Not so secret training weapon/ egg beater woes.

As promised, i picked up the ergomo computer today. I didn't have much time to look at it before work, but i managed to crack open the expensive case and take a peek. I also skimmed the directions. Hopefully the bike shop is open tomorrow so i can chase the threads, but my bottom bracket was just faced so that should be good. The instructions are very detailed to say the least 56 pages, at least they didn't waste paper, they put it on a tiny cd :)

My initial impression was wow, i can't afford this. My second and third ones were better. it appears to be very solid and the only disappointment was that it didn't come with a heart rate chest strap. give me a break ergomo, you have an msrp of $1600. Very soon i will be training with power. I am also very interested in the features, they are almost too much for me to comprehend. Power (current, average, max,) heart rate (current, average, max,) back light, intervals, power zones, altitude (current, cumulative, max,) time, temperature, % gradient (current, max,) cadence (average, current, and maybe max?,) and some other stuff i cannot even remember.

In some more news on a more solemn note, my egg beater gave it up today. Some people i know criticize the egg beater for it's durability (or lack thereof.) I don't think they are a bad product, i usually get 4000-5000 miles on them before they blow up. That is fair in my opinion,

especially because maybe of those miles are off road, and i often neglect them and only grease them every 4 months. Despite this, i cannot help but wonder how those new look mtb pedals work. Yes, the egg beaters will be rebuilt for now.

I found my bike for next year, It will be a Scott scale 20 with some minor modifications that may or may not include xtr shifters, an xt shadow rear derailleur, different pedals, and some 1200g race wheels for Sundays complete with an xtr cassette. Shooting for sub 20lbs ;)

Ergomo

Tomorrow marks the entrance of the ergomo pro. I won't be able to install it until Monday i think, i don't have the time, but it will assuredly be cool. Did a hard ride today, really spiked it. My schedule for this season is now posted. I may be making some changes in the days ahead.

Simplify...for every bike gizmo, gadget, diet i add to my cycling life, i try to make up for it by simplifying my other life. This means selling my car, and buying one that is hopefully a bit more optimized for races. (wagon with roof rack anybody?)

Winter training is going so well, and i am able to complete my workouts more than i used to, we'll see how that goes when more hours are added.

;)

Training begins!

Well, 2008 has started, at least for me. Training for this upcoming season has begun. There have been a load of important changes in my training, and i am anxiously awaiting a power meter. Fox Racing Shox is on board for next year, hopefully i will get some more letters back!

I also saw a hawk making a kill in my backyard yesterday, i love birds of prey. You can see the victim under his feet.

Two words: Raccoon Rally 52t!

I am totally a serious runner.

Today marks another excursion in my n00b status as a runner. Andrew was nice enough to come along and let me use the "draft" After 35 minutes of trying to hang on, i felt good that i had gotten off my lazy butt and outside on to the rainy, slush/ snow covered trails.

i also crawled across a wooden bridge.

Awesome

Picture of the embodiment of awesome, besides crawling across a bridge.

A new hope.

The off season is coming to an end. In a week or so training for next year will begin. I have no wasted all of my time on video games, i am refining my diet to the proper ratios and only selecting nutrient dense foods, so no more french fries and cheeseburgers (maybe sometimes ;) I will see if actually eating well does make a difference, and shedding all body fat over the winter to become a lean power machine. However, counting calories and trying to achieve perfect ratios of fat, carbohydrate, and protein is difficult and time consuming. I am reading a sports nutrition book by Nancy Clark to get some good ideas, and it is a very good reference. So for a few more weeks i will be tuning up my bikes and counting grams to determine much for next year. After that, everything has to do with cold feet and long hours.

Running part two...kind of.

Well, today was officially the third time i have gone running, but the 2nd time i really went out for a real amount of time. I ran the same trail that i did last week, and shaved 5 minutes off my time already. My muscles don't hurt, but maybe they will tomorrow.
Later

Adventures in Running

Today was my first really physical exertion in 5 days or so. I decided to work on trail running, and tried it out today at chestnut ridge. It was fun, different than the bike, i went slow and my ankle hurt (no doubt from poor arch support) but i dove right in. After a whopping 25 minutes of running i was ready to end my excursion. The running had took its toll on me. i hit heart rates past my LT on the bike and i could barely push my clutch in at first. I will have to go out again in a few days...!

Some pictures....
Fall is ok, what do these shoes do?



Leaves and trailssss

Enjoying the off-season

Well, the past few weeks have been full of school, sending bicycle resumes in to companies and -oh yeah staying up until 3am, like right now. it's OK. I am setting up a long list of goals and refinement to my somewhat sporadic training, so when i get back on the bike, it will be time for some serious business!

Sprague Brook, and the end of the year!

Well, on kind of a last minute impulse, (well last minute for me, about 2 days) i went to the Sprague Brook mountain bike race that Handlebars put on. I am sure glad i went! It was an awesome event. About 60 riders showed up. When a $50 prem was offered for the fastest first lap i knew it was for me. After a pretty quick for this time of year first lap, the prem was mine. John Roden passed me shortly thereafter, and on the third, Tom K passed me. i was happy with a third place for the day. The course was super fun, the prizes were great, and the even went off pretty well.


It has been a great year. I have accomplished all of my goals that i set out for, and some extra ones i didn't. I would like to thank Doug Bush, my coach, at endurancefactor.com, his expertise helped me get into the best shape ever, Dudley at Shifting Gears bike shop, Eric at Eric's Cycle works, All of the friends who have helped out, teammates, competitors, and anyone else out there who is cool :) I am grateful to all of you.
Chris

Fallfest

Fallfest started out great, Jamie Hughey and myself found each other riding together in 1-2 for most of the first lap, then i flatted. After filling up a tube with co2, i rode gingerly in 5th place until i received more co2 from Amy, who was taking pictures along the course. With my tire filled at a safe 60psi i continued, but my passers had gone too far. Finishing in 5th place was disappointing, but i am glad the local boys took the top 2 spots there. My time was 1:17 or something like that, so it definitely means it is time to call it a year. Maybe sprague brook if it going on next weekend, but we'll see about it, and some races out of town for fun, or maybe some trail running and building will do me well for the next few months.

Well....

After a hard year of racing, and some bad luck, i was upgraded to semi-pro. This pretty much makes this year a success. I went from a sport class racer to semi-pro in 7 months. This leaves a few small races at the end of the year, but nothing much to prove. Now i can focus on sending out resumes.

Campmor NORBA at Blue Mountain

72 hours ago i set out on my voyage to a race in Peekskill NY, roughly 400 miles from my front door, in search of points for semi-pro upgrades. About one hour from leaving my house i got to Corey's apartment in Rochester. (this is the part where i wish my camera was in working order.) We stuffed my tiny car with two bikes and (almost) everything we needed for race day. After one subway and 5 hours we reached Poughkeepsie, where my friend Kate was nice enough to let us stay in her college apartment. Corey fixed his bike in the kitchen and we went to a 50s style diner for dinner.

The following morning was marked with some confusion, but all worked out fairly well. We made our was some 32 miles south to peekskill, where i made a wrong turn which lead us up an awesome mountain road and across the Hudson. After we made our way back and found the park some 20 minutes later we registered and Corey's race was about a half hour away. We find out that the sport race is two laps, and the laps are expected to be about an hour each. This sets me up for a 3 hour race. As Corey is racing i try not to think about the coming hours.

The race starts at 1. I immediately go off the front as hard as possible in order to create an insurmountable gap right from the start. It works, only two guys pass me, and they are not in my class, but the single speed class. I hang with hem for awhile, but they are superior riders, and escape me. The course was 9.2 miles of the rockiest, most technical up and down track i have ever seen. About 3/4 through the first lap i am joined by another rider, this time in my class, who claims we have a nice gap. We stay close to each other, neither one of us getting far from the other. I get two more bottles from Corey for lap two, and go through them almost instantly. I am without water for a good half of the second lap and hanging on to the other rider's wheel. On the final lap, i get more water, and i tell Corey to bring me more in the woods. The other rider says if we are going to torture each other for another hour, we might as well know each others name. his name is Mike, and he is 24 years old. At this point the hurt of having it pinned for 2.5 hours is pretty bad. Mike gives updates on the mileage from his computer and i encourage him to keep riding as well. towards the end i know i can drop him, so i take off on the last series of downhills, and sure enough open a gap. I push my lockout and sprint up the final paved uphill to the finish. Mike is not far behind. 1st and 2nd place.

I find out that unfortunately Corey's race didn't go as well, with a broken derailleur in the last 2 miles.

I rolled down to my car and lie down, feeling that i would surely die from such and effort. I was nauseous and very weak feeling. Thankfully awards were soon after, and we could go get some food.

In all, it was the hardest effort and race i have ever done. I do not feel i could have gone faster on that day. Out of all the 24 hour races, and all the 6 hour races i have never in my life been so taxed of energy. The heat, intensity, duration, and terrain made the race what it was. If you ever get a chance to go downstate, make sure to ride the blue mountain reservation trails, they are totally worth it.

www.wmba.org

Chris

24 Hours of Hot August Nights

This past weekend was the hot summer nights race. We left in the luxurious borrowed RV on Friday around noon. After some missed turns and a few hours we were at albion. Upon pre riding the course it was discovered to be faster than last year and even more turny. i was set to do the first lap. I had some reservations about it at first, but then realized i was probably the right guy for the confusion and chaos of the first lap. At the start i fought from my spot a few rows back up to the front just in time to see a crash in front of me. I avoided 4 more crashes and a guy who's tube blew in front of me and made his rear wheel fishtail. I was in 5th place, and we were just a big train moving through the woods. Eventually, the top 4 guys got away a little and when the first lap was over i was in 6th place, putting the team at a great advantage for future laps. all of my teammates pulled really fast first laps as well, and that is where we made some of our tiny gap. We couldn't make more than 11 minutes over the 24 hours of confusion, but in the end it was enough. Brian, thinking we had a victory lap, went out kind of slow and came in at about 12:45 having done a 53 minute lap. We then found out the next team came in only 1:30 behind Brian. It was a close call for sure, but in the end everyone on our team turned out smokin' laps all day and night, we all got another golden jersey, and the only team that pulled more laps than us was a 10 man team from scott bikes. So i can pretty much say we are the 2nd fastest 24 hour racers around.

First lap shredding

Sweet ridezzzzz

i think the other team wondered how they got beat by 3 older guys, one guy their age, and a 20 year old. They probably are not looking forward to the master's class. I was the only reason we got bumped into the 30-40 vet class, which ended up being the only class with 38 teams.

Everyone happy and tired.

Next up are a few norba races downstate for semi-pro points, and fallfest.

Farmall #1

Starting off August with the farmall race was tough. i have been feeling tired lately and it started to rain before the start. The course ended up being so slippery in spots it was hard to walk on, but i finished second to Andy August, who had the bike of the day, a singlespeed.

My new bike should be here tomorrow i think, i want to see it soooo bad.
http://www.konaworld.com/bikes/2k7/KULASUPREME/index.html
This thing HAS to be like 19lbs with pedals.

Sugar mountain pictures.

Podium

Super nice dog from hotel

Pro Women start!

Going all out.

Craig didn't use this bike for his 3rd place finish, but it is nice.

The hotel i stayed at on main st in Banner Elk was huge! Probably over 1000 sq feet with a bedroom, bath, living room, and this kitchen. I felt like Tom Cruise in Risky Buisness.

Sugar Mountain National!

Naionals went better than expected. The trip started on wednesday around 4pm when i left the homestead for the 700 mile trip to sugar. After stopping for pizza hut for a quick 1 hour large pizza in west virginia, i continued on my trip. Around midnight i stopped around 450 miles at beckley, wv, and slep in my car in the mall parking lot there. the drive resumed at 6am and breakfast was a leftover slice of pizza. I arrived around 2 at my aunt's house near charlotte, nc. i ate, slept and then went riding on some awesome trails around her house. After a day and a half there, it was time to ascend to the high country. I was looking foward to this, but was sure to miss the high level of pampering i receved while at my relatives house (my grandparents also live nearby.)

The trip up to high country was fine except for the cars tendency to slip out during right hand turns. This became more frustrating on the windy roads up there.

Banner elk is an awesome place. I stayed at a nice inn with a huge suite for cheaper than anything else around! I felt bad not sharing it with anyone! i went sleep to some movie with Samuel Jackson and Kevin spacey, it was pretty dramatic (haha.)

Saturday i picked up my registration packet and watched the women pro race. They were awesome. I watched it on the steep section of the climb with a very enthusiastic lady who loved 4 leaf clovers? Georgia Gould handily won the race by a and was flying the whole day.

Trying to take my mind off of the quest for semi-pro points i rode the course, then went to the local bar/restaurant for dinner. sitting at the bar, because it is what i feel is the proper thing to do when you are alone (who eats at a table of one?) i spoke with some funny southern guys, all very friendly. As i was leaving, a man seemingly from Texas wished me good luck and told me to say "howdy" to everyone up there (new york.)

Sunday went off without a hitch. I only got nervous a few hours before the race, but when it started i decided to try out the technique of taking it easy and saving a bit for the end. first place took off right away, the national champ for experts. I didn't attempt to follow but held a pace at 85% because it was enough to shred all but one rider from my wheel. The course was muddier than the day before, and the lines i had seen the pro women take were all but useless.We went back and forth, then on the 3rd lap climb, he caught up to me. I was mildly worried but held faith in my tactic. After talking to him for a while and telling him to be careful (he was guaranteed a podium if he didn't crash) we rode in silence. On the final climb i put everything i had on. A gap opened immediately and i knew if i got into the woods, the race was mine. Riding smart in the woods, i came out and finished with a 30 second gap i had opened in the last 5 minutes or so.

A few more norba races and the semi-pro is mine, and to top it off, i would have finished about 38th in the pro class out of about 60. Looking foward to the 24 hour race, which is purely for fun, and a nice late season.

Pictures to come soon.....

Howdy?!,
Chris

Corfu, overreaching and more.....

Well, my semi-weekly update of this is due. Well, racing at Corfu, on the road was fun. I was extremetly tired, and the race was suited for it. Jay Joslyn broke away, and despite my efforts to get someone chasing him, no one wanted to go. So i did some work for fitness' sake, and went about the race. It was 6 laps in a flat corse out by Darien lake with one little riser hill at the finish. So everyone more or less went easy in the laps ahead. About a mile from the finish another rider broke off. I just thought that he would be reeled in, but again, no one could or wanted to chase. So it came down to the last hill. I was out front, not wanting to be boxed in, but i was also going slow. A gentleman was to the right of me thinking the same thing. We accerated. I went harder and the guy next to me dropped back. About 15 feet from the finish 4 riders went past me. two on my left, and on rider on the right. My finish was 6th. Not bad i for how i felt that day.

After a rest day, and a light evening ride with some red door teammates, I thought i would be ready for the wednesday night race. went hard off of the start, but the same thing happened this week as last week. I was all of a sudden going slow. On the second climb, i was in second by a few feet, but i pulled off. Nationals are in 10 days, and i want to be back in shape for them. Hopefully i am not the definition of 'overtrained' and i am just a bit overreached. 4 days of rest of so could put me back. Lets hope so.
Chris

The Last Week.

Well, regionals did not go so well for me. The drive went well, fortunately the car held up great. But after driving 350 miles i set up my tent in the parking lot of the race venue in orange county, ny. The next morning was hot. About 100 degrees before the experts went off at noon. The course was about 5 miles long from my understanding, and experts had 4 laps. Beginner and sport riders had gone earlier in the morning. The semi-pro pro class went ahead of us, then the expert single speeds for some reason. The men 19-29 went off and i got into the dirt first. A guy on a trek 9.8 quickly passed me and made his escape. I floated in between second and third with another guy for the first two laps, then my seat cracked. I thought it would hold up, but at the beginning of the third lap, the seat portion left the bent rails and my bike. I had to now stand. After falling back to 5th place or so, i turned in for the day. The race would have done nothing but embarrass me with a poor finish. The drive home was pretty and uneventful. It also gave me plenty of time to think of my failure. Tonight was the first Wednesday night race. After getting off to a strong start, i started to feel a bit dizzy. Mike Loranty for Ag Edwards was catching me on the third lap. Towards the last downhill he passed me. It was a phenomenal finish, even though i expected to win. Oh well, some days are better than others. It was a solid race and a good effort on my part. I hope to shave some time off for next week.


Some pictures from the journey

BAD SEAT!

Sunburned and beat

Some cool diner




PRE RACE

The mess haha
Chris

Raccoon Rally Wrap Up

The Rally was today. Despite being sick the past week i felt ok. The race started out with a stacked field of the fastest guys around. After the mass start, everyone fell into a rhythm. The first climb to the top of the mountain wasn't anything crazy, and as i looked back from second i could see about 20 riders behind me. The pace really started to get fast after the first half of the first downhill, about 12 miles into the race, before we knew it, there were 5 riders in the group. We weren't going crazy fast, as it is really hard to lose someone on this course. Everyone sat in and bided time. I crashed down Bova ski hill while in first and fell back to 6th. Luckily nothing was broken (on the bike or me) and i caught back up to the group.The second climb, about 3.5 miles down from the 5.5 of the first lap was where the heat was turned up. Two guys broke off. A team hollyloft racer and myself bridged the gap and there were still 4 or 5 of us at this time. The last downhill took most people off, less 4 of us. Finally, the last Bova downhill i was in first, but i crashed in the same place as before! Then, the second place guy crashed in front of me, twisting his wheel sideways in the dropout. I bunny hopped over him, but the second and third place guys were right on me. Flying down the gravel road, team hollyloft passed me, i grabbed his wheel as third place came up. It was a sprint to the finish! The rider from full moon vista placed first, the hollyloft rider was second, and i was third, and it was all within a second. A good race. A big thanks to Shifting Gears Bike Shop, and Doug Bush at Endurancefactor.com they have helped me out so much.

Next up: race in the catskills.

Chris

Post Lake to Lake woes

this week has been very rough. on Tuesday, i started to get some sort of flu, no doubt caused by my episode on Sunday. After being sick for 3 or so days a trip to the hospital occurred at the recommendation of my doctor. They thought i may have appendicitis, but luckily after 6 hours in the er, i was found to have a flu. thanks everyone, i would have just stayed home if it were not for my paranoid father. So after missing the Wednesday night race and a rice hill road race i am left being stressed and not having rode for 6 days. raccoon rally is next weekend and despite previous high aspirations i think i will have lost substantial fitness and the hope of placing.

Lake to Lake

Lake to Lake went well as expected. A solid third place turned into a 5th place finish because i took a wrong turn somewhere along the way, and the guys behind me ended up in front of me with no passing! Well, my mistake wrong turn, it is still a part of racing. I still managed a 1st in my age group though.

After the race, a killer headache ensued, i was seeing stars from too much caffeine (gus). I proceeded to the EMT tents where some nice cute ladies gave me some oxygen and talked to me. After puking my brains out of the side of Brian's truck onto some tailgating Saturn i felt better. awards were super late as usual but i got a siqqqqq coffee maker from the event dude because he felt bad for my misfortune.

two weeks until the rally and i feel like i am so ready for it (no wrong turns)

Chris

Empire State Tryouts

Today was Empire tryouts in good old boston ny. 6 mile tt followed by the 50 mile road race. 1000+ feet of climbing per lap. It was probably one of the hardest efforts i have ever put down, and it paid off. despite camping setting in in the 3rd lap, the lead group with me in it stayed together until the 5th lap, when it blew apart, and 5 guys left me and another guy behind. I placed 7th, which qualifies me for the games. today i was fairly pleased with my performance and it makes me feel like things will be in a great position for the rally and lake to lake in 14 days.
Chris

Been awhile since a new post, really getting some top end fitness in, but feeling a bit tired this week from the long hours and early mornings. I REALLY need rest before the race this weekend. I am eating an entire pizza right now. :)
Chris

Farmall #2 etc... Second race went as expected. Sickness played quite a roll in 2nd place, and i am a little worse off today because of the race. Took today, and perhaps tomorrow off depending on how it goes. Spoke to Jason Hilimire, nice guy, probably head out that way for some nice riding soon. Excited for next week though! and the pizza afterwards ;)

Well, after a decent race last week i finally got the sickness my family has had, which quickly developed into a sinus infection. I will be racing tomorrow night, but i am not expecting a first place, unless i make a miraculous recovery. The week after next will have to be my week to get best two of three....

Chris

WOW

It has been awhile hasn't it. Well, paris-ancaster was ok, i placed 37th despite being severley dehydrated. Not a bad result for my first "off road" since february. I finally got the car back on the road, i drive it to races, but for around town nothing beats the bike. Tonight was the farmall mountain bike race. Thanks Dudley for keeping me going with water water water, it was a dusty race, and even though i feel like i lack high end race power at this time of the year (no real intervals yet) i did take first by a few minutes. I have dust in my nose.

I am tired.
Later

Today i rode for a short period of time, this week is a light one because of the race. Later myself and two of my friends took a failed trip to lasertron, but we were the only ones there. So it was off to the pizza baron for a milkshake! I am looking at a beater car to get me by, i really want a runner! Things have been going ok.

Didn't go riding today, it was kind of bad out for spring, and i want to make sure i am in prime shape for the paris ancaster this weekend!

Went out for 5 hours today, met up with some friends halfway through the ride, rode with them for few hours, then made my way home. it was a good ride, and it was sunny out.

"EMOrtons"

Today was rainy and 45 degrees, went out for two easy hours, felt ok. No others showed, i guess they were scared off by the rain (haha)? Make sure to clean your bike immediately after getting home.

COLD OUT

After getting sick two weeks ago, and getting better just in time for some nice weather, i got sick again! Not as bad as the first time, because i got meds quickly for it, but it is still no fun. My hope right now is that the weather breaks quickly. I have been mountain biking in the snow, and it is ok, but not after, when you have to clean your bike up.

Had a real nice day, went riding twice, once with my teammates, and once alone. Then i hung out with a new friend i made a week ago. It was fun.


EVERYONE GOES TO TIM HORTONS haha

BACK AGAIN

Illness mostly gone, back to riding, feeling strong and well. Group ride tomorrow out of the ridge 11am. I hope it is nice out.

Full blown sickness

Well, i have a cold compunded on my diminshing ear infection, i have had it for 3 days now. I will be better tomorrow, my first day of riding for the week. i will just take it easy, it is not like i am going to lose any base mile fitness, and interval training has not yet started.

The past two days i haven't been able to get my heart rate up all the way, and i have an ear infection among other things. Doug says that i am overreached a bit and should back off for a few days. I also have a slight tickle in my throat. Will not go hard on saturday, if at all.

This weekend i am allowed to go all out if i feel good. Oh man, i hope i feel good.

Road racing in the northtowns!

Well, today was my first road race of the year. Besides having a week full of breakdowns and not feeling well, i did fine. I didn't leave witht he lead group, even though i felt like it, but it was better off because iw as supposed to stay in zone 3, which i did besides two or three hard pulls by the group. Training giros are just that, they do not count for anything, and people that burn out now will not be factors in the summer.

It was fun, i am excited for next week.

Wow, it is cold!

My thermometer went down to -.1 degrees last night. That is the coldest temperature all year. But i have some books i want to turn in at the bookstore and get some cash, so i will probably ride there :0.

Rode for 4 hours today, the weather was nice, and i climbed some hills that i haven't went up in a long time. I feel really good, fast.

Bowling and more...

Well, i have been pretty tired this week, on the bike and off, but i feel good. Me and my friend and his girlfriend have been bowling thursday nights. It is half price! A night costs us like $6 for 4 games and shoes! My highscore is 123, and i am just getting better. I will turn pro in bowling before i will on the bike! I also hung out with someone that i havn't seen in a long time, and it was nice.

In other news, my maxxis sponsorship went through, so i have the hookup on the sickest tires through them. I am so happy :)

Freezer!

Today, for the most part, was good. I placed 3rd at the freezer, and i felt that my fitness level was far past that of the winner, but my snow handling skills were lacking. They gave me a cool ice cream scoop as a prize!

Bad days.

I broke up with my longtime girlfriend Lauren tonight. Pretty much the worst night of my life, but it is better than staying with her and being sad. She didn't care about me anyway.

I like it when it is 'warm'

First training day of the week. I went outside! It was like 40 out and snowy but that is ok. I went to the doctor today. It seems that i have strep throat or something, so i am on meds, but i feel ok, which is good. :)

Training has gone well for the past two days, it is supposed to be warming up this week!
Using the rest day/holiday to fix my car!

Another cold day.

I have a rest week this week, so i only have to ride some 8 hours, as opposed to the usual 16. I have been taking a nap everyday n the afternoon, and it is nice. today i rode to school, and rode at night for 45 minutes.
I plan on doing the Freezer bike race in canada on the 25th. I have high expectations, but at the very least, i just want to race.