So I'm in Decorah, Iowa for the weekend for some Valentine's Day fun, and
it's not nearly as flat as Id' imagined Iowa being. This place has some awesome terrain, not entirely unlike Fayetteville, Arkansas. They also have a pretty bitchin shop that informed me most folks around here ride 1x9, rigid. Crazy, I know. Apparently it's enough people to warrant having multiple models set up this way on the salesfloor. Oh yeah, did I mention they carry both Trek and Specialized? Insane!
In training news, I'm ready for Spring. Indoor is killing me, school is getting in the way, and I'm not gonna be on form for Spring break. Awesome. I suppose since I'm graduating this year I can just dog it out and focus on MTB racing later this summer. Oh, geez!
Monday, February 18, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
LT Tests, Swap, TDF DVDs
I did my LT test yesterday. It was rough, which I suppose is a good thing. For the last three years my LT has been 175, but this year it's 176. I'm going to say that means I'm faster. According to Billy, it does mean I can work at a higher level of discomfort for longer, which I would agree with. Lately I have been noticing I can ride in the low 180s and handle the discomfort a little better than in years past.
I didn't think I was going to puke until Billy mentioned that the LT testers were welcome to join in the sprint workout the other kiddos were doing. Half a Papa Johns pizza and a four-hour nap later, I felt fine.
The Twin Cities Bike Swap is coming up, and the U of M team is going to get a table for selling excess clothing. We're also going to let members sell their bikes at it, which should be interesting. I'm debating selling my 8500. I'm definitely taking a stack of acquired tires, Dirt jump/freeride shit, and maybe some saddles. On the flip side, there is still a lot of stuff I need to pick up for this season. Things like aero bars for TTTs, bottle cages, and some 258 length spokes.
I've borrowed some TDF DVDs from Mike, and let me tell you: Lance made the tour kind of boring. However, getting to see Robbie McEwen bitch out a teenage spectator for trying to pull his bottle out of the carbon cage (while McEwen was on his way to the staging area) and breaking the cage was hilarious. "Amerdeux! Tu voudras payer pour un something something carbon? Stupid fuckin wanker!"
The kid looked like he was going to cry.
I didn't think I was going to puke until Billy mentioned that the LT testers were welcome to join in the sprint workout the other kiddos were doing. Half a Papa Johns pizza and a four-hour nap later, I felt fine.
The Twin Cities Bike Swap is coming up, and the U of M team is going to get a table for selling excess clothing. We're also going to let members sell their bikes at it, which should be interesting. I'm debating selling my 8500. I'm definitely taking a stack of acquired tires, Dirt jump/freeride shit, and maybe some saddles. On the flip side, there is still a lot of stuff I need to pick up for this season. Things like aero bars for TTTs, bottle cages, and some 258 length spokes.
I've borrowed some TDF DVDs from Mike, and let me tell you: Lance made the tour kind of boring. However, getting to see Robbie McEwen bitch out a teenage spectator for trying to pull his bottle out of the carbon cage (while McEwen was on his way to the staging area) and breaking the cage was hilarious. "Amerdeux! Tu voudras payer pour un something something carbon? Stupid fuckin wanker!"
The kid looked like he was going to cry.
Monday, January 21, 2008
A Madone in every home
The Madone made it home thanks to Ryan and Corinne driving to St. Paul to pick it and me up from work last week. It's great on the trainer and I can't wait to get it on a climb. It's faster than I am, that's for sure.
Spring break was announced for the U team. It looks like Fayetteville, Arkansas, again, which I'm okay with. It's great road riding, has a mild climate, and there are a few races we can do while down there. Fayetteville is a small college town with a great local cycling scene. Ben Upchurch, a local racer helped us out big time last year, and hopefully he can show us around again this year.
Last year Cook and the Brain owned the 4s race and Brad took the 2s. This year instead of being the last Sunday we're there, it's the first. If we arrive late Friday night, cruise around easy on Saturday, and race on Sunday I should be feeling good. I'm not sure who else holds a 5s license on our team, though. Hopefully it's not too sketchy.
I know I'm not as fast as a guy who's been racing 8 years should be, but I know I have better handling skills than 90% of our team, and 99% of the 4/5 field. I'm also not bad on the climbs. It's just power that I lack, so I'm going to try to start lifting a bit in the next month. I'm still trying to drop a few pounds for the season. I remember being in that 150 range felt great in races.
In other news, the Packers lost, Johnny Page is doing pretty well in 'cross, and Chris (new kid on the team) is going to buy my 2100. Also, Alyssa gets back from Brazil this weekend, so hopefully I can see her before she heads back to Iowa. The iBook is dead.
Good luck to The Brain as he goes off-grid for a few weeks.
Spring break was announced for the U team. It looks like Fayetteville, Arkansas, again, which I'm okay with. It's great road riding, has a mild climate, and there are a few races we can do while down there. Fayetteville is a small college town with a great local cycling scene. Ben Upchurch, a local racer helped us out big time last year, and hopefully he can show us around again this year.
Last year Cook and the Brain owned the 4s race and Brad took the 2s. This year instead of being the last Sunday we're there, it's the first. If we arrive late Friday night, cruise around easy on Saturday, and race on Sunday I should be feeling good. I'm not sure who else holds a 5s license on our team, though. Hopefully it's not too sketchy.
I know I'm not as fast as a guy who's been racing 8 years should be, but I know I have better handling skills than 90% of our team, and 99% of the 4/5 field. I'm also not bad on the climbs. It's just power that I lack, so I'm going to try to start lifting a bit in the next month. I'm still trying to drop a few pounds for the season. I remember being in that 150 range felt great in races.
In other news, the Packers lost, Johnny Page is doing pretty well in 'cross, and Chris (new kid on the team) is going to buy my 2100. Also, Alyssa gets back from Brazil this weekend, so hopefully I can see her before she heads back to Iowa. The iBook is dead.
Good luck to The Brain as he goes off-grid for a few weeks.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Outdoor riding
I rode in to work today, since I repacked the bearings on the XTR singlespeed wheel
I'm borrowing from Mike. Either there is a lot of resistance on that hub in the cold weather or I'm just weak, since going up University near Prospect Park was brutal. Either way, on the ride home I was so shot from just biking back (45 minutes in the arctic) I was too tired to train.
I'd like to bring the Madone home, but I don't know how that's going to work out. I'm going to try to get Ryan to drive it home for me so I can start riding and move the 2100 out.
I'm borrowing from Mike. Either there is a lot of resistance on that hub in the cold weather or I'm just weak, since going up University near Prospect Park was brutal. Either way, on the ride home I was so shot from just biking back (45 minutes in the arctic) I was too tired to train.
I'd like to bring the Madone home, but I don't know how that's going to work out. I'm going to try to get Ryan to drive it home for me so I can start riding and move the 2100 out.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
A new season, a new bike, a new goal
Well, the new season is 2008. It's going to start with a few months of indoor training with the U of M Team. Then it's off to Fayetteville, Ourkansas for spring break and some serious training and hopefully a few races.
My new bike for this year is a Trek Madone 5.2 Pro. It's pretty sweet, and I got a great deal on it thanks to my boss at Boehm's Cycle. I'll keep it stock (full Ultegra) except for a Selle Italia Flite saddle and some Michelin Krylion Carbon 23c tires for training. Maybe I'll use a computer this year, who knows.
As for new goals? I'm actually going to try this year. I'm going to push myself to stay in shape and eat well. For the last eight years of racing mountain bikes it's been for fun and I've never taken it seriously. Last summer ended terribly with little racing and a nasty bout of bronchitis. Since then, I've been riding plenty, eating well, and feeling great. I figure if I'm going to ride a $3500 bike, I'd better be fast enough to deserve it.
I'll spend spring training and racing on the road, and once summer hits, I'm going to include some MTB races. I haven't done a real mountain bike race in two seasons, and I really miss it.
specific season goals:
1. Do every collegiate road race.
2. Upgrade to a cat.B collegiate road racer.
3. Win a collegiate C/D race.
4. Do some serious MTB races once summer hits.
As the title of my blog suggests, I think it's time for me to pedal harder.
My new bike for this year is a Trek Madone 5.2 Pro. It's pretty sweet, and I got a great deal on it thanks to my boss at Boehm's Cycle. I'll keep it stock (full Ultegra) except for a Selle Italia Flite saddle and some Michelin Krylion Carbon 23c tires for training. Maybe I'll use a computer this year, who knows.
As for new goals? I'm actually going to try this year. I'm going to push myself to stay in shape and eat well. For the last eight years of racing mountain bikes it's been for fun and I've never taken it seriously. Last summer ended terribly with little racing and a nasty bout of bronchitis. Since then, I've been riding plenty, eating well, and feeling great. I figure if I'm going to ride a $3500 bike, I'd better be fast enough to deserve it.
I'll spend spring training and racing on the road, and once summer hits, I'm going to include some MTB races. I haven't done a real mountain bike race in two seasons, and I really miss it.
specific season goals:
1. Do every collegiate road race.
2. Upgrade to a cat.B collegiate road racer.
3. Win a collegiate C/D race.
4. Do some serious MTB races once summer hits.
As the title of my blog suggests, I think it's time for me to pedal harder.
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