Quality

There's definitely something to be said about quality. Whether in training or in equipment, quality is were it's at! I've been riding a couple different bikes lately, one in the hope of making it into a race machine and the other in the hopes of just keeping it in it's already great form. Anyway, due to some mechanical functions on what we'll call the 'training' bike, I had to take out the 'race' bike. Both bikes are set up identically, with similar components, and the 'training' bike even has a better, albeit, older fork. The only significant difference in the bikes is the frame. One is Trek's highest grade aluminum (the alpha red version), and the other is Azonic's scandium (produced by Easton a few years back I believe). I don't think it's necessarrily the material of the frames that makes the difference, I believe it's the design.

As we all know aluminum is a stiff and light material, but not very good at soaking up the bumps. When it's designed right, though, it can make a huge difference. My back has been killing me on training rides riding the generic design of the Azonic bike. I love the bike, it's stiff, quick, and light, but after a ride my lower back feels like it's been torqued every which way it's NOT suppossed to go. On the Trek yesterday, I felt completely fine. Same trails I always ride, just a different bike, and all my pains went away. As I've said, the bikes have identical set ups so I know it's not the fit. It literally just comes down to a better design of the Trek over the Azonic. I'm not bashing Azonic, but the design of the frame just doesn't work for me on longer rides.

So that's my mini "review" of the bikes of sorts. I'm excited to look into other options of bikes, including getting to demo a titainium bike. I also might have the opportunity to build up a sweet carbon bike for this upcoming season, so we'll see where that leads. On the surface, I'm a bit concerned with riding a carbon mountain bike, but I'm sure that since so many people ride them it'll be fine. Excited nonetheless!

Fun in the snow!

Gonna keep this one short today...

We got our first dusting of snow today and it rocked. I usually dred the coming of snow (mostly because it means cold temps and cold hands and feet while riding), but when I actually get out in it I'm like a kid in a candy store. The seasonal change is important for athletes I think, because it gives you a natural (and often forced) change of pace.

Anyway, I got out on the trails with the 'cross bike and loved every minute of it. I wasn't alone, so I had to take things slower than I usually would if I could just put my head down and cruise, but being on skinny tires on the singletrack I usually ride my mtb on was awesome. Funny how just a change in bikes can give you a whole new appreciation of how to ride a trail! Not to mention, riding a cross bike on techy trails WILL make you a better rider. After a few more times of this, riding through these same trails on my mtb will be like a walk in the park!

*no pics today-I was waaaay to busy having fun playing in the snow!!!

Back on the Horse

Got back on the bike today. Yesterday (Sunday) was filled with torrential rain. Sort of a nice early winter nor'easter. I woke up, looked out the window, and went right back to bed. In fact, I managed not to even get out of my pj's for the whole day. Needless to say, the bike, road or mountain, didn't get touched yesterday.

It was still a bit rainy this morning, but I got out for about a 90 min spin that felt pretty good. I'm a little concerned with my motivation right now, but then again it is the winter and I still haven't taken a proper break from training, save a couple days here and there. If this lack of motivation continues, I may consider shutting it down completely for a few days. With my upcoming trip to the UK on the horizon as well, training may naturally take a backseat as it is-which will probably be best for my body and mind.

I was reminded yesterday just how hard it is NOT to move during my lay in yesterday. Sure it was relaxing for a while, but at the end of the day I was feeling sluggish, slow, and bored out of my mind, not refreshed and invigorated as I had thought I might be. Something has to be said for physical movement. I couldn't imagine living that way. Sadly there are quite a few people that do...

Anyway, tomorrow will most likely be a swim and strength workout, but I'm not sure how the day is going to pan out. I might wind up fitting in a mountain bike and a strength session depending on how I feel. The trails are going to be terriffic tomorrow with all the rain we've had in the last days, but I'm worried that the temps will freeze any tacky dirt that we get. Also, I'm going to have to devote some time to taking care of my body. After not spending much time on stretching lately I'm about as tight as a drum, and my IT band is acting up. I did some light stretching yesterday and after my ride today, but I really need to prioritize it some more, even to the point that I may replace a training session for a stretching session. We'll see.

No Exercise

Made the decision NOT to exercise today-at all. I just didn't have the desire to force it, and the weather made things even harder. Most times I'm a hardass. I'll train in snow, rain (though Anne knows that I have to be on my "rain" bike when it rains:) ), sleet, cold-whatever. I usually laugh when people get on me about "but it's raining outside" when I head out of the gym in my run gear or cycling kit. But today was just one of those days that didn't happen.

I started early with a wake up of 4am, and just kept on cruising throughout the day with client after client. When the time came to train I napped and read a book. When I got back home after my afternoon apointments, I pulled out the book again and poured a beer (see pic). I thought a lot about bikes today, but just didn't have it in me to pedal. Anyway, it's the winter! I guess I can afford to be fat and happy for ONE day:).

Tomorrow I'll be back at it, recharged and ready to go with a 3+ hour ride on the mountain bike. Super mellow, super enjoyable. I'm hoping there aren't more of the 'weekend warrior' types about that try and race me after I pass them when they're stopped by the side of the trail. It's not like I'm a jerk and just go blasting by, or that I don't say hello, I guess they just feel the need to try and overtake me. This happened last week and made me want to rip the guy behind me's legs off! He managed to crash on a techy section when he was trying to keep up, and I can't say I felt all that bad. Hehehe:). Rant over...time to drink that beer!

Rollin' along

Whacked at the finish...


Pushing hard into a corner


I hope these guys were hurting as me as me!

Some more images from the first 'cross race a couple weeks ago. Funny how time flies. Feels like that race was just yesterday!

Things have been moving pretty fast around here the past few weeks. Work has been keeping me super busy which is really funny for this time of year. Usually things slow to a crawl between Thanksgiving and Christmas for me. I'm almost waiting for the bottom to drop out! Either way, I'm happy to have so much work as it means I have more money:) Funny how that works!

Training has been going well, though I'm really getting concerned about my motivation for tri recently. I still love it, it's just that I've found something special in racing bikes. I'm not the best at it-yet-but it still fascinates me. Mountainbiking has become very special to me, and cross is just rediculously awesome. There's just something about being on two wheels in the dirt that gets my blood moving. More and more I'm really considering a break from tri and a focus on racing bikes this next year. Hmmm.....

Personally things are great. I get to see Anne in another couple weeks when I head back to the UK and to say I can't wait is the understatement of the year. I miss her terribly every day, but I know it's just going to be that much better when I see her beautiful face again. Gotta say I'm the luckiest guy in the world:). 'Till then it's just work, work, train, sleep, and work.

I took things easy, training wise today. Just an easy swim. I'm really pretty shot from a Tuesday that envolved a run and hard session on the mountain bike-hard not because it was really suppossed to be, but hard because I didn't have much time to fit it in before I had to head back to work. Great opportunity to fit in some good tempo work! Tomorrow I'm deviating from the schedule a bit to run in the AM and head out on the road bike for a couple mellow hours in the PM before I have to head back to work. Looking to keep things easy tomorrow as I wanna get in some good miles in the trails Saturday. It's been cold as f*ck here this week and Saturday is suppossed to be warm (mid 40's) before we get some snow and rain on Sunday. More than likely, Sunday will be a rest day for me as I desperately need to sleep late and catch up on my rest. Besides, the Jets are playing and hopefully they can redeem themselves from that embarrassing debockle from this past Monday night. Ugh...

Long Island Cyclocross Series Race No.2

'Cross hurts...bad. When I was 19, in a moment of 'non-thought', I pierced my nipples. I took the piercings out after 6 months, but I'll never forget how much it hurt. 'Cross is similar to that pain, but it lasts for an hour rather than only a few seconds.

Today hurt, but I was rewarded by a better finish than last weekend, and a more thoughtful race overall. Being that this is only my second ever race, I still have a bunch to learn, but at least today I was able to get in the mix a bit more.

I had a great start (mostly because it was a grass, uphill start-but I'll take it) and was able to stay with the front group for the first 2 laps. I got dropped off the back of the 4 or 5 guys ahead of me and basically stayed there for the rest of the race. I managed to move up to 5th by the end, despite a small crash I had on a sandy switchback.

The course was much more to my liking today. Much more techy with some great opportunities to power past folks on the sharp and loose uphill sections. I did the best I could today and wasn't upset to get beaten by guys that have just been doing this longer than me.

I did realize today, though, that in order to get better on the 'cross bike, I actually need to RIDE the 'cross bike more than just on raceday:). I promised myself all week that I'd get out to practice, but the urge just never got to me. I got in some solid days on the mountain bike, and my road rides were strong too, but I really need to get more used to the handling of my cross bike and the gearing to be faster.

The next and final race in the series is in two weeks, so I'll have a great opportunity to fine tune my skills before then. In the end I really wish I'd started 'cross earlier this year. For sure, next fall will be seriously devouted to getting in some real good 'cross races and practice. This is a damn fun sport!

Chillin'

Got out on the trails again for a mellow ride. I know I keep referring back to the 6 hour race, but I really am thinking it took out of me much more than I thought. Though it was three weeks ago today, I think it took until now to get fully recovered. I wasn't strict with my recovery tactics, and tried to get right back to full training right away after the race. The fatigue set in a few days later, but I thought it was only a matter of not sleeping enough-DUH! that's the essence of NOT getting in recovery! So stupid! So anyway, the last few days I've kept things pretty easy and my body feels like it's coming around. My last two rides have been strong, and my legs finally feel like they're back again.

Tomorrow is another 'cross race and I'm totally pumped. I promised myself that I'd practice a bit on my cross bike this week, but in the end I just didn't feel like it. I split time between the mtb and the road and don't have any regrets for doing so. I had fun and that's what this time of year is all about.

Today will probably be a few more mellow hours on the trails with the mtb. Nothing hard, just getting in some pedal time and enjoying the cool weather. It's hovering right around the freezing mark, so it's getting brisk. I'm delighted to see how much warmer it is in the woods though. The combination of slower speed mixed with the blockage of the wind by the trees makes things pretty pleasant as compared to the roads. My feet were still cold yesterday, but overall I didn't need nearly as much coverage as I'm used to on the road. Will try to take some pics today as well.