Quick post, just added my training peaks link on the blog list. This will show what workouts i do and all of my training data! (well, what i remember to put in there!)

Sightings.

It was cold, 33 or so out, but it was nice and sunny!

Blue M&M


Mossy trails

I stopped to put my lightweight gloves on out in the country and this little guy couldn't decide if he wanted to come over or not, and a car had to stop for him! I decided for him by scooping him up, and he took a look at the Felt!

I ride a big bike, this tree was HUGE, like 8 FT in diameter.

Blowing the Dust off, AKA Clearing Cobwebs

Not a ton of things happened on the bike front in these past two months. As the leaves fell away from the warm days and into the short cold ones i found myself unmotivated and largely off the bike. Aside from some good long rides and some Blue Ridge Cup races where i surprised myself, there was little saddle time.

My last 'real' race of the year started with a trip to Richmond, where one of my former co-workers who ventured to the heart of the confederacy and i rode around and he showed me some of the cool old stuff there. The next day was the Tidewater Challenge where i had succeeded in obtaining the singlespeed state champion title. Not wanting to leave that early, and also wanting to save myself for the later pro race, i opted out. It didn't matter anyway as i had become infected by the wild hog flu, or some sort of flu. Warming up, my heartrate was unusually high, and i had a sore throat, etc. I attributed it to my friend's cat, but as i settled into 4-5 place i started to feel like garbage more and more. My heartrate was 255 at one point! I quit the race, my first DNF of the year, and a sour way to end the season, but i was in for it and it just got worse on the drive home.

I obtained a power meter or two and am looking to train more seriously this year than in the past. This happens every year, and i seem to get faster every year too! Training started this past week, and things are looking good. Next year will include far more road races (i did one quasi road race this year.) Looking to turn that Cat 4 into a 3 or a 2! Well, we'll see how it goes.

Patiently waiting on the race series' schedules to come out, as there are a ton to choose from! West Virginia series, Mid Atlantic Super Series, Chris Scott races, 100 milers, Michaux races, and the Virginia series. Try to carpool a bit more hopefully, and don't forget road races, I'm guessing up in PA or DC area? That is an investigation in progress.

Did some serious off-road road riding this week when i decided i wanted to climb up a mountain and it turned from rocky fire road to really rocky double track! But i was already that far, so i kept climbing while the bear hunters watched me ride through mud on 23c tires! It was great, aside from loosening up some spokes on my new powertap wheel. No harm done though, just needed some breaking in! I dabbed once at a 3 foot deep creek crossing. While trying to negotiate a algae covered log across the creek (i was walking) i slipped and got a hot foot, but then wizened up and used the bike as a crutch, while giving it a bath in cool, er cold mountain water.

Now i am in the process of looking up races to do this winter to keep me somewhat sharp, and i have been in the process of getting ready for a 5 hour ride outside in the cold, maybe if my hands aren't too cold i will take some pictures to post up here. I am also going to make my training log public as i am coaching myself now. I will post the link on the right side of the page. My hours, workouts, and power files will be there.

Falltime

During and after my recovery from being sick, I got to some races. The first being the WVMBA final in Morgantown, WV. Feeling kind of like garbage, but wanting to visit friends and race. The race started up a road climb and i was glad i was still fit enough to feel ok there, but the real test started in the woods. Rolling through the singletrack on Shogren's wheel, with TJ Platt leading, i felt fine for about 10 minutes. Then something grabbed the bars from me and i went face first into the ground, landing on my shoulder and collarbone as well. Stunned and upset, i got up quickly but couldn't do anything. A guy who crashed behind me grabbed my bike and put it off to the side. When i gained my wits, i set off at a furious pace to catch the leaders. Made some mistakes and about 30 minutes later, realized i was in trouble. i wasn't blown, but almost. I ran out of water somewhere around halfway, and the finish couldn't have come soon enough. What a way to end the series, a disappointing 6th, 10 minutes back!?

But that is how MTB racing goes sometimes, i am glad that i didn't break my body or my bike, and i had a great cheeseburger dinner courtesy of my great host family in town.


Fast forward a few weeks to this past Tuesday, which was the second Blue Ridge Cyclocross, here in town. My first for the year. It is east VS. west, and Charlottsville (AKA the Foof) had to be shut down. With Jeremiah and Nick Waite here, as well as Andy, I knew we were in good shape. The pace was brutal, and at first i wondered why i was getting passed, but then i remembered my lack of fitness! After about 30 minutes in i started feeling good, and just wanted to maintain my 5th place. Mission accomplished, came in 5th about 3-4? minutes back from the pro train. Didn't feel bad about that. Hopefully some fitness will be gained from that.

This weekend is the Poor Mountain Hillclimb down in Roanoke. Time to find the skinniest tires for my bike (i wish i had a cross' bike!) and climb into the sky for 40-45 minutes. Maybe i can notch up a win?

This weekend....

Is in question. I have been sick since friday and i am not feeling it, but i still desire to race, just don't want to look like a slumlord...nibble on this...

Shenandoah 100 Recap.

This past Sunday i completed and competed in my first 100 mile off road race, also known as an Ultra-Endurance MTB race...

I must say, hearing people talk about these for a few years now, i never could understand why you would want to race 100 miles on your mountain bike. It just seemed like it would be long and slow.

So i got to the campsite around 8pm the night before and signed up. I got some Hammer gel from Chris Scott, the organizer, and decided that drop bags were not needed. My rear tire on my bike was leaking a bit, and reason for some concern , but i went to bed around 11pm.

The race started at 6:30am and i was lined up in the front row basically, ready to race. No warm up needed, this is 100 miles! The race started at a brisk pace, but i wanted to get into the woods ASAP so i stayed with the leaders up the first climb, having to back it off a bit towards the top, because my heart rate monitor wasn't working and it would be a long day to blow up!

This particular race has about 12,000 feet of climbing, and i would tend to stay on the climbs with people, then drop them on the downhills. This could have worked against me in some sections as i was left exposed on many roads, but live and learn, i wanted to rip downhills!

Around mile 50-60 was really tough, i had seemingly blown up and was being passed by all sorts of people on the dirt road to aid station 5, before the climb. I decided to limit the damage and back off, eat and hopefully recover a bit. Lucky for me, by station 5 i was ready to go again, and dropped 4 of the guys who caught me up the the highest point in the race. From there on it was easy, and i came in at 8:13 in 24th place. I was hoping to do sub 8, but next year this is a realistic goal.

I did however, win as the fastest local (Jeremiah does not count!!) and i got me a picture on the interwebs !

It was fun, and i do now understand why these events are so popular. Chris runs a great race, and the atmosphere is super cool. It was great seeing friends from back home. Dennis of EBS fame did well for himself and beat his old time by about 1/2 hour!

Surprisingly, i don't feel tired, and i am about to go for a hard ride, later!

Yeah awesome.

It's about time for some awesome to hit this blog like an egg on a frying pan, or a little woodland creature under the tire of a ridiculous SUV. That's right folks, a big fat splat of, er... awesome?

Well it has arrived in the form of late summer and fall racing. After a month hiatus from racing, i am back for some throw down time. Ride the rocks was OK, but last week in WV i felt really good, then i got lost from the lead group that consisted of three of us, and finished up in 3rd about 10 minutes back. That sucks, but that's racing, and especially racing in WV. Where the heck am i?

So, debating whether i want to race this weekend in Charleston, or hang around these parts and get ready for the SM100...If i decide to do it. It is in my backyard, but i am no 'endurance specialist.' That is an excuse, the real reason is the $170 to enter! But if i go, i hope to be around 9 hours.

More importantly, there are some sweet races on the horizon. WV series champs, where hometown favorites will go for the gold, the Chain Stretcher in Peekskill, NY which i regrettably missed last year, Maybe some racing back in WNY, and the Blue Ridge Cup!

FUN!

MASS Ride the Rocks

This past Sunday was a Mid Atlantic super Series race up in PA. Not having raced since a spectacular blowup in WV, i decided i should get back to racing before some big races hit this late summer and fall. The race was called "Ride the Rocks" and was to feature "substantial climbing" This was laughed at my myself and fellow racer Ryan F, as Harrisonburg would surely embarrass any race course with these claims.

With a stacked Elite field and temperatures in the 90s we started at around 12:30. It would be two 10 mile laps or the rockiest terrain i have ever raced on. Not large rocks mind you, just small ones that constantly jar your whole body. Uphills as well, filled with rocks. I had decided to try pacing myself here after the blowup, a sort of test to see if pacing is real.

Well, i started the race feeling pretty sluggish, and slowly picked up speed. My seconds lap was slower than my first, but not a huge difference. 3 minutes or so. I usually drop a bit more than that in the last lap, but even if i fell 5 minutes off pace in the last lap, my first lap effort is that much faster. So the jury is sort of out on that one, but i caught some guys on the last lap!

So 9th place. I will take it against that field. Some good payout, and some racing to get me ready for the next few weekends!

Summer Leaves Lines.

So the past 3 weeks have been full of real pro training, done with riding when i feel like it and not following a respectable schedule, i have graduated to a vague, but more defined schedule. This upcoming week shall be the 4th week, a week of relative rest. No racing has been happening, but i have been trying to remember all the races i have done so far this year so i can hopefully attain the almighty sponsorship.

I feel really good, and managed to feel pretty good all day today on a 4.5 hour road ride with Andy. Killed some small hills, but rode endurance 260w besides the 45minutes of climbing hurt. I also received some bad sun, as it was cloudy and rainy when we left. Neither of us thought that the sun might come out in full effect, yo.

Some people aren't feeling so great, friend and fast guy Jeremiah Bishop had some bad luck in the great white north and crashed hard, but will hopefully give himself time to heal and come back strong for the late summer madness!

Set a PR up reddish and LT wattage is somewhere around 5 w/kg. So i decided i am fit enough to justify going to Windham and getting beat badly by fast pros. For those who don't know, Windham is a small ski town in the Catskills, and they are hosting a big pro race on the 16th. Big names are sure to show, as the World Cup finals (the biggest of the big) are going to be there next year!

Fixed computers, Broken racing.

After many days, and a few fortnights, i have my computer back, and with it, the Internet. Racing has been good, never finishing worse than 5th any race aside from the 2 big events of the year, (greenbriar and massanutten kenda cup)

Went over to Davis, WV for the stae champs, race started really well, felt good despite a total lack of training in the last month, and gapped the field something decent. After 2/3 laps, blew up totally, couldn't ride the rocks (before or after said blowup) and tried to finish top 3. I ended up getting passed in the last 5 minutes by Gunner Shogren and TJ Platt so that was kind of lame, but you are allowed to have a bad race every now and then?

The good news is i went up on the 4th of July weekend to NY and managed to participate in the Buffalo Bicycling club hillclimb. It's not really a big deal to most people, but it was one of the hills i used to ride often and i always wanted the record there. Well, 6:37 did it and now i have the satisfaction of record holderdom. And maybe i will be back next year to best it!

So after a month of slacking i will again resume my daily suffering in hopes to have a strong late summer and fall on the bike!

Quickly.

Computer is broken and i am super busy. A quick vid:

WVMBA #3

Heading out to West Virginia on Sunday morning, i was less than motivated. Feeling heavy from eating too much in the past few days, and not wanting to drive 4.5 hours to the town of Spencer were big factors. About 60 miles into the 230 mile drive i got tired and took a nap in the back of the van near Seneca rocks. When i woke up an hour later, i had the motivation and a challenge, a challenge to get there on time.

After quite the crazy drive on the twisty roads, i arrived with 10 minutes to spare. Fortunately, the race was pushed back 1/2 hour, and i could do some dialing in to my bike.

The race started and i quickly found myself in the lead, not bad, but then i thought that i had gotten lost and stopped. Soon after, i see mountain bike legend Gunnar Shogren appear. I hop on to his wheel, and soon two others join. Moving along at a decent clip i am feeling good now i realize, but keep getting dropped when the rider in front of me makes poor line choices. After catching the crazy train again, Gunnar falls and i attack. For a lap it is 3 of us and no Gunnar, then at the first climb of the 2nd lap, and one of only a few climbs on the course we drop the third rider.

The faux ralph dry tires on the bike hooked up alright in the mud, but left much to be desired, my 11t cog also stripped and that was an unfortunate scene. But everything else worked great and i was thankful for that!

The 2nd and last lap was different than the first with a series of me attacking on the short climbs and the other competitor, Jeremy sneaking back on the rolling singletrack. Leading at the end, i missed a turn and Jeremy found it before i had, gaining the lead in the last minute of the race. With no room to pass, and my 11t cog broken, it was over and i knew it was over for me. Jeremy took the win by 3 seconds and i was left to my bittersweet 2nd place. Gunnar was 3rd, 3:20 back.

Lessons from WV:
Mud tires are mandatory
Follow the locals
Drop all the other guys before the finish
Nice cash payout!

I will be back...!


Up to WNY next week to visit!

Greenbrier, in an eggshell.

Went up to the MD this past weekend, for some racing in Greenbrier state park there. Last year was a disaster. I was sick, tired, and broke my bicycle, then rode it for a lap with a flat before deciding to quit.

This year was much better, a starting field of 22 or so in my first real pro race. The usual suspects were there, but this time i got to race with them! The race started out fast, but not too fast with humidity high and temps in the mid 90s. Hanging in the lead group, someone in front of me flubbed part of the 2nd uphill and i had to dismount. This is where i lost contact with the leaders. I felt good about that, 3rd race of the year and all.

I quickly realized that i was getting caught by the pack and gave it. Fatiguing at a consistent rate and finishing in 11th place, good enough to qualify for the national championships i am not going to, but out of the cash!

I am still a bit sore and it is now Wednesday...did i mention i got a new bike?

Michaux this weekend? I'm not too good for the longer stuff, so maybe this will help me, if not be a bit embarrassing.

Race season has started, and it is nice to gt started racing a bit earlier than usual. the O hill meltdown in C-Ville went well in the mud, and a race near Richmond at Camp Hilbert didn't go so well, as i fell from third to 6th place after i blew up for unknown reasons. Hopefully it makes me faster, because i was sore after the race at Hilbert, and i hardly ever get sore, but even after the five guys blew past me, about 3/4 through the race i kept the gas on and i think it will be good for me down the road.

I related news, two (or three?) weeks ago i went down to SC again. A very fast bike ride, missed train, and a looooong bus ride later i arrived in Charlotte, NC. My Uncle had witnessed the state of the Chevette upon my last visit and said "I don't how much longer that thing will last." At the time i passed it off as nonsense! This car has lasted me thus far, why would it quit now? Well she lit on fire, and my Uncle purchased a GMC Safari van and did a great deal of work to it for me, I am very thankful to my uncle and enjoy the van immensely.

I had seen it in the lot before i left last visit, and it looked like a new van! It now has a carpet and is ready for camping in forests and at races!

i was only in SC for about 5 hours, but it was a great visit with everyone down there, I always eat too much. thanks for the cookies and pie Grandma!

I will probably hang around Harrisonburg for this weekend, maybe borrow a road bike for Harri-Roubaix to get some racing in.

Greenbrier at the end of the month!

Got out for a hard ride today with Jeremiah, 3x20 min subthreshold with surges up to 150% threshold effort over at massanutten. Ok time for a nap.

Light Travel, Alfine Impressions

A few weeks ago i went down to SC to visit family and hopefully get some good riding in. Family was good, riding was bad. No, the riding was actually alright, rolling, tight, twisty single track, but it lacked something, some G word was missing, even though i rode in the dark for 3 hours or so, no obstacle took me by surprise.

A similar incident happened while visiting friends in WV last weekend. Decent trail, lacking Punch, lacking something, what?

I self diagnosed this condition as singletrackdesensitization. A disorder brought on by massive amounts of close calls, rocks, and te G word. The G word is of course, gnar. When i was diagnosed, it was found that my body was clogged with gnar, the only cure being rail trails and roads. trouble is, the side effects from the treatment are worse than the disease, creating an interesting situation.

The symptoms aren't so bad, one feels the ability to climb, ride and descend almost anything while staying cool. i hope this isn't a false sense, as it will come in handy for racing.

Speaking of racing (nice segway!) this weekend will be my first race since...December? It shall be glorious, and i good proving ground for he Alfine,which is still functioning awesome despite no bicycle washing or maintenance for 3 weeks. That's about 300+ off road miles!

I do have concerns about the efficiency, as the lowest gear seems to take some energy out, and the bike feels like a steel bike when you pedal, steel is not real, it is for hippies, so this isn't good. I can always buy another bike for racing only, but i have to really give the hub a fair shot, and even if i did want another bike i have to save!

So as of now, the project is a medium success.

bike pics soon

What's This?

Front wheel has been assembled for a week now, rode it, and i approve, front weight turned out to 688g, 2g lighter than a 26" Crossmax front wheel. Seems to be holding up so far...

The Alfine arrived two days ago and i Will be building her tomorrow. Excited for gears, anyone know where to find some sweet wingnuts?

I Can't Decide on a Road Bike.

I have some tightness in my lungs, i think it is just allergies, but i am worried. Deciding whether to put some trainer time in tonight or not, but i think i will, as long as the cold air doesn't hit my lungs...

Trying to be fiscally responsible when you work at a bike shop is nearly impossible. As my boss says, "you can have the F1 or bikes, what else can you have the F1 of?" he makes a good point, also with a double meaning. My sense tells me to but something decent, but not crazy and spend the other cash on a 705+quarq. And so the debate rages on.

I bought a scale that is so cool and awesome, it almost sheds the pounds for you. (body not bike) I should be into the 160s tomorrow, and therefore allowed to buy my bike. No i didn't lose water to make weight, this was all fat, and i am excited about losing it.

3 down, 8 to go!

It Was 67 Out Today.

Training has been an all consuming task, stuck in between everything else. I haven't had problems with recovery, but i don't think i am doing quite enough, or going hard enough. That will start to happen in the next two weeks.

A new road bike will arrive (haven't decided what to get yet, probably something cheap for now) and i will order a powertap as well, I've gone without power for long enough.

Jeremiah is helping me train, and we've discovered quite a few faults, which is more god than it is bad. I now know what i need to do.

Weak core, more power work, stretching, dial in the training more, and lose the weight. I thought i was around 8% fat, but this isn't true. I am around 13% which leaves me with about 6-7% to lose this off season, or 10 pounds.

It's going to be hard to get the last 4 gone, I've never done it before, but a quick look at the power profile chart is plenty of motivation. 10lbs at my power is about 23 free watts. If i have the same lt power as last year at that weight i will go very, very fast.

Still working on the MTB and the race schedule, well, i actually haven't started that yet, but it will probably be built around the WV series with some nationals and other races thrown in there.

No pictures, but it is mostly brown out anyway.

The Bike is Almost Done.

Yes, almost ready for race season 2009, and despite not putting out a resume i have some offers from bicycle teams and companies, some of which tempt me with super trick carbon bikes...

But i don't know what is happening on that front, what i do know is that Selle Italia is awesome.

Last year, i had a Kona hardtail that came with an SLR carbino on it. Great seat, but when i put it on the Scott with it's lack of seat post options, the carbon rails got damaged. My fault totally. I emailed Selle Italia and asked what the cost would be to put new rails on my seat. They offered to give me a new seat with a slight cosmetic defect.

So after i finally shipped the seat over to Italy and a few weeks later, it is back! What they saw as a cosmetic defect i can barely see, and the seat is way more svelte than the one i had before. Not only that, i received swag, including some metal stickers and a leather/stainless key fob. I promise i won't wreck this one, thanks guys!