/obscure?
This weather has caused havoc on my training plans for the week and looks to disrupt the racing weekend. You see, I don't look forward to driving over an hour one way for a 45 minute race where there is a high probability of storm and the possibility of hail. It just doesn't do it for me.
Monday's ride was sort of a bust where my body just crapped out about 30 miles in. Left the group ride and staggered home. The time trial took more out of me than I thought.
On Tuesday I cleaned my NOISY bike and opted for a short easy ride to prepare for Wednesday's hard ride. Rode about an hour and a half, nice and easy.
WEATHER WEDNESDAY. Storm then beautiful sunshine, storm then beautiful sunshine. Dig a hole, fill it up. Put on shoes, take off shoes. I have to leave the house at 5:30 to make the 6pm group ride, well it was storming at 5:30 and of course it was beautiful just after 6. I gave up and worked late.
Thursday I was able to sneak out for about 2.5 hours in the late afternoon between emails and phone calls and ceiling contractors. Decent ride, but my mind wasn't there so I just tooled around my Vandalia, West Milton, Tipp City and Troy loop discussing politics in my head. Yuck
Won't make the group ride tonight, and that sucks because I like the Friday route. Instead, I'm going to try to get out for an early afternoon ride for a couple of hours before getting rained on (probably) at the Air Force Base tonight.
I actually did pick a race for this weekend, the Saturday Grandview course, 35+ field. At least the start time is after noon so I can watch the weather in the morning to decide if it's worth the trip. If it's looking grim, I'll just ride my usual quad-city loop. I don't care much about riding in the rain, but racing in the rain just sucks. You end up not needing a water bottle as you catch so much spray in your mouth from the racer in front of you. Double yuck.
Ok time to get back to work
Friday, June 27, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
#14 Ohio State TT Groveport
Well, this was the one I waited all year for. Love/hate the course and it's a great challenge. The question early on was should I register age group or category. Last year I did age group so I opted for category this time (raced category in 2006).
In 2006, the year I was doing my best time trials, I had a 23.9 average.
In 2007, I was up to 24.0
This time around I averaged 24.5, shaving around 40 seconds off last year's time.
Official time was 57:57, power tap reading 57:52. That didn't matter as the place ahead of me beat me by almost two minutes. I ended up 4th in my category out of 11. Had I raced age group, I would have finished in second and would have earned a shiny silver medal to go with the collection. Out of the near 100 racers, I was about 40th. Some really good riders out today with Paul Martin in the 49 minute range setting a new course record. Quite a few people were in the 52-53 minute range.
Although disappointed with my choosing of category, I was quite happy with my time and power output. I am worried about the power loss over the second half of the course. We had a tail wind, so my return trip was faster by 2mph but my power average was 25 less.
Now it's a shift of gears with my choice of 3 criteriums this weekend. I'm leaning toward Hyde Park Saturday. STUPIDLY, it's already an expensive race for the time - 30 minutes for $25. What yanks my chain is a $10 day of race fee tacked on. I hate preregistration due to the weather and my lifestyle. I don't know what the heck is going to happen to me by Saturday. For all I know I may end up in Brazil or something.
In 2006, the year I was doing my best time trials, I had a 23.9 average.
In 2007, I was up to 24.0
This time around I averaged 24.5, shaving around 40 seconds off last year's time.
Official time was 57:57, power tap reading 57:52. That didn't matter as the place ahead of me beat me by almost two minutes. I ended up 4th in my category out of 11. Had I raced age group, I would have finished in second and would have earned a shiny silver medal to go with the collection. Out of the near 100 racers, I was about 40th. Some really good riders out today with Paul Martin in the 49 minute range setting a new course record. Quite a few people were in the 52-53 minute range.
Although disappointed with my choosing of category, I was quite happy with my time and power output. I am worried about the power loss over the second half of the course. We had a tail wind, so my return trip was faster by 2mph but my power average was 25 less.
Now it's a shift of gears with my choice of 3 criteriums this weekend. I'm leaning toward Hyde Park Saturday. STUPIDLY, it's already an expensive race for the time - 30 minutes for $25. What yanks my chain is a $10 day of race fee tacked on. I hate preregistration due to the weather and my lifestyle. I don't know what the heck is going to happen to me by Saturday. For all I know I may end up in Brazil or something.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Speaking of the Colavita tt...#13
I did good though the results don't reflect it. I ended up with my best time ever on a perfect conditioned day. Didn't break 30 minutes, but I was close (I had 30:03, "official" time was 30:05) which knocked 20 seconds off my previous best from last May. 24.0 average.
I'll take it.
I'll take it.
Nutz
10 pounds of crap in a 5 pound sack. State Championship is this Sunday and I'm not prepared.
Since race #13, the Colavita time trial last Saturday, I've ridden only twice. Saturday night was camping and didn't get home until very late Sunday night. Monday (my birthday) I was able to sneak in 38 miles (I turned 38) and had to immediately leave for a memorial service for a friend of mine. Tuesday I got out for an hour on the tt bike and that's been it. Yesterday was the ceremonial groundbreaking of my wife's clinic so no riding once again as I wasn't home all day. Today, it was up and out early to a client's office and now I'm home watching a contractor fix my ceiling. Good lord willing, they'll be out of here in enough time to hit the road. Friday looks to be a long day work wise, but I hope to try to get a couple hours in late. Ride to the ride, ride the ride, ride home type of thing.
Calgon take me away.......
Since race #13, the Colavita time trial last Saturday, I've ridden only twice. Saturday night was camping and didn't get home until very late Sunday night. Monday (my birthday) I was able to sneak in 38 miles (I turned 38) and had to immediately leave for a memorial service for a friend of mine. Tuesday I got out for an hour on the tt bike and that's been it. Yesterday was the ceremonial groundbreaking of my wife's clinic so no riding once again as I wasn't home all day. Today, it was up and out early to a client's office and now I'm home watching a contractor fix my ceiling. Good lord willing, they'll be out of here in enough time to hit the road. Friday looks to be a long day work wise, but I hope to try to get a couple hours in late. Ride to the ride, ride the ride, ride home type of thing.
Calgon take me away.......
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
#12 - Speedy Feet time trial
2nd win of the year in the 12th race. 24.8 mph average.
Ok, so I was the only person with a combination of a skinsuit, aero helmet, shoe covers and a time trial bike, but oh well.
The course was a little longer than last month as it was increased to a full 10k. 14 riders of varying ability showed up. I wasn't really concerned about the competition or their lack of aero gear, as I'm trying to get ready for the state TT next weekend. I'm only concerned about how I could do. Luckily, there were no issues with my ride through the bike path, though other riders did have some issues. It's a scary ride with a course that isn't closed. The turn around did suck as it was on probably the narrowest part of the path. I had to come to a complete stop to turn my bike around on the 5' wide piece of pavement. Gravel on both sides prevented a smooth turn around and I had to unclip as well.
The cool thing is that my cycling peaks software keeps track of 15 minute intervals as a standard. Last night's race was 15 minutes and one second. In that time I had an all time high 15 minute power average (in the 14 months of having a power meter). It was one watt higher than my previous best! HA
Ok, so I was the only person with a combination of a skinsuit, aero helmet, shoe covers and a time trial bike, but oh well.
The course was a little longer than last month as it was increased to a full 10k. 14 riders of varying ability showed up. I wasn't really concerned about the competition or their lack of aero gear, as I'm trying to get ready for the state TT next weekend. I'm only concerned about how I could do. Luckily, there were no issues with my ride through the bike path, though other riders did have some issues. It's a scary ride with a course that isn't closed. The turn around did suck as it was on probably the narrowest part of the path. I had to come to a complete stop to turn my bike around on the 5' wide piece of pavement. Gravel on both sides prevented a smooth turn around and I had to unclip as well.
The cool thing is that my cycling peaks software keeps track of 15 minute intervals as a standard. Last night's race was 15 minutes and one second. In that time I had an all time high 15 minute power average (in the 14 months of having a power meter). It was one watt higher than my previous best! HA
Monday, June 9, 2008
Strawberry festival bike tour
I've not done this tour since I was about 14, but I ride parts of the route quite a bit as I can hop on it within 10 miles of home. Well, the route was changed. Five of my teammates and me took to the roads and quickly found some oddities...
Problem #1 - If you change the route, take black paint and paint over the old road markers!
Half of the team goes one way, half the other at one point. Yeah, I know we didn't preview the map. Never done that, never been an issue. Like I'm going to remember some obscure right turn 15 miles in?
Problem #2 - Don't put the turn markers that close to the intersection!
I understand the importance of placing markers close to the intersections if is dangerous, but it makes no sense to have them close when you're just making a right turn in the middle of nowhere.
Problem #3 - Rest stop
The first rest stop was great. The second rest stop (just over Horse shoe bend road) for the 62 milers was the first rest stop (I assume) for the 39 milers. Most of the food was gone save for some PB&J fixin's. I paid $17 so I can eat my weight in cookies, dammit. So I ate my own Hammer Gel. Completely disappointing when you want a cookie or four. Bike tours are really the only time I inhale cookies. COOKIES
Problem #4 - Route back
Holy Crap, the busiest day of the year in the town of Troy and cyclists of all abilities are forced onto the main road to the festival. Bumper to bumper traffic for the last mile. We had to ride single file between the cars and the curb at 5mph or less to get back to the school. The woman in front of me apologized to me for being a "wimp" where it came to riding in this situation. I told her not to worry about it and she was doing great. If you're not used to riding in traffic, I could see how it would be scary. From the looks of some of the riders, I don't think they spend much time on their bikes, let alone riding them on the street. BAD ROUTE ENDING
Ride irk #1 - A couple of yahoos thought it would be fun to draft us for the final 15 miles. Normally, I would be a complete pecker head in this situation, go into time trial mode and ride away. Well, wearing my team kit, with our main sponsor and team management riding with me, I kept my mouth and legs to myself. Then one pecker gave us the "thanks for the draft" comment. Fuck you.
Start to first rest stop (with about 5 miles of easy riding to get around the 'traffic')
Time 1:26
Miles 25.44
Watts 188
Norm 218
MPH 17.8
HR AVE 147
First to Second rest stop
Time 53:28
Miles 18.87
Watts 177
Norm 208
MPH 20.0
HR AVE 157
Second rest stop to end
Time 59:21
Miles 19.28
Watts 172
Norm 195
MPH 19.6
HR AVE 160
Problem #1 - If you change the route, take black paint and paint over the old road markers!
Half of the team goes one way, half the other at one point. Yeah, I know we didn't preview the map. Never done that, never been an issue. Like I'm going to remember some obscure right turn 15 miles in?
Problem #2 - Don't put the turn markers that close to the intersection!
I understand the importance of placing markers close to the intersections if is dangerous, but it makes no sense to have them close when you're just making a right turn in the middle of nowhere.
Problem #3 - Rest stop
The first rest stop was great. The second rest stop (just over Horse shoe bend road) for the 62 milers was the first rest stop (I assume) for the 39 milers. Most of the food was gone save for some PB&J fixin's. I paid $17 so I can eat my weight in cookies, dammit. So I ate my own Hammer Gel. Completely disappointing when you want a cookie or four. Bike tours are really the only time I inhale cookies. COOKIES
Problem #4 - Route back
Holy Crap, the busiest day of the year in the town of Troy and cyclists of all abilities are forced onto the main road to the festival. Bumper to bumper traffic for the last mile. We had to ride single file between the cars and the curb at 5mph or less to get back to the school. The woman in front of me apologized to me for being a "wimp" where it came to riding in this situation. I told her not to worry about it and she was doing great. If you're not used to riding in traffic, I could see how it would be scary. From the looks of some of the riders, I don't think they spend much time on their bikes, let alone riding them on the street. BAD ROUTE ENDING
Ride irk #1 - A couple of yahoos thought it would be fun to draft us for the final 15 miles. Normally, I would be a complete pecker head in this situation, go into time trial mode and ride away. Well, wearing my team kit, with our main sponsor and team management riding with me, I kept my mouth and legs to myself. Then one pecker gave us the "thanks for the draft" comment. Fuck you.
Start to first rest stop (with about 5 miles of easy riding to get around the 'traffic')
Time 1:26
Miles 25.44
Watts 188
Norm 218
MPH 17.8
HR AVE 147
First to Second rest stop
Time 53:28
Miles 18.87
Watts 177
Norm 208
MPH 20.0
HR AVE 157
Second rest stop to end
Time 59:21
Miles 19.28
Watts 172
Norm 195
MPH 19.6
HR AVE 160
Saturday, June 7, 2008
harumph
A no group group ride last night into the wind. No one showed up so I left at 5:55 for a battle royale with the wind.
A rain soaked parade ride today. Rode to the parade, in the parade and back home in the rain. My shoes will not be dry by tomorrow.
Tomorrow better make up for this. Supposed to be sunny and 91 for the bike tour. Better be!
A rain soaked parade ride today. Rode to the parade, in the parade and back home in the rain. My shoes will not be dry by tomorrow.
Tomorrow better make up for this. Supposed to be sunny and 91 for the bike tour. Better be!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
I need to post more pictures to pretty this thing up
Here is my old Fuji that I no longer have. Never wrecked. I wonder who on Team Dayton owns it now? The only things I still own off this bike are the pedals (now on the Transition) and the SLR saddle (which is gathering dust)
Above is the other Fuji had
Giant TCR - destroyed those wheels in two wrecks. So much for "bombproof".
Boredom leads to math
Being 9pm and tired of working for the day, I thought it would be fun (!?) to figure out how many miles my Orca has. The first ride was on August 20th, 2004 and in that time I've put 13,799 miles on it. That may not seem like that much, but in that time frame I have also had:
2 Fuji's that I was obligated to race in 2005 and 2006 (no longer have either)
1 Giant TCR (no longer own)
1 Trek 5200
1 Orbea TT bike (in pieces waiting to sell it off)
1 Specialized TT bike
The Orca has undergone several changes over the years:
1. New dérailleur hanger. Bent in training ride wreck
2. Replaced FSA K-wing (expensive) bars with aluminum (cheap) ones. Broke the K-wings in a race crash in 2007 when I endo'd over Todd Frye who wrecked in front of me.
3. Replaced stock carbon seat post with Thomson Elite post. Stock post was frozen and had to be professionally removed.
4. Many saddle changes
5. Rear Kysrium Elite replaced with American Classic Sprint 350 w/Power tap sl
6. replaced computer with Power Tap
7. New cabling, bottom bracket, bar tape, brake pads, tires, tubes and chains
8. New cassette to go with the new wheel
I think that's it. I've calculated a bunch of times to the best of my ability how much money I have wrapped up in this bike. It's not pretty. I still love riding it and I intend to ride it until it dies on me.
In 103 "career" races over the past 3.5 years, I have won $77.50. Not bad considering I spent about $25,000 in bikes, mileage, fees, hotels and food to make that happen. Sheesh.
2 Fuji's that I was obligated to race in 2005 and 2006 (no longer have either)
1 Giant TCR (no longer own)
1 Trek 5200
1 Orbea TT bike (in pieces waiting to sell it off)
1 Specialized TT bike
The Orca has undergone several changes over the years:
1. New dérailleur hanger. Bent in training ride wreck
2. Replaced FSA K-wing (expensive) bars with aluminum (cheap) ones. Broke the K-wings in a race crash in 2007 when I endo'd over Todd Frye who wrecked in front of me.
3. Replaced stock carbon seat post with Thomson Elite post. Stock post was frozen and had to be professionally removed.
4. Many saddle changes
5. Rear Kysrium Elite replaced with American Classic Sprint 350 w/Power tap sl
6. replaced computer with Power Tap
7. New cabling, bottom bracket, bar tape, brake pads, tires, tubes and chains
8. New cassette to go with the new wheel
I think that's it. I've calculated a bunch of times to the best of my ability how much money I have wrapped up in this bike. It's not pretty. I still love riding it and I intend to ride it until it dies on me.
In 103 "career" races over the past 3.5 years, I have won $77.50. Not bad considering I spent about $25,000 in bikes, mileage, fees, hotels and food to make that happen. Sheesh.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Random coffee shop thoughts
With Americano in hand, err well, sitting on the table, I have nothing better to do than type random bullcrap at Boston Stoker for the next 45 minutes while I wait for a client to get in his office.
1. I really want an 808 front wheel. Clincher please. Not that it will make me any faster or better, but it will make my bike look cooler.
2. Weight loss. I would like to make my ass, my tt bike and my Orca lighter. I'm trying to dip back into the "high 150's" for the first time in 4 years. Currently, I'm doing nothing to make my bikes lighter. An 808 front will make the tt bike heavier, but moving the Alps front to the Orca will make it a couple of insignificant grams lighter.
3. Today looks to be a sweet day. Too bad I'm working for the bulk of it. The plan is to definitely ride tonight. If I can't get out earlier for some tt work, I'll just "ride to the ride", ride the ride and ride home.
4. Yesterday's 60 minute power was my best since I bought the powertap (April 2007) by 10 watts. FTP is almost at a respectable level. I wish I would have a power meter in 2006 when I was time trialling much faster than I am now. Soon, I need to get a couple of friends to drive behind me and video a 15 minute interval. Videoing form on the trainer is one thing, but it's more accurate representation when you're on the road.
5. I am not doing Master's Nationals. My bike is highly illegal and I don't have the desire to make it legal or throw clip ons on the Orca for one race. Instead, I'm putting my eggs in the State TT basket as well as the Independent Nationals, both of which my bike is completely legal for.
6. A bike race just wrapped up in Italy and I understand it was a good one. Good thing Americans don't care. We like our sports boring as hell. That being said, the Wings can wrap it up tonight! As I typed that, a guy next to me started talking about the Cincinnati Reds. GROAN
7. I do not like American football, baseball or basketball. Too much stoppage of play.
8. I need more coffee.
9. Our team was invited back to the Strawberry Festival parade, so I will miss the time trial. I haven't been on that course for almost two years now. We should be on television again. Good show for our sponsors. Maybe they will mention Hellard Design? Maybe not.
10. I will do the Strawberry Festival tour on Sunday. 62 miles of roads I typically ride on, but this time there will be snacks, as opposed to the usual crap I carry in my back pocket.
11. I now have more coffee.
12(!). Client called to reschedule for tomorrow. I get to work for another client out of my house today. That means I get to ride twice today!
1. I really want an 808 front wheel. Clincher please. Not that it will make me any faster or better, but it will make my bike look cooler.
2. Weight loss. I would like to make my ass, my tt bike and my Orca lighter. I'm trying to dip back into the "high 150's" for the first time in 4 years. Currently, I'm doing nothing to make my bikes lighter. An 808 front will make the tt bike heavier, but moving the Alps front to the Orca will make it a couple of insignificant grams lighter.
3. Today looks to be a sweet day. Too bad I'm working for the bulk of it. The plan is to definitely ride tonight. If I can't get out earlier for some tt work, I'll just "ride to the ride", ride the ride and ride home.
4. Yesterday's 60 minute power was my best since I bought the powertap (April 2007) by 10 watts. FTP is almost at a respectable level. I wish I would have a power meter in 2006 when I was time trialling much faster than I am now. Soon, I need to get a couple of friends to drive behind me and video a 15 minute interval. Videoing form on the trainer is one thing, but it's more accurate representation when you're on the road.
5. I am not doing Master's Nationals. My bike is highly illegal and I don't have the desire to make it legal or throw clip ons on the Orca for one race. Instead, I'm putting my eggs in the State TT basket as well as the Independent Nationals, both of which my bike is completely legal for.
6. A bike race just wrapped up in Italy and I understand it was a good one. Good thing Americans don't care. We like our sports boring as hell. That being said, the Wings can wrap it up tonight! As I typed that, a guy next to me started talking about the Cincinnati Reds. GROAN
7. I do not like American football, baseball or basketball. Too much stoppage of play.
8. I need more coffee.
9. Our team was invited back to the Strawberry Festival parade, so I will miss the time trial. I haven't been on that course for almost two years now. We should be on television again. Good show for our sponsors. Maybe they will mention Hellard Design? Maybe not.
10. I will do the Strawberry Festival tour on Sunday. 62 miles of roads I typically ride on, but this time there will be snacks, as opposed to the usual crap I carry in my back pocket.
11. I now have more coffee.
12(!). Client called to reschedule for tomorrow. I get to work for another client out of my house today. That means I get to ride twice today!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
when 24 mph for a 40k
is just good enough for 12th place, you rode against some hard men. The winner beat me by 11 minutes. I can't do math, but I think that's pretty damn fast.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)