Speedy….
There’s this guy on my commute, I call him “Speedy”. Speedy is Da Man. Like me, Speedy commutes. Only Speedy is tough, unlike myself who wimps out during the months of December and January, Speedy commutes ALL year long, in the most nasty winter weather Portland can dish out. Speedy is my hero. I have been in my car, watching him ride home, in downright nasty weather.
We usually hook up at the same stop light, at least 3 times out of 5. Speedy looks at me and says “hey, how’s it going?” I usually answer with “Hey Speedy” I don’t know his name, but we’ve met up at that stoplight many times. “I haven’t see you in a long time” Speedy makes me feel small, yes Speedy, I wimp out. “I started in February” As I make an attempt to redeem myself. “Good to see you” Say’s Speedy.
Speedy needs me to toy with, He knows, I can’t hang with him. Speedy is 6’4”, tall and skinny, typical lean and mean cyclist. Speedy can get with the program. I’ve never seen him at the cross races, too bad, cuz Speedy could do some damage.
The light changes and were off, Speedy is already in the drops, cruising. I’m pushing hard to stay with him. C’mon Speedy, let’s see what you got. I’m right on his wheel, for about a mile and a half. He’s really moving, he’s getting a gap, 1st 15 seconds, then 30, then a minute. I can’t hang. Nope, No I say! Not today Speedy! My mind goes back to a cross race, stay with the leaders Jim! Hammer!
My pack is doing the Macarena on my back, dancing from side to side as I’m rocking the pedals. I’m focused on Speedy, as if he had a number on his back. I’m closing the gap, the chase is on! I’m working to bridge that gap, working hard. Damn! Speedy made the light, I’m stuck. It’s as if I got caught up behind someone who crashed into the barriers. I watched Speedy ride away.
Defeated, I waited for the light to change, what would I do in a cross race? Would I give up? Or, would I give’r to get back to the leaders? Hammertime! I’m off! I’m in a full on sprint, people driving by must think I’m Psycho! I’m outta the saddle hammering like a crazy man. I’m gonna real you in Speedy! I can see him! He’s got a good gap, I can just make him out, I’m in the red Zone, the pain cave, Cross race! I’m chasing Speedy like a mutha!
I love cross! I’m having a ball chasing Speedy! He’s hit a light! (Lucky for me) I’m gaining on him! I finally get on Speedy’s wheel. Triumphant I feel! He turns his head around, see’s me, and I detect a smirk. He’s smiling at me, sorta like a cat who’s playing with a mouse, Speedy knows he’s just toying with me. He lets me hang on, letting me have just that little bit of confidence, then he’s out of the saddle, gone! I can only watch him go. I’ve spent too many matches; I just can’t stay with him. Curse you Speedy!
“See you later Speedy!” I yell. I give him props; he’s Da Man. Speedy turns his head again, and smiles.
We’ll meet again Speedy, at that same stoplight.
It was a fun commute home.
2/21
Miles ridden today, 19.3
Miles ridden 2008, 327
Essay Winner
Taken from the winner of the essay contest for cyclocross Magazine.
This is great! Written by a very cool member of the fairer gender.
” Why I Love Cyclocross.”
Cross sucks.
It sucks the very life out of me.
It steals my money in entry fees, gas and tolls, and even parking at some venues. It robs me of my sleep. I wake up for races earlier than for my job. Unless the house is on fire, I’m not out of bed at these ungodly hours except for cross.
It purloins my time on the bike. Instead of a nice 4 hour road or mountain bike ride, I spend 2 hours in a car, 1 hour on a trainer, and 40 minutes on the bike. Cross is a thief.
The start line robs me of my poise. Will I clip in? Will I be that person who creates a traffic jam?
Will the one-legged girl wearing sweat pants and riding a single-speed mountain bike beat me? The pistol fires. I hate the pistol. I live in Philly. I raise my hands to surrender. Then I remember—I’m at a cross race. Don’t hand over your wallet. Start pedaling.
It kicks my dignity in the ass. Try being five-one and leaping gracefully over a barrier that’s up to your belly button. Don’t even get me started on the indignity of the skin suit. I look like a marsupial. Cross robs my body of heat. Scampering around in a skimpy skin suit in sub-freezing temperatures, releasing what’s left of my body warmth into the atmosphere, teeth chattering, feet numb, what the hell am I doing here for God’s sake save me from myself!
Cross is an evil bitch. So is the one-legged girl who passes me. I think she’s blind, too. She wears sweat pants. I’ll bet she’s warm. Why didn’t I train harder this week?
Racing hurts, but cannot begin to compare to the pain inflicted by cheering. I expend more energy running around the course ringing cowbells and hollering than I do at any point during my own race. Except of course when the pistol fires and I think I’m being robbed. Pathetic, undignified, and why I am usually off the back.
Yes, cross sucks. But it’s also beautiful.
Remember the first time you nailed your remount? Or dismounted with precision? Have you ever experienced the thrill of getting the hole shot? Or running across the barriers in a seamless motion? Clearing a sand pit without dabbing? Bridging a gap, grabbing a wheel, and riding back into the race?
When you’re not freezing your ass off, take a look around you: the sun pours through dappled trees exploding in reds, oranges, and yellows; friends you see only during cross season smiling because they’re about to embark in the same craziness as you; and rolling green terrain under pristine blue skies full of migrating geese.
And then there’s the cheering–going bat-shit crazy, screaming your lungs out for suffering friends and strangers alike; from the juniors to the killer Bs to the pros. Cross doesn’t play favorites. Everyone deserves cheering and everyone cheers.
It’s a brother and sisterhood. What it takes from me it gives back in immeasurable quantities.
I love cross.
Mad Jazz
Ok, so I’m learning to dig Jazz, which somehow seems the antithesis of cyclocross, but I dig it anyhow…..
On deck: Ben Darwish Trio, Industrial Hero
Good stuff.
2/20
One of the things us bloggers struggle with is content. What do I want this blog to be?
Who am I intending my audience to be? If you’re an Elite level racer, your not going to bother reading my blog, or listen to what I have to say. In the good Ol’ Pac NW, we’ll get over 100+ racers in my category (Master C) for a single race. If your finishing 40th thru 100th, you’re my target audience. You’re the guys like me, who have jobs, lives and commitments that prevent them from attaining elite level status. You only have so much time to ride, and it’s just not enough to be competitive in the Elite ranks. But, you go out there anyway and race your hearts out.
What you’re not going to get from this blog is anything “Pro”. What you will get is “Average Joe”. This blog is the mind dumps from a normal guy who loves cycling trying to live the dream while having a full time job, family, and life’s other demands.
My racing resume consists mainly of the cross season in the fall. The local crit series during the summer can produce some valuable training. But Road Racing isn’t my gig, Cross is my gig. It’s the most punishing 45 mins you’ll ever spend, yet you can’t wait for the next race, cross is like crack.
Your going to get cycling from my point of view, the trials and tribulations of a season of training leading up to the cyclocross season, and just about anything else remotely related.
So stay tuned readers!
One of the amazing things to me in this current evolution of cycling, (with all it’s tech) is that I still see people using platform pedals, nearly every day? I don’t get it?
Clipless pedals improve your pedal stroke by 40%. That’s a ton. Pedals have come a long way, are inexpensive, and bang for buck, clipless pedals offer you the most cycling performance per dollar that any other part of your bike. Imagine trying to do a race without clipless pedals?
I’ve tried just about every pedal there is, and my favorite is the “Egg” or Egg Beater from Crank Bros. It’s unique in that its 4 sided entry is double that of normal pedals, and you merely have to place your foot in it, the pedal rotates forward to the next cage and “click” your in. Eggs are gravy to get in and out of. Plus, I like the degree of release you can chose from by the orientation of the cleats. The float is just about right, not too tight and not to lose, works for my knees. Lastly, Egg’s are priced economically. The SL is the stainless spindle version and @ $109 bones, a steal at that weight. Most other pedals in that price point weigh quite a bit more.
http://www.crankbrothers.com/eggbeater_sl.php
The art of “spinning” Is something I’ve been working very hard on this year. When I talk about spinning, people get confused and think I’m trying to articulate RPM’s. (Revolutions per minute). Nope, I’m talking about the complete application of force to the entire pedal stroke. RPM’s are Cadence. I’m not talking about Cadence, rather spinning.
The value of Spinning was never apparent to me until I got a set of rollers, Flash! The light goes on! Once I got comfortable on the rollers (which took some time I might add)
I realized just how jerky the mashing style of pedaling with platform pedals induces.
(Thus adding to my confusion of why people still use them)
With each downward push of the quads, the bike lunges forward, only to relapse backwards once the pedal reached the bottom of the stoke. It’s difficult to maintain a constant speed.
Ahh, but apply spinning, and my speed instantly goes up 1 or 2mph. Yes, my cadence improves by spinning. The art of the spin: Scrape a piece of gum off the bottom of your shoe, pull up as if you were trying to touch you’re heal to your buttocks, then drive your knee into the handlebar, followed by the downward push of the quads. This applies complete force to the entire pedal stoke, and makes for a very smooth throttle. No more jerking.
You’ll be surprised at just how much your gluts and hamstrings now come into play.
It’s taking me time to learn this technique, I should have started years ago, but it’s never too late to teach and old dog like me new tricks.
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.
Recovery Day
Greetings Readers,
Today is the “Recovery Day” the “Off Day” if you will. That day when we as self coached cyclists have to make some tough decisions with regards to our training, our season goals, and how we (I) separate the emotional love of our sport with the rational, coach that lives within each of us.
Here’s how a typical conversation with myself might go:
“Morning Coach” I would then reply: “Morning Jim, How’d you sleep last night?”
“Uhh, not so great coach” I would ask myself. “Really, how do your legs feel today?”
“Uhh, kind a heavy coach” The coach ponders…”How do you feel in general Jim?”
“I’m really tired coach” The Self coach smiles… “Good, take the day off”
I of course don’t like that decision, “but Coach, it’s sunny outside” in a whining sort of defeated attempt to change my rational, self coached mind. “You can ride tomorrow” Coach says.
“But Coach…. it’s gonna be raining tomorrow, (more whining) can’t I ride today and recover tomorrow when it’s raining?” Coach smiles, “Nope, rest today, ride tomorrow”
Coach wins and I take the day off.
This is the very thing that I’ve learned over the years that has helped me. In the past I would have rode today, regardless of how I felt, with no thought to recovery, only the shinny orb up in the sky. Ahh, Learning you are grasshopper. J
So we take the day off, tomorrow we commute and get wet. Decision well made.
For those of you who’d like some great reading: Joel Friel’s Book:
http://www.velogear.com/prodinfo.asp?number=VP+BIB3
2/17/08
Miles ridden today, 48
Miles ridden 2008, 290
Today’s ride.
Well, I guess this is why we live in the good ol’ Pac NW, Mid Febuary and it was 60 degrees and beautiful. Sunshine! 
My Pals and I went out for a good 50 miler today, it started out great and then turned out to be one of those rides, we’ve all had um, the flat fest. I gotta give props to my pal Ken, who really put a good face on a 4 flat ride. Way to go Ken, I prolly would have gotten a little perturbed.
It started out innocent enough, with the 1st flat coming about 12 miles in:
A fresh tube and away we go, heading out to the little town of Laurel, and the “Laurel Store”
That’s where we’re headed, the top of those hills. We’re here in this photo.
Now we’re at the Laurel Store, time for a snack and then on to the climb.
Now we are on the climb, Uh, who’s idea was this?
Looking backwards the way we came…..
Beautiful wooded climb, I love it!
Looking back over the Orchards, we’re still climbing…….
Still Climbing………
Looking at the fields as we go up, dang, it’s pretty up here!
Finally, we’re at the top. Take a breather and look back at beautiful Mt Hood in the distance.
Gotta tuck the camera away, cuz it’s time for the descent, and I can’t take pics at 40+ mph!
Time to roll on over to the golf course a mere 15 miles away for lunch, where I caught a pic of Ken with flat #2
About 5 miles later…… #3
Flat #4 comes 6 miles later, sorry but I gave Ken a break from the pics. LOL
All -n- All it was a great ride, (aren’t they all?) dispite 4 flats for Ken, we had a great time, got some valued base miles in, and I’m right on schedule for this year. Can’t wait for the next one!
Oh yea, gotta give a shout out to my Dad, Love ya Pops!