Back In The Saddle

Been out of town for the last ten days -- Nifi and I traveled to Italy. While I did not come home with that Italian frame, I did come back with great memories and souvenirs --the best of which are new found friends!

I will be back to biking soon and I will include some images and tid-bits on our travels.

Spin On

Chasing Rabbits

This weekend's training log began on the stationery bike in the RankRoom™ due to heavy downpours -- typical for our sub-tropic environment. Got in a good hour spin starting with a warm-up, consistently gearing up every ten minutes then a cool down.

Saturday was up early for Spin Class. I took a good long warm-up before class started. Once it began so did my heart rate issues. I spiked to 236 at one point but it would drop back to a normal to high level. Recovery seems to come quickly though. I am scheduled to get a Holter Monitor at the end of the month to see what's up.

Errands and yard work into the heat of the day, then a long nap. Felt sinfully good:)

Sunday was up with the girls and prepping for a ride. I was scheduled for 60 but with having to come into work, chores and pending travel, I felt it best to cut back. I did 35 with a two mile cool down. Felt pretty good. I had a nice tailwind for 20 miles and kept a good pace back into the wind home.

I used this ride to "chase rabbits", i.e. other cyclists. Can't say it was all that effective since they were mainly tourists or dads towing kids on third wheels. Plus my new rear LED light popped off on a decent and I had to do a repair on the road. Errg.

Today is a rest day, tomorrow weights.

Spin On

Jersey

Took a few cues from Rock Racing with the Carbon. Color theme remains about the same as the past. Included some inside jokes, like the No Pussies Chimay Kitty and the side panel caffeine molecule.

Spin On

Reveling in Routine

Ready for the weekend. Last week was short, included a fun ride and good friends making this week seem a little long. Not much on the docket, Spin class, errands, yard work, Belgian ales and a longish ride Sunday hopefully.

Tickled that the '08 Team R2R jerseys came in -- personally, I think they look great. I appreciate all the insights from the Team in helping make it look it's best. Now time to start thinking about '09 and more swag!

Spin On

Quick Spin

Got in a quick 14 last night before the afternoon rains set in. We really need the rain. Brown lawns, muck on fire in Lake "O", hot. It is very cleansing to the soul as well. I could do without the lightening though. Shakes the house and startles the Bejeezus out of you.

So the source of my loose bearings was the bottom of the headset. What were to be sealed Crane Creek bearings busted open. While I am not happy with the Trek's manufacture (I also had a bad bottom bracket some of you might recall) I think this might have been due to travel and awkward stresses on the down tube. Alvelo slapped a quick fix on it in the morning, I got it a lunch and will wait for the new part to come in before but it is fine to ride.

Been looking at Italian frames and found a cool site. Take a look:)

Spin On

I'm Shiflexic

Thanks to Jim at EMCC for getting the Ride 2 The Rescue site back up and running!

Here are a few more random thoughts from the weekend C&G ride.

First, I annoy myself with continually shifting in the wrong direction. Big right lever, big gear. Small right lever, small gear. Nearly every time I readied a climb or prepared for a decent I fired the shifters the wrong way -- especially annoying on the climbs. All the noise (chain slap, grunting, swearing and groaning) made me sound like bad porn... really bad porn.

Second, may apologies to a rider I inadvertently got inside of at a stop sign -- thought we were clear. Payback was a long and dirty look. Also a faux pax of coasting to the front of the pack at a stop sign instead of holding my position. My only defense is that I am new to the group ride thing. I'll know better next time.

Lastly, the trip continues to cost me. As I rebuilt my bike last night and readied the case to store I noted 1, 2, 3 no 4, crap 5! bearings in the box. I assume it is from the headset being lose but it is in to the shop this morning for a once over.

This is becoming an expensive hobby. The Pinarello might have to wait a while longer.

Spin On

Cycling At All Costs

Let's Roll

Team R2R Sucks It Up (and in)

We all understand that there is a cost associated with our chosen sport, be it road or trail. First there is the bike of course, like any machine it keeps on taking money to upgrade and operate. The cost is not outrageous and minimal if you consider most other vehicles, be it boat, car or some other mechanized piece of equipment – like my John Deere L111.

Then there is the cost of accessories – clothing, protective wear, computers, etc. On that note, here is a great product for stowing gear.

The cost of fuel and supplements is low considering for the most part it is water. Sure you could argue the value of Cliff Shots versus gasoline but you can differ some of that cost toward sustenance.

Yes there is the cost of time and abuse. Take for instance the poor woman who suffered the double whammy at Cheers & Gears when she fell three miles short of the end, cracked her collar bone only to discover she had locked her keys in her SUV and had to wait two hours for AAA. There is also of course the health benefits involved – perhaps the C&Gs 76-year old rider got his start as did the 9-year old who completed the entire course. Like any 9-year old, mom was there to support and help with details, like getting the Camel Pak off and tennis shoes on:) So I say they aforementioned abuses pretty much even out.

Cycling is still ahead in cost department then.

Now we come to the greatest inequity of all, travel. My ticket cost $318 round trip on US Airways. I guess that is fair, even if it was only for two nights, that would be about four days of driving. Incidentally, I was the furthest-flung rider with a travel distance of 816 miles to the event. So that is a good deal right? Okay now the bike box.

We as traveling cyclists are immediately shunned. The Sky Cabs will not check you in – not even your luggage. You make your way to the ticket counter like a cattle to slaughter via the cordon maze. First question at the counter: Is there a bike in there? No, it is a famous painting I disguise as a bike by covering the box with Giro, Twin Six and Specialized stickers. Of course it is. That will be $100. Second bag fee $25. Each way. My charity ride to benefit Ride 2 the Rescue and MS now just cost me $14.20 per riding mile. WTF!!? Sure there is the snappy clerks answer “Deduct it from your taxes.” Fine, go explain that to my wife and see how YOU do. Does the golfer pay more Mr. US Airways Ticket Taker? How about the skier or snowboarder? My bag certainly weighs less than the second bag being transported by the lady from God Knows Where, NY who can’t even lift the damn thing by herself (of course the Sky Cab helped her at the curb). Cyclist Unite! May an even larger plague fall upon the airlines until they realign costs! Of course that would just fall on us travelers in some sort of fee. Nuts! Oh yeah, they stopped serving them.

Spin On

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Photos borrowed from Dale Brown at Cycle deOro