Today’s pic

Since I know you all need a visual……

Indy Fab 953 Stainless Steel, Would I love to race that!

2/19/08

Greetings Readers,

Today I’m back on the bike after a recovery day and commuting back and forth to work. It’s about a 20 mile round trip. The pros and cons for us cyclists whom have a real job and work 45 to 50 hours a week have to be weighed carefully.

Obviously, I need to ride more than on the weekends if I’m going to have a decent shot at my goals this season and at putting in a good showing in cyclocross. I really need to place in the top 20% of my field for me to enjoy racing. I’m competitive that way; it’s just no fun to suck.

The problem for me is the time I get home at night from work, a little before 6pm. If I was to drive to work, by the time I got home, got dressed, and hit the road for 20 miles, I’d be finishing up my exercise at 8pm. That’s just too late people; it takes me hours to wind down from the endorphins that your body releases during exercise. Hours I tell ya.  

So having said that, and knowing from yesterday’s post that I take my recovery seriously and I value the ZZZ’s. Our bodies release growth hormone when we sleep and I need plenty of growth hormone. J I need my sleep.

If I commute to work, I can get a jump start on my training miles earlier in the evening, and by the time I ride into my driveway my exercise is behind me, and I’ve got plenty of time to wind down before I hit the sack.  

So lets talk about commuting, I am the lone cyclist in a company of 120 employees, (sheltered they are) the one thing I have learned is to travel light. Like backpacking, carry only what you need, the rest is dead weight and I hate having a pack on my back. However, for me panniers are worse, so a pack it is. People ask me: “how do you carry all that stuff?” Huh? What stuff? I’m riding to work, not going camping.

Typically in my pack:

• My work clothes, what I’m wearing for the day.
• I pack a lunch. Although there are several lunch stops within riding distance.
• A rain coat, arm warmers.
• A few tubes, CO2, and a hand pump.
• Wallet, cell phone, keys,

The rest I’m wearing, I usually dress for the weather and can shed layers if need be on the way home.

What I keep at work:

• Baby wipes, and deodorant (we have no showers)
• Work shoes, and a Jacket.

That’s pretty much it, I travel light, what I need and nothing I don’t. Makes commuting easier if you’re not bogged down with a heavy list of accoutrements that you have to keep track of, pack around, and be responsible for. Keep your clothes and valueables in big plastic bags to keep them dry.

For me commuting comes easy, and I like the money I save in gasoline, the health benefits, and of course my contribution to the planet.  

I mix up routes throughout the year, hitting climbs on the way home and doing intervals, or hitting the flats and adding a few miles. It all works, it the best way I have found to get your fix during the middle of the work week.

Cheers.