Hours: 354.5
Mileage: 6,278.75
Wow, no wonder why my wife gets mad at me. She is jealous of all the attention my bike gets.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Friday, December 6, 2013
Hello!
I know it has been a long long time since my last post. Lets reflect a little on the past. My 2013 season was okay and turned out the way I thought it would have, results wise. I wish I would have done a little more racing though. It is hard to balance everything out (racing, wife, and life). In the fall I took some time off the bike and was working part time on a farm after work and on Saturdays. I only worked when they were short handed with dump truck drivers. Except they did have me "roll" fields for short time when they were running behind and it needed to get done. I really enjoyed it, and I liked the extra money too and so did my wife. She didn't like the fact that I was gone so much though. I was hoping that with the extra money I would be able to get a new bike.
I started my training again November 1st. Some might say why so soon? Well, November is my "Base 1". There are many months of training and "Base 1" is not very hard. I started weight lifting one day a week. This is a full body deal and is done on Mondays. I really enjoy it and I am going to do more of it next fall. I am going to stick with weight training one day a week as long as I am having fun. The end of November I was suppose to do a power test. I had such a great weight training session before the test day that my muscle were way to sore to properly test. I am currently just using my same FTP and seems to be okay. I will make sure that I can do the test here at the end of December.
December is my "Base 2" month of training. Base 2 requires a little more time and I added one more day of training. This added day has a little tempo riding. This is nice, endurance pace is so boring on the trainer. I envy bicycle riders in warmer winter climates that can ride outside.
I ordered a new bike today. Not sure when it will be in. My best guess would be late January or sometime in February. It is a Project One Madone 7 series with manual Ultergra. I ordered it with Bontrager D3 3's wheels. Paint will be Starry Night and Liquid Green, both colors are metallic and will look really cool in the sunlight. This is what the new bike will look like.
I will be changing my Bontrager D3 7's to 11 speed. My other Madone will have the stock 10 speed wheels. I am really excited and super happy that my wife is letting me get this sweet new ride.
I started my training again November 1st. Some might say why so soon? Well, November is my "Base 1". There are many months of training and "Base 1" is not very hard. I started weight lifting one day a week. This is a full body deal and is done on Mondays. I really enjoy it and I am going to do more of it next fall. I am going to stick with weight training one day a week as long as I am having fun. The end of November I was suppose to do a power test. I had such a great weight training session before the test day that my muscle were way to sore to properly test. I am currently just using my same FTP and seems to be okay. I will make sure that I can do the test here at the end of December.
December is my "Base 2" month of training. Base 2 requires a little more time and I added one more day of training. This added day has a little tempo riding. This is nice, endurance pace is so boring on the trainer. I envy bicycle riders in warmer winter climates that can ride outside.
I ordered a new bike today. Not sure when it will be in. My best guess would be late January or sometime in February. It is a Project One Madone 7 series with manual Ultergra. I ordered it with Bontrager D3 3's wheels. Paint will be Starry Night and Liquid Green, both colors are metallic and will look really cool in the sunlight. This is what the new bike will look like.
Mobile upload testing
I have a new smartphone and I thought it would be great if I could post from the phone. My last phone was a pain to post from.
I am trying something out and maybe I should start posting again. I do have some new things happening that I could write about.
I am wanting to upload photos from my phone.
Sorry it has been so long.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Whitnall Park/La Grange RR
I had another double race weekend. Saturday was a criterium at Whitnall Park in Hales Corners and Sunday was a road race in the Southern Kettles. I am going to keep this short.
Saturday I went early to catch some of the action from the previous races. I kind of lost track of time and didn't allow myself enough time for a proper warm up. My goal was to not get dropped, yes that was my goal. The course is climbing and descending, and I am not a strong climber. Lap after lap the hill was getting to me. I finished 20 out of 37, so goal accomplished.
Sunday for the road race again, goal was to finish and not get dropped. Goal was also met, and I am very surprised because with 21 miles to go I was already starting to cramp up during the hard efforts. I finished 15th. I am not sure how many racers there were, my guess is 20-25.
I am looking to have some nice recovery days, and head out to La Crosse on Saturday for the criterium.
Saturday I went early to catch some of the action from the previous races. I kind of lost track of time and didn't allow myself enough time for a proper warm up. My goal was to not get dropped, yes that was my goal. The course is climbing and descending, and I am not a strong climber. Lap after lap the hill was getting to me. I finished 20 out of 37, so goal accomplished.
Sunday for the road race again, goal was to finish and not get dropped. Goal was also met, and I am very surprised because with 21 miles to go I was already starting to cramp up during the hard efforts. I finished 15th. I am not sure how many racers there were, my guess is 20-25.
I am looking to have some nice recovery days, and head out to La Crosse on Saturday for the criterium.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Trocadero/GDVC #2
It was a double header weekend, Trocadero Criterium on Saturday and GDVC #2 on Sunday. Saturday I went to the races pretty early, knowing that this is a big turn out for our team. I had a lot of fun hanging out and watching the races. It was great hearing about team work and strategies that wanted to be done.
Weather was mostly sunny and a bit breezy making it feel pretty cold. While I was warming up I was changing my clothes trying to figure out what was going to work out the best. What I ended up with was embrocation on my legs, arm warmers, jersey and shorts. This was the perfect combination for racing. Saturday's race started out mellow and then the attacks started. There were many attacks and finally a 6 man break was successful at around 40-45 minutes of racing. The pace still stayed pretty fast with people trying to bridge or pull back the break away. On the final lap it mushroomed pretty good and I kept moving up through the pack. I still had energy to sprint and was able to pass a few people before crossing the finish line. I finished in 15th place.
I really had FUN in the race and felt very comfortable most of the time. My brother and his wife came out to watch me race which was very nice.
Sunday's race was very WINDY and cool. Again while warming up trying to figure out what to wear. I ended up with leg warmers, cold weather base layer, jersey, and shorts. I was a little over dressed. I started the race in good position and tried to hold on as long as I could. I almost crashed twice. The first time I crossed a wheel, but managed to save it. I am glad no one went down. Shortly after that I was dislodged from the peloton. I rode a lap or two by myself before 3 two others joined me. We were not working well together. I found myself by myself again until the peloton came around again. I jumped back in for maybe 3 laps, before getting dropped again. At this point the field was much smaller. I then was joined with 3 others and I don't really remember what happened with them. The second time I almost crashed I was riding the gutter with lots of sand and my pedal clipped the curb. Not a real big deal, but was definitely an eye opener. These are the mistakes that happen when the brain no longer has any oxygen.
Not sure where I finally ended up, what I do know is that a lot of people dropped out. What was so different about the GDVC races compared to the Trocadero race? Wind! I wish I would have ran my standard aluminum wheels, just to see if that would have made a difference. I was burning matches trying to stay out of the wind. We were riding the gutters on every lap. So, I had no place to hide. This is something that the M3/4 should do during races. This is a whole new topic though. Something else that may have hindered my performance is the race the day before.
Next up is KS Energy Whitnall Park on Saturday, not sure about the road race on Sunday.
Weather was mostly sunny and a bit breezy making it feel pretty cold. While I was warming up I was changing my clothes trying to figure out what was going to work out the best. What I ended up with was embrocation on my legs, arm warmers, jersey and shorts. This was the perfect combination for racing. Saturday's race started out mellow and then the attacks started. There were many attacks and finally a 6 man break was successful at around 40-45 minutes of racing. The pace still stayed pretty fast with people trying to bridge or pull back the break away. On the final lap it mushroomed pretty good and I kept moving up through the pack. I still had energy to sprint and was able to pass a few people before crossing the finish line. I finished in 15th place.
I really had FUN in the race and felt very comfortable most of the time. My brother and his wife came out to watch me race which was very nice.
Sunday's race was very WINDY and cool. Again while warming up trying to figure out what to wear. I ended up with leg warmers, cold weather base layer, jersey, and shorts. I was a little over dressed. I started the race in good position and tried to hold on as long as I could. I almost crashed twice. The first time I crossed a wheel, but managed to save it. I am glad no one went down. Shortly after that I was dislodged from the peloton. I rode a lap or two by myself before 3 two others joined me. We were not working well together. I found myself by myself again until the peloton came around again. I jumped back in for maybe 3 laps, before getting dropped again. At this point the field was much smaller. I then was joined with 3 others and I don't really remember what happened with them. The second time I almost crashed I was riding the gutter with lots of sand and my pedal clipped the curb. Not a real big deal, but was definitely an eye opener. These are the mistakes that happen when the brain no longer has any oxygen.
Not sure where I finally ended up, what I do know is that a lot of people dropped out. What was so different about the GDVC races compared to the Trocadero race? Wind! I wish I would have ran my standard aluminum wheels, just to see if that would have made a difference. I was burning matches trying to stay out of the wind. We were riding the gutters on every lap. So, I had no place to hide. This is something that the M3/4 should do during races. This is a whole new topic though. Something else that may have hindered my performance is the race the day before.
Next up is KS Energy Whitnall Park on Saturday, not sure about the road race on Sunday.
Monday, April 15, 2013
GDVC #1
My first Cat. 2 race as a Cat. 2 was very no I mean VERY hard! The race was in Madison on the same course as when I first started racing. It was very windy and the temperature was in the mid 40's with bits of sunshine.
I was very back and forth on whether to race or not, to the point where Tammy said "I wish you would make up your mind". Why? The weather looked to be a wash out, and then as I kept an eye on the radar it seemed to be getting better. Finally I said lets go, I know she didn't really want to go, but she came anyways, what a trooper.
The course has a 2 small rises and the finish straight had a headwind. I started in good position, but the pace was so fast and hard that I started going backwards very quickly. I did my best at trying to stay in the draft and out of the wind. I remember looking at the clock and I have only been racing for 9 minutes and I already feel like quitting. I was eventually all alone and I still kept going. I eventually caught 2 others and I was working with them the best I could. They were punishing me too on the rises, lap after lap. I believe they quit after a while. I just kept pushing on, I paid to race so I figured I should at least get a workout in. I was lapped twice, the first time I was able to jump back in and hang on for a little while before being shelled again. And the second time they lapped me I was pretty cooked and only had another lap to go.
I can't be completely disappointed in the race. I did get a new personal best 20 minute power and a 5 minute power. I would had a new 60 minute power too, but I was finished at just over 58 minutes. All I can say that was a huge eye opener for me and I have a lot of training to do to just become a pack fodder. This racing will only make me stronger right? RIGHT!
Here are the results.
http://www.usacycling.org/results/?permit=2013-1767
I am looking forward to next weekends double header, Menomonee Falls on Saturday and back to Madison on Sunday.
I was very back and forth on whether to race or not, to the point where Tammy said "I wish you would make up your mind". Why? The weather looked to be a wash out, and then as I kept an eye on the radar it seemed to be getting better. Finally I said lets go, I know she didn't really want to go, but she came anyways, what a trooper.
The course has a 2 small rises and the finish straight had a headwind. I started in good position, but the pace was so fast and hard that I started going backwards very quickly. I did my best at trying to stay in the draft and out of the wind. I remember looking at the clock and I have only been racing for 9 minutes and I already feel like quitting. I was eventually all alone and I still kept going. I eventually caught 2 others and I was working with them the best I could. They were punishing me too on the rises, lap after lap. I believe they quit after a while. I just kept pushing on, I paid to race so I figured I should at least get a workout in. I was lapped twice, the first time I was able to jump back in and hang on for a little while before being shelled again. And the second time they lapped me I was pretty cooked and only had another lap to go.
I can't be completely disappointed in the race. I did get a new personal best 20 minute power and a 5 minute power. I would had a new 60 minute power too, but I was finished at just over 58 minutes. All I can say that was a huge eye opener for me and I have a lot of training to do to just become a pack fodder. This racing will only make me stronger right? RIGHT!
Here are the results.
http://www.usacycling.org/results/?permit=2013-1767
I am looking forward to next weekends double header, Menomonee Falls on Saturday and back to Madison on Sunday.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Sunny..Cool...Wet....Windy.....Snowy
Saturday I went for a ride leaving the house at 9am. I rode 3x25 minute tempo's and the rest endurance, except on the hills of course. I really wanted to ride with Jeff M. but my time was restricted a bit. When I left it was certainly cool out, but I did have plenty of sun helping it feel a little warmer.
I went through Lomira, Theresa, and Campbellsport. The route was great with plenty of rolling hills. I rode for 62 miles with 3.5 hours in the saddle. I was pretty wiped out after that, so wiped that I thought I wouldn't be able to recover at all for my ride for Sunday.
Sunday I checked my accuweather and forecast was cloudy with plenty of wind. Temperature was cool again, so I dressed the same as I did for Saturday, because that was perfect. I am all set to go and I open the garage door and guess what? It is SNOWING! I was already dressed ready to go, so I went. It didn't take long and roads were wet. I kept going and the snow was starting to accumulate on the roads. I rode almost to Beechwood before heading back south. As I was getting closer to home the roads were just wet. I rode for another 30+ miles with just under 2 hours in the saddle. My bike was trashed, covered in sand and slush.
I spent a couple hours cleaning my bike and replacing a rear derailleur cable. This is my final week of base 3 training. I have a power test on Thursday and I feel as if I am getting stronger. Looking foreword to start my building part 1 of training. Also looking foreword to the criterium practices that start in two weeks. Now if the weather would just turn around, winter is OVER now leave!
I went through Lomira, Theresa, and Campbellsport. The route was great with plenty of rolling hills. I rode for 62 miles with 3.5 hours in the saddle. I was pretty wiped out after that, so wiped that I thought I wouldn't be able to recover at all for my ride for Sunday.
Sunday I checked my accuweather and forecast was cloudy with plenty of wind. Temperature was cool again, so I dressed the same as I did for Saturday, because that was perfect. I am all set to go and I open the garage door and guess what? It is SNOWING! I was already dressed ready to go, so I went. It didn't take long and roads were wet. I kept going and the snow was starting to accumulate on the roads. I rode almost to Beechwood before heading back south. As I was getting closer to home the roads were just wet. I rode for another 30+ miles with just under 2 hours in the saddle. My bike was trashed, covered in sand and slush.
I spent a couple hours cleaning my bike and replacing a rear derailleur cable. This is my final week of base 3 training. I have a power test on Thursday and I feel as if I am getting stronger. Looking foreword to start my building part 1 of training. Also looking foreword to the criterium practices that start in two weeks. Now if the weather would just turn around, winter is OVER now leave!
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