If you haven't gotten a power meter yet... go get one. Although I've been using a power meter for over a year now, this year I am using it much more effectively. Almost every ride so far in my Base 1, 2, and 3 has been downloadable; I even have the extra bike mount on my fixed gear so I can download the ride data minus the power. So far I've noticed a pretty dramatic increase in average power output in my zone 2... I've essestially gone from averaging 185-195 watts to 220+ watts per ride (while riding longer!). With the use of the power meter, I've been able to get the most out of my workouts; focusing on quality over quantity.
Speaking of quality, the weather has been top notch lately. Yesterday was no exception. Aside from being one of the rare days in which I've been able to ride in the middle of the day (as well as ride with a fully glycogen charged liver!), the weather was beautiful, I actually got to ride with bare arms for a bit and feel the wind in my hair ( no hat or nuthin'!).
So while out enjoying my ride, I get stopped by a Montgomery County deputy. Great... Well, actually I had already stopped at a truck stop and he just wanted to talk about bikes. Louie just picked up a Madone SL at the Blacksburg shop and just loves bikes. I had a chuckle when he said my bike looks like it's set up for climbing; only because it's not that light, and it's set up as a crit bike. Sometimes simple things make me laugh.
In other news, I'm hoping to make a trip home to the coast this weekend, and meet up with the team (Casey Auto Groups/JRVS) for the Sunday morning ride in Williamsburg. It's sure to be a shock to the system as I heard from Cam that they did 50 miles in 2:14... I guess they forgot it's January.
that's all for now... maybe more later.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Giggidy.
It's Saturday... a rare day for me to be working. No biggie. The question being how do I squeeze a 3 hour training ride in, work at 9:30, and somehow manage to not intrude on my evening with Katie. Solution? I'm glad I have lights. Gotta love HID lights... they're pretty bright, and cars look at you as if you're some Unknown Rolling Object. At 5:30 am, I awoke to find the temperature 10+ degrees warmer than the weather forecast anticipated... definately a good start. I ate, showered, and prepared to head out the door.
I have to say, 38 degrees with calm wind seemed quite balmy compared to the latest tren of low 30's and 20-40mph winds. My plan was to ride the Bradshaw Rd. loop, and theen continue on to work; which worked out great as I arrived to work at 9:30 on the dot. Oh yeah... due to a generous grant, I'm rolling on brand new DuraAce 10 speed ( much nicer than my used D/A 9). As I rolled out of the driveway, I calibrated my PowerTap (a fairly usual occurence). Anyways, as the sun came up, I was surprised to see my power output higher than norm, but the heart rate right in zone 2. Good stuff indeed.
It was a fairly uneventful ride... although it was neat seeing the sunrise twice. Let me explain... there was the initial sunrise, and then I rounded a mountain that then blocked the sun (all though there was already plenty of ambient light for the second). As I pulled into work, I was happily surprised that my 3 hour ride resulted in an average of 224 watts. Good stuff. Needless to say, I'm glad the Subway next door opens at 9, because I was famished! Oh yeah... I forgot to mention somewhere out near Ironto the temperature must've fallen 10 degrees. Quite chilly. When I got to work, Dave asked if I was cold or bonking... he couldn't really tell. I think I finally warmed up sometime around 12:30. Of course it's 62 degrees now outside, and I'm inside at work.
*this entry (like most) has not been proofread and is laregly the product of a stream of unconsciousness.
I have to say, 38 degrees with calm wind seemed quite balmy compared to the latest tren of low 30's and 20-40mph winds. My plan was to ride the Bradshaw Rd. loop, and theen continue on to work; which worked out great as I arrived to work at 9:30 on the dot. Oh yeah... due to a generous grant, I'm rolling on brand new DuraAce 10 speed ( much nicer than my used D/A 9). As I rolled out of the driveway, I calibrated my PowerTap (a fairly usual occurence). Anyways, as the sun came up, I was surprised to see my power output higher than norm, but the heart rate right in zone 2. Good stuff indeed.
It was a fairly uneventful ride... although it was neat seeing the sunrise twice. Let me explain... there was the initial sunrise, and then I rounded a mountain that then blocked the sun (all though there was already plenty of ambient light for the second). As I pulled into work, I was happily surprised that my 3 hour ride resulted in an average of 224 watts. Good stuff. Needless to say, I'm glad the Subway next door opens at 9, because I was famished! Oh yeah... I forgot to mention somewhere out near Ironto the temperature must've fallen 10 degrees. Quite chilly. When I got to work, Dave asked if I was cold or bonking... he couldn't really tell. I think I finally warmed up sometime around 12:30. Of course it's 62 degrees now outside, and I'm inside at work.
*this entry (like most) has not been proofread and is laregly the product of a stream of unconsciousness.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
A Bit O' Rest
This past week was a rest week. A very convenient rest week. A very stressful week. Perhaps I didn't get quite as much rest as I would have liked... no biggie. Aside from some nasty weather early in the week, an extremely disappointed eye examination, and attending Trek University Thursday, we had the first Annual East Coaster's staff retreat at Mountain Lake in Giles County, Virginia.
Mountain Lake is a beautiful resort. You may recall it from the movie Dirty Dancing. We were holed up in a relatively new 4 bedroom chalet that was quite nice. The resort would make an excellent location for a team training camp.... just be prepared for some climbing. I opted not to join Cole in riding up the mountain Sunday; being firmly entrenched in Zone 2 Base 3, I've been avoiding mountains like the dentist (except when i went to Wintergeen). Nevertheless we had a good staff retreat, getting both the Roanoke and Blacksburg shops on the same page.
Trek University was very informative. Beefed up from last year, the emphasis was less on the technical aspect of mechanics, and more about the Trek/Lemond/Fisher/Bontrager product lines and what Trek is doing to maintain and improve on its status as the best brand in cycling. I was disappointed on the lack of Klein content, but that came as no surprise. I really enjoyed seeing everyone from BikeBeat; it was almost like a family reunion, many of whom I've known for many years.
Well. that's all for now. The race season is fast approaching. Go ride your bike.
Mountain Lake is a beautiful resort. You may recall it from the movie Dirty Dancing. We were holed up in a relatively new 4 bedroom chalet that was quite nice. The resort would make an excellent location for a team training camp.... just be prepared for some climbing. I opted not to join Cole in riding up the mountain Sunday; being firmly entrenched in Zone 2 Base 3, I've been avoiding mountains like the dentist (except when i went to Wintergeen). Nevertheless we had a good staff retreat, getting both the Roanoke and Blacksburg shops on the same page.
Trek University was very informative. Beefed up from last year, the emphasis was less on the technical aspect of mechanics, and more about the Trek/Lemond/Fisher/Bontrager product lines and what Trek is doing to maintain and improve on its status as the best brand in cycling. I was disappointed on the lack of Klein content, but that came as no surprise. I really enjoyed seeing everyone from BikeBeat; it was almost like a family reunion, many of whom I've known for many years.
Well. that's all for now. The race season is fast approaching. Go ride your bike.
Monday, January 16, 2006
Titanium Boron Steel
So today I worked on a Huffy that had a top tube decal reading "Titanium Boron Steel". Interesting indeed. I'd like to see a Huffy, or any bike that contains all three materials. Titanium, I like the feel of a sweet Ti bike. Steel is real, gotta love the feel (make mine Reynolds 853 or TruTemper OXII please). As for Boron, I've never ridden a bike enhanced by Boron... although Lance has. If you have heard about Lance's Madone 5.9SSLx... it may be a cool read. Trek used Boron in the bottom bracket to increase the stiffness (efficiency) of the frame greatly.
ANYWAYS... this was the last big week of my Base 2 period. Next week is a rest period, and then I head into Base 3. Soon... soon I will be fast. This weekend was definately a surprise... for me and Coach Cam. I can feel that my endurance training is coming along nicely. I had to work pretty hard to get into and stay in Zone 2. Not overly hard, but anytime I slacked off the heartrate dropped like a rock. I was pretty happy, I was able to average 215 watts (gotta love riding into 30mph headwinds) Saturday and 213 Sunday. Good stuff. I also felt like I was training in Belgium... pouring rain, temp sin the low 40's Wednesday (my PowerTap didn't like that so much); 30-50mph winds on Saturday blowing snow and sleet as the windchill was below the dew point; and just a tough ride that felt like drudgery on Sunday as my Base 2 came to a close.
That's all for now... I'm looking forward to a well deserved rest week and the opportunity to see friends and family as I head home for business Wednesday night and Thursday.
ANYWAYS... this was the last big week of my Base 2 period. Next week is a rest period, and then I head into Base 3. Soon... soon I will be fast. This weekend was definately a surprise... for me and Coach Cam. I can feel that my endurance training is coming along nicely. I had to work pretty hard to get into and stay in Zone 2. Not overly hard, but anytime I slacked off the heartrate dropped like a rock. I was pretty happy, I was able to average 215 watts (gotta love riding into 30mph headwinds) Saturday and 213 Sunday. Good stuff. I also felt like I was training in Belgium... pouring rain, temp sin the low 40's Wednesday (my PowerTap didn't like that so much); 30-50mph winds on Saturday blowing snow and sleet as the windchill was below the dew point; and just a tough ride that felt like drudgery on Sunday as my Base 2 came to a close.
That's all for now... I'm looking forward to a well deserved rest week and the opportunity to see friends and family as I head home for business Wednesday night and Thursday.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Breaking the silence.
So I haven't been very good at updating my blog. My apologies. I hope you haven't missed me. Nevertheless, the only excuse I can come up with is lack of time. Things have been pretty busy around here, waking up early to train, go to work, get home, eat dinner, go to bed. Far from a monastic approach to life, but definately at times a bit blitzing. As for the house, it has really developed a "homey" feel. The cats are settled in... although they don't get to go outside nearly as much as they'd like, as it turns out our neighbor is an animal lover and feeds stray cats every morning. Needless to say, I'm not too crazy about that, I don't need Target and Walker coming under the influence of the Sharks or the Jets... or whatever the neighborhood stray cat gang is.
As for training, it's going well. Today I got in my 3 hours... albeit a very wet (did I say wet?) and cold 3 hours through communities that influenced Deliverence. Sunday I headed out to Wintergreen for a 3 hour ride before meeting my cousin Ryan for a full day of snow boarding. After cranking up Reed's Gap only top find parts of the Parkway impassable I descended back down to Rte 151 at the base of the mountain. Despite living in the mounatin I really dislike climbing (except for Mill Mounatin & 12:00 Knob), but I LOVE descending. At the bottom while contently cruising down Rte 151 I ran into some friends from back home. Teammate David Rushing and the father and son duo of Peter & Stephen Deisle drove out for some hill work. They were more surprised to see me than I was them (I think)... afterall, why would I drive out to the mountains to ride by myself when I live in the mounatins? I tagged along for a while, governing my efforts up Boblet's Gap, then bombing the twisty descent before separating at the base of the stupidly steep Wintergreen ascent. Kinda cool, I got to break the monotony of riding alone with the pleasure of riding with friends from home. Anyways... I'll apologize for the lack of congruency of this post... I'm pretty tired. Until next time.
As for training, it's going well. Today I got in my 3 hours... albeit a very wet (did I say wet?) and cold 3 hours through communities that influenced Deliverence. Sunday I headed out to Wintergreen for a 3 hour ride before meeting my cousin Ryan for a full day of snow boarding. After cranking up Reed's Gap only top find parts of the Parkway impassable I descended back down to Rte 151 at the base of the mountain. Despite living in the mounatin I really dislike climbing (except for Mill Mounatin & 12:00 Knob), but I LOVE descending. At the bottom while contently cruising down Rte 151 I ran into some friends from back home. Teammate David Rushing and the father and son duo of Peter & Stephen Deisle drove out for some hill work. They were more surprised to see me than I was them (I think)... afterall, why would I drive out to the mountains to ride by myself when I live in the mounatins? I tagged along for a while, governing my efforts up Boblet's Gap, then bombing the twisty descent before separating at the base of the stupidly steep Wintergreen ascent. Kinda cool, I got to break the monotony of riding alone with the pleasure of riding with friends from home. Anyways... I'll apologize for the lack of congruency of this post... I'm pretty tired. Until next time.
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