Ready to get riding

Ok, I don't want to start whining about the weather. So I will try and steer clear.

Let's just say I am so ready to get outside. I feel like I just keep preparing to be outside. Get the bikes ready, keep the bikes ready. Ride the trainer so your ready. Fix the truck so it's ready. Dude, I am ready lets go!

On a side note, after my whinny post a few days ago. We've since gotten the home computer fixed. It's not exactly the same, we're working out where all our data and programs are located but at least it's a usable computer. I also got the truck fixed and returned yesterday. It appears to be working pretty well except for a squeaky belt that makes an annoying noise every once and a while. Not sure if that just needs to be driven a little or if I'll have to take it back in to be tightened. Work is even going better.

I would have some training update but I've been under the weather and took a few days off. Tried to get back to the gym this morning but I didn't have much in me. So, there really isn't much to tell there.

Thanks for reading

Endurance Athletes Have Issues

I have always known that people who choose to undergo endurance sports are, well, not completely right in the head. What else would explain why they are out running for hours or riding up some ridiculous mountain or...... putting their bodies in such pain to, of all things, race someone else. There must be some sort of chemical imbalance to make them want to do it.

To be truly crazy you work your way to the top of your sport. Punishing yourself day in and day out.

Such is the way of this professional cyclist, Jens Voigt. A German hardman that likes to crush people. See this video for some back ground.


This past year he crashed himself out of the Tour de France while descending from a mountain top. That looked painful. I like to think he gave the road "Jen's Rash", not the other way around.


While in the hospital he wanted to let everyone know he would be back. After dragging his face against the pavement, it wasn't enough to deter him. Now that's a little crazy.


They may be a little crazy but it sure is fun to watch!

A week of ups and downs

Wowza....... but before I get into my whining drabble, happy Friday!

Sadly things have been happing this week that tend to stress me out. Nothing stresses me out more than things that were working but have since stopped. It’s the classic case of everything was fine and dandy, now I have to spend my time and energy to getting them working again.

My first and foremost issue this week is work. I primarily do a lot of Government contract research; I write the research proposal and then, hopefully, win a contract and do the research and develop a new product. Prior to last Thanksgiving, I was notified that I would be awarded 3 new contracts (a great achievement for me). In addition it came at great time as some of my previous funding was ending. Well, sadly I still don’t have the money; it’s stuck in the government contracting bureaucracy. Every time I ask if I can provide something for them they say it will be just a few more weeks. Things came to a head this week and I’ve had to start working on other people’s projects to bridge the gap in funding. I think things will be fine but it’s been a huge pain and a lot of stress. Got to get the kid’s their mac and cheese you know.

While all of this has happened at work, things at home have also had issues. The home computer died. Not just a little death either, it appears to have completely croaked. It was time for a new one but now it will be like starting over. Of coarse not all the information I would have wanted backed up is (or any of it), so I guess I’ll get to spend some time on that (after I find a new computer). The monster truck also has some issues. The water pump is leaking so that equals a new water pump and timing belt. The transmission fluid needs to be changed and the trailer lights (which we will need for our up coming Moab trip) are out and I need a new converter box. Crap; this of coarse was a lot more stressful prior to the above work situation being worked out.

On a lighter note, training is moving forward. The weather sucks but I haven’t had an issue with motivation so the trainer is still my friend. I was able to hit all of my first target weight lifting goals this week. So now I’m just trying to build up a little more, focus on my rides and keeping the weight down.

Thanks for reading. My next post will be more possitive... I hope.

Circling the drain?

Last week my universe was all nice, in order and with a bright
future. This week it seems as though it's circling the drain. Funny
how quickly things change. Keeps you on your toes.

Sent from my iPhone

Happy Valentine's Day

Last night we shared our Valentine's with a couple of close friends up in Loveland Colorado. We were all good friends BK (before kids). Now we have both have kids nearly the same age and sex. We had a great time, enjoying dinner and telling all the crazy kid stories and how our lives have changed. It was great fun, thanks Damon and Jenni.

Today for Valentine's I did my best to get the wife's bikes up and running. She hasn't been on the mountain bike in a while so I give it a close check over. Overhauled and rebuilt the front hub, new tires, new brakes and some minor adjustments. It still needs to be cleaned up. Also got some parts coming for her road bike she wanted some flat top handle ergo handle bars and will need a new chain soon.

The kids... were tired. We had them up late last night. We did take them to the "Big Tree" pool only to have Nate close down the family hot tube when he swallowed some water and puked on Melissa. This was a second time he's done that. Sorry everyone (it was pretty busy too).

1st Training Test of 2010

This past week was my first rest week of the 2010 training schedule. Rest weeks are always odd for me, by the end they seem to do more harm than good. I'm tired, sore, grumpy, and not sleeping that well. I'm suppose to be relaxed. On the hard training weeks, I'm generally tired but feel alive.

This morning I got on the trainier to see were my fitness is after the first base training block. A short 3 mile "Tempo Time Trial"; according to Training Peaks.

The results, 3 miles in eight and a half minutes, about 21.1 mph. I was to be 10 bpm below threshold and averaged 150bpm and 266 watts. Thats 3.3 W/kg.

Is it good? Well, it doesn't really matter, it's were I'm starting.

Computer Problems

Sad! The home computer is acting up again. Last week it got some sort of malware/virus. We thought we got that worked out. Then today my wife got the blue screen of death. Oh man, that's out of my fix-it league, just like the virus.

What to do? The only thing I really want back is some of my music. All our pictures are safe.

Not having a computer at home leaves us feeling so disconnected. Is there a mental syndrome for that because I'm guessing there will be in the near future. The patient, "I feel so separated, so far away, out of touch." The psychiatrist "turn on your WiFi and use it twice a day for the next 7 days, that'll take care of it."

Maybe it's time to get a laptop or a second computer. Maybe we should learn how to be unplugged again... yeah right.

Moving along

Everything is coming along. My training is going well, work is well and I am finally getting to spend some time at home this week. Unfortunately this blog isn’t coming a long. I wanted to make the stories more exciting and interesting but I got nothing. So, I’ll keep giving you the minutia that is my life. Maybe somthing spicey will comeup every now and again.

Last week I had to travel for work and sadly it wasn’t for a super-exiting event, although it was in West Palm Beach, Florida. I didn't get out at all, I ended up working on a proposal after my meeting in the hotel room. Before I left I had a few hours to kill before going to the airport, this was the only time I got to the beach. It was blowing like crazy and raining, so I just hung out in the car and enjoyed the silence. Funny how that did me good.


My new Cannondale Flash 29er 2 came in while I was away. I picked it up this past weekend and it is sweet! Interestingly a couple of the components that were spec’d to be on the bike were changed. Looks like Cannondale is currently building their 2010 29ers with 2009 build kits. The only big change that I asked them to fix is the fact that it should come with an FSA BB30 bottom bracket and crankset but came with an adaptor and some standard low end Shimano thing. Fortunately they're swapping that out for free. Also the shifters are correct but the derailleurs were both wrong. Should come with both SRAM X7 but the rear is SRAM X9 (I am ok with that change) and the front is another Shimano thing (It’s the front derailleur, not too worried). Here is a photo of how I got it, it’s currently at the shop for the new bottom bracket and crankset, I’ll have more to say and show when I get it back. By the way, I love that the paint turned out a little darker than Cannondale's photos on the web.


As for my training things appear to be on target. I've been spending most of my time on the trainer down in the pain cave (basement). It’s easy to control my workouts there. The powertap lets me accurately control my HR and power output. When I’ve gone on group rides it has been too hard to stay in my target ranges. The group is either surging and going too hard or chilling out and going too easy. Based on this, I think I need to ride in some smaller groups or just get out on my own. I am coming up on my first training goal, I wanted to be under 180 lbs by the end of Feb. I've been in the 178 – 180 lbs range for the past week, that’s 8-10 lbs lighter than my race weight most of last year. It should really help the power to weight ratio.

Thanks for reading.

The 100% Truth Drug

MONEY

Wow, it looks my skills to push peoples buttons are alive and well.
The results of my latest jab were very revealing! As a result I
believe I've stumbled into a fight I don't want to fight and likely
don't have the means to win.

It happens.

At least I can say I had the courage to identify the problem and I stood by it.