Since returning from France I have found it difficult to train hard. I have been riding but the same burning desire to ride and train is gone. I have talked to riding friends and they said that a certain amount of focus loss after a big goal is normal. However my goal has been to ride faster, or to keep improving my speed so I am asking myself why can't I focus.
I think the answer can be found in the fun of riding. Having a goal gives training focus but is not necessarily fun. Accomplishing the ETape goal was fun, a ton of work, and the actual ride was an awesome experience. Now, I am back in Chicago where there are no hills and the terrain is flat, flat, flat; so where is the fun, where are the cafes and the where are the French cheering me on?
This is what I have learned since the weather changed. Fun is riding slow for the sake of riding slow, a change of bikes, or a change of scenery like the Des Plaines River trail. Fun is breaking the routine, riding for ridings sake, and riding on a cold crisp morning. Fun is trying to ride hard and discovering I have more left in the tank. But most of all fun is riding with friends. Friends make time fly and help me ride faster because like my friend Dennis says; "1 bike is a ride and 2 bikes are a race." So I have rejoined my friends and I am back to doing group rides and I am having fun. So stop me if you see me, lets ride together for awhile.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Neck deep in Cyclocross
Cyclocross season is definitely here. For those of you who are not in the know cyclocross is riding a modified road bike with mountain bike tires in the mud, rain, snow, sleet, whatever, plus to make things even more interesting the courses throw in barriers that force you to hop off your bike, carry your bike over the obstacle, hop back on your bike and ride. The courses are circular and a race consists of 10 or so loops.
I have not been racing but to mix things up at VQ we ride the trails in October and November or until it gets too cold to ride outside. My lower temperature limit is 28 and sunny. However i will ride in the rain and mud as long as it is warm. This past Sunday is a great example of mud, rain and just a messy messy trail at a very comfortable temperature.
VQ meets at 7:30 on the Des Plains River Trail. It had been raining for the past week and I expected the trail to be soft but rideable. However we found a mud flooded route. There was water everywhere and where the water subsided there was mud. Being bike nuts we saw dry and rideable, ok not dry but Noah was nowhere to be found, and we mounted up and left.
We quickly broke into 2 groups. The fast group and the group I was in, the not as fast group (I am being politically correct.) Several people had ridden the course the day before and they led us around the first water hazzards. The riding was fast and muddy. When you drafted mud and gravel were thrown in your face. The people who had fenders thought they were being polite however the fenders just aimed the rocks right at your face. The accuracy was uncanny. At half point I felt like a odd kind of bird because my stomach was full from eating so much dirt and gravel.
After 10 miles we hit our first water barrier. The underpass had flooded and we had to carry our bikes up the steep muddy embankment, cross highway 41 and ride down the other side. The slopes were slippery and traction was iffy at best. Several people fell into the muck and emerged coated in grime. At the second flooded underpass one person decided that they would try to ride slowly through the water. They turned around when the water went up to their knees.
We crossed 2 more underpasses in various stages of flooding. At the half way mark my clipless pedals stopped working. After 10mn of futzing I was able to unclog the left foot and decided to ride with 1 leg clipped in and the other just gripping the cleat. About 25mn later my chain kept slipping. I looked down to see a vine wrapped around my cassette causing my chain to jump. That took another 10mn to clean.
After all the hassles we headed for home. When I reached our starting point I was elated. I had a great ride. OK my bike was a total disaster, my cleats were clogged and I was covered in mud. But the weather was warm and we were able to beat the water and the mud and have a really fun ride; and that is cyclocross. Every ride is an adventure with new obstacles to overcome and I was able to share the experience with friends. So my suggestion is get out and ride no matter the weather because its fun and everything is wash and wear. Plus nothing is more enjoyable then breaking out of a rut. See you on the trails.
I have not been racing but to mix things up at VQ we ride the trails in October and November or until it gets too cold to ride outside. My lower temperature limit is 28 and sunny. However i will ride in the rain and mud as long as it is warm. This past Sunday is a great example of mud, rain and just a messy messy trail at a very comfortable temperature.
VQ meets at 7:30 on the Des Plains River Trail. It had been raining for the past week and I expected the trail to be soft but rideable. However we found a mud flooded route. There was water everywhere and where the water subsided there was mud. Being bike nuts we saw dry and rideable, ok not dry but Noah was nowhere to be found, and we mounted up and left.
We quickly broke into 2 groups. The fast group and the group I was in, the not as fast group (I am being politically correct.) Several people had ridden the course the day before and they led us around the first water hazzards. The riding was fast and muddy. When you drafted mud and gravel were thrown in your face. The people who had fenders thought they were being polite however the fenders just aimed the rocks right at your face. The accuracy was uncanny. At half point I felt like a odd kind of bird because my stomach was full from eating so much dirt and gravel.
After 10 miles we hit our first water barrier. The underpass had flooded and we had to carry our bikes up the steep muddy embankment, cross highway 41 and ride down the other side. The slopes were slippery and traction was iffy at best. Several people fell into the muck and emerged coated in grime. At the second flooded underpass one person decided that they would try to ride slowly through the water. They turned around when the water went up to their knees.
We crossed 2 more underpasses in various stages of flooding. At the half way mark my clipless pedals stopped working. After 10mn of futzing I was able to unclog the left foot and decided to ride with 1 leg clipped in and the other just gripping the cleat. About 25mn later my chain kept slipping. I looked down to see a vine wrapped around my cassette causing my chain to jump. That took another 10mn to clean.
After all the hassles we headed for home. When I reached our starting point I was elated. I had a great ride. OK my bike was a total disaster, my cleats were clogged and I was covered in mud. But the weather was warm and we were able to beat the water and the mud and have a really fun ride; and that is cyclocross. Every ride is an adventure with new obstacles to overcome and I was able to share the experience with friends. So my suggestion is get out and ride no matter the weather because its fun and everything is wash and wear. Plus nothing is more enjoyable then breaking out of a rut. See you on the trails.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
A New Bike
I had wandered into my local bike shop, The Pony Shop, the other day to talk with the owner, Lou, and my favorite mechanic, John. We were shooting the shit when Lou mentioned that in the bowls of the shop he found a used frame in my size, and he was looking to get rid of it, cheap. Here is the gist of the conversation:
Hey Lou what kind of frame is it?
It is a Cannondale System Six, Cannondale's race frame, in Liquigas colors, lime green and white. I will sell it cheap.
Me: I already have the power train and the wheels, all I need are some minor components. Wow that's lucky.
The bottom line is that I bought the frame and then all the parts i needed. I ended up getting a decent race bike for a great price. Now you may ask, as Ruth did, why do I need another bike? Besides the fact a new bike is always fun and as Lou says, you can never have enough bikes, I needed a bike I can take places when my main bike is at VQ during the winter. Well I need a "B" bike to use when my main bike is in the shop. How about, I need to bring a bike to NY and if I bring my Litespeed I need a "B" bike. (I needed to quickly come up with more excuses and I am rapidly running out of steam.)
Anyway I brought the bike home yesterday and slapped it on the wind-trainer, because it was rainy. The verdict is that the bike fits nicely and seems fast. ( Its hard to tell how fast because I am on a trainer and not on the road. ) Now comes the fun part of breaking it in. I have some high intensity workouts coming and I will see if I can hit my power levels. It seems stiff and the power goes right to the wheels. I am very excited so look for the lime green streak on the road.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The Weather
Now that it is officially fall the weather has become truly weird. Its hot; its cold; its rainy; its sunny all during 1 ride. I dialed in my clothing for the weather. My rule of thumb has been to start the ride a little cold and warm up as I ride. However how can I dress for a myriad of climates and weather conditions? Last week when I left Evanston it was 55 but when I hit Highland Park it was 45. I froze for that portion of the ride.
So here is my advice to Chicagoans riding during the fall weather season. Dress in layers. I wear arm and leg warmers that can be removed on a ride. Several times I have taken them off and put them back on during the same ride. I have also been known to wear a light rain jacket that rolls up into my back shirt pocket. I also use toe cozies, long fingered gloves, a head warmer, being bald i always use a head cover to help with the sweat, and an undershirt. That's the way it is in Chicago: be prepared for everything and if you have to take off clothing or put stuff on no big deal. It is always better to have the clothing then to get hyperthermic.
Once you have aced the wardrobe issues riding in the fall is great fun. I love to ride in October because the trails are beautiful and not as crowded as during the nicer weather, the trees are turning colors and the air is crisp and fresh. So get your fall/winter gear together and get out there. Look for me, I will be there in all my layers.
So here is my advice to Chicagoans riding during the fall weather season. Dress in layers. I wear arm and leg warmers that can be removed on a ride. Several times I have taken them off and put them back on during the same ride. I have also been known to wear a light rain jacket that rolls up into my back shirt pocket. I also use toe cozies, long fingered gloves, a head warmer, being bald i always use a head cover to help with the sweat, and an undershirt. That's the way it is in Chicago: be prepared for everything and if you have to take off clothing or put stuff on no big deal. It is always better to have the clothing then to get hyperthermic.
Once you have aced the wardrobe issues riding in the fall is great fun. I love to ride in October because the trails are beautiful and not as crowded as during the nicer weather, the trees are turning colors and the air is crisp and fresh. So get your fall/winter gear together and get out there. Look for me, I will be there in all my layers.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Fall is Here
I am listening to Keb Mo lamenting the loss of Summer and Fall. It's cold outside and riding is mentally more difficult. I did a submax yesterday and it was 44 plus I had to use lights, glove liners and warm socks. The summer was way too short this year. Now I will be stuck riding in the cold or worse riding inside for long periods. I guess its beer and tears time.
On the other hand fall riding brings lots of opportunities. The pressure of competing is over and now its riding for fun. That is why I love this time of the year. Wait i just changed my tune. It looks like the weather is also changing. I need to dress and get outside before it rains. Well make sure you look for me on the road. I am there all year. Have a great week.
On the other hand fall riding brings lots of opportunities. The pressure of competing is over and now its riding for fun. That is why I love this time of the year. Wait i just changed my tune. It looks like the weather is also changing. I need to dress and get outside before it rains. Well make sure you look for me on the road. I am there all year. Have a great week.
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