2010 is in the bank

Today, the day after Christmas, 2010, I hit 6,000+ miles, combining indoor training and road miles, for the second year in a row. I am not sure if that is good or bad but here are my feelings.

I am faster than I was last year. I think my average watts on a ride is up 10-20 watts or about 8%. That is very significant for me but I still want to be be faster. Robbie said to be fast you need butt time on the bike. He suggested I retire. Unfortunately, the thought of riding full time and not working is not very appealing. This year I had the opportunity to retire but the professional circuit will have to wait until I turn 60+ if ever. As my coach Joe W says a large part of winning is just showing up and I am not quite ready to show up.

Riding is still fun. I have met men and women both faster and slower both younger and older. I enjoy my time with my biking buddies. I feel very close to them. The young ones keep me fresh and the older ones keep me laughing. There is no better Sunday then riding 50 miles in a pace line with people who like to ride.

I am not sure what my goals for 2011 should be. Should I race more TTs, should I try crits, or just focus on the long rides? I don't know; but i really don't think it matters because while I like to win I am not focusing on winning races. Yet the coaches say goals matter so I can keep training and not get burnt-out, and while I know it's time to think about riding and what to accomplish while riding I really hate goal setting.

I have not been able to keep my weight down. My winter goal is 140. I am now 146/7; pass the pie please. Not terrible but the holiday food has been great and the wine has been fantastic. As my buddy Dennis says.."Ah the good life."
Those are my rambling thoughts. I appreciate your patience and readership over the years. I will be blogging less in 2011 and I hope you have a great 2011.

Its Inside Season Again

Campers; It is 8:00am and I am at VQC getting ready for a 3 hour indoor ride. I am strangely happy. This will be a no drop ride. I am in the 8 position. On the back row of 4 the 3 other riders are members of the grumpy old men. Dennis 63, Ted 61, and Mean Gene 65 who can kick my butt. On the front row, in no particular order is Scott, Mark, Heidi and Glenn. I am the 4th or 5th best rider of the group. Scott and Mark and lights years ahead of me. I hope to keep Gene in my sights and Heidi and Glenn are my rabbits.

But strength and position do not matter. I will ride my ride, I hope to average 135-140 watts for the 3 hours, and I know I may lack speed but I have endurance.

3 Beep, 2 Beep, 1 Beep the ride starts. It's the Swiss TT course displayed on 56" LCD computrainer screen at the front of the room. Initially we are tightly bunched together then quickly we hit the first hill and the group separates. Heidi and Glenn start pushing each other, Scott and Mark are ahead and I am following smiling because place, speed, power and ability do not matter. This is an indoor Sunday ride and all that matters is time and average watts. I know I will be the last one on the bike 3 hours later.

3 hours later I am still here riding. My average watts are 141. Everyone else has quit. I am in 2nd place just because I have endurance. I have watched 2 movies, consumed 4 GUs and drank 4 bottles of water. I am done; another Sunday finished. It was fun riding even in a no drop group. It's not California but the benefit is the camaraderie. Thus the inside season has begun. Not a bad beginning.