Today's Ride: 59 miles, two major climbs (each side of the Middlebury gap)
Another out-and-back, this time over the mountain then back. Climbing sucks, by the way. Both on the way over and on the way back I was going mighty slow, especially coming back. I'm hoping that one of two things happen: 1) I get in ridiculous shape, ridiculously fast, or 2) adrenaline pushes me over the mountains quicker than I'm going now.
So, hoping to help accomplish 1 so that 2 happens easier, tomorrow I'm going to ride the course of the road race of the Green Mountain Stage Race. The course is about 64 miles, but I'm bumping it up to 70 to make it a full loop. It's going the east side of the App Gap, and the west side of the Middlebury gap. It's going to SUCK. But after bonking (hard) with six miles to go, I'll be backing a lot of food, and stopping before the second climb to refill my water. I hope that I don't die, because then I wouldn't get to do the P/1/2 course on Thursday, which is about 107 miles. Game on!
Tomorrow's Ride: 70 miles, East Middlebury to Bristol, over Rt. 17 to Waitsfield, south on 100 to Hancock, back over the Middlebury gap!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
Back.
Today’s Ride: 36 miles, one major climb (East side of the Middlebury Gap)
That’s all today’s ride was, really, was the climb. I got a late start and didn’t have enough time to go down the other side and then come back.
It’s ten days until the start of the Green Mountain Stage Race, and I’m hoping that a solid lead-up of hard work will do some small measure towards making up for the fact that my training fell way off this summer (hence the no blog entries).
I wish I’d been riding more this summer, but what I’ve learned is that I don’t do too well with a lot of free time. I just waste it.
But now I’m back. We’ll see how it goes.
Tomorrow’s Ride: 52 miles, Cornwall to Hancock and back, via Middlebury gap
That’s all today’s ride was, really, was the climb. I got a late start and didn’t have enough time to go down the other side and then come back.
It’s ten days until the start of the Green Mountain Stage Race, and I’m hoping that a solid lead-up of hard work will do some small measure towards making up for the fact that my training fell way off this summer (hence the no blog entries).
I wish I’d been riding more this summer, but what I’ve learned is that I don’t do too well with a lot of free time. I just waste it.
But now I’m back. We’ll see how it goes.
Tomorrow’s Ride: 52 miles, Cornwall to Hancock and back, via Middlebury gap
Monday, June 11, 2007
Saturday's Race and Vermont
Well, I'm not much better at blogging now that I've got extra time, but here's a quick one:
On Saturday morning I left Salisbury, CT with some of my stuff that I'm moving back to Middlebury, VT. I took Rte. 22 to get home, and stopped halfway there in Cambridge, NY, for the Balloon Festival (some big town gathering) which included a road race. I was on the wait list but they gave me a number as soon as I showed up. Money.
It was my first road race ever (only criteriums up to this point) and though I kept telling myself I just wanted to hang in the pack and work hard at the finish, what I really wanted to do was win. So near the end of the first of two 21-mile loops, a break went out and I was in it. We tried to stay away but got caught (pretty quickly actually, I realize now we weren't going very fast) and then it was a pack again.
That was, until about 5 miles from the finish at the one big climb (about one mile, not too bad for 2/3 of a mile and then very steep for the last little bit) when everything got strung out. I was not in very good shape and lost the leaders very quickly, and figured that I was essentially done for. But then I realized that most everyone else was cooked too, and so I found a little extra gas. After I crested the hill (in 12th or 13th place) I started working hard, and managed to pass a great deal of the field to finish 5th.
It was a good first experience with a road race, and I now know that I need to at least be good enough at climbing that I don't put myself out of contention. So yesterday I climbed over the Middlebury gap (HARD for me) and back. Tomorrow I'll go 75-80 miles and over the mountains again. Hard work, but it's made easier by the fact that my prize for finishing 5th was a big jug of recovery drink powder stuff. So now I can't be beat.
More to come - especially this weekend, with races on Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday morning I left Salisbury, CT with some of my stuff that I'm moving back to Middlebury, VT. I took Rte. 22 to get home, and stopped halfway there in Cambridge, NY, for the Balloon Festival (some big town gathering) which included a road race. I was on the wait list but they gave me a number as soon as I showed up. Money.
It was my first road race ever (only criteriums up to this point) and though I kept telling myself I just wanted to hang in the pack and work hard at the finish, what I really wanted to do was win. So near the end of the first of two 21-mile loops, a break went out and I was in it. We tried to stay away but got caught (pretty quickly actually, I realize now we weren't going very fast) and then it was a pack again.
That was, until about 5 miles from the finish at the one big climb (about one mile, not too bad for 2/3 of a mile and then very steep for the last little bit) when everything got strung out. I was not in very good shape and lost the leaders very quickly, and figured that I was essentially done for. But then I realized that most everyone else was cooked too, and so I found a little extra gas. After I crested the hill (in 12th or 13th place) I started working hard, and managed to pass a great deal of the field to finish 5th.
It was a good first experience with a road race, and I now know that I need to at least be good enough at climbing that I don't put myself out of contention. So yesterday I climbed over the Middlebury gap (HARD for me) and back. Tomorrow I'll go 75-80 miles and over the mountains again. Hard work, but it's made easier by the fact that my prize for finishing 5th was a big jug of recovery drink powder stuff. So now I can't be beat.
More to come - especially this weekend, with races on Saturday and Sunday.
Friday, June 8, 2007
Eek...
Okay, no blogging for quite some time. I'm back though, since school is over, and now I will be biking a good deal, every day.
Now I just have to get rid of the 100+ beers in my apartment that are left over from the year-end faculty party (we thought we'd be drinking a lot more than we actually did). This is like a riddle - I really have no idea what to do with them.
Now I just have to get rid of the 100+ beers in my apartment that are left over from the year-end faculty party (we thought we'd be drinking a lot more than we actually did). This is like a riddle - I really have no idea what to do with them.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Game Time
I was lying on my couch for hours tonight, feeling sorry for myself, watching tv and waiting for a bunch of people to respond to e-mails that I have sent out in the last few days.
Well, fuck that. It's not fun.
I'm trying to replace that with something of a cold, steely resolve for the next few days. I have a lot of stuff to get done, and it's pretty important that I do it. So, enough lounging around, it's time to some work.
The good news is that I've been pretty good lately on the bike, going for at least two hours every day since my last post. The hills are getting easier, and my legs are feeling stronger. I'm slimming down (a bit - I still have to watch the cookies) and I find I'm willing to push myself a little harder every day. The physical and the mental are both getting better.
I'm in a bit of a lull in terms of races, but I've got May 27 circled on the calendar. It's a Cat 5 race, and after finishing 4th in the Williams Cat 4/5, I've decided that I'm going to win this next one. And the one after that (June 3).
Well, fuck that. It's not fun.
I'm trying to replace that with something of a cold, steely resolve for the next few days. I have a lot of stuff to get done, and it's pretty important that I do it. So, enough lounging around, it's time to some work.
The good news is that I've been pretty good lately on the bike, going for at least two hours every day since my last post. The hills are getting easier, and my legs are feeling stronger. I'm slimming down (a bit - I still have to watch the cookies) and I find I'm willing to push myself a little harder every day. The physical and the mental are both getting better.
I'm in a bit of a lull in terms of races, but I've got May 27 circled on the calendar. It's a Cat 5 race, and after finishing 4th in the Williams Cat 4/5, I've decided that I'm going to win this next one. And the one after that (June 3).
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
A Valuable Lesson
Here's what I learned today:
I am not in shape to go for monstrous, long rides with lots of climbs.
I rode for 4.5 hours today and am still trying to recover, 4 hours after getting back.
I am not in shape to go for monstrous, long rides with lots of climbs.
I rode for 4.5 hours today and am still trying to recover, 4 hours after getting back.
Monday, May 7, 2007
Williams Crit
On Saturday night I went up to Williams College, home to plenty of bad memories, to visit my friend G.P. and prepare for Sunday morning's Williams College Criterium. It was, in addition to the race, a weekend of good food: on Saturday night we ate at the Thai restaurant in downtown Williamstown, and I had something that had mango, chicken, shrimp and veggies in it, and it was delicious.
[This is where I realize that this blog isn't that interesting without photos]
We woke up on Sunday morning and hit up a little coffee shop for a bagel and a muffin, pre-race. Good stuff.
I had decided that I wanted to be very aggressive in this race, especially after the frustration of the last criterium that I had done. As the race started, I found my way toward the front, which wasn't too hard if I worked a lot on the long, sloping uphill.
About halfway through the race, I went up the hill a little harder than I had been as I stuck to the wheel of the guy in front of me. All of a sudden, the guy behind me started yelling about making a break, since we had about 20 yards on the rest of the field. He shot forward, and I followed him, and the two of us were off the front.
I chased him for a while, and pulled a little, but I didn't have the legs to stick it out, and I lost him with about 5 laps to go. I dropped back and found another guy, and the two of us worked together for another couple laps. Before I knew it, I heard the bell, and I was on the last lap.
I didn't feel that good yesterday, so I couldn't stay with that guy, either. He left me behind, and I ended up fourth behind him, the other guy who started that break (he ended up winning), and a guy who went off the front at the very beginning and only got caught with a lap to go.
I was thrilled to get 4th place (results here), especially since I didn't feel that great. I won a saddle [I should have another picture here] and it constitutes the first thing I've ever won from biking.
Yehaw!
[This is where I realize that this blog isn't that interesting without photos]
We woke up on Sunday morning and hit up a little coffee shop for a bagel and a muffin, pre-race. Good stuff.
I had decided that I wanted to be very aggressive in this race, especially after the frustration of the last criterium that I had done. As the race started, I found my way toward the front, which wasn't too hard if I worked a lot on the long, sloping uphill.
About halfway through the race, I went up the hill a little harder than I had been as I stuck to the wheel of the guy in front of me. All of a sudden, the guy behind me started yelling about making a break, since we had about 20 yards on the rest of the field. He shot forward, and I followed him, and the two of us were off the front.
I chased him for a while, and pulled a little, but I didn't have the legs to stick it out, and I lost him with about 5 laps to go. I dropped back and found another guy, and the two of us worked together for another couple laps. Before I knew it, I heard the bell, and I was on the last lap.
I didn't feel that good yesterday, so I couldn't stay with that guy, either. He left me behind, and I ended up fourth behind him, the other guy who started that break (he ended up winning), and a guy who went off the front at the very beginning and only got caught with a lap to go.
I was thrilled to get 4th place (results here), especially since I didn't feel that great. I won a saddle [I should have another picture here] and it constitutes the first thing I've ever won from biking.
Yehaw!
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Gearing Up
I don't yet really have any specific way to prepare for races. Tomorrow I'm doing a criterium at Williams College, and I've sat around for a couple hours (actually, I napped) wondering what type of ride I should do today, and how long it should be. In the end I think I'll probably go for about an hour and a half, a mostly rolling course with a mile long climb at the end. We'll see how that works.
So tomorrow's race is a Cat 4/5 criterium, and my first race in about three weeks. I'm excited for it, but I've also decided that I'm going to stay very aggressive. I'm going to force my way to the front, try to stay there, and maybe even attempt to break once or twice. The last crit was disappointing so this time I'm going to go for it early and not think about getting a result - just focus on being aggressive. Maybe I'll wear myself out and then get dropped, but I'm willing to take that chance. I've decided I won't be wearing Middlebury gear, so nobody will really care about me.
Plus, I'm back on track. Which is nice.
So tomorrow's race is a Cat 4/5 criterium, and my first race in about three weeks. I'm excited for it, but I've also decided that I'm going to stay very aggressive. I'm going to force my way to the front, try to stay there, and maybe even attempt to break once or twice. The last crit was disappointing so this time I'm going to go for it early and not think about getting a result - just focus on being aggressive. Maybe I'll wear myself out and then get dropped, but I'm willing to take that chance. I've decided I won't be wearing Middlebury gear, so nobody will really care about me.
Plus, I'm back on track. Which is nice.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
And... I'm Back!
So I haven't written in a while, mostly because I've been in a bit of a biking funk for a week or so. I didn't ride a few days last week, and I've lost some of my momentum in terms of eating well. It's been frustrating to lose some of the discipline I'd been working hard to build up.
But today I had a bit of a chance to redeem myself. It was another time trial around the lakes by Salisbury School, and two weeks ago I'd finished the roughly 10 miles in 27:18. Today I got a better warm-up in (and a nice early afternoon nap) and was feeling ready to go. Though I got passed by Chris Fisher earlier than halfway through the course, I held off the other school's youth national teamer until the final hill.
Final time? 26:03. My momentum is back.
More to come.
But today I had a bit of a chance to redeem myself. It was another time trial around the lakes by Salisbury School, and two weeks ago I'd finished the roughly 10 miles in 27:18. Today I got a better warm-up in (and a nice early afternoon nap) and was feeling ready to go. Though I got passed by Chris Fisher earlier than halfway through the course, I held off the other school's youth national teamer until the final hill.
Final time? 26:03. My momentum is back.
More to come.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Ice Cream and Flat Tires
You learn something every day.
This afternoon I rode out to Millbrook to visit some friends, getting there at about 2:00 after about an hour and 15 minutes. While I was there, I went to get some ice cream at a little place that is about 20 miles from here (sounds like a good ride - 20 miles out, ice cream, 20 miles back), and it was awesome. I love ice cream.
Because I was having a good time just hanging out with my friends, I didn't get out quite when I wanted, leaving there at about 6:00, expecting to get back around 7:15 or so. About ten minutes in I flatted my rear tire and had to change it on the road, almost ruining my spare in the process. I suck at changing tires. It took me a while.
So I started getting worried that it was getting too dark, and cars wouldn't see me, etc. I was hammering to get home, riding as hard as I could, and finally got back on campus at about 7:30. It was pretty dark, and I was still a little nervous that I'd been riding in such dark.
Then I remembered I was wearing sunglasses. Turns out it wasn't actually very dark out.
A few minutes ago we celebrated the birthday of a kid on the hall with homemade brownie sundaes that his mom dropped off earlier - nice ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream, awesome brownies, Shrek M&Ms (they're huge!) and sprinkles.
I'm going to pass into a sugar coma now. Peace.
This afternoon I rode out to Millbrook to visit some friends, getting there at about 2:00 after about an hour and 15 minutes. While I was there, I went to get some ice cream at a little place that is about 20 miles from here (sounds like a good ride - 20 miles out, ice cream, 20 miles back), and it was awesome. I love ice cream.
Because I was having a good time just hanging out with my friends, I didn't get out quite when I wanted, leaving there at about 6:00, expecting to get back around 7:15 or so. About ten minutes in I flatted my rear tire and had to change it on the road, almost ruining my spare in the process. I suck at changing tires. It took me a while.
So I started getting worried that it was getting too dark, and cars wouldn't see me, etc. I was hammering to get home, riding as hard as I could, and finally got back on campus at about 7:30. It was pretty dark, and I was still a little nervous that I'd been riding in such dark.
Then I remembered I was wearing sunglasses. Turns out it wasn't actually very dark out.
A few minutes ago we celebrated the birthday of a kid on the hall with homemade brownie sundaes that his mom dropped off earlier - nice ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream, awesome brownies, Shrek M&Ms (they're huge!) and sprinkles.
I'm going to pass into a sugar coma now. Peace.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Raceday!
So, good news and bad news from today's race in Plainville.
Start with the bad? Okay.
Bad news: I suck at tactics. I'm not confident enough to be aggressive and assert myself at the front of the pack; as a result, I'm always near the back and I can't sprint enough at the end to finish near the front. I started the sprint in about 15th place and probably moved up to 9th or so, which I'm not that psyched about.
Good news: I didn't flip out on any turns, I was much calmer throughout the race, nobody yelled at me, and I kept my line most of the time. That's a start. Also, I feel like my fitness is pretty good.
So now I just need to learn how to race bikes.
Start with the bad? Okay.
Bad news: I suck at tactics. I'm not confident enough to be aggressive and assert myself at the front of the pack; as a result, I'm always near the back and I can't sprint enough at the end to finish near the front. I started the sprint in about 15th place and probably moved up to 9th or so, which I'm not that psyched about.
Good news: I didn't flip out on any turns, I was much calmer throughout the race, nobody yelled at me, and I kept my line most of the time. That's a start. Also, I feel like my fitness is pretty good.
So now I just need to learn how to race bikes.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Good Day!
My favorite thing about biking is the high that comes from it. And I’m not saying that I get loopy, or that I starting thinking deeply about the past and the future, or that I shouldn’t operate heavy machinery. I just mean that after a good ride, I feel drained – and this opens me up a little bit.
About 13 months ago I went for my first-ever bike ride outside, led by the certified badass Chris Fisher, ex-pro and colleage of mine here at school. We decided to do a short ride around the lakes. It was time to put the new bike to use.
However, there was a problem. I had been sick for a few days before the ride, and I hadn’t eaten very well (or exercised at all). I also hadn’t had breakfast, which brought my total to about one full meal in four days. I wasn’t quite ready.
About two miles in I was already feeling pretty awful. I felt like I was about to throw up, and I could barely keep up with Chris, who was not riding very fast. I was pushing through it, but with about two miles left I got a flat tire.
Unprepared to change the flat, we had to press on. With a wobbly rear wheel I tried to press through the last leg and up the hill toward campus, but I was feeling really sick and had nothing left. Chris rode up the hill next to me, his hand on my back, pushing me along.
It was a pretty inauspicious start.
Which brings me back to the natural high. When I got back to my apartment that morning, I decided to rest by watching an episode of Scrubs. I happened to choose the saddest episode of this comedy, and when it ended, tears were streaming uncontrolably down my face. I don’t remember ever crying that hard.
The ride had totally drained my ability to put up a strong front. I was just so tired that I couldn’t fight the tears.
While I realize that I’m forever debunking the idea that I’m a tough person (but who really thought that anyway?), this is something I love. I think it makes me a better person to be around – more agreeable, mellower, more open. It’s a nice way to live.
On Monday I rode the trainer while watching the Boston Marathon on TV. I saw the first “speed rim,” or wheelchair, participant cross the line – a Japanese man who had been propelling himself for 26.2 miles using absolutely incredible upper-body strength. He couldn’t contain the tears as he fought the excruciating pain and got his reward of sheer and utter joy.
It’s the thought of working myself to the bone and winning a race that keeps me working hard.
Today, I rode that same 10.2 miles that I failed on last year – and did it about 20 minutes faster. It’s our time trial course, and I completed it in 1:04 slower than I did a week ago, but today I rode it after doing two hours and fifteen minutes of intense climbs and false flats (okay, there were some downhills mixed in there, too).
I’m feeling pretty good right now. And that’s why I love biking.
About 13 months ago I went for my first-ever bike ride outside, led by the certified badass Chris Fisher, ex-pro and colleage of mine here at school. We decided to do a short ride around the lakes. It was time to put the new bike to use.
However, there was a problem. I had been sick for a few days before the ride, and I hadn’t eaten very well (or exercised at all). I also hadn’t had breakfast, which brought my total to about one full meal in four days. I wasn’t quite ready.
About two miles in I was already feeling pretty awful. I felt like I was about to throw up, and I could barely keep up with Chris, who was not riding very fast. I was pushing through it, but with about two miles left I got a flat tire.
Unprepared to change the flat, we had to press on. With a wobbly rear wheel I tried to press through the last leg and up the hill toward campus, but I was feeling really sick and had nothing left. Chris rode up the hill next to me, his hand on my back, pushing me along.
It was a pretty inauspicious start.
Which brings me back to the natural high. When I got back to my apartment that morning, I decided to rest by watching an episode of Scrubs. I happened to choose the saddest episode of this comedy, and when it ended, tears were streaming uncontrolably down my face. I don’t remember ever crying that hard.
The ride had totally drained my ability to put up a strong front. I was just so tired that I couldn’t fight the tears.
While I realize that I’m forever debunking the idea that I’m a tough person (but who really thought that anyway?), this is something I love. I think it makes me a better person to be around – more agreeable, mellower, more open. It’s a nice way to live.
On Monday I rode the trainer while watching the Boston Marathon on TV. I saw the first “speed rim,” or wheelchair, participant cross the line – a Japanese man who had been propelling himself for 26.2 miles using absolutely incredible upper-body strength. He couldn’t contain the tears as he fought the excruciating pain and got his reward of sheer and utter joy.
It’s the thought of working myself to the bone and winning a race that keeps me working hard.
Today, I rode that same 10.2 miles that I failed on last year – and did it about 20 minutes faster. It’s our time trial course, and I completed it in 1:04 slower than I did a week ago, but today I rode it after doing two hours and fifteen minutes of intense climbs and false flats (okay, there were some downhills mixed in there, too).
I’m feeling pretty good right now. And that’s why I love biking.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
First Time Trial
So it's not exactly sanctioned or anything, but Salisbury School ran its first time trial of the season today, and for once the weather was actually nice! They decided to send me first on the course since I was hoping to get back quickly since I was technically on duty during the race, and if anyone else got hurt (cycling or otherwise), I was going to have to drive them to the hospital.
It was on a nice, 10.3 mile loop around the lakes in Salisbury, and about halfway through I started to feel like I was in a groove. I hadn't warmed up enough, which definitely hurt me - but it's good because I'll be readier for the next one. In the end, I finished in 27:18, averaging 22.63mph. This was fourth best - 3:20 behind Chris Fisher who won the thing. In between us were two kids from Trinity Pawling School who had time trial bikes and funky helmets - and I'm now determined to beat at least one of those guys in one of these time trials.
It was fun, and now I'll have a time to measure my progress.
It was on a nice, 10.3 mile loop around the lakes in Salisbury, and about halfway through I started to feel like I was in a groove. I hadn't warmed up enough, which definitely hurt me - but it's good because I'll be readier for the next one. In the end, I finished in 27:18, averaging 22.63mph. This was fourth best - 3:20 behind Chris Fisher who won the thing. In between us were two kids from Trinity Pawling School who had time trial bikes and funky helmets - and I'm now determined to beat at least one of those guys in one of these time trials.
It was fun, and now I'll have a time to measure my progress.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Updates!
Sorry Jenks. And Matt and Zach. And everyone. It's been a few days.
On Saturday morning I woke up early for another race in Plainville, and despite the 20 degree weather it was probably the toughest group I've raced against. It's a Cat 4/5 race, so there are plenty of guys with more experience, but I managed to come away with seventh place. It's a learning experience in every race, and I still need to work on turning. Most of what I did in this race was the best I've done thus far, despite the result being behind where I was earlier.
Sunday I was supposed to go for a long ride, but the snow turned me away. I'm officially ready for spring... but I think I'll have to wait even more.
After a good 45 miles on Monday and another 20 today, I'm ready for the first Salisbury School time trial, on a 10-mile course around the lakes. We've got Trinity Pawling's team visiting as well, and there will be a few faculty taking part as well. It kicks off at 3:00 tomorrow. I am psyched.
On Saturday morning I woke up early for another race in Plainville, and despite the 20 degree weather it was probably the toughest group I've raced against. It's a Cat 4/5 race, so there are plenty of guys with more experience, but I managed to come away with seventh place. It's a learning experience in every race, and I still need to work on turning. Most of what I did in this race was the best I've done thus far, despite the result being behind where I was earlier.
Sunday I was supposed to go for a long ride, but the snow turned me away. I'm officially ready for spring... but I think I'll have to wait even more.
After a good 45 miles on Monday and another 20 today, I'm ready for the first Salisbury School time trial, on a 10-mile course around the lakes. We've got Trinity Pawling's team visiting as well, and there will be a few faculty taking part as well. It kicks off at 3:00 tomorrow. I am psyched.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
YeeHaw!
I got my bike back from the shop on Tuesday night, which was more than a little frustrating because Tuesday was the most beautiful day of the year so far and I couldn't ride outside.
Now? It's snowing. Seriously.
I hit the trainer yesterday and I will again today - basically for as long as I can possibly take it. Yesterday I was about an hour and a half in before I started fading (mentally) and almost got of my bike. One of the things that popped into my head was the goal I gave up against Williams in the NESCAC Semifinals of my sophomore year - with three seconds left in the game. It was definitely the worst moment of my athletic life, and I started feeling sorry for myself.
Then I thought about this book that I'm reading, and how it talks about how anger isn't a bad thing. It instructs using that anger, and I definitely had it as fuel for an upcoming race in, of all places, Williams.
I'm now training every day with that race in mind. I want to tear the legs off (Jenks, is this an acceptable expression?) a bunch of Williams kids, and have them staring at the word "Middlebury" on the back of my jersey as I ride past them.
Now? It's snowing. Seriously.
I hit the trainer yesterday and I will again today - basically for as long as I can possibly take it. Yesterday I was about an hour and a half in before I started fading (mentally) and almost got of my bike. One of the things that popped into my head was the goal I gave up against Williams in the NESCAC Semifinals of my sophomore year - with three seconds left in the game. It was definitely the worst moment of my athletic life, and I started feeling sorry for myself.
Then I thought about this book that I'm reading, and how it talks about how anger isn't a bad thing. It instructs using that anger, and I definitely had it as fuel for an upcoming race in, of all places, Williams.
I'm now training every day with that race in mind. I want to tear the legs off (Jenks, is this an acceptable expression?) a bunch of Williams kids, and have them staring at the word "Middlebury" on the back of my jersey as I ride past them.
Monday, April 2, 2007
A Week Later
It's Monday again, and I've capped off a not-so-successful week of riding. I didn't get the hours that I wanted and missed my Saturday morning race because of a meeting here on campus (which I later found out I could've missed the first half of). Too bad.
I've been inspired by my friend Jenks (check out his blog here) who won a race this weekend to earn the points he needs to upgrade from Cat 4 to Cat 3. I drove my bike up to the shop today, and as soon as I get it back I'm going to start hammering. I'm ready to really up my miles, starting with a long race on Wednesday.
More updates to this blog will follow as my rides become more and more interesting. Also I just got a new battery for my camera so I'll add pictures more frequently too.
I've been inspired by my friend Jenks (check out his blog here) who won a race this weekend to earn the points he needs to upgrade from Cat 4 to Cat 3. I drove my bike up to the shop today, and as soon as I get it back I'm going to start hammering. I'm ready to really up my miles, starting with a long race on Wednesday.
More updates to this blog will follow as my rides become more and more interesting. Also I just got a new battery for my camera so I'll add pictures more frequently too.
Monday, March 26, 2007
A Case of the Mondays
I managed to make it through my meetings today, and at about 2:00 I thought to myself "I haven't slept enough in the last few days - why aren't I tired?" Well, the two 5:30 wake-ups for races finally caught up to me. I was asleep since about five minutes after I had that thought, and I can feel myself drifting away again. Got... to... get... on the trainer....
Here are the results from this weekend:
Saturday in Plainville
Sunday in Bethel
Here are the results from this weekend:
Saturday in Plainville
Sunday in Bethel
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Turkeys?
It was a good weekend!
Saturday's race was in Plainville, on a short (.5 mile), totally flat course. I showed up for the 8am race, and there were about 20 people in the race. As usual, I sat in the back of the pack for almost the entire race, since I was still losing speed around the two 90 degree turns. It was a 45 minute race, and the last lap started fast and quickly slowed down. Before the second-to-last turn, everyone drifted to the outside of the road, and I decided (being at the back of the group) that I had to take that chance to get up to the front.
I sped up to a pretty good rate but I wasn't sprinting, and I was at the very front of the group going into the last turn. Alas - if there hadn't been a turn I might've been alright, but instead I lost a lot of speed and while I started my sprint from first place, I wasn't going fast enough to hold off everyone. I finished in 4th or 5th place, I believe (I'll post the results when they're put online).
After the race some guy chastised me for "not holding a line for the entire race." I wasn't sure at first that he was talking to me (he was) and so I didn't respond. He shook his head and rode off. I knew he was right - I'm struggling to lean far enough on the turns to maintain my line. But I'm learning.
This morning I showed up in Bethel for another race, and I parked my car and looked at the car to my right and it was the same guy who had called me out yesterday. We awkwardly avoided each other as we got our gear on and set our bikes up.
This race was a little shorter overall but on a longer course (better for me - no really sharp turns). I was ready to go at 8:00am (after a 5:30 wake-up in Salisbury) and the first lap started right on time.
They were cleaning the course as we rode, but they missed a group of ten wild turkeys that had wandered onto the back side of the course. Everyone in the group slowed way down as the animals stared at us before deciding to leisurely leave the course.
The middle of the race was pretty uneventful, as I sat in my usual position in the back of the pack. I was feeling fine but I'm still not skilled enough to manuever my way up to the front and stay there. Oh well. I'll learn.
The last lap was pretty interesting. The speed picked up early, and there was no room on the inside so I found my way back outside and got near the front. I knew there was a break up ahead (a few riders who had separated from the pack) but I didn't know how many, and I didn't think we could catch them.
On the back side, the pack got into trouble when one guy crashed before the final hill sprint and took out a few others, and slowed everyone down. This happened on the inside, so I was unaffected by it, and we started up the final hill and people were already sprinting.
I was staying with most of them without working too hard, and with about 50 yards left I started cranking hard. Everyone else, it seemed, had used all their gas, and I easily moved to the front of the pack, finishing a couple bike lengths ahead of the next guy.
About 20 minutes later they posted the results and I was suprised to see that only two teammates were in the break, which meant I took 3rd place!
All in all, a successful weekend. Work starts up again tomorrow, so I'll have less time to ride, but my afternoons are still free. Cat 4 here I come!
Saturday's race was in Plainville, on a short (.5 mile), totally flat course. I showed up for the 8am race, and there were about 20 people in the race. As usual, I sat in the back of the pack for almost the entire race, since I was still losing speed around the two 90 degree turns. It was a 45 minute race, and the last lap started fast and quickly slowed down. Before the second-to-last turn, everyone drifted to the outside of the road, and I decided (being at the back of the group) that I had to take that chance to get up to the front.
I sped up to a pretty good rate but I wasn't sprinting, and I was at the very front of the group going into the last turn. Alas - if there hadn't been a turn I might've been alright, but instead I lost a lot of speed and while I started my sprint from first place, I wasn't going fast enough to hold off everyone. I finished in 4th or 5th place, I believe (I'll post the results when they're put online).
After the race some guy chastised me for "not holding a line for the entire race." I wasn't sure at first that he was talking to me (he was) and so I didn't respond. He shook his head and rode off. I knew he was right - I'm struggling to lean far enough on the turns to maintain my line. But I'm learning.
This morning I showed up in Bethel for another race, and I parked my car and looked at the car to my right and it was the same guy who had called me out yesterday. We awkwardly avoided each other as we got our gear on and set our bikes up.
This race was a little shorter overall but on a longer course (better for me - no really sharp turns). I was ready to go at 8:00am (after a 5:30 wake-up in Salisbury) and the first lap started right on time.
They were cleaning the course as we rode, but they missed a group of ten wild turkeys that had wandered onto the back side of the course. Everyone in the group slowed way down as the animals stared at us before deciding to leisurely leave the course.
The middle of the race was pretty uneventful, as I sat in my usual position in the back of the pack. I was feeling fine but I'm still not skilled enough to manuever my way up to the front and stay there. Oh well. I'll learn.
The last lap was pretty interesting. The speed picked up early, and there was no room on the inside so I found my way back outside and got near the front. I knew there was a break up ahead (a few riders who had separated from the pack) but I didn't know how many, and I didn't think we could catch them.
On the back side, the pack got into trouble when one guy crashed before the final hill sprint and took out a few others, and slowed everyone down. This happened on the inside, so I was unaffected by it, and we started up the final hill and people were already sprinting.
I was staying with most of them without working too hard, and with about 50 yards left I started cranking hard. Everyone else, it seemed, had used all their gas, and I easily moved to the front of the pack, finishing a couple bike lengths ahead of the next guy.
About 20 minutes later they posted the results and I was suprised to see that only two teammates were in the break, which meant I took 3rd place!
All in all, a successful weekend. Work starts up again tomorrow, so I'll have less time to ride, but my afternoons are still free. Cat 4 here I come!
Thursday, March 22, 2007
For Jenks
So far I haven't spread the word to the world that I'm running this blog, which means that I'm pretty much writing for one person: Mike Jenks. So today's post is dedicated to this leader-of-men, the wonderful, talented, dashingly good-looking friend of friends.
Almost two weeks ago now I entered my first race ever, on the morning of Saturday, March 10. Being a novice racer (Cat 5) my race began at 8:00am, which necessitated a 5:30 wake-up. After driving an hour to the course, getting registered and warmed-up, the 45-minute race began on time.
It was incredible the things that I learned on the first lap. First, it's hard to clip into my funky pedals anyway, and even harder to do it under pressure. Second, being so close to so many other bikes is nervewracking. Third, turns are really hard. And finally, bike racing is a lot of fun.
The race was pretty uneventful - I stationed myself at the very back of the pack and stayed there for the duration. The reason for this was that 1) I don't really know how to move up in the pack yet, and 2) I am not good at doing these sweeping 90 degree turns without losing speed. After every single turn I fell off the back of the pack and had to catch back up.
However, on the last lap, I realized that I still had some gas in the tank, and so I started sprinting from about 150 yards away from the finish. Everyone else was going full tilt as well, so I couldn't catch up with the leaders, but I passed about eight or nine guys before finishing in 5th place. I was very pleased.
I did another race at 11am on the same day, and got dropped from the pack pretty quickly. I was tired and the other riders were faster than in my first group. I won't be doing two races in one day again soon. Despite getting lapped, the race organizers screwed up the results, saying I cam in 7th place, when it was probably more like 20th. I didn't get points or anything, so I didn't correct them.
Results are here. I'm doing another race in the same series in two days, so now it's all about getting ready.
Thanks for reading, Mike.
Almost two weeks ago now I entered my first race ever, on the morning of Saturday, March 10. Being a novice racer (Cat 5) my race began at 8:00am, which necessitated a 5:30 wake-up. After driving an hour to the course, getting registered and warmed-up, the 45-minute race began on time.
It was incredible the things that I learned on the first lap. First, it's hard to clip into my funky pedals anyway, and even harder to do it under pressure. Second, being so close to so many other bikes is nervewracking. Third, turns are really hard. And finally, bike racing is a lot of fun.
The race was pretty uneventful - I stationed myself at the very back of the pack and stayed there for the duration. The reason for this was that 1) I don't really know how to move up in the pack yet, and 2) I am not good at doing these sweeping 90 degree turns without losing speed. After every single turn I fell off the back of the pack and had to catch back up.
However, on the last lap, I realized that I still had some gas in the tank, and so I started sprinting from about 150 yards away from the finish. Everyone else was going full tilt as well, so I couldn't catch up with the leaders, but I passed about eight or nine guys before finishing in 5th place. I was very pleased.
I did another race at 11am on the same day, and got dropped from the pack pretty quickly. I was tired and the other riders were faster than in my first group. I won't be doing two races in one day again soon. Despite getting lapped, the race organizers screwed up the results, saying I cam in 7th place, when it was probably more like 20th. I didn't get points or anything, so I didn't correct them.
Results are here. I'm doing another race in the same series in two days, so now it's all about getting ready.
Thanks for reading, Mike.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Black Irish
I just finished watching the pilot episode of The Black Donnellys - a new NBC show that I had heard good things about. It seems like a pretty 
great show - I caught the end of a new episode tonight while I was flipping the channels, and it was good enough to draw me in to download the first one off of iTunes. It's the story of a reluctant hero, which is usually enough to draw me in. Anyway, I recommend it.
This is the great thing about the new career I'm going to embark on: watching TV shows and movies is considered "research." It's like when I was studying in Spain and I considered watching television "practice" for my Spanish - every time I sit down and really watch something, it gives me a bunch of ideas for what I'll write. Even if the only thing that I know tonight is that I want to write and star in a movie about a Scottish badass who outsmarts most people but occasionally has to beat the crap out of somebody when all else fails. It's a can't miss premise. I'm already fine-tuning my accent.
I'm about to download the other episodes that I haven't seen so that I can watch them tomorrow while I'm on the trainer. I've set up a system in my small room here in Vermont that lets me plug my headphones in and watch stuff on my computer while I'm riding. I only got an hour in today (then promptly ate some ice cream to undo all the work) but I also lifted so it wasn't a total failure. Maybe I'll get outside tomorrow, though I hear it might snow. Also, at this point I'm planning on sleeping into the early afternoon.
great show - I caught the end of a new episode tonight while I was flipping the channels, and it was good enough to draw me in to download the first one off of iTunes. It's the story of a reluctant hero, which is usually enough to draw me in. Anyway, I recommend it.This is the great thing about the new career I'm going to embark on: watching TV shows and movies is considered "research." It's like when I was studying in Spain and I considered watching television "practice" for my Spanish - every time I sit down and really watch something, it gives me a bunch of ideas for what I'll write. Even if the only thing that I know tonight is that I want to write and star in a movie about a Scottish badass who outsmarts most people but occasionally has to beat the crap out of somebody when all else fails. It's a can't miss premise. I'm already fine-tuning my accent.
I'm about to download the other episodes that I haven't seen so that I can watch them tomorrow while I'm on the trainer. I've set up a system in my small room here in Vermont that lets me plug my headphones in and watch stuff on my computer while I'm riding. I only got an hour in today (then promptly ate some ice cream to undo all the work) but I also lifted so it wasn't a total failure. Maybe I'll get outside tomorrow, though I hear it might snow. Also, at this point I'm planning on sleeping into the early afternoon.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Back in the Saddle Again
So it's been a little more than five months since my last attempt at keeping a blog - no matter. I'm got some new free time, I'm a lame duck at work (and it's okay if my students read that phrase because they won't know what it means) and I'm on the bike more than ever. Updating this regularly will be my way to write consistently, keep track of my training, and entertain the masses.
In any case, I took today off, which was okay. I'll need to go pretty hard tomorrow because of all the carbs I ingested on St. Patty's Day in Boston, and I don't want to fall off the wagon. I've got a race on Saturday and another on Sunday so I can't take a break just yet.
Tomorrow I'll fill you in one the first race of my career, which was a far better event then the second race of my career. I suppose I'll fill you in on both.
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