Got my Baby Back!

I finally was able to pick my Merlin up on Friday! I tweaked it a little this afternoon and can't wait to take it out tomorrow. Cousin Ben should appreciate how the black saddle has some red in it that ties into the ZIPP wheels that are black with some red in the stickers that also tie into the pedals that are black that has some red in it.
Stem and bar. I love the way carbon looks!
I even splurged on KeO pedals with the carbon body and Ti spindles. Man these are light.
I was also finally able to pick up my new club helmets! I know, you are probably saying, what is Steve doing with a TT helmet? Even though I suck at TT'ing, I may as well look good (besides, both helmets together where cheaper than the Ionos as MSRP).
I even got some new shoes - Carnac M5s. These are some cool looking shoes and Cousin Ben should appreciate how the colors match the frame!

Superbad

So, I wussed out today and rode on the trainer. It was under 20 degrees with a wind chill of 2 degrees at ride time (screw that). I watched Superbad while I sat on the trainer. Sure, it was filled with High School humor, but there were times that I was in the middle of an interval, and I had to stop because I was laughing so hard. The movie lost some momentum, but made the hour and a half go by fast!

Weight

When I returned from my last trip to Hawaii (11/18/07), I nearly feinted when I stepped on the scale. I was away for nearly 3 weeks and weighed in at 178 pounds! This is the most I can ever remember myself weighing. I can't imagine what I would have weighed if I were not riding as well. A typical day in Hawaii was;

• Wake up early to a dozen donuts brought by my Great Uncle Sam.
• After eating a donut, eat the eggs bacon, toast and sausage that my Dad made.
• Grab a Latte with whole milk at Starbucks
• Go for a ride with Cousin Ben.
• Immediately after the ride, get a Large smoothie.
• Grab another Latte with whole milk.
• Go out to eat lunch
• Sometimes I would grab a bite with Ben, get back to Grandma's and eat lunch with them (in the very least, Great Uncle Sam dropped off a bag full of fast food or a pizza).
• Have a snack or get a smoothie with the kids.
• Eat dinner.
• Drink a bunch of beer.

No wonder I weighed so much. I have been losing the weight ever since. This morning I weighed in at 166.5 pounds. Not a bad weight loss in 8 weeks that included Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years! This is my racing weight for the past few years and it's only mid-January. Now, if I can lose a couple more pounds, I'd be golden.

Thinking about all this weight, I wondered how much my winter clothing weighed. Since it was in the low 30's during today's ride, I decided to step on the scale. All my winter clothes (without shoes) weigh just under 7 pounds. No wonder I feel like I'm flying when it's warm enough to shed some layers!

What would a post this time of year be if I didn't mention the weather. I'm sitting at work looking out my window and it's snowing. They are calling for anywhere between 1" - 6" of wet snow. It's supposed to warm up to the 40s tomorrow so it will all melt, but the highs for the weekend dip into the low 20s.

What a week!

Seems like all I have to post about lately is the weather. Training (good week vs. boring ass week on the trainer) centers around the weather this time of year. It was in the mid-60s early this week. I'm sitting here looking out my bedroom window and its raining. The rain is supposed to turn to snow overnight! Some reports say up to 3 inches (I'll believe it when I see it). I'm glad I got in a 3.5 hr ride yesterday and a 2 hr ride today as it looks like it will be trainer bound this week. Long range forecast as next weekend's high of only 20 (with lows in the teens).

A little taste of Spring!

Its beginning to feel like spring around here. I know, it's still only the 1st week of January but yesterday's high at ride time was in the low 60s and today it should be in the mid-60s! The flyers for March races have been coming out as well. Seasonal temperatures should start arriving back in the next few days with Snow fore casted early next week and the highs in the low 30s.

I want one of these now!!!

As much as I don't want another computer on my bike, I seriously want one of these new Garmins. They are like a Nuvi for the bike. I'll be able to get turn by turn directions and save my courses and rides. Anyone who knows me, knows I get lost just stepping out the front door. Having a poor sense of direction, makes those 3 hour rides very boring (I have to stick to a known ride or do laps of a ride I already know). This unit will revolutionize the way I train - at least open up new roads and rides to me. With the expanded maps, I can route to the nearest Starbucks in the middle of a ride!

Here are the links to the specs @ the Garmin site;

• Garmin 605
• Garmin 705
  

The only bad thing that I can see, is they aren't available until next month!

In the Zone

I had one of those rides today where everything seemed too easy! You know those rides; the kind that you just seem to fly and effortlessly spin up those hills that you usually struggle up. I love that feeling of 'dancing' on the pedals (especially since I was dead tired on Sunday's ride!).

December Training Summary

• 29:05 total training time
• 337.38 miles on the road
• 129.52 miles on the Computrainer

The mileage this time of year is a little mis-leading. I did several Muscle Tension intervals (which kills the overall MPH & Mileage). Of course it's not about how far or fast you ride, it's about maximizing the time on the bike and riding with a purpose!