She went to Opus on Tuesday and gave me the play by play in the 1/2/3 race while I was at work by text...
AND, later that evening, when I asked if she saw Cleary, she said that she didn't know what cleary looked like...
I asked if she saw any leprechauns.
She said that Yes, she saw one, but it was Pete Hannah.
-
yep. that's pretty amazing.
-jason
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
it's official
I got 20th out of 29 starters in my field at durand. Spencer got 5th, so he held it down for the team. LGR at the back of the field, minus Taylor mixing it in with us!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
First update in months. Durand happened.
some other things have happened as well. I took up tennis. That's been treating me well. Been doing that more than bike riding lately. I've been enjoying it a lot.
Just got back from breakfast at the Seward co-op with Margaret and her dad. Margaret's treat. It was pretty great. It's been a good (couple) week(s).
Went to Oshkosh over Easter weekend. That was a nice getaway. Rode bikes outside and it got WAY colder than expected, and did an 1:08 on the computrainer at a pretty good clip. Not bad considering I had meant to load the 17 miler that takes about 45 minutes. Didn't figure that out until it was almost too late.
Durand was yesterday. It was WAY harder and faster than I remember it being last year. Again I worked too hard, but I made it pretty clear that I wasn't going to be the guy on our team that was gonna place high. So I marked a guy and made sure nothing got away that didn't have at least one LGR in it. LG and Byrnes kept things interested and each attacked a couple times. I got away once for a little bit. I kept things slow an awful lot, too. Got dropped just after the turn that marked the end of the 3rd lap (out of 4) and rode the last 12 miles by myself.
Before I got dropped the avg watts of my race was 240. That's pretty hard. At least for me. Including the last 12 miles riding at my "I got dropped, lets just finish this damn race" pace my avg dropped to 199. Super OK with that. Normally when things aren't going well for me I just throw in the towel and quit. It was have been WAY faster for me to quit than it would have been to ride the last 12 miles, but I did it. First time for everything. I mark that a check in the maturity box. I was happy to finish.
I also realized something. Whereas last year I could ride at the front of the race and then finish in the top 10 (more often than not) in the shorter races, this year is going to be different in that there is just more damn power in the field and I can't ride at the front the whole race and still contest the finish. That's good to know. Glad I got that out of the way early.
All in all it was fun. It was hard. Racing with a team is super rad, and I look forward to doing it more.
That's about it for me. Might have more to say soon. Here's hoping!
Just got back from breakfast at the Seward co-op with Margaret and her dad. Margaret's treat. It was pretty great. It's been a good (couple) week(s).
Went to Oshkosh over Easter weekend. That was a nice getaway. Rode bikes outside and it got WAY colder than expected, and did an 1:08 on the computrainer at a pretty good clip. Not bad considering I had meant to load the 17 miler that takes about 45 minutes. Didn't figure that out until it was almost too late.
Durand was yesterday. It was WAY harder and faster than I remember it being last year. Again I worked too hard, but I made it pretty clear that I wasn't going to be the guy on our team that was gonna place high. So I marked a guy and made sure nothing got away that didn't have at least one LGR in it. LG and Byrnes kept things interested and each attacked a couple times. I got away once for a little bit. I kept things slow an awful lot, too. Got dropped just after the turn that marked the end of the 3rd lap (out of 4) and rode the last 12 miles by myself.
Before I got dropped the avg watts of my race was 240. That's pretty hard. At least for me. Including the last 12 miles riding at my "I got dropped, lets just finish this damn race" pace my avg dropped to 199. Super OK with that. Normally when things aren't going well for me I just throw in the towel and quit. It was have been WAY faster for me to quit than it would have been to ride the last 12 miles, but I did it. First time for everything. I mark that a check in the maturity box. I was happy to finish.
I also realized something. Whereas last year I could ride at the front of the race and then finish in the top 10 (more often than not) in the shorter races, this year is going to be different in that there is just more damn power in the field and I can't ride at the front the whole race and still contest the finish. That's good to know. Glad I got that out of the way early.
All in all it was fun. It was hard. Racing with a team is super rad, and I look forward to doing it more.
That's about it for me. Might have more to say soon. Here's hoping!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
More Powertap info.
Something I noticed yesterday at the Fix.
When I'm actually working, the Tacx unit is SUPER closer to the Powertap, if not a bit behind it. I DO need to set it to not read every second. That makes things SUPER hard to hold. I think a 3 second reading would be the way to go.
SO, at 60rpms and at threshold or just above, the Tacx would read about 320 (my supposed threshold) and the Powertap would read between 310 and 350 depending on fluidity of pedal stroke. If I slow the reading down I think I'd get a good average. Couple that with my earlier realization (that at 120% the powertap catches up and sometimes passes the Tacx) I think that the powertap is more accurate when you're working harder.
I'll continue to report my findings, even if no one else cares, it'll be handy to have this recorded later.
When I'm actually working, the Tacx unit is SUPER closer to the Powertap, if not a bit behind it. I DO need to set it to not read every second. That makes things SUPER hard to hold. I think a 3 second reading would be the way to go.
SO, at 60rpms and at threshold or just above, the Tacx would read about 320 (my supposed threshold) and the Powertap would read between 310 and 350 depending on fluidity of pedal stroke. If I slow the reading down I think I'd get a good average. Couple that with my earlier realization (that at 120% the powertap catches up and sometimes passes the Tacx) I think that the powertap is more accurate when you're working harder.
I'll continue to report my findings, even if no one else cares, it'll be handy to have this recorded later.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
training, cookies and rest.
Today was a good workout. I thought I wasn't going to make it through my intervals. I did. Could've gone a little more smoothly, though.
Rode in the cold with TC on Wednesday. It was cold and wet and windy. Rode outside with Aaron on Friday. It was cold, but not wet or windy. Dropped into Coldsprints adn said hi to the usual suspects. Rode indoors easy at the Fix for an hour and a half while watching Super Troopers.
Today was hard though. After the first interval I didn't think I was going to make all 5. I did. It was a struggle, though. 2 min @ 100% (320 watts) at 90rpm. 4 minutes @ 110% (352w)at 70rpm then 2 min @ 120% (384w) for 2 minutes at 90rpm. 3 minutes rest. Repeat x 5. That 110% @ 70rpms is a damn killer. To be honest, if I try to ride them at 70 on the nose I stall out. I don't think I can push that wattage that slowly. I tend to do them more to the tune of 72-74rpm. Makes it MUCH more manageable. Possible, even.
Got my Powertap the other day. WAY harder than the Tacx Flow trainers to hold your watts. The reading interval must be way shorter. That said, the readings are a lot different, too.
To elaborate on what Timmer said ( http://timmercentral.wordpress.com/2009/01/13/power-power-power/ ) The Tacx trainers read a lot higher. I don't know what the circumstances were for his readings, but I find that the powercurve is a lot different.
Seems like the Powertap shows lower numbers at lower watts, and then catches up the tacx at my upper limit. I've never gone more than 120% for any length of time with the Powertap, but when I'm at 100%, it's about 40 watts low. 60 watts at 90%...I suppose that's a big difference, but when I'm really working it's about +/- 10 either way. I can handle that. I wonder if I really gave it if the powertap would read out higher than the Tacx.
Also noticed that the Tacx is way more solid. It seems like the Tacx reads the watt spike first and displays that, and then works back down into the target, whereas the Powertap will read the target, the spike over, the dip back down below the goal, and then inch back up to the goal wattage. OR, It could be that I just need to be better about hitting the watts and not spiking/dipping. I'll get there. Practice!
That's about all. I made cookies today, and they're great.
By the way. The Tour of California radio broadcast is bringing me back to my days listening to the Cubs and Brewers games on the radio in my youth days...
Rode in the cold with TC on Wednesday. It was cold and wet and windy. Rode outside with Aaron on Friday. It was cold, but not wet or windy. Dropped into Coldsprints adn said hi to the usual suspects. Rode indoors easy at the Fix for an hour and a half while watching Super Troopers.
Today was hard though. After the first interval I didn't think I was going to make all 5. I did. It was a struggle, though. 2 min @ 100% (320 watts) at 90rpm. 4 minutes @ 110% (352w)at 70rpm then 2 min @ 120% (384w) for 2 minutes at 90rpm. 3 minutes rest. Repeat x 5. That 110% @ 70rpms is a damn killer. To be honest, if I try to ride them at 70 on the nose I stall out. I don't think I can push that wattage that slowly. I tend to do them more to the tune of 72-74rpm. Makes it MUCH more manageable. Possible, even.
Got my Powertap the other day. WAY harder than the Tacx Flow trainers to hold your watts. The reading interval must be way shorter. That said, the readings are a lot different, too.
To elaborate on what Timmer said ( http://timmercentral.wordpress.com/2009/01/13/power-power-power/ ) The Tacx trainers read a lot higher. I don't know what the circumstances were for his readings, but I find that the powercurve is a lot different.
Seems like the Powertap shows lower numbers at lower watts, and then catches up the tacx at my upper limit. I've never gone more than 120% for any length of time with the Powertap, but when I'm at 100%, it's about 40 watts low. 60 watts at 90%...I suppose that's a big difference, but when I'm really working it's about +/- 10 either way. I can handle that. I wonder if I really gave it if the powertap would read out higher than the Tacx.
Also noticed that the Tacx is way more solid. It seems like the Tacx reads the watt spike first and displays that, and then works back down into the target, whereas the Powertap will read the target, the spike over, the dip back down below the goal, and then inch back up to the goal wattage. OR, It could be that I just need to be better about hitting the watts and not spiking/dipping. I'll get there. Practice!
That's about all. I made cookies today, and they're great.
By the way. The Tour of California radio broadcast is bringing me back to my days listening to the Cubs and Brewers games on the radio in my youth days...
Sunday, February 8, 2009
High Five.
Wheels ordered. See a couple new fancy wheels about town in around 2.5 months. So, that's pretty neat. Thank you, to those of you that ordered things, I am as excited as you are.
On a bigger and better note...Guess who got onto plusonelap's lightweight bike gallery? I DID! well, I didn't. Shawn Small of Ruckus Components did. BUT, It was his High Five bike that make the cut.
http://plusonelap.blogspot.com/
http://plusonelap.blogspot.com/2009/02/lightweight-cyclocross-shawns-high-five.html
Right on the top of the first page! sweet jams. This has me happy. Keep riding Shawn, and thanks for helping get the good word out there!
OH, and that's sitting on a pair of High Five wheels, as well. Good man!
On a bigger and better note...Guess who got onto plusonelap's lightweight bike gallery? I DID! well, I didn't. Shawn Small of Ruckus Components did. BUT, It was his High Five bike that make the cut.
http://plusonelap.blogspot.com/
http://plusonelap.blogspot.com/2009/02/lightweight-cyclocross-shawns-high-five.html
Right on the top of the first page! sweet jams. This has me happy. Keep riding Shawn, and thanks for helping get the good word out there!
OH, and that's sitting on a pair of High Five wheels, as well. Good man!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Worked.
It's been a common theme this week. At the Fix, we've started doing some muscle endurance training. Basically, high watts @ low cadences for 3-5 minute invervals and 1 or 2 minutes rest between. They get hard in a hurry. Especially for people (me) who like to spin faster and not mash on pedals. BUT, I imagine it will help me come springtime. The issue is, when pedal mashing, I tend to get side stitches. I got a REAL bad one today... Had to cut an interval short and then get off and try not to black out after the last one. Didn't cool down at all. I couldn't stay hunched over a bike anymore. It was awful. BUT, I did ok. Wasn't a total fail. Margaret BREEZED through it. I don't even get it. I wish I could have paid more attention to her than me. It was probably pretty inspiring to watch her ease through this hard of a workout. Darn it. Someday I'll have one of those days. You know. Those good days. Good enough to make you forget about a ton of the bad ones. I'm almost due. Maybe not. Just a rough week.
Bike swap on sunday. Besides that, increasing temperatures should get me out on my bike a bit. I'm super excited about that. First LGR team ride is on Saturday. A full MONTH later than last years early season rides. Time to get started. Season starts soon.
Bike swap on sunday. Besides that, increasing temperatures should get me out on my bike a bit. I'm super excited about that. First LGR team ride is on Saturday. A full MONTH later than last years early season rides. Time to get started. Season starts soon.
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