Sunday, February 28, 2010

Work to do. Change of plans.

Well things are changing quickly and I am a lazy sack. While I've been working out, I have been severely neglecting working on riding outdoors. Yesterday was Cirrem. I missed out with work and all, but after today's ride, I don't know how I would have fared anyways. I got in my first road/gravel ride in quite a while and needless to say my legs weren't responding with the best answers.

I felt ok (especially on climbs) but my flatland bike riding ability is lacking. I know my legs are in there somewhere, I am just going to need a couple more days on the bike to find them again. I happened to choose to ride my cross bike as well which is a new frame that has been 85% built for about two months. So that wasn't the best decision (it was for the conditions, just not for the fit.) It just wasn't dialed in. After blowing my calves up after about an hour, I made some quick adjustments and all was good, but the damage was done.

I also rode 170mm cranks because that is what I had. Terrible idea. I know some people say it doesn't make that big of a difference, but I really dislike them. 172.5's just feel so much better. We will just have to see how I feel tomorrow.

Hitting up Sugar Bottom loop for the heck of it. I might even get the road bike dirty just cause I know the fit is dialed.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Getting that itch.

And I don't mean anything but multiple mental ones. I am glad we still have snow on the ground, but I am really itching to hit the pavement. I had a great time last season on the road bike, and I already had a couple of long ones in this time last year. Now, I won't jinx it either, cause I love skiing as well. As long as it isn't cold, slushy and frozen, I am in.

I am itching to get my hands on my mountain bike for the season. I have quite a number of things on order, and I have a feeling that I have a wait ahead of me. Everyday I check on my frame, and I wait until the next. I am around the 1 month countdown to ETA. I am waning patience.

Otherwise school is going well. Not as well as last semester, but these Olympics are killing me. I get home after work and school, and it is too easy to hop on the trainer and zone out for a couple of hours instead of read or crank out math problem after math problem.

I want some new crap to play with for sure. I wish I would get my wheels so I could get at least get them assembled a look at them while I am sitting around doing nothing. I am just ready to ride. This week put it into motion.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Shoe Issue Solved.

Got in 2 workouts today. Everything is coming along nicely, and I am planning on ramping up the bike workouts and tapering back on the lifting/Crossfit workouts. I have been questioning how the full winters worth of that work was going to go, but I am feeling really good about it. I have been on the trainer twice in the past week, and I feel way ahead of where I was last season. I am going into this season without a major long distance race to train for, so focuses are different.

I got some new equipment last week as well. I knew I was going to need to relegate my Sidi Dominators to townie commuter usage (weird thing to say huh?) so I ordered up some new ones. I was really questioning the white SWorks Mountain shoe, but quite honestly, the shiny white really doesn't stand out as much as you would imagine.

Well there was a little problem. The SWorks shoes are a synthetic plasticish outer. The problem I ran into, was even though my feet measure average for their size, I have a hard time with shoes that are too narrow. I had to size down on the SWorks, and they definitely were narrow. I wore them around with no change to their width.

I broke down and mounted up some cleats and my mountain pedals on my road bike. Hopped on the trainer to get them warmed up. I have been doing a little research to see what sort of stretching techniques you can use, but I did not find much info about stretching synthetics, especially plastics. So I thought about water, hot water, water and alcohol mixture, but none of that seemed like it would work.

After about 5 minutes on the trainer, it came to me. A toe warmer! Not only would it simulate extra width, but provide extra warmth directly where I needed and wanted it. Well after around an hour on the trainer and an hour sitting around my shoes are stretched and ready to go. One or two more sessions to ensure they are just right and I am golden.

Exciting I know, but these are awesome shoes. After feeling the comfort of the BOA closure and the stiffness of the sole, I knew they would have to work one way or another.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Hurtin'.

So this whole curling thing is starting to get to me. It is affecting my school work, my working out and my entire lack of motivation. All I want to do is watch curling and drink beer (and the occasional shot of tequila.) I really need to crack down tonight and do some math homework seeing as my test is on Tuesday, but even though I haven't really done anything, I really am grasping the topics.

Otherwise things have been good. My little rest was good. I am scaling back to two days of Crossfitting with a day of cardio. I figure it is a good time to start cranking the cardio back into the schedule. The trainer has been a slight relief, but I really would like to hit the century ride going on tomorrow with most of the shop crew.

I also am hoping the Des Moines crew might be heading to Ouachita the weekend before the Challenge so I might be able to go with them. I would love to hit some trails before Sylvan Island. Last year was a good time, but I would love to head down there and just do some riding for a couple of days. Kind of like a mini training camp with drinking involved.

That's all I got.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Eventful Weekend.

On Friday evening I didn't know it, but I apparently had dinner plans. After three consecutive days of skiing, I felt oddly good. Thursday Nate and I hit MNRA decently hard, with some emphasis on backcountry xc skiing. Got in some higher paced stuff on the groomed trails, and hit some steep downhills and hiked some steep uphills. I have had this sinus thing kicking me around a bit, and being 4 weeks into a training cycle with no more than a day off at a time, it was time for a break.

Saturday was spent being slightly hungover and working. Ate dinner at Emily's parents and otherwise hung out again. Sunday we did the church thing, then the lunch thing, then hung out watching the Olympics. We headed home for some Chinese food and Zombieland. Went to bed with the sinus thing still lingering, but Emily got me a humidifier which has been helping.

I was going to hit it again today, but I finally feel like I am clearing up. Tomorrow I will get back on it again for sure. 4 days off should be plenty of rest. It is crazy what I feel like now compared to even 3 months ago after a nice rest. Winter is getting easier to make it through with skiing, and some structured workouts.

Of course on the bike front, I am still impatiently waiting. I am starting to get really antsy. With about 6 weeks of more potential waiting ahead of me, I am reaching the final countdown. March 1st cannot come soon enough. Then I will feel like I am in the home stretch. I received my awesome little package from Hope this week, and I have to say the Race X2 brakes are super light, as advertised. My only slight quibble is the brake lever pivot setup, and I am going to see if I can ditch the aluminum pivot pin for one of their adjustable setups. If not, I'll deal.

I am still waiting on that nice shipment of Edge stuff though. If anybody over there is listening, I would love to build some wheels sometime soon. I have some road tubulars to build for the Gios, but I could use some fun carbon ones to lace as well.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Two days in a row

I made it out skiing last evening with Nate. We finally got enough snow that they could groom the local Cross Country course for the University. I have been fighting a slight sinus thing so I was not 100%. Needless to say I felt ok, but after the mornings squat workout, I was in for it.

Nate has been putting in some pretty good time on the bike so I knew I would be in for a hurting even though we weren't out to kill each other. I couldn't have been more right. We skied in from IHOP which was uneventful. About 1/2 lap into the course, we ran into the Eppen's. They were out getting an evening ski in just as we were. They hung out on and off between just walking away from us.

I have been feeling ok on skis as of late this season, but it just goes to show you there are always people who are just plain better and faster. It felt good and I was surprised I wasn't that sore this morning.

I headed to class and then home for lunch. I knew as nice as the weather was that I had to get out again. I took the "grandma" approach today though. I just slashed around and enjoyed the sunny day. My legs didn't want to respond to anything so I didn't push them one bit. I can feel the sinus thing holding me back a bit so I am going to take a couple of days off and kick it's butt.

On the bike front, my brakes shipped on Monday. Hope had told me they wouldn't be in until next Monday, but the shipment came in a little early, so they rolled those suckers ASAP. So that means I might have brakes, a stem, a handlebar, a seatpost, and possibly (fingers crossed heavily on this one) wheels this week. On top of all that, the XX/XLoc Dampers came in stock at BTI today so I will be able to convert my Reba to a b*ithc*ing sweet hydraulic lockout right off the bat.

I also talked to the guys at SRAM and they said the funky non-traditional hex setup on the BlackBox Dampers are actually just machined 24mm socket heads. They just machined them down because the middle section of the wrench flats aren't engaged when using a socket anyways so they machined them down to save weight.

Well that is enough nerd talk for one day. Now to put some more Watchmen away (about half way done. What a crazy graphic novel.) I thought I said no more nerd talk?

Monday, February 8, 2010

Some parts on the way.

I talked to Jason Sager at Edge Composites today. Most of the stuff I had on order was in stock, and hopefully on the way. I know the stem and seatpost at least, and he was checking on the Chris King hub status. I am really looking forward to getting my hands on the wheels in particular so I can start playing with tubeless setup on them. I also haven't seen the seatpost in person yet, so I am slightly anxious to see that as well. The Sweep bars are supposed to be in tomorrow, so hopefully the cockpit will ship in it's entirety (even though I still don't have my frame.)

I just can't wait to get my hands on the wheels. Chris King is tooled up and cranking out their new road hubshells like crazy which is pushing production back on the 28h CK ISO Disc hubs. I was waiting on black shells, but might be getting pewter instead. That is the color they stock, and I will take what I can get. I suppose that means that I should order up some rimstrips soon to get those ready.

I also talked to the gents at Hope, and as far as I know, they should have received a shipment of Race X2 brakes today. I will have to call them tomorrow to check on those. Otherwise I have the drivetrain all shored up besides cranks. I have my old Deus cranks, but I kind of want to slap a pair of XTR's on their to match all the other fancy parts that will be on the bike. If not, no sweat off of my back. Everyone is out of stock on 175mm's and I am kind of interested in trying some 172.5's on my geared mountain bike due to the fact I run them on my road and cross bikes.

Well enough bike talk. I took the weekend off besides the work commute on Saturday. I was feeling beat down and tired. It turned out it was a good thing, because I woke up this morning with quite a sinus jam. I was totally dried out. It sucked. So I am fighting that. I worked out today and fought my slight shoulder tweak. It actually feels quite a bit better this evening then it did this AM.

Well tomorrow brings some biking, some lifting, some relaxing, then some evening skiing with Nate.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Lots of things

I have had quite a number of things on my mind as of late. The opportunities for various races are flying by this year. Everything is filling up faster than ever before. With the wedding happening I am just hoping to branch out a little this year, and hit Wisconsin and Illinois. I would love to make it to a couple of Minnesota races, but I don't think it is going to happen. Maybe one 12 hour WEMS to keep that doubt in the back of my mind.

This time last year, thoughts of Ouachita were flying through my mind while spending time on a trainer, and outdoors in nasty snowy conditions. And going to work all the time. This year couldn't be more different. Going to school, and working out like crazy (in the gym and a little on skis), and working part time. Now my thoughts are focused on what I can fit in this season. I know what my expectations or at least hopes are.

The wedding will take some time and focus, but I am planning on getting my time in whatever way necessary. Emily and I have talked about the situation and have been planning well ahead of schedule (all except those pesky invitations!) So now it all boils down to time availability. Everyone from the shop is planning their schedules pretty tightly and I am trying to stay a little loose with mine. The few Wisco and Illinois races will hopefully be pulled off the cuff, and the Iowa races were scouted last season so all should fall into place well.

I am still motivated and that is not going to change. I am just getting a little antsy. Similar to last season, just without the 80 mile monster to worry about.

Now for dinner, my beer, and Watchmen.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Think it will work?

So I started to ponder whether or not the new XX Hydraulic lockout will install onto the SBC Reba that is spec'ed on the SWorks. I have been doing a little digging and from what I can tell, there is no reason it shouldn't. The only problem with that, is now I am questioning my brake spec based on that potential decision. It would be pretty clean to run either XX or CR Mag brakes and have the lockout, shifter and brakes, all mounted in one clean package.

I love my Hope disc brakes, but the new XX brakes simply function well. I'm not going to go crazy and spec the whole group (I wouldn't want to have a replica of the stock bike now would I?), but I would like to have everything super clean. I am unsure whether or not it will work with XO shifters, but I am thinking it should. Enough about that.


I am gonna head up to Cedar Falls tomorrow after class to hang out with Adam and Shockey to ride some gravel. I have been itching a little bit to get out on the bike, and this will be the perfect opportunity. I am going to make the mistake of taking my Litespeed fixie, but oh well. I want to ride something light. That reminds me, I better get my shit together. Riding bikes with those two practically requires a full-on epic ride setup.

I'm out to study and load up.

Late Edit- Looks like the X-Loc comes with a mount that will allow you to combine your lockout and shifter. So looks like the Hope's are still on tap.