Pack Fodder

Greetings Readers!

Just posted, and hot off the presses:

“Considered the premiere professional and amateur national series of cyclocross racing the US, the USGP is thrilled to announce their return to Louisville, KY on October 25th and 26th,  Mercer County, NJ on November 15th and 16th and Portland, OR on December 6th and 7th.  Series founder Bruce Fina said, “We’re thrilled to be returning to three such excellent venues for the second year in a row.  Last year’s USGP events were simply outstanding with tremendous support from the both the professional and local racing communities and City goverments.  It’s very exciting to return to each of these great Cities  knowing that this year will only be bigger and better.” 

Go to the USGP site located HERE.

This is a killer series, and the weather here always seems to step up to the occasion. The last two years have been outstanding racing, its just a fantastic event, made my whole week to find out the GP was returning to my hometown in 2008. I’m stoked!

So to celebrate the occasion I went out and dropped some scrill on a pair of running shoes. “How much for running shoes?” Talk about sticker shok, I spent 3 times what I normally do on a pair of sneekers. Mom says “you have to spend some dough if your gonna run”. Since she’s the runner, I’ll listen, after all I’m a cyclist. What do I know? So I’m gonna take up some running on days when I’m not riding. No longer will those run ups be my weakness, I plan on running being just a formality during the race and not something I dread. Plus, I’m hoping that running will take off the extra lbs too. I’m really wanting to come into cross season in shape, Hell, running isn’t gonna hurt. Well, it’s gonna hurt, just not hurt. Know what I mean?

Cheers!

Greetings Readers!

Chores, that was the word of the day. Trying to cram in a lot of chores while the weather holds because next week is more rain. I had little time left today to ride, so I twisted mom’s (wifey) arm and we went out for a short spin.

Riding with mom was ideal for a recovery ride, we just spun along and loosened up the legs. Which buy the way felt like anvils on pedals after climbing yesterday. Although short, it was a really nice ride. I would have liked to have doubled, even tripled the mileage, but I just didn’t have the time today.

After 5 straight days of riding I rest tomorrow to let the legs recover. Followed by another rest day on Tuesday because of a doctor’s appt. I’ll hit the bike again on Wednesday and commute thru Friday.

I did find this old pic from last year at Estacada, I like it cuz I appear to be totally focused. Oh contrare my friends, I was deep in survival mode. I prolly lost 4 spots that last lap………. I suffered more at Estacada than any other race I did last season.  Yup, the old gentlemans slide, I was dropping fast. This year will be different Folks!

Miles ridden today, 19

Miles ridden 2008, 1199

Cheers!

Greetings Readers!

As promised, I went climbing today and as promised, I suffered. Oh man, did I suffer. The sorry thing is I did this same route a month ago with my pal Ken and I was a good mile and hour slower today. The 1st time I rode these climbs I rode them in 34/19 and some of the steeper pitches, 34/21. Today, 34/24 and the steeper pitches, 34/26. I’m here to tell ya folks, I paid some dues today, suffered I did.

Tackling both these climbs was probably a bit much for me to bite off this soon after recovering from being sick, but for some stupid reason if I suffer I “feel” like I’m training better. Coach doesn’t necessasarily agree with this philosophy, but today my lack of riding over the last month took over my better jugement and I just had to get out and climb. Sometimes you just gotta go ride, hard.

The first climb is over Krueger Road to Mtn Home Road. It’s a 4 mile climb with some pretty nasty pitches thrown in to bust your quads and sear your lungs. After a big descent, (where I was rusty and apprehensive since crashing on Wed) I rode the steep rollers over to Laurel for climb #2. The second climb is 3 miles long and only at the top switchback does it get steep. Between those two climbs, and the steep rollers on Vandershure, I’m guessing there’s about 3000′ of climbing, + or - a few hundred feet. 3000′ of elevation gain is nothing for an elite level, under 5 hour century cyclist, but it’s a lot for me. Hey, this is Da Fodder remember? I would love to tell you I’m a top level athlete, I’m not. But I sure as hell try folks. Come cross season, I will know without a doubt in my own mind that I have done my best to get in shape. I definately won’t show up for cross fresh of the couch. I plan to show up in the best shape I can, and throw down.

Tomorrow is a recovery ride, slow, and on the flats.

Miles ridden today, 38

Miles ridden 2008, 1179

Cheers!

Greetings Readers!

Today was a tale of two rides, I felt pretty spirited on the way in this morning, posting a pretty good avg speed, twas not the case on the way home. Tired from workin’ all day, my legs were lead and I just pedaled home.

Good news is I’ve commuted 3 days in a row, and although tired, I feel pretty good. I’ve cleared the Enza bug and I plan on pushing myself tomorrow on some climbs. There’s suffering in the forcast tomorrow………….

Miles ridden today, 21

Miles ridden 2008, 1141

Cheers!

Greetings Readers!

Guess who was waiting for me at that old stoplight? Yup, you guessed it, My Pal Speedy. “Hey how you doin?” Great, here I am still trying to recover my fitness back from Za Enza and here’s Speedy to whup my butt. “How you doin Speedy?” I reply. We make small talk, and Speedy tells me he’s suffering from allergies, he sounds terrible. The light changes and were off, Speedy takes the front and I just watch him go, No way am I chasing you today Speedy, I think to myself. But wait, Speedy isn’t leaving me? I’m sitting on his wheel, boy he is suffering from allergies. I pull up along side, “Hey Speedy, want me to take a pull for awhile?” and I take the front. “I could use a pull today” Speedy replies. Wow, this is cool, I’m giving Speedy a pull, go figure? That didn’t last too long as Speedy is too fast to be pulled by the likes of me. So he pulls around me and takes the front. I’m right on his wheel, and we get out to the wider bike lane and ride two abreast. We start chatting like old pals, and Speedy is actually riding with me. We chatted all the way home. We talked about cross and road racing, I race cross, Speedy road races (big surprise there) I like Speedy, he can kick my ass in his sleep but he gives me a little respect, and the time of day to boot. Thanks for the lift today Speedy, I needed it! I didn’t even notice how cold and windy it was.

The weather man is promising me a sunny weekend, I hope so!

Miles ridden today, 19

Miles ridding 2008, 1120

Greetings Readers!

Crash, Me fall down go boom. Road Rash, or Road Pizza, that’s what I am. I would like to emphasize that crashing on pavement is significantly more painful than that occasional spill while out playing in the dirt. I have never crashed on pavement, today I’m a virgin no more. I’ve got road rash from my right butt cheek all the way down to my knee. Add the same for my forearm from elbow to wrist. I didn’t break my collarbone, so there’s that milestone to still look forward too.

I don’t know what the hell happened other than skinny tires and really wet, slick railroad tracks don’t mix. For the second time in my life, my helmet has saved my noggin. Yes ladies and germs, I put my melon right down on the railroad track. Prolly would have cracked my skull had I not been sporting the skid lid. The good news? My bike only suffered minor contusions, it will be fine. She was a little shook up though. I was at a very busy part of town with lots of traffic, nobody even stopped. Right over the handlebars I went, endo style, landed on my right side right on the tracks and rolled over on my pack into the dirt and rock section on the side of the road. No curb there. I was a little dazed and 1st thoughts were “My Bike!” “Where is it?” I’m thinking its in the middle of the road awaiting certain demize from a impatient motorist. Fortunatly, it rolled towards me and was laying just tween me and the tracks.

Of course in true Karma fashion this happened within a mile of work, so I had a very sore ride home. Covered in mud, the rain and heavy wind gusts only adding to the character of the ride home. Coupled with the fact that I was, lets just say, less than stellar as far as fitness and speed goes.

My mind conjured up Paris Roubaix, how tough I was, all bloody and battered, riding home in the rain. All warrior like, “the PRO’s got nuthin on me” I say to myself. HA! My wife says “why didn’t you call me?” What? Like I’m gonna call in the sag wagon? What am I? A girlie man? No way. I’d have to have broken my leg to not get back on the horse and ride home. Us cross racers have an aberrant gene you know. I loved every minute of that ride home! And, it would appear, that I’ve finally gotten over the bug. Not one hack on the way home today. Yeah!

So it was a great ride today, weather sucked, crashed, and it felt like a damn squal out there. Wait, isn’t this late April? WTH? Jeez, we’ve had snow for petes sake! I plan on commuting tomorrow and Friday. Then some nice rides on the road bike over the weekend. I’m going climbing on Saturday, and rolling the flats on Sunday. I’ve got an agenda to get back in pre enza fitness, and I won’t be denied. Till tomorrow……….

Cheers!

Miles ridden today, 21

Miles ridden 2008, 1101

Ohh, how the mighty have fallen.

Today was my 1st ride back, back to fitness that is, 25 miles. It was all I’d allow myself in my still struggling post enza state. Still hacking, I struggled today, posting pretty dismal numbers for really a pretty routine ride. That’s ok, cuz last weekend I was under the blanket with a fever, today I was riding. Progress!

What is it that drives us amatuer athletes? What makes us constantly chase that carrot called fitness that dangles in front of us that we never quite can reach. No matter how fit we get, we still desire being in better shape? It’s this never ending journey that has no closure. I think about it daily. I want to be a lean, mean, cycling machine. That title will naturally elude me, as I turn 45 this summer. But I still want to be the best 45 year old athlete I can be.  I will keep chasing that carrot, for the rest of my days. I plan on rocking the “50 till death” category in cross!

It was snowing yesterday, crazy weather for this time of year. I’ll get my fitness back and over the next month be feeling good on my way to a great season of cross. April, so far just hasn’t been my month. The good news is today’s ride did wonders for my morale. Just getting out was good for the ol’ soul. I need to suffer a little on the bike, seems to make me feel better, more worthy of being a cyclist I guess. I hope to get some commuting in this week and if karma serves me, some climbing this upcoming weekend. I’m very anxious to get my butt out riding. Very anxious indeed…

I found this Roubaix inspired bike, it’s absolutely stunning! I love it and had to share……… you can see more details and pics HERE.

Miles ridden today, 25

Miles ridden 2008, 1080

Cheers!

Greetings Readers!

As expected, I had a tough go of it today. The ride into work wasn’t too bad, it was sunny and I enjoyed it quite a bit. After all, it’s nice to be riding vs. driving, but the ride home was a different story. About an hour into my workday I started paying for the last few days of cycle commuting coupled with work. I was dragging ass. In fact, I’ve got a big scab on my butt from dragging it behind me all over the warehouse floor today.

I figured the first few weeks after being sick would be difficult, it’s not like I’m gonna jump on the bike and tear off a 4 hour century. It Doesn’t work that way. So I’ll take tomorrow off, recover a little bit as I’m still feeling not up to snuff, and then hit the bike again on Saturday and Sunday.

I’ve two hot dates with the ladies in my life tomorrow, 1st up my daughter and I are crashing “Donuts with Dudes” at her school cafeteria tomorrow morning, followed by lunch out with my beautiful, loving better half in the afternoon. Wifey is my very best friend. I’m looking forward to them both.

Miles ridden today, 20

Miles ridden 2008, 1055

Cheers!

Greetings All!

Finally, what a haul. There are guys at my work that have been carrying this crud around for weeks! It’s been just shy of two weeks off the bike. I got that little dabble in on Sunday, but then had to take the next two days off to try and recover and kick this crud. I’ve Just been feeling like I completed an olympic triathlon, wiped out! Today was the 1st real day of cycle commute and work to boot. I was hacking up my lungs while riding, but at least I was strong enough to do it. I’m coughing up a storm, but nuthing’s coming up? I’m Getting 6 pack abs though from all this damn hacking.

Hopefully this junk is behind me, and I get back to being focused on something besides my sick arsk. The rides will start coming again with regularity, and so will the posts. I’m way behind the eight ball, guys who are whupping my butt at cross were riding the Ronde while I was curled up under the blanket, but there’s nothing I can do about it except start from where I am. Get back to training and riding. I need to start getting my butt back in shape and start climbing, there’s nuthing like a series of big lung busting, leg burning climbs to put a smile on your face! I guess if I suffer, I feel like I’ve contributed positively to the overall goal. Like putting a deposit into your good karma account. I like the pain cave, I guess I’m a masochist that way, if I’m not suffering then I’m not worthy of getting better in cross. Which by the way is 5 months from Sunday.

5 months from Sunday! Where has the time gone? Sheesh! Careful Jimbo, don’t get into too big of a hurry to get it all back, it’s going to take a little time, be patient. You’ll not be killin’ it in two weeks.

Miles ridden today, 19

Miles ridden 2008, 1035

Cheers!  

Greetings Readers!

After a 3 day bout with the flu I got back in the saddle today. Gawd, did it feel good! I only got in a quick 10 mile ride today and although I longed for more I forced myself to settle for 10. Now the challenge is to get my pre flu fitness back up to snuff in the coming weeks ahead. I’m still pretty weak, don’t want any setbacks, I’ve got to be patient, but consistent.

Do the same thing I’ve been doing: train, rest, repeat. There’s still plenty of time to get my arsk in shape for cross season. I’m looking forward to some good rides coming up this weekend!

Miles ridden today: 10

Miles ridden 2008: 1016

Cheers!