171.5 Sunday morning weight in pounds
12 Crackers for "lunch"
40.05 Miles ridden
2:10 Time on bike
1181 kj burned
40 ounces fluid intake during ride
169.0 Post ride weight in pounds
(unknown QTY) Pieces of pizza
2 Belhaven St Andrews Ale
176.55 Miles last week (176.75 the week before!?)
169.0 Monday morning weight in pounds
3,000 Cost in USD of the new bike I want
Monday, February 25, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Base, how low can you go?
I know what that means.
Anyway, base miles suck when you're confined to riding indoors due to being a pussy about riding in single digit temperatures. My Orca hasn't left the trainer since I unhooked it only to hook it up for an indoor time trial last week. My rear tire is now a slick.
The past two weeks I've been re-watching LOST episodes while sitting on the trainer, but today I watched some coverage of the tour of California. If the technology worked like it should in the rain, it would be pretty cool. I kept thinking the break just stopped pedaling, or they all en mass threw their GPS transponders away.
Anyway, anyway, after only a couple of weeks of base, I'm tired of it. I much prefer an hour ride with the bulk of it being intervals, but it needs done. I'm so glad I didn't take last year's approach to winter trainering.
Anyway, base miles suck when you're confined to riding indoors due to being a pussy about riding in single digit temperatures. My Orca hasn't left the trainer since I unhooked it only to hook it up for an indoor time trial last week. My rear tire is now a slick.
The past two weeks I've been re-watching LOST episodes while sitting on the trainer, but today I watched some coverage of the tour of California. If the technology worked like it should in the rain, it would be pretty cool. I kept thinking the break just stopped pedaling, or they all en mass threw their GPS transponders away.
Anyway, anyway, after only a couple of weeks of base, I'm tired of it. I much prefer an hour ride with the bulk of it being intervals, but it needs done. I'm so glad I didn't take last year's approach to winter trainering.
Monday, February 18, 2008
2008 races #2 and #3
#2 was another indoor 10k time trial at Neo Limits
The good: I beat last month's time by 25 seconds
The better: 12 watts higher
The bad: Got beat by Slone in our heat by a wide margin
My time still wasn't where I wanted it to be, but at least I was satisfied with the increase in average watts. Ended up in 3rd place for the 30-39 age group.
#3 was the first Colavita 12 mile time trial in Greenville
The good: Passed 3 people (I started 7th)
The better: 2nd place in the 30-39 age group
The bad: Passed by Roger who started a minute behind me
The worst: Roger is in my age group and therefore beat me handily.
The worst part 2: My wattage and overall speed were BAD
The worst part 3: My average on the return half was LESS than 20mph. That's NEVER happened on my time trial bike, not even days where I go out and have massive long rests during interval training. Nutz.
The wind and cold beat us all up Saturday, and no one broke the 30 minute mark. There was a strong cross wind that blew us around quite a bit too.
I really like this time trial, save for the chip seal roads that beat the living crap out of me. Roger gives out free Colavita pasta at registration and we also got a free Clif bar. For my second place effort, I received a medal and a jar of Colavita Marinara sauce.
Next up barring weather problems is Mid Ohio. Going to race the "B" race, which is considered an approximation of category 3/4.
I missed riding yesterday due to lethargy/housework/paperwork so today is make up day with two hours planned. This is scheduled to be my longest training week, with 13 hours of riding within the parameters of Endurance through Tempo zones.
The good: I beat last month's time by 25 seconds
The better: 12 watts higher
The bad: Got beat by Slone in our heat by a wide margin
My time still wasn't where I wanted it to be, but at least I was satisfied with the increase in average watts. Ended up in 3rd place for the 30-39 age group.
#3 was the first Colavita 12 mile time trial in Greenville
The good: Passed 3 people (I started 7th)
The better: 2nd place in the 30-39 age group
The bad: Passed by Roger who started a minute behind me
The worst: Roger is in my age group and therefore beat me handily.
The worst part 2: My wattage and overall speed were BAD
The worst part 3: My average on the return half was LESS than 20mph. That's NEVER happened on my time trial bike, not even days where I go out and have massive long rests during interval training. Nutz.
The wind and cold beat us all up Saturday, and no one broke the 30 minute mark. There was a strong cross wind that blew us around quite a bit too.
I really like this time trial, save for the chip seal roads that beat the living crap out of me. Roger gives out free Colavita pasta at registration and we also got a free Clif bar. For my second place effort, I received a medal and a jar of Colavita Marinara sauce.
Next up barring weather problems is Mid Ohio. Going to race the "B" race, which is considered an approximation of category 3/4.
I missed riding yesterday due to lethargy/housework/paperwork so today is make up day with two hours planned. This is scheduled to be my longest training week, with 13 hours of riding within the parameters of Endurance through Tempo zones.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
National Championship in my back yard?
Yep, you heard that right. Check THIS LINK on our team's message board for more information. Also go to Colavita Ohio's website for more info.
This is pretty cool. Originally, I hadn't planned to do very many of the Colavita time trials since we're planning to move to Cincinnati as soon as we get our butts in gear. Now that I found out about this, it changes my plan. The Queen City Wheels weekly time trials will have to wait until later.
First, the official word about Masters Nationals being in Louisville was announced last week, and now this. Now there's no excuses about my motivation to be a time trialist.
Well, Greenville isn't EXACTLY my back yard, but whatever.
This is pretty cool. Originally, I hadn't planned to do very many of the Colavita time trials since we're planning to move to Cincinnati as soon as we get our butts in gear. Now that I found out about this, it changes my plan. The Queen City Wheels weekly time trials will have to wait until later.
First, the official word about Masters Nationals being in Louisville was announced last week, and now this. Now there's no excuses about my motivation to be a time trialist.
Well, Greenville isn't EXACTLY my back yard, but whatever.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Apparently...
Bronchitis is better than Pneumonia. I have the former and my wife has the latter. She seems far worse off. Luckily (??) my sickness hit during a rest week so it didn't tank my training much. I did miss riding yesterday, as the plan was to ride the trainer while watching the super bowl. Instead, I watched it from the comfort of my couch.
I feel pretty good right now, and after a few more cups of coffee I should be ready to ride for a while to make up for yesterday. I was able to sleep from 4 until 7 this morning without interruption. That was nice. I need to get healthy as the next indoor TT is this Sunday.
I feel pretty good right now, and after a few more cups of coffee I should be ready to ride for a while to make up for yesterday. I was able to sleep from 4 until 7 this morning without interruption. That was nice. I need to get healthy as the next indoor TT is this Sunday.
Friday, January 25, 2008
And base begins
With the beginning of February (soon) starts my one and only, one month long Base period. Back in October when I was laying out my plan I didn't want to pedal endlessly on the trainer for hours at a time. I opted for different approach of tempo and intervals over rides of less than an hour and a half. It's working as today's ride was a test of my 5 minute power and it ended up the highest (by 14 watts) that I've put out since starting my build up in mid-November. My 15 minute power is only now 10 watts off of my best during the last summer, 1 minute power is 20 watts off and 5 minute is now 22 off. 20 second power is where it gets weird, as I pulled off some stupid wattage during a single crit last year and can't get to within 200 (not a typo) watts of that!
Anyway in February is my time to ramp up the hours and build the endurance. These long rides will NOT be like the long rides of last year, as I plan to put plenty of tempo time in as well as short burst intervals.
Below is my schedule, subject to massive revision based on sickness, lifestyle or workload. I worked my butt off through the holidays and up until this week to try and bank enough money to slack a bit during February and catch up on sleep. But with my job the way it is, I could think it's going to be an easy day and by 9am people are calling to get emergencies out the door. Such is life, but I'm not about to change it.
Note that there are only 2 races on the schedule for February, one outdoor and one indoor time trial. The outdoor TT is going to be cold. Suck it up. My first "road race" of the year will be Mid-Ohio on March 1, held on a car/motorcycle race track near Mansfield. More of a circuit race, with each lap being 2.5 miles or so, but you get the jist.
March schedule in it's entirety looks like this:
1 Mid Ohio
2 neo Limits indoor tt
8 Colavita time trial
15 Hueston Woods (Team Columbus)
30 Hueston Woods again (OVR)
I'm ready for winter to be OVER.
Anyway in February is my time to ramp up the hours and build the endurance. These long rides will NOT be like the long rides of last year, as I plan to put plenty of tempo time in as well as short burst intervals.
Below is my schedule, subject to massive revision based on sickness, lifestyle or workload. I worked my butt off through the holidays and up until this week to try and bank enough money to slack a bit during February and catch up on sleep. But with my job the way it is, I could think it's going to be an easy day and by 9am people are calling to get emergencies out the door. Such is life, but I'm not about to change it.
Note that there are only 2 races on the schedule for February, one outdoor and one indoor time trial. The outdoor TT is going to be cold. Suck it up. My first "road race" of the year will be Mid-Ohio on March 1, held on a car/motorcycle race track near Mansfield. More of a circuit race, with each lap being 2.5 miles or so, but you get the jist.
March schedule in it's entirety looks like this:
1 Mid Ohio
2 neo Limits indoor tt
8 Colavita time trial
15 Hueston Woods (Team Columbus)
30 Hueston Woods again (OVR)
I'm ready for winter to be OVER.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Days off
Don't like 'em, but got to take 'em.
Last week was a "not so restful" rest week. I called it a rest week because I did nothing structured, just a ride how I want type of thing. Of course I ended up doing intervals of varying length, but nothing was really ball buster. Should have taken a couple of days off, but I didn't and I think I'm paying for it today. Sore throat, lethargy, grumpy (more than normal!). So today is totally off the bike, first day this year. Tomorrow is back to time trial practice (AKA 16 minute interval) so I need the rest.
On a good note, net weight loss last week was 3.5 pounds. That proverbial "10 more pounds to go" is all that's left. Well, and 1.5 on top of that to get to where I need to be by March.
Friday update - whatever was bothering me Monday turned into a full blown sickness that I've not yet licked. I was able to get in a 45 minute ride (with intervals) Thursday. Power was there, but it pretty sapped me out for the rest of the day. We'll see what today brings, ride-wise, but it will probably mimic yesterday's effort. On another note, I've lost 5.5 pounds in the last 12 days. More to go.
Last week was a "not so restful" rest week. I called it a rest week because I did nothing structured, just a ride how I want type of thing. Of course I ended up doing intervals of varying length, but nothing was really ball buster. Should have taken a couple of days off, but I didn't and I think I'm paying for it today. Sore throat, lethargy, grumpy (more than normal!). So today is totally off the bike, first day this year. Tomorrow is back to time trial practice (AKA 16 minute interval) so I need the rest.
On a good note, net weight loss last week was 3.5 pounds. That proverbial "10 more pounds to go" is all that's left. Well, and 1.5 on top of that to get to where I need to be by March.
Friday update - whatever was bothering me Monday turned into a full blown sickness that I've not yet licked. I was able to get in a 45 minute ride (with intervals) Thursday. Power was there, but it pretty sapped me out for the rest of the day. We'll see what today brings, ride-wise, but it will probably mimic yesterday's effort. On another note, I've lost 5.5 pounds in the last 12 days. More to go.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Well hot dog
Finally got the chance to ride a bike outside. It was December 22nd the last time I was on the road. Perfectly timed, I rolled back in my driveway after 2 hours (and 30 seconds) of riding.
Although not cold (low-mid 40's), it was pretty windy. Made for long hauls on the farm roads around here when going right into it. I felt all perched up on the Orca until I remembered that I had a new seatpost and set my seat a bit higher. Can't really tell on the trainer, but made a world of difference on the road.
Tomorrow will probably be back on the trainer due to schedule. Why do people schedule conference calls at freaking 2pm? Blows the whole afternoon. Then it's off to a 5:30 meeting and dinner after. My whole Thursday is shot and it's only Wednesday!
For your viewing pleasure, a list of upcoming time trials for 2008. Join me, will ya?
Although not cold (low-mid 40's), it was pretty windy. Made for long hauls on the farm roads around here when going right into it. I felt all perched up on the Orca until I remembered that I had a new seatpost and set my seat a bit higher. Can't really tell on the trainer, but made a world of difference on the road.
Tomorrow will probably be back on the trainer due to schedule. Why do people schedule conference calls at freaking 2pm? Blows the whole afternoon. Then it's off to a 5:30 meeting and dinner after. My whole Thursday is shot and it's only Wednesday!
For your viewing pleasure, a list of upcoming time trials for 2008. Join me, will ya?
2-16 Colavita 20k
3-8 Colavita 20k
4-6 Monrovia 40k
4-12 Colavita 20k
5-3 Calvin's 114mi
5-10 Colavita 20k
5-11 Monrovia 40k
5-24 Monrovia 40k
6-8 Monrovia 40k
6-14 Colavita 20k
6-22 State championship 23mi
6-29 Monrovia 40k
7-12 Colavita 20k
7-20 Monrovia 40k
8-3 Monrovia 40k
8-9 Colavita 20k
8-31 Monrovia 40k
9-13 Colavita 20k
9-14 Monrovia 40k
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Time Trialling
Sunday's effort was not my best. 281 watts for 16:50 was good for 3rd in my division and 10th overall (out of 43). It got me thinking about time trialling. People either love them or HATE THEM WITH A PASSION! I actually like them. I guess it came from when I started riding in 2002 (yeah, I only started riding when I was 32 years old, shut up) where all I did was ride by myself as hard as I could. Back then was when I was in my "weight loss" mode. I ran quite a bit and fancied myself as a duathlete until I realized that 21 minute 5k's would get me nowhere even if I could ride a bike fast. I bought a time trial bike (the one I have now) before I ever even thought about bike racing and just rode it for fun as fast as I could.
Forward to 2005, my first season as a fresh cat 5. I was having a pretty good season going into the Tree City Stage Race, which consisted of a road race, time trial and criterium, all time based in a combined cat 4/5. I finished at the back of the pack around 25th or so in the road race, but was "same time" as everyone but the stage winner (time bonus). The time trial was early on Sunday morning where I pulled out 2nd place in my field. My time would have been top 5 for cat 3's and top 10 in the 1/2 field. A time trialler was born that day. So I crashed in the crit and lost my spot in the GC that afternoon, but so what? :)
I only did one other TT that season, again as part of a stage race. It was the Midwest Championship Stage race in Bloomington, Indiana. I got 3rd place in the ABR cat 4 division.
In 2006 I competed in 11 time trials, including two sub-1 hour efforts at the Monrovia 40k race, and a bronze medal in the state championships. In 2007, I did 9 TT's along the way to winning the Colavita series. Overall, 11 podiums out of 23 entered races.
What does all this mean? Those who love time trials, time trial. Those who don't only do it if it's required for a stage race. That doesn't diminish the success I've had, though, at least to me since it's only people who love time trials that TIME TRIAL.
I'm not sure what the future will hold for this time trialler, but it's getting clearer a little more as time passes. My racing age is 38 this season, so in two years (duh) I'll be 40. At 40, I'll be at the young end of my age bracket and will probably switch the bulk of my races to the master's group. Over the next two years, I hope to build myself up to being somewhat competitive on a national level in time trials. There, I put it in writing so if it doesn't happen, I'll look like quite the chump.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Oops
Apparently I've been training on the wrong computrainer course. The profile for Sunday's race was emailed to me it's different than what I found on the web. The old one looks harder (more climbs). Oh well.
Well here is a sad sight. My Orca, in a near permanent locked-in state on the trainer. Notice new Thomson Elite seatpost. From what I heard, my old carbon post was sawed and chiseled out.
At least the Orca will be taken off the trainer Sunday! To be put on ANOTHER trainer at the indoor TT.
Oops again.
Well here is a sad sight. My Orca, in a near permanent locked-in state on the trainer. Notice new Thomson Elite seatpost. From what I heard, my old carbon post was sawed and chiseled out.
At least the Orca will be taken off the trainer Sunday! To be put on ANOTHER trainer at the indoor TT.
Oops again.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
2008 team kit
January 2nd and team kits are already here - sweet!
This year's gear list is as follows:
2 short sleeve jerseys
1 sleeveless jersey
2 pair of bib shorts
1 winter jacket (sweet!)
1 long sleeve skin suit
6 pair of socks
Hat
Baselayer
This year's gear list is as follows:
2 short sleeve jerseys
1 sleeveless jersey
2 pair of bib shorts
1 winter jacket (sweet!)
1 long sleeve skin suit
6 pair of socks
Hat
Baselayer
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Quality time on the time trial bike
Well, the Orca has been in the shop over the holiday due to a frozen carbon seatpost stuck in the frame. My seat kept sliding back on me so I decided to swap out the post for the one on my 5200. HEY! I can't get the dang thing out. As opposed to me potentially doing something hazardous to my bike, I took it to where I bought it (Ipro) to have Roger give it a try. Hopefully, I'll get it back today but in the meantime I've been riding my time trial bike as that's the only other bike I currently have ready to ride. I did my weekly time trial on it this past Wednesday and bombed out as that TT course doesn't suit the TT bike (how's that for stupid?). Anyway today was no different as I locked the bike on the trainer for an hour of tempo. Tempo wattage is much easier on the time trial bike than the Orca. The more forward I sit, the more wattage I can push, but the more tired I get. I threw in a bunch of 20-60 second intervals as well.
T-minus one week and one day until the first race of the season. Crap, that's quick!
T-minus one week and one day until the first race of the season. Crap, that's quick!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Did I say 282?
I meant 267. Oops. my time this week was 16:06, not my worst or my best. I chose to eat a bagel with salmon on it two hours before the ride. That shall be my excuse for the sad effort.
Anyway, I hit the trainer for 24.82 miles today, most of it (including the time trial!!) at a high intensity. Hopefully, schedule will allow for a longer ride tomorrow. It's supposed to be dry and mid 30's. If it's dry, I'm heading out during the day as I'm quite sick of the trainer even though I'm doing low volume. It's hard for me to fathom that at this time last year I was riding 3 hours on that damn thing at a clip. No thanky.
I hate the long range forecast as it says it will be nearly 50 and dry on Saturday. I doubt that will happen for some stupid reason. BUT if it does, the Orca will once again be yanked off the trainer to meet some pavement.
Anyway, I hit the trainer for 24.82 miles today, most of it (including the time trial!!) at a high intensity. Hopefully, schedule will allow for a longer ride tomorrow. It's supposed to be dry and mid 30's. If it's dry, I'm heading out during the day as I'm quite sick of the trainer even though I'm doing low volume. It's hard for me to fathom that at this time last year I was riding 3 hours on that damn thing at a clip. No thanky.
I hate the long range forecast as it says it will be nearly 50 and dry on Saturday. I doubt that will happen for some stupid reason. BUT if it does, the Orca will once again be yanked off the trainer to meet some pavement.
Monday, December 17, 2007
First race of 2008 coming sooner than I thought
Neo Limits is hosting a computrainer time trial series with the first race being January 6th. Good thing I've been doing simulations every freaking Tuesday for the last month of the course! It will be interesting to see how my simulation goes tomorrow as I rode today since I missed Sunday due to working all day. The last week and a half have been full of short (1 hour) rides, but hard. Been a combination of short length intervals and "micro intervals" mostly. Anywhere from 10 seconds to 5 minutes. What has been great is how easy 300-350 watt intervals are when you just wrapped up a few at 500. If I only weighed a buck forty!
Of course tomorrow will be a 15-16 minute "interval" shooting for 282 or higher average.
I really really really want this for Christmas:
It would make my TT bike a full pound lighter than it is with the current VisionTech base bar/Profile Design T2 combo. And an 808 front wheel to go with my Powertapped 808 rear.........dreamy
Of course tomorrow will be a 15-16 minute "interval" shooting for 282 or higher average.
I really really really want this for Christmas:
It would make my TT bike a full pound lighter than it is with the current VisionTech base bar/Profile Design T2 combo. And an 808 front wheel to go with my Powertapped 808 rear.........dreamy
Friday, December 7, 2007
Rest week - sort of
Yesterday's ride (on the trainer) sucked. Lack of motivation, general grumpiness and a restless night of sleep last night earns a day off and an easy ride for Saturday.
Tuesday I did my 6.4 time trial simulation in exactly the same time as last week BUT with 14 more watts. Huh.
Wednesday was more SST/Hard-Tempo/zone 3/3.5/4/whatever-you-want-to-call-it and some micro intervals. I love all these sweet new words now that I have a power meter. It makes me an automatic superstar. Now I can impress my wife with acronyms like FTP, CP, W/Kg, SST. I think I just heard her yawn. "Guess what honey, I rode SST intervals at 85% of FTP for a heart rate of only 80% LT!" I feel like an idiot sometimes. She sees me on the trainer and says "You're not riding hard enough" and I am forced to retort that "I am on a rest interval"...nah nah nah.
There are a lot of debates (arguments really) currently going on about the use of power meters for non professional riders. Some find it a total waste of money, and others justify it through all the bells and whistles and feedback it gives you. I simply enjoy riding more with one. I am a techno geek and love gadgets. Will a PowerTap make me a better rider over the winter than I would be without it? Who knows? It's not up to someone else whether or not I'm a poseur for riding an expensive bike with a power meter during a training crit along side some crash happy monkeys. My justification is not up for debate. It's like a debate of expensive bikes vs inexpensive bikes (or really more like overpriced vs REALLY overpriced bikes). I don't care what bike this or that guy has. If you show up and ride the shit out what you brought, no matter what you brought, I love you for it.
That being said, I do cringe every time I see a guy in a cat 5 crit wearing a full US Postal kit, with matching Giro helmet riding a Trek, but I'm an ass like that. Hey, I have a Trek too, but I was more fond of the ONCE team kit. While I was riding my Giant TCR. With my ONCE labeled Giro Pnuemo helmet. Shut up.
Tuesday I did my 6.4 time trial simulation in exactly the same time as last week BUT with 14 more watts. Huh.
Wednesday was more SST/Hard-Tempo/zone 3/3.5/4/whatever-you-want-to-call-it and some micro intervals. I love all these sweet new words now that I have a power meter. It makes me an automatic superstar. Now I can impress my wife with acronyms like FTP, CP, W/Kg, SST. I think I just heard her yawn. "Guess what honey, I rode SST intervals at 85% of FTP for a heart rate of only 80% LT!" I feel like an idiot sometimes. She sees me on the trainer and says "You're not riding hard enough" and I am forced to retort that "I am on a rest interval"...nah nah nah.
There are a lot of debates (arguments really) currently going on about the use of power meters for non professional riders. Some find it a total waste of money, and others justify it through all the bells and whistles and feedback it gives you. I simply enjoy riding more with one. I am a techno geek and love gadgets. Will a PowerTap make me a better rider over the winter than I would be without it? Who knows? It's not up to someone else whether or not I'm a poseur for riding an expensive bike with a power meter during a training crit along side some crash happy monkeys. My justification is not up for debate. It's like a debate of expensive bikes vs inexpensive bikes (or really more like overpriced vs REALLY overpriced bikes). I don't care what bike this or that guy has. If you show up and ride the shit out what you brought, no matter what you brought, I love you for it.
That being said, I do cringe every time I see a guy in a cat 5 crit wearing a full US Postal kit, with matching Giro helmet riding a Trek, but I'm an ass like that. Hey, I have a Trek too, but I was more fond of the ONCE team kit. While I was riding my Giant TCR. With my ONCE labeled Giro Pnuemo helmet. Shut up.
Monday, December 3, 2007
2.5 weeks in...
That ended my 2nd full week back. Low in volume, but stupid in intensity.
Tuesday I took 30-some seconds off my 6.4 mile time trial. It's 6.4 miles and change as measured by the powertap vs 6.2 on the RealAxiom....? I know the PT to be accurate, so ok. Anyway, the weekly time trial was 15:47, 24.4mph, 268 watt average, 170 heart rate average (low). I get to do this every week on Tuesday.
Not much else to talk about since 5 of my 6 rides last week were on the trainer. Due to the lack of a whole lot of riding time, I'm at least trying to make up for it in intensity. It seems like I'm on conference calls for hours every day. Sucks the wind right out of you.
Tuesday I took 30-some seconds off my 6.4 mile time trial. It's 6.4 miles and change as measured by the powertap vs 6.2 on the RealAxiom....? I know the PT to be accurate, so ok. Anyway, the weekly time trial was 15:47, 24.4mph, 268 watt average, 170 heart rate average (low). I get to do this every week on Tuesday.
Not much else to talk about since 5 of my 6 rides last week were on the trainer. Due to the lack of a whole lot of riding time, I'm at least trying to make up for it in intensity. It seems like I'm on conference calls for hours every day. Sucks the wind right out of you.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
ok.....
It's high 30's and raining and I see more people (5 not including myself) out riding today than on a typical warm summer day?
Had a guy on Swailes road ride up next to me in his SUV and yelled "Nice bike", then at the intersection of Swailes and Peters yelled "CLEAR". Days like these make me happy.
This brings to a close the first full training week. Tuesday was time trial day as I simulated the 6.2 mile computrainer TT course. Wednesday was an hour of full tempo on the trainer. Thursday was an hour on the trainer with some intervals - Friday was more of the same but less and shorter intervals. Saturday I simulated the 45 mile St Leon race course on the RealAxiom and today I made it outside for a little over two hours.
Had a guy on Swailes road ride up next to me in his SUV and yelled "Nice bike", then at the intersection of Swailes and Peters yelled "CLEAR". Days like these make me happy.
This brings to a close the first full training week. Tuesday was time trial day as I simulated the 6.2 mile computrainer TT course. Wednesday was an hour of full tempo on the trainer. Thursday was an hour on the trainer with some intervals - Friday was more of the same but less and shorter intervals. Saturday I simulated the 45 mile St Leon race course on the RealAxiom and today I made it outside for a little over two hours.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Great day for a ride
Even though I overdressed, it was a great day out yesterday. For the first hour it was my intention to do as much continuous tempo as I could stand and then just ride around. I headed off to the Fred's Ride routes because the terrain is great for tempo and the traffic is nice and light (especially on a Saturday morning). As I finished up I saw Craig and Brian out for a ride- it's always nice to see other riders out as it makes me feel like less of a weenie on a chilly day. Maybe I'll see more riders today (another 40 degree day).
Ended up with a little over 45 miles in 2:30 as after the tempo ride I just cruised around for a while on the roads near my house. Overall I averaged 175 watts for the ride, but the tempo section was where it needed to be hovering between 210 and 270.
The first "week" of training for 2008 is nearly complete. I only started this past Wednesday though, but that day's ride and Thursday's rides were pretty tough. Short rides, but very hard. Saturday's ride was hard for that first hour as every time I saw my power was low I forced myself to ramp it up. Today's ride is a free ride, meaning just ride how I feel. Right now I feel great, but the first turn of the pedal can prove otherwise. We'll see.
Today was nice too. A little chilly, but I got 2 hours of easy riding in.
Ended up with a little over 45 miles in 2:30 as after the tempo ride I just cruised around for a while on the roads near my house. Overall I averaged 175 watts for the ride, but the tempo section was where it needed to be hovering between 210 and 270.
The first "week" of training for 2008 is nearly complete. I only started this past Wednesday though, but that day's ride and Thursday's rides were pretty tough. Short rides, but very hard. Saturday's ride was hard for that first hour as every time I saw my power was low I forced myself to ramp it up. Today's ride is a free ride, meaning just ride how I feel. Right now I feel great, but the first turn of the pedal can prove otherwise. We'll see.
Today was nice too. A little chilly, but I got 2 hours of easy riding in.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
2007 season in review
2007 was a season full of ups and downs. My race results were absolutely pathetic, save for a couple of time trials. It was nice though, watching my new team mates have great success over the year.
Toward the end of 2006, I transferred from Team Dayton to Project Velo, following 5 other team mates. Most of the people on Team Dayton were great guys, but it seemed like there was a complete lack of any team unity. I guess that goes hand in hand on a team with open eligibility. For reasons I won't go into, I was prepared back in July to leave Team Dayton and ride for myself in 2007. I was offered the last spot on Project Velo late in the year and decided to take it. Closed eligibility of hand picked riders is a nice change! It allows team management to keep the egos, the jerks and the people that think they are owed something that are all to prevalent out.
2007 started with a couple of indoor time trials in Centerville, then it was straight off to Mentor for the first race of the year. 20 degrees was not an ideal racing temperature. The OVR spring series brought quite a bit of success to the team and made our guys (and gals) watched riders.
By the time summer rolled around most of the development riders had their own agendas and goals so a lot of times I was racing by myself. I did most of the Ohio Cup races as a Master 3/4/5, and I'm the only rider on the team who qualified for that field.
This year, there was no time trial series in Casstown, but Colavita's local chapter picked up the slack with a 20k TT that was held once a month in Greenville. Although I did not have great results (speed wise), I was able to win the season series in my age group by being pretty consistent over the entire series. That was the highlight of my season.
Toward the fall, the races tapered down with a two week vacation to Scotland and the planned surgery. I ended up doing 36 races this year in the time available.
Hopefully with a new game plan, I won't have a repeat of 2007's struggles. My aim is to be 20 pounds lighter at the first race of 2008 than I was at the first race of 2007.
Time and hard work will tell.
Toward the end of 2006, I transferred from Team Dayton to Project Velo, following 5 other team mates. Most of the people on Team Dayton were great guys, but it seemed like there was a complete lack of any team unity. I guess that goes hand in hand on a team with open eligibility. For reasons I won't go into, I was prepared back in July to leave Team Dayton and ride for myself in 2007. I was offered the last spot on Project Velo late in the year and decided to take it. Closed eligibility of hand picked riders is a nice change! It allows team management to keep the egos, the jerks and the people that think they are owed something that are all to prevalent out.
2007 started with a couple of indoor time trials in Centerville, then it was straight off to Mentor for the first race of the year. 20 degrees was not an ideal racing temperature. The OVR spring series brought quite a bit of success to the team and made our guys (and gals) watched riders.
By the time summer rolled around most of the development riders had their own agendas and goals so a lot of times I was racing by myself. I did most of the Ohio Cup races as a Master 3/4/5, and I'm the only rider on the team who qualified for that field.
This year, there was no time trial series in Casstown, but Colavita's local chapter picked up the slack with a 20k TT that was held once a month in Greenville. Although I did not have great results (speed wise), I was able to win the season series in my age group by being pretty consistent over the entire series. That was the highlight of my season.
Toward the fall, the races tapered down with a two week vacation to Scotland and the planned surgery. I ended up doing 36 races this year in the time available.
Hopefully with a new game plan, I won't have a repeat of 2007's struggles. My aim is to be 20 pounds lighter at the first race of 2008 than I was at the first race of 2007.
Time and hard work will tell.
Here we go!
Just a photo I found...I miss that helmet (cracked it)
Today starts "training". I've decided to simplify my training down to two things; raising FTP and race surges. Race surges have been a weak spot for as long as I've been racing and I lose too much energy every time I burn a match to connect back to the wheel in front of me. Raising FTP will help specifically in time trials and generally will help my overall cycling fitness.
Then there is the weight loss goal - I'm trying to get back to my cat5 weight of 165 by mid January. That's only 10 pounds away, but I want to make it a slow weight loss so I don't crash and burn from not enough calories in my body (been there, it's ugly).
If (if) I can raise FTP and lose weight at the same time, that will make me way better off when the time trials start in the spring.
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