H0W ARE THEY SO EXPLOSIVE?
OK, WE GET IT THAT PROS ARE FASTER. Right? But, how they heck are they so explosive without racing? Asking for a friend, myself, and...
... anybody forced to train alone.
We gotta know.
- Personally, I enjoy the solitude.
- Others don't near other riders or group rides
- And, then there's those who's with uncooperative schedules
How are the outstanding pros doing it?
Not racing,
showing up and slaughtering their competition.
Intervals?
Well, personally I can't stand intervals for more than a few weeks without...
... wanting to take a hammer to my bike computer.
Riding and racing with the teammates?
That makes a little more sense, but only a little. Who wants to drill or get drilled by their trusted allies?
Way more rested?
Mmmmmaybe the non-racing leads to a more rested and ready body?
Healthier?
Because they aren't traveling so much:
- They aren't picking up colds and flues.
- They aren't eating whatever they can find.
- They aren't taking such large risks as when racing
E-racing?
Are they just getting on a trainer and duking it out with the online competition? If they are, don't they need to have fake profiles for privacy as well as less fitness?
Virtual racing?
Setting up race course segments on Strava and trying to beat the PRs?
I dunno, for me...
... ain't nothing like the real thing.
---
166.2
8 hrs Sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
80
>
GETTING PUSHED AROUND IN THE GROUP
THE RIDE WAS GETTING SPICEY. The pace increasing considerably, and the terrain going from flat to sawtooth. The legs were screaming, and...
... and I was moving backwards.
Then, it happened.
Just before the apex of quick power climb,
just when I needed it most...
... my pal, The Gambler, gave me some pedal assist.
Yep, he had the gaul to put his paws on my lycra and pushed me some.
And I loved it.
It was just the right amount
to keep me on.
Sly enough I quietly thought and hoped...
... Maybe nobody noticed.
That's thing about needing help.
When we could really use some,
we don't ask.
Good givers, like The Gambler, don't ask...
... the just give.
Without making a big deal about it.
---
165.8
9 hrs Sleep
No Strengthwork today
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
80
>
SHOULD WE LEARN TO TUMBLE?
LIKE MOST OF US, we have a group of regular riders. So far, 3 of the 10 of us have broken bones this year. One hit a tree skiing, one crossed wheels today...
... and, well, you know my saga.
I was off the back over the top,
and rolled up on the mishap.
If you're a real rider,
you've broken your collar bone.
Ok, I don't know if that's 100% true.
But, I have broken one,
while riding.
So, it's common.
And I gotta ask...
... Should we take tumbling lessons?
Would it help?
Would it keep us from doing the natural thing vs...
... rolling out of danger?
Maybe, sometimes.
Not a guarantee,
perhaps a skill worth...
- learning
- practicing
- investigating
... got a thought on this?
---
166.7
7.5ish hrs Sleep
No Strengthwork today
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
82
>
IS THIS THE BEST RIDE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA?
IMAGINE A RIDE THAT FEATURES all the beauty and wonder of Southern California. The beaches, the shaded prairies, the tall forests with ski runs...
... covering all of it in a single day.
Oh, and almost no traffic.
Impossible you say.
Not.
100% possible.
It took us years to scout it.
Here are some pics from 2023... route below.
Here's the route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3216181932420212282
It's 120 miles, 15000' of climbing.
We start at Doheny State Beach and wind up in Big Bear, refueling at convenience stores and restaurants along the way.
It's almost all dirt most to Corona, then a 35-mile bike trail across the Inland Empire. At the bottom of the mountains, we jump on an abandoned logging road, and it's nearly all dirt to the top, and down into Big Bear.
Epic.
Insanely epic.
Are you game for the ride of the year?
Click here: https://pedalindustries.com/products/free-registration-for-the-surf-n-summit-california-5-18-24
---
Some of the FAQ's from a Zoom call yesterday.
Logistics:
1. Where to stay Friday Night? Dinner plans? Stay as close as you can to Dana Point, where we start… it’s only a few minutes drive to my house. We’ll have dinner at my place and go over last minute specifics.
2. Ride start time? Official Start is 6am, I highly recommend slower riders leave earlier to make sure we all get to Colton at the same time for the flat 35 miles across the Inland Empire – much easier in a group.
3. Where can we store bags? My van… Susie will drive it to Big Bear.
4. Confirm - unsupported? Any plan B options for repairs, crashes, etc.? It’s self-supported, be prepared.
a. Anyone we can hire to assist? Is there a way to transport overnight bag? Susie will drive it to Big Bear.
5. Big Bear
a. Anyone staying the night? TBD on this.
b. Transporation back to Orange County? TBD on this. Some ride back, some Uber back. We need a final head count.
5. Snow blocking trails? Currently yes, but it’s getting warmer and it’s a south facing climb, we should be fine.
People
1. How many people are coming and their capabilities? Unknown, people always commit and don’t show, others never commit and just show up.
a. We are locomotives not goats:). Likelihood of creating riding groups of different speeds (any forecasted pacing / finish times)? For sure start early, and KNOW HOW TO UPLOAD A ROUTE to your device. Any regrouping points? One for sure, in Colton at a convenience store… depending on pace, we might all meet up at Seven Oaks restaurant about 1/3 up the climb… some of us will do some extra climbing and single track at end of 35 mile bike trail, others will go straight to the climb, which is why we might end up there at roughly same time.
Nutrition
1. Where are the nutrition and water stops? ONeil Park is about 2 hours in, a campground with water and bathrooms. Do NOT dillydally at any stops. Next stop is Colton, about 4 hours away. These are my estimates for your speed.
2. Water stops on the final climb or is two bottles sufficient? At Seven Oaks restaurant, we can get water, soda, hamburgers, fries… depending on heat, 2-3 bottles. My bike holds 3.
3. Nutrition recommendations? 300-400 calories per hour. Whatever you like and sits well in your stomach. I like CarboRocket, 333 calories/bottle.
Equipment
1. Tire recommendation? I am running Continental Terra Speed 45s, with 32lbs in the rear, 28 in the front. Lots and lots of sealant before we roll.
What are the gravel sections like? Pretty nice, a little more rutted from rain run-off, but totally 100% ridable and fun. There’s a little single track where trail is currently flooded close to the start.
2. Other gear that would be helpful (e.g. hydration pack, lights). Lights for sure, early start, and maybe a late finish. Be able to carry 3 large bottles worth of water. Get a BLACK mosquito net, bugs can be nasty… we learned the hard way that the white nets reflect light which was blinding as the sun was setting.
3. Clothing recommendations? (Temp change to expect)? May is a tricky month, I’ll carry my KOM Jacket which is great for wind and water and small enough to go in my Barrito Bag … my bike will have a Barrito for the KOM jacket, and food and drink mix supplies in my Day Ripper bag. Only other item I’d carry would be arm warmers… but highly unlikely we’ll need them. My Wahoo died 30 minutes from the top… bring a battery booster.
---
166
7.5ish hrs Sleep
Pushups and Pullups
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
78
>
ARE YOU STRONG ENOUGH TO BE...
I POLLED THE RIPPERS and 100% of them lift weights or do resistance exercise year round. Well, I was shocked by that. I had no idea if we rubbing off on each other...
... just hope.
In the beginning, after our first day with real weight, we often echo the great Cheryl Crow song...
... God, I feel like hell tonight.
Why do it?
- Strong bones
- Good posture
- Improved ability to handle challenges
Why not?
- Takes time
- Potential to get hurt
Here's my current program,
takes about 15 minutes.
- 6 pullups
- 18 pushups
- 10 shoulder press
- 5 pullups
- 15 pushups
- 6 squats
- 4 pullups
- 12 pushups
- 20 toe raises, 10 heel raises
- 3 pullups
- 9 pushups
- 10 curls (vanity muscles)
- 2 pullups
- 6 pushups
In other words, mainly pullups and pushups with something extra to break up the sets.
The focus is on large muscle groups.
In Natural Born Heroes: Mastering the Lost Secrets of Strength and Endurance, there's a strong emphasis on tendon strength being key to true athlete prowess. We develop that moving heavy weight with large muscle groups...
... the stuff we need to be fast.
For the bar...
- Jump up to the bar, and let yourself down slowly.
- Use a pullup assist machine
- Giant rubberbands
For pushups...
- Figure out hand positions that are comfy on the shoulders
- It's cool to start on your knees
Squats...
- Do air squats and put that arse in the grarsse
- Go half way down
Start somewhere,
just start.
---
166
7.5ish hrs Sleep
20 pullups 60 pushups 15 shoulder presses + other stuff
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
79
>
HOW TO OVERCOME INJURY
I'VE BEEN ASKED TWICE TODAY if I had any feelings of Why me? after my brain injury. And, how did I overcome that? Well, good questions because...
... we all gotta battle through the shiz.
During the darkest days, I only had one thought.
How can I fix this?
We've all been dealt multiple bad hands over the years, and if we think about it...
... we often come through them stronger, better.
It never seems like it at the time.
Our challenges, I believe, are our challenges, for a reason.
As rotten as they appear...
... they are personalized gifts.
If they weren't for our benefit and didn't totally suck,
they'd be easy to overcome,
requiring little effort,
personal growth,
or change.
With that in mind, I set about studying and researching how best to recover from this unplanned set back.
There's plenty of improvement still to be made...
... and that's exciting as hell!
---
166.7
8ish hrs Sleep
20 pullups 60 pushups 15 shoulder presses + other stuff
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
79
>
GIMME SHELTER
THERE AIN'T NOTHING LIKE A TAILWIND to blow the group to pieces. The palms were bending, for sure...
... this one was gonna hurt.
It's counter intuitive.
But, it goes like this.
Alone, a tailwind feels nice.
A chance to tap lightly on the pedals and fly along.
In a group, it's whole different game.
The strong go to the front and drill it.
'problem is, there's no draft,
no place to hide,
no rest.
Which is exactly how it went down today.
Three of us were rotating.
Hard pulls.
It felt terrible,
and great.
Nobody else was pulling through.
I didn't blame 'em,
it was hard as heck.
I glanced back...
... gap was 30 feet.
Then 300 feet.
Then, a slight bend in the road,
an every so tiny gap opened, and...
... I was ejected.
Just couldn't close it.
No draft.
How was the ride back up the coast into the wind?
Well, alone it woulda been a bear.
In the group, much easier.
Sure the brief moment pulling through stung a bit, then...
... it was right back to the shelter.
So, there you have it.
Tailwind, get on the front and get a gap.
Headwind, take it easy, nothings getting away.
---
168.4
9ish hrs Sleep
20 pullups 60 pushups 15 shoulder presses
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
78
>
DO LESS, AND OBSESS
CAN'T GET THIS CONCEPT OUTTA MY MIND, not because I've never considered it, because it's so darn rhymey. I coudn't say it better...
... Do less, and obsess.
Maybe I just needed to hear the message?
The idea of having 1 (one) 'A' race a year has always turned me on...
- It's more fun to have one focus
- dive into the nittygritty
- get granular
- geek out
... that's the shift I love.
Yeah, I might end up with a bike that's not good for much but a particular course,
training that is so specialized as to be worthless for everything else.
But, that's the point.
To be so singular,
to be uniquely prepared.
Then, and only then, I might have a chance...
... and that's all the hope I need.
When I'm that locked in, it's easy to treat...
... all other races as distractions at best.
Places to test...
- equipment
- strategy
- training
... nothing more.
When I'm that locked in, it's easy to commit...
... to training blocks and weight lifting.
When I'm that locked in, it's easy to see...
... the big picture.
To do less,
and obsess.
---
168.7
8ish hrs Sleep
20 pullups 60 pushups 15 shoulder presses
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
76
>
HE'S TRYING TO KILL ME
THE POOR WOMAN WAS RED IN THE FACE, if looks could kill her guide/date would be dead. They'd just cleared a very overgrown jungle and were now pushing their bikes up a rocky stretch...
... who could blame her?
Who could blame him?
Sometimes our sense of adventure...
... is total nonsense.
I could only laugh.
Don't kill him here, you need to get home first!
They had a ways to go.
We have about 5 weeks to prep for the SurfNSummit.
Yeah, it's far.
Lots of climbing.
But, still I'm surprised at how many people misjudge what it takes.
Some, think it's just impossible to complete...
... usually my most fit friends.
Others, show up with what appears to be no business attempting it...
... but, hope and the desire to do something epic.
It's one of those Henry Ford moments.
Whether you think can, or think you can't...
... you're right.
So, if you think you can ride 100+ miles with 15,000+ feet of climbing...
... click here to check it out:
https://pedalindustries.com/products/free-registration-for-the-surf-n-summit-california-5-18-24
---
168.2
9ish hrs Sleep
No Strength Work
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
76er
>
AN OBSERVATION ON UNEVEN POWER BETWEEN LEGS
ONE OF THE SETTINGS ON MY POWER METER shows the power put out by each leg. It can def ovewhelm for an entire ride, because we can...
... freak out about data we don't like.
It's on one of my Wahoo screens.
I see it from time to time on a ride.
Consciously trying to even out the power was annoying the heck out of me.
One leg was always stronger, unless I reallyreallyreallyreally focused.
Then, I had an idea.
Something to try,
that I used to do.
This came to me when I noticed standing and climbing,
power was always 50/50.
Hmmmm.
What's the difference?
Then I noticed,
same thing when it got steep and I really had to put out some power.
Well, that was nice to see...
... somewhat calming.
Hmmmm...
... how to do that all the time?
Welp, this is just an observation.
It might not work for you.
Meter could be mismonitoring, but this makes all the difference in the world...
... when I consciously focus on pedaling with the heels down.
What?
Really?
Yes.
What I think is happening is I'm eliminating a dead spot along the top of my pedal stroke...
... gonna verify with my genius bike fitter, Ashley.
---
167.3
8ish hrs Sleep
No Strength Work
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
78
>
THE WHAT AND WHY OF A PROPER EZ SPIN
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE LEGS TO COME AROUND, which means I had to actually dedicate myself to do some easy spins. Because, like most of us it's just...
... darn hard to go easy.
Or, is it just me?
First off, what constitutes an easy spin?
Two things:
- Low effort
- High rpm's
How low?
Very bottom of Zone 2, or anything in Zone 1.
How high?
90-100+ rpm's.
Why?
Well, one of my early coaches called it a Rinse Ride for a reason.
If we are really doing it correctly,
our legs feel all clean and springy because...
... we rinsed out the crud.
Why else?
- It's good on the brain
- Takes the pressure off, simply relaxing
- Great time to catch up with friends and chat while spinning
How long?
45-90 min seems about right.
The things we think about when we're just spinnin' ez.
---
166.9
8ish hrs Sleep
Just PullUps and PushUps today
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
73
>
EVER HAD THE CRUD BEAT OUT OF YOU, FOR REAL?
GROWING UP, we fought a lot. We were too weak to do much physical damage, but there was plenty of pride and shame on the line. It's not much different now...
... when we race.
If we truly get the crud beat out us by...
- the course
- the competition
- our worse, ourselves
... there is only one question.
Did we really get it beat out of us?
Or, are we destined to get pummeled over and over again because...
... the crud is still there?
Is our diet a joke?
Do our handling skills still stink?
Does our bike squeak and wobble?
'Cause if that crud is still there, then...
... it's not beat out of us.
We've just learned to live with mediocrity...
... and that's just plain cruddy.
---
167.8
8ish hrs Sleep
2 Rip On RaceDay Circuits
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
74
>
IS IT TIME TO CONSIDER ROAD PEDALS FOR OFFROAD?
WHEN I WAS PRE-RIDING LEADVILLE a while back, the phenom who would shatter the course record floated by me as I labored. He made it look so easy...
... was it the pedals?
99% of MTB racers,
dismount on that course.
There is no way they'd sport road shoes and pedals,
even though they are...
- Lighter
- More aero
- Offer better contact and efficiency
... because once fouled they're VERY difficult to get engaged.
Gravel,
is another deal.
Unless we are pushing the boundaries,
ripping single track,
slaloming sand...
... we're not going to dismount.
The only time would be if crashed,
or unclipped to rutter a turn.
In most gravel races,
that's not likely.
So, should we run the road set up offroad?
I have multiple friends who roll the dice in local XC races...
... and even the long, epic stuff.
It almost always works out great.
Worth the risk?
Up to you.
Worth testing?
100%.
---
167.6
7.5ish hrs Sleep
2 Rip On RaceDay Circuits
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
74
>
HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TRAINING BIG BLOCKS?
A QUESTION CAME UP LAST NIGHT ON OUR ZOOM CALL. Have you ever trained big training blocks like Keegan Swenson just posted. Good question...
... does it work?
Maybe.
Here's what I can tell you from personal experience.
18 months ago, I was prepping for my insane time goal at Leadville.
I was really committed.
Holed up in Breckinridge all by myself,
for the month prior.
It's easy to be selfish with the time,
when you're by yourself.
The race is in August.
In July, I did..
- 20 hours
- 22 hours
- 25 hours
... a lot more than my normal 10-12 hours a week.
It was very race specific training.
Lots of Zone 2.
Recovery
was key.
I came out of that in awesome shape,
and had the best race
of
my
life.
Does it work for everybody?
I have no idea.
But, I'll definitely do it again when prepping for a once in a life quest.
----
168.9
7.5ish hrs Sleep
2 Rip On RaceDay Circuits
10 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
73
Do you want to Rip On Raceday?
>
THINGS TO CHECK FIRST...
THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT CAN MAKE OR BREAK a race, the chief being the bike. Bikes don't win races, but they sure can make things a lot harder...
... or a lot easier.
As I went through my checklist, I found a few issues:
- Rear brake pad smoked
- Sealant dried out
- Battery low
It's kinda nice to have brakes that work, especially with a ripping downhill like Saturday's.
The course should be in pretty good shape, but that doesn't mean a small wire or piece of glass couldn't be a day-ender without sealant.
And c'mon...
... ya can't ride these modern bikes without good batteries.
And, I'm not just talking about the derailleur batteries. Many of the shifters have their own small batteries.
I have made the mistake of not checking the shifter batteries.
Heck, I didn't even know about them until the start of the Filthy 50 a couple of years ago. I didn't warm up, just saddled up and headed to the start.
Typically MTB XC start... everybody pinned to get to the single track first...
... I got there last.
Shifter was dead, I was spun out and then spit out.
15 minutes later, with some help from the mechanic on site, I was back at it.
Which is exactly why I came up with the RaceDay Bike Checklist, and made it into a sticker.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/raceday-ready™-checklist-stickers
For about a year now we've been shipping the stickers out with each RaceDay Bag purchase. They're great for tool boxes and benches.
Here's a link to check 'em out:
https://pedalindustries.com/products/raceday-ready™-checklist-stickers
----
168.7
8.5ish hrs Sleep
2 Rip On RaceDay Circuits
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
71
Do you want to Rip On Raceday?
>
THE HEROIC MOVE
THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT RACING GOING ON. Locally, regionally, internationally. Sometimes we witness the unfathomable attack from impossibly far out, other times...
... a second or third wind, for the win.
By inches.
We shouldn't be impressed.
I'm mean,
it's cool.
We all cheer.
But the truth is the victory was secured long ago.
When nobody was cheering.
It was dark,
lonely,
cold.
The alarm was more drill sergeant, than fan.
In those moments...
... the heroes make their moves.
If we're lucky,
we witness the results.
---
169.1
9ish hrs sleep
No strength work today
20 minutes recovery
180 minutes reading + Journaling
72
>
IT'S LIKE THE SUN GOING UP ON ME
40 DEGREES, 80% HUMIDITY ain't nothing. Combine that with a dawn start, the sun hidden behind the hills, and, well, when you're going 20+ mph in your underpants...
... it's bonechilly.
I left the knee warmers behind.
No vest.
No jacket.
Just arm warmers,
a base layer,
skull cap.
It's risky,
we might freeze,
this is how we do it...
... when we know sunny times are ahead.
So are they?
Whether we are enjoying the longer days,
recovering from an injury,
just getting back at it...
... we hope and plan for...
- better fitness
- decreased fatness
- all things to improve
... it's a process.
And, we know it.
Just like the sun coming up,
we imperceptibly rise to the occasion.
That's how today was for me.
Still got dropped,
but made it a little further.
I'll take it.
Here's a snapshot of where things stand.
There's nothing like a good fitness journey.
How's yours going?
---
168.7
8ish hrs sleep
10 Pullups 30 Pushups
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
73 (per training peaks)
>
MY DUMBEST PREDICTION YET
PARIS-ROUBAIX IS SUNDAY. I can't wait. It's always so fun to watch, and such a battle of machine, mind, and bike handling. Lots of drama, and this year...
... is starts before the famed Arenberg Forest.
The forest is always crazy.
Mud.
Cobbles.
A massive battle for the front ensues for those who want the best chance of getting through with the lead group...
... unscathed.
This year, the organizers decide a chicane right before entering the forest would be a good idea.
Less dangerous.
I looked at the layout.
Here's my prediction.
Rather than racing for the forest entrance to avoid carnage...
... they will race to the chicane.
And...
- have plenty of lycra on the pavement.
- or in the barriers
- or both.
... I hope I'm wrong.
Then, we have to wonder, at least I do, what is the point of racing?
Call me crazy, but I think part of it is to show bike handling prowess.
We're still gonna see it with the chicane.
Just seems like a little chicanery...
... to appease, who?
---
169.1
8 hrs sleep
15 Pullups 50 Pushups 40 Shoulder Press... no legs today.
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
69
Do you want to Rip On Raceday?
>
BLOOD. WORK.
DON'T BE LIKE ME. Because I never get sick, I never go to the doctor. Which meant I never had my blood work done. You're too smart for that...
... here's why.
By regularly getting the blood work done, we have a baseline for "our" normal.
I don't have that.
When I had the brain injury a few months ago,
things changed.
The brain is our command center, telling the body what to produce and control and do, etc.
A brain injury often causes issues with how the body is regulated.
Today, we reviewed my blood work which was drawn a few weeks ago.
Some markers are out of range - too high on some, too low on others.
Bad news is...
... I have no reference point of "my" normal.
Could be genetic, could be from the injury.
Good news is...
... we know where I'm at, and have some corrective measures to take.
Bonus, most indicators are positive for my body, and with my overall health.
Dr. Cory King, my functional health doctor from Encinitas, went over it all with me.
Nothing too scary...
... but definitely areas to not ignore.
Things like cholesterol levels, vitamin levels, etc. that can have negative effects if left untreated.
So, we'll chock this up as another blessing from my brain injury.
Regardless of your awesome health.
Find out where you are at,
things can probably be improved.
Consider this a gentle and loving nudge from me to you...
... get the blood work done.
---
169.4
9 hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
70
Do you want to Rip On Raceday?
>
CHEAT CODE
HERE'S A DIRTY LITTLE SECRET. Okay, maybe it's not all that dirty but it is secret and fact is it's...
... a cheat code for life.
There's a reason we get out and do our thing.
Sure, it's great to be in shape.
Have that come what may attitude.
Fact is, even though the fitness is great...
... there's something better.
- The problems we solve
- Ideas we come up with
- Freedom to think
We often, nearly always, return...
... renewed.
Ready
To
Kicka$$
Even when,
especially when...
... we've rung out our body's energy supply.
---
169.1
8.5 hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + extra pull ups and pushups
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
70
Do you want to Rip On Raceday?
>
STRUGGLING WITH WEIGHT... TRY NOT
SINCE MY AWESOME START TO THE YEAR, knocking myself out and spending a 5 days in ICU, my metabolism has changed. This is not uncommon, given the standard protocols...
... and now I'm pissed.
I didn't ask for this, and that is not the problem.
I haven't asked for a solution.
I have forgotten my own wisdom.
Well, on the eve of my bday, yesterday, I was asked...
... What do you want?
Get my lycracovered buns back in fighting shape.
I went to bed with a question...
... How do I get back to my normal, leanish self?
I woke up with an answer.
A book recommendation appeared on my Kindle.
Feast., Fast. Fit. by Fred Duncan.
It wasn't new information for me.
Heck, I preach it.
It's worked in the past.
I believe it will work again.
The lesson?
It isn't get on the diet train...
... it's ask the right questions,
and expect answers.
- How can I get lean?
- How can I climb faster?
- How can I stay cool in the blistering heat?
- How can I complete a century without bonking?
- How can I reduce the drag created by my bike and body?
Try not.
Ask or ask not.
---
170.3
8.5 hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + extra pull ups and pushups
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
70
Do you want to Rip On Raceday?
>
THOU SHALT CARE FOR THY HANDS
TAKING CARE OF THE HANDS is importante. Road, is pretty straight forward. So is MTB. Gravel, well, it's got it's own challenges...
... what can we do?
I've seen plenty of ruined hands...
- brutal gripshift blisters
- palms filled with asphalt gravelly stuff
- a thumb's skin pealed from under the nail past the first knuckle
... all of it could have been spared with gloves.
Personally, I prefer very lightweight fullfinger gloves.
But, that ain't gonna help on the gravel bike.
No suspension.
What can we do?
I double wrap my bars with a good soft tape.
- helps with vibration
- displaces pressure points across a wider area
I was reminded of how great this is just last week.
It'd been a while since I'd ridden the roadie, been riding the gravel bike on and off road a ton.
As soon as I got going the bars felt weird.
Sharp.
Oh yeah, the single wrap bar.
It's lighter.
More aero.
But, I'd never go back to a single wrap on the gravel bike.
---
170.5
8.5 hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + extra pull ups and pushups
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
67
Do you want to Rip On Raceday?
>
WHICH NUMBERS ARE WE CHASING?
THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE between the kinds of numbers some of us focus on putting up. Some chase big power numbers, while others chase small numbers...
... what's the corresponding motivation?
You know.
Are we more interested in the low numbers: 1st, 2nd, 3rd...
... or, increasing our own personal power numbers?
Do we need everybody to see us on the podium...
... or, are we thrilled when we privately snag a new PR?
We can go out to the race,
or we can design our own incredible adventure.
We can train to beat everybody,
or our training can help us live our best lives.
They're not necessarily mutually exclusive,
there are four seasons for a reason.
---
169
8.5 hrs sleep
No strength work
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
67
Do you want to Rip On Raceday?
>
IS IT TIME TO STOP BINGING?
SATURDAYS ARE MY DAYS. All week long, I look forward to getting up early and rolling out with no particular plan but wasting time via hours in the saddle...
... I call it binge riding.
Not today.
It was raining
When that happens on the 6th day of the week,
my day,
I'm typically grumpy.
This time,
I was looking forward to it.
Why?
Honestly, I'd been binge riding too much.
Too many days in a row spent
slipping out after work
staying out too long...
... the time change being my enabler.
I was unconsciously due for a break.
Some call it overtrained...
... overbinged is more accurate,
for me.
---
168.2
7.5 hrs sleep
Lots of pull ups, pushups and squats.
10 minutes recovery
180 minutes reading + Journaling
68
Do you want to Rip On Raceday?
>
THE OL' WHAT IF YOU KNEW...
THESE TWO PUNKS SHOWED UP TO MY HOUSE, and dragged their dear ol' dad out for his favorite thing. Riding MTBs with them...
... that wasn't the best part.
Sure, it was fun to keep up with 'em.
Mostly.
Then, completely overdoing it at Cheesecake factory.
The best part was dropping by the Audi store...
... and hotrodding around in a $70k RS3.
So.
Dang.
Fast!
It's good to get in the dream car, and throw it around some corners...
... to keep the dreams alive.
But, what if it wasn't a dream.
What if...
... you knew you could PR any segment, win any race?
What would it be?
If we don't know,
can't quickly answer the question..
... likely not going to happen.
But,
what
if
we
knew...
... then,
what would we do with today's training?
---
1680
7.5 hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
69
Do you want to Rip On Raceday?
>
JUST BECAUSE IT'S FREE MEANS...
SO MUCH INFORMATION, and so much of it free. Free is a weird price, because we know it's gonna cost time and there's probably...
... an ask down the road.
Don't be fooled.
Sometimes the really expensive stuff is great,
sometimes it's terrible.
Same for free.
Price is a signal.
Should we be swayed?
I recently got an offer to save 30% on a $6000 frame.
6K!!!...
... must be awesome.
Maybe.
But, how do we know?
Really?
The glossy magazine ad?
The pro riding it to a win?
It can be frustrating.
When it comes right down to it, most of us...
... are swayed by our friends' reviews.
Like these -> https://pedalindustries.com/pages/reviews...
... which I'm extremely grateful for.
---
168.3
8.5 hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
69
Do you want to Rip On Raceday?
>
DOES YOUR DOG BITE?
THE GREAT INSPECTOR CLOUSEAU encounter with a dog is classic. The dog is off leash, he asks Does your dog bite? The answer is, No. He bends to pet the dog...
... only to have the dog viciously latch on to his hand!
I thought you said your dog does not bite?
That is not my dog.
I thought about that since Surfergirl has...
- demanded
- pleaded
- asked
... that I let her track me on my rides.
I feel like a dog on a leash.
The Jason Bourne in me wants none of that.
There's nothing to hide,
when I ride.
But, really?
She does have a point.
I often venture into the wild.
Signs with warnings of mountain lions and snakes about.
Trails are often treacherous to the bike,
and potentially me.
Humans few and far between.
If, if, if I should need a rescue,
which I never have...
... I'll just need two things.
A cell signal...
... and a friend who cares.
It's kinda romantic when ya think about it,
guess we're doing all right.
---
168.2
8ish hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
69
Do you want to Rip On Raceday?
>
HOW MY LITTLE PRACTICE LOOP TOOK ME DOWN
I SET OFF TO POUND MY PRACTICE LOOP. The profile is jagged, lots of single track, and...
... I'm trying to crack 90 minutes.
Today's failure is why it's so important to practice racing.
Here's the dill.
This course is very hard to stay fueled on...
... almost impossible to drink, forget about eating.
Which meant I was tuckered out, with 4 miles to go. The last 30ish minutes are pretty dern steep.
With about 20 minute warm up,
winging it on 1/2 bottle and 100 calories was a weak effort.
Just not enough.
Strava called a Massive Relative Effort,
giving the workout a score of 192.
I'll try it again in a couple of weeks.
This time with 400 calories,
and 30 ounces of water,
in a Camelbak.
There just isn't time to suck on a bottle,
the bladder hose is easy to grab,
and once in my mouth,
handsfree.
Ya can't figure that out without simulating what ya might be racing...
... in real world conditions.
---
169.1 lbs (dropping some of these will speed things up, too)
8ish hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
67
Do you want to Rip On Raceday?
>
SPEED AND BRAKES, NOT ALWAYS OBVIOUS
THERE'S A TECHNICAL, ROCKY SECTION on part of a local trail. First-timers walk it, new riders use a slow approach, locals...
... let it rip.
They know something.
Speed makes it much easier to glide over the the treachery.
It's counterintuitive.
Disc brakes are the same way.
They rub.
We pry 'em apart and reinsert the wheel.
Soon into the ride they are rubbing again.
Why?
The pads are worn out.
You'd think they would stop touch the disc or barely work when running thin.
That's the way rim brakes work when the pads are worn down.
Not discs.
Counterintuitive.
Which why we alwaysalwaysalways check our brake pads before a race...
... so we hit the tricky stuff with speed.
---
167.9 lbs
8ish hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
66
Do you want to Rip On Raceday?
>
DO YOU D.H.T.?
WE MAY NOT BE PRO. Our equipment may be lacking, our preparation woeful, our focus far from singular...
... which makes it all the more impressive.
When we, you and me...
... Do Hard Things.
Just like the pros,
but on a whole other level.
They level up,
get a pay check.
Our objective has nothing to do with money, and...
... everything to do with commitment.
Here's the cool part.
People see it.
Our family, friends, work associates, neighbors, etc.
They get inspired.
Maybe not to ride 100 miles or run a marathon or do an Ironman.
Doesn't matter.
The ability to D.H.T. can be applied to anything...
- changing diapers in the middle of the night
- studying instead of clubbing
- making 100 cold calls/day
- working 80 hrs a week for a season
- pushing a car off to the side of the road
- leading volunteers to repair after a disaster strikes
... once we learn we have it within us.
---
169.1 lbs
8.5 hrs sleep
No strength work today
10 minutes recovery
180 minutes reading + Journaling
66
Do you want to Rip On Raceday?
>
WE NEED A METRIC FOR THIS
THE FIRST TIME I SAW SHIMANO'S INTEGRATED SHIFTING, dubbed SIS, I knew there was no chance in a sprint without it. Sure we'd perfected the lost of art of...
... sprinting, letting go of the handlebars with one hand to shift.
But, what was the point?
It was useless.
Shimano changed the game, all because...
... Gripshift had changed the game.
Gripshift morphed into SRAM.
Shimano gave us electric shifting.
SRAM did it better with wireless.
How is that my new Kindle got me thinking of this?
Simple.
Kindle changes the reading game.
Which got me thinking about another game changer, Training Peaks.
It's pretty cool.
All kinds of data.
But, one metric is missing and would...
... be so funny to have.
A measurement for how bad a ride sucks...
- Freezing rain
- Frying pan heat
- Mile long hike-a-bike
- Gail force headwinds
- Countless mechanicals
... indicating our badassness for getting it done,
not quitting.
For example, we rolled the dice this morning on a 38% chance of rain.
No big deal, right?
3 hours in, we face another hour of driving headwind and relentless rain...
... the suckometer was needling past halfway.
- Hands were edging towards inoperable.
- Too wet and involved to eat carbs
- Feet sloshing
Not terrible.
But, somewhere on the ride data it woulda been nice to see...
... the badassometer read out.
Just fer fun.
See where the day's suckiness ranked against other such rides over time.
Time to go back the Kindle...
... under the blankies.
Me still cold.
---
167.9 lbs
7.5 hrs sleep
Just pull ups and push ups
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
67
Do you want to Rip On Raceday?
>
LEARNING TO RIP FROM MARCH MADNESS
BALL AND STICK SPORTS are typically concerned with, and built around, offense and defense. How do we...
... apply that thinking to our endurance addictitions?
Do we have offense?
Defense?
Yep.
Offense
- Riding, running swimming time
- Weight lifting
- Racing and competitive group rides
- Upgrading equipment - new, shiny stuff
- Hiring a coach
- Fine tuning the bike fit
- Developing our handling skills
Defense
- Recovery work
- Sleep
- Proper nutrition
- Accountability partner(s)
- Equipment maintenance
- Stretching
- Allies to work with when falling behind
And before you say I've misplaced one of those, we all know...
... the best defense is offense and visa versa.
That's not the point.
The point is to figure out...
... how to incorporate a great offense and defense in our limited time.
---
167.8 lbs
8.25 hrs sleep
Just pull ups and push ups
20 minutes recovery
180 minutes reading + Journaling
62
Do you want to Rip On Raceday?
>
TWO OF LIFE'S MYSTERIES
THERE TWO MYSTERIES THAT SCIENCE can't explain. AI doesn't have the answer, either. But's they are facts just the same. For example...
... why do beginners get all the flats?
Riddle me that one LycraMan.
You know it's true.
You know if you invite a new, excitedtobethere, rider along, there's gonna be a flat.
Waywaywayway more often than the experienced riders will experience.
Makes no sense.
Just like why more bike shops don't have a comfy couch to wait for that...
.... just a few more minutes...
repair.
Maybe a coffee table showcasing
- A colorful catalog of their favorite products
- Samples of their go to sports drinks or things to chomp
- Gotta have tools to check out
I was thinking of another mystery as I swapped out my worn disc brake pads...
... why more of us don't learn the basics of maintenance.
---
168.7 lbs (the struggle is real)
8.25 hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + extra pull ups and push ups
20 minutes recovery
180 minutes reading + Journaling
63
Do you want to Rip On Raceday?
>
THE PRIDE CYCLE QUEST
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE THAT YOU'RE PROUD OF? Could be anything, but let's stay on point with athletic endeavors because it's important...
... to harness this concept.
The Pride Cycle Quest.
It's also dangerous,
if we let it get the best of us.
For me, at least, it's all about the quest.
Can I do it?
And, it's a cycle...
- Pick the outrageous result to chase
- Train for it.
- Do it.
... and pick another quest.
I don't really care if anybody else thinks it's cool,
so few understand us anyway.
It's internal.
Am I proud of that result?
It's only dangerous if we are chasing likes and kudos and cheers...
... from the world.
It's not about that.
It's about the quest.
It's personal.
I'm happiest when I have at least one per year.
That's my cycle of pride.
---
167.9 lbs
7.25 hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + extra pull ups and push ups
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
62
Do you want to Rip On Raceday?
>
CHASING GHOSTS
PATHS BECOME TRAILS, trails become roads, roads become highways. It's evolution, and underneath it all are the ghosts...
... who got it started.
We think we're blazing a trail,
when we are really just going along with the crowd.
I was thinking about the day my longgone granpappy came to watch me race a criterium.
It was all new to me.
We wizzed past him every lap.
But, the laps were long...
... and he could barely see at that stage.
Afterwards, he told me how it was years before, when he was young.
I thought it would be in a velodrome and I'd be able to see you entire race.
Clueless me had no idea velodrome racing was the only bicycle racing 100 years ago.
Prior to that, it was racing bicycles long distance, on dusty...
... gravel roads.
In other words, we gone from...
- gravel
- to velodrome
- to road
- to bmx
- to mtb
- to gravel
... so why is gravel "new"?
It's not.
We're all just chasing ghosts who've gone before.
---
168 lbs
8.25 hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + extra pull ups and push ups
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
62
Do you want to Rip On Raceday?
>
THIS AIN'T NO TIME FOR FOOLING AROUND
WHAT IS THE BASELINE? The minimum effort to do and consider the week a win? It's important to have the least acceptable effort in mind...
... and make it happen.
Riding in the rain will make you think things like that.
Like, why the heck am I doing this?
Which is exactly what I was thinking as the skies opened an hour away from home.
Because I made a plan.
A public commitment.
Accountability.
Yesterday, in the sunshine and 72 degrees I committed to do the following this week:
- 15 pull ups, 50 push ups, 10 squats daily
- Ride 14 hours this week
- Drop 3 lbs
Easy to do when the weather is good,
and the day lazy.
The public commit was to the RaceDay Rippers,
who also hold me accountable each week when we check in.
I'm two months out from my next quest, the SurfNSummit.
The plan is on my RaceDay Calendar.
Some say Show me your calendar and I'll know what important to you...
... and yes, Date Night better be on there each week.
We have a few of the Giant RaceDay Calendars left, and you can save 25% since a quarter of the year is nearly past by using promo code:
CAL25OFF
https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedal-black-2024-giant-raceday-calendar
Here is the code:
CAL25OFF
Nod to the great Talking Heads for the inspiration
This is ain't no party, this ain't no disco, this ain't no time for foolin' around
---
168.9 lbs
9 hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + extra pull ups and push ups
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
59
Do you want to Rip On Raceday?
>
HOW TO STAY SLOW...
IT'S SUPER EASY TO STAY SLOW, and just as easy to stay fast. To stay slow, do what your slow friends do and...
... expect to get fast.
The problem with actually getting fast,
nobody gives you credit.
For the most part, they can't see or appreciate, and will never know...
... how hard we work.
And, we've got to be okay with that.
To commence,
recognition be damned.
To be fast, do what you fast friends do...
... and expect to get fast.
Do.
Expect.
168.4 lbs
7.5 hrs sleep
Push Ups and Pull Ups
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
58
>
WWDGD?! - 25 WEEKS TO GO
I FELT GOOD ENOUGH THIS WEEK TO DREAM of getting my fitness back and setting unrealistic goals. Is there anything better than that? Getting to a place to...
... dare to go for it.
After pushing hard for nearly 3 hours, we had a choice.
Take it easy or do the hurtful climb?
500' in a mile doesn't sound like much...
... unless it's the last climb of a fast day.
We were gonna skip it, and then Love Watts yelled...
... WWDGD!
Huh?
What Would David Goggins Do?!
There was no choice at that point, because all of us have streeeeeeeeetch goals this summer.
It was fine.
Slower than I'd like...
... but, compared to last week waywayway better.
And so the journey begins.
The countdown to Gravel Nationals.
Here's where I'm at.
You can see my fitness score at the very bottom.
Down from over 50%, 18 months ago.
Weight, 168ish.
Up 10 lbs, 18 months ago.
Vision is still messed up.
Way off from what I considered one of my few advantages racing off road.
Can I be ready September 8th, 2024?
It's gonna be fun,
and frustrating.
WWDGD?
Go for it.
Every
single
freakin'
opportunity.
168.2 lbs
8 hrs sleep
Push Ups and Pull Ups
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
60
>
WHEN THE RACE PLAN GOES TO HECK IN A HANDLEBAR
IT WAS A ROUGH START, things weren't going smoothly at all. It was causing a lot of stress and internal turmoil. Energy I'd hoped to reserve for...
... more important sections of the event.
Ayyyy, what to do?
What I always do...
... but, forget to do.
Think of of the things going right...
- I felt good
- I'd started on time
- My prep was perfect
... other words be grateful for the good.
My energy shifted.
I calmed down.
Focused on getting down to business.
Wound up having a spectacular day...
... at the office.
Tomorrow's race should go a lot better, and if it doesn't...
... I know what to do.
168.2 lbs
8.5 hrs sleep
Push Ups and Pull Ups
20 minutes recovery
600 minutes reading + Journaling
56
>
YOU INSURED FOR THAT?
WELL, THE BILLS ARE COMING and I'm thinking about you and me. For years I've looked at health insurance as lame. Struggled mentally, sometimes economically...
... to pay that everlarger bill.
Why?
I never get sick.
Rarely, and I mean rarely, do I see a doctor.
I'm already doing all they would recommend to get better...
- eat good
- skip sugar
- get plenty of rest
- and workout regularly
... why would I spend the $ on insurance?
It feels like I'm being duped.
Well, there are these events called...
... accidents.
They happen,
and are almost completely unplanned.
So, yeah, my bills are coming in and I'm happy as being at the to of the podium at my A race...
... 'cause it looks like almost all of it covered.
Sucks to be out 1000s...
... but, way better than being out 100s of thousands.
Just putting this out there 'cause I love you...
... get covered, if ya ain't.
====
Side Note: has anybody tried insurance for bike like BikeInsure? Asking for myself, just found out about 'em
167.2 lbs
7.8 hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
56
>
DO YOU LET POWER OR HR DETERMINE YOUR HARD VS EASY DAYS?
I HADN'T WORN MY HR MONITOR FOR DAYS. It wasn't working consistently, so I left it parked in the drawer. Until today, I gave it a shot and it actually worked...
... it got me thinking about the levels of easy.
There's so easy...
- I can barely feel the pedals
- I can sing a song
- I can easily talk
- I am not sure
... and maybe a few more levels.
My goal today was to ride as close to the top of my Zone 2 as possible, without going over...
... the I'm not sure range.
I wasn't sure, because my heart rate was bouncing at the top of the range. Meanwhile...
... my power was definitely over into a higher range quite often.
This is how I trained for decades, when I just had a HR monitor.
What's more important then...
... HR in Zone 2 or Power in Zone 2?
I'm gonna say, for me at least, HR is more important. It is more reflective of how all systems are working given the effort and absorbs the little efforts when the terrain or other elements require a few more watts.
Here's a real world application.
When I'm racing something epic, like Leadville, I'm going off heart rate for my pacing, and using the power meter to keep things in check when I have to dig a little deeper to close a gap or clean a technical uphill section.
The reality is, for peak performance on the long efforts...
... it's good to have both.
If it's a short race, under an hour, well, you know...
... put the dadgum gadget in the back pocket and race on feel.
Same for a long day of adventuring, who cares about the data when we're out there.
Enjoy the ride.
We can analyze later.
---
168. lbs
7.8 hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
57
>
SHOULD WE DO A HUNDRED RACES IN A YEAR?
YA WANNA GET GOOD, be a boss, strike fear in your frenemies, be the maker of things that happen...
... instead of wondering what happened?
Race.
A lot more.
100 times/year.
Think I'm crazy?
Think it's immmm po siiiiii ble?
Then don't do it.
Don't even try.
Keep wonderin',
misreading the moves.
Or, commit.
Do:
- 2 zwifties
- 2 local races
- 2 group rides
- 2 of your own personal courses for PR
We all have 52 chances a year,
to race twice a week.
No excuses.
Nothing but upside.
Heck, even a brain-damaged guy like me can do it.
This week...
- hammering my xc race loop Tuesday
- group ride on weekend
... slaying myself today, getting crushed by the fellas Saturday.
Gotta start somewhere.
Gonna do what hurts and what I'm comfortable with.
Twice a week.
Oh... I know you're askin'...
... Why 100 times a year?
Because, every race is different.
We'll see a lot of different situations.
We're trying to see 'em all, or have a reallyreallyreally good feel for what is going to happen.
Simple as that.
Experience counts.
Get some.
It's free.
---
168.6 lbs
8.5 hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
55
Are you ready to Rip On Raceday?
>
NOT GONNA LIE
WHEN I FINALLY CAME TO, I had one thing on my mind. Not after first being knocked out, not after the morphine and other meds wore off, days after being home...
... I wanted to say one thing.
Not gonna lie.
I was hurting.
Stunned.
How could my crazy good health take such a drastic turn in seconds...
... this wasn't what I had planned for 2024.
8 weeks later, I'm improving.
I'd leave it there, but...
... not gonna lie.
I'm nowhere near where I was just prior, nor 12 months ago, nor 2 years ago.
I'm off.
I can work 4-5 hours,
then my brain needs a break.
I can ride my bike,
but I have no power,
off-road vision is shift.
I can talk to friends,
until I can't.
Something even more weird happened though.
Something few will admit or acknowledge or maybe even notice...
... when I took that blow to the noggin' it felt like my spirit left my body.
There's a disconnectedness.
I know things aren't quite right.
Will they return or is life just going to be different?
Not gonna lie...
... this is new territory.
Now, I'm being as honest and transparent as possible in all I do.
My friend battling cancer taught me that,
the freedom of being honest.
Yes, I hid it from Surfergirl that on one of my first bike rides alone I was going down the road and thought I saw 4 ducks crossing the road in front of me...
... it was just two,
that's troubling.
Not gonna lie.
I kept riding.
Lying to myself it was all good,
hiding the truth if asked.
What is easier, being honest with ourselves and those around us or pulling the lycra over our eyes and theirs?
To remind myself of my new commitment...
... I made a special kit, see above.
That's the kind of thing I was looking forward to in 2024.
New designs,
new patterns,
new fabrics.
The good newsy stuff.
If you're into the rawness of honesty, maybe you'll like this too.
It's patterned after one of my all-time favorite Porsche's.
Check the full kit here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/ngl-collection
Use this promo code on this kit to save 30%: NGL30
Code expires on 3.15.24.
---
168.6 lbs
8.5 hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
54
>
HE SWITCHED TEAM, AND IT...
TODAY AN AMERICAN WON PARIS-NICE, an 8-Day stage race in France. A youngun, 25 years old. He'd never done it before, and wasn't picked as a favorite...
... except he picked himself.
A long time ago.
When riding for a less professional, less scientific team he was spending his own cash on equipment and training to up his game.
Something the top teams covered and pursued relentlessly.
He jumped at the chance to upgrade to the current dominant force in European road racing this season.
Would it matter?
I'd say it is clear.
What's interesting is how many of are trapped like a monkey...
... failing to let go, when we know we should.
Not only did he upgrade his team and training, but placed a huge bet on himself in a daring and startling breakaway with fellow US racer Brandon McNulty.
When you are a pro...
... winning actually is everything.
Way to go Mateo Jorgenson.
---
168.4 lbs
9 hrs sleep
No Strength Work
10 minutes recovery
20 minutes reading + Journaling
53
>
HOW TO GET FASTER FOR DUMMIES
APPARENTLY, LOVE WATTS FORGOT our commitment to go easy on the way up the coast. Which meant we had time to do the biggest climb I've done this year...
... 2 hours and 2000' of climbing for our "warm up".
At the usual time, riders flocked in and we were off.
It felt good to do my first group ride of the year...
- to see the guys
- get whooshed along
- and see some higher power numbers
... until the first overpass.
Where I was off the back.
Caught on at a light.
Off again.
On again.
My breathing and wheezing needed a muffler.
On the next power climb, normally 2ish minutes...
... I needed an extra minute or three.
They were gone.
Yeah, they are nowhere near as fast as I am...
... they're a heckuvalot faster.
Am I good with that?
Yeah, they've always been faster than lit'l ol' me.
Now I just need patience to close the gap to where...
... they are less faster.
So, here's the plan that I've used many a year...
... pick a spot beyond where I got popped today.
Make it just a little further each week.
Corner by corner,
Hill by hill.
Progress > Perfection
---
167.6 lbs
8 hrs sleep
No strength work today
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
54
>
IT WAS ABOUT THE TRUTH, NOT ARMS RACE
I HATE TIMETRIALS. I mean, I like 'em, but, yeah, I hate 'em. It's not because I'm not great at 'em, and trust me I'm not. It's because...
... they hurt so dang bad.
Not only that, it's...
- lonely
- painful
- humbling
... is there anything more truthful than getting passed by your minute man?
No drafting.
No wily cunning.
Nothing matters except...
... who is the strongest,
and who can suffer the most.
Oh, wait, one more thing matters...
... who's got the most money to afford the most advanced gear.
When everything tiny thing adds time and seconds matter...
... it can turn into an arms race.
I'm okay with that to a point.
Butttttttttt, don't ya think participation would rise...
... if we raced Merckx-style?
At least at the amateur level?
On our road bikes vs tt bikes?
With road helmets?
And "normal" road wheels?
And... you get the point right?
As much as I hate/love a tt, I truly appreciated Tucson Bicycle Classic for making their tt be done on road bikes the last to years.
It's just a lot more fair/approachable/inviting...
... and equally miserable for all.
That's the truth.
Side note: I think I love XC MTB racing because it's basically a mass start time trial. The terrain naturally and quickly separates us.
---
168.4 lbs
8.5 hrs sleep
PullUps, PushUps, Split Squats, Shoulder Presses
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
51
>
WERE YOU AS DORKY AS THIS?
WHEN I WAS JUST GETTING INTO THE SPORT, I was such a dork. A small percentage of you will disagree, maybe even swear at me, but nothing says...
... stay clear, like a mirror.
I know, I know, some of us are damaged and can't look over our shoulders.
Too stiff,
crap balance.
I was neither of those.
I was a spry young newb.
Excited to ride and race.
And my girlfriend of the time wanted to get me something cool.
I quickly mounted the mirror to the end of my handlebar - see pic above.
I thought it was rad.
Perfect for the high speeds and shoulder banging of crit racing,
which I loved.
Rather than turn my head and telegraph my plans,
I could take a peek at my mirror.
Nobody else thought it was cool...
... and they made an obnoxious and clear point of it.
If my hairy legs,
questionable bike handling,
roadrashed arms and legs weren't a give away...
... the mirror, made it clear.
I was not to be trusted in the bunch.
Here's the dill.
They were right.
Because let's face it, anybody focused on the past...
... doesn't have a shot at a winning future.
---
167.8 lbs
8ish hrs sleep
PullUps, PushUps, Split Squats, Shoulder Presses
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
50
>
I DON'T ALWAYS RIDE IN THE RAIN...
I COULD SEE THE STORM BREWING. Like a crazy fool, I rolled out anyway even though I was certain to...
... get caught in the rain.
Trust me, I am a fair weather rider.
Gimme 70 degrees,
and a lite breeze.
So why ride?
Two reasons.
One embarrassing.
One legit...
- Poorly executed work day
- It rains on raceday
- Commitment
Yeah, I had all this work scheduled and a timeline to follow....
... and, well, ya know, things didn't go as planned.
That's 1.
Since it does rain on raceday, and I've never let that stop me from lining up...
... it's good to practice from time to time.
That's 2.
And I committed to myself to get my slothful self back in shape.
That's 3, a bonus.
So which one's embarrassing?
- crap planning
- useless prep
- silly commitment
Well, I dunno about you...
... but, I'm cool with
- keeping my commitments,
- being prepared for all conditions,
- even when things don't go as planned.
---
167.4 lbs
7ish hrs sleep
PullUps, PushUps, Split Squats, Shoulder Presses
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
50
>
IT FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME!
I WOULD CLIMB ANY MOUNTAIN, ride across the stormy sky. It seemed like I'd waited a lifetime, spent so much time in recovery...
... it felt like the first time!
The MTB.
Like it never did before,
like I'd opened up the door.
Finally!
What is it?
I guess it's just the rawness of nature,
bringing out the rider in me.
Dawgawn I'd missed it.
Carving turns,
wiggling up technical sections,
brushing the thistles,
hanging my lycra off the back in the steeps.
Why today?
Well, to be honest, today was a breakthrough on my vision.
The double-vision I've been dealing with was greatly diminished.
Partly time.
Partly exercises for my eyes.
One of you loyal readers,
one of us,
took the time to share with me a gift for everyone.
Tools for increasing our eyesight,
the kind we need to quickly assess the best way to rip it up off road (on road, too).
You can check the tool out here: https://www.readbetweenthelions.org. Go to the K-12 program.
It's free.
Thanks Rick!
Makes me wonder what else we can learn from each other?
Speak up y'all!
Let's get betterfasterstronger...
... together.
Have you checked out https://pedalindustries.com/pages/rip-on-raceday-network?
(yeah, this post is a nod to Foreigner)
---
168.2 lbs
9 hrs sleep
PullUps, PushUps, Split Squats, Shoulder Presses
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
48
>
WHADAYA THINK OF UNDULATING TERRAIN?
WE HAVE SOME WEIRD LINGO. Have you ever heard any body, ever, use the phrase undulating terrain? Why would they? When you're motor-powered...
... who cares about the terrain!
Human-powered,
totally different story.
Every bump in the road and trail counts.
The longer we're out there,
the more it counts.
Sooooooooo...
... whadaya think of undulating terrain?
Do you love it?
Or, do you prefer...
- flat
- downhill
- tailwinds
- straight up
- headwinds
... lots choices when we roll out.
Me?
Well.
There are times when I'd give my chamois pad for a flat road with a tailwind.
Days when I feel so amazing I just wanna climb and climb and climb.
But, faced with a choice...
... give me undulating.
Ups.
Downs.
Lots a turns.
That's the ride I choose.
---
169.2 lbs
9 hrs sleep
PullUps, PushUps, Split Squats, Shoulder Presses
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
48
>
It Pays To Learn
The best race car drivers are those who understand the mechanics of the car and suspension. They aren’t the best because they go and wrench on the cars after testing. They are the best because the give the best feedback to the chief mechanic, and he and his team deliver a winning product, so remember:..
The best race car drivers are those who understand the mechanics of the car and suspension. They aren’t the best because they go and wrench on the cars after testing. They are the best because the give the best feedback to the chief mechanic, and he and his team deliver a winning product, so remember:
You don’t need to be an excellent bike mechanic, but… it sure is fun to work on your own bike, and can save you a lot of time, and give you a lot of confidence…
You don’t need to be an Olympic caliber coach…
Nor do you need a PHD in nutrition…
The more you learn about your bike and body and food, the better you’ll be able to connect with the real pros and get the best results… watch this video for details!
The Market Ride
At some point, the Market Ride relocated from a very dumpy market to San Clemente Cyclery. At some point, The Market Ride moves from a 5pm start to a 530pm start (Tues and Thurs daylight savings only). At some point, you gotta do it. Where else can you race a speeding train on your left..
At some point, the Market Ride relocated from a very dumpy market to San Clemente Cyclery. At some point, The Market Ride moves from a 5pm start to a 530pm start (Tues and Thurs daylight savings only). At some point, you gotta do it.
Where else can you race a speeding train on your left and Dolly Parton on your right?
There are no cars to speak of as you speed through miles of empty camp ground, through a tank tunnel, down an emergency runway onto Camp Pendleton Marine Base’s 2-lane country roads.
Flat.
Huge views of the ocean and open fields.
The guys are friendly and fast.
The finish is the longest, straightest sprint you’ll ever contest… the perfect place to test your limits.
Bring ID… required to get on the base.
171.6
Persistence
The number 1 quality Google is looking for in new hires is persistence. Not genius. Not charisma. Not who you know, but will you stick to it? Are you disciplined enough to see it through? Got an awesome text this morning from my formerly, and terribly, out of shape friend. 5 years ago, at 300+ pounds..
The number 1 quality Google is looking for in new hires is persistence. Not genius. Not charisma. Not who you know, but will you stick to it? Are you disciplined enough to see it through?
Got an awesome text this morning from my formerly, and terribly, out of shape friend.
5 years ago, at 300+ pounds he started riding.
He started competing.
Getting killed.
Now, he wins races from time to time. It’s taken 5 years.
I didn’t ask him to text me. He did because he knows I care and appreciate the battle.
Persistence isn’t easy, it’s not natural… it sure is fun to see, and be.
It’s Still Possible
It’s still possible to get better, faster in bike-speak. You can improve, but you’re going to have to change. You might have improved in the past simply by going on vacation. You can get a PR next week, next ride. Take today: Young Kevin is hitting the wall hard, chasing down Jorge. Then, a new..
It’s still possible to get better, faster in bike-speak. You can improve, but you’re going to have to change. You might have improved in the past simply by going on vacation. You can get a PR next week, next ride.
Take today:
Young Kevin is hitting the wall hard, chasing down Jorge. Then, a new young buck gallops up to him. A huge gap is opening. We steadily ramp up the pace. I’m slobbering all over my top tube… just, barely, making it over the top.
The rotations are fast. There’s a reason the skinny kids left us behind: we are old, and heavy… and gravity is going to steamroll us over their young fantasy.
This happens almost every week, but I’m here and I am different. I am fresh off 4 days of altitude and 150 miles of tempo. Compare that to my usual Saturday leg breaking ride and you’ll see Toddy B. Fresh.
Boom, I PR the 5 miles from Cook’s Corner to the finish (231 Strava recordings)… simply because I’m more rested and still have the legs to skewer one of the kids and half the group.
Not braggin’, just sayin’ … you can do better if you’re willing to change your approach.
Where’s The Finish Line?
A real conversation, only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. Horatio A. calls up Todd to chat about his team kit order and as the convo concludes the unOFFICIAL TMWC comes up. He’s curious about how it’s different from every other TMWC. Is it faster? Well, yeah it’s totally nuts… but you’ll be fine...
A real conversation, only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Horatio A. calls up Todd to chat about his team kit order and as the convo concludes the unOFFICIAL TMWC comes up. He’s curious about how it’s different from every other TMWC.
Is it faster?
Well, yeah it’s totally nuts… but you’ll be fine.
Do we all do the Varsity Loop?
No, we all do the original course… but there’s no re-group.
Do we race all the way to the end?
Yep, just like every week.
Really? What about the 2nd re-group and the way we just cruise back down Antonio to the start?
Ahhh… well bro, the finish is not at the start.
It’s not?
Nope… it’s at the end of the Drag Strip, where the 15 m.p.h. sign is right before the right hander.
So that’s the finish.
Yep, there’s an old piece of tape across the road next to the 15 mph sign… and tomorrow I’ll be testing out the new timing system.
We’re timing the ride that day?
Yep, that’s why it’s the unOFFICIAL TMWC. Plus, we’ll ride back together and mow down some delicious food and honor this year’s champions.
How the heck can you plan to win if you don’t know where the finish is?
(Are you registered?)
(the best chips money can buy)
(this is what our sign looks like… I’ll get a better pic)
As The Wheel Turns – Leg 10 Vision Relay
Every team on course is struggling. Dave Zabriski’s loaded team will win and finish 3 hours behind the course record. We battle ourselves as much as the elements, but even a super challenging day will offer something to keep you going. Mine comes at the top of Cedar Breaks and will end in Cedar City...
Every team on course is struggling. Dave Zabriski’s loaded team will win and finish 3 hours behind the course record. We battle ourselves as much as the elements, but even a super challenging day will offer something to keep you going.
Mine comes at the top of Cedar Breaks and will end in Cedar City.
16.7 miles down.
4,000 feet below.
42.7 mph average.
52.3 mph max.
Heaven.
While I get settled, there is mutiny.
Everybody is exhausted, frustrated and tired. Someone suggests we pull the plug. Another seconds that emotion. Soon guys are checking Uber – from UTAH! Whimper whispers of protest, then surrender.
The sweat swirls the bottom of the soul trough, and then Nate to the rescue! He plugs the hole. “I did so much to get here, sacrificed more than I should have and we’ve all ridden our guts out! It’s been 30 hours, we’re seeing this through.”
Problem solved, will resolved… remembering what it takes to get here.
35 hours after we started, our last crew swings across the line. The time expectations were far faster, and so were every other racers’.
The dinner talk is dominated by what we can do better next year. Where should we start now? Does it matter or is a rolling circus in a motorhome, mocking each other… feeding each other… just being kids the better goal?
Champions regroup, the wheels keep turning.
(Nate!)
This Too Is Racing – Leg 6 Vision Relay
The KOM flags pound off the ground, flattened by driving wind under a massive moon. It’s sub-50 and I’m alone – our team of 4 blown to bits. My body shakes… how did I get here? – insert rewind sound here – The huge battery to power my massive beam for the harrowing decent (sprinkled..
The KOM flags pound off the ground, flattened by driving wind under a massive moon. It’s sub-50 and I’m alone – our team of 4 blown to bits. My body shakes… how did I get here?
– insert rewind sound here –
The huge battery to power my massive beam for the harrowing decent (sprinkled with black cows!) is fully charged, but I forgot to pack the beam itself. Doh!
Patrick’s beam is charged and ready, but he’s missing the mount to secure it to his bars.
The wind shoves Stan and his deep dish wheels across the road.
Jim’s asthma has drained the oxygen from his soul.
Nice beginning to a 20-mile climb.
At one point the wind blows so hard my bike stops and I’m saved only by my cat-like reflexes… cleats clawing, scratching the asphalt.
Thousands of feet higher, it’s just me.
I kill my back up light (I’m not a total idiot!). The gusts turn and blow from behind. A moment to live for…
… I’m being followed by a moon shadow…
This too is racing.
Racing Is Racing – Leg 2 Vision Relay
Racing is racing. Yes, I signed on to “race” with my pals in the Non-Competitive division of the Vision Relay… but trust me, it’s competitive. We’ve already had to Nascar 4 flats. Now, we’ve got a bloody arm with a deeply scraped and bruised hand hanging off the end. This is racing. Things go wrong,..
Racing is racing. Yes, I signed on to “race” with my pals in the Non-Competitive division of the Vision Relay… but trust me, it’s competitive. We’ve already had to Nascar 4 flats. Now, we’ve got a bloody arm with a deeply scraped and bruised hand hanging off the end. This is racing.
Things go wrong, when you go fast.
You get tired.
Dehydrated.
Hungry.
The parts you carefully inspected break.
… and the arrow on the stupid meter screams towards red.
It happens to all of us, and we forget it will continue to happen to all of us… That’s why we race, to remind us things go wrong goofing around on the bike and in “real life”.
(fueling up)
A Dam Fine Day
Vegas is hot. Mike says it’s dry. At 630, plenty hot. Hell, it was hot last night when we pulled in at 1230. We’re on our way to Moab, to race back to St George: The Vision Relay. Before we get there, Chris insists we do the best ride in Vegas, the Hoover Dam. It’s..
Vegas is hot. Mike says it’s dry. At 630, plenty hot. Hell, it was hot last night when we pulled in at 1230. We’re on our way to Moab, to race back to St George: The Vision Relay. Before we get there, Chris insists we do the best ride in Vegas, the Hoover Dam.
It’s awesome, you ride your bike across the top with a handful of cars. You’ll pass golden doors, stare down a million feet. Check it out up close. And, and you’ll see a road sign of unusual shape.
We hit Roberto’s for breakfast burritos and set course for St George, UT. Get there, grab a motorhome, swing through Walmart, and we are on the road.
Motohoming is the best and Utah is greener than I’ve ever seen it.
In Moab, the rest of our 4 teams of 4 are eating Thai food. Chad ordered Thai inspired steak fajitas, wish I’d done the same. We make up for it with huckleberry ice cream in waffle cones.
Time for bed, for tomorrow we race.
Robots.
They race like robots, say the old riders. Head down. Looking at their numbers. Robots are taking over, everything. Big data, big results. Power meters on the bikes, heart rate monitors on the riders, radios in the ears, electric shifting… delivering a predictably predictable product. Wouldn’t it be great to toss it all out? Metering..
They race like robots, say the old riders. Head down. Looking at their numbers. Robots are taking over, everything. Big data, big results.
Power meters on the bikes, heart rate monitors on the riders, radios in the ears, electric shifting… delivering a predictably predictable product.
Wouldn’t it be great to toss it all out?
Metering your power based on feel, riding with your heart, grabbing a down tube shifter in a sprint?
Real, human, racing.
(This robot made beautiful, perfect copies of my new office key with no character… no locksmith needed.)
Speed Is In The Air
For the past 5 weeks The TMWC has been a little bigger, a little snappier. A few more riders, from a few more miles away pop in to check it out. Carpetbaggers, come to crush the regulars. This happens every year, and every year some outsider comes away with the title: Travis Wilkerson, Fabrizio Von Nacher, Robert..
For the past 5 weeks The TMWC has been a little bigger, a little snappier. A few more riders, from a few more miles away pop in to check it out. Carpetbaggers, come to crush the regulars.
This happens every year, and every year some outsider comes away with the title: Travis Wilkerson, Fabrizio Von Nacher, Robert Freeman, Kevin Vermaerke (I’m only throwing Kevin here because he races in Europe now). All Cat 1’s or Pros.
Well, not this year… my money is on the home team.
One of the guys has got capture the title this year.
5 more weeks to find out who it will be.
Registration is open now.
(couldn’t get the group in 1 shot this morning)
Battle Hymns
Music makes me wanna shred the trails. But… it’s gotta be right. Right beat. Right words. Right angst. Drench my bones… TWITCH! No playlists for me. Give me one song. Turn it to 10. Play it over, AGAIN! … an arrow and bow, let’s go!
Music makes me wanna shred the trails. But… it’s gotta be right. Right beat. Right words. Right angst. Drench my bones… TWITCH!
No playlists for me.
Give me one song.
Turn it to 10.
Play it over, AGAIN!
… an arrow and bow, let’s go!
GMR – TT For Sure I’ll Beat That Guy
He looks like God, after a full journey on Earth. Blazing white hair, a smile to warm you. Yes, he’s pushed the cranks around a few times. He’s just happy to be here, racing… little did I know behind that smile rests the confidence of a killer. Herb Johnson is 72, and will rip your legs off...
He looks like God, after a full journey on Earth. Blazing white hair, a smile to warm you. Yes, he’s pushed the cranks around a few times. He’s just happy to be here, racing… little did I know behind that smile rests the confidence of a killer.
Herb Johnson is 72, and will rip your legs off.
Sure, I’d scouted a HUNKR course the day before. Sure, my heart rate monitor decided not to work. Sure, Carl Neilson started 30 seconds behind me, blew by me in the first 2K, and smoked every other racer on the mountain… racing my 55+ category… sure I hadn’t slept much…
… sure, sure, surely at least I’ll beat that old fossil I saw warming up…
Hahahaha… slayed by Herb! And he’s so nice and humble you just want to thank him.
There’s nothing like riding your bike and being inspired by your peers and elders and youngers.
(Herb took 2nd in the 55+ and Carl won 55+ beating all ages and putting 8 minutes on me – he beat me at Sea Otter RR too)
There is a King awaiting you at the GMR TT
Circle X Ranch
Hey there, would you boys like some ice water? High above the Malibu coast it was pushing 88 degrees and we were covered in salt. 45 minutes prior, on Mulholland, I’d drained my last bottle… Yes, that would be wonderful. This was a scouting ride for HUNKR – Malibu, and we were counting on the Circle X Ranch..
Hey there, would you boys like some ice water? High above the Malibu coast it was pushing 88 degrees and we were covered in salt. 45 minutes prior, on Mulholland, I’d drained my last bottle… Yes, that would be wonderful.
This was a scouting ride for HUNKR – Malibu, and we were counting on the Circle X Ranch drinking fountain – it’s warm and somewhat unfresh. When the Camp Host returned we learned her story.
We sold everything. Everything. We don’t own anything.
My husband retired and we travel the country staying in National Forests and State Parks as camp hosts..
… and fine hosts they are.
Moved.
2 years ago we moved to San Clemente. The commute has been a grind at times, 60-90 minutes a day. In the car. But, you get used to it. After many years in the same office location. It becomes familiar, and mysteriously secure. Packing up the office yesterday I felt a little fear, fear of..
2 years ago we moved to San Clemente. The commute has been a grind at times, 60-90 minutes a day. In the car. But, you get used to it. After many years in the same office location. It becomes familiar, and mysteriously secure.
Packing up the office yesterday I felt a little fear, fear of change. We have a good thing going on Foothill Ranch. Would a move throw us off our groove?
Today, after an 8 minute commute, we opened new doors with a beautiful view sure to spawn new ways of looking at what we do.
Change is good.
(Hard to get a good shot, but we’re about 150 yards from the Dog Park trail network.)
The Plate
If you join AAA you get their premium DMV service – nice office, no lines, pleasant workers… who seem to love what they do. One day I went in to take care of some moto registration issues and asked, Hey can you check on a custom plate for me? Sure. What do you want? PDL..
If you join AAA you get their premium DMV service – nice office, no lines, pleasant workers… who seem to love what they do. One day I went in to take care of some moto registration issues and asked, Hey can you check on a custom plate for me?
Sure. What do you want?
PDL IND, I said.
What is that… some kind of alphabet soup? C’mon what do you really want (it almost sounded like she whispered “in life”)?
Oh, it won’t be available. Surely someone will have claimed what I want.
If you don’t tell me what it is, I can’t check (but it seemed like she was saying “give it to you”).
Uh, well… PEDAL.
Hang on… you’d be surprised how many people never ask for what they want.
P E D A L?
Yes, that’s it.
Al Ou Mini Um
Alouminium, Bob said. What? Al-ou-minium. Huh? Al-ou-minium… like the foil. Oh, aluminum. He’s English. I’m ‘Merican. Ever since then, when I say aluminum I pronounce it in my head alouminium… which is often now that I have an aluminum frame bicycle, again. Cycling Tips‘ podcast covering frame stiffness is really interesting. They put forth that..
Alouminium, Bob said. What? Al-ou-minium. Huh? Al-ou-minium… like the foil. Oh, aluminum. He’s English. I’m ‘Merican. Ever since then, when I say aluminum I pronounce it in my head alouminium… which is often now that I have an aluminum frame bicycle, again.
Cycling Tips‘ podcast covering frame stiffness is really interesting. They put forth that the idea that rider’s bikes should ultimately be matched to their weight, power and fitness… that when you get it right it’s like when a boat planes across the water.
In the end, the consensus was that matching frame stiffness was far, far down the list of things to make you go faster. Aero, comfort, weight, rolling resistance all outweighed stiffness.
Which brings me to the new ride… on paper it’s stiffer than carbon, but it doesn’t bother me. It’s definitely more aero and faster than my old bike. I’m not sure if it climbs better, too subjective of a measurement for me.
Any way, check out the podcast.
Wanna Be Starting Something
It’s 530AM. The speedo says 85. Michael’s cranked:.. … Wanna be starting something, gotta be starting something… At 730AM I’m gonna be racing my first SoCal business park crit in 22 years. 4 turns. Wide straights. Thunderous announcing. I recognize a few of the names from the Race Predictor… which has me predicted to finish..
It’s 530AM. The speedo says 85. Michael’s cranked:..
… Wanna be starting something, gotta be starting something…
At 730AM I’m gonna be racing my first SoCal business park crit in 22 years. 4 turns. Wide straights. Thunderous announcing. I recognize a few of the names from the Race Predictor… which has me predicted to finish last.
So, it’s come to this.
I’m back where it started, and ended.
Bar to bar. Wheel to wheel.
Fake attacks. Real attacks.
Breakaways. Chases.
Teamwork vs. freelancing.
I’ve always preferred freelancing. Just my nature. It’s hard to beat an organized team, If you’re gonna freelance…
… You gotta be starting something…
Making you’re own breaks, faking your own attacks, watchin the wheels, listenin to the breathing, feelin the energy of the swarm.
Nothing like it.
Epic Genetic Freak
Mh friend Bart is in town this weekend. Normally he brings his Pinarello with him, but he’s focusing on overall fitness this year. The crazy thing about Bart, the thing I love, is he’s all about accelerating the learning process. Whatever he’s into he finds the best coach and goes all in. But it’s better..
Mh friend Bart is in town this weekend. Normally he brings his Pinarello with him, but he’s focusing on overall fitness this year. The crazy thing about Bart, the thing I love, is he’s all about accelerating the learning process. Whatever he’s into he finds the best coach and goes all in.
But it’s better than that.
I’m a questioner and he’s a learner.
Bart, why can’t you eat sardines? I don’t know, he says, coach wants me to eat everything on this list. That’s how he progresses so fast. He hires the best… doubt not, just do it!
His body has totally changed. The gut (what gut he had) is gone. He’s 43. He’s much muscle-ier. Todd, I’m stronger than I’ve ever been and I’ve lost 10 pounds. (I’m thinking, dam!… me want.)
What’s awesome for me is, he’s done LoToJa 5 times with great results and this year he’s not doing it – not riding enough. Which means… he’s gonna teach me his secrets AND be my support on race day. Yep!
Hope I can keep my mouth shut.
Just. Average. Joe.
A million years ago, we had these Avocet computers that were ground breaking. There were as small as a Garmin, a wire dangled down to a sensor on your fork, reading a magnet attached to your spokes. Bam! We had speed, distance and average speed. What did you average man?! That was the question, the mark...
A million years ago, we had these Avocet computers that were ground breaking. There were as small as a Garmin, a wire dangled down to a sensor on your fork, reading a magnet attached to your spokes. Bam! We had speed, distance and average speed. What did you average man?!
That was the question, the mark.
We’d go out for a ride and it was all about the average speed.
Easy ride, keep it under 16.
Hard ride, keep it over 23.
And everything in between.
Michael Marckx reminded me of this a few weeks back. I asked him how fast Swami’s Wednesday Worlds is on the way back south. His answer: I try and average 23 miles an hour for my entire ride – warm up, ride, cool down.
That’s fast.
I’d forgotten all about that metric, didn’t even have the data field on my Garmin. It got me thinkin’, so I looked up my average speed last Saturday (19.9) and my race the previous Saturday (20.2)… that includes the warm up and cool down.
Way under 23, but… I’m just an average Joe.
We Just Have A Lot Of Heart
In the middle of a meeting today, my customer received a large sealed envelope. Inside was an award from a powerful government organization. It’s a big deal. It will mean a lot to their future. They’re in the middle of a record year. How do you do it? See that’s one of the things I love..
In the middle of a meeting today, my customer received a large sealed envelope. Inside was an award from a powerful government organization. It’s a big deal. It will mean a lot to their future. They’re in the middle of a record year. How do you do it?
See that’s one of the things I love about what we do. I get out and see all kinds of amazing businesses with incredible stories.
Today, ten days after a dejected Tejay van Garderen expressed major doubt in his ability to deliver an overall win in the Giro De Italia, he dropped all the contenders and scored his first grand tour stage victory.
We have a lot of heart man, that’s how come we are killing our competitors.
There’s A New Shop In Town
Stopped by to see my buddy Dan at Bowl of Heaven. He’s the healthiest nut I know, and I’m his guinea pig. “Vitamin K2, will change your life.” He busts out the research papers, the book on why it’s missing from modern diets, what it does: higher bone density, larger stroke volume in the heart,..
Stopped by to see my buddy Dan at Bowl of Heaven. He’s the healthiest nut I know, and I’m his guinea pig. “Vitamin K2, will change your life.” He busts out the research papers, the book on why it’s missing from modern diets, what it does: higher bone density, larger stroke volume in the heart, etc… then he says, I wanna stay young.
Young means vibrant and healthy to us.
We chat.
He asks, did you see the new bike shop around the corner?
Yep, on the way in.
I popped in to say hi and found a new voice, ready to call out to his people and serve them and keep them loving the sport.
That’s 3 shops within 5 miles.
That’s healthy.
Vibrant.
What A Crappy Way To Lose!
It’s racing right? Your competitor has a mishap and you capitalize… all’s fair in love and war and racing… where is the line that gets crossed when the race is on? The pros do all kinds of respectful waiting and gentlemanly things we’d never, ever see at a local race. Maybe it’s the TV cameras..
It’s racing right? Your competitor has a mishap and you capitalize… all’s fair in love and war and racing… where is the line that gets crossed when the race is on? The pros do all kinds of respectful waiting and gentlemanly things we’d never, ever see at a local race. Maybe it’s the TV cameras that brings out the best in the pros? Whatever… something was definitely coming out of Tom Dumoulin at just the wrong moment during Stage 16 of the Giro D’Italia today.
While he was dumping, the race leaders did some dumping of their own… leaving poor Tom behind to clean up his own mess.
He lost of 2 minutes of his overall lead, and just “clings” to the pink jersey.
Should the top guys have waited?
I dunno.
They certainly didn’t wait for Geraint Thomas when a moto took him and his teammate out during the first week.
I thought it was cool when Tom waited up for Quintana a few race days back. I’ve always thought it was cool that the pros would want to win with honor.
Probably because I’ll take a win any way I can.
Don’t you?
Lunch Ride
Spider-sense told me it’s time to change up the routine. “Get your buns in to the office early, then go for lunch ride”. Typically I ride early Monday… heck, early everyday. A rut is a grave with the ends kicked out, so I took heed to Spidey. Up at 6, did some reading and cranked..
Spider-sense told me it’s time to change up the routine. “Get your buns in to the office early, then go for lunch ride”. Typically I ride early Monday… heck, early everyday. A rut is a grave with the ends kicked out, so I took heed to Spidey.
Up at 6, did some reading and cranked out some push ups and pull ups before eggs, avocado, Cuties and a banana.
The commute sucked more at that hour, but the office was silent.
Got a bunch done.
Spun for an hour at Noon… there’s something to be said for daylight and heat.
Great day.
My Favorite Summer Ride
The sun peaks in around 530AM. No wind. No fog. I’m definitely riding today, no more doubt in the whether. I pull up YouTube and drift off to Spanish Giro dreams for another hour. It had been a busy week, and I didn’t want any pressure of meeting up. I just wanted to roll out..
The sun peaks in around 530AM. No wind. No fog. I’m definitely riding today, no more doubt in the whether. I pull up YouTube and drift off to Spanish Giro dreams for another hour.
It had been a busy week, and I didn’t want any pressure of meeting up. I just wanted to roll out and follow the inspirations of the day.
Now I have 5 minutes to ride 2 miles to catch the Mach 5 group heading up the coast. It feels so balmy and thick and warm. Expansive blue is everywhere. Down Pico, hard right on PCH and they’re they are… I spin up and say howdy boys.
We take turns on the front of a short double echelon and catch up on our lives. Life’s good. Wonderful.
At Main Beach they go up the canyon and I press on northward.
Just past Chrystal Cove a group of riders clogs the bike lane waiting on a red light. Green. My momentum moves me through. It’s the Irvine crew, laying down the miles for LoToJa. “I heard you got in Todd.” I did, and I haven’t paid… too scared to commit to a 204 miles bike race.
They’re committed.
Some started at 5am. Family men. Getting it done before the kids are up. Committed.
They keep rolling north, I turn up Newport Coast.
Riding up Newport Coast on a day like today is heavenly. The electric blue sea grows, it’s 17 minutes to the very top. Not hard. Not easy. Invigorating. The view up top is forever: to the east are the mountains the pros racing Tour of California will play in today, north down town LA, south San Diego. I’m king of my mountain for a few moments.
It’s 822AM.
Can I make it Back Bay and up the bike trail in 20 minutes?
I think so. Down. Fast.
830AM, MacArthur and San Joaquin. No way i’ll make it. Turn right on MacArthur. Ride. Fast.
Up the bike trail. Off the bike trail. Left turn.
848AM Crane my head over the wall peering, hoping the Food Park ride hasn’t left.
They’re gone.
Right on Main. I see a group. It’s small, I haul right past them… too small to be Food Park, I think.
Ride. Faster.
I see riders looking for a group. Slowly it dawns on me, “that was Food Park.” It’s a small group today because many people are spectating at Tour of California and the rest are resting for The Belgian Waffle Ride. So I slow, and wait with a local pro triathlete. He’s young and salivating to slay me and everybody else.
We latch on to Food Park and it’s the usual full-gas parade through Irvine. At the lights I catch up with Bonifast, Rigo, and say hi to the rest of my pals. More gasolina through Leisure World – oxymoron of cycling. And full flame throwers up El Toro. Down the canyon we steamroll until Big Hoops cuts across yet another wheel and almost takes us all out – selfishness at it’s best, but hey he won “the sprint.”
After about an hour of hitting it pretty hard I peal off and head home. South. Beautiful blue to my right and mountains to my left.
Josh and Jeff are riding slow enough for me to catch. Resting up for BWR fellas? Oh yeah! We sneak through the alleys of Laguna Beach. Talk about BWR, and LotoJa. These guys are tough nuts. They stay home, I keep heading home.
Zach catches up to me. Hey man, HUNKR was hard! You did it? Yes, it was harder than I planned on… can’t wait to do another. Awesome. Stay tuned, we’ll be announcing dates soon.
We chat all the way to Kaylani’s.
He rides south.
I stop.
It’s sunny. Warm. Big Blue’s breeze is just right.
Perfect.
(It’s no secret… today was awesome!)
The Whether Report
There’s an 83% chance I’ll ride in the morning… could be a late night, could be some sleeping in, rest would do me some good… …but man the weather looks awesome tomorrow… whether or not we ride.
There’s an 83% chance I’ll ride in the morning… could be a late night, could be some sleeping in, rest would do me some good…
…but man the weather looks awesome tomorrow…
whether or not we ride.
My Spanish Ears
Having “cut the cord”, it’s hard to find the Giro d’Italia Live coverage. The only feed I consistently find each day is in Spanish… the language of favorite Columbian Nairo Quintana. Apparently nobody cares if the dumb Americans pick it up. A million years ago I was bilingual. These days, twooo feeeesh tacos is about..
Having “cut the cord”, it’s hard to find the Giro d’Italia Live coverage. The only feed I consistently find each day is in Spanish… the language of favorite Columbian Nairo Quintana. Apparently nobody cares if the dumb Americans pick it up.
A million years ago I was bilingual.
These days, twooo feeeesh tacos is about it.
However, HOWEVER!, 11 stages into the Giro my Spanish ears are back!
Granted it helps that we are “talking” only about cycling. Most of the language is straight forward, the names of the racers are easy to pick up, and occasionally I learn a new word like “gregarios”… it’s not the gregarious racers, it means followers or chasers.
It’s sad to lose the gift of a 2nd language, but that happens with neglect.
What I Want From My Bike Shop
I want my bike shop to know more than I know about the latest and greatest. I want them to be able to understand my goals and help me achieve them. I want them to suggest the very best product for me. And, I want them to stand behind their product if/when it fails. For..
I want my bike shop to know more than I know about the latest and greatest.
I want them to be able to understand my goals and help me achieve them.
I want them to suggest the very best product for me.
And, I want them to stand behind their product if/when it fails.
For example, last night I went to buy new tires. They suggested I go with a new tire.
“It’s the best. The fastest. Made by the same guys that developed the tire you love, but now they work for a new company. And, it’s cheaper. Plus, I’ve been on it for 1300 miles and loved it.”
How could I resist?
I’m super loyal and it takes a lot to get me to switch brands, but they had me on this one. So, I followed their suggestion even though my spider-sense was screaming “nooooooooo!”.
10 miles into my ride over to The TMWC I sliced the sidewall.
Now, when you prep the night before for 20 minutes making sure everything is ready to roll for your 5AM wake up call… you get up groggy and foggy… hustle to meet the fellas… and slowly amp up the energy for the weekly ride… and your new tire fails miserably…
… dawgawnit!…
It wasn’t the end of the world, it just sorta sucked in a most sucky way.
Fortunately, I roll prepared with a tube, air, AND a $1 bill… there’s nothing better than a $1 bill to boot a tire. I hung my head and did the “walk of shame” ride back home.
The shop guys felt bad. They agreed the sidewall was ridiculously thin and gave me full credit for both new tires towards my old, trusty tires (Continental GP 4000s ll’s).
Did they do me wrong by making the switch? No. I’d much prefer the shop to be on the lookout for newbetterfaster product. And I’d much rather test it on a weekly group ride than on race day.
It’s all good.
Shoulda Listened To Spidey
Why don’t we listen to our Spidey-sense – or whatever you call it at your house – more? Mine was telling me to swap out my rear tire for a week now. Got lucky at last Saturday’s race, and all week. Got a slow leak with 20 miles to go today. Which lead to some..
Why don’t we listen to our Spidey-sense – or whatever you call it at your house – more? Mine was telling me to swap out my rear tire for a week now. Got lucky at last Saturday’s race, and all week. Got a slow leak with 20 miles to go today.
Which lead to some wicked cramps.
There again, I cramped bad 2 years ago – the last time I raced San Luis Rey. I shoulda known I needed to address that. It’s hot, and the attacks are incessant.
Next time.
The New RaceDay Bag Video
We are 100% a referral business. It works really well for us. As we expand our reach, I find myself spread thin sharing our message and what we do. For example, the RaceDay Bag is so rad and everybody that has one loves it. So, we made this video to ‘splain to more peeps so..
We are 100% a referral business. It works really well for us. As we expand our reach, I find myself spread thin sharing our message and what we do. For example, the RaceDay Bag is so rad and everybody that has one loves it. So, we made this video to ‘splain to more peeps so those peeps can show up to their next ride with ALL their gear.
In The Lungs Of The Beholder
One man’s hard ride, is another’s easy spin. One man’s beatdown, is another man’s social hour. One man’s fat, is another man’s skinny. One man’s clunker, is another man’s racer. One man’s big week, is another man’s rest week. One man’s eating good, is another man’s eating crap. It’s all in the lungs of the..
One man’s hard ride, is another’s easy spin.
One man’s beatdown, is another man’s social hour.
One man’s fat, is another man’s skinny.
One man’s clunker, is another man’s racer.
One man’s big week, is another man’s rest week.
One man’s eating good, is another man’s eating crap.
It’s all in the lungs of the beholder.
The Calendar
I haven’t raced road this much since my kids were tiny. Didn’t have the desire. My priorities were all about gettin’ ’em the skills to enjoy a great life. Suddenly no success outside our home compared to giving success inside our home my best efforts. My riding wandered from road to mountain to epic mountain..
I haven’t raced road this much since my kids were tiny. Didn’t have the desire. My priorities were all about gettin’ ’em the skills to enjoy a great life. Suddenly no success outside our home compared to giving success inside our home my best efforts.
My riding wandered from road to mountain to epic mountain to super-d, enough to stay in shape and have some fun. Then overnight my oldest, Trevor, got into road… and here I am…
…on the road again…
Looking to do the few remaining races on the calendar.
(My last road race… Cat 3, my only solo to victory ever.)
Time Can’t Change Me, But I May Change Time
It’s 4:45AM. I’m awake. Restless. 70 miles of tarmac separate me from Antelope Island – it’s bison, bugs and famous road race. No less than 3 National Champs will be lining up in my group. Better early than late. I make a deposit at the porcelain potty. Slip on jeans and a t. Crack open..
It’s 4:45AM. I’m awake. Restless. 70 miles of tarmac separate me from Antelope Island – it’s bison, bugs and famous road race.
No less than 3 National Champs will be lining up in my group. Better early than late.
I make a deposit at the porcelain potty. Slip on jeans and a t. Crack open the King Oscar sardines and add an apple a banana and some dried apricot to my buffet. Chase it all down with 45 ounces of triple strength Chrystal Lite Energy.
Weird, but powerful.
The streets are quite. Waze routes me north. 80mph all the way. Bowie is cranked.
To get to the island, you drive across 7 miles of causeway. A stout wind is blowing from the south. We’ll be racing on this stretch – out and back. I figure this is good for me as the wind will hurt the little guys more than me.
Gazillions of bugs pepper the windshield. Column after column of the bugs line the causeway. When I stop, the living bugs swarm the car. I’m not in a hurry to get out and join them.
The race promoter is prepared and the line is short. Flip flops fly me back to the car. I grab a towel and kit up in the car. Bugs everywhere.
Matt and I spin on the road, twenty minutes till race time. I see Scott – he sprays my number with glue and slaps it on. Danny says hi and asks about the RaceDay Bag for speed skaters. I meet Don Bowen in person as the race officials give us the low down.
Who’s who? Where are the champs? Somebody says Zan. A top tube says Dirk. Mark is on the move. We’ve covered the out portion of the causeway pretty steady. Dirk’s teammate and another guy are off the front about a minute. Nobody seems worried, me either. The players are here.
At the U-turn, things get spicy. Attack. Rest. Attack. Rest. Attack. Rest. A mile from the island it’s all out and 5 of us are away. My legs scream, we have a huge gap, and I’m all in. Mark and Zan are here. Dirk is about a minute back. I like this. But, we’re slow.
Dirk and 4 more join. We are still relatively slow. Later I would learn the other 20 pulled the plug. We ride 5 loops of a circuit at tempo. Not easy, not too hard.
The southern wind blows hard as we exit the circuit and head south about 10 miles. It’s a slight climb and guys are starting to go for it. This could be interesting. The wind is very strong… too strong for my liking. I chase things down, but don’t make any moves.
We reach the turn around together, 11 of us.
With the wind at our back I pull hard and cause a small fissure. Nobody helps. I try again. Nada. Dirk takes off. He gets about 30 seconds on us. A few miles later he’s back. Zan goes for a big dig. I cover. I’m most worried about him because he smoked all my buddies at MTB Nationals last year. I don’t know anything about the other two champs. Attacks are going and coming, we lose one or two guys.
Nothing sticks.
I can see the long hill, the finish line is around the bend on top.
1k to go.
What am I doing leading?
500 to go, I get swarmed. Not good. A gap opens and I’m leading again, but I don’t care.
Adrenalin is pumping hard. I hear my breath, but feel nothing.
At 200 Mark takes off.
I launch.
He’s gone.
I’m clear.
1-2.
Too Often And Not Enough
Too often we – ME – get all wrapped around the racing and ripping and not enough immersion in jus’ ridin’ and havin’ fun. VeloLove is all about the fun. Chatting today with Katie I got a glimpse of what makes their club so outstanding: catered rides of their own making, parties just to get..
Too often we – ME – get all wrapped around the racing and ripping and not enough immersion in jus’ ridin’ and havin’ fun.
VeloLove is all about the fun.
Chatting today with Katie I got a glimpse of what makes their club so outstanding: catered rides of their own making, parties just to get together, fun stuff and hard stuff… like the “murder ride” (I probably have that wrong but that was my takeaway) that goes up and down every major canyon in Utah Valley, that they ride together.
She never mentioned this race or that race. They are about friendship and couples and families and good healthy fun.
Priorities.
Grease Your Bolts
On the surface, it makes no sense. Grease makes thinks slippery, slidey. Why would you want to grease your bolts? Because, when you do they will screw in smoothly and you can adjust them to the proper tension. Too loose, things slip. Too tight, things strip. A spoon full of sugar… 100 years ago… was..
On the surface, it makes no sense. Grease makes thinks slippery, slidey. Why would you want to grease your bolts?
Because, when you do they will screw in smoothly and you can adjust them to the proper tension. Too loose, things slip. Too tight, things strip.
A spoon full of sugar… 100 years ago… was considered medicine because the medicine was so nasty.
What do grease and sugar have in common?
I don’t know, but I do know you’ll get a lot further down the road by using them.
The Air Up There
One thing you notice right away when you jump on your road bike at altitude… well if you come from sea level… is that your bike feels much faster. You coast at least 10% faster, and it’s all good until you try something like taking a huge gulp on a slight incline. Suddenly, you’re gasping..
One thing you notice right away when you jump on your road bike at altitude… well if you come from sea level… is that your bike feels much faster. You coast at least 10% faster, and it’s all good until you try something like taking a huge gulp on a slight incline.
Suddenly, you’re gasping for air.
It wasn’t an all out sprint, just a big pull on the water bottle. Or, snacking on a few dried apricots. Anything that clogs your airway is multiplied by a million.
It’s weird.
What’s not weird is the emphysema-like breathing that occurs with a decent effort or the near blacking out after an all out sprint. We expect that.
Where’s the air up here?
Rocky Mountain Raceway
“Have some of the Rocky Mountain Oysters, they’re great.” Gordon said. 40 year old Gordon Johncock had already won the Indianapolis 500 in ’73 (again in ’82) and I was in awe of this old man. He was a master story teller, and I believed every single word. Down went the first crunchy bite of..
“Have some of the Rocky Mountain Oysters, they’re great.” Gordon said. 40 year old Gordon Johncock had already won the Indianapolis 500 in ’73 (again in ’82) and I was in awe of this old man. He was a master story teller, and I believed every single word. Down went the first crunchy bite of “oyster“.
It tasted a little weird.
But, everybody was eating them and laughing.
Gordon drove for my step-dad, John Eisenhour. John had owned Indy cars over the years. John was younger than Gordon, in the concrete business… always laughing and having a good time. The whole crew was just a bunch of grown up kids.
Racing cars.
I just listened and pretended to understand what they were talking about. I was 14, impressionable and naive. This was a whole new world I’d “married” into. As Todd Schooler memorably said after a breakaway, “it was fun while it lasted”.
That one year we traveled to most of the races. At Indy, I got down into the pits. Not “the pits”, the general area… down into the shop where they worked on the cars during testing and prepping for the races. I wasn’t allowed to touch anything… when I asked to sit in the car I thought the chief mechanic would kill me.
One year was all it took to hook me on racing for good. I followed the Indy series for years. Then Supercross. There’s something about motorsports: the sound, the smells, the speed, the crowd.
The only real raceway I got to race on is the Rocky Mountain Raceway. It’s just outside of Salt Lake City. Tuesday nights, there’s a crit there.
Both times I’ve done it have been on the “long course”. You start on the drag strip, a real one. It’s super shiny black, and very sticky. You can hear your tires’ extra grip. After racing up the drag strip, you go around the outside of the banked oval track – which they also race on sometimes – and through some S turns and back onto the drag strip.
It’s really more of a circuit race. The laps take about 3 minutes. It’s wide, flat, fast and very safe. Everybody should be lucky enough to race it at least once in their life.
And when you’re up here, see if you treat yourself to some oysters… their seasonal, spring time.
Have Lap Top Will Travel
It’s a brave new world, and I’ve been hacking away on it for at least 20 years. No longer are we tethered to a desk, we are mobile and it’s awesome. Back then, we’d spend a few summer weeks with the in-laws and I’d have the local Telco re-activate the phone line I’d installed by..
It’s a brave new world, and I’ve been hacking away on it for at least 20 years. No longer are we tethered to a desk, we are mobile and it’s awesome.
Back then, we’d spend a few summer weeks with the in-laws and I’d have the local Telco re-activate the phone line I’d installed by myself. The phone was cheap, and long distance almost free… a lot better than wireless at the time. I could communicate with the team back home, and they could forward my calls.
I was working, and the family was chilling.
Eventually we killed the landlines all together, and lived on our mobile phones.
The internet poked along, getting faster and cheaper. But the old house, wasn’t wired with Cat 5 cables, so working was a little tougher and less private.
Wireless routers changed the game a lot. Now I could be in a quite room in the house, while everyone was out playing.
Our work team is spread throughout Southern California, with outposts in Europe and Asia. All of it mobile, all of it fast, all of it freeing We’ve never been all together at once.
It’s the end of the day, I’ve ridden my favorite Utah Monday ride, worked a full day and hung out with my family… 800 miles from “home”.
A Girl In Every Port
If I were a pirate, and I’m not, and if I were single, and I’m not, I’d have a girl in every port. Instead, I bring my bike with me as often as I can when I travel. And I’m never let down with finding a new awesome ride, like today. My buddies joined me,..
If I were a pirate, and I’m not, and if I were single, and I’m not, I’d have a girl in every port. Instead, I bring my bike with me as often as I can when I travel. And I’m never let down with finding a new awesome ride, like today.
My buddies joined me, Matt and Jeff. (They live nearby to where I’m staying, they are not the girls in the port!)
I said lets head south, to Hobble Creek Canyon. Matt had never ridden there, and Jeff couldn’t remember the last time he’d been up there. It used to be one of my go to rides back when I first started riding and they had to have paved more of the road since then.
Indeed.
Even the road from Provo to Springville is much better than 32 years ago. Wider. Smoother. It took real faith back then to believe you could get there and back safely. Back then the road was 2 lanes each way, and that was it. No median, no bike lane.
There’s a nice bike trail that takes you out of Springville up to the Hobble Creek Golf Course.
We did Left Fork first. It was about 12 miles of 1-3% climbing on an empty country road, accompanied by a full, flowing stream. So pretty, so green.
Towards the end of the road, I saw a monument and read in bold print Edwin Whiting – Pioneer. Edwin Whiting is my great-great-great grandfather. I knew he had been an early pioneer of Springville but I had no idea the monument was there. These early pioneers were so tough and smart and resilient.
He was a lumber man, and I can see, feel, hear and smell why he loved this beautiful valley.
We hung out at the top a bit, then bombed back down to go up Right Fork. This road is even quieter…
… until we saw people on the side of the road shooting rifles and pistols. Kind of unsettling, for this city slicker.
We rode up high. The road ended after 8 miles, so we went around the gate and climbed higher. The pines’ scent, rich. The stream’s power, potent. We were higher, but there seamed to be more oxygen.
On the way back we hit 7-11 for water, Lay’s, Coke and Dr. Pepper. Sugar, fat and more sugar… mmmmm.
In Provo, we rolled through campus. It was empty. Saturday + School’s Out.
A stop at the Maesur Building for a quick photo. As Goldbrickers, we took a picture there each Fall – Jeff and I, not Matt.
It’s Spring and love is in the air high above Hobble Creek.
A Sunday In Hell
So there’s no money in pro cycling? Look back 40 years and re-think that. Rider X is so stylish? Look back 40 years and re-think that. Todays racers are so much stronger? Look back… …this movie is awesome. It’s art. It’s history. And it makes me want to ride like a Belgian.
So there’s no money in pro cycling? Look back 40 years and re-think that. Rider X is so stylish? Look back 40 years and re-think that. Todays racers are so much stronger? Look back…
…this movie is awesome. It’s art. It’s history. And it makes me want to ride like a Belgian.
When Every Trail Reminds You
Big, long road trip today. Utah bound. Kids are graduating from “the BYU”… 31 years after The Old Diesel – now that’s wild to me. It seems like yesterday, but… …I’ve packed a lifetime in my lifetime by taking lots of detours. Some detours are good enough to repeat, like today’s hike in Kolob Canyon...
Big, long road trip today. Utah bound. Kids are graduating from “the BYU”… 31 years after The Old Diesel – now that’s wild to me. It seems like yesterday, but…
…I’ve packed a lifetime in my lifetime by taking lots of detours.
Some detours are good enough to repeat, like today’s hike in Kolob Canyon.
Other detours become journeys.
And some are duds.
Keep barreling down the highway in a hurry, trying to be somewhere, and you’ll get there.
It’s never boring.
14 years later and The TMWC is as fresh as ever. Today “Young Kevin” knifed his way to his first V, by perfectly executing his simple plan. While I whipped up the pace on Antonio, he sat in. While Peter blasted up the A climb, he conserved. While Sean got us moving up the bike..
14 years later and The TMWC is as fresh as ever. Today “Young Kevin” knifed his way to his first V, by perfectly executing his simple plan.
While I whipped up the pace on Antonio, he sat in.
While Peter blasted up the A climb, he conserved.
While Sean got us moving up the bike path, he surfed up through the shelled riders.
While Mike shot us to the wall, he slipped by me like a silent assassin.
While Chris launched vicious attacks along the valley bottom, he watched.
While it blew to pieces up the corkscrew, he left the best behind.
Nice job kid.
It’s anybody’s guess who will be the unOFFICIAL Tuesday Morning World Champ on 7/11/17… but I’m putting my money on one of the regulars this year… so much talent is showing up these days.
Check out Pete’s most excellent video
Sea Otter Takeaways
Generalities: Sea Otter is an awesome event. There’s every kind of racing and riding imaginable from Gran Fondos to Downhill MTB. All kinds of new products from vendors you know and never heard of. Camping at the venue is the way to go. Whether you’re in a tent, a van, or a motorhome it’s much..
Generalities:
- Sea Otter is an awesome event. There’s every kind of racing and riding imaginable from Gran Fondos to Downhill MTB. All kinds of new products from vendors you know and never heard of.
- Camping at the venue is the way to go. Whether you’re in a tent, a van, or a motorhome it’s much nicer to stay at the venue vs packing up every day and making the long journey from Monterrey to the Laguna Seca Racecourse.
- The public showers are perfectly hot. Use ’em.
- Sometimes the portable toilets are out of t.p. Be prepared.
Race Specific:
- You won’t be racing with the usual suspects so try and get to know the players. I should have/could have predicted the players better with a little research on RaceResults. It was great to podium at the circuit race, but a little more research would have told me who’s wheel to be on. Could have I have won?… doesn’t matter – couldawouldashoulda. Same thing on the road race. The results might have been the same, but we shouldn’t have let the winner get away with 15 miles to go.
- If you’re lucky enough to podium, the medals are super rad… and you get to kiss a girl – almost never a bad thing if you earned it.
- Camping at the venue made for a much more relaxing race day.
- The circuit race is PERFECT pavement, you will nevereverever find a better surface to race on. Plus, it’s superduper wide. Do it!
- The road race was nice pavement on a rolly and twisty road. If someone/you get a minute up the road the pack can’t see you anymore. Also, the entire road is closed to traffic. It’s the most pro experience I’ve ever had. The finish is a 2.5 mile climb that is a lot like the last 2.5 miles over The Wall on the TMWC.
- My friends that did the MTB XC gave it raving reviews.
Next Time:
- I’d like to arrive a day earlier to have time to walk the entire vendor village.
- I’d like to stay a couple of days longer and ride up there more.
- I’d like to get 3 spots and bring in more motorhomes and get the whole gang up there.
Exhausted and Thrilled after the road race… pretty much sums up the weekend.
The best time to train…
… is before the race.
… is before the race.
Mancation Time
We’re off to Sea Otter. Three dudes. Rolling in style in Matt’s gigantic motorhome – diesel pusher. Nothin’ bettah.
We’re off to Sea Otter. Three dudes. Rolling in style in Matt’s gigantic motorhome – diesel pusher. Nothin’ bettah.
If You’re Shiny And You Know It
Warning: the following information is not for bikes with matte finish. If you’re bike is shiny then read on because I’m gonna share my little secret for keeping the shine shiny. Go to your mom’s cleaning supplies and grab the Lemon Pledge. Now, I know it’s a stretch but in case you’ve never heard of..
Warning: the following information is not for bikes with matte finish. If you’re bike is shiny then read on because I’m gonna share my little secret for keeping the shine shiny.
Go to your mom’s cleaning supplies and grab the Lemon Pledge. Now, I know it’s a stretch but in case you’ve never heard of this amazing product, it’s furniture polish that probably has a lemon citrus base. If you don’t live with your mom (congratulations on that) you can pick this up at any grocery store.
Spray it liberally on an old t-shirt and wipe down your bike – don’t get it on your brake pads or rims.
It’s fast and easy.
It will tear through that unsightly grease and grime and leave behind a beautiful shine. Plus, if you live near the beach it will also protect your parts from rust.
Spray it liberally on an old t-shirt and wipe down your bike – do not get it on your brake pads or rims.
It’s fast and easy.
You’ll probably forget you did this until the next time you grab your bike and it feels so “oulala!”
Better Than Most, Not As Good As Some
There used to be this guy on the air during my evening commute who I loved to listen to, he was really smart, really interesting and really polite to his callers. We never learned his name because rumor had it that he’d “served time”. HIs name was Mr. KFI, and his signature saying when asked..
There used to be this guy on the air during my evening commute who I loved to listen to, he was really smart, really interesting and really polite to his callers. We never learned his name because rumor had it that he’d “served time”. HIs name was Mr. KFI, and his signature saying when asked how he was doing was “Better than most, not as good as some”.
If you take the time to get good at something, like bike riding, you’ll get results. You’ll improve. You’ll be better than you were last month, last year, last…
Not only that, you’ll be a lot better than almost every single person you know and every single person in your city, state, country and planet.
The bigger the pool the better you will be compared to most people.
The reverse is also true, and I’m going to see that first hand this weekend at Sea Otter.
One of the races I’m planning on is the road race, where the best climbers in my age group will show up. It has a 2 mile uphill finish. I’m not a great climber compared to these cats. Bitching an moaning about that won’t make me any faster…
… but it might ruin my weekend, unless I remember …
I’m better than most, not as good as some.
Got To Get You Into My Life
I was alone, I took a ride I didn’t know what I would find there Another road where maybe I Could see another kind of mind there Then I suddenly see you Did I tell you I need you Every single day of my life You didn’t ride, you didn’t hide And had you gone,..
I didn’t know what I would find there
Another road where maybe I
Could see another kind of mind there
Then I suddenly see you
Did I tell you I need you
Every single day of my life
And had you gone, you knew in time
We’d meet again for I had told you
You were meant to be near me
And I want you to hear me
Say we’ll be together every day
Got to get you into my life
When I’m with you I want to stay there
If I’m true I’ll never leave
And if I do I know the way there
Then I suddenly see you
We Gave Up A Long Time Ago
We gave up a long time ago and things got a lot better. It didn’t happen over night, it takes discipline to realize where you can win and stay focused there. Racing is always fun, racing events that suit our talents are more fun. We perform better. We connect better to the other competitors. We enjoy..
We gave up a long time ago and things got a lot better. It didn’t happen over night, it takes discipline to realize where you can win and stay focused there.
Racing is always fun, racing events that suit our talents are more fun. We perform better. We connect better to the other competitors. We enjoy the process a lot more. Whether or not we actually beat everybody is not as important because we perform to our best level and that’s what it’s really all about.
The same thing has happens in business. The more we focus on cycling specific products, the more we develop our own products, the more fun we have, the better we connect to our customers, the better we get with our processes, and whether or not we win all the business we try and get we are getting better every day.
It’s much better to focus on delighting ourselves racing and delighting our customers with incredible products.
(Some people take their customers golfing, we go riding.)
How To Get Even
It’s so easy to get mad. The more you do it, the easier it is. More things that tick you off flow your way. Getting even takes much more effort, but it stops there. Squirrely rider up ahead? Get even. Pull up along side and lovingly share some pointers. Getting beat in the sprint by..
It’s so easy to get mad. The more you do it, the easier it is. More things that tick you off flow your way. Getting even takes much more effort, but it stops there.
Squirrely rider up ahead? Get even. Pull up along side and lovingly share some pointers.
Getting beat in the sprint by a wheelsucker? Get even. Next ride just suck wheel too… there’s no need to waste any energy getting mad, plus it’s a valuable skill.
Tired of getting dropped? Get even. Ask the faster riders what their doing? If you can add or delete something do it, if you can’t accept your fate.
Feeling proud of annihilating everybody else? Get even. Throw thirty pounds in a back pack next ride.
