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.
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