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.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
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.
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