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.

winter has been sucking for me

This winter has just sucked for - little motivation.
It has consisted of riding inside - and going out.

So here is the re-cap:

Spinning: I have really tired to keep to my training schedule - riding in the basement just sucks.
Spinning at The Hub is a little better.




Going Out - I swear, I have been outside riding maybe three times since the new year. Last week was my longest ride - I started with The Hub and broke out and rode to OTF in Chesterfield. I was planning on riding back home but I was way behind on time and Phil drove me home. We have only had one outside ride and no after school rides! AHHH! I did not ride yesterday because I was so fucked up and I did not ride today because of football and I felt like a lazy ass.

The Other Going Out: I bunch of us (Devin, Ron, Andy, Loren, Matthew, Kate) met last Wed. at the Roadhouse to watch Kevin jam with David's Guitar Loft. He rocked. Kevin played Sultan's of Swing and Moby Dick (I felt awkward when Kevin gave me a shout-out before the second song!)
Friday night I met up with Loren, Andy and Alex, with the wives to see Sarah Borges at a bar in Maplewood. All I know is I got really ripped and missed weights and riding! Oh yeah - check this out - Loren met his doppleganger:
A big Shout out to my kids - not only did we have one nice day to get out and ride - but Grace rode for the 1st time with no training wheels!

Knocked down

The holidays have come and gone - and man am I feeling it.

First Christmas: See the bikes! Judy's new Scott and Bella's new Kona - Nice.
The big present leaning against Judy's bike is a poster of Mark Cavendish for her office at work. She admires him for all of his wins - or something like that. (why does my wife always stare at the center point of the photo?) Hey - I don't mind. If she gets Cavendish, than I can have Julie Krasniak! All's fair.
A better picture of her.
Travel - Chicago - Went to Garmin store and missed Christian VandeVelde by one day promoting the new Garmin Edge 500.
I did the see window homage to him!

Cycling - Ahhh. now there's the problem. Well the holidays and travel left me with no riding. OK a week off - not the end of the world. While people around me are talking about their commitment to the bike - I'm off and kicking back. I return on Friday just in time to get really sick. Do not know what hit me - but it did - big time. I went to Off The Front on Sat. for weights and out for a quick bite with Phil - and than Bam - I was out with a fever. I missed Sunday, Monday... I was going to ride at The Hub tonight but was not feeling up to it. Tomorrow I will spin.

Bill has high expectations for me - so I must deliver. The Hub has the be strong - all the guys going to this coach of from Ghissalo - mostly cat 4's!!!!! Yeah - I know them all. They are a good bunch of guys - but when it's race time - it's on!

Merry CXMAS

Man - where to start... Ryan - talked with Eric and he wants to hire you as the mascot for Bunny Cunt! With all those hunters today - you're lucky it's deer season.
*Started with my coach - so far great stuff. Above all it has really made me think about everything - from food to riding - a complete picture. I have started keeping a daily journal of everything. This week the plan was:
Mon - spin 45 min.
Tues - spin 45-90 min - 3X120 in/out sprints
Wed- Spin
Thurs - 2(3X30) sprints
Fri - rest
Sat - 30 - 60 min (hill heater intervals)
Sun - Volume/race simulation

Mon - spinning inside to the Family Guy!
Tuesday - Spinning at The Hub. - I did not follow the tape but did my drills - It's easier to ride with peopleand a beer afterwards always rocks.
Thursday - Unbelievable weather - mid 50's for December. Rode after-school with Jeff. A nice longer ride - did my intervals. That night, decided to keep the riding going by doing our night ride with Rock, Joe and Andy Berger! - rode the Maplewood route - it was awesome to be outside!
Saturday - Went to Off the Front for weight training.
I'm telling you - this was an ass kicker! I think I used muscles not used....ever? It felt great - Chris said I would be sore in about 48 hours - well - it's just about 48 hours and he is pretty much right on! I am in fucking pain!
Saturday night was the HUB PARTY! I arrived late due to a little Christmas shopping - when I arrived the party was in full swing
what I mean is beer - a lot of beer - a keg...coolers... you know shit loads of beer. The beer pong table was totally cool. Everybody was in attendance - the party was rocking. Positives - seeing everybody:
The party lasted until the wee hours - I got home at two o'clock. The party was truly a blast. The tire changing contest took the party to new heights ending in a great shrimp fight from the first to the second floor and Ron getting bit by Lendell. Many people were hurting the next day - for sure.
Sunday - It was on the Donkey Kong's dick - That's right CX-MAS! Year two - bring it on (hey - at least it wasn't 7 degrees!) Rode out with El Cavano and following was Devin, Bitch Tits and Devin's buddy. Was this going to be exciting - hell yeah - going down the highway - Devin pulls along side and yells to look backwards - my bike had flown off loren's rack and was hanging by a bungie cord. After putting the bike back on - out to Lost Valley. The Hub was well represented - In attendance was El Cavano, Devin (last year's runner-up because he throws a Huffy like a pussy), BitchTits, Heine in the bunny suit, Rock, Robert and Nate. I was blown away by the numbers - final count was almost 140 riderscrazy! I saw the usual people and many I have not seen in years - this was awesome. The ride was fantastic - some single track, but mostly double track and gravel roads. The biggest problem was a lot of ice. We started by getting call ups and then the race was on. Devin had to start out on a Huffy until the first checkpoint. we all started and as we headed down the first of the single track - going straight down hill, Devin and BT's friend wiped out right in front of me by going over the bars - he cracked his helmet - and he popped up sitting as I was headed right for him I slammed my breaks - but I have real cross brakes (Spooky with Malhaussen pads) and stopping was not an option, so I bailed into a baseball slide and slid right into him. If I had bailed I would have wrecked hard by t-boning him. I got right up and was like - are you OK? He was not. BT was right there and after a short stop - Joe and I headed off to tell the guys at the first checkpoint - scary stuff - but going down was really common. Going into the first checkpoint, my bike slid right from under me and I landed hard for my second down - luckily it was on my left side (the same side as I did the first time) because although the crash did not hurt - on the ice, my guts on my bike would have been trashed. Also - Carrie Cash was right there to see this and heckled me something good. My left thigh is killing me!
Obstacles - Freaking awesome - 1st stop involved a PBR slam. 2nd stop involved a shot of Jim Beam and a slice of bacon.3rd stop included eggnog - the winner drank 15 cups of eggnog! I could only muster 2.
The ride was great - I rode with Loren and Joe Jr. from Mesa. We had a nice and easy pace and overall did pretty good. The scenery was beautiful with the snow. This ride was one to remember - And Devin won! A kickass trucker hat!
Heini - quit taking pictures of me taking pictures of you!

Winter and Christmas gifts

Well - winter has set in - Christmas is around the corner - miss the mild temps - Where did Global Warming Go!!!!! I like that stuff!

With winter comes spinning at The Hub:Always fun - always beer afterwards.

Other highlights included Highway 40 with the family:


And a trip to go to Cat 3 Hubber Eric Seaver and his band Bunny Cunt:
They were awesome - or I was really drunk - or both!

Christmas and biking go hand in hand - so after I signed a paycheck over to Ron here it goes:

The one kid: Kona Hula - SWEET! (Too bad the younger one always gets the clothes and the bike hand-me-downs)

The Wife: Scott CR1 Team - nice bike!

Me: Chris King "mango" headset for the Jake the Snake, Lizard Skin orange tape, and a "mango" Salsa Seatpost clamp and a WCS Carbon Seatpost. Soon to come - "mango" spacers and Chris King "mango" bottom bracket! This is one pimp bike.

And - I bought a person! Not like that!
Chris Maleski and Off The Front Coaching. I'm pretty excited about this - beginning tomorrow! I will become a stud!

Hub Crawl II

Do not read this if you are against drinking and riding.

T'was two nights before Thanksgiving and I swear i could not sleep. Thoughts of beer ran through my head. It was that time of year --- HUB CRAWL II

Andy stopped by (dressed in full kit - rebel) and we headed to The Hub with beers in hand. Waiting for everyone - the drink commenced. In attendance - well... I don;t remember all - so here it goes.

After a few beers we headed out. The first plan - Hwy 40 recon. We got on Hwy 40 at Bellevue and rode down to Kingshighway. Nice and smooth.

Place 1 - Atomic Cowboy. The place was packed with a good looking crowd. We rode up and put our bikes in the patio - I think we interrupted a couple having sex and a few pot smokers- and headed in. The drink of choice was Skullsplitter Beer - good stuff. Once again, the place was packed. Planned Parenthood was on a condom mission and I was determined to get a pink scarf. After taking a pledge to hand out 50 to 100 condoms - the scarf was mine. I also ran into some former students from the 1990's - crazy. We stayed at Atomic Cowboy for about an hour and than headed to Lafayette Square.

Place 2 - Square 1 Brewery (thanks to Phil and Stephanie for taking the pics) Had a great time at Square 1 - Started pounding the beer away. Alex met two girls he knew and they would stay with us the rest of the night (even going home with a lucky two). Had some really good smokey porter. When leaving, Mattew Crews put Ron's bike in the fountain while he was in the bathroom. Ron was last person out and we were all standing around - I swear I almost pissed myself laughing (and yes, Ron threw a hissy fit). After we left, we met a guy in full kilt with bagpipes in the middle of street - he busted out a great tune and in return got a payment of condoms!

Stop 3 - Tower Pub
Tower Pub quickly became a blur - the beer and shot of Tequilla was flowing. Stephanie and I handed out the condoms - we were a hit - and after that - I can't really give specifics. Leaving became a problem - We successfully closed the bar and riding home was a chore. I walked out of the pub and saw Kevin laying across the hood of a parked car. Alex couldn't ride 10 feet without taking a fall. Crashes were galore. Alex went down on the River trail, cracked his helmet and took out Matt - awesome crash, Rock went down, Devin went down earlier, and Kevin took a header. Finally got home at three in the morning. Hub Crawl II - epic.

Saturday - did a great ride - rode with The Hub - did not do well - The pace was not that fast but for some reason the cold made my throat freeze up - it burned when I took a breath. I took a short cut and caught the ride and finished in time to meet Judy, Phil, Stephanie, Kate and Alice for round two of the Hub ride. Turned out to be a beautiful day and I was able to ride close to 70 miles. Awesome. I, once again, pussed out on cross. Actually not true - we had symphony tickets for the family concerts - it was really nice.

Summer in November

Week started off good. Bought a new seatpost for the cross bike - WCS Carbon 2 bolt - super nice - perfect fit - now all I need to do is race the fucking thing! But no luck here.

Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Nothing but rain - so bad I did not commute at all

Rode Thursday on our night ride with ANdy, Rock and a friend of Rock's. A really nice ride - great weather - Rock had a flat but nothing else eventful happened - forgot to take a picture. Andy and I hashed out the Hub Crawl for Wednesday - Atomic Cowboy via Hwy 40 - McGurk's - Lafayette Square - and finally Tower Pub! A little new a and a little old!

Rode Saturday on The Hub ride - super fast - 20.5 average for November - the weather was awesome. The group started off large and due to the pace, was whittled down quickly. I felt great and stayed at the front the whole ride with Bill, Heine, Mathew, Dave Smith, and David Mark. Nate brought his son on the tandem and pushed him way too hard. David was pulling down at 28 mph and Nate passed him on the tandem into one of the big hills. When we got to the top at Manchester, the kid was beyond smoked and almost passed out. A little scary - we all waited until things were OK. It was cool to wait as the whole group was able to get caught up and ride in together.

Later that day - Judy and I went on the Thursday Night ride, except on a Saturday afternoon! Judy stopped by The Hub and test rode a new CR1 carbon Scott. She seemed to think it was a really nice ride. Had a really nice ride with her - beautiful weather.

Saturday night was Trail-net Trivia - At our table was Stephanie and Phil and a few others. It was a good time. The questions were really freakin' hard but we did not end up in last place! The quetions were written by some 5 time Jeopardy champion and he sucks!