Been a While...

...since I posted. Been updating via Facebook lately. Feels good to get some training races under my legs the past few weeks. Nothing really too much of note to post about. Been getting some decent training in all month.

I've finally lost all my winter weight and more. Taking all that time off in December caused me to be the heaviest I've been in a while. As I get older, it seems it takes a lot longer to lose it!

Idiots...

We are finally getting some warm weather! Last Sunday it was in the mid-50's. The only problem (if you can call it that) is all the snow we had melted at once. After Sunday's ride, I was soaked and covered in all kind of road grime. I really should get a fender for days like that.

A few more weeks and the March racing begins. Can't wait...

I was sitting on a conference call and when I looked out my window I saw these idiots (photo below). The sofa was tied to the car and was pulling this guy around on it (going kinda fast). I grabbed my camera and was only able to get this shot. This is the dude running back and jumping on the couch after he fell off. Idiots...

Back on the road..but for how long?

I was able to get back on the road again last Thursday. Looking at my training history, this was my 1st ride on the road in 17 days and only my 2nd in a month. The Holidays, vacation and weather really took it's toll the past couple of months.

Saturday was a good day (well, not weather wise, as it was only in the low 30's). Did a few hour ride from Nesler's house and stopped by the Iron Hill in West Chester for their Belgian Festival. Lots great beers...my only beef; it was stupid busy - 20+ minutes to get a beer (10 people deep at the bar). All in all, you just can't beat a day of riding and then drinking great beer!

As happy as I am that I got some great rides in the past 4 days, the weather this week looks to put a damper on my mood. Looks like we are getting another snow storm starting tomorrow and I see predictions for ice and inches of snow...

WTF!!!

Here I thought I'd be able to get on the road today. They were calling for passing snow showers with a 'trace' of snow yesterday. We got almost 5 inches by me...lucky me, where I live was one of the pockets that got most the snow.

I'm ready to pull my hair out after spending the entire week on the trainer...not fun (especially since the CompuTrainer is down). A full training week, on the trainer, culminated with a 2 hour session yesterday - ahhhhh!

Maybe I can get on the road later this week (those days of highs in the mid-20s are starting to look good to go).

Training Funk...

I haven't posted in a while just because there hasn't really been much to say. I've been in sort of a training funk and between weeks of vacation (2+ weeks in CA and 4 days in Detroit for New Years), the Holidays, and bad weather, I just haven't been able to put together any decent prolonged training on the road. This is the most I've spent on the trainer in the off season in years. This week looks bad as we are getting the coldest temperatures in almost 2 years. I've seen predictions for lower lows than what's listed below.

To add insult to injury I went to hop on my CompuTrainer and apparently it is somehow broken. It doesn't give any resistance rendering it useless! Looks like I'll have to send it in and be without it for a while (it is 10 years old, so I guess I can't complain too much...just the worst week for it to happen!). I'll have to head to the bike shop to pick up another trainer to get me by (the trainer I use to warm up for races just doesn't cut it and I can't change the resistance on it either).

Trainer here I come...

That time of year when I'll be bitching about the weather a lot. Here's the current weather map fo the area...looks like a trainer day today! There are supposed to be a couple more winter storms hitting our area between now and Christmas...

PowerTap & Garmin 705

I upgraded my PowerTap hubs to be compatible with the Garmin 705. Now I have everything I ever needed and more at my fingertips! The best part is I can lose my PowerTap computer and only use the Garmin now...no more having 2 computers on my bike. I have way more information about any ride than I know what to do with!

Talk about a shift in weather. Monday we set record Highs (in the mid 60's) and sunny. Right now I'm looking outside at the snow covered lawns and houses and the temperature is in the low 30s. We are supposed to get storms on both Friday and Sunday. Looks like I'm going to become intimate friends with my trainer this week.

Vacation is Over!

I haven’t posted in a while; I was in SoCal for the past 2 weeks (LA down to San Diego). It was 16 days straight without being on the bike! It was a nice break, but the weather in San Diego really made me wish I was riding. I was happy to only have gained ~4 pounds.

Here are my statistics from the vacation;

Amusement Parks Visited (not much else to do with 5 ½ & 3 year olds)
- 4 days at Disney Land
- 2 days at Lego Land
- 2 days at Sea World
- 1 day at San Diego Zoo
- 1 day at San Diego Wild Life Park

Brew Pubs/Beer related;
- 2 days at the Pizza Port Strong Ale Festival (over 100 beers over 8% abv on tap!)
- 8 Brew Pubs
- 3 bottle shops (gotta keep the Hotel room stocked)
- 1 special beer release event at a Brewery attended
- Sampled/drank over 87 new beers (well, new to me anyway)

I got out on the bike yesterday for a couple hours and I felt every mile. Now I know how my cousin feels when he rides; fat and out of shape!

Is It January?

Our weather seems to think so. Below is picture of what I woke up to on Friday. Looks like a trainer day. Saturday was almost another trainer day. I say almost because it was in the mid-20s with winds between 25-35mph! That's a wind chill in the low teens. I had my bike on the trainer and walked up with my shorts and I said to myself, suck it up and get on outside. I tell you, that ride was cold as Hell and really had me saying to myself, 'so, I'm doing this because I enjoy it?'. Today's (Sunday's) weather seemed like a heat wave. It was in the low 30's for my 55mile ride. At least the winds died down and the sun was out.

Since my form is gone and its cold outside, maybe I should get out to Hawaii to beat up on my cousin...

Almost hit the pavement...

It was an interesting day today to say the least. I woke up and it was pouring rain. The forecast was for storms all day. Lucky for me, the weather broke at 11:30am and I decided to get out on the wet roads (especially since it was 70 degrees – tomorrow’s low is supposed to be in the low 30’s and highs of only 50). Half way into my ride, I approached a rail road crossing and thought I slowed down enough to get across without any problems. I was wrong. I almost (and I mean almost) went down. I unclipped both my feet landed on my top tube but managed to keep from going down. The closest to crashing since, well since I last crashed. I had trouble clipping in and below is a picture of why. I must have broken the cleat when I unclipped and stuck out both legs to keep my balance. I had to limp home without being able to fully use my left leg to pedal (which kinda sucked as there was more climbing getting back home).

Rain, Sick Again, and back on the Trainer

It has been an interesting last week and a half. Its either been raining or I've been sick. I found out last Wednesday that I have Strep Throat (which would explain that sore throat that's been lasting a while, those white spots and that little fever that affected my previous weekend's riding). I started antibiotics last Wednesday and finally am feeling better! I thought that last cold that lasted over 2 weeks would be it for a while - wishful thinking. At least I 'planned' getting sick at the best time; early in the off season. I did manage to get out on the road for 2.5hrs on Sunday.

I also had to ride on the trainer last week. In addition to being sick, it was raining all week. It's confirmed, I still really hate the trainer even if the training in more specific and allows me to stick to the day's workouts (started Muscle Tension intervals).

I Almost...

...sat on the trainer today! It was in the low 40's with wind gusts over 25mph and rain in the area. I brought my bike up and was about to put it on the CompuTrainer and said screw this and went outside. Thankfully I avoided the rain, but the cold and wind fully let me know that winter is on the way. Time to go out and buy some new warm riding gear.

Disclaimer: I do not own the above brand of trainer

Snow!!!!

I'm looking outside my window right now and I'm seeing snow flakes mixed in with the rain! Damn that sucks...