Well, for years I've struggled with the bike. Part of it's been mental, part of it's been my riding style and part of it has been my training. This year I seemed to have gotten a hold on 2 of the 3. The mental part always takes me a bit. If I'm unsure of a route or where a decent is going to take me I tend to ride ultra conservative, but once I figure out what I'm doing things fall into place. So on my second outdoor ride a loop of the Waterbury Ymca's suffer/hammer route with Alexei I wasn't surprised he was kicking the shit out of me on decents and crossing intersections. But there was one area where I was shocked, the climbs and the flats. Normally I tend to be a power rider. I usually push insanely tough gears, and crank out massive watts generating a world of hurt for my lower back, hams, glutes and calves. This year with all the indoor rides and actually showing up to spin classes on a regular basis I noticed a change in my riding style. I suddenly began to be able to push high cadence and noticed I was actually carrying a fair amount of speed. Now one reason I used to be a power rider was I figured that if I was going 100RPM in an easy gear I was going to be spinning a long at 15MPH quite literally spinning my wheels and going nowhere. Sunday's ride changed that. As Alexei and I cruised along Route 6 in Southbury ( after a few wrong turns.) I noticed that I was not in the biggest gear I could push but I was crusing along a 20mph with moderate effort. Likewise I noticed that I was actually able to launch sustainable efforts on the climbs and that I was able to give Alexei ( who is normally a much better cyclist than I am.) a good challenge to the top of some of the moderate climbs. What do I credit for this success? The sufferfest spin videos and classes run by the Y tri club. Every Tuesday we would ride one of these tough little workouts that would show snippets of pro-tours and would set a workout based on the race we were following. We simulated the climb up Alpe Du Huez, going into a break at the Tour de Sussie, TT riding the World Championship course, to the carefully crafted Sufferfest Videos. But one thing I noticed about the sufferfest videos was they preped us to ride like roadies, rather than tri geeks. John Hirsch had commented on his blog about how triathletes are not groomed to constantly push themseleves to the red line and recover and then make continual red line and recovery efforts like cyclists. Indeed in tri, the main goal is to hold a steady quick pace that won't thrash your legs too badly for the run. Sufferfest didn't work us like that. We were constantly put through over/unders, attacks, tempo riding, responding to attacks. essentially we were in roadie school. Part of me wonders: could my bike leg improve if I do a couple of surges strategically placed in the ride? In my ride with Alexei I held back a little on the decents and some of the straights focusing on good effort and strong cadence, taking a couple of tempo pulls at the front. I attacked on the climbs and noticed that for most of them I was either neck and neck or passing Alexei. Whether this was because he was worn from pulling or I had sandbagged a little./ planned my ride to have a stronger second half, or just picked the right times to kick it up, it felt good. So I'm wondering if this season maybe the year I'm actually able to put all three legs together and have a breakout. I'm definitely planning on keeping spin classes as part of my training regiment. While outdoor riding is great and makes the long ride more enjoyable. I think a good quality seesion indoors once a week might help me keep focus on good form and strength. So I'm going to see where this takes me because the results have been looking promising so far.
R.D.
Showing posts with label Bike training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bike training. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Saturday, July 24, 2010
The Teacher and the Student.
" There comes a day when the Student Surpasses the Teacher."
-Me to Alex on our draining ride this morning.
Well this morning my buddy Alex and I went for a quick 40k ride. He just bought himself a new full carbon Felt B-16 and today was it's christening. As we left our normal riding spot in Middlebury he managed to build about a 30 sec. lead on me. I still remember when he had bought my old road bike off me 2 years ago, and was hardly keeping up. Now he was riding like a master and leaving me in his wake. As we climbed up into Morris he would slow to let me catch up. His progress has been amazing. The kid's got a talent in cycling. I can't say that I've ever been a better athlete than him as he used to school me when we swam in high school, but he has developed greatly as a triathlete. he's gone from an also ran to a contender, and on today's ride he's proved how much his skills have developed. As we turned around from Morris there was a stretch that I was leading on a down hill, he proceeded to blow by me and open up a 30 sec. gap. While part of me was like "Holy shit yet another guy that bikes faster than me." another part was proud to see him develop a strong bike leg ( as his run leg is his weakness.) While he assured me that I have plenty of tricks in the bag ( a solid run leg.) I was going over strategy for our next race. We're both planning on doing the Park City Mossman in Bridgeport in August. The course is flat which fits my ride in the big ring riding style. I seriously believe Alex maybe top 5 or even podium material but he's going to have to throttle the bike for all it's worth.
Today's ride was an eye opener, but it was a little tough. It was 40k with plenty of climbing. Likewise the 90 degree heat and humidity didn't help, but that's what rides on Hot days are for. They acclimate you to the weather and force you to adapt to different conditions.
As for my training I'm trying to settle into a rythym I've got a longer ride and a run on tap for tomorrow. To everybody Rocking Lake Placid tomorrow good luck and kick ass.
R.D.
-Me to Alex on our draining ride this morning.
Well this morning my buddy Alex and I went for a quick 40k ride. He just bought himself a new full carbon Felt B-16 and today was it's christening. As we left our normal riding spot in Middlebury he managed to build about a 30 sec. lead on me. I still remember when he had bought my old road bike off me 2 years ago, and was hardly keeping up. Now he was riding like a master and leaving me in his wake. As we climbed up into Morris he would slow to let me catch up. His progress has been amazing. The kid's got a talent in cycling. I can't say that I've ever been a better athlete than him as he used to school me when we swam in high school, but he has developed greatly as a triathlete. he's gone from an also ran to a contender, and on today's ride he's proved how much his skills have developed. As we turned around from Morris there was a stretch that I was leading on a down hill, he proceeded to blow by me and open up a 30 sec. gap. While part of me was like "Holy shit yet another guy that bikes faster than me." another part was proud to see him develop a strong bike leg ( as his run leg is his weakness.) While he assured me that I have plenty of tricks in the bag ( a solid run leg.) I was going over strategy for our next race. We're both planning on doing the Park City Mossman in Bridgeport in August. The course is flat which fits my ride in the big ring riding style. I seriously believe Alex maybe top 5 or even podium material but he's going to have to throttle the bike for all it's worth.
Today's ride was an eye opener, but it was a little tough. It was 40k with plenty of climbing. Likewise the 90 degree heat and humidity didn't help, but that's what rides on Hot days are for. They acclimate you to the weather and force you to adapt to different conditions.
As for my training I'm trying to settle into a rythym I've got a longer ride and a run on tap for tomorrow. To everybody Rocking Lake Placid tomorrow good luck and kick ass.
R.D.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Getting Back
Well yesterday the weather was absolutely perfect for a ride so I did my usual Middlebury to Waramaug loop, excpet I did it with no stopping or bathoom breaks. I didn't have a bike computer so I rode completely oblivious to speed and distance. In one way it's kind of a down side in that I can't chart my exact distance or guess my pace and progress. In another it allows me to just focus on the road and riding by feel. So yesterday I spent most of the ride crusing at a comfortable pace and doing big gear work on the climbs. There were several other riders out but we were all at various stages of riding. I managed to have some targets at the lake as I was passing some rec riders as I did my two loops. Even managed to have two guys draft me for about a mile. The ride back I was surprsed how long I was able to stay in the Big ring on the climbs back. I know my speed must have been in the single digits but my legs needed the power work. Also discovered the art of peeling bananas while riding. The low point of the ride was hittng a couple of massive potholes on the descent back. For all the guys out here I will say the following "aluminum hurts." I had wanted to tack on a run after the ride but my back was pretty shot from all the "power climbing." I know that if do Rev3 I'm going to have to put in a run after one of these hillolicious rides soon but we'll sees how that plays out. Right now I'm definitely committed to Patriot especially since I'm sort of dating a chick in the greater Boston area. Likewise I have a Rev 3 pre ride this weekend just to try to see if it's worth entering. I tend to do better on flat courses than I do on climbs but part of me sort of wants to do the local half. All in all things are still moving along as I'm trying to figure out some life stuff and gather my paper work for the Navy, but I fgure I'm going to try to have a little fun this summer. If I don't do the Rev I might try to keep my Providence streak alive or spend the money on some shorter local races. Part of me would like to try long course nats since I already posted a qualifying time at Providence last season but we'll see how things go. Happy Training to all and Also Congrats to Pro Bree Wee in here Ironman SA finish.
Working his legs back into shape.
R.D.
Working his legs back into shape.
R.D.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Back in the saddle
Well New England has finally thawed so I'm back out on the bike. Yesterday I did about 56 miles up to Lake Waramaug and back. It's a tough and demanding ride and I was certainly beat by the end of it. The only down side was my bike computer biting the dust at about mile 3 on my 20 miler on Saturday. So yesterday's ride I was completely clueless. I have a guestimate of how far I went. I know it took me about 3.5 hours and I need to throw down some cash either at the bike shop or at nashbar. Granted I think I'm going to go wireless with cadence. For years I've been struggling to guess my RPMs on spin workouts or going up hills. Likewise I'm mounting this thing to the chain stays so I can get accurate distance while I'm spinning.
As mentioned before I'm looking at delaying my enlistment into OCS until the fall. I know I'm going to get the "he's having second thoughts routine" but I have to take care of somethings in the meantime. (like reviewing all of my highschool and college math courses so I can ace my ASTB and getting some affairs in order (financial and personal), also I want to get some racing in this summer.) I will say my new job is pretty good and it's definitely helping me get used to working under stress.
Back to Sunday's ride I was solo for most of it and I ain't going to lie I was missing having Josie and Bjoern to help pace me. But the solitude of 50 miles in the saddle also allowed me valuable time to thing. Not just about pedal stroke ( which judging by my shadow has improved.) but about life in general. I thought about how I love pushing myself and my love to compete and that whatever I do I can continue to race. I thought about political crap, philosophy and religion ( I won't express those views for fear of excommunication.) people I've met, people I've hurt, people I've helped. Races I've done and want to do. Essentially I can say my ride bordered on a transcendental experience, either that of my O2 saturation levels were lower than I thought and I need to build more base. But in anycase it felt good to be in the saddle.
R.D.
As mentioned before I'm looking at delaying my enlistment into OCS until the fall. I know I'm going to get the "he's having second thoughts routine" but I have to take care of somethings in the meantime. (like reviewing all of my highschool and college math courses so I can ace my ASTB and getting some affairs in order (financial and personal), also I want to get some racing in this summer.) I will say my new job is pretty good and it's definitely helping me get used to working under stress.
Back to Sunday's ride I was solo for most of it and I ain't going to lie I was missing having Josie and Bjoern to help pace me. But the solitude of 50 miles in the saddle also allowed me valuable time to thing. Not just about pedal stroke ( which judging by my shadow has improved.) but about life in general. I thought about how I love pushing myself and my love to compete and that whatever I do I can continue to race. I thought about political crap, philosophy and religion ( I won't express those views for fear of excommunication.) people I've met, people I've hurt, people I've helped. Races I've done and want to do. Essentially I can say my ride bordered on a transcendental experience, either that of my O2 saturation levels were lower than I thought and I need to build more base. But in anycase it felt good to be in the saddle.
R.D.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Dancing on the pedals....
Alright it's midweek and it's a little late to be doing a recap of my Staurday ride but it was just too awesome not to mention. I met up with Josie on Saturday to get my first ride since Providence in. (My burnout is almost cured I'm just having a hard time dragging myself to the pool.) We were going to do our 100k loop of doom, but the bridge on Nettlehollow was closed for repairs so we were left with 2 options.
1. Ride 47 into Washington which isn't necessarily a bad thing except for an 11% grade descent on a narrow road.
2. Go back down 47 the way we came and head on to 132 and do a loop of the Griskus Olympic course.
We decided to tackle the Olympc route, or as I have called it in previous posts Connecticut's Alpe du Huez. Coming off my success of pushing ridiculously large gears at Providence I decided to power up the climbs in the big ring for as long as possible. Josie took notice on one hill as she rode along side me..."Are you in the big ring?" "Yep", I said as I puffed along. She droped back in behind me so as I got toward the summit of some of the hills I was expecting to look back and see her right on my shoulder. I looked behind me and she was still grinding up the thing. know she's normally a better climber than me so I continued to attack the hills expecting that she would regain her prowess and blow by me like I was standing still. For the first time in a while I was really enjoying being in the saddle and I was hammering. The Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwin in my mind giving the color commentary. "He is absolutely tearing this field to pieces, just look at the gears he's using he just oozes power." "This is the man of old we are used to seeing, taking no mercy on the hills, he's going out until he wins or cracks." Josie caught back up on Weekeepeemee Road, at one point I thought she had hit my back wheel when I heard a slight thud and rubbing sound. I pulled away on the decent and had about a 2-3 minute lead as I got to the top of the last hill. We made it back to the car and called it a day after 35 miles. Apparently the thud, rub sound I heard was "no ejecto technology" failing her for the first time as one of her water bottles got launched out of her rear cage.
I need to ride like this more often. Just attacking climbs like my life has no other meaning. So tonight I have a post work ride out on the same course. I'm hoping that I can get back some more cycling prowess as I ramp up for Park City, which will be a flat fast time trial.
"He's dancing on the pedals now and he will not be denied..."
R.D.
1. Ride 47 into Washington which isn't necessarily a bad thing except for an 11% grade descent on a narrow road.
2. Go back down 47 the way we came and head on to 132 and do a loop of the Griskus Olympic course.
We decided to tackle the Olympc route, or as I have called it in previous posts Connecticut's Alpe du Huez. Coming off my success of pushing ridiculously large gears at Providence I decided to power up the climbs in the big ring for as long as possible. Josie took notice on one hill as she rode along side me..."Are you in the big ring?" "Yep", I said as I puffed along. She droped back in behind me so as I got toward the summit of some of the hills I was expecting to look back and see her right on my shoulder. I looked behind me and she was still grinding up the thing. know she's normally a better climber than me so I continued to attack the hills expecting that she would regain her prowess and blow by me like I was standing still. For the first time in a while I was really enjoying being in the saddle and I was hammering. The Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwin in my mind giving the color commentary. "He is absolutely tearing this field to pieces, just look at the gears he's using he just oozes power." "This is the man of old we are used to seeing, taking no mercy on the hills, he's going out until he wins or cracks." Josie caught back up on Weekeepeemee Road, at one point I thought she had hit my back wheel when I heard a slight thud and rubbing sound. I pulled away on the decent and had about a 2-3 minute lead as I got to the top of the last hill. We made it back to the car and called it a day after 35 miles. Apparently the thud, rub sound I heard was "no ejecto technology" failing her for the first time as one of her water bottles got launched out of her rear cage.
I need to ride like this more often. Just attacking climbs like my life has no other meaning. So tonight I have a post work ride out on the same course. I'm hoping that I can get back some more cycling prowess as I ramp up for Park City, which will be a flat fast time trial.
"He's dancing on the pedals now and he will not be denied..."
R.D.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Operation Re-gain Manhood:
After some ample smack talk between myself and Speedy Claire I have gone through three stages of bad bike leg guilt: which has left me considering am I good enough? To the I need to make myself suffer this weekend mantra , to the almost throwing down some obsurd challenge like You and me chica IM NZ this March ( or a North American Equivalent) a take no Prisoners Battle Royale for 140.6 miles... let's see your bike speed save you now...kinda dare. Granted I realize that in that last instance my balls are larger than my check book. ( proabably still swollen from the pounding they got this weekend.)
I have come to one conclusion...My cycling sucks. Ok so it's not bad...but for the times I want to go and the way I like to compete, it's just not at the level I want.
I could sit here and blame my gearing at Patriot for my "poor" cycle leg all day long...but my biking needs and overhaul. Comparing swim and run splits to the guys in my age group my Run was one of the best my swim is one of the best, but my 56 mile ride is pathetic. The top guys in my AG beat me handily...Claire beat me handily hell they all could have gotten massages, taken showers and ordered a pizza waiting for me to come off the bike. I need to make myself suffer on the bike on Saturday and Sunday. Josie is getting an email and the orders not to stop and wait for me on our normal 100k ride ( unless I'm like on the side of the road in a puddle of my own blood or I suffer a major mechanical like both derailleur cables snap leaving me in the Big Ring- 12). I need to get faster so I have to set a goal of staying within 5 minutes of her. I need to go hunting damn it I need to go past the point of pain, bonking, exhaustion I just need to lay on the hammer for an entire ride or until I go into Krakatoa mode, and end up a nuked, shelled, quivering mass on the side of the road, covered in his own tears, blood, dried sweat and vomit. I need to not treat my training rides as comfortable I need to go out an anhilate myself, ride routes that's sole goals are the destruction of my psyche and body. I need to beat myself like a red-haired step child I need to look at my bike and equate it with pain. I need to suffer....and then wake up and do it all over again for a week straight.
The guy riding with a ball gag.
R.D.
I have come to one conclusion...My cycling sucks. Ok so it's not bad...but for the times I want to go and the way I like to compete, it's just not at the level I want.
I could sit here and blame my gearing at Patriot for my "poor" cycle leg all day long...but my biking needs and overhaul. Comparing swim and run splits to the guys in my age group my Run was one of the best my swim is one of the best, but my 56 mile ride is pathetic. The top guys in my AG beat me handily...Claire beat me handily hell they all could have gotten massages, taken showers and ordered a pizza waiting for me to come off the bike. I need to make myself suffer on the bike on Saturday and Sunday. Josie is getting an email and the orders not to stop and wait for me on our normal 100k ride ( unless I'm like on the side of the road in a puddle of my own blood or I suffer a major mechanical like both derailleur cables snap leaving me in the Big Ring- 12). I need to get faster so I have to set a goal of staying within 5 minutes of her. I need to go hunting damn it I need to go past the point of pain, bonking, exhaustion I just need to lay on the hammer for an entire ride or until I go into Krakatoa mode, and end up a nuked, shelled, quivering mass on the side of the road, covered in his own tears, blood, dried sweat and vomit. I need to not treat my training rides as comfortable I need to go out an anhilate myself, ride routes that's sole goals are the destruction of my psyche and body. I need to beat myself like a red-haired step child I need to look at my bike and equate it with pain. I need to suffer....and then wake up and do it all over again for a week straight.
The guy riding with a ball gag.
R.D.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Smoked
"You got beat by a Gur-url" - Speed Racer's comments to me last year after the Nutmeg State Half marathon.
Yesterday I got on the bike for the first time in two weeks for a 100k ride with Josie. I could go in to details about how I put my wheel on backwards ( hence no data.) and got totally annihilated on any upward incline. Long story short I think Josie is well within her goal of a sub 3 hour Half Ironman bike split. On the hillest sections of climbs she managed to open a good 5 to 10 minute lead on me. Seriously I haven't felt that tired on a bike since my last 100k ride. So this week since the weather is supposed to be good I'm going to run myself through a mini-bike camp. 20-30 miles everyday...weather permitting...missed rides accumalate with a 10 mile loop of the Griskus Sprint course tossed on as interest. I need to get serious and learn to fly on two wheels.
Trying to pry out his inner Lance.
R.D.
Yesterday I got on the bike for the first time in two weeks for a 100k ride with Josie. I could go in to details about how I put my wheel on backwards ( hence no data.) and got totally annihilated on any upward incline. Long story short I think Josie is well within her goal of a sub 3 hour Half Ironman bike split. On the hillest sections of climbs she managed to open a good 5 to 10 minute lead on me. Seriously I haven't felt that tired on a bike since my last 100k ride. So this week since the weather is supposed to be good I'm going to run myself through a mini-bike camp. 20-30 miles everyday...weather permitting...missed rides accumalate with a 10 mile loop of the Griskus Sprint course tossed on as interest. I need to get serious and learn to fly on two wheels.
Trying to pry out his inner Lance.
R.D.
Friday, April 24, 2009
I have a paper due Wednesday..
and can you guess the weather forecast: Sunny, warm, with an incredibly light wind....
Alright papers haven't prevented me from training before so I just have to HTFU and get it done.
This week my training has been crap....I haven't swum in a week and my only activity has been a 10k I ran on an indoor track...on Tuesday. I guess I can chalk this up to being a rest week. Sadly my lack of exercise is taking itself out on my personality...I seem to be lacking testosterone, hopelessly crushing on some chick, just emotionally a mess, lacking all rationality, having the sudden urge to drink diet soda with a little umbrella in it...damn it I need to do something manly...and quick...before I start watching Sex and the City reruns and ordering Cosmos..oh wait I'm going to have to do that Saturday night ( have to visit a gay bar for a law class project and then write about what it's like to be a minority for a night.).
So in order to save my manly worth I'm going to do some decent training this weekend.
Tonight: an 8 miler followed by a 3000-4000 yard swim, followed by paper writing.
Saturday Morning Swim, Afternoon: a 70 miler and a 5-10k run brick followed by my night at a minority establishment, and paper writing.
Sunday: I'm going to be a heathen and skip mass and go for a Long ride then a long writing session.
My training mileage should start going up in a couple weeks as things start winding down at school...then begins the job hunt for a better paying gig or at least a couple of side gigs I've got debts to pay and dreams to plan for. Otherwise I may be auctioning a kidney on ebay...but we'll see what happens.
Juan Valdez is still my homeboy.
R.D.
Alright papers haven't prevented me from training before so I just have to HTFU and get it done.
This week my training has been crap....I haven't swum in a week and my only activity has been a 10k I ran on an indoor track...on Tuesday. I guess I can chalk this up to being a rest week. Sadly my lack of exercise is taking itself out on my personality...I seem to be lacking testosterone, hopelessly crushing on some chick, just emotionally a mess, lacking all rationality, having the sudden urge to drink diet soda with a little umbrella in it...damn it I need to do something manly...and quick...before I start watching Sex and the City reruns and ordering Cosmos..oh wait I'm going to have to do that Saturday night ( have to visit a gay bar for a law class project and then write about what it's like to be a minority for a night.).
So in order to save my manly worth I'm going to do some decent training this weekend.
Tonight: an 8 miler followed by a 3000-4000 yard swim, followed by paper writing.
Saturday Morning Swim, Afternoon: a 70 miler and a 5-10k run brick followed by my night at a minority establishment, and paper writing.
Sunday: I'm going to be a heathen and skip mass and go for a Long ride then a long writing session.
My training mileage should start going up in a couple weeks as things start winding down at school...then begins the job hunt for a better paying gig or at least a couple of side gigs I've got debts to pay and dreams to plan for. Otherwise I may be auctioning a kidney on ebay...but we'll see what happens.
Juan Valdez is still my homeboy.
R.D.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
I figured out why nobody likes to ride with me...
Well Yesterday, I took Josie out for a 58 mile ride (~95km) on my favorite hill training loop. The sad thing is she had no idea what she was in for. The loop begins easy enough the begining of the Griskus loop, followed by a nice decent into Woodbury, followed by a long climb up CT-47 and then some rollers on KettleHollow Rd. followed by a big ass decent then steep ass climb big ass decent on CT109 in to Wahington Depot, a few rollers out to US 202 and then the fun of Flirtation Rd. to Lake Waramaug. 
The first half of the ride went well. Except for dropping my chain on a flat section of 109 as I snapped a photo for an overseas friend who shall remain nameless. I would speed away on the decents she'd catch back up on the climbs and all went pretty well we covered about 34 miles in 1:50, and then came the ride back. Those big ass decents were now big ass climbs. Josie held up to me for the most part and I decided to spare her the torture of the Morris/ Bethlehem section of the loop, and we just rode back to Middlebury. I decided to that it would be easier just to climb Ben Sherman Hill ( a 2 mile (4k) climb at 7-8% grade.) instead of going and doing the rolling back loop of the Griskus course. We began the climb and things were going pretty well and as I summited I looked over my shoulder to see if she was still on me... no sign of her. I made it back to my car dismounted, expecting her to be about a minute behind...
3 minutes later she came in to sight... screaming"What did I ever do to you to deserve that?" Apparently I have a knack for torture, maybe I should go get that coaching cert after all. 
The first half of the ride went well. Except for dropping my chain on a flat section of 109 as I snapped a photo for an overseas friend who shall remain nameless. I would speed away on the decents she'd catch back up on the climbs and all went pretty well we covered about 34 miles in 1:50, and then came the ride back. Those big ass decents were now big ass climbs. Josie held up to me for the most part and I decided to spare her the torture of the Morris/ Bethlehem section of the loop, and we just rode back to Middlebury. I decided to that it would be easier just to climb Ben Sherman Hill ( a 2 mile (4k) climb at 7-8% grade.) instead of going and doing the rolling back loop of the Griskus course. We began the climb and things were going pretty well and as I summited I looked over my shoulder to see if she was still on me... no sign of her. I made it back to my car dismounted, expecting her to be about a minute behind...3 minutes later she came in to sight... screaming"What did I ever do to you to deserve that?" Apparently I have a knack for torture, maybe I should go get that coaching cert after all. Note the look of Agony. Figure if she keeps doing loops like this she'll devestate the competition at Redman. For me I'm just trying to get my legs ready for Providence's hill-olicious-ness. I figure if I can get my bike split down from it's current 2:40-2:45 range I might have a shot at a podium. As soon as May rolls around there will be much more time spent on the bike, and hopefully much death and destruction on the New England Tri Scene, this summer.
Well that's all for me I've got to go make up a week's worth of work in a night.
The Tormentor.
R.D.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Damn Girl!
Well yesterday my training partner Josie and myself decided to meet for a ride out in Middlebury. We opted to do the Griskus Sprint Triathlon loop. To anyone who has never done this race let me explain it. The loop is 10 miles long Miles 1-3 are mostly down hill with a pesky little "s" curve through a blind intersection, mile 4 has a short, steep pain in the ass climb Hint for anyone doing Rev 3 this is part of the run course :) Miles 5-9 are rolling with the infamous smiley face and "last hill" marking at the beginning of a half mile (800 meter) assent and mile 10 finds you back on the main road descending.
So yesterday I met up with Josie at my usual parking spot on the rail trail and we were off. This was her first time doing a hilly course on her new Cervelo P2C....everyone here knows my relationship with Cervelo...granted I'm almost tempted to go to the dark side...
The ride began pretty well but there was a wicked Cross wind/ head wind on the opening descent, and it really killed the speed. To put it in perspective areas on Route 64 where I'm normally booking at 25mph (40kph) I was going about 15 -20 (20-30km) . Josie held up surprisingly well on the climbs, as evidenced by her "I love this bike!" comments. I would cook on several of the descents and open up a gap and she would close it on the hills...except for that long gradual one at the end....that hill is mine! We did 3 loops and for some odd reason my second one is always my fastest, maybe it's because I have my gearing down and I'm still fresh, maybe it's because my legs are properly warmed up, I don't know but the second loop I was feeling fresh, the third was about average I felt if it had been a little warmer ( and I had brought my Bento Box ) I could have gone a little further. All said and done we ended up doing 31 miles (just about 50k) in 1:54..averaging just over 16mph(25.6kph).
I figure I'll be doing this loop a lot to work my legs for climbing speed....that and I want to medal in my age group again....seriously I want to see if I can better my performance at this Sprint from last year although I don't want to fry my legs before Providence...hard because they're both in the same week although Patriot is in June so it won't be the Half Saturday- Sprint Wednesday- Half Sunday routine like last year.
Josie seems to be well on pace for a smoking bike split if she can ride like she did yesterday she has a shot at medaling in her age group in most of the sprints she's entered and if she keeps working the hills she'll be a weapon of mass destruction at Redman.
Well that's it for me today is swimming and lifiting and an 8 miler..followed by research...yay!
Wants a Polka Dot Jersey and a 300 Euro Bonus.
R.D.
So yesterday I met up with Josie at my usual parking spot on the rail trail and we were off. This was her first time doing a hilly course on her new Cervelo P2C....everyone here knows my relationship with Cervelo...granted I'm almost tempted to go to the dark side...
The ride began pretty well but there was a wicked Cross wind/ head wind on the opening descent, and it really killed the speed. To put it in perspective areas on Route 64 where I'm normally booking at 25mph (40kph) I was going about 15 -20 (20-30km) . Josie held up surprisingly well on the climbs, as evidenced by her "I love this bike!" comments. I would cook on several of the descents and open up a gap and she would close it on the hills...except for that long gradual one at the end....that hill is mine! We did 3 loops and for some odd reason my second one is always my fastest, maybe it's because I have my gearing down and I'm still fresh, maybe it's because my legs are properly warmed up, I don't know but the second loop I was feeling fresh, the third was about average I felt if it had been a little warmer ( and I had brought my Bento Box ) I could have gone a little further. All said and done we ended up doing 31 miles (just about 50k) in 1:54..averaging just over 16mph(25.6kph).
I figure I'll be doing this loop a lot to work my legs for climbing speed....that and I want to medal in my age group again....seriously I want to see if I can better my performance at this Sprint from last year although I don't want to fry my legs before Providence...hard because they're both in the same week although Patriot is in June so it won't be the Half Saturday- Sprint Wednesday- Half Sunday routine like last year.
Josie seems to be well on pace for a smoking bike split if she can ride like she did yesterday she has a shot at medaling in her age group in most of the sprints she's entered and if she keeps working the hills she'll be a weapon of mass destruction at Redman.
Well that's it for me today is swimming and lifiting and an 8 miler..followed by research...yay!
Wants a Polka Dot Jersey and a 300 Euro Bonus.
R.D.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
ARGGGG! More bike troubles.
Well today it was absolutely gorgeous so I broke out the bike and went to Middlebury to ride. Sadly I got about a mile in and as I tried to shift into my climbing gears...tension and no shifting I got off got the shifter to move but no response on the gears. I'm assuming I snapped the rear derailleur cable...arggg. This is the third new cable in as many months. I'm at the point of buying he bulk box of cables and a stand that's how many times I've seen this proceedure done... hell I could probably go for my mechanic's cert for this stuff and start turning a profit...well ok I'm not that skilled...yet but I'm getting there. I'm not sure what did it, Southern Hemisphere road grime, TSA oh so gentle hands searching my bike case for weapons of mass destruction, shifting during flight, a little gatorade getting on the cable and causing it to stick...etc..all I know is it needs a new cable so I can get riding again, because not doing anything outdoors with weather like this is a sin.
R.D.
R.D.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Operation Juan Valdez...and other ramblings.
Well I managed to get extensions for most of my papers so tonight and Friday I will be glued to the computer writing on Piracy, Ethnicity, Israelis and Palestinians destroying one another for land rights, and the global capitalist agenda...I mean religious issues. (sigh I always find someway to do something involving the Middle East.) so tonight begins Operation Juan Valdez or I'm not sleeping until I finish at least one of my papers. I figure sitting in the library or student center with out my Internet cable will allow me to avoid "distractions" and Get R Done...oh crap I quoting Larry the Cable guy get me more red bull.
Other Ramblings
Team Zoot Gu is disbanding, so next year I will be racing unsponsored, figure I'll load up on my GU2O now, that and I won't feel like a douchebag wearing my HEAT livery ( which is Garineau.) Also 2009 for me is going to be a hectic year, with graduation, getting a real job, traveling to 2 races ( granted they will be a little more spread out than last year.) I figure I'll probably be racing a little less but more spread out than last season. Nothing was worse than the Amotivational Syndrome I suffered from mid-July to August, no races on the calendar just mounds of training for Nutmegman, which turned out to be all for nought. I figure if I sign up for one race a month ( June, July and August) in April I'll have at least 3 races on the calendar and motivation to train, and if I run into lack of fundage like last season I know I'm in to my big three well 4 ( I always do one Sprint in July.).
I'll be announcing which Ironman/ Ironmans I will be gracing with my Lycra clad arse in 09, just before Christmas, hopefully after pillaging the Mohegans, with Angry's Crap table probability skillz that kill, afterall nothing would be better than walking away with more money than I brought with me. But I will be doing an Ironman in 2009, even if it isn't an M-dot, or it's just me swimming at Waramaug, riding through Litchfield County, and running a personal marathon on my own. Who knows maybe I'll up the distance and make Connecticut a mecca for the >140.6 mi (226.2km ) crowd...who knows maybe I'll spawn my own crazy distance between Ironman and Ultraman...The Almightyman*? I could just see it now 3.1 mile (5k) swim 200 mile (320km) bike and a 36 mile (60k) run and a 24 hour time limit..yeah that would be hardcore...until I get sued for somebody actually attempting this distance, and dying/crippling themself.**
Also last night I got back in the pool for the first time in a week. I felt so fat and lazy that I need a 3000yd. exorcism of Turkey day left overs. I just have to survive a few more papers and I'm free to train again.
Alright that's enough out of me for the moment.
I need creamer with a back up of donuts
R.D.
*The Almightyman Triathlon title is considered my intellectual property...anytheft thereof will result in me calling you a cheap, un creative ( explative.)!
** I will not be held responsible for some out of shape moron going off and trying to attempt this distance, with out undergoing a proper training and hydration and Nutrition plan/ psychological and medical assesments before hand. Endurance athletics don't kill, stupidity does.
Other Ramblings
Team Zoot Gu is disbanding, so next year I will be racing unsponsored, figure I'll load up on my GU2O now, that and I won't feel like a douchebag wearing my HEAT livery ( which is Garineau.) Also 2009 for me is going to be a hectic year, with graduation, getting a real job, traveling to 2 races ( granted they will be a little more spread out than last year.) I figure I'll probably be racing a little less but more spread out than last season. Nothing was worse than the Amotivational Syndrome I suffered from mid-July to August, no races on the calendar just mounds of training for Nutmegman, which turned out to be all for nought. I figure if I sign up for one race a month ( June, July and August) in April I'll have at least 3 races on the calendar and motivation to train, and if I run into lack of fundage like last season I know I'm in to my big three well 4 ( I always do one Sprint in July.).
I'll be announcing which Ironman/ Ironmans I will be gracing with my Lycra clad arse in 09, just before Christmas, hopefully after pillaging the Mohegans, with Angry's Crap table probability skillz that kill, afterall nothing would be better than walking away with more money than I brought with me. But I will be doing an Ironman in 2009, even if it isn't an M-dot, or it's just me swimming at Waramaug, riding through Litchfield County, and running a personal marathon on my own. Who knows maybe I'll up the distance and make Connecticut a mecca for the >140.6 mi (226.2km ) crowd...who knows maybe I'll spawn my own crazy distance between Ironman and Ultraman...The Almightyman*? I could just see it now 3.1 mile (5k) swim 200 mile (320km) bike and a 36 mile (60k) run and a 24 hour time limit..yeah that would be hardcore...until I get sued for somebody actually attempting this distance, and dying/crippling themself.**
Also last night I got back in the pool for the first time in a week. I felt so fat and lazy that I need a 3000yd. exorcism of Turkey day left overs. I just have to survive a few more papers and I'm free to train again.
Alright that's enough out of me for the moment.
I need creamer with a back up of donuts
R.D.
*The Almightyman Triathlon title is considered my intellectual property...anytheft thereof will result in me calling you a cheap, un creative ( explative.)!
** I will not be held responsible for some out of shape moron going off and trying to attempt this distance, with out undergoing a proper training and hydration and Nutrition plan/ psychological and medical assesments before hand. Endurance athletics don't kill, stupidity does.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
a 6 miler, a black president, and a long distance relationship?
Well yesterday I skipped class to do some work and get in a much needed 6 mile run. The end of Daylight savings time now means anything done after 3pm requires a head lamp. It wasn't my traditional loop but it had some challenging hills nonetheless.also I had to dodge some traffic running through Waterbury, but it's not a bad little route. I brought out the head lamp although I managed to finish before dark, total time 54:19.
Also for those of you that don't aleady know ( which you'd have to be stuck in a cave that only broadcasts Fox news.) Barack Obama won the U.S. Presidential elections, and by won I mean clobbered poor John McCain...for the title of world's highest paid janitor..and sadly Obama will have to carry on the dreaded Democrat tradition of raising taxes...one of the reasons I was ticked at both his and McCain's convention speeches, promising tax cuts and social reform... you can't fund social programs without revenue and guess what tax cuts take away from revenue and you can't keep borrowing money from China. Some honesty or a Churchill-esque blood, sweat, toil, and tears speech would have been appropriate. Needless to say I might not need to ask Catherine to help me get a New Zealand Greencard, at least not yet....because unlike John "Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran!"Mc Cain, Obama is for diplomacy which means at least for right now my butt will not be in camo unless I so choose. Ok political rant done until next year.
Relationship the current object of my affections (name released when anything official happens like we decide we're a thing.) goes to school in Newport, RI, she wants to see a movie this weekend, I can't drive out to Newport again this weekend, she might not be able to drive all the way out to me so we might meet in the middle, granted it will most likely be later at night because I need to get a 50-60 mile ride in. Part of me is really thinking that a relationship at this point in my life isn't in my best interest, while another part of me feels like something long dead has been awakened, irregardless, training and school must come first.
So that's all that has happended in the life of Bob.
Viva Obama! until he does something stupid.
R.D.
Also for those of you that don't aleady know ( which you'd have to be stuck in a cave that only broadcasts Fox news.) Barack Obama won the U.S. Presidential elections, and by won I mean clobbered poor John McCain...for the title of world's highest paid janitor..and sadly Obama will have to carry on the dreaded Democrat tradition of raising taxes...one of the reasons I was ticked at both his and McCain's convention speeches, promising tax cuts and social reform... you can't fund social programs without revenue and guess what tax cuts take away from revenue and you can't keep borrowing money from China. Some honesty or a Churchill-esque blood, sweat, toil, and tears speech would have been appropriate. Needless to say I might not need to ask Catherine to help me get a New Zealand Greencard, at least not yet....because unlike John "Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran!"Mc Cain, Obama is for diplomacy which means at least for right now my butt will not be in camo unless I so choose. Ok political rant done until next year.
Relationship the current object of my affections (name released when anything official happens like we decide we're a thing.) goes to school in Newport, RI, she wants to see a movie this weekend, I can't drive out to Newport again this weekend, she might not be able to drive all the way out to me so we might meet in the middle, granted it will most likely be later at night because I need to get a 50-60 mile ride in. Part of me is really thinking that a relationship at this point in my life isn't in my best interest, while another part of me feels like something long dead has been awakened, irregardless, training and school must come first.
So that's all that has happended in the life of Bob.
Viva Obama! until he does something stupid.
R.D.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
A lot going on...
Well right now between school, work and training for I guess what could be best described as "Bobby's folly"... I find myself in another awkward yet somewhat enjoyable postion between a few girls....( not physically) man, I knew I'd be getting comments on that.... In either case I've got 3 girls at CCSU fighting for my affections...my own crush,whom I'll most likely never have, has my morality, ethics, my desire to "do no harm" and libido working overtime....because seriously for me this is a new position. I don't want to hurt anyone...out of this whole chaotic situation, especially because one of the girls has proven to be a pretty good friend...that and I don't want to be a pimp, playa, gigilo, on a list of ex's awaiting assasination, etc.. At the same time, the more dark ,evil, carnal, animalistic side of me is like "dude you're a fox in a chicken coup." Give me some action....Then the little altar boy side of me chimes in again with the whole ethical code I try to live by... So that's where that lies , I am pitted in the common battle for any man a battle between the rational mind and the fire of passion. Damn it Hustle and Flow was right...life ain't easy for a pimp....
This week:
midterms, eh...write some BS papers, study for some BS tests get some BS grades...already had one, I think I passed..got two take homes and my sociology exam tonight so this is going to be interesting.
Training..well I've wanted to get some early morning swim sessions in but I've been burning the midnight oil...so after mid terms I'm going to take a little time to settle into a routine. Also this weekend my plans for rides have been cut short because I'll be working as a courrier between CT and Newport ( ie my sister needs a ride home then back to school.) Also depends on my work schedule if I'm slated off on Saturday, I'll ride in the morning, same on Sunday, before hauling out to Rhode Island. Also the club meeting tonight will iron out practice time letting me know when I need to coach and when I can train.
Well that's all that's happening at the moment
lookin fo his featha hat, and cane.
R.D.
This week:
midterms, eh...write some BS papers, study for some BS tests get some BS grades...already had one, I think I passed..got two take homes and my sociology exam tonight so this is going to be interesting.
Training..well I've wanted to get some early morning swim sessions in but I've been burning the midnight oil...so after mid terms I'm going to take a little time to settle into a routine. Also this weekend my plans for rides have been cut short because I'll be working as a courrier between CT and Newport ( ie my sister needs a ride home then back to school.) Also depends on my work schedule if I'm slated off on Saturday, I'll ride in the morning, same on Sunday, before hauling out to Rhode Island. Also the club meeting tonight will iron out practice time letting me know when I need to coach and when I can train.
Well that's all that's happening at the moment
lookin fo his featha hat, and cane.
R.D.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Tour de Bethlehem
Yesterday I went for a 3.5 mile run followed ( ran waiting for my riding group to show up.) by a 25 mile ride, with my usually riding group from the Y. Yesterday only 6 of us showed up and one guy came late ( we we riding out as he was pulling into the lot, but he was a bad ass roadie and he caught the group.) The only problem with my group rides is I'm doing them on the Stomper ( as I sold my road bike this year. I might buy a new one in a couple of years, but for right now there are no crits in the game plan and I needed the cash.) which makes it hard to draft. Anyway, we did a reverse of the Griskus Sprint and Olympic route to Route 6 ( going down the smiley face hill.) and climbed up route 61, I stood with the two strongest riders as we spurted each other on, then as we turned into the center of Bethlehem I dropped the hammer as we began a long gradual climb to Morris. Now this climb was no joke, I normally cruise down this same hill at 35mph when I roll back from Washington. This time I was cranking up it at 15, 16, 17 mph in the big ring. Because it was gradual I was able to settle into a rhythm, and increase my speed, unlike the short steep burners which require low gears and out of the saddle efforts, that dot the rest of the country side. Halfway to the top I looked back over my shoulder expecting to see at least one other cyclist on my rear wheel, no one in sight...got 3/4 to the top passing the fairgrounds looked back again no one in sight.....
I got up into the center of Morris , and almost wanted to scream " Where's my 300 Euro bonus!"
I stopped to wait figuring somebody in the group tried to make a break and up the tempo...2 minutes went by then 3....it had to be a good 5-10 min. later that the second rider approached, (the dude who came late he really cranked, from here on in he will be known as Hardcore roadie. ) the top then the rest of the group, one of the faster guys had been cramping, one dude was riding a retro steel frame, the other two guy weren't holding back but were trying to keep the pain level tolerable. After a couple minutes of regrouping, we made our way back to Middlebury, via a podunk back road that spit out on to lower section of 61. At the begining I dropped back a little then after a nice straight descent I caught up with Hardcore roadie and we broke from the group. As we passed a farm and prepared for the "drop off the world" descent, he warned me " at the bottom of this hill there is a stop sign that jumps out at you." Ok I thought at the bottom of this one hill there is a stop piece of cake, what he failed to tell me is the descent is a 3 part hill, so I feathered my brakes expecting to see a red octagon, first sudden drop, no sign, second drop, no sign 3 drop , technical, sand, but no stop, got caught by the pack, last little hill sure enough there's the stop I don't think I've gone from 25 mph to 0 so fast without crashing. After that the pack stood together for a little bit until myself and two of the faster guys tried yet another breakway, as we approached the summit, one of the guys gave me the instructions to head straight back to the lot, instead of doing a backward loop of the Sprint Tri course, I nodded and within a few minutes was off the front. I managed to really hammer through a section of the Sprint tri course that I've been seeing a lot of lately, I managed to grind up the smiley hill and clear sailed back to the car. Hardcore Roadie came in about a minute after me, then the rest of the crew trickled in. Upon looking at my handy computer I averaged about 17 mph for the 25.55 miles ( slightly over 40k) we cranked out. Not bad for doing a 3.5 mile run before hand.
Leading for a while really gave me a confidence boost that my cycling is heading in the right direction, so hopefully I will be pulling a sub 2:30 at Nutmeg and sub-6 and dare I dream sub 5:30 bike splits in the Irons, yes Claire Badass mofo your bike split has been targeted.... I need to reclaim my badassness.
The king of the mountains
R.D.
I got up into the center of Morris , and almost wanted to scream " Where's my 300 Euro bonus!"
I stopped to wait figuring somebody in the group tried to make a break and up the tempo...2 minutes went by then 3....it had to be a good 5-10 min. later that the second rider approached, (the dude who came late he really cranked, from here on in he will be known as Hardcore roadie. ) the top then the rest of the group, one of the faster guys had been cramping, one dude was riding a retro steel frame, the other two guy weren't holding back but were trying to keep the pain level tolerable. After a couple minutes of regrouping, we made our way back to Middlebury, via a podunk back road that spit out on to lower section of 61. At the begining I dropped back a little then after a nice straight descent I caught up with Hardcore roadie and we broke from the group. As we passed a farm and prepared for the "drop off the world" descent, he warned me " at the bottom of this hill there is a stop sign that jumps out at you." Ok I thought at the bottom of this one hill there is a stop piece of cake, what he failed to tell me is the descent is a 3 part hill, so I feathered my brakes expecting to see a red octagon, first sudden drop, no sign, second drop, no sign 3 drop , technical, sand, but no stop, got caught by the pack, last little hill sure enough there's the stop I don't think I've gone from 25 mph to 0 so fast without crashing. After that the pack stood together for a little bit until myself and two of the faster guys tried yet another breakway, as we approached the summit, one of the guys gave me the instructions to head straight back to the lot, instead of doing a backward loop of the Sprint Tri course, I nodded and within a few minutes was off the front. I managed to really hammer through a section of the Sprint tri course that I've been seeing a lot of lately, I managed to grind up the smiley hill and clear sailed back to the car. Hardcore Roadie came in about a minute after me, then the rest of the crew trickled in. Upon looking at my handy computer I averaged about 17 mph for the 25.55 miles ( slightly over 40k) we cranked out. Not bad for doing a 3.5 mile run before hand.
Leading for a while really gave me a confidence boost that my cycling is heading in the right direction, so hopefully I will be pulling a sub 2:30 at Nutmeg and sub-6 and dare I dream sub 5:30 bike splits in the Irons, yes Claire Badass mofo your bike split has been targeted.... I need to reclaim my badassness.
The king of the mountains
R.D.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Finally training with Peeps. TDF /Cervelo Smack.
Well after Tuesday's Dash and splash, I was hoping to get another pool session in yesterday, but tightness in my legs, shoulders, and my impeccable knack for bull shitting, threw a wrench into that plan, so I just chilled in the hot tub for 15 min. loosening my tight legs. Anyhoo out of the deal I arranged a training session with my friend Justin, doing my Holy Cross Hop Brook loop of doom that I did on Tuesday. ( It's about nine miles if there are any takers in blogger land, ahem Angry Runner!). For me it's finally good to be training with some other people granted I do lose some training time in catching up, but having someone there to help push the pace and share in the suffering helps to make the monotony of a long run, ride, or swim workout from hell pass a little quicker. For the past couple of weeks I've sort of been a loner. Haven't really talked much to people as I attempt not to spend un-necessarily, or at least not too much. Sunday I met up with a few of the HEATsters, and it felt good being around people again, granted I felt socially awkward as I tried to mack it with 2 girls who after about 5 min. I realized they weren't intersted, well it's probably better that they weren't. I can't afford a girlfriend, at this point, granted if I keep using that excuse by the time I can afford one I'll be a wrinkled old fart and "Gold digger bait."
Irregardless, it's been nice to actually have human contact that doesn't involve money changing hands over the past couple days. It almost makes me feel normal again, for a while I was begining to think the customary response to " Hi, how are you?" was " Cash ,Large bills!"
Sunday I'm riding through Middlebury/ Woodbury /Washington Claire you're supposed to be tapering so no coming down this week end, put your feet up and watch Cadel Evans smash Team CSC/ Saxo Bank's hopes of a yellow jersey, and dash Cervelo's clever marketing campaign for 2009, granted Cancellara will most likely win the TT , but all that matters is the dude in the Yellow shirt rides for someone other than CSC/Saxo Bank, a rides something other than a Cervelo..ok TDF rant over
Well that's it for now, one day I will explain how I went from being a fan of cervelo, when they were the anti -trek to being a sworn cervelo hater, and the only rider on CSC who's heroics I respected only to watch him fall from grace.
until then
Vive Cadel!
R.D.
Irregardless, it's been nice to actually have human contact that doesn't involve money changing hands over the past couple days. It almost makes me feel normal again, for a while I was begining to think the customary response to " Hi, how are you?" was " Cash ,Large bills!"
Sunday I'm riding through Middlebury/ Woodbury /Washington Claire you're supposed to be tapering so no coming down this week end, put your feet up and watch Cadel Evans smash Team CSC/ Saxo Bank's hopes of a yellow jersey, and dash Cervelo's clever marketing campaign for 2009, granted Cancellara will most likely win the TT , but all that matters is the dude in the Yellow shirt rides for someone other than CSC/Saxo Bank, a rides something other than a Cervelo..ok TDF rant over
Well that's it for now, one day I will explain how I went from being a fan of cervelo, when they were the anti -trek to being a sworn cervelo hater, and the only rider on CSC who's heroics I respected only to watch him fall from grace.
until then
Vive Cadel!
R.D.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Bjoern " Sex on Wheels" Boyer
Alright Ironman live screwed up his bike split although I'd be taking an hour and a half in T-2 if I averaged 42 mph on the bike. In any case Bjoern had a great day out there throwing down an impressive 5:07. a 32min swim followed by a sub 3 hour bike and a 1:48 half marathon, it seemed like it was a good day for him, so hopefully in Maryland Next week I will be able to join the sub 5 hr. club. If he does the Nutmeg State Half this year I might have my work cut out for me trying to get that age group win. But enough about me it was Bjoern's day in the sun today. He should have a race report posted soon and I can't wait to read about it. I seriously think if he can drop 6-8 min in his swim split he'll be in seroius business. He has one of the best bike legs I've seen and he seroiusly he lives on two wheels, it a shame that his work schedule doesn't allow him to race more because I think he'd be in serious contension for some age group honors in the USAT rankings. On that note the weather is good so I'm going to get another ride up to the lake this afternoon. Tomorrow I'm out of work early so I'm thinking a ride around town might be in the cards just to try to get a few more miles in. But it was a hell of a day in Zurich.
Monday, May 26, 2008
I did a Century!
Well alright it was 100k but for all the climbing did I think I deserve the benefit of the fuzzy math. Last night I stopped by chez Angry and learned the wise and wonderful ways of the slosh pipe...Zurcher walks definitely build confidence. I also learned that I have a hard time keeping a neutral spine, which could account for the stiffness in my lower back on the ride. Angry als did some crazy 20 min workout set in which myself and his brother screamed out which crazy set of lifts and core work he had to perform. I also got some good action shots so for all that went down at the angry home stead click here.
Today's 100k began at the rail trail close to Lake Quasspaug in Middlebury. I rolled through the first 4 miles of the sprint course then went the long way to the route 47 interchange. Then the familiar climb back up to the lake. I got passed by a lot of guys on Harleys, and one dude who was dragging some foilage off his exhaust pipe. When I got to the lake I saw signs for a rowing regatta. "Not again" I muttered to myself. The prep schools tend to take over the lake this time of year as their rowing clubs go at it. Afterall one of these crews will go to Harvard and then they will have to beat Oxford at Henley and their Mumsy and Daddkins will buy them a porsche to celebrate the noble victory. Serously I wish I was rich. I went one loop around and to my luck there was not one way ward prep school rower in sight. A bunch of dudes with Kayaks but that was about it. After a quite rest stop at the State Park. I was orginally hoping to get 75 miles in but as I was relying on bottles, I did two loops of the lake and decided to roll back. After a comical remount after crossing Route 202, I managed to get back to the fun part and descend down Kettletown Road at break neck speed. Upon reaching route 6. I decided to finish the sprint course due to the traffic picking up. I managed to get the ride done although I was really suffering on the last couple of climbs. All in all it was a good ride. I managed to average 17 miles per hour, and in 80 degree heat that wasn't bad. So that's all for me.
R.D.
Today's 100k began at the rail trail close to Lake Quasspaug in Middlebury. I rolled through the first 4 miles of the sprint course then went the long way to the route 47 interchange. Then the familiar climb back up to the lake. I got passed by a lot of guys on Harleys, and one dude who was dragging some foilage off his exhaust pipe. When I got to the lake I saw signs for a rowing regatta. "Not again" I muttered to myself. The prep schools tend to take over the lake this time of year as their rowing clubs go at it. Afterall one of these crews will go to Harvard and then they will have to beat Oxford at Henley and their Mumsy and Daddkins will buy them a porsche to celebrate the noble victory. Serously I wish I was rich. I went one loop around and to my luck there was not one way ward prep school rower in sight. A bunch of dudes with Kayaks but that was about it. After a quite rest stop at the State Park. I was orginally hoping to get 75 miles in but as I was relying on bottles, I did two loops of the lake and decided to roll back. After a comical remount after crossing Route 202, I managed to get back to the fun part and descend down Kettletown Road at break neck speed. Upon reaching route 6. I decided to finish the sprint course due to the traffic picking up. I managed to get the ride done although I was really suffering on the last couple of climbs. All in all it was a good ride. I managed to average 17 miles per hour, and in 80 degree heat that wasn't bad. So that's all for me.
R.D.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
The long and short.....
Well Today was pegged to be a long day, but confusion, a NDE involving me speeding through a light changing to RED and then the guy I cut off pulling me over and cussing me out..luckily that's all that it turned out to be becuase of the massive line of traffic behind him. Now seriously, I get pissed when I get cut off but I murmur my cusses to myself or to the windshield and carry on with my day....somehow in the grand scheme of things pulling the guy who cut me off over and beating the shit out of him isn't going to help anything....irregardless..I was at fault an deserved it.
So that led to me decideing to cut my ride plans short....after all if I couldn't focus at a traffic signal driving a 2000lbs car. There was no way I was going to trust myself going out for 4 hours 0n a 15lbs. bike getting fatigued and make stupid mistakes that could get me killed...dying at 23 is not in my game plan...unless of course it's after my heart explodes making up the 15 min swim gap on the pros and winning the Hawaii Ironman outright.....then I guess that's a good trade off.
Any way, I decided to drive up to Central to cash in some books only to find the bookstore had just closed...arrg...so I drove to Central Wheel to pick up some Shot Bloks ( sadly 2 packs I bought were hard as a rock.) and price out an Ultegra Cassette...it was $100 probike kit is offering the same at $50 but the shipping would kill me getting it from the UK... I'll check Newington on Monday, because they accept Trek Card and I need to conserve as much money as possible for Eagleman. After picking up my crap from Central Wheel..I drove out to the Lake and did 3 loops at ungodly time trial speed...if I wasn't going long then I was going hard. I did about 23 miles averaging the not too shabby pace of 20.8 mph...if I can hold that shit at Eagleman Kona might..might be a possibility.....but I digress. I did a quick shoe change and ran a loop of the lake, getting about 7.75 miles underfoot. While it wasn't the long day I was hoping for, but I felt rejuvinated at the end of it. Seriously for all the crap that's hit the fan in the last month, the stress motherlode that was finals week...shit got to email Dr. Adams my Anthro paper....even though she never responded to my emails...I seriously think I sent them to the wrong person, and now some Econ Professor is like "who the Hell is Rob and why is he emailing me?" In any case that was Saturday.
R.D.
So that led to me decideing to cut my ride plans short....after all if I couldn't focus at a traffic signal driving a 2000lbs car. There was no way I was going to trust myself going out for 4 hours 0n a 15lbs. bike getting fatigued and make stupid mistakes that could get me killed...dying at 23 is not in my game plan...unless of course it's after my heart explodes making up the 15 min swim gap on the pros and winning the Hawaii Ironman outright.....then I guess that's a good trade off.
Any way, I decided to drive up to Central to cash in some books only to find the bookstore had just closed...arrg...so I drove to Central Wheel to pick up some Shot Bloks ( sadly 2 packs I bought were hard as a rock.) and price out an Ultegra Cassette...it was $100 probike kit is offering the same at $50 but the shipping would kill me getting it from the UK... I'll check Newington on Monday, because they accept Trek Card and I need to conserve as much money as possible for Eagleman. After picking up my crap from Central Wheel..I drove out to the Lake and did 3 loops at ungodly time trial speed...if I wasn't going long then I was going hard. I did about 23 miles averaging the not too shabby pace of 20.8 mph...if I can hold that shit at Eagleman Kona might..might be a possibility.....but I digress. I did a quick shoe change and ran a loop of the lake, getting about 7.75 miles underfoot. While it wasn't the long day I was hoping for, but I felt rejuvinated at the end of it. Seriously for all the crap that's hit the fan in the last month, the stress motherlode that was finals week...shit got to email Dr. Adams my Anthro paper....even though she never responded to my emails...I seriously think I sent them to the wrong person, and now some Econ Professor is like "who the Hell is Rob and why is he emailing me?" In any case that was Saturday.
R.D.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Back in Black....
Well not really...I cringe at my credit card bills when they arrive...but for the most part I am now free to train like a rabid animal. I do have 2 pages of Anthropology to type, but I have recieved nothing back from my professor so I will double check the email address and make sure I sending to the right person. Tonight I only got 1500 yards in at the pool, I'm tired, trying to de stress, and spent most of the time BS-ing with Stef. Tomorrow depending on the weather I have a long ass ride/run combo of death on tap
. Sunday...depending on my cash flow, I will go train with HEAT. I'm discovering that me being isolated is not a good thing and usually leads to crazy thoughts, like quitting Tri....taking on 3 jobs....buying 3 AK-47's and a month's worth of ammo and flying to Afgahnistan to track down Bin Laden for the $12 million Bounty...hey he's the real danger to our country....a guy without a country and nothing to lose...alright I'll stop my Bush Whacking now...
Like I said isolation isn't good for me. So yes tomorrow I have a lovely ride planned, followed by a long run. The stimulus check I'm desperately waiting for will come on July 11....( mumbles to self...shakes fist.) so any major race planning or gear purchase will come along then.....oh aero helmet I can taste thee.....well I'll just borrow Bjoern's for Eagleman.....if he's back in time.
Eagleman is my pace setter for the year...although I'm debating forking over $30 for a spare cassette for the Griskus....that won't happen until after Eagleman and I know the full extent of the financial hit...of gas, $250 for hotel, and possibly a $250 entry to Clearwater.....if I qualify for Kona, I might be begging Bree Wee for a homestay....I'll sleep in the garage, and I cook, do dishes and windows, diapers...not so much. So yes tomorrow, I have to register my car, then ride, run, pick up a winning lottery ticket, and type two pages of grade A Anthropological BS. So that's it for me tonight. Also head on over to speedracer's site and wish her a happy birthday, and donate to her AIDS Lifecycle page. Also in about 7 hours she will be kicking serious ass in her sexy new wetsuit....
Well I've got an ungodly load of distance tomorrow.
R.D.
. Sunday...depending on my cash flow, I will go train with HEAT. I'm discovering that me being isolated is not a good thing and usually leads to crazy thoughts, like quitting Tri....taking on 3 jobs....buying 3 AK-47's and a month's worth of ammo and flying to Afgahnistan to track down Bin Laden for the $12 million Bounty...hey he's the real danger to our country....a guy without a country and nothing to lose...alright I'll stop my Bush Whacking now...Like I said isolation isn't good for me. So yes tomorrow I have a lovely ride planned, followed by a long run. The stimulus check I'm desperately waiting for will come on July 11....( mumbles to self...shakes fist.) so any major race planning or gear purchase will come along then.....oh aero helmet I can taste thee.....well I'll just borrow Bjoern's for Eagleman.....if he's back in time.
Eagleman is my pace setter for the year...although I'm debating forking over $30 for a spare cassette for the Griskus....that won't happen until after Eagleman and I know the full extent of the financial hit...of gas, $250 for hotel, and possibly a $250 entry to Clearwater.....if I qualify for Kona, I might be begging Bree Wee for a homestay....I'll sleep in the garage, and I cook, do dishes and windows, diapers...not so much. So yes tomorrow, I have to register my car, then ride, run, pick up a winning lottery ticket, and type two pages of grade A Anthropological BS. So that's it for me tonight. Also head on over to speedracer's site and wish her a happy birthday, and donate to her AIDS Lifecycle page. Also in about 7 hours she will be kicking serious ass in her sexy new wetsuit....
Well I've got an ungodly load of distance tomorrow.
R.D.
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