Saturday, December 31, 2005

New Years Eve

It's New Years Eve Morning. Lindsay's flight was hella late. She was supposed to get in @ 10:30, but got in a little after midnight. Then after waiting for baggage and all that crap we didn't leave Indy until around 1:00am, then by the time we got to bed it was close to 3:00am. That's wicked late for me, I usually go to bed around 10:30-11:00. Oh well, no big deal.
The shop closes @ 2:00pm today, so I'm going to plan on doing a 20mile, or so, cross bike ride on some gravel/crappy roads east of town. I may be too tired though, we'll see. Tomorrow's looking okay weather wise, so I want to get in a road ride (probably the same one I did Tues 'cause it is about the flattest thing I know around here [which makes it just under 2,000' in about 35 miles] and I value flat(er) rides this time of year.) That will put me w/out a day off this week, but that's okay for base building, I guess. I'll take one next week. Then I think there's a b-town cx race the following weekend; sweet.
We have no plans for tonight. Probably be best to just stay home. We don't have any hangout's here like we had a few in Muncie. It took years to find the joints that were up our alley there, so I guess they'll turn up eventually. But as for this party night, may be bed early.
Happy New Year!

Friday, December 30, 2005

am lift

Lifted this morning. No 2-a-day today. Firday is lift only. Plus I have to go to Indy to pick up Lindsay tonight.
I sped through the wieghts today. There are far too many people in the 'gym' wearing cycling shorts to lift, etc. That isn't right. People: cycling shorts are for cycling! I wouldn't show up to lift in a swim suit (speedo). They're for swimming! Maybe I'll show up to lift kitted out, bibs, jersey, helmet, maybe even a skinsuit, and see if I get wierd looks form "those people." Plus (the reason I sped through lifts) there's this one dude I see @ the Y every so often who wears cycling shorts w/ knee high socks. This is a 100% Type A/"short man" guy. It bugs the crap out of me when people have poor form lifting. It's the easist thing to do, just don'ty nmove your back, or whatever. This dude has piss-poor form, inhales on the lift and exhales on the release (which is backwards) and dresses like a freak. On top of all this he breathes SUPER LOUD. He totally distracts me form my work out. I hate that people have that power over me, but man, this guy annoys me like no other. For the Frankfort readers, he is Ed Neihaus, whom I hate(d).
Anywho I get to see linds tonight, it's been a week or so. She has xmas presents here when she gets back, that should excite her.
Don't wear cycling shorts to the gym!!

Thursday, December 29, 2005

am roller

I put in 1hr on rollers this am. That's about 3 episode of Boy Meets World. Actually, an epsidoe is 21-22min long, so I did the 200 situps routine during the last episode. Nothing to report, just an easy spin, then off to work in a few miutes.
Lindsay got me a killer coffee cup for xmas that I've used everyday since. It's hand made on a pottery wheel. I saw it at the Musgorve Orchard earlier in the year, but didn't enough $$ to buy it. She went back and got it for me. It rules. It looks like an old tin cup, but is ceramic (or whatever pottery stuff is made of). She og tme also a double espresso cup from the same lady. Really cool to have locally made wares like that.
Oh yeah, my hair clippers blew up and caught on fire while I was cutting my hari the other night. I had just cut my whole head to a uniform 3/4" and "poof" the clippers, literally, blew up in my habd and caught on fire. It went our quick and by itself, but a) it freaked me out and b) I coudn't work my fade, so my hair is all one length. We have a Walmart gift card w/ about $10 on it, so when Linds gets back I'm gonna go get some new clippers. I've had the ones that blew for probably 5 years and they cost about $15, so I got my $$ worth for sure, considering 1 cut is $11.

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

am/pm

So I lifted this morning. It was really nice outside here, 52*, light wind, cloudy. I wanted to stick to my plan, rather than go for a ride. As it turned out it started raining when I was in the gym; score. I did a 40min roller ride after work for my 2-a-day. Just an easy spin.
Temp dropped throughout the day, and it's supposed to cool down. Maybe snow in the forecast. It's winter training time, so what do I care? An outside ride here and there is nice, but I pretty much expect to be inside most days. Plus my plan only allows for a couple of opportunities for outside rides per week anyway. Maybe Sunday (New Years Day) will be okay for an outdoorer???

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Windy outside

I got in a 45min roller spin after work last night. I watched 2 episodes of Boy Meets World, which is almost exactly 45min. Perfect.
I went outsdie for 35miles today. The weather is great, but it is super windy, up out of the South. All of the southbound sections of the ride were spent head down, grinding@, like, 16mph, until a southbound climb came around, which was spend head down, grinding @, like, 10mph wishing for death. I went out Bethl to hwy45, to Southshore Dr, acrros SS and in Old 37. It was an involved ride, as some of the descents were 35+mph, but there is sand and some slick spots on the roads. Plus I saw, I'd guess 10 dogs. None chased, but they always put me on edge. So between scanning for dogs, ice and sand, my neck and eyes got quite a work out too. I'm glad I was able to put in a good outside base ride. I think B-Town winter training is a recipe for fast. It's just as windy here as Muncie, only you're either being smakced in the face w/ wind or your climbing. Or BOTH!

Monday, December 26, 2005

Post xmas

Having xmason a Sunday worked good for me. I usually take Sat off, but instead I rode then and took Sun. off. Then I hit the gym this morning and will do a little roller ride tonight. I got the DVD's of Boy Meets World to watch while riding. That should help make time go by. The Y was bust today cause most peole don't have to work. I was able to get my stuff in w/ no hassle, but there was a lot of peeps there. I moved up my weights for lifts, except for squat, which I decreased and added 1 rep and 1 set (per Coach Creer) (I'm not telling how much I'm lifting, it's embrassing how weak my sqaut is). I need to get to the grocery as I'm out of just about everything. Have to try to do that after a p.m. spin.
Hope everyone had a great holiday, I did.

Saturday, December 24, 2005

Outdoors :)

Yesterday John called the shop and said nobody "had to" come in today if we wanted to leave early for our holiday destinations. I opted to not go in. When I got up it was 38* and I decided to get in an outside road ride. It was in the low 40's and hella windy, but I felt awesome. I pushed strong into the wind and spun when it was behind me. I only rode about 20m, but it was great to get out on a non-freezing day. In fact, I was overdressed. I had on my under-helmet neoprene hat thing and a jacket over two other layers. I had to take of the jacket and cap and shove them down into the back of my jersey. I looked like a hunch back, but I decidexd I would tell any on lookers it was a speed hump. There were no on lookers, seeing as it's xmas eve and; like most college towns, this one is a ghost town. It's knid of nice because this is a pretty busy town for it's size. Everyone wants to live here becasue it rules. One more thing about the ride, and I know it sounds like a broken record, but the Rock-n-Roll lube stuff is the boss. My bike rolls better, runs smother and pedal better than ever before with this stuff. The guy who sells it is a total wacko (it took me 28 minutes to order from him over the phone because he wouldn't stop talking and not just about grease, about EVERYTHING [and yes, adultry is included in that]). But he knows his lubes and he makes the finest.
I'm gonna hit the road for home soon and come back tomorrow. Happy birthday tomorrow to J.C.

Thursday, December 22, 2005

indoors :(

Looks like a roller ride today. I really wanted to get outside. I watched the forecast last night and it said a LOW of 32, so I figured it'd be somewhere around 30-32. It's about 19-21 since I've gotten up and I don't want to brave that this early in the season. I guess I'll ride rollers, per 'the plan.'
I did 40min on the rollers last night for my 2-a-day. I have to take Lindsay to the airport tomorrow am, but I think I'll be able to hit the YMCA before to lift. I can't remeber what time we need to leave, but I know it's kind of early (maybe 9 or something).
Matt and Zach went to FL to train for a week and are coming back today. Yesterday MAtt got in a pretty bad wreck on bike. He hit a road cut that was not pointed out by Zach (in front of him) and went donw hard, cracked his helmet all to hell and road rashed his face/shoulder/ankle all up. The other riders said he was out for a minute or two, but he said he's feeling fine now. He, like most of us, has no insurance, so he has to do the home CT scan, which is basically watching for dizziness or messed up vision. Hope he (and his $5,000 TT bike) are okay.
Well, on to the hampster wheel...

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

am lift

I lifted again today. It's been two days, but I'm getting the routine down. That's good because it cuts timethrying to figure out what's next. I'm incorporating some medicine ball throws for full body strength and it gets the heart rate up too. Plan is to ride rollers tonight.
All of the race schedules are up. Ohio Valley, Indiana Race Series and DINO. That means my calendar is complete for 2006, except cyclocross of course. That won't be anounced for a while. IRS has a whole series of Morgan-Monore State Forest time trials. Plus it has a Lake Lemon Road Race. These two things rule because there on my stomping ground. That's where we train several days a week. Plus IRS has a MTB race on it's schedule. I'm planning to add a few more RR's and TT's than last year, since there's so amny around here to do. Still focus on MTB, but do more road as well. Should be a busy year; cool.

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Roller spin

I spun on the rollers this morning. No interval, just kept cadnece aroun 90-95 and mph around 17-18. I meant to ride for an hour, but ended up an hour and ten minutes on accident. It won't hurt anything, but it's weird that someone like me (who loaths indoor riding) would accidentally ride too long. Oh well, I did my 200 situp routine and that's that. Tomorrow is another scheduled 2x w/ weights in the a.m. and a roller ride p.m.
I'm not too sore at all from lifting. I can feel some soreness, but it's minimal. Mainly in my but (lunges) and my upper chest (dumb bell bench). Can't complain about that. Being tore up from staring lifting can put people out for a couple days some times.

Monday, December 19, 2005

P.M. roller ride

I did 40 min on the rollers when I got home from work tonight. I"m going to do 2-a-days 2-3x per week for a month or two. I have to FORCE myself to work out in the evening. I don' t like it, but I'll do it for awhile, I can use the base.
I totalled my year mileage. I have 4,767.2 for the year, and my files are cleared for the new year (which starts for me today). That 4,767 doesn't include trainer or commuting miles, so I had a pretty good year for a full time worker.

Back at it

I'm done with my week off. And I started lifting for the season. I went to the YMCA thi smorning and did my usual weight routine, but w/ lighter weight than usual. It always takes me some time to remember what it is that I do, since it's been a year or so since I lifted. It's about a 40min routine and hits full body. Pretty good stuff, muscular endurance lifting. I want to incorporate a couple more core excersises, but whatever, I'll figure it out as I go.
I plan to ride rollers tonight for a short time (probaly 30 min-1 hr, we'll see.) Just an easy spin to loosen legs muscle and to (try to) ward off DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness). I wasn't too bad w/ DOMS last year, but there's no way to tell until you wake up the next morning and the one after that. Could be rough commute tomorrow, hope not; we'll see.

Saturday, December 17, 2005

Pizza and a concert

To top off my week off, we went for pizza last night @ Mother Bears. We went to The Spin Doctors show at The Bluebird after. It was the Toy for tots show, so if you brought an unwrapped toy, you got in free. The Dr.'s were good. The singer has these killer high-kick dance moves. They sounded really good, like thay haven't lost much and they're happy to be performing still. We didn't stay for the whole show, but heard a couple of hits and some new crap. They went on about 10:30, after the opening band played for little over an hour. The opening band was some crappy pseudo jam band that was a total Phish rip off. The dude used the exact sae guitar effects as Phish. They played the obligatory "Tied to the Whipping Post" (Almond Bros, I believe) that every half-assed jam band in the country plays. Oh well, The Dr.'s were fun and put on a good show; I'm just getting old and don't like being out till, like, midnight anymore. At least there's no smoking in B-Town, so if you do go out, so don't smell bad and you don't have a hacking cough the next day. That rules.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Lazy Dayz

Well, I have not worked out all week. Riding to work is the only excercise I'm really getting. I feel lazy, but it's supposed to be good for me. I'm (trying to) sleep in an extra half hour or so each day for growth hormone/recovery's sake.
I finished overhauling my road bike with Rock-n-Roll lubes and cleaners. It is super smooth now. I put on a new chain and it's ready to go. Too bad next time it's ridden outside it will totally thrash the new and clean stuff. I have a couple of rides to do on cross bike in mind to are on gravel and crappy roads that are around 20 miles or so. It should be some decent riding for crap weather when road riding isn't a great idea. We'll see come next week and the following weeks.

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Rebuild time

I'm overhauling my road bike in the week I'm taking off. I did both hubs last night and I'm doing drivetrain and headset tonight. I should be done wed or thurs and it'll be better than new with the Rock-n-Roll lubes through out.
I'm still doing my situp routine this week. It's quick and I'm sure won't inhibit my recovery. I need to maintain as much core strength as possible because during the season I don't do any core specific work, just riding, which strengthens the core, but is not specific to it.
I'm going to clean the Apt. this morning. I haven't vacuumed for over a week and when we're tracking in nasty crap from the outside slushiness, it needs done more often. So that's my plan this morn.

Sunday, December 11, 2005

Bloomington Bandit Cross #2

Today was #2 of the Bloomington BAndit CX Series. The race was at a little park in a neighborhood off of Rogers St called Thompson Park. It was 32* and snowing w/ maybe a hint of freezing rain. Ideal Conditions for cross, they say. We rode an off road cinder trail out to the course, which sucked. It was hub deep snow the whole way and no one had been on it on bike, foot ski, nothing. It was just us blazing the trail. The course went around the parameter of the park throug woods, over iced-over bridges, then throught the center of the park field where there were the 3 barreirs. After the barriers was a sand box crossing that had to be ran through, you just sunk into it. It was a cold, tough race, but it CX and it's a 3 minute ride to the meeting place from my door. Can't beat that.
My plan is to take off all next week from all training. Then start lifting the following week with a few rooler ides squeezed in. Then roller/trainer (or outside) rides the following with lifting (maybe some runs too). Next cross race is Jan 15, but it'as time to think about 2006 season now and I need to have time off, says coach Andy Creer. So I'm going to take a week. It's actually kind of hard to take a week off when you train and are active 51 weeks a year. It will do me some good though.

Saturday, December 10, 2005

Rent

We saw Rent the movie tonight. I have seen it on stage twice and the movie was absolutley great. I was blown away. It was a very good adaptaion, it left out nothing, added a few things, but kept to the original well. A few of the dialogue parts in the movie are sung on stage, but overall, I loved it. The origanl cast was awesome to see doing the show. Very moving.
I need to end this post with the declaration that I am straight. As an arrow. Ask my wife. I just like Broadway stuff, what?

Indy Cross Series Final

Raced the Indy CX finals today onice covered in 8" of snow. Riding, or racing as it were, on ice is super hard. The whole race my heart rate was under contorl, my legs felt fine and my lungs were fine, I just couldn't keep my bike in a straight line. I felt either drunk or like it was the first time I'd ever ridden a bike (or maybe the first time I'd ever ridden a bike drunk?). Lindsay said it was comical to see all these guys riding super slow then just falling over seemily at random. That's how it was too. We were riding crazy slow, then your front wheel would hit the edge of the snow and take you whever it wanted you, then when you try to get back on course, you slide on ice. It was a serious bitch. But, I did it and that makes me tough, right? I'll be even tougher after tomorrow's Bloomington CX race, right? We shall see.
I ended up 9th at the race (a few suprise fast guys were there, and a few of the dude's I normally beat rode very well in the BAD conditions). I beat my "arch rival" in sereis, but he still beat me in the series overall by 1 point! I ended up 3rd for the series. Not bad, I'll take it.

Friday, December 09, 2005

Ankle deep in snow

So it did snow. A lot. I'd guess 6-8" fell here. It was coming down hard and steady all afternoon. I was overhauling a Little 500 commuter bike yesterday and I left early when I finished it, about 5. I rode home in falling snow and about 4" of it on the ground. It was a difficult ride home. It's like riding in sand. More resistance and it makes you slide around. Can't lean into turns either. Plus there's only a couple of options in terms of where you can ride (in the care tyre tracks), so cars have to drive behind you and can't really pass. I'm not going much slower than they are anyway, I just don't like having cars waitng behind me. I said to Lindsay when I got home "if I can ride to and from work in this and stay upright, plus race cross in it, I'll be a bike handling superstar by Feb" that's the bright side.

Thursday, December 08, 2005

Computrainer

Well, I finally put in over anhour on the trainer for the year. I did a pre-programed course called "chirs winter spin" (for BZ and MSTNBNR's sake if they want to ride it). It was a 21.4 mile course with a long 2% climb in the middle and rolling otherwise. The hour went pretty fast. I had "Saved By The Bell" on the tv and my Ipod on plus the computrainer screen displays, so I had plenty of distractions. It didn't feel too torturous.
We're supossed to get a big snow storm later in the day; up to 4" here and more north. Could make for soem interesting CX over the weeknd both here and in Indy.

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

A.M. Run

Nothng exiting today. I couldn't get out of bed untill 8:15, but that's okay when I'm running and it's this cold. It was 11* this morning. I actually ran about 1min faster than I normally do on my road route, maybe it was the cold. I'm going to find an hour or so long ride on the computrainer tonight to do tomorrow. Then off Friday, and back-to-back racing (weather pending) for the weekend.

A.M. Run

Nothng exiting today. I couldn't get out of bed untill 8:15, but that's okay when I'm running and it's this cold. It was 11* this morning. I actually ran about 1min faster than I normally do on my road route, maybe it was the cold. I'm going to find an hour or so long ride on the computrainer tonight to do tomorrow. Then off Friday, and back-to-back racing (weather pending) for the weekend.

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Stadium CX FREEZING!

I rode cyclocross over to and at the stadium this morning. It was about 13* and snowing. No real wind though. I put in about 45 minutes. That's enough in this cold. The snot on the wipe cloth of my glove froze so when I went to wipe my nose more it just slid off. The water in my bottle froze, so I couldn't drink. It wasn't too bad once I got over the numbness. After that intial shock (about 15min, I'd guess), it wasn't as terrible as you may think. It was nice to get inside though (even we haven't turned on our heat yet). The last Indy CX race sis this weekend and counts for double points, so I don't want to slack this week on training. Plus Sunday is #2 of the B-Town CX Series, so I have busy race weekend ahead.Let's hope the weather holds out for us...
~~~does anyone else notice that the dominate theme in all my entries is the weather? Maybe I should be a meteorologist. They probably make good $$.~~~

Monday, December 05, 2005

Rollers

I rode an easy 30min. spin on the rollers today. Just trying to keep rpm around 95 and spin the legs out. No real agenda. It's supossed to be a cold week, but I want to get outside a couple of times, at least. The forecast says low teens in the a.m. pretty much all week though. It may be a difficult training week. One thing was reinforced this morning: I hate riding inside. I need to qiut thinking like that though; I need to be more positive toward inside riding or I'll never do it.
I get paid today, then it's to the carwash after work to clean my MTB.

Sunday, December 04, 2005

MTB in Nashville

Today Dan and Josh Prater came down and we went over to the Brown County Sate Park to ride MTB's. It was cold, below freezing, and the low parts were muddy, but the rest of the course was frozen. It's a great trail. It has some good climbs and long descents. It has non-Indiana type climbs. Typically, IN climbs are short and steep, but the climbs at BCSP are longer and more gradual. Then the downhills are longer and more technical. It has the makings of a great race track. We got off the loop to do a 2 mile climb that empties into a gravel parking lot, then turned around and went back down it. It was a killer climb, super hard in the winter. You overheat easy due to all of the clothing you're wearing, then you start sweating a bunch, which makes you wet, which makes you even colder. It sucks. Anyway, we hit 30mph on the way down that hill. That's smoking on a MTB. On all of the climbs my (Oakley) glasses totally fogged over and I couldn't see a thing. I had to take them off and stick them in the back neck collar of my jersey because they wouldn't stay in the vent of my helemt. Dumpster glasses anyway.
We rode for just under 2hrs, and my recently overhauled MTB is totally covered in mud. Looks like it's to the carwash for it, then another o'haul w/ Rock -n- Roll grease(s).
We got Jiffy Treat burritos after we got back to B-Town and that's about it.

Friday, December 02, 2005

Arctic Run

I ran my road route today. COLD. It was 14* when I left and my desktop weather thing says it's 17* now. It didn't feel too cold. I wore two pairs of socks, knee warmers, tights, three upper body laers and two pairs of gloves. I was running down third street and there was a limo parked on the sidewalk. Third is one way, the direction I was running so I had to get in the road (with traffic coming behind me) to get around it. I thought to myself "that better be f**king Mellencamp, or I'm going to be pissed." Then I thought "f-that, I'm already pissed." So I ran by it and hit the passenger window hard (with my layered golves) and flipped off the driver. Why do people think crap like that is okay? What about handicapped people? It would have been great for someone ina wheelchair to have to go out w/ traffic behind them to get around some loser in a limo. Oh well, I guess I'm off my soapbox and done playing vigulante...for now.

Thursday, December 01, 2005

Sponsorship!

I sent a race resume to Rudy Project a few months ago and was selected for sunglasses/helmet sponsoship. This rules. Rudy makes killer eyewear that looks good and is a great deal. Almost all of their glasses come with three lenses that are are super high Itallian quality and carry a lifetime warranty. Plus, I've been looking for a new helmet since Giro came out with the Atmos. I don't care for the Atmos, it doesn't ft my head well. I have tried on Rudy helmets and they fit well and feel good. I'm psyched to wear and represent Rudy (even though the stuff isn't free).

snowy cross

I rode cross bike out to Wapahani today. I decided it would be a nice snow ride, rather than the stadium. It was. I had a good ride for it being 29* and snowing. Once my fingers lost feeling, it was all good (my fingers always hurt when it's real cold, than they loose feeling and are fine). Wind was calm and it wasn't really muddy, just an all around good ride.
I plan to run my road route of (I think) 3.4 miles tomorrow. It's supossed to be even colder...

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Trail running @ Griffey Lake

I ran two laps at the Griffey Lake trail today. It was cold (~29*), but w/ no wind, so it was bearable. The leaves have cleared so you can see the trail and the roots and stuf. Las ttime I was there it was fully fall and I about rolled my ankle a ton of times. So trail conditions were good. My legs felt heavy though. I would say it wasn't a great run. It's probably because I had the heater in the car blasting, then got out and tried to get going in the sub freezing temp. Griffey starts out with a monster climb, and on my second lap it took me forever to recover from the climb. Those who know me know I blame a lot on the weather (or Bush), but Bush wasn't there, so I'm blaming my crappy workout on the weather (unless Bush somehow is controlling the weather now too, probably bought a weather controler machine w/ my tax money).
Anywho, I plan to ride cross tommorw because it's supossed to be snowing in the a.m. and riding cross in snow is somehow fitting. I'll probably go to the stadium/arena. IU plays basketball tonight, so there may be parking barriers still up to jump. I shall see.

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Boltinghouse (at long last)

I've been wanting to ride Boltinghouse for a few weeks now, but on days when I can, it's been wet. It was dry enough today, and I hit it. Since I started riding Boltinghouse weekly when I moved here, I've been wanting to ride in seated, but never quite made it. I always ended up standing at the last minute. I rode 'er seated today; no standing. I thought my tricepts were going to explode from ripping at the bars. After Boltinghouse, I went over to 45 and rode Russell, which I deiscovered last week. So I got 2 big ass climbs in 20 miles. Actually, I climbed 1200 feet in 19.8 miles! It was flurrying w/ little pellet thingies for a while, which hurt my face, but oh well.That's November riding in Indiana.
No racing this weekend. But next weekend is the final Indy cross, which counts for double points. I prett much have to go, as I'm sitting in a secure 2nd for the series and need to defend/try to move up to 1st if possible. I think we're going to go to an IU hockey game this weekend.

Monday, November 28, 2005

Short computrainer ride

I made a 10mile computrainer course for a recovery ride. It was pancake flat w/ a 3mph tailwind for 3.5 miles, then had a climb which reaced 15%, flattened out, then descended @ 15%. Then it was flat again for the remainder. It was a good little recovery. The climb was short though, shorter than I intended. It was only a few secinds and I was shooting for minute or so. It's hard to judge when your building the course. I wanted Blotinghouse in my livingroom. Oh well, I hope to ride outside tomorrow. I haven't checked to forecast yet though. Lindsay added me to her YMCA memebrship, so I plan to start lifting for a couple months starting after the Indy CX season ends (12/10). I can swim too. So if it's crap tomorrow I'll either ride trainer or run. Hopefully it'll be outside ridable.

Sunday, November 27, 2005

KOA cross Indy

Cyclocross today at the KOA Campground in Indy. It was raining, either light or steady, the whole time. This was part of the Ohio Valley CX sereis, which means there are a ton more people there than usual. I got a crap start and was pretty far back at the beginning. After the first lap I was a t the back of group of probably 6-10 people, so I broke away from that group and no one reacted, so I was alone to catch more people in front of me. I was catching and passing people and I saw my sereis adversary on the horizon. I opened it up another notch when he was in my sight and passed him. It's the first time i've beaten him. I got 13th, but was beaten by 11 Ohio or Kentucky guys, and 1 IN guy who is a fast Expert and a 3 on road, so he was totally sandbagging. So if this woul hav been a "normal' IN sereis race, I would have won. Some of these Ohio/Kentucky guys train all year for CX, so they're super fast. I'm happy with my 13th, given the circumstances.

Friday, November 25, 2005

Computrainer

I broke out the Computrainer today. I did a 15.5 mile ride. It was only 45 min, plus I did 5 more minutes for cool-down. I know 50 min is a warm up on trainer for Big Zach, but I can' t ride trainer for too long. Computrainer makes it easier (time go faster), but man it still sucks. I wanted to ride Boltinghouse Hill today, but it was 15* when I got up and it's 17* now. It will be a cold ride to work. I averaged 168 watts, which is 10-20w lower than a normal outside ride (in Muncie anyway) for me but who cares, it's almost December.
We had a nice Thanksgving in Frankfort. Food was great. I brought home crazy mad leftovers for sandwiches; should be good stuff.
I ordered some Rock-n-Roll grease and lubes for bikes the other day. It's supossed to be the best stuff there is. I need to overhaul my road bike sometime in the next month or so, and I want to use good stuff to do it. I have 3 different greaes for different applications and two different lubes (one's a lube, one's an oil) for different apps. One grease is for packing loose bearings, one for non bearing but moving parts (cartridge bearings, hub pawls, etc.) and one for non moving parts (threads, etc). Sounds involved, but high end bikes require specific care to work to their potential.
Planned day off bike tomorrow to rest for CX race Sunday in Indy. It's supossed to rain Sunday, so it may be a bust. We'll see.

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Cross in the snow

There is snow stivking today. It's the first snow by, I think, Chuck Laughton's standard, or is it Chris Wright? Anywho, they say if you can "track a cat," than it's considered an official snow. After about 10 minutes of struggle within between riding cross or riding trainer, I suited up to go out. I went over to the football stadium, like last week, and rode laps. There were alot of cars coming and going tough. They kept botching my barrier jumps, basically becasue I didn't want to be dismounting/remounting in front of an audience by myself. One has to look like an idiot jumping overstuff ina parking lot on a bike, given the general unfamiliarity w/ cyclocross. People wouldn't be thinking "oh look, that guys trainingfor CX." They're more likely to think "what the hell is wrong with that dude." Anyway, it's about 30* and kind of windy. I rode for only about 45min, then did my 200 situps routine. One of the Tortuga gys wants to rdie tomorrow am, but I don't know if I'll have time to get a decent ride in before leaving town for t-giving in Frankfort. I was planning on running, which I will probably do, then hit the road for some turkey etc.
Have good thanksgiving, you my loyal readers.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Sleet road ride

After a day off yesterday, I rode road today. It was sleeting a little, which hurts your face when it's cold like this (~34*). The sleet/rain let up about 3/4 into my short (~16m) ride. I went on a new road, called Russell road. It's a good road. It's a tour of a bunch of big, high dollar houses just east of B-Town. The road is paved awesome (don't want the richies to get bounced around in their SUV's) and it has a real nice climb on it. It's a good little ride.

Sunday, November 20, 2005

B-Town CX #1

First race of the Bloomington Underground Cross Series today. Pretty hard course, a lot of fast guys (JL Serriere, Matt Batton, Tim Cote, Issacc Neff, Ryan Shanahan...). We met at Soma coffee sho and rode to the course, which was at the bell tower (on 10th, I believe). Race was 40 min+lap. The course had an uphill/off camber barrier jump. Super hard to get momentum after that one. I ended up either 5th or 6th. Serriere flatted and lost laps, but no one was sure how many, so I either beat him and got 5th, or he was 4th, pushing me to 6th (Tim finished one ahead of me).
After the race we went on a CX ride over toward Nashville via bike paths in town, single track out of town and gravel roads back. It ended up being about 16 miles, which was tough after just racing cross for 45min; let alnoe the group of fast guys I was with.
Overall, I'd say this was one of the hradest weekends of rding I've had in along time. I'm cooked and tired. OFF DAY TOMORROW for sure.

Saturday, November 19, 2005

Major Taylor Cross #2

Today was the Indy cross @ Major Taylor (2nd race @ MT for those following). It was an okay day. I tried to get to the front for the start and ended up somewhere around 5-7th wheel. This held for a lap or two. Then I passed couple guys and one dude was glued to my wheel. I would lead him around most the lap, then every lap, like clockwork, he would draft me on the raod section, then slingshot past me. The road section is near the end of the lap, and definately the last prime passing zone. So, I knew that if this dude was going to draft>pass on the last lap, I'd have a hard time getting back around him so I said to myself "there is no way I'm letting this dude around me on the last lap." So on the last lap when we got to the road section I looked back, saw him there, stood up and dropped the hammer; also dropped the dude. After the road section is a short grass downhill, barrier, long grass singletrack, two barriers, then into the velodrome for the finish. So, having dropped the dude on the road, I jumped the barrier, then just didn' t look back on the grass single track and went as hard as I could to hold him off. It worked and I rode into the velodrome alone for a 4th place finish. It was a slightly bigger feild (27) than the last MTV race, probably due to it being nicer. Not a bad day.

B-Town CX tomorrow...

Friday, November 18, 2005

No workout

I didn't work out today. Day before race, so I took it off. Nothing to rpeort really, other than it's cold. I've been wearing tights under my jeans because on my ride to/from work it's really cold. I'mnot out much during the warm(er) part of the day, only at the cold(er) times.I'mgoing to go inquire about work at Avers Pizza tomorrow or the next day. It is listed as "weekend late night inside staff." So if that goes down I'll be out in the coldEST part of the night riding home. I'll need to get a headlight too. I use a tail light, but if I'm going to be out a midnight or so, I should get a cheapo headlight. I'll have to see what the hours are, then maybe I'll be a pizza man for a while too.
Look tomorrow for Major Taylor CX#2 report.

Thursday, November 17, 2005

A new low

I've reached a new low, temp. in which I've ridden, that is. Last winter Shane and I went out on a Sunday for an hour in 22-24*. Today it was 16-18*. True, November cold is different than JAn cold, but I still can't feel my feet.
The whole time I was out I was wondering: is there cycling in the Secial Olympics becasue I have to about be retarded to be out here.
I got a pair of Pearl Izumi Amfib tights and they're awesome. This is the coldest I will be out, realistically, and my legs were fine. I also got a pair of the wind block Pittards PI gloves w/ the cotton glove liners PI makes. Wore together it's a good combo for cold ass stuff like today. With a long sleeved base layer, a short sleeved jresy, long sleeved insulated jersey and my C-Dale water proof jacket, I was actually not too cold. My feet did get chilled. I owre a pair of summer socks under a piar of longer wool socks (assos), shoes and booties. That's just the way it goes, I can't were much more down there.
The Ride:
Yesterday I talked myself into riding trainer today. Later yesterday I talked myself into riding road. This morning me and my desktop weather tool talked me out of riding road, but into riding cross. I rode over to the football stadium and did some cross laps. It was actually good practice. There a lot of parking barricades to dismount and jump, grass hills to ride up (think of the one they sit on in Breaking Away) and staris to run up/down carrying the bike. I may make a weekly thing out of that. Other than looking like a tool jumping over stuff carrying your bike, it's a good time.
Gonna munch on some grindage then get to work.

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

(s)no(w) way

It was snowing this morning! I got up planning to run and my desktop weather thing sadi it was 33* so I bundled up and went out yo run my 3.4m route. It started flurrying somwhere around 12-15 min into it. Nothing big, but snow? Man oh man. Nothing new to report. I've been ending all workouts lately w/ 200 sit ups. I do them in continuous sets of 10; 10 straight up, 10 to right, 10 to left, 10 w/ feet raised and 10 straight up. Repeat 4x. It takes less than 5 minutes and surley is helping w/ core.
So we dodged the tornado's again. We evacuated the bike shop and went across the street to the shelter @ Fountain Square Mall when the sirens went off. Although my feelings are with those affected, I'm glad we were not.

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Rainy Tues.

It's raining this morning, rained last and is suppossed to rain all day. 2" is expected. I got totally drenched riding home from work last night. My upper body was dry thanks to my stlyish new Cannondale waterPROOF jacket. It's awesome. I have some water resistant hiking pants I can put over my jeans for today. But yesterday I wasn't ready for the rain an didn't have the pants or my fenders. It was decent when I left.
So I rode rollers for a hour today. Nothing hard, just spun for an hour. CB4 was on comedy central, so I had something to pass the time.
Lindsay had an interview for an IU job last week that went well. She go tthe call today that she didn't get the job though. She's upset about it, as she's been trying to work at IU since before we moved and it still hasn't worked out. I get upset about it too. She's trying so hard and not getting any doors opened. It'll happen for her (us).

Monday, November 14, 2005

Back on the road

I rode road today. It was cold (~36*) and I still feel a little sick-like, but I went anyway; I haven't been on the road bike since last Tues. I went short (~15m) and not hard by any stretch, just rode. I can't really ride hard even if I want to in cold weather anyway, all bundled up, plusit's just hard to make my body perform like that. Anywho, I'm feeling okay, so hopefully being out in the cold won't set me back any. I have a feeling CX racing this weekend may be painful. Such intense work at the tail end of a cold won't be a picnic. Oh well, I'm going to eat something and drink some OJ before going to work. There's rain and "flurries" in the 10 day forecast, so I may be riding indoors/running the next few days...

Sunday, November 13, 2005

Sunday morning

I'm feeling better, but not great. A little runny nose and some coughing. I haven't worked out since a CX ride Thurs. I think that's probably for the better. I've been trying to eat/drink good stuff to boost whatever will make me better. I volunteered to work today since I'm not going to work out and can use the $$ anyway. I'm usually working these 14-20 day strings, then taking a day off to race or soemthing. It's really not too bad; we're just slow so it's al ot of finding stuf to do.
My parents came last night and took Lindsay and I to eat for her birthday. We went to Puccinni's, a really nice, really good Itallian joint on 4th. It was nice.
I asked my mom to see if my grandmother was willing to hook me up witha coo-coo clock, given she still had one and would part w/ it. She was, and I got it last night. This thing rules. It sacres to pants off of my cat (campbell) when it coo's. He runs upstairs and doesn't come down for about 59 minutes, then it goes again. What a wuss.
Anywho, I think we're going to go hiking today @ Griffey lake. I want to do something outside, but not exert myself too much w/ this chest cold. CX racing next weekend, possible double header. That's Major Taylor #2 Saturday and the first in the Bloomington Underground/Bandit/Soma Cup series. Could make for a torturous weekend.
Unlce Sam=Unlce Scam.

Friday, November 11, 2005

Sick

It's Friday now and I started feeling sick yesterday afternoon. I ran 3.4m Wed and felt fine. I rode cross yesterday morning and felt like I was pulling extra weight around. I felt sluggish and slow so I did 3 laps of around the Wapahani lake (pond) instead of my normal 5 or so. I figured it was just due to the cold (it was about 34* in the a.m.). After being at work most of the day I started getting that scratchy feeling in my throat thatr always indicates sickness. I started chugging OJ at home and went to bed. I didn't sleep well and coughed a lot. I had planned on trail running this morning, but decided to stay in bed and rest, rather than go exert myself in the freezing temp. Hopefully this doesn't turn into full-blown sickness. I can't miss work. My car insurance (note: I drive my car once a week to the grocery and ride bike everywhere else) is going up. Lindsay has to be added as driver since we live together, so it's higher. That'd be great if I were paying for her insurance in the first place, but I'm not. We're applying for federal assistance to pay our untility bills, and my scam-ass car insurance bill is going up; and I don't even drive. Everytime that lady calls, I end up owing more money.
Got to get to work.

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Morgan-Monroe State Forest

Man, it's almost 70* here this morning, so I rode the Morgan Monroe State Forest ride. It's about 35miles with Bean Blossom Hill smack in the middle of it. That's a long(ish), hard ride for the beggining of November, but I can't pass up this weather. It was a good ride. I expected to feel crappy, just due to the point in the season, but I felt good and rode good. The weather is suppossed to turn in a day or two, according to Brian Wilkes, Fox 59, so I want to ride when if I can.
Got to eat before working.
I'm wearing shorts to work today.

Sunday, November 06, 2005

Major Tayor CX

Raced CX @ MAjor Taylor Velodrome today. What a hard course. It starts on the track an dodes a lap on the track. That's cool in and of itself, riding on the track even if it is on a cross bike. Anyway, the course has two run ups (one a no questions asked run up and the other would probably be ridable if I had more gear [I have a single 46t ring on front and a 12-25 in back]). The backside of the course has a long road section accented by a heavy tailwind today. After that though, is a pretty long grass section back into the same wind, only headwind this time. It was in the grass section on (I think) the 3rd lap that I inadvertantly attacked (took the pull and dropped the group of about 5) and rode myself into 2nd place. The leader was, for all practical purposes, uncatchable. So I'll take the 2nd. It was a cool day, no real sun to speak of and a damp course. It's a hard course anyway, but this made for a punishing 45min.

Friday, November 04, 2005

Griffey Lake running

I ran two laps at the Griffey Lake trail today. It's a 1.8 mile trail ( I think) with a hard climb at the begining and a real technical cescent at the end. I've been doing it once a week for the last few weeks for fitness' sake. It has been around 40* and cloudy eberytime I've been out, but today it is close to 60* and sunny, so I wasn't the only one there. There were two different people, each with two dogs on the trail. I got chased again! These dogs were 100% playing though, but still. I must have a dog magnet in my pocket lately or something. Anywho it was a good run, no side cramps and great weather.
Got to eat some protein and get to work.

Thursday, November 03, 2005

Thrus cross ride to Wapahani

Rode cross bike today. We (Bloomington) have a 6 mile cinder trail that goes out of town south, then hooks up witht he rail-to-trail east for anpother few miles, and it dumps out right down the street from Wapahani MTB park. It's about a half hour out on cross bike, then bust a few laps around the lake @ Wap, then back. It's a good work out, good cross training and a nice change of scenery from the road.
It's a really nice day today. It's suppossed to get up to the mod 70's! It was close to 60* when I rode, super nice. Looking forward to CX race @ Major Taylor this weekend.

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Racing at Terre Haute 2005 Posted by Picasa

Dog days of Fall

I was chased by 7 dogs today riding! I rode the Old Meyers loop and two dogs came out of a driveway on Old Meyers Rd. These two dogs alerted the dogs next door and 5 came out form the driveway! Non of them seemed vicious, or out for blood, but it's still a hinderance and these hillbilly's need to keep their mutts under control.
It was cold too. 36* when I left. I wore a jacket for the first time riding this season; and didn't get hot. Oh well, Indiana gets cold, I always seem to forget that (how convenient). At least I'm not on the trainer (although after running yesterday I did ride trainer for .5hr).
Cross tomorrow...

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Rainy Days & Mondays always get me down

Well, it's not Monday, but it is a rainy day. My plan was to ride my new loop, the Old Meyers loop. It's about 20m with three decent climbs in it (and one HUGE descent [down Boltinghouse]). A good short off season ride. Looks like I'll run instead and try to ride Old Meyers tomorrow, then ride cross either Thurs or Fri and trail run whichever day I don't ride CX.
...got a go get laced up. Later--adam

Monday, October 31, 2005

Cross racing!

I raced Cyclocross fot the first time ever yesterday. Man was it fun. I love road and love MTB, so it makes sense that I love CX. It's super intense though. Race duration was just 45 min, but my average heart rate was 181bpm for the period! The course had a stari climb section that I feared at the warm up, but I ended up passing a lot of people pretty much every lap on it. I guess running those stairs at Teachers College all those winters paid off.
It was also my first race in the Team Tortuga kit. I stared dead last and finished, well, not dead last so I hope I didthe team well.
later.