Maybe "the slows" are over?

The past month I've been riding slow. I don't know why. My average speeds on normal routes have been significantly slower, which may explain my rather dismal cross results thus far. I can't really figure out why, other than I finished plyo and "they" say that running/weight training will slow you down on the bike.

Well, today and yesterday I went back to doing intervals on the bike and to my surprise I found my speed was back near where it was before the plyo. So maybe this is a good sign? Guess I'll find out on Saturday. I mean, really, my victims on Cross results dot com are now people like Gary Kelly, who, even tho he's a great guy, shouldn't be a "victim". Here's to better results.....

From Ed Sander Cross

Courtousey of "In the Crosshairs"

It's all about choices

Rained pretty much last night after a fairly dry week. Just to be "sure" I put my Kenda Kross Supremes on my Ritchey wheels. I got to Ed Sander Cross in plenty of time. Had enough time to give cxstraggler some shit about getting his ass in gear as he was chsanging and his race started in like 25 minutes. Was going to ride the course before the C race but ran out of time; no worries, I hopped on the trainer for about 1/2 hr. Got down to the pit, taking my extra wheels with me. Got on the corse and my XS's were everywhere in the slop so on my way past the pit I swapped out my wheels and rode the back side on the Kross Supremes. Much better, I thought. Got fairly decent start position and we were off. Thor was maybe 2-3 rows in front of me. Would I beat him today?

We head into the wet grassy area and I'm still good; great traction and I pass a few people. Then we hit the mud around the ponds. Have to get up and run since it's pretty much a cluster-f%ck on the 1st lap. I'm still just off the back of the main field. It's not untill teh 2nd lap that I realize why I don't use those f^cking tires; sure they have good grip, but they also don't shed the mud. My sub 18 lb bike now weighs like a million lbs, or so it felt like. Needless to say my legs were seriously fried and I think we only did like 4? laps. I didn't even beat the fat guy on the SS. I didn't get lapped, so I did beat some people. But it's a shame because my legs pre-race felt great. I should have just run my XS's and ran thru the mud. I would have been far better off.

At least there was Belgian waffles and adult beverages in the party zone. No Idea where I placed. It really doesn't matter....

Maybe next week I'll get Thor.
 

 

Today is a "skinny day"

Some days you feel like a load. Other days, you feel skinny. Today is a skinny day. Feel lean; ready to race. My legs feel toned but not tired. had a good night's sleep. Didn't ride; it's a rest day. Spent the morning running errands with Sam (my wife for those who don't know, and yes she is a she. I'm not ghey, NTTAWWT.) and had a nice lunch at a little Chinese rstruant. Work is slow, so I'll hopefully be leaving early. 1 more day till Ed Sander cross.
Maybe a bit of rain? Sam;"will they cancel the race because of the rain?" Does not "get it". Oh well.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

2 races to start out the year. Nittany cross in Trexlertown and Charm City in Baltimore. Beautiful weather both days. I met Dan at Nittany-we both raced the Masters B at 10 am. Flat, fast course. Lots of twists and tight turns. Since I hadn't ridden the day befopre, I realy didn't get a good start. Finally, after about 2 laps, my legs started to come around. By then I was way off the back. 51 out of 62? in my cat. Not great, but about the norm for me.
Charm City was on Sunday. Again, great weather. turns out I probably should've kept the skin-suit at home. Got warm by start time. Both races I got there earlier than in the past. This is a good thing; no rushing and I got a good warm up in. Parked in front of Thor and chatted before the race.
I was 83rd of 113ish starters, so Istarted way back. I tried to sprint as soon as the gun went off but it was really tight; picked up a few places but it really was pretty much of a cluster-f&ck until things spread out a bit. Mike G and Gary S could be heard chearing (heckling) me as well as Lithuania from RBR. I ran the barriers well as well as the sand and hammered on the straights as much as I could. 1st 2 laps or so my stomach really didn't feel too well. On the last lap I saw Thor ahead of me. Incentive! I never caught him but got to 4 places behind him finishing 70th out of 96 finishers. Better than before, I suppose, but still not top 1/2. There's work to be done, I suppose.....

Divine intervention?

Seems like the unplanned time off is actually turning out to be a good thing. After going out, doing some intervals today and Sunday, my legs are feeling strong, refreshed, and ready. Did some stair runs on Monday and felt good, too. I am now officially ready for a solid mid pack finish. Yup.

Lord Vadar; Your ride is ready.

Black. Apparently it's the new white. Or something like that. The "old" Empella, updated with the stem flipped down (it was too friggin high), new crankset, slightly lower gear (39 instead of a 40 up front), and new Grifo XS tires. Not the best glueing job, but not the worst, either.
I just need to test ride it. I did a cross workout today on my Gitane because the tires probably weren't ready yet on the Bonfire. Can't wait! 2 races this cominmg weekend! Nittany Lion and Charm City. What a way to start off the season!

3 days off....

I didn't plan this but here I am; less than 2 weeks away from cross season, and I've taken 3 days off after killing myself for 2 weeks. My rt knee is bothering me a bit so I just decided to work on the bike and rest it. Tomorrow I'll take an easy ride, then 2 more interval/plyo sessions, several days of cross only rides, an interval session top wake up the legs and then it's 2 races, back to back. Top 1/2 finishes are what I'm shooting for this yr. Made it 2x last yr. One can hope, can't I?