I guess the bit of weight training and team support paid off. I nearly had a double win weekend Mason Lake and Banana Belt number 2. I missed the win at BB by .0135 seconds, mere inches in a bike throw. I'll try to start my sprint .05 seconds earlier next time to avoid defeat.
After the Boise TT last weekend the team podium is up to 5 in the three states. Not a bad start.
This weekend I'll be on a solo mission at the Independence Valley road race. Last year I was dropped from the chase of three fighting for 4th, but took the sprint for 5th. A good result, but I'd like to improve on it. I'll certainly have more motivation and fresher legs.
My next races will be Piece of Cake in Woodland, WA, then Kings Valley near Corvallis, Brad Lewis Criterium, and then the Walla Walla Stage Race. The latter three events will be team events, with Walla Walla being the big target we'd like to repeat at.
So far the WA scene has been pretty competetive. Ongers at Gin Optics has had a nice March run, Hagens-Berman is on the board with Reynolds and Harm. Carter is under-powered and looking to Tubbs as they should, and BRI is looking for a miracle or the form of Stevenson to appear as it will at some point. The Garage are again large and under-performing and Wines of Washington is more irrelevant than ever with the loss of Stangeland to Gin.
I won't be in the hunt for either the WA Cup or the season points title, but I will be trying for the best results possible when I do show up and I will try to have fun and enjoy the racing when I can make it out.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Time for some smack down
I haven't posted my whole program yet. Will do soon. This weekend will be the first serious foray after getting my legs handed to me at Cherry Pie. Since then there have been some big mileage rides, many sprints, and some base-power intervals.
A group of Idaho boys will be coming over to show their stuff at Mason Lake #2 & Banana Belt #2 the following day. The program has a lot to prove, and we are confident with any of our guys in a break, or in a field sprint.
The Banana Belt results looked like it was a hard fought contest with Elken coming second. I bet he wasn't too happy with that. Not sure how it all went down there. The Mason Lake report sounded pretty amateurish, unless you were the dominant team in the break. Teams looked to be happy to have "a" guy in the break, and then the field spurted along behind them giving up 2 minutes or so in a lap. A solo win by Ongers looked impressive, but at this early stage it says more about the lack of preparation of the rest of the guys.
bobs-bicycles.com will find out just how tough the fields in WA and OR are when we have a team of 7 or 5 riders in the race. I know that the guys will be highly motivated after making the big drive and getting to race in some large fields.
See you at the races.
A group of Idaho boys will be coming over to show their stuff at Mason Lake #2 & Banana Belt #2 the following day. The program has a lot to prove, and we are confident with any of our guys in a break, or in a field sprint.
The Banana Belt results looked like it was a hard fought contest with Elken coming second. I bet he wasn't too happy with that. Not sure how it all went down there. The Mason Lake report sounded pretty amateurish, unless you were the dominant team in the break. Teams looked to be happy to have "a" guy in the break, and then the field spurted along behind them giving up 2 minutes or so in a lap. A solo win by Ongers looked impressive, but at this early stage it says more about the lack of preparation of the rest of the guys.
bobs-bicycles.com will find out just how tough the fields in WA and OR are when we have a team of 7 or 5 riders in the race. I know that the guys will be highly motivated after making the big drive and getting to race in some large fields.
See you at the races.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Better infamous than anonymous
Listen to Prudog, don't get me mad!Well, I should have know that encouraging Prudog to up his game would result in me being lampooned by him. While he has used exaggeration in his "profile" of me, I of course see the humor in it, and there is some truth to it. I'm sure anyone that really knows me would agree that the characterizations out there are out of proportion to the truth, and few people are actually elbowed or called douche-bags. And if anyone has been, they most likely deserved what they got, or maybe it was an accident? A certain person was put into a pole accidentally...
The training has been going okay. This week I didn't ride outside once, but it was still pretty good. Weights on Monday (12 45's on there this time + whatever the platform weighs = 540+ on the leg press), 10" sprints w/ 2' rest on the rollers x 20 on Tuesday (52 mph max.), 3 x 15' @ 30 mph (roller speed) Wed. and a nice 25 mph avs roller ride on Thurs.
Last Saturday we got snowed on and frozen again but got in 3000 ft. of climbing and 4hrs. Sunday was a big, slow group ride. I'm talking, if you take a pull you pull-away kind of slow. I'm talking big waste of my precious time, I guess I'm riding alone nice and steady and averaging 19.6 mph and staying in zone 3 slow. I will be bringing the ipod again for sure this Sunday so I have something in my ears if there is no one that can ride at a reasonable speed. I'll even pull people down the road if they want...
So, overall, feeling fit and strong and ready to compete. We'll be hitting Cherry Pie with a strong squad and won't have a hangover this year so maybe I will win the real sprint and not just the field sprint like last year. I'll be happy if we podium of course, no matter who does it. Hopefully the first event won't be too miserable weather-wise.
Looking to "Hulk-out" with 14 45s on the leg press tonight. Then it's into the wind Saturday and only a 40% chance of rain. Looking to do 2 of my circuit loops and get 5200 ft. and 80 miles in.
I'll post my personal race schedule soon for all the fans out there.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Freezing on the bike and warm on skis
What's more miserable, riding a bike in the winter or cross-country skiing? Well, I suppose skiing could be miserable if we headed out in a blizzard, but nasty weather usually means we don't make the trip. Meanwhile, no matter what the weather, if I'm in town on the weekend, I've got to get on the bike.
Last Saturday eight of us headed out into the worst conditions for cycling, 33 degrees and wet, and met wind, rain, and sleet. I went through 3 pairs of gloves and my feet took about an hour to thaw out once I got back home. 66 miles took over 4 hours to complete. Luckily when I got a flat tire the skies were clearing up and it wasn't too bad out, but standing there my feet had no feeling left.
I know that as usual, by heading out and getting miles in I will end up being one of the best prepared riders in the state, and that is what gives me the motivation to head out and coax others to face the elements with me. Hopefully it will pay off for them too.
The weight of the rain bike, and my unwillingness to head right into zone 4 on the hills had me dangling off the group a couple times, but I think hitting the weights pretty hard on Thursday also caused some fatigue. I upped the incline leg press weight to 360 lbs. plus whatever the rack itself weighs--probably another 40 lbs.
After the tough outing on the bike Saturday we headed up to Hyak for some skate skiing on the Iron Horse trail. The weather was nice, no wind and about 30 degrees, no snow falling. So, skiing was much more pleasant that riding a bike in the lowlands. The trail there has about 20 ft. of total elevation, which sounds easy, but isn't. You have to kick and pole constantly. No jumping in the tracks on a downhill or just taking it easy. Granted there are no super steep walls that you have to grovel up, but after 15 miles of flat skating I was pretty worked. Did I mention I towed Marieka in the Chariot for about 6 or 7 miles? I was doing that while sticking behind Sarah and John, whom I can leave behind just fine without the Chariot. Towing the Chariot puts me on their level and makes it a lot tougher. I was probably feeling the strain of towing the Chariot out on the way back, and I was taxed for sure in the end.
Today I will get a well-deserved massage and I hope the shot of B-12 last night will also add to my recovery. I assume I am not losing any weight because I'm 1) building some upper body mass from skiing and 2) lifting weights with the legs and 3) replacing fat with muscle overall from doing more aerobic activity. Absolute weight is meaningless since muscle weighs more than fat, and fat comsumes oxygen, DOES fuel you, but does not directly contribute to power like muscle does. I assume the weight will decrease after some interval and sprint training begins and of course once racing starts. I'm hoping to have an even better sprint and sustained short-term high end than before anyway, and might lose some of my modest climbing abilities in exchange.
Thanks for reading this boring stuff. See you in the sleet!
Last Saturday eight of us headed out into the worst conditions for cycling, 33 degrees and wet, and met wind, rain, and sleet. I went through 3 pairs of gloves and my feet took about an hour to thaw out once I got back home. 66 miles took over 4 hours to complete. Luckily when I got a flat tire the skies were clearing up and it wasn't too bad out, but standing there my feet had no feeling left.
I know that as usual, by heading out and getting miles in I will end up being one of the best prepared riders in the state, and that is what gives me the motivation to head out and coax others to face the elements with me. Hopefully it will pay off for them too.
The weight of the rain bike, and my unwillingness to head right into zone 4 on the hills had me dangling off the group a couple times, but I think hitting the weights pretty hard on Thursday also caused some fatigue. I upped the incline leg press weight to 360 lbs. plus whatever the rack itself weighs--probably another 40 lbs.
After the tough outing on the bike Saturday we headed up to Hyak for some skate skiing on the Iron Horse trail. The weather was nice, no wind and about 30 degrees, no snow falling. So, skiing was much more pleasant that riding a bike in the lowlands. The trail there has about 20 ft. of total elevation, which sounds easy, but isn't. You have to kick and pole constantly. No jumping in the tracks on a downhill or just taking it easy. Granted there are no super steep walls that you have to grovel up, but after 15 miles of flat skating I was pretty worked. Did I mention I towed Marieka in the Chariot for about 6 or 7 miles? I was doing that while sticking behind Sarah and John, whom I can leave behind just fine without the Chariot. Towing the Chariot puts me on their level and makes it a lot tougher. I was probably feeling the strain of towing the Chariot out on the way back, and I was taxed for sure in the end.
Today I will get a well-deserved massage and I hope the shot of B-12 last night will also add to my recovery. I assume I am not losing any weight because I'm 1) building some upper body mass from skiing and 2) lifting weights with the legs and 3) replacing fat with muscle overall from doing more aerobic activity. Absolute weight is meaningless since muscle weighs more than fat, and fat comsumes oxygen, DOES fuel you, but does not directly contribute to power like muscle does. I assume the weight will decrease after some interval and sprint training begins and of course once racing starts. I'm hoping to have an even better sprint and sustained short-term high end than before anyway, and might lose some of my modest climbing abilities in exchange.
Thanks for reading this boring stuff. See you in the sleet!
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
In the snow for the Holidays
Nothing like escaping the rain and coming over to Wenatchee to the snow. Yes its sketchier if you have to drive in a blizzard, and snow and ice on the ground is trickier than wet pavement, but there some things you can only do in snow. Like skiing or snow-shoeing.
We came over on Friday and had a smooth drive with no rain or snow. I was pretty wiped out from the drive so I just hit the couch for the most part. Saturday the idea was for me to head over the Leavenworth and ski a bit and then be me by Sarah and Marieka for the Chariot-on-skis maiden voyage. After the drive in the snow though, we decided I would be solo though since it was snowing and not looking like it was going to clear up soon. I did a big loop of the Fish Hatchery and the snow was pretty thickly piled on top of the groomed track, not making it the fastest conditions. Then I attached the Chariot after getting it all set up, which only takes about 5 minutes: skis & bars with waist attachment.
I headed out for another big loop and I could really feel the weight and mass back there. I was still skiing faster than some other skaters, but it was hard work. At the end of the lap I was ready to take the thing off and ski freely!
During these first two laps it was snowing light to heavy, and on the final lap it cleared up and I was able to truly appreciated the smooth gliding sensation that is skate skiing. The drive home was also way smoother than the way out as the late afternoon sun was shining under the light clover.
My legs really felt the efforts of the first outing and I'm sure the Chariot pulling added to the fatigue.
The next day was more or less a rest day, though we did do a husband/wife snowshoe from the athletic club that was 35 min. uphill and 25 min. downhill on a nice narrow trail that is marked for hiking AND, get this, biking. Nice to see there is no anti-cycling sentiment over here in the land of individual rights.
It snowed all day long on Saturday so it was a good thing we didn't try to skate since I already mentioned that skating on a heavy track is not ideal.
We did head out on Sunday though, and it seems the weather forecast came 24 hours early, giving us the Xmas day weather on Xmas eve. Yeah! Light clouds and sun, and no snow. It was a bit heavy anyway since the groomer only made one pass and all that snow will take a few days to get really packed and set and fast. I strapped the Chariot on and we all did a short loop, and Marieka was out like a light. Then Sarah took over and I cruised along sans poles. Then we split up, and Sarah tackled another short loop loaded, I went out for two big loops.
My arms are pretty worked today, as well as my pecs and shoulders from double-poling in the tracks and doing V2 technique at high reps on the fairly flat terrain. It doesn't blow your arms out like V2 alternate can where you are really weighting down and powering on your poles, but the high reps certainly produce fatigue in their own way. I'd like to see which is actually the faster technique.
Today we shared gifts after Larry made us all some nice berry waffles. I'm stoked to have received some nice new slippers as mine were really kicked, and these are practically like sport clogs, though fleecy. Sarah got me the new Reggae book I checked out at my school's library: The Reggae Scrapbook.
The book has some wild features like Peter Tosh's death report recreated in faux aged paper, real show flyers lightly glued to the pages that have been autographed by the artists, and other items placed in little envelopes throughout the book. There's also a DVD with interviews of artists that were done over the last few decades by the author with essential artists. This book now presages my previous favorite Reggae book by Chris Salewicz: Reggae Explosion. 
Looks like we'll be heading back to the "Wet" Side on Thursday. Hopefully it won't rain everyday until I go back to work on the 3rd.
Cheers!
We came over on Friday and had a smooth drive with no rain or snow. I was pretty wiped out from the drive so I just hit the couch for the most part. Saturday the idea was for me to head over the Leavenworth and ski a bit and then be me by Sarah and Marieka for the Chariot-on-skis maiden voyage. After the drive in the snow though, we decided I would be solo though since it was snowing and not looking like it was going to clear up soon. I did a big loop of the Fish Hatchery and the snow was pretty thickly piled on top of the groomed track, not making it the fastest conditions. Then I attached the Chariot after getting it all set up, which only takes about 5 minutes: skis & bars with waist attachment.
I headed out for another big loop and I could really feel the weight and mass back there. I was still skiing faster than some other skaters, but it was hard work. At the end of the lap I was ready to take the thing off and ski freely!
During these first two laps it was snowing light to heavy, and on the final lap it cleared up and I was able to truly appreciated the smooth gliding sensation that is skate skiing. The drive home was also way smoother than the way out as the late afternoon sun was shining under the light clover.
My legs really felt the efforts of the first outing and I'm sure the Chariot pulling added to the fatigue.
The next day was more or less a rest day, though we did do a husband/wife snowshoe from the athletic club that was 35 min. uphill and 25 min. downhill on a nice narrow trail that is marked for hiking AND, get this, biking. Nice to see there is no anti-cycling sentiment over here in the land of individual rights.
It snowed all day long on Saturday so it was a good thing we didn't try to skate since I already mentioned that skating on a heavy track is not ideal.
We did head out on Sunday though, and it seems the weather forecast came 24 hours early, giving us the Xmas day weather on Xmas eve. Yeah! Light clouds and sun, and no snow. It was a bit heavy anyway since the groomer only made one pass and all that snow will take a few days to get really packed and set and fast. I strapped the Chariot on and we all did a short loop, and Marieka was out like a light. Then Sarah took over and I cruised along sans poles. Then we split up, and Sarah tackled another short loop loaded, I went out for two big loops.
My arms are pretty worked today, as well as my pecs and shoulders from double-poling in the tracks and doing V2 technique at high reps on the fairly flat terrain. It doesn't blow your arms out like V2 alternate can where you are really weighting down and powering on your poles, but the high reps certainly produce fatigue in their own way. I'd like to see which is actually the faster technique.
Today we shared gifts after Larry made us all some nice berry waffles. I'm stoked to have received some nice new slippers as mine were really kicked, and these are practically like sport clogs, though fleecy. Sarah got me the new Reggae book I checked out at my school's library: The Reggae Scrapbook.
The book has some wild features like Peter Tosh's death report recreated in faux aged paper, real show flyers lightly glued to the pages that have been autographed by the artists, and other items placed in little envelopes throughout the book. There's also a DVD with interviews of artists that were done over the last few decades by the author with essential artists. This book now presages my previous favorite Reggae book by Chris Salewicz: Reggae Explosion. 
Looks like we'll be heading back to the "Wet" Side on Thursday. Hopefully it won't rain everyday until I go back to work on the 3rd.Cheers!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Training procedes
Though some days it feels like I'm shackled to the house and my lovely daughter Marieka, I've been fortunate enough to get some hours in during the week on the bike, in the gym, and up to 4 hours on weekends. Though I tend to be skeptical about weight lifting, I feel like I've already gotten some benefit from the 3 or 4 sessions I've done thus far.
I do incline leg press, alternating with calf raises on same apparatus in weight, now 300 in plates, then back extension and weighted crunches at 130 lbs. and then leg extensions and curls using 95 lbs. now. I start and finish with some pedalling on the gym ergo. So far I feel like I can stay seated when climbing up to 8 or 9 % grades, even on the rain bike.
The weekend training has been a bit dissapointing from a group perspective. Granted its only December. The first ride we had 9 guys, with 5 finishing the whole thing, then a snow-out, followed by 2 of 5 finishing the route. The next day, last Sunday, no one but me showed up for the "normal" direction of the training route I put together. The only company I had was a purcupine eating on the side of the Waddell Creek Road. First time I've seen a live one up close. They definately do stick their quills up, but its a myth that they can shoot them out.
The walls at the end definately hurt, at least the Mur de Brawne did at 16%. With 15 or so hills on the route the little flat road there is can be taken easy, while the rest guarantees quality miles at zone 3 and zone 4 on the steeper, longer hills. I'm pretty convinced using this route for the majority of my winter weekend miles is the right choice. This way I won't be wasting my time in zone 1 or 2 while waiting for the line of riders to get done with their pulls. Actually, there is no line of riders to speak of yet, but my point is that flat roads are lame for training unless you don't know to ridea paceline. Otherwise, they are tedious and fairly useless in making you are better rider unless there's a bit of wind or some spunk in the group, but that takes mushing from people like me. I'd rather just have to hit hill after hill and leave the task to gravity.
So far the Valley team is not showing much enthusiasm. The two of us being most consistent aren't on the Valley team as it is. Now that Flack is done with cross maybe he will actually show up at 10 and be part of the group, or maybe Yanni will start showing? If not, I've already moved on. I'm just trying to be a mentor and guide to those that want to ride with me while I get prepared. One things for sure though, Olympia-based racing is at a low point, and if the team doesn't start doing something about it they are going to have a hard time convincing their sponsor to keep financing them.
I do incline leg press, alternating with calf raises on same apparatus in weight, now 300 in plates, then back extension and weighted crunches at 130 lbs. and then leg extensions and curls using 95 lbs. now. I start and finish with some pedalling on the gym ergo. So far I feel like I can stay seated when climbing up to 8 or 9 % grades, even on the rain bike.
The weekend training has been a bit dissapointing from a group perspective. Granted its only December. The first ride we had 9 guys, with 5 finishing the whole thing, then a snow-out, followed by 2 of 5 finishing the route. The next day, last Sunday, no one but me showed up for the "normal" direction of the training route I put together. The only company I had was a purcupine eating on the side of the Waddell Creek Road. First time I've seen a live one up close. They definately do stick their quills up, but its a myth that they can shoot them out.
The walls at the end definately hurt, at least the Mur de Brawne did at 16%. With 15 or so hills on the route the little flat road there is can be taken easy, while the rest guarantees quality miles at zone 3 and zone 4 on the steeper, longer hills. I'm pretty convinced using this route for the majority of my winter weekend miles is the right choice. This way I won't be wasting my time in zone 1 or 2 while waiting for the line of riders to get done with their pulls. Actually, there is no line of riders to speak of yet, but my point is that flat roads are lame for training unless you don't know to ridea paceline. Otherwise, they are tedious and fairly useless in making you are better rider unless there's a bit of wind or some spunk in the group, but that takes mushing from people like me. I'd rather just have to hit hill after hill and leave the task to gravity.
So far the Valley team is not showing much enthusiasm. The two of us being most consistent aren't on the Valley team as it is. Now that Flack is done with cross maybe he will actually show up at 10 and be part of the group, or maybe Yanni will start showing? If not, I've already moved on. I'm just trying to be a mentor and guide to those that want to ride with me while I get prepared. One things for sure though, Olympia-based racing is at a low point, and if the team doesn't start doing something about it they are going to have a hard time convincing their sponsor to keep financing them.
Monday, December 3, 2007
The blog lives
I'm not going to attempt to fill in the blanks since the last post, other than the fact that I got 15th at crit nats which was a good result.
Of course the biggest news in my life is the arrival of our little girl, Marieka Olivia Campbell who's now 2 months old. She's pretty great and seems to be about average as far as the screaming hysterics go. I can do nothing in the breast feeding department which can get frustrating.
I never realized how much I took my free time for granted. Now I am responsible for another helpless human being and one of us always has to be with her, and that leaves me with 2-3 hours some days to train or do anything alone if that ever happens.
Somehow I'm going to get fit once again and race for Bob's Bicycles in '08. I'm excited about the strong team that we have and will be pumped for the races where I'm racing with some teammates.
I plan on doing a lot of miles on one circuit in particular that packs about 2,500 ft. in 40 miles. I'll assured of quality miles that way when I'm able to get out. See the route below and check out the hosting site in general. Its free and really cool--mileage, elevation profile, and othere people's routes available for viewing.
http://www.routeslip.com/routes/67448
As for racing I will scale things back to two races/weekends a month in general and try focus on the better courses and prize lists. I'm hoping to do a bit of travelling with the team and we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
That's all for now.
Of course the biggest news in my life is the arrival of our little girl, Marieka Olivia Campbell who's now 2 months old. She's pretty great and seems to be about average as far as the screaming hysterics go. I can do nothing in the breast feeding department which can get frustrating.
I never realized how much I took my free time for granted. Now I am responsible for another helpless human being and one of us always has to be with her, and that leaves me with 2-3 hours some days to train or do anything alone if that ever happens.
Somehow I'm going to get fit once again and race for Bob's Bicycles in '08. I'm excited about the strong team that we have and will be pumped for the races where I'm racing with some teammates.
I plan on doing a lot of miles on one circuit in particular that packs about 2,500 ft. in 40 miles. I'll assured of quality miles that way when I'm able to get out. See the route below and check out the hosting site in general. Its free and really cool--mileage, elevation profile, and othere people's routes available for viewing.
http://www.routeslip.com/routes/67448
As for racing I will scale things back to two races/weekends a month in general and try focus on the better courses and prize lists. I'm hoping to do a bit of travelling with the team and we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
That's all for now.
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