Got word today that the new frame shipped from IF. Should be in the shop by Friday. I'm hoping i can have it built up in time for the last race in C'ville.
OOOOH BOY THIS IS GONNA BE GREAT!
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Cyclocross'n at the Beach
So Sara and I made the trek down to VA Beach for the weekend to do a little walking on the beach, a little roller blading and a little cyclocross. (you know what the hardest thing about rollerblading is? Telling your parents that you're gay. I love that joke)The weather turned out beautiful, much warmer and clearer than it was in January.
Saturday night we met up with some of the Tripower folks for dinner. It was nice to get to hang out with some other racers away from the race.
Sunday was even better than Saturday, nice warm morning and not a cloud in the sky. I was racing the Masters 35+, the first race of the day which means the course wasn't chewed up yet. The course was mostly dry, which was a welcome change after two weeks of racing through some mud. The plan for the race was to hit the steps as close to the front as possible. I'm usally a little slow out of the gate so i made and extra effort to do a little sprinting at the start. SPrint what, huh, what's that? I was fifth going up the stairs and by the time we were leaving the spiral of doom, i was in first. I wanted to keep on the gas and put as much distance between myself and second place. The ONLY thing i like about the spiral of doom is that it gives you a real easy way to gauge your distance from the chase group. Lap two i was spiraling out when second place was just starting, lap 3 i was out of the spiral when second was just starting. Towards the end of the race, the leader of the 45+ came in to view behind me and i thought he was second place in my race gaining on me so i hammered to the finish. I felt really good on the course and i was really happy with the win. Thanks to all the folks cheering for me on the course.
We hung around for the A/B race. I was glad i didn't race again because i got to watch the exiting B race. There was a pack of 5 that switched places throughout the race and came down to a sprint finish. Great job Kyle, Kevin, and Russell (2 l's).
Next up Reston....Gonna give the killer B's a shot. (35+ B requires me to get up to early)
Saturday night we met up with some of the Tripower folks for dinner. It was nice to get to hang out with some other racers away from the race.
Sunday was even better than Saturday, nice warm morning and not a cloud in the sky. I was racing the Masters 35+, the first race of the day which means the course wasn't chewed up yet. The course was mostly dry, which was a welcome change after two weeks of racing through some mud. The plan for the race was to hit the steps as close to the front as possible. I'm usally a little slow out of the gate so i made and extra effort to do a little sprinting at the start. SPrint what, huh, what's that? I was fifth going up the stairs and by the time we were leaving the spiral of doom, i was in first. I wanted to keep on the gas and put as much distance between myself and second place. The ONLY thing i like about the spiral of doom is that it gives you a real easy way to gauge your distance from the chase group. Lap two i was spiraling out when second place was just starting, lap 3 i was out of the spiral when second was just starting. Towards the end of the race, the leader of the 45+ came in to view behind me and i thought he was second place in my race gaining on me so i hammered to the finish. I felt really good on the course and i was really happy with the win. Thanks to all the folks cheering for me on the course.
We hung around for the A/B race. I was glad i didn't race again because i got to watch the exiting B race. There was a pack of 5 that switched places throughout the race and came down to a sprint finish. Great job Kyle, Kevin, and Russell (2 l's).
Next up Reston....Gonna give the killer B's a shot. (35+ B requires me to get up to early)
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Suffering Fools
I know i am not the smartest person in the world and i know i do stupid things too. I at least am willing to admit when i do something dumb or fess up when i make a mistake. But when i encounter someone who consistently does dumb things and will never take responsibility for their mistakes i get very frustrated and upset. I know in this day and age of everyone not wanting to upset each other that it is not PC or socially accepted to point out others mistakes or call them dumb....But I just can't stop myself. I like to question the stupidity and ask the person why. And come on...arguing can be fun.
It seems that the powers that be either don't recognize the stupidity or just don't care. January can't come soon enough.
It seems that the powers that be either don't recognize the stupidity or just don't care. January can't come soon enough.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Indoor Cycling
I think if there is one downside to cycling it would be training indoors. I would rather be outside on a zero degree day hanging on to that last bit of feeling in my toes, than inside on a trainer or a spin bike. But when the days get short and there isn't enough time to go outside, you gotta stay in shape somehow. When i have to ride inside, my first choice is Spin. I like the structure of the workout, and if the music it good the class can fly by. And sometimes there can be scenery indoors too.
I work as an instructor so i can control the music and make sure the workout is hard enough. I try my best to recreate riding outside on the bikes inside. I hang on to the crazy thought that the people taking the classes have goals of riding outside someday. It's nuts i know, but it could happen.
My other option in town is to hit the local shop on Tue/Thur for the trainer sessions. We circle around the TV in the bike shop, watch a movie and ride our trainers. At least it's something to take your mind off the fact that you are sitting still, sweating buckets with no end in sight.
The benefits of training indoors outweigh the negatives. But i think the key is keeping it a social event. There is nothing that will make you want to swallow a bullet more than spending an hour on a trainer by yourself in the basement.
I'm thinking i might hit the shop tonight for a ride...wonder what movie is playing???
I work as an instructor so i can control the music and make sure the workout is hard enough. I try my best to recreate riding outside on the bikes inside. I hang on to the crazy thought that the people taking the classes have goals of riding outside someday. It's nuts i know, but it could happen.
My other option in town is to hit the local shop on Tue/Thur for the trainer sessions. We circle around the TV in the bike shop, watch a movie and ride our trainers. At least it's something to take your mind off the fact that you are sitting still, sweating buckets with no end in sight.
The benefits of training indoors outweigh the negatives. But i think the key is keeping it a social event. There is nothing that will make you want to swallow a bullet more than spending an hour on a trainer by yourself in the basement.
I'm thinking i might hit the shop tonight for a ride...wonder what movie is playing???
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Ciclismo Cross VACX round 3
So this is my first post on my new blog. Not sure if i have enough thoughts to support a blog, but what the heck. What few thoughts i have are bound to be the best thoughts ever!!!
Drove out to Richmond for the Cyclocross race this morning. I was pretty excited about this course, we raced it last January and it was fast and relatively flat. There is a nice stretch of single track (technically not allowed in cross...but whose keeping track) The course was similar to before, but with the rain during the week, parts of the single track were still really moist. (almost like there was an underground spring) The muddy parts weren't too bad during the first race, but by the end of the day, it was really nasty. I was originally planning on racing 35+ and Men's A, but being the wimp that i am, i ended up only racing 35+. I wasn't in the mood to run my bike through the mud for another hour and after last weekend in c'ville, i didn't want to spend the whole week working on my bike again.
My race went pretty well. I was off to a slow start (second to last hitting the grass) but i managed to work my way through the field and finished third. The first place guy was 2 minutes ahead of me, and Chris Scott finished second about a minute up on me.
The course was fun like i remember, no real hills, and lots of fun on the single track.
I hung around to watch the exciting B race. The pack was together for the first half, when Kevin Horvath put a little distance between Mark Russel, Kyle Murphy and a third guy. I was shooting pics with Kevin's camera, so it was pretty exciting to see him off the front. Kevin finished first with about 15 seconds on the chase group and Mark finished second in a sprint for the finish. Kyle came in 4th, apparently he lost his front brakes and failed to negotiate a curve. It would have been cool to see a 3 up sprint for 2nd.
A good time was had by all. Looking forward to the trip to VA Beach next weekend.
Drove out to Richmond for the Cyclocross race this morning. I was pretty excited about this course, we raced it last January and it was fast and relatively flat. There is a nice stretch of single track (technically not allowed in cross...but whose keeping track) The course was similar to before, but with the rain during the week, parts of the single track were still really moist. (almost like there was an underground spring) The muddy parts weren't too bad during the first race, but by the end of the day, it was really nasty. I was originally planning on racing 35+ and Men's A, but being the wimp that i am, i ended up only racing 35+. I wasn't in the mood to run my bike through the mud for another hour and after last weekend in c'ville, i didn't want to spend the whole week working on my bike again.
My race went pretty well. I was off to a slow start (second to last hitting the grass) but i managed to work my way through the field and finished third. The first place guy was 2 minutes ahead of me, and Chris Scott finished second about a minute up on me.
The course was fun like i remember, no real hills, and lots of fun on the single track.
I hung around to watch the exciting B race. The pack was together for the first half, when Kevin Horvath put a little distance between Mark Russel, Kyle Murphy and a third guy. I was shooting pics with Kevin's camera, so it was pretty exciting to see him off the front. Kevin finished first with about 15 seconds on the chase group and Mark finished second in a sprint for the finish. Kyle came in 4th, apparently he lost his front brakes and failed to negotiate a curve. It would have been cool to see a 3 up sprint for 2nd.
A good time was had by all. Looking forward to the trip to VA Beach next weekend.
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