Riding Stronger

Nice Rack!

I mean nice bike rack!

Things have been going great.
Still Commuting 100 percent - no car baby - and feeling pretty strong. On one day - can;t remember - I met up with Tim, who teachers at Meremac, and rode with him - first time I had a commuting buddy! Michael gave me the coolest gift because he was worried about my saftey - LIGHT UP SKULLS for my wheels!
Tuesday - Rode after school with Michael and Jeff. Felt great. We rode the Carmen hill loop - which is a fan favorite. To tell you how I am feeling - Michael took the first pull down Doughtey Ferry and I cam around him and laid down a huge pace. When I turned on Carmen, no one wanted to pull through so I kept up front into the hill. I than turned it on and dropped everyone. Oh yeah! Felt great!

Thursday - Rode after school with Michael, Jeff and Kate Lincoff. Once again I felt really strong. We came back Bopp Road and it felt great. I kept it above 24 for pretty much the whole road.

Saturday - Hub Ride. I REALLY wanted to race at Carondelet Park - I think I would have done quite well. I still have about 6 pounds to lose - so I am committed to do that - I am too poor for substandard racing! The weather was a little sketchy and because of the races, we had a smaller crowd. Devin, Rock, Mark Growler, Nate on the Tandem, Tim and about 6 or 8 others showed up. The pace was easy at times, and of course, really fast at others. I did just fine - you know it was a smaller crowd if I got to the top of Adams Hill first - however, I did not win the sprint! We had another flat on Ballas RoubaixNate on the Tandem. I told Alex after the ride that Ballas must be the new money maker for The Hub! Sunday was non-stop rain so I took the day off and got fat.

I could have been a State Champ!

That's right! Courtesy of the Alpenis Shop Swap Salefor $45 you could be a Missouri State Champion!

The Week in review: Overall - getting lighter and stronger - feeling pretty good.

Monday - Commuted big time. Rode to work - home - to Harris - back to work and than home. Close to a fifty mile day.

Tuesday - Commuted and rode after work with Michael and Jeff - a nice paced ride. I was REALLY tired! Invited to ride with Andy (he did the Alpenis ride again- and hated it) but I was too tired and just wanted to relax.

Wednesday - Commuted. Let class out early because of a test so I rode up to the shop to say hi to everyone who rode on the ride. Harris will be over in a couple of weeks and I will be able to pick this ride up again.

Thursday - took the day off - super nice! No riding.

Friday - Commuted

Saturday - Rode the Hub Ride -A good number of guys did Herman this weekend so the ride was a little low on numbers - making sure that I had to work. Felt really strong - stayed with the group the whole ride with pretty much ease. David Mark lit it up a few times. When we hit Ballas, Kevin pulled ahead and I closed up to him, second in line, when I hit one of those long skinny potholes and blew both tires out. A double-flat! I knew the back one went out and pulled right up making sure to call out and pull over. WHile I finished fixing the rear, David Mark, while holding my bike, said I think you have another problem - now that was wheel changing etiquette! Once I finished changing both wheels - we all headed back out again to finish the ride. The shop was hosting a Tour de Cure training ride so all these cyclists were up there and the shop had bagels and coffeewhich we all enjoyed after our ride.

Sunday - took the day off!

Puttin In Da Miles

What a nice week. The weather could not be nicer in St. Lou. We are talking about nice crisp mornings and afternoons in the high 70's low 80's! That has bike weather written all over it and I was up to the challenge.

The Week in review.

On Monday I commuted my balls off - 40 plus mile commute! Felt great - This commuting thing is rocking. I am feeling really strong when I ride.

Tuesday - Bagged TNW and rode with Andy at the Alpine Shop ride. A few other guys where there that I know like Jeff Kelly. I thought this was going to be a slower ride but it turned out to be a squirrelly quasi-hammerfest. The route kindof sucked. It had so many turns and stops that I swear to you I could not repeat this ride if I tried. By the time we turned one corner, the back was just turning the previous corner. The ride opened up a few times, and although it had efforts (the hill up Kirkham and Old Doughtey Ferry), it was doable. I was able to move from the back third to near the front easily. The ride picked up when we went DOWN Marshall (interesting with about 50 people) and than up Old Doughtey Ferry - which is a great hill climb to tempo on. While going down Marshall - the crosswind was so strong, and I was riding my Reynold's Carbons, that the wheel started to shake - not fun. I don't think I would recommend this ride due to the stop/turns and some squirrelly riding - but I may do it again because it is close and it is fun to pass slow people on hill climbs (kindof a dick thing to say, I know - but it is).

Wednesday - Commuted everywhere

Thursday - Rode to work. Got an email from Andy wanting to do some riding in the evening. Matthew, Andy and I met at the shop and went out on a nice easy pace ride - super cool. Took Adams to Geyer to Bopp to Clayton to Mason South to Doughety Ferry to Sugar Creek/Adams. The only rule was I had to be home by 7:00 to watch SURVIVOR! Which was done almost to the minute.

Friday - Commuted

The Weekend - Bagged out on racing for Hillsboro and Tilles Park. Hillsboro sucks. I know people love this road race and it is part of the Nature Valley Series but I have done nothing but suffer on this race. I have never made it to the second lap and it has always become a 30 mile tour for me AHHHH just thinking about it makes me want to vomit. The only highlight was Devon Clark - what a skinny assed beast. Placed 15th in the 1-2's. Robbie Ventura raced this one and Devin, basically teamless, still came in top 15 - impressive. All my other buds tanked - which is no big deal at this race. Tilles - I do like Tilles - my best result ever - but I have not raced this in two years. Reason - very tight and twisty and because of no hills - a very tight pack. Major wrecks in the Masters (2 ambulances) Shout out to Chuck Pass for the collarbone (super good guy) and two major wrecks in the pro1-2. There were also some super close calls in the 3-4's, which I would have raced if I did not have puss-itis. For a better version on the fucked -up nature of Tilles - read Bill's Blog.
Saturday - Rode the Hub ride - felt great. The pack was large as not many went to Hillsboro and the pace started off slow. On Clayton it picked up dramatically. When we hit Conway, Dived Mark had A LOT of stored up energy and laid it out. When we got to the top, there were only seven of us! You could not even see anybody else. We took the short way so guys could scout out Tilles. When we finished, Kevin, Brayn and myself rode the route backwards until we met the group. After that I headed to the Bread Co. with Phil and Todd. I could tell I am feeling stronger and lighter with every passing week.

Sunday - Rode Knucklehead with Matt McLaughlin. Pace was faster than usual going out and nice fast-paced tempo coming back. Going out, this bus drove next to uskeeping our pace for over a mile plus - it was very odd. Mark Gorski rode this ride - the guy is a powerhouse! and drove the pace coming back (yeah - he wore his US Postal Jersey! and no I didn't get a picture).
Later that day I went to Tilles to root on my fellow team-mates in the 3/4 race - Chris Miller called the race in the beginning and came in fourth - way to go! Bhatti has a roster spot for you! It was nice to watch the raceand drink beer!

Scalin' Back

Well - my wife lost her job - which isn't the end of the world. We have been talking about it for awhile - I just we were a little more proactive about saving so it would not be such a money shock. Oh well - so there are a few changes that must be made in regards to cycling - positive and negatives
Negatives:
1st - no new TIME or Giant TCR Advanced - I'm sad
2nd - no front ZIPP Wheel (also looking to sell a rear 404 - rim, tire and hub if interested)
3rd - the coach is gone.
4th - racing is going to take a back seat.
Now you're saying WTF - you have no money to race - OK I could come up with the cash - but I'm not going to race when I am not ready. I need to drop some weight. This starts with eating at home and not as much - hey, my wife losing her job takes care of that! Already I have dropped 5 lbs! When I get to my perfect weight of 167 - I will race! - but as for now - I cannot waste the money to be blown off the back in the pack sprint.
Positives:
I get to commute everyday! This rocks and along with eating is the reason I am losing weight. Today I commuted 40 miles! It was great weather and felt awesome to be out. It's stuff like this that will make me stronger (and the jogging girls with sports bras in Forest Park aren't a bad reason either). Judy has even lost some lbs due to working out during the day and eating at home - not bad - a shout out to Judy for looking HOT!!! in front of Judy's Lounge in the Hoosier Casino

OK - so the riding:
Last Sunday was FoPo - one of my favorite crits - but it was raining big time and I bailed. 21 guys showed up to race and the report was it was slow until the very end - I guess I should have showed up - Oh well - 30 bucks saved.
Wednesday Night Hub Throwdown. What is known as the fastest group ride in St. Louis did not disappoint. I was on Harris Stowe Spring Break and could do the ride. Started out at mock speed until someone flatted at Geyer and Manchester. The ride stopped and than started. I was near the back and going down Clayton there was this huge break and being near the back I missed it. The ride blew apart and I was in a three man chase group - and we caught them by Mason! That felt great - unfortunately I was so smoke from the chase that I fell off again. I cut short with Matt McLaughlin and caught the ride on Conway and stayed up until the end - a great ride. Phil, Steph me and Judy went to the BreadCo after the Team Rev was over.
Thursday - rode after school with Jeff and two girls, one a former student, who do Tri-athalons. Both girls were in great shape and we hit it pretty hard. A little too hard and I was smoked. A good ride though.
Saturday Hub Ride. The ride started out pretty much balls out. My legs were hurting and I wanted to scale back. Somehow on the really steep Geyer Hill I found myself in front and pulled the hill - never know how fast to go, knowing the speed of some of the guys I'm with, so I went way too hard and blew a wad that left me falling off down Clayton. Devin and I rode and we caught them on Conway. Without having any warm-up the slower riding really made me feel strong. By the time we met the group I had gone from feeling weak to feeling great. The rest of the ride was nothing. The worst part however was the flats. 4 flats total! Breaking up the pace sucked. Later in the day I rode Grant's Trail with Isabella and Judy, which was a blast! and even later in the day Michael R. came over on his Mountain bike and I went back out for a ride - and flatted! God do I hate the chip seal shit - cost me 5 bucks for a tube! I trying to save money, dammit!
Good commute today - might ride a group ride tomorrow - Alpine Shop or Maplewood - I'll see tomorrow.

Strugglin'

First all - Want to welcome back to the cycling scene two very good friends!
First - a celebrity of this shitty blog - Andy Berger!
Andy had not one - but a duel hernia operation - OUCH! He got the hernias (plural) from having too much extra-curricular fun. I told him today he needs a trapeze for the bedroom.
Second - Michael Rawitscher!
Michael had major shoulder surgery - OUCH! He also got that from too much extra-curricular fun. However - instead of a trapeze - Michael needs a sling because he only uses his arm.

Just joking - Come on - Lighten the f- up!

Riding - Good weather has returned!

*Started riding after schoolwith Jeff, Michael and Bryan Sauter who has been coming up!
*Rode the HUB ride for the first time this year. This ride has been very typical of the start of this year. The pace was pretty wicked fast. When we hit Conway I was sitting fine and then the group kindof broke apart. I got stuck behind someone who was gassed and got pinched in - that was it - I was playing catch-up. With the help of Matthew, I caught the main group by the return trip on the outer-road. We hit the first hill at a nice slow pace allowing me to catch some breath but the second hill the pace picked way up - straight into the head wind which was super strong. I was sitting in the middle of group but I was hurting bad - I was really pissed at myself - I should of pushed myself harder - but I caved in. The minute I hit the wind my speed dropped by more than a third - they were gone. I could always see them for awhile as I struggled on my own. Jeff caught up with me and we rode in at a nice but aggressive pace. AHHHH!
*Tuesday Nite Worlds #1 - Number 42 is in the housefor all you horny chicks who want to come out a cheer me on! - which would basically be my wife and I'm not sure how horny she is - but it's my blog so I'll be as fictitious as I want.
Rode the first crit of the year - which was awesome. Met up at the Hub with Kevin and Bryan and rode down. In attendance for the B race was Me, Kevin, Bryan, Adam, and Robert. The best part was riding around with everyone all kitted up - it felt great to be back out. During the race I was aggressive and up-front for most of the race - I missed the break - it was on the left side and I was pinched in on the front - about 7 or 8 back - I could not go. This break held some big guns - and I knew it had a good chance to stick - and it did. I was behind Robert and we went off the front to get away - this failed and I found myself out in no-man's land - I was suffering - and fell on the back - but there were some slow fucks breaking even into the turn (no wonder they are on the back) and I was smoked and could not catch my breath - Robert sat on my wheel. After about three laps - there were two to go and I fell off - just like the Sat Hub ride - Shit. Bryan finished 1st in the pack sprint.
*Tuesday Nite Worlds #2 - I felt really tired and I took my sister out for BBQ at Pappy's and my belly was full! Put those two together and you have a suck-ass race. Left the HUb with Kevin, Bryan, Andy and Tim. The pace was wicked fast - a non-stop hammer fast - the speed never let up. In attendance - Kevin, Bryan, Bill, Robert, Stephanie (sorry if I forgot anyone) and a new guy Justin. I started out fine, but my stomach soon started to hurt. Also, I had no push out of the turn. After about 15 min I thought I was going to puke and I dropped out - SHIT this is becoming a 2010 pattern. I am writing this outing off. Kevin finished 5th. A large group rode back - that was fun.

Tomorrow is one of my favorite crits - Forest Park - however there is an 87% chance of T-Storms and based on my current feelings, I might pass. My biggest concern is nutrition - I need to drop some LBS!

Hello Once Again Franks - You Dirty Behemoth Bitch

It's good to get outside once again!
Friday - partied with Team Rev Grand Cru club. It was fun. I was given the name Seaman Chris.

Saturday - Solo ride outside after weights - was pretty cold but it felt good. DId Wild Horse Creek to Ossenfort to HWY T to St. ALbans and than back - or I should say up - Melrose and back.

Sunday - I rode inside

Monday - took day off

Tuesday - Spun at the Hub. Good times - I think we are at the end. A lot of people showed up and it was quite the party at the end. Judy was sporting the new Hub Team t-shirt (over her awesome big tits!). If you want one, let me know. They are back-ordered and quite in demand! (her boobs, not the t-shirt).

Wednesday - OH yeah! Scream it baby - I finally started to commute to Harris Stowe again. It was a great ride down - tail wind all the way with a nice temp. I saw my good friend Michael R talking with some smoking hot chick - He was "walking the dog"
Coming home was nice but pretty cold.

Thursday - no riding but I did go to The Hub for a little POKER! I made it farther than I have ever before - down to the final table - I lost in the most shitty of ways - but that is luck. Got home way to late - around 1:30 - and a little buzzed - made for a rough start in the morning.

Friday - went on a nice ride with Judy after we got home - rode up Ballas and made her suffer.

Saturday - AH - the ride of pain. 80 miles of gut wrenching pain. The ride:
Parked at Gizz Swallow
to Wild Horse Creek
up Ossenfort (saw the Gizz Swallow ride - looked small
Bouquet
Fox Creek
through Eureka to Pacific
Hwy F (for Fuck)
Hwy FF (for Fat Fuck)
HWY W
to Hwy PP/Twin River Road
Franks (Fucking Hard) I looked down at one several points and Franks had a grade of 27 percent at one point!
When I stopped to take this picture I almost could not get started!
Antire
Jim Weber (Fucking hard)
back Hwy W
to 109 through Eureka
Forby Rd/Alt (Fucking Hard)
HWY 109
Melrose (Fucking Hard)
back to Ossenfort
Wild Horse Creek
and back to Gizz Swallow!

On a side note - I swapped out my powertap in the Zipp and put it in my Reynolds - should be ready early next week. I also got a used Zipp Hub to rebuild the wheel.

Also Judy and Isabella finished their Frostbike ride
- Thanks to Team Rev and Suzanne for helping them!

Will Winter Ever End?

Check out this photo from MySpace!She forgot to flush - AHHHHHH!

The training has been going good. Trying to keep to the schedule and I have really enjoyed the weights part of it - I thought I would hate it - but it has become a painful pleasure. I also got my power readings -
Functional Threshold Power = 215 watts
Zone 1 active recovery <118 watts
Zone 2 aerobic 120 – 161 watts
Zone 3 tempo 163 – 194 watts
Zone 4 lactate threshold 196 – 226 watts
Zone 5 VO2max 228 – 258 watts
Zone 6 anaerobic capacity 260 – 323 watts
Zone 7 neuromuscular power MAX POWER (>325+)
a little low from what I thought they would be - but I hate doing this stuff inside. I do not know if my numbers were right, but at least it is a place to start.

I got to admit I am tired of riding inside - Tuesday Night Hub spin has gotten huge and co-ed. Judy has been coming which has been really cool.

I decided to bail on Froze Toes. Too far to drive to little of a race - oh well. I am debating about Dogwood but Forest Park Crit is 100 percent a go!

Last Saturday was the first great day all winter. After lifting weights at SEG, I went out for a nice long ride to Saint Albans with about 12 Gizz Swallow guys all kitted out. They laid down a killer pace as we went out Wild Horse Creek to Ossenfort - by the time of the hill, I was smoked and started to drop off. That sucked because I was kitted in Hub, but I was smoked from the 2 hours of weights and plyos - hey, I did over 200 lateral cone hops - and that was just a fraction of it! It was a great ride and it felt great to be out. While we were headed out I took a couple of turns at the front and the Gizz Swallow guy behind me says "I'm glad no one is taking pictures - one Hub guy pulling 12 Gissallo guys!" That felt pretty cool.

The best part of the winter has been Isabella - She joined the Team Rev Frostbike Mountain Bike - and has loved riding! Man - 8 years old and out hitting the trails - even in the snow!
She rocks.