Back on the road

The past four days have been pretty cool. Watching the Tour of California, taking two really easy midterms, and putting 8 hours in the saddle... all good things. The Tour has been really cool to watch, it's great such a big race is taking off in the states (no offense Georgia). For some reason, likely the timing on the calendar, this event has had a much deeper international field, and has made things that much more interesting. Mike Friedman's race has been cool to track as well, he ripped it up in the time trial in the middle of the race... beating the reigning world time trial champion in the process.

I started riding real easy, doing an easy hour, then an hour and half, and over the weekend did the "mock race" which was fun. I hung with the "fast" (A/B) group for just half a lap, but still felt good about the effort I was able to put out. Unlike my other easier rides I put in a jump or two out of the saddle which resulted in minimal speed increase (that will come) but also no pain... which I was excited about.

So look out ECCC, a mediocre kid with big goals is coming back to race. Watch out kid who thinks he's going to get 15th in the B race in NYC... you're going to get 16th sucker.

New perspectives

I always used to be rather nonchalant about saying, "yea... I'm a cyclist. I shave my legs and eat gooey honey-like syrups and layerup with many lycra garments and ride into shitty weather". I never realized that being a cyclist is such a privilege... a privilege that I'm really having trouble with not having right now. And its not just injury that prevents people from taking advantage of cycling... I'm sure the number one is money. I'm really lucky in this respect. My brothers worked over my parents so they were ready for the hundred dollar nashbar orders to build up my first bike, and the registration fees and the like. Sure I've worked during the summers and have earned a good chunk of my race money in the last few years, but without being lucky enough to have parents that first have, and secondly give the money necessary to enter our sport... I'd be a different person. (I certainly wouldn't be freaking out about how hairy my legs are at this point...)

I've also been wondering about my mental state when I start to race again. I know going into my first few races I'll be satisifed just to be there. I can't wait to be on a start line again. But I think it's going to be really hard to not expect results too soon. I know the first time I don't stack up on a TT I'm going to be really pissed.... I've come to take those for granted. I guess I'll just have to stay positive, I'm sure I'll be happy to be out there. I think it's really important to wait before I start to race, so I'm at least able to finish... I'd like to put a good month of riding relatively hard before I line up. I've DNF'ed some races when I've been training, but I just don't want to deal with it once I'm starting it back up again.

But on a more pleasant note, the Tour of California starts tonight (or rather eariler today). ESPN2 is showing an hour of coverage for each stage from 1AM-2AM. The time sucks, I don't know why they can't show it eariler.... but at this point I'm glad that it's on TV in the states, and that there is coverage for each stage. That is more than I can say about the Giro, but I'll rant about OLN much more later on.... Not really sure who I'm pulling for, but I think it'd be good to have an American on the podium somewhere when it's all said and done. It would help the sport grow in the US a bit in the vaccum of post-lance. I think Levi has good shot, and from what I've read he's pretty fit. So... go (American) German water boy! But seriously, we all know that Mike Friedman is going to take the prologue... it's made for his massive quads and large butt.

Chocolate cake

What's better than chocolate cake?

surprise chocolate cake.

Thanks for helping me push the 190 barrier. I'm officially fat now.

Officially Official

On Saturday Dave Matlin, the highly qualified CTS administrative executive Alyssa Gaebel and I traveled to Emmanus, Pa to partake in a USA Cycling Official's Clinic. It was an easy day... I learned the most on the structure of how the officials work, and how they get paid. Basically there are chief Referees and Judges, and Assistant Referees and Judges. I am now a "C" official, so I can, in most cases, only be one of the assistants, which means all I do is watch and write crap down- I'll almost never be called upon to make any sort of judgment or snap decision. We ate lots of bagels, went over some slides, and then got a rulebook and took an open-book exam. The questions were relatively entertaining:

A Cyclocross course is defined as:
a. completely unreadable
b. composed of varying terrain
c. having at least 2.5" of mud around the entire course
d. being full of snow

In many cases all of those options may be applicable...

Now I'm officially official:

We also had the honor of being enlightened as to the coming of Christ. Thank you central Pennsylvania.

Swap Products and a cross bike

Yesterday, on Superswap Sunday myself, and at least 10 other members of PennState Cycling, took to the road at 5AM to get to a swap down in Maryland. (For you non-cycling people a bikeswap is a large garage sale with 99.9% of the merchandise being cycling parts/bikes/clothing/junk). We ended up getting there about an hour earlier than we needed to which sucked, but at least we were first in line. Waiting to get in was made more stressful than necessary by the people behind us who must have thought we looked like savvy enough swappers to buy up all the good deals before they had time to get into the 10,000 square foot space. Seriously now people. As Chris Thompson stated, it felt like we were staging for a race.

I didn't really need anything. Except maybe a chain tool. I wanted a whole lot of other things, but didn't bother to make a list or anything this time around. There was no reason for me to come with $150. There was no reason for me to leave with $2. Oh well. I got a Thomson stem for my cross bike for $25, a used tubular-clincher cross tyre for $10, ugly Ti-railed old style (that doesn't eat my ass) selle italia saddle for $15, wireless computer for the TT rig, chamois cream, arm+leg warmers, mudflap for a commuter or cross bike....oh yea, and the thing I needed, a chain tool for $2. The chain tool doesn't work. oh well.

One of the best purchases must have been these green "crocs". Me and Matlin went in and got a pair each for $20 a pop:
After getting back to State College I watched the first half of the Superbowl while building up my Redline Conquest Pro cross bike. Featuring red housing, and blue peace sign brake cable anchor things (what are those called?), and when racing... some reddish Tufo tubular-clincher tires... should look cool. I'll look good getting lapped this fall...

More Food Please

I did my longest ride in a long time yesterday. Had plans of doing Penn's Cave, went out and did the finishing climb for our race in April, and then just did the Sprint Ride (out to Centre Hall and back). All and all it was about 40 miles in 2 1/2 hours. Nothing crazy, but I was still pretty drained after getting back. Hoping to put in a good hour and a half today to keep the riding up.

When I stopped riding in August my food bill went from about $50 dollars a week to about $30 dollars a week. But I think the 10 or so hours I put in this past week is revving the engine back up... I had two dinners and a snack before going to bed last night. So here's to forking over 50 bucks every week. It's well worth it if I can ride though.

I'm excited about this weekend. Going to the bike swap in Md and watching the SuperBowl on Sunday... Go Seahawks! The last time I was at a swap I didn't react quick enough in grabbing the full DuraAce 9speed groupo for $100. I was using some of Stephan's visualizing last night to ensure that such a mental blunder does not repeat itself. I've been grabbing at shifters and cranksets in my sleep....different than what I usually grab for in my sleep.