Motivation and Lollipops

Athletes are always looking for that "edge" that will enable them to train/compete harder, faster, longer. Some turn to man made alternatives, but for everyone else it is a continuous struggle to find that extra motivation deep down inside.

Well, I found some motivation today... there's nothing like a rain storm, complete with lightning, to give you that added 'oomph'. I was about 10 miles out when I saw the impending storm approaching, and I made it 4 miles before the rain proceeded to wail on me. That was bad enough that I was trying my best to get back to the car in a hurry, but when the lightning started I kicked it into overdrive. For that last 6 miles I was turnin' 85rpm at 50x12. My avg speed for the whole 20 miles was 22.6mph. Two weeks ago during the monthly TT I only averaged 22.8mph, and that was a 10 mile round trip!
The threat of electrocution sure can light a fire in the ole legs.

Today I got my new shoes and pedals. The Speedplay Zero pedals are pretty nice, even if they do look like a lollipop. In an interesting twist, most of the mechanism for clipping in and out is in the cleat, so the pedal doesn't have a lot to it.

Mmm, lollipop.

The shop recommended that I go home and get familiar with clipping in and out, but I wasn't having any of it. I'll get on the job training. They require a bit different method (instead of clipping in toe-heel, you use the ball of your foot and go straight down.) for clipping in than my old Eggbeaters, but nothing that is gonna require a big learning curve. The jury is still out on the new pedals, but my initial experience is good. I think I'm going to like them a lot. For mtn biking, nothing beats eggbeaters, but for the road bike the Speedplays are more to my liking.

That is one serious cleat design there!

Last but not least, when I go to Vegas next week I'm going to take my road bike. I'll be able to get some training time in a place with some real elevation changes, and not the bumps we have here. I'd normally take my mtn bike, but I don't want to risk damaging something on it, because I'll be tight on time when I get back...I'll have a day and a half before I have to be in Reddick for my race.

One is the loneliest number

I was out burnin' up the roads again this morning on the road bike. When you do long miles, your mind starts to wander and you think of all kinds of things. Unfortunately, you never really think of anything super deep, just off the wall stuff.

Take today for instance. It occurred to me that I never seem to hook up with anyone out on the road that is at my fitness level or better. I welcome the opportunity to tag along with a faster rider...it would give me a chance to get near race pace sessions in on occasion. But as it works out, I only seem to come upon people who are out for a leisurely ride. If there's someone riding who is there for a real workout, they're either finishing when I'm getting ready to start or vice versa. As a result of that I've done all my road training all by my lonesome.

I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone

On a slightly different note, as of todays ride I've logged 500 miles for the month of August. I think I've been riding that new bike a bit.

Damp

Saying it's damp out is a bit of an understatement. The last week or so, the humidity has been terrible...like livin' in a swamp. In just a one hour ride, the water was pouring down my head and face, like I had a faucet turned on. Yuck.

The Florida State Championship Series is less than a month away. I'm feelin' really good about my fitness. The road bike has really added some intensity to my training that was previously missing. This coming week I'm gonna suck it up and concentrate on some serious intervals (power intervals, climbing, etc.). This will be the last full week I'll have to train. Next week I head to Vegas for business. I hope to do some riding with a buddy while I'm out there, but I don't expect to get much done in the way of structured workouts. If nothing else maybe I'll get some time on the indoor bike in the hotel gym. When I get home I'll only have a day before I have to head to Reddick for the first race of the series.

This is gonna be a fun week...

Little bit a this, little bit a that

Tomorrow will be 3 weeks since getting my road bike, and in that time I will have logged over 400 miles. Getting a road bike really can take your training to the next level.
I've been using some mtn bike shoes, and Eggbeater SLs and that combination isn't well suited to road biking. So, I've got some Sidi Zetas on order, and I'll be mating them to Speedplay Zero pedals.

It hasn't taken long, but as I expected, the Floyd Landis debacle has become non news. It could take 16-18 months for the whole thing to play out, even though many people have already condemned him, without due process. I have repeatedly stated that, at this point, I believe Floyd. Apparently, others believe him as well. Phil "the voice of the Tour de France" Liggett in an interview, is skeptical of the positive drug test.
For those that believe Landis, or at least feel that the WADA, UCI, and the French lab have made a mess of everything, there is a petition floating around.

Missed it by that much

The good news is I was able to rearrange my schedule to attend the weekly Tues ride, the bad news is, I missed the group. Traffic was horrible, so I got to the meeting spot at about 5:02 or so. When I pulled up there was no one around. I figured they must've just left, so I hurried and got my crap squared away and took off thinking I'd be able to catch up to them, or at least catch sight of them. I knew I'd catch sight of the slower group sooner or later, so I kept a good pace the whole way out. Well, to make a painfully long story short I never caught up with the main bunch. About 17 miles out I just turned around, and ended up working with a guy taking turns doing pulls back to the parking area.

I'll have to try this again in the next couple of weeks, and next time I'll have the knowledge that the ride starts promptly at 5pm.

Low profile

I've been logging some intense sessions lately, and it has taken its toll on me. Saturday I went to bed feeling really tired. Sunday I was draggin' all day long... I even took a snooze in the afternoon. I was feelin' better today, but I figured I'd take an extra day and fully recharge my batteries. Tomorrow will tell the tale.

I'm hoping to participate in the Tues group road ride. There are some hammers that ride on Tuesdays, and everyone keeps telling me how riding (or attempting to ride) with faster riders will do wonders for your fitness.

Sitting pretty

I got my new saddle, and I've got a couple rides on it. Originally, I was gonna go with the Selle Italia SLK, but I've since opted for the Selle Italia Signo Gelflow. I'm very pleased with my selection. I know that the real tests will come with longer rides, but at the moment my hind parts are most thankful for the new perch. The Signo has an ingenious system whereby the sides/tail flex under pedaling forces, which gives a cushioning effect to the rider. Some people don't like the feel of that system, but it works for me.
The Signo is a perfect example of "less is more", at least in my case. As the pictures show, it is a minimalist saddle compared to the Aliante Sport that did grace (or curse, depending on how you look at it) the TCR. I've learned that my caboose prefers a flatter, more firm saddle.

The idea of the cutout is one of the best the saddle industry ever came up with!

Dang near 'board flat'. Just the way I like it.

I should be testing out the saddle on a longer ride tomorrow...we'll see.
Today I finally was able to participate in the local club TT. It's a 10 mile course, which is mostly flat, just a couple of hills to keep things interesting. This monthly TT is for fun, but seeing some of the rigs that people were using, you'd think it was a stage of the TdF, or the Giro d' Italia. Aero helmets, rear disc wheels, uber expensive frames (Cervelo TT frame was a standout), you name it. The legs felt good, so I gave it my all. I completed the course in 26:22, with an average speed around 22.8mph. Not too bad for a noob roadie.

Dumb, or just stupid?

I woke up bright and early today, in order to get some riding in the morning hours since my work schedule was gonna screw up any chance of an afternoon session.

Everything was going to plan right up until I arrived at my usual riding spot. The plan was for 30-40 miles. As I was getting my helmet and gloves on, military police (I ride on Air Force property) pulled up and proceeded to ask for my recreational permit. Upon producing my permit, the MP informs me that due to a training mission the road is closed a mile and a half up. Great. Just perfect. So much for my 30-40 miles. I was tempted to go home and get at least an hour in riding in the neighborhood, but I quickly dismissed that as it would cut into my time. So I said, "the hell with it...I'm gonna get some saddle time in come hell or high water!" Now, in a move that bespeaks of intense dedication or insanity, I proceeded to log 20 miles, but I was never more than a mile and a half from the car [*Note- Everyone that I have recounted this story to has gone with 'insane'].

Insane or not, at least I wasn't alone. There were 2 others out there doing the same thing as me.

So, what do you think? Dedicated or insane? Feel free to lie just to make me feel better.

Giant TCR C3- first impressions

It's been a week since I got the TCR. As of Sunday I have logged just over 200 miles on the bike. So what do I think of it?
First off, the riding position of a road bike is taking some getting used to. At times I feel a little squirrely on it, but that will pass as I get more accustomed to it.

As far as the bike itself goes...well, carbon fiber is the cat's meow. Carbon can/does take the edge off bumps in the road. I know that a lot people prefer handcrafted metal frames, citing that carbon fiber bikes "just don't have any soul to them", but if you ride on less than perfect roads, you will love the feel of carbon fiber.
As it pertains to the TCR C3, the frame is obviously light, but yet very stiff. When hammering out of the saddle there is no flex in the bottom bracket, or in the rear triangle. If I had anything to pick on, it would be that the location of the seat tube water bottle attachments are in an inconvenient spot... I have really have to stretch to reach my seat tube mounted water bottle. That said, there may be a good reason (like aerodynamics or what not) that they put it there, so I'm not gonna give 'em too much grief about it.

Now, on to the components. On the Giant website, and in their print catalog they list the F & R derailluers, shifters, cassette, and chain as Shimano 105. Imagine my surprise when I get the bike home and discover an Ultegra F derailluer and chain. It doesn't hurt my feelings at all. The 105 and Ultegra mix works very well, shifts are nice and crisp (except now, I think I'm getting a little cable stretch- which is to be expected).

The crankset is a TruVativ Elita compact 36/50. For being a lower priced crankset, is seems reasonably stiff, which is all you can really ask of a good crankset. I don't know if this is an effect of the double chainring, or an adjustment with the F derailluer, but on two different occasions I have shifted to the small chainring and the chain has dropped off...onto the bottom bracket (fortunately I was almost coasting and didn't do any damage). I clicked the shifter a second time to make sure that the derailluer had moved all the way over (no more cable to be played out), and the derailluer moved the chain right off the chainring, just like it was wanting to drop the chain to a third ring or somethin'. Very perplexing. I'm gonna ask the shop about it.

The handlebars and stem are Easton EA30s. Easton makes some good stuff, and this bar and stem are no different. The handlebars have a nice form to them, making it easy to find a comfortable position for your hands, and the stem is does its job without you thinking about it. *Note- Due to some really harsh road conditions I am gonna switch to a carbon fiber handlebar in the future. The aluminum transmits the vibrations right thru my hands and arms. Over the first few rides I noticed that the stem's lower bolt on the handlebar fixing plate would loosen up ever so slightly. Like clockwork, after a ride I would have to tighten that lower bolt, requiring maybe a quarter turn at best. The good news is, that for the last two rides the bolt has remained tight.

Stopping power is supplied by some no name brakes. In looks, they resemble Campys, but that's where the comparisons end. While the brakes are working fairly well for me, they are on the spongy side. On long descents or in wet conditions I would imagine that these brakes would scare the &^%$ out of you. I'm going to stick with these brakes until I've worn out the pads, at which point I will upgrade to Ultegra or Dura Ace stoppers.

I don't need to go into any detail on the saddle, as I've already beat that horse.

Last, but not least...where the rubber meets the road.
The tires are Michelin Dynamics (700 x 23). The Dynamics are no doubt some entry level tires. They do their job and give you some good grip, even in wet conditions. What they lack in suppleness, they make up for in treadwear. I've got over 200 miles on them and I could probably pawn them off as having maybe 20 or 30 miles on them. The main reason to promptly upgrade these tires would be weight...they are listed as a portly 373g ea! Switching from the Dynamics to a good lightweight tire could take off close to 1/2lb off the bike's weight.

Onto the wheels. The Xero XSR-3 wheels have a unique lacing pattern that looks pretty cool, and I guess offer more strength than traditional lacing patterns (not that I have any real first hand knowledge or experience on that). When it comes to reviews of this bike, the wheels are what most people bag on. The stiffness, or lack of, and the weight being cited most. As far as stiffness goes, they seem fairly stiff to me. I think it will take a bit more time for the wheels to show their colors. One thing I have noticed is that they don't spin very well. If you spin the wheel, it will stop, almost as if the brakes are rubbing, even though the pads are not touching. This is another item I'm going to quiz the bike shop about. As far as the weight goes, I can't argue with people there. At 2050g for the set they are some heavyweights. Between some lighter weight tires and wheels, I bet you could take 1- 1 1/2lbs off the weight of this bike.

This is a great bike. For $1800 I got an awesome frame, with a mix of some good components. I would recommend this bike in a second!

That really chaps my...

I am loving the TCR, but with one exception. Is it the no-name brakes? The average tires, or possibly the heavy wheels? No, no and no. All those items I can deal with. They're not even an issue. What I am talking about is my saddle.The Fi'zi:k Aliante...Sport that is.

People seem to rave about the more expensive versions of the Aliante, but I can't say a whole lot for the OEM Sport Aliante that came standard on my Giant. Of course, saddles are a very personal thing, so take my comments with a grain of salt. It doesn't work for me, but I'm sure that there are numerous people out there who love it. To my delicate behind, it is some sort of medieval torture implement. I gave it a decent chance to prove its worth, but after 170 miles it hasn't won me over...so a saddle change is on the menu.

I (my rear, to be exact) prefer saddles that have a flatter profile. When the tail curves up, it makes for an uncomfortable time. After staring slackjawed at some of the exorbitant prices of saddles, I made a choice. I'm gonna give the Selle Italia SLK a shot. Selle Italia have been making saddles since like, the Jurassic period, so I think they know how to make a good seat. Anyway...the SLK looks like it could be just the ticket for Behind bliss. I should have it by mid week, and I'm sure it won't take but one or two rides to see if it has the magic feel.


I almost forgot...
Big props go out to JHK and Shonny Vanlandingham for taking the 2006 NMBS XC titles. JHK is the first American to win the NMBS title since 2000. For the last 5yrs the title has been in Canadian hands. Kabush almost took it again this year.

Rackin' up the miles

Since getting the TCR, I've logged 124 miles on it. By Sunday I should be sitting around the 200 mark. I did an intense 1hr ride on Wed, and I paid for it yesterday. The legs were smoked. They started to liven up towards the end, but that was too little, too late. I've got another 2hr jaunt lined up for this afternoon. Hopefully the legs will be more interested in participating this time.

Throughout my HR based training, I've seen the limitations of using HR to train by. Don't get me wrong, the training I've done has really paid off this year. But there are better methods out there. After this season is wrapped up, I'm gonna get me one of these (when finances allow it). When you train with power, you're dealing with absolutes. Outside factors can affect your HR, and as a result, you don't know whether to believe the HR numbers or not. When using a power meter, you have an exact picture of what's going on with your training. It's THE way to measure your performance and progress. If you can turn out an average of X number of watts today, and next month your average is higher, then you're getting stronger/faster...no matter what your HR monitor is telling you.

The only downside is the cost. $1000 plus is tough to swallow, especially when you consider that I only paid $1800 for my road bike.

So this is what it's like to have a BIG chainring

Did a long ride today. The new bike is great, even if I'm still trying to get used to it. I knew that the different gearing would make the rides a bit harder, but I wasn't prepared for how much difference there would be. On the old bike I could turn 85-95rpm and not feel too worn out afterwards. As I type this though, the legs are kinda sore. But it's a good kind of sore...it just means that it's gonna make me stronger.
Once I get used to the handling I will probably give the Tues night Hammerfest a shot. I've got to be a little more sure of myself on the bike before I get thrown into a peloton, pacelines, etc.
I've been told that there's one particular guy to stay away from...he's caused several bad accidents, and I think the person who told me this was being kind when he called the guy "aggressive".
I'm going on record right now. If that dude causes me to go down, I'm gonna f**k him up.

As promised, here are a couple pics of the new ride:

Formula One composite, baby!

The stats for today's ride:
Time- 1:55
Distance- 40.2 miles

Rocketship

I got my first ride on the new bike, and what a revelation! Compared to what I've been riding on the road, this thing is a dang rocket.



It's like going from a pickup truck to a sports car. I only have one ride on it, but I'm totally digging it. It's gonna take several rides to get used to the handling of the bike, and the different body positioning.

On thing I have discovered, is that a given speed/cadence on a mtn bike, isn't the same on a road bike. I was working much harder today turning an 85-95rpm cadence than I have with a similar cadence on the old mtn bike.

I'll get some pics posted tomorrow...I promise.

It's a boy!

After much waiting and anticipation, today I finally picked up my new road bike. I haven't taken it for a spin yet, but that will happen tomorrow. It's a well spec'd bike, although I see that tires, wheels, and brakes will be the first upgrades on the list. Actually, I think if I were to address those items, nothing else would need to be switched out. I was quite surprised to see an Ultegra F derailleur on there. On every spec list I've seen, a 105 FD was listed. I don't know where the change came about, but I won't complain any.

I'll update again once I've ridden the bike, and I'll have a photo or two to post too.

On a related note, Floyd Landis' 'B' sample came back positive (nobody in the Landis camp expected any differently). Now it looks like there will be 3-6 months of arbitration before this whole thing is settled. Regardless of how this all turns out (I still believe Landis at this point), one thing is for certain...the UCI has really botched this whole thing. It appears to me that they are more interested in covering their collective butts, than "protecting the image of the sport". First, they announce that a rider had an "adverse analytical reading" in their 'A' sample, the UCI pushes to get the 'B' sample tested, seemingly going around Landis in the process, and then someone in the UCI leaked to the NY Times that some of the testosterone found in Landis' 'A' sample was synthetic. I think the UCI is just going out of their way to make sure no one can accuse them of being complacent in the face of all the doping going on.
If you take everything the UCI has done, and couple that with the fact that the lab doing the testing has had some ethically questionable dealings in the past, and if this were a criminal case, it would probably be thrown out of court.

By the time the arbitration is over, I don't think anyone is gonna care if Landis doped or not, or care if he even won to begin with.
And THAT is what will hurt the sport of cycling more than anything.

Lame

4 days, and 1 day of riding. How's that for lame? Damn rain!

Wednesday was the first time I've ridden since Saturday. On the plus side, we've really needed the rain. Hopefully the rest of the week will give me a chance to do something that resembles training.