am @ the Gate
Sunday ?? as of now...I'm sure Il Prof will throw something together.

Oh, and the Palmetto Solo New Years ride is on again...
NYDR 2009

Weekend and a passing...

First...my Great Uncle Tinker died last week. He was the Sheriff in his county for almost 50 years. This pic was taken in May of 1949. He was a hell of guy, a man's man and a certified badass! (Have you ever been shot?) Godspeed Tink!
Saturday-
42 degrees and FOG. Maybe 100 yards of visibility. VERY damp the whole ride. We did a big convoluted loop of Lower Richland and came back in reverse Thursday night. Coco, Doog and I pulled the group around for 3+ hours. It's getting easier and easier to tell who has been on the bike and who has been using it for a clothes rack. 3:05 ride time...95km and some good tempo riding. I felt really good. The carbon wheels ride very well on the Cannondale. I also proved my theory on riding them everyday... (don't do it...it's not good for you!)
Of course, as it always happens, the fog lifted as soon as I got home.
As an aside, if you don't show up, don't go around telling people that you did, but you missed the group because you were late. The group NEVER leaves on time. We left @ 9:15 Saturday and rolled out slow...! If people were late, they could have caught on with little effort. Show up or shut up!

Sunday-
32 degrees and bright sun with a little bit of wind. We did the first 1:45 of Il Prof's 5+ hour deathmarch. The vast majority went on to do the long way while Coco and I turned and headed for home through the hills and dales of LR. The wind was noticeably stronger on the way home.
Certain folks were MIA today...some expected, some not so...
3:30 ride time...100km of slow turnover...just what I needed.

Overall, a good weekend of riding! Back feels good, legs feel good, new shoes are great...!

Time to hang Christmas lights...

Darkness everybody, darkness...

DH and I did a road loop last night in the dark. I can say with certainty that 42 degrees in the dark in colder than 42 degrees in the sunshine. I think part of the issue was the fact that my feet were really cold. I rode my new Diadoras last night. They are light, stiff and fit very well. They are also ventilated better than my old shoes. I had on the white, oh-so-Euro shoecovers, but they were of little help. Looks like heavier covers are called for with these shoes in cold temps! Of course, I'll get white ones...like you had to ask...!

We did a modified loop in and out of the Fort and ended up with right at 90 minutes on the bike. This week will be a bit of an easy week. My back is starting to feel good again and the legs are coming around, so it's better not to push it. The spin last night was just the ticket.

I may take Thursday off as we're planning to do 3 hours on Saturday and 5 on Sunday. I think an easy week with 10 hours on the bike is good enough. :) Or I may do another road loop and have 12-ish hours for the week.

Saturday- 9a.m. @ the Gate
Sunday- 9a.m. @ Outjokin' for Dean's ride. He'll be sending an email shortly...

Yes, we did...

...no, not that dumbass Obama stuff!!!

Doogie and I waited for the break in the rain yesterday and rode in the wet, cold, pretty damn miserable weather. We decided to do the urban assault loop backwards. It was wet and the roads were providing less than optimal traction for cross tires, so there were exactly zero efforts made yesterday.
We did almost die at one point though. Doog pointed out a break in the trees down near the canal locks and queried, "I wonder where that goes...?". It was more than likely a rhetorical question, but I turned down the hill and headed for the break anyway. About 25 meters into the nearly cleared open area, the dirt turned to deep, deep mud. I rode into the heart of it and just stopped. I almost went over the bars. I would estimate the depth at @ 6 inches. We slogged out of the muck and while I stomped my feet and banged the Salsa on the ground, Doog headed for the canal to wash his bike.
After our excursion, we headed back up into downtown, made a slight detour to harass Dr. LP at his 'house of the month' and then headed back.
It was a pretty dreary day, but a good ride was had nonetheless.

A pass...

Turkey Day was Thursday and we actually had a group ride...shocking. There were 6 of us, but it beat my usual Thanksgiving cross bike solo ride. We did the regular Thursday Elon loop at a leisurely pace. The headwind on Airbase was pleasant. Rich and Maria turned off to head abck into the Fort and the rest of us soldiered on. 2.5 hours and 45 miles before eating dinner was good for me.
Friday, Mandrus and I were the only intrepid souls out on what was a perfect day. Warm, little wind and bright sun. We did a meandering loop of LR and came back into the Fort. Instead of turning on Hartville Guard, we continued around and did the remainder of the loop. Good ride and good conversation. It's a shame the old boy is moving away. I'll miss him.
I got just shy of 3 hours and right at 50 miles...another leisurely ride.

The H.O. and the M.T.s were out of the house last night, so I got some good sleep. The weather was supposed to be bad this morning, and it is...48 and steady rain. I took a pass...
Casey sent me a few texts in an attempt to shame me into riding with her in the soup. No thanks! My 38 years have taught me that there's a fine line between hard and not smart.

Of course, I'll probably ride tomorrow...rain or shine...

Where's Smokey?

So Doog and I went out last night for a trail ride, but it got cut short by about a mile of trail. At MM6, I started smelling smoke. By MM7, it was getting heavy and was making the trail a bit harder to see through the lights. We decided to turn around shortly after MM7 just in case the woods were actually on fire. As Doog, pointed out, we'd have surely seen the fire before riding into it. I'm pretty hardcore when it comes to riding, but the idea of being found as a charred corpse, still clinging to my bars didn't seem like a romantic/epic way to die.
It was good ride last night though. We never went really hard except for the little climb out after the log crossing. I just like going hard there...
The funny part was the temperature change. It was pretty toasty until we crossed a particular firebreak on the way in. In was like the temp dropped 5-10 degrees at that exact moment...kinda odd!
Anyway, it was a fun night in the dark, dark woods...

We're riding tomorrow (Turkey Day) @ 9 from the Gate
Friday - 9am from the Gate
Sat- 9am fromt he gate, weather permitting. If you are a masochist, Bond is doing a 90+ mile ride around Lake Wateree, leaving his house @ 8:30.
Sun- 9am @ Outspokin'. Some will be doing 3 hours, some will take the turn and do 5 or so.

See you guys out there...

I had a good weekend of riding...did you?

HTFU! Eddy is disappointed in you!

Saturday worked out just as I predicted in my last post. I left the house in 29 degrees @ 9am. A quick trip out and around Weston Lake and back in took 2.5 hours. It was 35 when I got home @ 11:30. I didn't see another living soul out on a bike, not that I really expected to...
Casey gets Hard(wo)man points, as she went out later and did 3.5 hours on her road bike...SOLO! She still aspires to the Office of President of Truly Hard, but she's earned her place in The Cabinet.

I spoke to Il Prof last night about the temps and whether he knew if there would be anyone with the fortitude to show on Sunday. He intimated that he knew that very few, if any were planning on riding and that he wasn't too excited about the prospect of riding for 3 hours in the cold. I told him I understood and changed the wheels on my cross bike to my urban assault set-up.

It was a balmy 35 when I woke up and 39 when I left the house @ 9. I can say with some authority that if people didn't bother to ride today, they don't like to ride at all. It was perfect this morning. Big, warm sun...no wind...no traffic at all...no idiot runners out and about. Hell, I got hot at one point on my ride.
I did a giant loop around Columbia, through the Northside, up to Greystone, back down to the river and into downtown. I hit 4 parking garages, cruised up to campus, swung by Il Prof's house to harass him as I rode past and then home. 2 more hours of riding on an idyllic day.

Saturday...

Hmmm...supposed to be ass-biting cold tomorrow...32-35 degrees at the start...

I wonder who'll get out of bed in the morning? I know I'll be on the bike...but which bike? I'm thinking I may just get in the woods. It's all fine and well to talk about the road ride, but to be honest, I really don't enjoy standing at the gate @ 0900, with my hoo-ha in my hand, waiting...

Unless I get some emails, I'm riding the cross bike on the trail...maybe I'll run into some of the shit-talkers in town...(doubtful)

Heat up the Vagisil people...it's gonna be cold for the next 3 or 4 months. Remember what Eddy said... "To be strong in summer, you must be hard in winter!"

I'll be out for Dean's Sunday road ride...

Dark and cold...

Last night was the first of many night trail rides. Doog and I met and did an out and back on the Palmetto Trail. It was a pretty uneventful ride, other than the fact that I just do not have my night trail vision honed yet...and I forgot my helmet light.
We did a slight variation that included a bit of hike-n-bike, which is normally fine, but the Army decided to re-cut one of the firebreaks. They basically scraped all of the sand off and left the silty red clay that lies beneath. I got a bit of the glop on my shoes and bike. Poor Doog looked like he rode into it at high speed. I've seen less mud on a cross bike following a SuperPrestige race.

We rode back in, dragging mud and debris. 2 hours on the bike...

Start of ride- 41 degrees
End of ride- 36 degrees
Wind- North @ 10 (cold)
Hardness factor- 8

The Rev said it was BigRing...so it was...

Sunday

Il Prof's ride went off yesterday...w/o him. It seems he traveled to D.C. for a conference and missed out on the fun.
The weather was nippy, but perfect. Big sun and blue sky stuff.
Of course, we sat around and waited for the folks who can't seem to get their shit together. It's a 9 o'clock ride people...it's not early! My vote is to leave their asses next week. The kicker was the fact that after we wanted for them, they turned off and headed home...weaksauce!!!
The remaining bunch loped off to Eastover at a easy/moderate pace. As should happen, the pace quickened on Chaingang. This is where the excitement on the ride happened. As we were lining up for the town limit sign, Dr. LP stood up to sprint and blew his chain off the outside and came out of his pedal. Did I mention I was about 12 inches off his wheel? He kept it upright and neither of us were forced to eat tarmac @ 50kmh+...thankfully!
Upon stopping, the damage was evident. More than a few teeth on his S-Works chainring had some new character. Those rings have been problematic...add one more to the list. Time for some new rings my friend.
The ride home was a rolling paceline affair, into the stiff breeze that developed.
All in all, it was a good ride with a good group. Right @ 3 hours and 90km on the bike. I definitely felt Saturday in my legs...
After the ride, I fabbed up a mounting and hung a cabinet for the H.O.
Special thanks to Doog, who hoisted one end of the 54" long unit while I tapped it with 3" deck screws. A dozen 3" deck screws says that bitch won't come off the wall...EVER!!!

First time in the woods

Since the weather was so lovely this morning, Doog and I hit the Palmetto Trail for a little cross bike action. I dug out my old Ksyriums and popped on the fatties and we met @ 9.
We skipped the first section of trail on the way out, and should have on the way back...it sucks!
Anyway, 100 yards in, there's a pine tree laying across the trail at a 30 degree angle. Normally, I'd hop it, but it was damp and I really didn't want to eat shit...I got off...it won't happen again as I'll be out there with the chainsaw shortly.
There are quite a few trees down. Only one or two will be chopped. One will have a bridge built over it. The others are easily cleared with a well-placed bunnyhop.
We went to MM8 and turned back. I'd forgotten about proper tire pressures for the trail. On the way out, to much air...let a little out. On the way back...too little, but not by much.
Doog missed a bunnyhop over one of the aforementioned trees and dismounted...less than gracefully. The Russian judge was not impressed.
I had forgotten the all over work that one gets riding a stiff-ass cross bike on singletrack. My hands, arms and back were all less than happy with me at the end of the ride. Even so, it was a good ride. I remember why it makes me strong in the Spring! Anytime any of the cool kids want to join us for the ride, they are welcome. I have no issues leaving them out there.

Ride tomorrow...Outjokin'...9a.m.

Sad and Glad

No ToG next year...


GLAD...

Williams Wheels has the new 38mm and 58mm deep full carbon clinchers available. I Loves my 50s...!!! Follow the linky on the right to their site!

Gotta get back to it

Doog and I went out on the cross bikes tonight for a quick spin. I can tell I've been sick and off the bike for a week. The ride went quickly, but I had heavy legs and just felt really flat.
We'll be in the woods on Saturday...if it's not raining sideways. Drizzle, sprinkle, light showers...I'll ride in all of these. A "cow pissing on a flat rock" type of downpour...not so much.
Ride with Dean Sunday morning from Outjokin'...I'm guessing 9 a.m.

Here's a thought you should keep with you...
Think about the parallels between today's American society and the Roman Empire when you read the following quote.

The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance. -- Cicero , 55 BC

Love...

I <3 having the flu...

...that is all...

No riding..or...why I love toddlers

I was supposed to meet a bunch of the guys for the Saturday morning ride and had every intention of going, even though it was EARLY on Saturday. I felt a bit blocky on Friday night, but thought little of it and went to bed early. I slept soundly from 10pm until exactly 1:12am when I woke up in a cold sweat and horrible stomach pains. I tossed and turned for three hours and finally decided that the ride wasn't going to happen. I texted Doog @ 5:10am to bail, turned off my alarm and tried to go back to bed. I was awake until 7:15am, then finally nodded off again...then the kids woke up...at 7:25! My entire day was spent in, or very close to, the bed.
I consumed nothing but toast on Saturday.
This morning, Doog and I went to the Swap in Charlotte. I felt (and still feel) really puny this morning @ 6, but I perservered and drove to Lowe's Motor Speedway with a pocket full o'cash.
Turnout was light this year, in both attendance and vendors. The only real reason to go anymore is the hit the HealthNet booth and get screaming deals on stuff.
I bought a polo shirt and a computer...$30 total...and that was it. I could have bought more, but exercised self-control (shocking, I know!).
The vendors that were there ether had junk or really nice stuff. The junk was cheap, but I have a bunch of junk. The guys selling the nice stuff were proud of it and obviously didn't know that it could all be had on Ebay for less.
We blew through in a bit over an hour and headed back to Columbia. A stop a Five Guys ended the morning. The way my stomach has been for the past two days, this was a questionable decision at best, but I figured a greasy cheesburger would either settle my stomach or kill me. It was a push.
I still feel puny and I'm very tired...! #2 has been a bit sick, so it makes sense to reason that I have whatever he has...thanks buddy, daddy loves you!
Planning on riding Tuesday night @ 6, in the Fort...bring lights.

Saturday

7:30 SHARP at the gate...no waiting
We're meeting Bond and some others out at Percival/Wildcat to do the 601 loop. You'll be back in time for the game...

Oh shit...

11/5/08 - "He’s right, I am older. I raced with Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche, Miguel Indurain and Greg Lemond, of all people. I have been around a long time and I don’t know who the hell Linus Gerdemann is, but I know that when I rolled up in 1992, I started winning races. And when I roll up in 2009, I am gonna be winning races. He better hope he doesn’t get in a breakaway with me because I can still ride hard,” said Armstrong in response to Gerdemann’s questioning his return to cycling.

Linus Gerdemann, keep your mouth shut son...! Don't you know that angering Lance brings pain for EVERYONE!!!

I guess Lance re-upped membership in the 'Card Carrying Badass Club'...

The itch...

Yesterday afternoon, it was still drizzly and generally pretty shitty outside, but in the late afternoon, 'The Itch' became overwhelming. We were supposed to do a loop of the Fort, but my road bikes are clean, so the Salsa got the call up from the bullpen.
Doog was here @ 6 and we headed out through a light mist. We did a modified loop through USC and downtown, out North Main (throw up your gang signs now..., stack them if you wish) and down to the river trail. We did get harassed by a homie driving his grandmother's Caddy on North Main. Normally, I'd yell back, but at night, in that 'hood, that's a good way to get jacked or shot or both. I may start carrying my .25 on these rides...
The runner population on the trail was light, but the sheer stupidity of the runners that were out made up for it. Two runners do not need the entire 12 foot width of trail, period! And when you see superbright headlights coming your way, make an effort to share the trail. I know it's hard to deviate from your path when traveling a blistering 5 mph on your run, but damn...have some common sense!!!
We did pretty much all of the trails, on both sides of the river, looped through the inner part of Cayce and came back up through campus. The drizzle picked up at the end of the ride, but it still was barely strong enough to get the roads wet.
I ended with 1:45 on the cross bike...in the dark...in the wet. Yes, I'm harder than you!

As an aside, does anyone know the process to emigrate to New Zealand...it may be time to bug out of the U.S. !!

Big miles = big fun

2 day...200km...2 good rides...
Saturday we did Roubaix and it was really good. Thank you to the people who showed up! I really appreciate it. I wanted to do a ride that was fun and a bit random and that's exactly what we got.
Several folks from town came out as well as Bond, JC and Timberlake from the N.E.
We had three flats the whole day and I will only attribute one to the dirt sections. The other two were caused by other things, including a big pothole.
There were no complaints and no crashes. SoPro did decide to try her drifting skills on one section. I think she's ready for D1.
A few folks were conspicuous in the absence (Coco, Mula, BP...are you listening?)...
Lang gets the 1st Annual Columbia-Roubaix 'Hardman' Award. He rode his new cross bike WITH 34c knobbies!!!
It was a good time and I was tired when I got home. Of course, I did ride on the front for 95% of the time...
Sunday, we met for Il Prof's ride and had another good group. We did another 100km that included Double Elon (the correct way) and a run out to the old cricket store.
Again, it was a good ride, albeit a bit quicker in sections than it really should have been for November 2nd.
My back is suffering zero ill effects from two long days, so I'm happy...tired, but happy!

Happy Halloween

Somehow, the map got screwed up...
Here's the loop...

What the...?

So a Tuesday NIGHT ride draws a good crowd? Last night, Doog and I planned on meeting at 6 for a lazy loop of the Fort. Coco, Mulo, NID and Nut showed and we had an even half dozen. We started off slow enough, but I think Mulo's hot latin blood was running a bit thick, due to the 'cold'...it was 50 degrees...! He looked like he was wearing every article of clothing he owned and was rocking the 'Arkansas shoe covers'...(duct tape)!
About 3/4 of the way out Dixie, Mulo decided to warm himself and lit the fuse. From this point on, it was full gas for the rest of the loop. I sat up and let a gap open before the top of Dixie, thinking (incorrectly) that they'd sit up after the turn. I wanted to chase a gap and push a little bit. Well, they didn't sit up, went hard up the wall and I was forced to chase HARD. I was plenty warm after that though! How many times have you guys seen me big ring up the wall? Not GD many!!!
The pace stayed high and we all stayed together for the rest of the ride.
Doog and NID turned for home and the rest of us rode the the neighborhood. Mulo got attacked by a pile a yard debris on the side of the road...don't ride in the front, in the dark, if you can't see...
It was a good ride...fast...a bit hard and not terribly cold.

(Cue Monster Truck Announcer Voice...)

SATURDAY...SATURDAY...SATURDAY
WHAT?: 1st edition of Columbia-Roubaix
WHEN?: Saturday, November 1st 8:30am
WHERE?: Ft. Jackson Traffic Circle
WHY?: WHY NOT?
HOW?: Road bikes...
WHO?: YOU!!!!

56 miles of fun, fun, fun with 10, yes, 10 sections of dirt. A couple sections are short...a couple, not so much. None are horribly difficult or treacherous! None will hurt you or your bike! Leave the carbon wheels at home though...I'm not to blame for poor equipment choices. If you don't want to ride the dirt sections, please stay in your warm bed! The weather is supposed to be perfect, so BE THERE!!!



Please comment with questions or concerns...

Weekend rides

So Saturday, Doog and I loaded up and went out to the N.E. to do an 'easy' ride with Bond, Eric C. and Timberlake (yes, Justin, that's your new nickname!). It was wet, and that was the highlight of my ride. While the company and the terrain were fabulous (we did a short loop around Lake Wateree), I was cycling's equivalent of a cicada shell. I didn't feel great when we took off, but figured I'd get better as we went. Wrong answer...
It was one of those days that should have been utterly enjoyable, but in reality, sucked a mile a ditch water. I bonked! It wasn't a call-the-wife-to-come-and-find-me kind of bonk, but I was probably 30 minutes from it.
I got home and drank a gallon of Gatorade and ate pretty much everything in the kitchen that wasn't a cabinet or appliance. Another gallon of water and 1/2 the baked spaghetti I made and I felt human again. Of course, I didn't sleep Saturday night as I was up to use the bathroom every 2 hours...but I was hydrated.
Il Prof's ride went off this morning @ it's normal time. We had a big group with PV out in force. The weather was perfect, the group was good and the route was considerably lees circuitous than last week. I felt almost normal, but could feel the lingering effects of Saturday's deathmarch.
It was nice to put a couple of long days back to back, bonk notwithstanding. The Cannondale rides great. Smooth, stiff and stable. I think the Ridley may actually be a bit harder edged/twitchy...weird...

Ride Tuesday night @ the gate 6:00 SHARP. Lights if you have them!!!

It's alive...alive...

CAAD9...Ultegra SL...
Deda bars...Thomson post and stem

EDIT: 17.5 pounds as pictured...rides GREAT!!!

(screaming loudly)

Aaaaaahhhhh! I need to ride...
The H.O. has been out of town since Sunday night and I haven't so much as looked at my bikes. Thankfully, the M.T.s have been good and relatively quiet. Well, except for #2 falling off the side of the sofa. Fortunately, his face broke the fall. Nothing gets your attention quicker than a crying, bleeding 18 month old. A bloody nose and busted lip was the damage. 15 minutes of blubbering and he was back to his normal self. Thank God the H.O. wasn't here. We'd have been sitting in the ER. #1 must have been involved somehow, as he quickly offered the "I didn't do it" defense.
Depending on what time the boss decides to return home, I'm going to make an effort to go to the Statehouse tonight and do some plyos. A ride tomorrow is a definite. Looks like rain on Saturday, so Il Prof's ride may be the weekend excursion. Hopefully, the new bike will be here tomorrow (so says UPS), so I'll build it and shake it down on Sunday.

From this point forward, LL will be known as "Bond" on the blog. If you have to ask why, then you don't get it...