The Fix

Ok, should have posted this one before my last post, but hey it is my blog and I will do with it what I want.

Anyways, the fix to my bike noise which I thought was my bottom bracket, turned out to be my rear wheel, probably the hub or free wheel. How it was determined? I took my bike to the shop (Extreme Ski & Bike) along with my rollers and rode in the shop. Rode it until it started making noise and the Karrie listened to it and said "I think it is the rear wheel, lets try a different one". Ok, sounds good to me, so we put a different wheel on and no noise. She then took my old wheel and gave me a new one. I haven't had a problem/noise since. So, a big thanks to Karrie for figuring it out!

Next post will probably be about how my December training is going.

Getting Organized

I have started to ride more. Getting ready to start my December training that is going to be structured which helps keep me focused. I have been getting help from my previous coach and I am hoping that I can do good job coaching myself. He has given me all the tools and now it up to me to use them correctly. Thanks for these by the way, it will certainly help me.

Thanksgiving was great, I didn't over do it with eating so bravo to me. I did get a ride in with my wife in the basement. Friday I had a small group, Ryan, Jeff, Jim and myself. We rode out to Holy Hill, the winds were a bit strong and the company was good. Saturday I rode to the coffee shop in Kewaskum and Sunday I rode in the basement again with my wife. So, 4 straight days of riding and now time for a little break, just getting the body ready for December training. I have made my December training plan and I will keep track of my TSS and make sure I don't dig myself a big hole.

Looking forward to improving on all fronts! I have a positive outlook for the 2012 race season.

Mechanical Hiatis

I have been having issues with my Trek Madone. I get an unpleasant sound coming out of my bottom bracket. I have been dealing with this for a long time and it is getting worse. Something needs to be done with it and I am not sure what is going to be done to resolve this problem.

What I have done so far: I have cleaned the bottom bracket many times. Had an over-sized bearing put in on one side because there was to much play. This was done last week and was hoping that, that was going to solve the noise, no such luck. I know that it is the bottom bracket for sure, because I can take the same crank and put it on my Giant which has a threaded bottom bracket and that bike doesn't make any noise.

I am hoping Trek has a solution for my problem and can be resolved in a timely manor.

I am going to be kicking in my training this week with a power test, so I can officially start my training in December and I need to make sure that my power zones are correct. I know I have lost some fitness, but I also know that you need to loose some in order to gain some in the next season. I also know that I am stronger this year than last year, because last year I had surgery on my wrist and leg. My current training looks to be on my Giant until Trek figures something out.

Back & Forth

I mainly race WCA races and when I first started in 2009 I raced M4/5. Then in 2010 they changed the age bracket for Master races from 30 years old to 35 years old. So, then I forced to race Cat. 3. Then in 2011 they changed the age back to 30+ to race Masters, so then I raced a bunch of Masters races.

WCA currently did a survey and from the looks of it, the Masters age bracket is going to get pushed to 35+ again. This again will force me to race Cat. 3 or P1,2,3. I am a bit disappointed about this, I really like racing the Master because it is much smoother and the racers don't typically make bone head moves. On the plus side, though, looks like they are going to have more road races.

I need to come up with my 2012 goals! Still thinking about these, and will post once I figure them out.

Becoming Smart

I recently bought a smart phone. Now I am finding out all the cool things that can be done from my phone. Phones are not phones anymore, they are so much more. Basically a hand held computer. So, be looking for more posts and more pictures. Been screwing around with this trying to figure out how to download pictures from the phone, I can't figure it out. So, here is a post from my mobile.

Just for FUN!

I have been taking much needed time off the bike this off season. I have been only riding on the weekends and for the most part just one day. My rides consist of having fun, no specific training goals, except maybe a duration in the saddle, but not paying huge attention to my wattage.

This past weekend I actually went out twice, Saturday and Sunday. Saturday was beautiful out, so I wanted to get out. I did a house chore first thing in the morning, which allowed it to warm up a little before going riding. I left around 11am, but quickly noticed that my bike was having a mechanical, so now when I was planning a longer ride, turned into a shorter ride. My rear shifter cable was about to break, so I shortened my ride and upped the intensity. I made it home without my cable breaking.

When I arrived back at home I took my bike to the basement and fixed it right away. I had replacement parts in stock, so not a huge deal.

My wife came home and wanted to ride, but in the basement. She said why don't you ride w/me? I said I don't really feel like riding in the basement, but I did it anyways. I rode in the basement for an hour and my ride outside was about 45 minutes.

Sunday, since Saturday didn't go as planned and my wife was going to be gone all day, I went for another ride, managed to get in a nice long ride in. The weather wasn't near as nice as Saturday's. Sunday was very breezy and overcast. I rode to Holy Hill Church and then headed a little more southwest before returning home. I rode around 3hr45min., bike worked good, but I do have this annoying sound coming from my bottom bracket.

I am taking my bike into the shop tonight and they are going to be putting in a new over sized bottom bracket bearing. The current one has some extra play making my bottom bracket make extra noise. This will be really nice if it all works out.

Future training, I think I am going to take the rest of November to weekend rides and some weight training. I was in the gym last week and was having fun with that, so keep that going through November. December I am going to start doing specific training, nothing crazy, but start getting a routine going.