The weather was nice so I wanted to get outside and ride my bicycle. One of my team mates met me at my house and then we went and met up with OBC. OBC was it's typical smaller Monday night group, but I was surprised to see Brian (team mate) riding with the group.
When Ryan and I met up with the group and started to climb the first hill off of Hwy O (Grafton-Newburg Route) the group hammered up the hill and I said to Ryan that I am not worried, but if Brian gets to the front, he could pick up the pace and make it difficult to get back on. Well, Brian went to the front and had a huge gap on the field, so Ryan got on my wheel and I bridged that gap and the three of us had a huge gap on the field. We kept a hard tempo going for a while and then we stopped in Newburg to let it re-group. Then we did some more tempo work and then we headed back once we got to Hwy O again. I had 2 hours in the saddle and 40 miles in, that makes for a good weekday ride. I did more pulling than sitting in, so I could get a good workout in. I was very chilled (cold) by the time I got back home, and took my body a good hour to warm up. Well that is it for now.
Later
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Whitnall Park Circuit Race
Yesterday I ventured down to Whitnall Park to race my bicycle. I was fortunate enough to car pool with an ex-team mate. We had good conversations to and from. The weather was quite pleasant and a bit windy. The race was put on by KS Energy and there looked to be strong showings in all races. The course was in Whitnall Park in Hales Corners, and you basically were going up or down. It was 1.1 mile loop and shows to be about 80ft of climbing each lap.
Warmed up with Brian, Rick, and Jeff. No strategy talk, to early in the season for that, well at least for me. My personal strategy was to finish. We raced the M1,2,3 which was one hour long. For me the race was pretty much a suffer fest and I was just trying to survive to the end. I remember at one point looking at the time and we have only been racing for around 20 minutes and I thought to myself, will I be able to finish? I kept pushing lap after lap, looking down again with about 15 minutes to go, I can do this. That climb was challenging for me, and on the last lap I was shelled on that 80ft climb. Hey, I finished, goal complete!
It was a tough fun race and my first M1,2,3 race and was really nice to ride with guys that are very smooth. I felt very comfortable going into the corners with others surrounding me. All in all, at the end of the day I had FUN!
Later
Warmed up with Brian, Rick, and Jeff. No strategy talk, to early in the season for that, well at least for me. My personal strategy was to finish. We raced the M1,2,3 which was one hour long. For me the race was pretty much a suffer fest and I was just trying to survive to the end. I remember at one point looking at the time and we have only been racing for around 20 minutes and I thought to myself, will I be able to finish? I kept pushing lap after lap, looking down again with about 15 minutes to go, I can do this. That climb was challenging for me, and on the last lap I was shelled on that 80ft climb. Hey, I finished, goal complete!
It was a tough fun race and my first M1,2,3 race and was really nice to ride with guys that are very smooth. I felt very comfortable going into the corners with others surrounding me. All in all, at the end of the day I had FUN!
Later
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Life Disrupts
Last night I went down into my pain cave and attempted to do a 20 minute test. Why outside you ask? I know it is the end of April and I should be riding outside, but this is Wisconsin. Temperature last night after work was in the low 40's and a bit windy. Besides, I missed my test last week.
I did my warm and felt ok and then started my test. 5 minutes went by and I was already hurting. I made it to almost 10 minutes and then pulled the plug, there was no way that I was going to make 20 minutes. Why do I feel so weak? My best guess, is that the week of vacation in Arizona without a bicycle really hurt me. Then the first week back I didn't get a whole lot of saddle time in either because I was getting ready for moving and then moving. I am still unpacking and trying to get organized, but it is coming around. Little by little I am getting closer to being done. But, then the smaller projects will start, like building shelves in the garage. Oh, but a big project that needs to get done is my landscaping!
I am racing on Saturday, it is at Whitnal Park in Hales Corners and I will be doing my first M1,2,3's race. I am looking to be a pack fodder, and do what I can. Looking to get my training back on track, and hopefully the weather will start getting better, but doesn't look too promising right now.
My brother Larry is still in the hospital for his C.F. and is waiting to see if he qualifies to get on the lung transplant list. I hope the best for him and that he gets it and recovers well and quickly. I love you Bro!
Look for a race report early next week.
Later
I did my warm and felt ok and then started my test. 5 minutes went by and I was already hurting. I made it to almost 10 minutes and then pulled the plug, there was no way that I was going to make 20 minutes. Why do I feel so weak? My best guess, is that the week of vacation in Arizona without a bicycle really hurt me. Then the first week back I didn't get a whole lot of saddle time in either because I was getting ready for moving and then moving. I am still unpacking and trying to get organized, but it is coming around. Little by little I am getting closer to being done. But, then the smaller projects will start, like building shelves in the garage. Oh, but a big project that needs to get done is my landscaping!
I am racing on Saturday, it is at Whitnal Park in Hales Corners and I will be doing my first M1,2,3's race. I am looking to be a pack fodder, and do what I can. Looking to get my training back on track, and hopefully the weather will start getting better, but doesn't look too promising right now.
My brother Larry is still in the hospital for his C.F. and is waiting to see if he qualifies to get on the lung transplant list. I hope the best for him and that he gets it and recovers well and quickly. I love you Bro!
Look for a race report early next week.
Later
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Vacation=Recovery
Went to Arizona last week without my bicycle, but still had a blast. My mom flew us (Wayne, Michelle, Tammy and I) out to visit her. She lives in Tucson, what a beautiful place to live. The unfortunate part was that we brought some Wisconsin weather with us. A couple of days were beautiful and in the 80's, but we did have one day that it rained all day. My mom has a pool and it was very cold! This did not stop me and Wayne from dipping in it a couple times. I managed to get sun burned too!
Mt. Lemon was awesome, saw a lot of cyclists making the climb, but there was fresh snow towards the top. We drove up it and that took a while and then on the way back Wayne and I wanted to descend on the back side which was unpaved, but Tammy and Michelle didn't want anything to do with it, so we drove down the same way we came up. When we made it back to the house Wayne and I took my mom's Jeep and went up the back side! Well worth the extra trip and had so much fun! This is a must if you have a four wheel drive vehicle, don't think you would need one if you were descending though, but would be nice to have the ground clearance in some spots.
Exercise was not on the top of my priority list, but managed to get some in. I ran/jogged two with my wife, one day was 5 miles and the other was 3 miles. One day we all did a hike up Seven Falls which was about 7 miles and beautiful. I need to give big props to my mother for making the whole thing without to much complaining. I do have to say it was a bit challenging and my legs and feet were beat.
Went for a bicycle ride last night and started from work, because I commuted in. I met OBC just north of Saukville and then rode with them through Newburg and headed home on Paradise. I had a lot of fun and was working really hard a couple times on the climbs and tried to keep the pace steady if I felt it slowed to much. I had a good time and I did blow myself up before I turned off from the group.
Tomorrow is a big day, we are closing on our house! Yeah, so excited and we are moving in on Saturday, so very busy here for the next couple days. Looking for helpers to move on Saturday if you are interested.
Thats is for now.
Mt. Lemon was awesome, saw a lot of cyclists making the climb, but there was fresh snow towards the top. We drove up it and that took a while and then on the way back Wayne and I wanted to descend on the back side which was unpaved, but Tammy and Michelle didn't want anything to do with it, so we drove down the same way we came up. When we made it back to the house Wayne and I took my mom's Jeep and went up the back side! Well worth the extra trip and had so much fun! This is a must if you have a four wheel drive vehicle, don't think you would need one if you were descending though, but would be nice to have the ground clearance in some spots.
Exercise was not on the top of my priority list, but managed to get some in. I ran/jogged two with my wife, one day was 5 miles and the other was 3 miles. One day we all did a hike up Seven Falls which was about 7 miles and beautiful. I need to give big props to my mother for making the whole thing without to much complaining. I do have to say it was a bit challenging and my legs and feet were beat.
Went for a bicycle ride last night and started from work, because I commuted in. I met OBC just north of Saukville and then rode with them through Newburg and headed home on Paradise. I had a lot of fun and was working really hard a couple times on the climbs and tried to keep the pace steady if I felt it slowed to much. I had a good time and I did blow myself up before I turned off from the group.
Tomorrow is a big day, we are closing on our house! Yeah, so excited and we are moving in on Saturday, so very busy here for the next couple days. Looking for helpers to move on Saturday if you are interested.
Thats is for now.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Hillsboro Roubaix Road Race
What a well organized race! There was four of us that rode down to Hillsboro Illinois Friday night. The drive was about 5 1/2 hours and the first part of it was rainy and crappy, but did clear up the closer we got. We went to bed at midnight and I was up at 6:30am, I couldn't sleep anymore, being a morning person that I am, wish I could have though. Brian, Travis and went to Denny's for breakfast and then after breakfast went back to the room and Erik was ready, so we packed up and headed out.
The weather was a bit cool in the morning, but pleasant and warmed up quickly once racing. We arrived at the race and then picked up our numbers and timing chip. Then we started getting ready.
I put on embrocation and wore just bib shorts and a jersey. We warmed up a bit and checked out the brick pavers and I decided that I should put my computer in my jersey pocket because it was flapping pretty bad and I was afraid that it would break off the mount, so I put it away. Now, I am racing blind, but people do it all the time.
Start of the race, we (Travis, Brian and I) timed it terribly and started basically last place. Once we were going it was many accelerations and then slam on the brakes. I wish we would have started towards the front, I think it would have helped a lot with being smoother. I tried to stay on the edges to help avoid any mid pack crashes. I had a hard time staying out of the wind, was very difficult to figure out exactly where it was coming from. The course was rolling, but we had strong winds that kept you moving around trying to find the sweet spot to help stack zeros'. I was feeling ok for almost the whole first lap which was about 28 miles. We came back into town on the first lap and started, what I think the hardest climb, before the bricks. I made it about 1/2 to 3/4's the way up with the pack and then fell off. I couldn't get back on, but I could see them. When I was crossing the start/finish line my right calf started to cramp up.
Second lap started with this calf cramping, I thought to myself that I should just pull out. But, then I thought, drove all the way down here to race that I should at least get a good workout in. So, I kept going and put my computer back on to help pace me. Then Brian passed me and said get on and I said I am cramping and he rode away with another racer. Wish I could have, but my calf was pretty bad. I watched him and the other guy he was working with ride away. There was another guy ahead of me too, that I was slowly reeling in. A guy came from behind and passed me and I got on his wheel and was working with him. We eventually caught up to someone else and he got on our wheels, but didn't take a single pull. I eventually rode both of them off my wheel without trying, I felt like I was riding really slow, staying in my power zone that would allow me to finish the race. I was passed by quite a few people, but I think they were in other classes. I ended up riding at least a half a lap by myself, but it was nice with the sun shining. I was starting to run out of fluids towards the end, but managed to make it ok. I saw the big hill in town and thought YES I am almost done. Went up the hill and then flew down the first street of bricks and then made the left turn and only had one more Left turn onto the finishing straight. I looked down at my computer and it was GONE, broke off, so instead of finish the race, I turned around to look for it. I didn't see it, so I asked the officers if they saw it go bouncing down the road. Nope, no one saw it. I kept looking for about 5 to 10 minutes and then decided to finish the race. I then saw it as I was heading back sitting on the grass. Whew, thank god, my wife would have been pissed if I would had to buy a new one. In this amount of time screwing around, I know I have lost some spots, but that is ok. Well that is racing, luck needs to be on your side too, but if I would have remembered to put my computer back in my jersey I would have wasted that time looking for it.
All in all, a great race and would like to do it again. Great learning experience and I have to remember that it is still very early in the season.
I have a couple days before I leave for Arizona for a week. Then we close on our house April 15th and we will see if I have time to race on April 17th. If I don't make it, it won't break my heart. I am sure I will be plenty busy. I just hope to keep my training going according to plan.
The weather was a bit cool in the morning, but pleasant and warmed up quickly once racing. We arrived at the race and then picked up our numbers and timing chip. Then we started getting ready.
I put on embrocation and wore just bib shorts and a jersey. We warmed up a bit and checked out the brick pavers and I decided that I should put my computer in my jersey pocket because it was flapping pretty bad and I was afraid that it would break off the mount, so I put it away. Now, I am racing blind, but people do it all the time.
Start of the race, we (Travis, Brian and I) timed it terribly and started basically last place. Once we were going it was many accelerations and then slam on the brakes. I wish we would have started towards the front, I think it would have helped a lot with being smoother. I tried to stay on the edges to help avoid any mid pack crashes. I had a hard time staying out of the wind, was very difficult to figure out exactly where it was coming from. The course was rolling, but we had strong winds that kept you moving around trying to find the sweet spot to help stack zeros'. I was feeling ok for almost the whole first lap which was about 28 miles. We came back into town on the first lap and started, what I think the hardest climb, before the bricks. I made it about 1/2 to 3/4's the way up with the pack and then fell off. I couldn't get back on, but I could see them. When I was crossing the start/finish line my right calf started to cramp up.
Second lap started with this calf cramping, I thought to myself that I should just pull out. But, then I thought, drove all the way down here to race that I should at least get a good workout in. So, I kept going and put my computer back on to help pace me. Then Brian passed me and said get on and I said I am cramping and he rode away with another racer. Wish I could have, but my calf was pretty bad. I watched him and the other guy he was working with ride away. There was another guy ahead of me too, that I was slowly reeling in. A guy came from behind and passed me and I got on his wheel and was working with him. We eventually caught up to someone else and he got on our wheels, but didn't take a single pull. I eventually rode both of them off my wheel without trying, I felt like I was riding really slow, staying in my power zone that would allow me to finish the race. I was passed by quite a few people, but I think they were in other classes. I ended up riding at least a half a lap by myself, but it was nice with the sun shining. I was starting to run out of fluids towards the end, but managed to make it ok. I saw the big hill in town and thought YES I am almost done. Went up the hill and then flew down the first street of bricks and then made the left turn and only had one more Left turn onto the finishing straight. I looked down at my computer and it was GONE, broke off, so instead of finish the race, I turned around to look for it. I didn't see it, so I asked the officers if they saw it go bouncing down the road. Nope, no one saw it. I kept looking for about 5 to 10 minutes and then decided to finish the race. I then saw it as I was heading back sitting on the grass. Whew, thank god, my wife would have been pissed if I would had to buy a new one. In this amount of time screwing around, I know I have lost some spots, but that is ok. Well that is racing, luck needs to be on your side too, but if I would have remembered to put my computer back in my jersey I would have wasted that time looking for it.
All in all, a great race and would like to do it again. Great learning experience and I have to remember that it is still very early in the season.
I have a couple days before I leave for Arizona for a week. Then we close on our house April 15th and we will see if I have time to race on April 17th. If I don't make it, it won't break my heart. I am sure I will be plenty busy. I just hope to keep my training going according to plan.
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